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Identification of type II procollagen in rabbit vitreous.
A procollagen in the soluble fraction of rabbit vitreous was isolated by dialysis against dilute acetic acid and partially purified by Bio-Gel A 5M gel filtration. The molecule was identified to be type II procollagen by comparing its segment-long-spacing (SLS) banding pattern with that of standard type II collagen isolated from rabbit articular cartilage. Electron microscopy of the SLS of this type II procollagen revealed a fuzzy propeptide extension at the N-terminal end of the molecule. Pepsin digestion of the procollagen removed this extension, thus converting the molecule into a collagen which had mobility similar to that of pepsin-soluble cartilage type II collagen in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. No inter-chain disulfide bond was found in the propeptide extension when the procollagen samples were electrophoresized with or without mercaptoethanol. Comparison of the cyanogen bromide peptide map of the type II procollagen with that of the pepsin-soluble type II collagen indicated that two extra peptides were present in the digest of procollagen. All of this evidence suggested that the procollagen in the soluble vitreous body of the rabbit eye was a novel type II procollagen with a propeptide extension only at the N-terminus.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Aplasia cutis congenita, elevated alpha-fetoprotein, and a distinct amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase electrophoretic band.
Aplasia cutis congenita affecting the elbows, knees, hips, and gluteal area was observed in a female newborn, product of a twin pregnancy. One of the twins was a fetus papyraceous detected at 15 weeks of pregnancy. During the course of the pregnancy, maternal thrombocytosis was diagnosed and treated with aspirin. alpha-Fetoprotein was elevated in maternal serum and amniotic fluid, and a distinct electrophoretic acetylcholinesterase band was seen in amniotic fluid. These findings are in agreement with the classification of aplasia cutis congenita as proposed by Frieden et al in which type V is related to the presence of a fetus papyraceous or placental infarcts. The findings in the present case may be explained by the effect of the dead twin on the surviving fetus and the extensive denuded skin areas. Long-term follow-up of the infant showed that the lesions were cured, most of them with minimal scars. Increased risk for aplasia cutis congenita should be considered when elevated maternal and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein and a distinct electrophoretic band of acetylcholinesterase are found. Especially when one of the twins is dead.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[On the occasion of unveiling a memorial plaque to Dr. Bozidar Spisic].
The first rehabilitation center was founded and organized in Zagreb, 1908, by prof. dr. Bozidar Sisić. Its importance was stressed through the history, as unique and first in this part of Europe. On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of its foundation, a memorial tablet was unveiled in the memory of prof. dr. Bozidar Sisić, the founder of croatian orthopedics, and medical and social rehabilitation.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Pathologic fracture of the mandible associated with simultaneous occurrence of an odontogenic keratocyst and traumatic bone cyst.
A case is presented which involved a pathologic fracture of the mandible associated with a large radiolucent lesion extending from the parasymphysis to the coronoid notch. The osseous defect was found to involve two separate lesions, identified histologically as a traumatic bone cyst in the anterior portion and an odontogenic keratocyst in the posterior aspect. The clinical course and treatment are discussed.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Predictors of sick leave and reduced productivity at work among persons with early inflammatory joint conditions.
This study attempted to identify predictors of sick leave and reduced productivity at work among persons with early inflammatory joint conditions. In a prospective cohort study of 210 workers with inflammatory joint conditions present for less than 12 months, data were collected by a medical examination and questionnaires at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. The outcomes were sick leave and reduced productivity at work. Generalized estimation equations (6-month time-lag model) were used to study predictors. Sick leave was predicted by high levels of pain [odds ratio (OR) 3.2], poor physical functioning (OR 4.4), and frequent manual materials handling (OR 2.0), whereas supervisors had a lower likelihood of sick leave (OR 0.2). The predictors of reduced productivity at work were intermediate levels of pain (OR 3.1), poor physical functioning (OR 2.8), poor mental health (OR 2.1), and low support from colleagues (OR 2.2), whereas the workers classified as having nonrheumatoid arthritis were less likely to report reduced productivity than those with inflammatory joint complaints without clinical synovitis (OR 0.4). Among the workers with early inflammatory joint conditions, self-reported pain and physical functioning affected performance at work, together with manual materials handling and lack of support from colleagues. Early treatment should target pain and physical functioning, and job interventions should aim at reducing physical workload and increasing coworker support.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Evidence against chronic antigen-specific T lymphocyte activation in myasthenia gravis.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an antigen-specific autoimmune disease caused by antibodies against acetylcholine receptors (AChR) at the post-synaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction. Clinical and immunological data imply the involvement of AChR-specific T lymphocytes as helper cells for autoantibody production. Direct data to support this hypothesis, however, remain sparse. In the present study, a large population of MG patients was studied for evidence of peripheral blood T cell activation by several assays. Assays based on non-specific measurements of T cell activation as well as assays of antigen-specific clonal expansion were utilized. Levels of soluble IL-2 receptor in serum were modestly elevated in some patients, suggesting T cell activation. However, peripheral blood cells did not show evidence of IL-2 receptor expression or enhanced reactivity to IL-2 in culture. Clonable T cells selected for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) mutation, another non-antigen-specific marker for T cell activation, were not seen with increased frequency except in patients treated with purine analogs. Antigen-specific T cell activation was measured by proliferation assays using heterologous and autologous sources of AChR. Antigen-restimulated peripheral blood cell cultures were cloned by limiting dilution. The vast majority of patients failed to show convincing evidence of AChR specific T cell activation or clonal expansion; only 2 of 44 patients demonstrated clonable autologous AChR-specific T cells. An alternative hypothesis of T cell involvement in MG is proposed in which T cell activation is discontinuous and predominantly directed at antigens other than AChR.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Lipid droplet accumulation and lipoprotein lipase activity in the rat salivary gland during the perinatal period.
The submandibular and sublingual glands of foetal and newborn rats aged 21 days in utero to 7 days after birth were examined morphologically and biochemically. Lipid droplets tended to be localized in secretory cells, especially in their basal cytoplasm. The degree of droplet accumulation varied with the age of the rat. No droplets were observed before and immediately after birth. The number of accumulated droplets peaked 24-48 h after birth, then gradually decreased and reached normal levels by 5 days. In the salivary glands of fasted newborn rats, no lipid droplets were observed throughout the experiment. The amount of triacylglycerol reached its maximum level 1 day after birth; it then decreased gradually until 5 days and after that did not change. The amount of cholesterol did not change during postnatal development. Lipase activity attained its maximum level in the salivary glands immediately after birth and then decreased rapidly. It was higher in the glands of fasted than fed 1-day-old rats. Antiserum against lipoprotein lipase inhibited the salivary gland lipase activity in a dose-dependent manner, with 5 microliters of antiserum producing 60-70% inhibition. Non-immune serum had little effect. It was concluded that (1) accumulated lipid in the secretory cell cytoplasm of the salivary glands originates from ingested milk; (2) the principal component of accumulated lipid droplets is triacylglycerol; (3) 60-70% of the total lipase activity represents lipoprotein lipase; (4) an increase of lipoprotein lipase activity is recognizable before the accumulation of triacylglycerol.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Auditive stimulation therapy as an intervention in subacute and chronic tinnitus: a prospective observational study.
Tinnitus is a noise, a ringing, or a roaring sound in the affected ear and is becoming an increasingly serious problem for health care systems. Integrative treatment concepts are currently regarded as promising therapeutic approaches for managing tinnitus. The aim of this study was to present the results of auditive stimulation therapy, a program of music therapy developed specifically for tinnitus treatment. We collected data on outpatient treatment results from 155 tinnitus patients and evaluated them in a prospective observational study with three defined times of measurement (start, end, and 6 months after the end of treatment). Apart from anamnestic data and subjective evaluation of treatment, the major outcome parameter was the score of the tinnitus questionnaire. To evaluate effectiveness of the therapy, we calculated effect sizes (according to Cohen). Fifty-one percent of the patients were male, and the mean patient age was 49 years. Of the 155 patients, 137 (88%) were capable of gainful employment, which means that they fell in the age range between 18 and 65 years. The duration of tinnitus was more than 6 months for 80% of patients, and 43% had been suffering from tinnitus for more than 3 years. In general, all subscales of the tinnitus questionnaire showed highly significant changes (t-test, p < .01) between the measurement points "start of therapy" and "end of therapy," whereas no significant difference was found between the measurement points "end of therapy" and "follow-up". At follow-up, the values of the subscales were stabilized at a level recorded at the end of the therapy; we did not observe a reduction to the level prior to treatment. The values for the effect sizes mostly ranged between medium (> 0.5) and high (> 0.8). Closer investigations indicated that a combination of music therapy and psychological training rendered the best effect sizes. This study demonstrated that music therapy is an effective integrated treatment approach and offers a way to make progress in tinnitus treatment.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The use of endo-GIA vascular staplers in liver surgery and their potential benefit: a review.
Stapling devices have been introduced for safety and to reduce the overall operative time in many surgical procedures. In hepatobiliary surgery, i.e. liver resection, several types of staplers are in use. While transection of hepatic vessels with vascular staplers is well established, their use in dissecting hepatic parenchyma has only been assessed recently. Its advantages were especially a low rate of biliary complications (i.e., bile fistulas, bilioma) and reduced bleeding. As expected, the operative time was decreased dramatically while both the complication rate in general and the overall costs for stapler hepatectomy were comparable with other techniques used in high-volume centers. Thus, endo-GIA vascular staplers can be safely used to dissect the hepatic parenchyma in a routine clinical setting with low incidence of surgical complications.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Plasma vitamin A composition and retinol-binding protein concentration during egg formation in laying hens.
Blood plasma vitamin A composition (retinol, retinyl ester) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) were determined in three phases (empty; soft- and hard egg) of the egg formation period in laying hens. The retinyl ester level remained in the range of 6 to 11% of the total plasma vitamin A concentration during egg formation. The retinol and RBP increased significantly during the time of soft period. The molar ratio between retinol and RBP ranged between 0.72-0.77. The increase of retinol and RBP may be caused by the sexual steroid effect for satisfying the retinoid needs of the ovarium and shell gland (avian uterus).
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Circular beams.
A very general beam solution of the paraxial wave equation in circular cylindrical coordinates is presented. We call such a field a circular beam (CiB). The complex amplitude of the CiB is described by either the Whittaker functions or the confluent hypergeometric functions and is characterized by three parameters that are complex in the most general situation. The propagation through complex ABCD optical systems and the conditions for square integrability are studied in detail. Special cases of the CiB are the standard, elegant, and generalized Laguerre-Gauss beams; Bessel-Gauss beams; hypergeometric beams; hypergeometric-Gaussian beams; fractional-order elegant Laguerre-Gauss beams; quadratic Bessel-Gauss beams; and optical vortex beams.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Reconstructing the hidden states in time course data of stochastic models.
Parameter estimation is central for analyzing models in Systems Biology. The relevance of stochastic modeling in the field is increasing. Therefore, the need for tailored parameter estimation techniques is increasing as well. Challenges for parameter estimation are partial observability, measurement noise, and the computational complexity arising from the dimension of the parameter space. This article extends the multiple shooting for stochastic systems' method, developed for inference in intrinsic stochastic systems. The treatment of extrinsic noise and the estimation of the unobserved states is improved, by taking into account the correlation between unobserved and observed species. This article demonstrates the power of the method on different scenarios of a Lotka-Volterra model, including cases in which the prey population dies out or explodes, and a Calcium oscillation system. Besides showing how the new extension improves the accuracy of the parameter estimates, this article analyzes the accuracy of the state estimates. In contrast to previous approaches, the new approach is well able to estimate states and parameters for all the scenarios. As it does not need stochastic simulations, it is of the same order of speed as conventional least squares parameter estimation methods with respect to computational time.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Improvement of the embalming perfusion method: the innovation and the results by light and scanning electron microscopy.
Embalming is a chemical process that aims the preservation and sanitization of the human body indefinitely. The technique of embalming is an important tool in teaching and research in anatomy enabling the preservation of cadaveric material in good conditions (lessening any significant structural changes and maintaining the natural appearance). This article presents the results of embalmed cadavers in the course of arterial perfusion, through the use of a perfusion machine, particularly designed to this objective, and which allows the control of the embalming fluid injection process. The influence of this technique and the optimization of its parameters on the final quality of embalming were evaluated by sequential histological analysis of the cadaveric tissues using an original method of classification of samples collected from 17 deceased corpses of the Corpses Donation Office of the Department of Anatomy of Faculdade de Ciências Médicas from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, subject to the embalming technique developed in the Department. We concluded that, with this method, there is a decrease of the decomposition process at the time of embalming, which is effective at long term (over a year), requiring merely the maintenance of the body at low temperatures (4° C) and it is possible to observe that the tissue best preserved over time is muscle, showing a conservation considered optimal.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Selective inhibition and naming performance in semantic blocking, picture-word interference, and color-word Stroop tasks.
In 2 studies, we examined whether explicit distractors are necessary and sufficient to evoke selective inhibition in 3 naming tasks: the semantic blocking, picture-word interference, and color-word Stroop task. Delta plots were used to quantify the size of the interference effects as a function of reaction time (RT). Selective inhibition was operationalized as the decrease in the size of the interference effect as a function of naming RT. For all naming tasks, mean naming RTs were significantly longer in the interference condition than in the control condition. The slopes of the interference effects for the longest naming RTs correlated with the magnitude of the mean interference effect in both the semantic blocking task and the picture-word interference task, suggesting that selective inhibition was involved to reduce the interference from strong semantic competitors either invoked by a single explicit competitor or strong implicit competitors in picture naming. However, there was no correlation between the slopes and the mean interference effect in the Stroop task, suggesting less importance of selective inhibition in this task despite explicit distractors. Whereas the results of the semantic blocking task suggest that an explicit distractor is not necessary for triggering inhibition, the results of the Stroop task suggest that such a distractor is not sufficient for evoking inhibition either.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Mental health and the response to financial incentives: Evidence from a survey incentives experiment.
Although mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression are common, there is little research on whether individuals in poor mental health react differently from others to financial incentives. This paper exploits an experiment from the UK Understanding Society Innovation Panel to assess how the participation response to randomly-assigned financial incentives differs by mental health status. We find that individuals in good mental health are more likely to respond when offered a higher financial incentive, whereas those in poor mental health are indifferent to the increased incentive. We find no comparable differences for physical health.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Protease-activated receptors in human airways: upregulation of PAR-2 in respiratory epithelium from patients with asthma.
Protease-activated receptors (PARs), which are G protein-coupled receptors that are activated after proteolytic cleavage of the amino terminus of the receptor, are likely to play a major role in airway inflammation. PARs are activated by endogenous proteases, including thrombin (PAR-1, -3, and -4) and tryptase (PAR-2 and -4), both of which are present in inflamed airways. The purpose of this study was to compare the expression and distribution of PARs in biopsy specimens obtained from asthmatic and normal subjects and to examine the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on PAR expression. Biopsy specimens were obtained from 10 normal and 20 asthmatic patients, and sections were stained for PAR-1, -2, -3, and -4 through use of specific antibodies. Staining was scored semiquantitatively for both intensity and distribution. Staining for all PARs was seen on the epithelium and smooth muscle in biopsy specimens from both normal and asthmatic subjects. In the epithelium, PAR-1 and -3 staining appeared to be apically concentrated, whereas PAR-2 and -4 staining was more diffuse. In normal subjects, epithelial staining intensity of PAR-1 and -3 was significantly greater than for PAR-4 (P < .05). Staining for PAR-1, -3, and -4 in biopsy specimens from asthmatic subjects was similar to that in specimens from normal subjects, irrespective of whether the former were using inhaled corticosteroids. However, PAR-2 staining in asthmatic epithelium was significantly increased in comparison with normal epithelium. Expression of PARs in airway smooth muscle did not differ between groups. Asthma per se is associated with increased PAR-2 expression in bronchial epithelium. Importantly, staining was not influenced by inhaled corticosteroids. These results suggest that PAR-2 might be involved in airway inflammation.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The role of basic sciences in diagnostic oral radiology.
Although it is generally taken for granted that dental education must include both basic science and feature-based knowledge components, little is known about their relative roles in visual interpretation of radiographs. The objectives of this study were twofold. First, we sought to compare the educational efficacy of three learning strategies in diagnostic radiology: one that used basic scientific (pathophysiologic) information, one that used feature lists structured with an organizational tool, and one that used unstructured feature lists. Our second objective was to determine whether basic scientific information provides conceptual coherence or is merely a simple means for organizing feature-based knowledge. Predoctoral dental and undergraduate dental hygiene students (n=96) were randomly assigned into three groups (basic science, structured algorithm, and feature list) and were taught four confusable intrabony entities. The students completed diagnostic and memory tests immediately after learning and one week later, and these data were subjected to a 3x2 repeated measures ANOVA. For the diagnostic test, students in the basic science group outperformed those assigned to the feature list and structured algorithm groups on immediate and delayed testing (p<0.05). A main effect of learning condition was found to be significant. On the memory test, performance was similar across all three groups, and no significant effects were found. The results of this study support the critical role of basic scientific knowledge in diagnostic radiology. This study also refutes the organized learning theory and provides support for the conceptual coherence theory as a possible explanation for the process by which basic science aids in diagnosis.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Effect of the abrasive properties of sedges on the intestinal absorptive surface and resting metabolic rate of root voles.
Recent studies on grasses and sedges suggest that the induction of a mechanism reducing digestibility of plant tissues in response to herbivore damage may drive rodent population cycles. This defence mechanism seems to rely on the abrasive properties of ingested plants. However, the underlying mechanism has not been demonstrated in small wild herbivores. Therefore, we carried out an experiment in which we determined the joint effect of abrasive sedge components on the histological structure of small intestine as well as resting metabolic rate (RMR) of the root vole (Microtus oeconomus). Histological examination revealed that voles fed with a sedge-dominated diet had shorter villi composed from narrower enterocytes in duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Reduction in the height of villi decreased along the small intestine. Activity of the mucus secretion increased along the small intestine and was significantly higher in the ileum. The intestinal abrasion exceeded the compensatory capabilities of voles, which responded to a sedge-dominated diet by a reduction of body mass and a concomitant decrease in whole body RMR. These results explain the inverse association between body mass and the probability of winter survival observed in voles inhabiting homogenous sedge wetlands.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Mass spectrometry for rapid characterization of microorganisms.
Advances in instrumentation, proteomics, and bioinformatics have contributed to the successful applications of mass spectrometry (MS) for detection, identification, and classification of microorganisms. These MS applications are based on the detection of organism-specific biomarker molecules, which allow differentiation between organisms to be made. Intact proteins, their proteolytic peptides, and nonribosomal peptides have been successfully utilized as biomarkers. Sequence-specific fragments for biomarkers are generated by tandem MS of intact proteins or proteolytic peptides, obtained after, for instance, microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis. In combination with proteome database searching, individual biomarker proteins are unambiguously identified from their tandem mass spectra, and from there the source microorganism is also identified. Such top-down or bottom-up proteomics approaches permit rapid, sensitive, and confident characterization of individual microorganisms in mixtures and are reviewed here. Examples of MS-based functional assays for detection of targeted microorganisms, e.g., Bacillus anthracis, in environmental or clinically relevant backgrounds are also reviewed.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Conversations about binge drinking among vocational community college students: the relation with drinking attitudes and intentions and the moderating role of conversation partner popularity.
Objective: The association between conversational valence (i.e. how positive/negative people perceive their conversations to be) and binge-drinking attitudes and intentions has been well established. However, too few studies have recognised a potential reciprocal association as well as the potential role of the conversation partner. In order to address these gaps, this study explored whether conversational valence and binge-drinking attitudes and intentions were reciprocally associated and whether this association was moderated by conversation partner popularity. Design: Vocational community college students (N = 112, Mage = 18.09) participated in a two-wave study (one month between the waves). Methods. Binge-drinking attitudes and intentions, and popularity were measured at baseline. At the second wave, conversational valence, and binge-drinking attitudes and intentions were assessed. Results: In revealing that only conversational valence was indicative of binge-drinking attitudes and intentions, it was shown that conversational valence and binge-drinking attitudes and intentions were not reciprocally associated. Furthermore, it was shown that conversation-partner popularity moderated the association between conversational valence and binge-drinking attitudes. Conclusion: Conversational valence was shown to be indicative of binge-drinking attitudes and intentions, and not vice versa. Furthermore, after talking to a popular conversation partner, adolescents' attitudes towards binge drinking became more positive.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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An electric cutter for all surgical prostheses.
A new electric cutter for surgical prostheses has been developed and was compared with surgical scissors for efficacy. This comparison of the two methods was done by cutting the edges of nine popular prostheses. It was concluded from gross and microscopical results after pulling both edges of the grafts cut by the two methods that the electric cutter is much more effective for surgical prostheses.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Use and toxicity of the colony-stimulating factors.
The colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) have emerged as effective drugs in a variety of clinical situations. These drugs stimulate the production and activity of haematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo. Two members of this group, granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), have been approved in the US and Europe for use following cytotoxic chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation. Other uses of the CSFs include myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anaemia, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cyclic and congenital neutropenias. Although CSFs have generally been well tolerated in clinical use there are a number of theoretical concerns, including disease acceleration, biased stem cell commitment and bone marrow exhaustion. New CSFs are currently under development. Combinations of growth factors in the future may maximise effectiveness while minimising toxicity.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Shelf-life extension of semi-dried buckwheat noodles by the combination of aqueous ozone treatment and modified atmosphere packaging.
The present study investigated the combined effects of aqueous ozone treatment and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on prolonging the shelf-life of semi-dried buckwheat noodles [SBWN; moisture content (22.5±0.5%)] at 25°C. Firstly, the different concentrations of ozonated water were used to make SBWN. Subsequently, SBWN prepared with ozonated water were packaged under six different conditions and stored for 11days. Changes in microbial, chemical-physical, textural properties and sensorial qualities of SWBN were monitored during storage. Microbiological results indicated that adopting 2.21mg/L of ozonated water resulted in a 1.8 log10 CFU/g reduction of the initial microbial loads in SBWN. In addition, MAP suppressed the microbial growth with a concomitant reduction in the rates of acidification and quality deteriorations of SBWN. Finally, the shelf-life of sample packed under N2:CO2=30:70 was extended to 9days, meanwhile textural and sensorial characteristics were maintained during the whole storage period.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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KF26777 (2-(4-bromophenyl)-7,8-dihydro-4-propyl-1H-imidazo[2,1-i]purin-5(4H)-one dihydrochloride), a new potent and selective adenosine A3 receptor antagonist.
We investigated the biochemical and pharmacological properties of a new adenosine A(3) receptor antagonist, KF26777 (2-(4-bromophenyl)-7,8-dihydro-4-propyl-1H-imidazo[2,1-i]purin-5(4H)-one dihydrochloride). This compound was characterized using N(6)-(4-amino-3-iodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide ([125I]AB-MECA) or [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS) binding to membranes from human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells expressing human adenosine A(3) receptors. KF26777 showed a K(i) value of 0.20+/-0.038 nM for human adenosine A(3) receptors labeled with [125I]AB-MECA and possessed 9000-, 2350- and 3100-fold selectivity vs. human adenosine A(1), A(2A) and A(2B) receptors, respectively. The inhibitory mode of binding was competitive. KF26777 inhibited the binding of [35S]GTPgammaS stimulated by 1 microM 2-chloro-N(6)-(3-iodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (Cl-IB-MECA). The IC(50) value was 270+/-85 nM; the compound had no effect on basal activity. Dexamethasone treatment for HL-60 cells, human promyelocytic leukemia, up-regulated functional adenosine A(3) receptors expression, and resulted in the enhanced elevation of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) via the adenosine A(3) receptor. KF26777 antagonized this [Ca(2+)](i) mobilization induced by Cl-IB-MECA, with a K(B) value of 0.42+/-0.14 nM. These results indicate that KF26777 is a highly potent and selective antagonist of the human adenosine A(3) receptor.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Functional expression of CXC chemokine recepter-4 mediates the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases from mouse hepatocarcinoma cell lines with different lymphatic metastasis ability.
CXC chemokine recepter-4 (CXCR4) and its ligand, stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) have been implicated in the organ-specific metastasis of several malignancies. Hca-F and its syngeneic cell line Hca-P are mouse hepatocarcinoma cell lines with high and low potential of lymphatic metastasis, respectively. Previous studies showed that the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) associated with the metastatic ability of Hca-F and Hca-P cell line depending on the lymph node environment. However, the mechanism of this process has remained unclear. This study investigated the roles of CXCR4 on Hca-F cell and SDF-1alpha of lymph node in lymphatic metastasis. The RT-PCR and Flow cytometry analysis results show that Hca-F cells express higher level CXCR4 mRNA and cell-surface CXCR4 protein, as compared with Hca-P cells. Treatment of recombinant SDF-1alpha proteins induced greater amount of calcium-flux in Hca-F cells than that in Hca-P cells, demonstrating higher functional CXCR4 expression on Hca-F cells than that on Hca-P cells. Furthermore, both the cell-free extratcs of lymph node and recombinant SDF-1alpha proteins induced secretions of active MMP-9 and MMP-2 from Hca-F cells in vitro. But those secretions were significantly reduced by blockade of cell surface CXCR4 with rabbit anti-mouse CXCR4 polyclonal antibody (pAb) and neutralization of SDF-1alpha in lymph node extracts with rabbit anti-mouse SDF-1alpha pAb as well. These results suggest that the CXCR4/SDF-1alpha system mediates active MMP-9 and MMP-2 secretion from Hca-F and Hca-P cells, which facilitates lymphogenous metastasis of those cells consequently.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Influence of endogenous factors on the ash, calciu, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, copper and manganese contents in the bristles of pigs. 4. Effect of time of cutting and heredity on the inorganic components in the hair of the pigs (bristles of sows and piglets, newly grown hair)].
Samples of sow bristles were examined every 3 months. The results obtained confirmed the monthly gathered experimental data on the ash content and the Ca, Mg, K, and Na content (P less than 0.05-0.001) of Boar Bristles. Similarly, investigations made every 3 months showed a significant seasonal influence on the concentration of these mineral components in the bristles of the pigs (P less than 0.05-0.001). A comparison was made between newly grown hair and original bristles showing the presence of other yet unknown factors that had a controlling influence on the mineral composition of the hair. The inorganic components in the short newly grown hair were not different from those found in analogous long hair.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Posttraumatic stress symptoms in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and their mothers.
We examined symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and their mothers and the contribution of family functioning, including perceived emotional support and familial conflict, and individual factors including life stress and severity of disease to PTSD symptoms. Participants were 52 adolescent cancer survivors and their mothers and 42 healthy adolescent counterparts and their mothers. Findings revealed that mothers of cancer survivors endorsed more PTSD symptoms than did their healthy counterparts and that survivors and mothers also reported greater recent and past stressful life events. Although no survivors met clinical criteria for a PTSD diagnosis, over 36% endorsed mild subthreshold symptomatology. Findings are discussed in the context of understanding PTSD symptoms within a family systems framework.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The synthesis of 7 alpha-methyl-substituted estrogens labeled with fluorine-18: potential breast tumor imaging agents.
The 7 alpha-methyl substituent is reported to increase the binding affinity of estradiol for the estrogen receptor (ER). In order to evaluate whether this substituent would improve the in vitro binding characteristics and the in vivo tissue distribution of 18F labeled estrogens that we are developing as positron emission tomographic (PET) imaging agents for ER-positive breast tumors, we have prepared four 18F labeled analogs of 7 alpha-methylestradiol. These ligands were labeled in the 16 alpha or 16 beta position with 18F by nucleophilic displacement of the corresponding epimeric estrone trifluoromethanesulfonates with 18F fluoride ion. Lithium aluminum hydride reduction afforded the estradiol (E2) series, while lithium trimethylsilylacetylide addition provided the 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2) series. The decay-corrected yields were 2-35% for a synthesis time of 85 minutes for the E2 series, and 120 minutes for the EE2 series, and the effective specific activities were 158-1213 Ci/mmol. In nearly every case, the 7 alpha-methyl substituent increases ER binding affinity (measured at 25 C) and decreases binding to high affinity serum steroid binding proteins, alphafetoprotein, and sex steroid binding protein; this substituent, however, increases the lipophilicity and the predicted non-specific binding (estimated from octanol-water partition coefficients determined by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography/[HPLC]), with the result that the ratio of ER binding to non-specific binding is nearly the same for the 7 alpha-methyl substituted analogs as for the corresponding unsubstituted analogs. In vivo distribution studies demonstrated a high level of receptor-mediated uptake in receptor-rich target tissues (uterus, ovaries), and in some cases, other tissues with low ER titers (secondary target tissues, e.g., muscle, thymus) showed significant displaceable uptake, presumed to be receptor-mediated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Quantitative determinations of immunoglobulins and complement components in human aortic atherosclerotic wall.
Saline and acid eluates of intima with only fatty streaks, fibrous plaque and intima surrounding the fibrous plaque were obtained from 42 human aortae. IgG, IgA, IgM, C1q, C3c, C4, C9, C3A, C-reactive protein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, albumin, transferrin and fibrinogen were quantitatively determined in these eluates using the radial immunodiffusion technique. Saline extracted IgG and IgA were significantly higher in the fibrous plaque and adjacent tissue than in the fatty streak intima, where IgM was the highest. IgG and IgA were only present in acid eluates. The complement components were present in all saline eluates, but only traces of C3c and C1q in some acid eluates. Statistically significant differences were found for C1q and C9. C-reactive protein was present in 23 samples. The results could suggest an involvement of immune mechanisms in the progression of the atherosclerotic lesion.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[The role of disturbances in the hormonal signaling systems in etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus].
The role of disturbances in the hormonal signaling systems of brain and peripheral tissues in etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM) of the types 1 and 2 is discussed. Available data confirming the hypothesis of central genesis of some forms of DM caused by disturbances in the brain neurotransmitter systems are presented. It is concluded that the study of disturbances in the hormonal signaling systems is a promising approach for development of new strategies of DM treatment, based on correction of these disturbances in the CNS and the periphery.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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How to build optically active alpha-amino acids.
Various methodologies published in the literature dealing with alpha-amino carboxylic acid asymmetric synthesis are presented in a digest form. In each case, only some recent or most typical works are mentioned.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Transcriptional regulation by infliximab therapy in Kawasaki disease patients with immunoglobulin resistance.
Infliximab (IFX), a known monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), is used to treat Kawasaki disease (KD) patients with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance. The transcriptional modulation of inflammation following IFX therapy has not been reported in KD patients. We investigated the transcript abundance profiles in whole blood obtained from eight IVIG-resistant KD subjects treated with IFX therapy using microarray platforms and compared them with those in initially IVIG-responsive subjects. A pathway analysis was performed using WikiPathways to search for the biological pathways of the transcript profiles. Four transcripts changed by IFX therapy were subsequently validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The pathway analysis showed the reduced abundance of transcripts in the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), and inflammatory cytokine pathways and the increased abundance of transcripts in the T-cell receptor, apoptosis, TGF-β, and interleukin-2 pathways. Additionally, the levels of four transcripts (peptidase inhibitor-3, MMP-8, chemokine receptor-2, and pentraxin-3) related to KD vasculitis and IVIG resistance decreased after IFX therapy. The administration of IFX was associated with both the signaling pathways of KD inflammation and several transcripts related to IVIG resistance factors. These findings provide strong theoretical support for the use of IFX in KD patients with IVIG resistance.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Effects of various neuroleptics on rabbit hyperthermia induced by N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and d-amphetamine.
The effects of various neuroleptics were studied on N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT, 3.2 mg/kg) and d-amphetamine (3.2 mg/kg) induced hyperthermia in the rabbit. Complete dose-effect curves were obtained. The order of potency for antagonism of DMT-induced hyperthermia was: methiothepin greater than octoclothepin greater than or equal to oxyprothepin greater than perathiepin greater than dokloxythepin greater than mianserine greater than loxapine greater than oxypertine greater than chlorpromazine greater than pipamperone greater than fluphenazine greater than thiothixene greater than haloperidol greater than molindone. The order of potency for antagonism of d-amphetamine hyperthermia was: haloperidol greater than chlorpromazine greater than oxypertine greater than octoclothepin and methiothepin. For these five drugs, the order of potency for antagonism of amphetamine hyperthermia was the reverse of the order for antagonism of DMT hyperthermia. Methiothepin reduced d-amphetamine-induced hyperthermia effectively at a very high dose (0.32 mg/kg) and variably at lower doses. The results indicate that neuroleptics differ markedly in their specificity of antagonism of DMT and d-amphetamine which may act through different neurotransmitter mechanisms (tryptaminergic vs. adrenergic).
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Complex effects of interleukin 6 on clonogenic blast cell growth in acute myeloblastic leukemia.
The present in vitro study shows how interleukin (IL)-6 modulates clonogenic blast cell growth in complex ways in acute myeloblastic leukemia when used either as a single factor or in different hematopoietic growth factor combinations. In the presence of IL-6, the colony numbers in culture assay decreased to 50 +/- 29% from the basal values (p < 0.001) in 10 cases and increased to 384 +/- 278% of the basal values (p < 0.01) in 5. The inhibitory effect of IL-6 on blast cell colony formation was retained when IL-6 was combined with granulocyte colony stimulating factor, but was lost if IL-6 was used in combination with mast cell growth factor, IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, or IL-4. The stimulatory effect of IL-6 was diminished in the presence of granulocyte colony stimulating factor, but preserved in the presence of other growth factor combinations. IL-6 had a neutral effect on colony growth in 7 cases with acute myeloblastic leukemia. In these cases, however, IL-6 stimulated significantly clonogenic cell growth if combined with mast cell growth factor or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Smoking Prevalence Among Users of Primary Healthcare Units in Brazil: The Role of Religiosity.
The objective of this cross-sectional study is to examine the association between religious involvement and tobacco use in a large representative sample of users of primary healthcare units of Ribeirão Preto, Southeast Brazil. Current and past smoking habits were determined among 1055 users of primary healthcare units. Participants' religiosity was measured using the DUREL questionnaire. The prevalence of smoking among men was 16.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 12.0-22.5] and among women was 12.6% (95% CI 10.4-15.0). Among the current smokers, 40.9% were light smokers, 24.6% were moderate smokers, and 34.5% were heavy smokers. The mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was 13.5. Respondents who have a religion had a lower smoking prevalence than people who had no religion. Current smoking prevalence tended to be higher among people who do not practice their religion than people who practice their religion. Smoking status is also associated with self-reported religiosity, organizational religious activity and some aspects of intrinsic religiosity. Religiosity is an important factor in influencing the smoking behavior in Brazilian users of the public health services.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Early intraneuronal accumulation and increased aggregation of phosphorylated Abeta in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
The progressive accumulation of extracellular amyloid plaques in the brain is a common hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We recently identified a novel species of Aβ phosphorylated at serine residue 8 with increased propensity to form toxic aggregates as compared to non-phosphorylated species. The age-dependent analysis of Aβ depositions using novel monoclonal phosphorylation-state specific antibodies revealed that phosphorylated Aβ variants accumulate first inside of neurons in a mouse model of AD already at 2 month of age. At higher ages, phosphorylated Aβ is also abundantly detected in extracellular plaques. Besides a large overlap in the spatiotemporal deposition of phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated Aβ species, fractionized extraction of Aβ from brains revealed an increased accumulation of phosphorylated Aβ in oligomeric assemblies as compared to non-phosphorylated Aβ in vivo. Thus, phosphorylated Aβ could represent an important species in the formation and stabilization of neurotoxic aggregates, and might be targeted for AD therapy and diagnosis.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Preventing unintended pregnancies and improving contraceptive use among young adult women in a rural, Midwestern state: health promotion implications.
Despite high rates of unintended pregnancy among women aged 18 to 30 years, little research has been conducted to understand the factors associated with their contraceptive use. Eighteen focus groups were conducted with young adult women (N = 106) who were mostly white, non-Hispanic. Results suggested that contraceptive use was negatively affected by low contraceptive knowledge; use of alcohol; a lack of planning for sex; a misperception of the likelihood of pregnancy; forgetting to use contraceptives; and concerns about side effects, cost, and confidentiality. Women liked the peace of mind that using contraceptives gave them and the benefits of regular periods from some hormonal methods. Implications for reducing unintended pregnancies through interventions are offered.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Relaxed rrn expression and amino acid requirement of a Corynebacterium glutamicum rel mutant defective in (p)ppGpp metabolism.
The stringent response in Corynebacterium glutamicum was investigated. Sets of rrn-cat fusions were constructed in their native chromosomal position to examine the effects of amino acid starvation in a rel(+) strain and a Deltarel mutant defective in (p)ppGpp metabolism. The expression of the six rrn operons in the rel(+) control was stringently regulated and reduced to 79% upon induction of amino acid starvation. The Deltarel mutant displayed a relaxed regulation and was unable to reduce the rrn expression under amino acid depletion conditions. In addition, the Deltarel mutant grew more slowly in minimal medium than a rel(+) control. This growth effect was restored by a plasmid-encoded copy of rel or, alternatively, by supplementation of the minimal medium with the amino acid mixture casamino acids. In particular, the Deltarel strain of C. glutamicum displayed a requirement for the amino acids histidine and serine.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Multi-locus species delimitation in closely related animals and fungi: one marker is not enough.
Despite taxonomy's 250-year history, the past 20 years have borne witness to remarkable advances in technology and techniques, as well as debate. DNA barcoding has generated a substantial proportion of this debate, with its proposition that a single mitochondrial sequence will consistently identify and delimit species, replacing more evidence-rich and time-intensive methods. Although mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has since been the focus of voluminous discussion and case studies, little effort has been made to comprehensively evaluate its success in delimiting closely related species. We have conducted the first broadly comparative literature review addressing the efficacy of molecular markers for delimiting such species over a broad taxonomic range. By considering only closely related species, we sought to avoid confusion of success rates with those due to deeply divergent taxa. We also address whether increased population-level or geographic sampling affects delimitation success. Based on the results from 101 studies, we found that all marker groups had approximately equal success rates (~70%) in delimiting closely related species and that the use of additional loci increased average delimitation success. We also found no relationship between increased sampling of intraspecific variability and delimitation success. Ultimately, our results support a multi-locus integrative approach to species delimitation and taxonomy.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Simultaneous ocular and systemic cysticercosis and tuberculosis.
Human cysticercosis and tuberculosis are endemic diseases in developing countries. Both these diseases have certain common factors of origin. We would like to present the co-existence of these infections in a 20-year-old female. She was a known case of pulmonary and ocular tuberculosis and she acquired cysticercosis of the eye and brain.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[A change of the medium salinity as a functional load for evaluation of physiological state of the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus].
The necessity of developing criteria for evaluation of the functional state of benthic invertebrates for toxicological studies or for their use as biosensors in systems of the water quality biomonitoring is emphasized. It is proposed to evaluate the organism state with aid of standard test actions dosed by strength and duration. For freshwater crayfish, such action--the functional load--can be the medium salinity change by 1%o, which can be achieved by addition of sodium chloride. Peculiarities of the response reaction of the crayfish cardiac system to such action have been shown by non-invasive method of recording of cardiac activity.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Antioxidant activity of diterpenes and polyphenols from Ophryosporus heptanthus.
The antioxidant activity of 14 compounds (1-14) isolated from the ether and butanolic extracts of the aerial parts of Ophryosporus heptanthus has been assayed using a beta-carotene bleaching method and the DPPH technique. Compounds 1 and 13 showed the most potent antioxidant activity. Their structures have been established by spectroscopic techniques (mainly NMR). Compounds 7 and 12 are new natural products, and their structures have been confirmed by chemical synthesis.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Hemocyanin from Tachypleus gigas. II. Cooperative interactions of the subunits.
Six subunits (I to VI) were isolated from hemocyanin of an Asian horseshoe crab, Tachypleus gigas, by anion exchange chromatography of the dissociated hemocyanin. The subunit preparations were nearly homogeneous as judged by alkaline electrophoresis, but they still showed the presence of isoproteins in isoelectric focusing. The subunits were reassembled (in 10 mM CaCl2 at pH 7.5) and tested for restoration of the cooperativity in O2 binding. The reassembly of the subunits gave equilibrium mixtures of the monomer and hexamer with small amounts of larger molecules. Homogeneous and heterogeneous hexamers were prepared by reassembling a single kind or two kinds of subunits, followed by isolation of the hexamer fraction by gel filtration. Among the homohexamers, only the subunit V hexamer showed cooperativity in O2 binding with the Hill coefficient of 1.6. Among the heterohexamers the subunit I/V hybrid was most noteworthy, showing a Hill coefficient (1.7) higher than that of any other heterohexamer examined. It was concluded that there are specific interactions between the subunits I and V. It is suggested that their interactions are important for the cooperativity in the native hemocyanin.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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IL-17 silencing does not protect nonobese diabetic mice from autoimmune diabetes.
The long-held view that many autoimmune disorders are primarily driven by a Th1 response has been challenged by the discovery of Th17 cells. Since the identification of this distinct T cell subset, Th17 cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Type 1 diabetes has also long been considered a Th1-dependent disease. In light of the emerging role for Th17 cells in autoimmunity, several recent studies investigated the potential of this subset to initiate autoimmune diabetes. However, direct evidence supporting the involvement of Th17 cells in actual pathogenesis, particularly during spontaneous onset, is lacking. In this study, we sought to directly address the role of IL-17, the cytokine by which Th17 cells are primarily characterized, in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes. We used lentiviral transgenesis to generate NOD mice in which IL-17 is silenced by RNA interference. The loss of IL-17 had no effect on the frequency of spontaneous or cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes. In contrast, IL-17 silencing in transgenic NOD mice was sufficient to reduce the severity of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, consistent with reports that IL-17 deficiency is protective in this experimental model of multiple sclerosis. We concluded that IL-17 is dispensable, at least in large part, in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Psychological Determinants of Heart Failure Self-Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Psychological distress has been associated with poor outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure (HF), which is assumed to be partly due to poor HF self-care behavior. This systematic review and meta-analysis describes the current evidence concerning psychological determinants of self-care in patients with chronic HF. Eligible studies were systematically identified by searching electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, and the Conference Proceedings Citation Index (Web of Science) for relevant literature (1980-October 17, 2014). Study quality was assessed according to the level of risk of bias. Quantitative data were pooled using random-effects models. Sixty-five studies were identified for inclusion that varied considerably with respect to sample and study characteristics. Risk of bias was high in the reviewed studies and most problematic with regard to selection bias (67%). Depression (r = -0.19, p < .001), self-efficacy (r = 0.37, p < .001), and mental well-being (r = 0.14, p = .030) were significantly associated with self-reported self-care. Anxiety was not significantly associated with either self-reported (r = -0.18, p = .24) or objective self-care (r = -0.04, p = .79), neither was depression associated with objectively measured medication adherence (r = -0.05, p = .44). Psychological factors (depression, self-efficacy, and mental well-being) were associated with specific self-care facets in patients with chronic HF. These associations were predominantly observed with self-reported indices of self-care and not objective indices. Methodological heterogeneity and limitations preclude definite conclusions about the association between psychological factors and self-care and should be addressed in future research.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Selective growth and ordering of SiGe nanowires for band gap engineering.
Selective growth and self-organization of silicon-germanium (SiGe) nanowires (NWs) on focused ion beam (FIB) patterned Si(111) substrates is reported. In its first step, the process involves the selective synthesis of Au catalysts in SiO₂-free areas; its second step involves the preferential nucleation and growth of SiGe NWs on the catalysts. The selective synthesis process is based on a simple, room-temperature reduction of gold salts (Au³⁺Cl₄⁻) in aqueous solution, which provides well-organized Au catalysts. By optimizing the reduction process, we are able to generate a bidimensional regular array of Au catalysts with self-limited sizes positioned in SiO₂-free windows opened in a SiO₂/Si(111) substrate by FIB patterning. Such Au catalysts subsequently serve as preferential nucleation and growth sites of well-organized NWs. Furthermore, these NWs with tunable position and size exhibit the relevant features and bright luminescence that would find several applications in optoelectronic nanodevices.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Immunization update: a community-based nursing education program.
Nurses play key roles as advocates, educators, and researchers to eliminate barriers to access as well as educate the public on the importance of vaccines for children in the United States. Fifty-four nurses attending a community-based immunization program completed a pretest questionnaire which included identification of related practice behaviors and general knowledge questions. Twenty-four responded to a similar posttest survey 6 months later. The investigators compared knowledge pretest and posttest scores with a t test. Behavioral changes were compared between the pretest and posttest group by analyzing the percentage of change between the time period. The mean score in the knowledge section increased significantly from a pretest mean of 52% to 75% during the posttest period (p < 005). Behavior change was not statistically significant because of the low number of posttest responses indicating actual immunization practices in the clinical setting. The investigators analyzed trends in practice by comparing percentages of responses. These findings suggest that a multifaceted, community-based nursing continuing education program including both local, ethnic community perspectives and information related to the latest standards of practice can impact knowledge levels and some practice behaviors.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Neonatal Morbidity Count Is Associated With a Reduced Likelihood of Achieving Recommendations for Protein, Lipid, and Energy in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Serious morbidity may elevate nutrient requirements and affect adherence to feeding guidelines for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. An understanding of factors affecting nutrient intakes of VLBW infants will facilitate development of strategies to improve nutrient provision. Our aim was to examine the impact of neonatal morbidity count on achieving recommended nutrient intakes in VLBW infants. VLBW infants enrolled in the Donor Milk for Improved Neurodevelopmental Outcomes trial (ISRCTN35317141, n = 363) were included. Serious morbidities and daily parenteral and enteral intakes were collected prospectively. Median intakes of infants with and without ≥1 morbidity met protein recommendations (3.5-4.5 g/kg/d) by week 2, although not maintained after week 4. Infants with ≥1 morbidity (vs without) were 2 weeks slower in achieving lipid (4.8-6.6 g/kg/d; week 4 vs 2) and energy (110-130 kcal/kg/d; week 5 vs 3) and 1 week slower in achieving carbohydrate recommendations (11.6-13.2 g/kg/d; week 4 vs 3). Adjusted hazard ratios of first achieving recommendations on any given day in infants with any 1 or 2 morbidities were 0.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-0.9) and 0.6 (0.4-0.9), respectively, for protein; 0.5 (0.4-0.7) and 0.3 (0.2-0.5) for lipid; and 0.5 (0.4-0.7) and 0.3 (0.2-0.4) for energy. Morbidity is associated with a decreased likelihood of achieving lipid and consequently energy recommendations. This and the decline in protein intakes after the early neonatal period require further investigation to ensure optimal nutrition in this vulnerable population.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Prevention of extremities amputation in patients with diabetic foot complications].
In order to decrease the number of amputations for "diabetic foot", these patients should undergo elective or delayed operations. It is obligatory before the operation to correct carbohydrate metabolism and hemodynamics. Sodium succinate in combination with conventional angioprotective treatment is used for this purpose. Microcirculation is evaluated using oxymonitor ISM-2 and tetrapolar rheography. Blood flow disturbances are evaluated according to ultrasound dopplerography data. Operations are performed with the use of a primary or delayed suture at the definite level of the extremity where oxygen tension of the skin is not lower than 33 mm Hg, and the index of minute blood flow--not lower than 1.8 ml/min per 100 cm3 of the tissue. When operating on the foot it is obligatory to leave loose excessive brims of tissues to facilitate the placement of broad-grip sutures without tension. It is advisable to use through flowing--aspiration drainage and to perform surgical treatment of the deep phlegmon of the foot through club-shaped approach.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Synthesis and photochemical properties of a novel iron-sulfur-nitrosyl cluster derivatized with the pendant chromophore protoporphyrin IX.
The novel Roussin red-salt ester (PPIX-RSE) with a pendant porphyrin chromophore was prepared and investigated as a precursor for the photochemical generation of nitric oxide. PPIX-RSE has the general formula Fe(2)(NO)(4)[(mu-S,mu-S')P] (where (S,S')P is the bis(2-thiolatoethyl) diester of protoporphyrin IX. The photoexcitation of PPIX-RSE with 436- or 546-nm light in an aerated chloroform solution led to the photodecomposition of the cluster with the respective quantum yields (5.2 +/- 0.7) x 10(-4) and (2.5 +/- 0.5 x 10(-4)) and the concomitant release of NO. PPIX-RSE is a significantly more effective NO generator at longer wavelength excitation than are other Fe(2)(mu-SR)(2)(NO)(4) esters for which R is a simple alkyl group such as CH(3)CH(2)- because of the much higher absorptivity of the pendant PPIX chromophore at these wavelengths and a modestly higher quantum yield. Fluorescence intensity and lifetime data indicate that the photoexcited porphyrin of PPIX-RSE is largely quenched by the energy transfer to the Fe(2)S(2)(NO)(4) cluster's core. However, a small fraction of this emission is not quenched, and it is proposed that PPIX-RSE may exist in solution as two conformers.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Addition-subtraction osteotomy with ligamentoplasty for symptomatic trapezial dysplasia with metacarpal instability.
Trapeziometacarpal instability with trapezial dysplasia is a disabling condition long before the radiological changes of osteoarthritis appear. In dysplastic joints surgical soft tissue correction fails to prevent the instability, requiring a correction of the bony anatomy. We combined two techniques described in the past, an abduction osteotomy of the first metacarpal and an opening wedge osteotomy of the trapezium, to which we added a ligament reconstruction. The combination of both osteotomy techniques restores the anatomy and centres the forces acting across the joint. We have done this procedure 21 times since 2003 in 18 patients. Seventeen thumbs were reviewed prospectively with a mean follow-up of 39 (range 16-65) months. Mean QuickDASH improved by 33.9 points, the key pinch improved by 1.8 kg and the grip strength improved by 8.7 kg. The visual analogue scale for pain improved from 7.9 preoperatively to 2 postoperatively. This technique preserves the trapeziometacarpal joint, allowing other techniques to be used if painful arthritis should develop in the middle to long term.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Blood levels of cadmium and lead in relation to breast cancer risk in three prospective cohorts.
Cadmium and lead have been classified as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, their associations with breast cancer risk are unknown despite their persistence in the environment and ubiquitous human exposure. We examined associations of circulating levels of cadmium and lead with breast cancer risk in three case-control studies nested within the Cancer Prevention Study-II (CPS-II) LifeLink Cohort, European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition - Italy (EPIC-Italy) and the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study (NSHDS) cohorts. Metal levels were measured in stored erythrocytes from 1,435 cases and 1,433 controls using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Summary relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models with each study result weighted by the within- and between-study variances. I2 values were calculated to estimate proportion of between study variation. Using common cut-points, cadmium levels were not associated with breast cancer risk in the CPS-II cohort (continuous RR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.76-1.34), but were inversely associated with risk in the EPIC- Italy (continuous RR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.61-1.03) and NSHDS cohorts (continuous RR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.54-0.97). The inverse association was also evident in the meta-analysis (continuous RR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.69-1.01) with low between-study heterogeneity. Large differences in lead level distributions precluded a meta-analysis of their association with breast cancer risk; no associations were found in the three studies. Adult cadmium and lead levels were not associated with higher risk of breast cancer in our large meta-analysis.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The tumour suppressor, miR-137, inhibits malignant melanoma migration by targetting the TBX3 transcription factor.
The transcription factor, TBX3, is a key driver of malignant melanoma and any drug that impacts its expression is likely to have an impact on the treatment of this highly aggressive and treatment resistant cancer. Replacement of miRNAs that target oncogenes has gained much attention as a therapy because it is anticipated to be effective with little side-effects since miRNAs are naturally occurring and often target large set of genes in the same oncogenic pathway. Here we show that miR-137 levels correlate inversely with TBX3 mRNA levels in a panel of melanoma cell lines and in a cohort of patients with primary melanoma. Low levels of miR-137 and high levels of TBX3 are shown to be associated with poor patient survival. We show that miR-137 binds a conserved site in the TBX3 3' untranslated region and that a miR-137 mimic significantly reduces endogenous levels of TBX3 and inhibits anchorage independent growth and migration of malignant melanoma cells. Novel data are provided that the miR-137/TBX3/E-cadherin axis plays an important role in melanomagenesis and that miR-137 replacement is a potential therapeutic approach for treating melanomas.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Surface immobilization of bio-functionalized cubosomes: sensing of proteins by quartz crystal microbalance.
A strategy for tethering lipid liquid crystalline submicrometer particles (cubosomes) to a gold surface for the detection of proteins is reported. Time-resolved quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D) was used to monitor the cubosome-protein interaction in real time. To achieve specific binding, cubosomes were prepared from the nonionic surfactant phytantriol, block-copolymer, Pluronic F-127, and a secondary biotinylated lipid, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[biotinyl(polyethyleneglycol)-2000], which enabled attachment of the particles to a neutravidin (NAv)-alkanethiol monolayer at the gold surface of the QCM sensor chip. A second set of cubosomes was further functionalized with addition of the glycolipid (G(M1)) to facilitate a specific binding uptake of the protein, cholera toxin B subunit (CT(B)), from solution. QCM-D confirmed the specificity of the cubosome-NAv binding. The analysis of titration experiments, also performed with QCM, suggests that an optimal concentration of cubosomes is required for the efficient packing of the particles at the surface: high cubosome concentrations lead to chaotic cubosome binding onto the surface, sterically inhibiting surface attachment, or require significant reorganization to permit uniform cubosome coverage. The methodology enabled the straightforward preparation of a complex nanostructured edifice, which was then used to specifically capture analyte proteins (cholera toxin B subunit or free NAv) from solution, supporting the potential for development of this approach as a biosensing platform.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Scutellaria baicalensis, a herbal medicine: anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity against acute lymphocytic leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma cell lines.
Scutellaria baicalensis (S.B.) is a widely used Chinese herbal medicine. We initially investigated its in vitro anti-tumor activities. S.B inhibited the growth of ALL, lymphoma and myeloma cell lines by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at clinically achievable concentrations. The anti-proliferative effect was associated with mitochondrial damage, modulation of the Bcl family of genes, increased level of the CDK inhibitor p27(KIP1) and decreased level of c-myc oncogene. HPLC analysis of S.B. showed it contains 21% baicalin and further studies confirmed it was the major anti-cancer component of S.B. Thus, Scutellaria baicalensis should be tested in clinical trials for these hematopoietic malignancies.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Acquisition of chemoresistance to gemcitabine is induced by a loss-of-function missense mutation of DCK.
The anti-tumor activity of gemcitabine (GEM) has been clinically proven in several solid tumors, including pancreatic cancer, biliary tract cancer, urinary bladder cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. However, problems remain with issues such as acquisition of chemoresistance against GEM. GEM is activated after phosphorylation by deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) inside of the cell; thus, DCK inactivation is one of the important mechanisms for acquisition of GEM resistance. We previously investigated the DCK gene in multiple GEM resistant cancer cell lines and identified frequent inactivating mutations. In this study, we identified two crucial genetic alteration in DCK. (1) A total deletion of DCK in RTGBC1-TKB, an acquired GEM resistant cell line derived from a gall bladder cancer cell line TGBC1-TKB. (2) An E197K missense alteration of DCK in MKN28, a gastric cancer cell line; its acquired GEM resistant cancer cell line, RMKN28, showed a loss of the normal E197 allele. We introduced either normal DCK or altered DCK_E197K into RMKN28 and proved that only the introduction of normal DCK restored GEM sensitivity. Furthermore, we analyzed 104 healthy volunteers and found that none of them carried the same base substitution observed in MKN28. These results strongly suggest that (1) the E197K alteration in DCK causes inactivation of DCK, and that (2) loss of the normal E197 allele is the crucial mechanism in acquisition of GEM resistance in RMKN28.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Overview of lymphoid neoplasms in the fourth edition of the WHO classification].
The fourth edition of the "WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid tissues" was published in 2008 as an updated version of the third edition published in 2001. In this review, the revised points in the lymphoid neoplasms in the fourth edition were summarized from the viewpoint of doctors and medical technologists in clinical laboratories in hospitals. The diseases are classified based on information about morphology, immunophenotype, genetic features, and clinical features. B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma with 7 recurrent genetic abnormalities is individually classified as a provisional entity. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is divided into two entities, ALK positive and ALK-negative. The pathogenesis of the former is involved with ALK gene rearrangement with several partner genes. Two borderline categories between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Burkitt lymphoma, and between DLBCL and classical Hodgkin lymphoma are newly recognized as a distinct disease entity based on the overlapping morphological and genetic features. In the diagnosis of lymphoid neoplasms, understanding the morphological features is fundamental. On the other hand, the importance of immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry to clarify the immunophenotype, and chromosomal analysis and genetic examination to clarify the genetic features has been raised.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Temperature-dependent formation of octadecylsiloxane self-assembled monolayers on mica as studied by atomic force microscopy.
We have investigated the growth of octadecylsiloxane (ODS) self-assembled monolayers on mica. Freshly cleaved muscovite mica and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) dissolved in toluene (c = 1.0 mmol/L) have been used as substrate and precursor, respectively. The water content of the adsorption solution was between 14.6 and 16.6 mmol/L. Adsorption experiments were carried out in a temperature range between 5 and 45 degrees C, and the obtained submonolayer ODS films were characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Besides the morphology of the films, also information on the surface coverage has been obtained by quantitative evaluation of the AFM images. Depending on the temperature, evidence for both ordered and disordered expanded ODS phases has been found. The pronounced maximum in surface coverage--in contrast to adsorption on silicon substrates--at a temperature of about 27 degrees C and the different morphology of the submonolayer films as compared to silicon substrates could be explained in terms of a deposition, diffusion, and aggregation (DDA) model.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Correlation between dissociation and catalysis of SARS-CoV main protease.
The dimeric interface of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus main protease is a potential target for the anti-SARS drug development. We have generated C-terminal truncated mutants by serial truncations. The quaternary structure of the enzyme was analyzed using both sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium analytical ultracentrifugation. Global analysis of the combined results showed that truncation of C-terminus from 306 to 300 had no appreciable effect on the quaternary structure, and the enzyme remained catalytically active. However, further deletion of Gln-299 or Arg-298 drastically decreased the enzyme activity to 1-2% of wild type (WT), and the major form was a monomeric one. Detailed analysis of the point mutants of these two amino acid residues and their nearby hydrogen bond partner Ser-123 and Ser-139 revealed a strong correlation between the enzyme activity loss and dimer dissociation.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Audiograms of three subterranean rodent species (genus Fukomys) determined by auditory brainstem responses reveal extremely poor high-frequency hearing.
Life underground has shaped the auditory sense of subterranean mammals, shifting their hearing range to low frequencies. Mole-rats of the genus Fukomys have, however, been suggested to hear at frequencies up to 18.5 kHz, unusually high for a subterranean rodent. We present audiograms of three mole-rat species, Fukomys anselli, Fukomys micklemi and the giant mole-rat Fukomys mechowii, based on evoked auditory brainstem potentials. All species showed low sensitivity and restricted hearing ranges at 60 dB SPL extending from 125 Hz to 4 kHz (5 octaves) with most-sensitive hearing between 0.8 kHz and 1.4 kHz. The high-frequency cut-offs are the lowest found in mammals to date. In contrast to predictions from middle ear morphology, F. mechowii did not show higher sensitivity than F. anselli in the low-frequency range. These data suggest that the hearing range of Fukomys mole-rats is highly restricted to low frequencies and similar to that of other subterranean mammals.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Evaluation of the degree of tryptophan residue immersion into the lipid phase of low density serum lipoproteins].
Based on the theory of inductive resonance energy transfer, it was demonstrated that in a two-phase waterlipid system the efficiency of the transfer from the donor to the acceptor, which is evenly distributed in the lipid phase, depends on the donor localization with respect to the interface. The inductive resonance energy transfer from the tryptophane residues of protein of low density serum lipoproteins (LDL) to the pyrene fluorescent probe distributed in the lipid phase of LDL was studied. The degree of immersion of the tryptophane residues with respect to the LDL surface is 11,6 +/- 2,6 A. Among the existing models of LDL where the proteins are localized at 20--80 A above the particle surface or are arranged in a monolayer on the particle surface, the first one does not coincide with the experimental data, whereas the second one agrees well with them.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Pros and cons of automatic milking in Europe.
During the last several decades, new milking management systems have been introduced, of which development of automatic milking (AM) systems is a significant step forward. In Europe, AM has become an established management system and has shown to be much more than milking management. Factors such as milking, milk quality, feeding, cow traffic, grazing, and animal behavior are essential elements of AM. This system offers possibilities for more frequent milking and can be adapted to lactational stage. Increased milk yield with AM has been observed, but lack of increased production has also been reported from the field, probably due to less attention paid to the total management system. The AM system provides consistent milking routines, with those for teat stimulation and feeding during milking giving an adequate oxytocin release and milk ejection. Initially, reduced milk quality, such as increased FFA, total bacteria count, and somatic cell count (SCC), was observed. Increased FFA could be due to increased milking frequency or handling of the milk, although this has not yet been determined. The elevated total bacteria count was probably due to mismanagement because later studies indicated that teat cleaning in AM is sufficient to reduce spores and dirt on the teats. Significant positive effects on udder health and teat treatment were observed in some studies, possibly as an effect of quarter milking, a procedure whereby an individual teat cup is detached when milk flow is below the preset level for detachment. Well-functioning cow traffic is a prerequisite for successful AM system performance to obtain an optimal number of visits to the feeding area and the milking parlor for all cows. Technical stoppages in the AM system (i.e., the milking unit) increased milk SCC, and the variation and length of the milking interval seem to contribute to elevated SCC. Grazing is a common management routine in many countries. Different ways to motivate the cows to visit the milking parlor, such as shorter distance between barn and pasture, supplement feeding, access to water, and use of acoustic signals, have been tested. It was concluded that use of AM and grazing systems together is possible as long as the distance from the milking parlor to pasture is short. With proper management routines, it is possible to achieve a production level and animal well-being in AM systems that are at least as good as in conventional milking systems.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Mice heterozygous for mutation in Atm, the gene involved in ataxia-telangiectasia, have heightened susceptibility to cancer.
Ataxia-telangiectasia is characterized by radiosensitivity, genome instability and predisposition to cancer. Heterozygous carriers of ATM, the gene defective in ataxia-telangiectasia, have a higher than normal risk of developing breast and other cancers. We demonstrate here that Atm 'knock-in' (Atm-Delta SRI) heterozygous mice harboring an in-frame deletion corresponding to the human 7636del9 mutation show an increased susceptibility to developing tumors. In contrast, no tumors are observed in Atm knockout (Atm(+/-)) heterozygous mice. In parallel, we report the appearance of tumors in 6 humans from 12 families who are heterozygous for the 7636del9 mutation. Expression of ATM cDNA containing the 7636del9 mutation had a dominant-negative effect in control cells, inhibiting radiation-induced ATM kinase activity in vivo and in vitro. This reduces the survival of these cells after radiation exposure and enhances the level of radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations. These results show for the first time that mouse carriers of a mutated Atm that are capable of expressing Atm have a higher risk of cancer. This finding provides further support for cancer predisposition in human ataxia-telangiectasia carriers.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Compressive force-produced CCN2 induces osteocyte apoptosis through ERK1/2 pathway.
Osteocytes produce various factors that mediate the onset of bone formation and resorption and play roles in maintaining bone homeostasis and remodeling in response to mechanical stimuli. One such factor, CCN2, is thought to play a significant role in osteocyte responses to mechanical stimuli, but its function in osteocytes is not well understood. Here, we showed that CCN2 induces apoptosis in osteocytes under compressive force loading. Compressive force increased CCN2 gene expression and production, and induced apoptosis in osteocytes. Application of exogenous CCN2 protein induced apoptosis, and a neutralizing CCN2 antibody blocked loading-induced apoptosis. We further examined how CCN2 induces loaded osteocyte apoptosis. In loaded osteocytes, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) was activated, and an ERK1/2 inhibitor blocked loading-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, application of exogenous CCN2 protein caused ERK1/2 activation, and the neutralizing CCN2 antibody inhibited loading-induced ERK1/2 activation. Therefore, this study demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge that enhanced production of CCN2 in osteocytes under compressive force loading induces apoptosis through activation of ERK1/2 pathway.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Natural Disasters and Public Health.
2018 brought multiple, unprecedented natural disasters, including hurricanes, floods, and in the United States, the deadliest wildfire in California's history. After the immediate emergency is over and the media attention wanes, communities must deal with the long process of recovering and rebuilding. Yet, some of the greatest challenges that disaster victims face come not only from the disaster itself but also from the long-term health problems stemming from the event. In the immediate aftermath, physical injuries and infections must be treated and controlled. Long-term needs include mental and psychological assistance and reinstatement of the infrastructure of the health services system. While immediate casualty numbers are often cited following a natural disaster, it's the insidious and long-lasting health effects that can hurt communities for years.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Evaluation of a commercial exoantigen test system for the rapid identification of systemic fungal pathogens.
Seventy-nine mycelial-form stock cultures of Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, Histoplasma capsulatum, and morphologically similar fungi were extracted and tested by using commercial macroimmunodiffusion exoantigen test kits and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reference system for identifying fungal isolates. Results showed 100% correlation between the two systems. Specific exoantigens of C. immitis and H. capsulatum extracted from agar slant cultures (slant extraction method) readily were identified. In eight of 26 cultures of B. dermatitidis, broth culture filtrates (broth-shake-flask method) were required to demonstrate the specific bands of identity. No false-negative reactions or cross-reactivity among the pathogens and other fungi were observed. The commercial test kits provided a rapid and specific method for identifying or confirming suspected fungal pathogens.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Percutaneous bypass: subintimal recanalization of peripheral occlusive disease with IVUS guided luminal re-entry.
Angioplasty of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) has lower technical success rates with longer procedure times and poorer outcomes. Subintimal recanalization remains limited by the lack of controlled re-entry into the true lumen of the target vessel. We report our experience using a commercially available catheter-based system equipped with an intravascular ultrasound scanner to achieve controlled true lumen re-entry in patients with peripheral CTOs. In a 4-month period, 6 patients with lower extremity (LE) ischemia from CTOs were treated. Occluded segments were crossed subintimally, and controlled re-entry was secured using the CrossPoint TransAccess catheter. This 6.2 F dual-lumen catheter contains an integrated 64-element phased array intravascular ultrasound scanner enabling targeting of structures. Intravascular ultrasound-guided luminal re-entry was achieved by advancing a 24-gauge needle to a desired length and delivering a 0.014" guide wire into the target lumen. The occluded segments were balloon dilated and stented using self-expanding nitinol stents. Effective luminal re-entry and re-establishment of antegrade flow occurred in all 6 patients. Time to recanalization ranged from 5 to 10 minutes. All patients were free of ischemic symptoms at 1 to 5 month follow-up. There were no procedure-related complications. Our preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of using this catheter system for subintimal recanalization with controlled re-entry in CTOs. This approach can improve the technical success rate, reduce the time of the procedure, and minimize potential complications.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Discussion on randomized controlled trials about clinical researches of acupuncture and moxibustion medicine].
The characteristics of clinical tests of acupuncture and moxibustion were analyzed by studies of the literature about clinical evidence-based trials of acupuncture and moxibustion medicine at present and on the basis of full analysis on the cause of insufficient evidence of clinical researches of acupuncture and moxibustion, in combination with the authors' experiences of clinical studies, and it is put forward that future clinical researches of acupuncture and moxibustion medicine should actively search for new research methods, insist evidence-based acupuncture and moxibustion medical researches, pay attention to retaining own researching characteristics of the acupuncture and moxibustion medicine, accumulate experiences, gradually establish and perfect the assessment system conforming with clinical research methods of acupuncture and moxibustion medicine, elevate the position of acupuncture and moxibustion medicine and develop the acupuncture and moxibustion medicine.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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SIRT1 regulates the histone methyl-transferase SUV39H1 during heterochromatin formation.
In contrast to stably repressive, constitutive heterochromatin and stably active, euchromatin, facultative heterochromatin has the capacity to alternate between repressive and activated states of transcription. As such, it is an instructive source to understand the molecular basis for changes in chromatin structure that correlate with transcriptional status. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and suppressor of variegation 3-9 homologue 1 (SUV39H1) are amongst the enzymes responsible for chromatin modulations associated with facultative heterochromatin formation. SUV39H1 is the principal enzyme responsible for the accumulation of histone H3 containing a tri-methyl group at its lysine 9 position (H3K9me3) in regions of heterochromatin. SIRT1 is an NAD+-dependent deacetylase that targets histone H4 at lysine 16 (refs 3 and 4), and through an unknown mechanism facilitates increased levels of H3K9me3 (ref. 3). Here we show that the mammalian histone methyltransferase SUV39H1 is itself targeted by the histone deacetylase SIRT1 and that SUV39H1 activity is regulated by acetylation at lysine residue 266 in its catalytic SET domain. SIRT1 interacts directly with, recruits and deacetylates SUV39H1, and these activities independently contribute to elevated levels of SUV39H1 activity resulting in increased levels of the H3K9me3 modification. Loss of SIRT1 greatly affects SUV39H1-dependent H3K9me3 and impairs localization of heterochromatin protein 1. These findings demonstrate a functional link between the heterochromatin-related histone methyltransferase SUV39H1 and the histone deacetylase SIRT1.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Aβ43 is the earliest-depositing Aβ species in APP transgenic mouse brain and is converted to Aβ41 by two active domains of ACE.
Amyloid-β protein (Aβ) varies in length at its carboxyl terminus. The longer Aβ species, Aβ43 and Aβ42, are highly amyloidogenic and deposit more frequently than Aβ40 in the brain of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients. However, the characterization of Aβ43 deposition in the brain and the relationship between Aβ43 and Aβ42 or Aβ40 remain unclear. We provide evidence that Aβ43 deposition appears earlier than Aβ42 and Aβ40 deposition in the brain of mutant amyloid precursor protein transgenic (APPtg) mice, suggesting that Aβ43 is the earliest-depositing species. In addition, we found increased Aβ43 levels and Aβ43/Aβ42 ratios in the serum of AD patients, suggesting their use as diagnostic blood biomarkers for AD. We further show that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) converts Aβ43 to Aβ41. Notably, this Aβ43-to-Aβ41 converting activity requires two active domains of ACE. Inhibition of ACE activity significantly enhanced Aβ43 deposition in APPtg mouse brain. Our results suggest that Aβ43 is the earliest-depositing species in brain parenchyma and that Aβ43 may trigger later Aβ42 and Aβ40 deposition or may be converted to Aβ42 and Aβ40 plaques. Activities of both ACE domains may be important for reducing Aβ43 levels in serum and reducing brain Aβ43 deposition.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Toxic nodular goiter and cancer: a compelling case for thyroidectomy.
Recent American Thyroid Association guidelines call for thyroidectomy or (131)I (Recommendation 31) in managing hyperthyroidism due to toxic nodular goiter (TNG). Concern for concomitant malignancy favors surgery. A 3 % thyroid cancer incidence in TNG patients has been reported, yet recent studies suggest this rate is underestimated. This multi-institutional study examined cancer incidence in TNG patients referred to surgery. Patients referred for thyroidectomy at three tertiary-care institutions were included (2002-2011). Patients with concurrent indeterminate or malignant diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) were excluded. Cancer incidence in TNG patients was determined. Fisher's exact and chi-square tests and nonparametric t tests were used. Among 2,551 surgically treated patients, 164 had TNG (6.4 %). Median age at presentation was 49.7 years, and 86 % were female. Overall cancer incidence was 18.3 % (30 of 164), and rates were not significantly different between institutions. A significantly greater cancer rate was noted in toxic multinodular goiter versus single toxic nodule patients (21 vs. 4.5 %, P < 0.05). Mean tumor size was 0.71 cm (range 0.1-1.5 cm; 23 % ≥1 cm). Most patients underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy. There were no significant differences in tumor sizes among institutions (P > 0.05). No significant cancer association was noted with age, preoperative dominant nodule size, lymphocytic thyroiditis or preoperative FNA (P > 0.05). These data demonstrate a higher than expected incidental cancer rate in TNG patients compared to historical reports (18.3 vs. 3 %). This higher cancer incidence may alter the risk/benefit analysis regarding TNG treatment. This information should be provided to TNG patients before decision making regarding treatment.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Anabolic-androgenic steroid and adrenal steroid effects on hippocampal plasticity.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic androgen-like compounds which are taken in high doses by athletes with the intention of enhancing muscular appearance, strength and/or athletic performance. Recent research indicates that high doses of AAS may influence the functions of the hippocampus. This evidence led us to explore the extent to which chronic AAS treatments influence spatial memory and the integrity of the hippocampus in the rat. Gonadally intact adult male Long-Evans rats were treated with either the AAS methandrostenolone, a steroid 'cocktail' (TNB; testosterone cypionate, boldenone undecylenate and nandrolone decanoate), or the oil vehicle daily for 12 weeks. A group of male rats treated with corticosterone (CORT; 10 mg/day) was also examined. Spatial memory was assessed in the Morris water maze after 10 weeks of hormone treatment. At 12 weeks, the animals were sacrificed, blood collected and the brain sectioned to assess hippocampal cell number. There were no impairments in the acquisition or retention of the Morris water maze in any hormone treatment group. Although serum testosterone levels were elevated in rats treated with TNB relative to the oil controls, neither the TNB or methandrostenolone treatments produced changes in hippocampal cell number. Serum CORT levels were significantly elevated in the rats treated with CORT and cell loss (15%) was detectable in the CA3b subfield in this group of animals. These results indicate that the AAS administered in the present study were not detrimental to hippocampal spatial memory or cell survival and that, while chronic CORT may produce mild hippocampal cell loss, this loss is not accompanied by deficits on a spatial memory task.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Wavelet PCA for automatic identification of walking with and without an exoskeleton on a treadmill using pressure and accelerometer sensors.
Nowadays portable devices with more number of sensors are used for gait assessment and monitoring for elderly and disabled. However, the problem with using multiple sensors is that if they are placed on the same platform or base, there could be cross talk between them, which could change the signal amplitude or add noise to the signal. Hence, this study uses wavelet PCA as a signal processing technique to separate the original sensor signal from the signal obtained from the sensors through the integrated unit to compare the two types of walking (with and without an exoskeleton). This comparison using wavelet PCA will enable the researchers to obtain accurate sensor data and compare and analyze the data in order to further improve the design of compact portable devices used to monitor and assess the gait in stroke or paralyzed subjects. The advantage of designing such systems is that they can also be used to assess and monitor the gait of the stroke subjects at home, which will save them time and efforts to visit the laboratory or clinic.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Transient thrombopoietin peak after liver transplantation for end-stage liver disease.
Knowledge about synthesis of thrombopoietin (TPO) by human liver cells is now well established and makes the study of TPO serum levels and interdependency with platelet concentrations important before and after liver transplantation. We followed these variables in 14 patients suffering from primary biliary cirrhosis (group A), 10 with hepatitis B (group B) and nine with hepatitis C (group C) infections, as well as 11 patients suffering from alcoholic cirrhosis (group D). In the pretransplant serum samples, TPO levels and platelet counts revealed median values (range) of 112.75 pg/ml (5.0-349.3) in group A, 67.8 pg/ml (14.8-249.9) in B, 68.6 pg/ml (31.4-147.3) in C and 57.9 pg/ml (25.2-264.2) in D for TPO, and 138 x 10(9)/l (36-243) in A, 48 x 10(9)/l (22-129) in B, 105 x 10(9)/l (32-176) in C and 109 x 10(9)/l (33-285) in D for platelets, the latter levels being abnormally reduced. Within 2-3 d of transplantation, the TPO levels started to increase to transient peaks of mostly 5-10 times baseline, which were followed by continuous correction of thrombocytopenia. Splenomegaly was identified to be an important co-factor of thrombocytopenia in groups A and D. We conclude that decreased TPO production in patients with end-stage liver diseases is reverted by orthotopic liver transplantation.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Clinical Value of Ultrasonography in Diagnosing Diffuse Thyroid Diseases Accompanied with Suspicious Nodules.
To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography for diffuse thyroid disease accompanied with suspicious nodules. A total of 148 patients with diffuse thyroid diseases accompanied with suspicious nodules underwent both ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided biopsy, and the results were analyzed and compared. Among these 148 patients, 44 had Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 104 had Graves'disease. Totally 151 suspicious lesions were detected by ultrasonography, among which 48 lesions were pathologically confirmed to be benign and 103 malignant. Thirteen malignant lesions were diagnosed as benign by pre-operative ultrasonography, which were confirmed to be malignant after the surgical resection due to other suspected or confirmed malignant lesions. The detection rate of diffuse thyroid disease accompanied with thyroid cancer by per-operative ultrasound was 68.21%, and the misdiagnosis rate was 31.79%. The gender of patients(P=0.36), number of nodules(P=0.08), and blood flow types in lesions(P=0.080) had no significant difference between the benign and malignant groups, whereas internal echo(P=0.040), margin(P=0.000), shape(P=0.001), and calcification features(P=0.000)showed significant differences. Up to 80.74% of the lesions with hyperechoic calcification were malignant. Gray-scale sonographic features are helpful for the differential diagnosis of nodules in patients with diffuse thyroid diseases. Nodules in the isthmus and those accompanied with multiple nodules should be noticed.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Single-dose intravenous iron infusion or oral iron for treatment of fatigue after postpartum haemorrhage: a randomized controlled trial.
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a single-dose intravenous infusion of iron isomaltoside compared with current treatment practice with oral iron measured by physical fatigue in women after postpartum haemorrhage. Single-centre, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Participants received intravenous iron (n = 97) or oral iron (n = 99), and completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and haematological and iron parameters were measured. Primary outcome was the aggregated change in physical fatigue score from baseline to 12 weeks postpartum. The difference in physical fatigue score was -0·97 (95% CI: -1·65; -0·28, P = 0·006) in favour of intravenous iron, but did not meet the predefined difference of 1·8. Across visits, we found statistically significant differences in fatigue and depression scores, as well as in haematological and iron parameters, all in favour of intravenous iron. There were no serious adverse reactions. A single dose of intravenous iron was associated with a statistically significant reduction in aggregated physical fatigue within 12 weeks after postpartum haemorrhage compared to standard medical care with oral iron below the prespecified criteria of clinical superiority. As patient-reported outcomes improved significantly and intravenous iron resulted in a fast hematopoietic response without serious adverse reactions, intravenous iron may be a useful alternative after postpartum haemorrhage if oral iron is not absorbed or tolerated.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Posttetanic changes in the background gamma oscillations in interhemispheric interactions].
The influence of high-frequency microstimulation (HFMS) of one of the hemispheres on the parameters of spontaneous gamma-oscillations in the neural network containing callosal cells of the motor cortex of both hemispheres. There were three modes in the background oscillation periods distribution, which corresponded to the frequencies 40-60, 70-100, and 100-200 Hz. These oscillation frequencies were also revealed after the HFMS in neural interactions of the cells, which were active before the HFMS; the frequency 40-60 Hz, which dominated before the HFMS, became even more pronounced. The same three groups of oscillation frequencies were found in the activity of cells which became active after the HFMS. The expression of oscillations, the number of oscillatory interactions, as well as the number of neuronal pairs with additional synchronization decreased after the HFMS, which suggests a decrease in synchronization. Taking into account the results of simulation experiments that the frequency of gamma-oscillations is determined by the strength of inhibitory and excitatory input, we suggest that the long-term posttetanic modifications in the efficacy of synaptic inputs of the neurons of both hemispheres underlie the observed posttetanic changes.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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11th GCC Closed Forum: cumulative stability; matrix stability; immunogenicity assays; laboratory manuals; biosimilars; chiral methods; hybrid LBA/LCMS assays; fit-for-purpose validation; China Food and Drug Administration bioanalytical method validation.
The 11th Global CRO Council Closed Forum was held in Universal City, CA, USA on 3 April 2017. Representatives from international CRO members offering bioanalytical services were in attendance in order to discuss scientific and regulatory issues specific to bioanalysis. The second CRO-Pharma Scientific Interchange Meeting was held on 7 April 2017, which included Pharma representatives' sharing perspectives on the topics discussed earlier in the week with the CRO members. The issues discussed at the meetings included cumulative stability evaluations, matrix stability evaluations, the 2016 US FDA Immunogenicity Guidance and recent and unexpected FDA Form 483s on immunogenicity assays, the bioanalytical laboratory's role in writing PK sample collection instructions, biosimilars, CRO perspectives on the use of chiral versus achiral methods, hybrid LBA/LCMS assays, applications of fit-for-purpose validation and, at the Global CRO Council Closed Forum only, the status and trend of current regulated bioanalytical practice in China under CFDA's new BMV policy. Conclusions from discussions of these topics at both meetings are included in this report.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Assessment of in vivo CYP2D6 activity: differential sensitivity of commonly used probes to urine pH.
Drug/metabolite ratios (MRs) are used as in vivo markers of enzyme activity. The ratios are potentially confounded by the renal clearance of the drug (urine-based MRs) or metabolite (plasma-based MRs). The authors have investigated the relative sensitivity of urinary MR of 3 in vivo probe substrates of CYP2D6 debrisoquine (DB), dextromethorphan (DM), and metoprolol (MP) to changes in urine pH. Three groups of healthy volunteers each comprising 12 individuals were given DB (10 mg), DM (25 mg), or MP (100 mg) on 3 occasions. In 1 study arm, urine was acidified by the oral intake of ammonium chloride; in another, it was alkalinized by intake of sodium bicarbonate; and in the third, urine pH was uncontrolled. Urinary MP/alpha-hydroxy-MP, DM/dextrorphan, and DB/4-hydroxy-DB ratios were calculated. The mean(geo) MR for DB was not significantly different in any of the study arms, whereas those for MP and DM were significantly different under acidified and alkalinized urine conditions compared to uncontrolled urine pH (P < .01) and were correlated with urine pH (P < .001). Without control of urine pH, in vivo estimates of CYP2D6 metabolic activity are likely to be less precise using DM or MP as probe substrates compared to DB. Although this is unlikely to cause any problem in distinguishing the large functional differences in CYP2D6 in poor metabolizer (PM) and extensive metabolizer (EM) phenotypes, this may contribute to difficulties in differentiating in vivo metabolic activity among allelic variants within the overall CYP2D6 EM phenotype using MP or DM. However, because DB is not available in many countries (eg, United States), alternative in vivo markers of CYP2D6 with low sensitivity to urine pH should be sought.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Molecular cloning of two novel protein kinase genes from Arabidopsis thaliana.
We have isolated two novel protein kinase genes, MHK and NAK, from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana by using low stringency hybridization with the catalytic domain of a putative plant receptor protein kinase. Sequence analysis of the cDNAs reveals that MHK is a member of the cdc2+ family of protein kinases and is particularly similar to the mak gene of rats; mak encodes a protein kinase that may play a role in spermatogenesis. NAK encodes a candidate protein kinase that is similar to the oncogenes met and abl. The homology that these two Arabidopsis genes share with other protein kinases suggests that they may play a role in the regulation of plant growth and development.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Prevention of thrombo-embolic venous disease].
Large epidemiological studies have shown that nearly all risk factors for deep vein thromboses have a different impact on the manifestation of the disease, which aids in their differentiation into high, moderate and low risk. North American authors have introduced a fourth class of very high risk. The prophylactic measures available are numerous. They can be used in isolation or association depending on the significance of the risk. In France, prophylaxis by LMWH (low molecular weight heparin) is by far the most frequently used method. Recently, apart from compression stockings and intermittent mechanical compression, the use of footpumps, and a technique of electrical calf stimulation have been proposed. Each thrombosis center or service should put in place a well defined strategy for prescribing thromboprophylaxis, adapted to the level of the thromboembolic risk for each group of patients. A dose of LMWH higher than that used for a moderate risk is indicated for most LMWH, in the case of a high or very high risk. A few problems still exist: the pre or postoperative timing of the first injection, the duration of the prophylaxis particularly during the post-discharge period, and the evaluation of the risk in certain situations such as laparoscopic surgery or limb immobilization, for which the studies are too few to formulate recommendations from the level of evidence available. The socioeconomic realities of using LMWH should not be ignored.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Respiratory muscle weakness after prolonged use of hydrocortisone and pancuronium bromide].
A 30-year-old man was admitted because of status asthmaticus. He required 7 days of artificial ventilation and was treated with hydrocortisone 1.2 g.day-1 and bronchodilaters. Pancuronium bromide 0.08 mg.kg-1.hr-1 was given for 64 hours for the ease of artificial ventilation. On day 3, severely elevated airway pressure resulted in left pneumothorax and isoflurane 1% was given for the following 2 days. Respiratory muscle weakness was evident 24 hours after discontinuation of pancuronium infusion on day 5 while full 4 twitches of TOF on the adductor pollicis muscle were seen at the time. The respiratory muscle weakness continued for another 3 days and he was extubated on day 8. Serum creatine kinase concentration rose to 2178 U.l-1 on day 6 and returned to normal on day 11. Hematurea, hyperpyrexia and metabolic acidosis were never seen during the course. Acute corticosteroid myopathy was suspected to be the cause of the prolonged respiratory muscle weakness.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Multi-level barriers to obtaining mammograms for women with mobility limitations: post workshop evaluation.
To assess the barriers and facilitators to mammogram use in middle aged women with mobility limitations who had completed an educational workshop, Promoting Access to Health Service (PATHS), on clinical preventive services. Women aged 40 to 64 with mobility impairments who reported not receiving a mammogram in the last 2 years were randomly assigned to a PATHS workshop and received follow-up monthly phone call interviews over 6 months. Individual (eg, comorbidities, family responsibilities), interpersonal (eg, unclear provider communication, negative history), and environmental (eg, healthcare availability, insurance coverage, finances) factors were identified as unsolved barriers and potential facilitators (eg, reminders, physical proximity), to obtaining a mammogram. A multi-level intervention approach is required to promote mammogram use by women with disabilities.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Catecholamines in murine bone marrow derived mast cells.
Cultured murine bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMC) were found to store high levels of dopamine (3753+/-844 pg/10(7) cells) and occasionally produce norepinephrine and epinephrine. The catecholamine synthesis inhibitor, alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine, decreased intracellular catecholamine concentrations, and activation with ionomycin stimulated dopamine release. Neither dopaminergic receptor antagonists nor exogenous dopamine < or =10 microM affected IL-3-induced cell proliferation. High exogenous dopamine (20-100 microM) decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis, and the anti-oxidant ascorbic acid prevented these effects. Increased expression of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 or loss of pro-apoptotic Bax expression attenuated dopamine-induced apoptosis, suggesting the apoptosis proceeds through a mitochondrial pathway.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Temperature-induced fusion of small unilamellar vesicles formed from saturated long-chain lecithins and diheptanoylphosphatidylcholine.
Small unilamellar vesicles which form when gel-state long-chain phosphatidylcholines are mixed with micellar short-chain lecithins undergo an increase in size as the long-chain species melts to its liquid-crystalline form. Analysis of the vesicle population with quasi-elastic light scattering shows that the particle size increases from 90-A radius to greater than 5000-A radius. Resonance energy transfer experiments show total mixing of lipid probes with unlabeled vesicles only when the Tm of the long-chain phosphatidylcholine is exceeded. This implies that the large size change represents a fusion process. Aqueous compartments are also mixed during this transition. 31P NMR analysis of the vesicle mixtures above the phase transition shows a great degree of heterogeneity with large unilamellar particles coexisting with oligo- and multilamellar structures. Upon cooling the vesicles below the Tm, the original size distribution (e.g., small unilamellar vesicles) is obtained, as monitored by both quasi-elastic light scattering and 31P NMR spectroscopy. This temperature-induced fusion of unilamellar vesicles is concentration dependent and can be abolished at lower total phospholipid concentrations. It occurs over a wide range of long-chain to short-chain ratios and occurs with 1-palmitoyl-2-stearoylphosphatidylcholine and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine as well. Characterization of this fusion event is used to understand the anomalous kinetics of water-soluble phospholipases toward these unusual vesicles.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Interaction between leukotriene D4 and adenosine or iloprost in the isolated working guinea-pig heart: prevention of the leukotriene D4 effect.
The interaction between leukotriene D4 and adenosine or the prostacyclin analogue iloprost was studied in isolated guinea-pig hearts. Adenosine (1 X 10(-6) M) or iloprost (5 X 10(-8) M) abolished or greatly attenuated the vasoconstrictive effect of leukotriene D4 over a wide dose range of leukotriene D4 (0.01-1000 ng), and myocardial ischemia as a consequence of coronary insufficiency completely disappeared. Comparison of myocardial levels of reduced pyridine nucleotide fluorescence in hearts treated with leukotriene D4 and in hearts subjected to varying degrees of high-flow hypoxia, or the calcium agonist BAY-K 8644, revealed low levels of reduced pyridine nucleotides in the leukotriene D4-treated hearts, suggesting that leukotriene D4 directly suppressed myocardial contractility. These findings were supported by full restoration of cardiac work by the receptor antagonist FPL 55712 following leukotriene D4 treatment. It is concluded that adenosine and iloprost are potent inhibitors of leukotriene D4-induced reduction in coronary flow in guinea-pig hearts, and that myocardial ischaemia and suppressed cardiac work are prevented during leukotriene D4 study in adenosine or iloprost perfused hearts. Low levels of myocardial-reduced pyridine nucleotides during leukotriene D4 treatment and restoration of cardiac work by FPL 55712 indicate that leukotriene D4 may also have a direct suppressive effect on myocardial contractility.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Deficit versus negative syndrome in schizophrenia: prediction of attentional impairment.
Findings on neuropsychological associates of the negative syndrome of schizophrenia have been inconsistent. The "deficit syndrome," a reconceptualization of the negative syndrome, was developed in part to address this inconsistency. The purpose of this study was (1) to replicate previous findings relating the deficit syndrome to impairment of certain kinds of attentional abilities, and (2) to compare the negative and deficit syndromes in their associations with performance on tests of attention. Data from 40 individuals with schizophrenia were analyzed. Results provide evidence to suggest that impairment of certain attentional processes is associated with severity of deficit symptomatology, while impairment of other attentional processes is not. Moreover, the negative and deficit syndromes differed in their respective associations with attentional task performance at a trend level or above for five of seven tasks, suggesting that the negative and deficit syndromes do indeed have different underlying neuropsychological correlates.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Role of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase and apolipoprotein A-I in cholesterol esterification in lipoprotein-X in vitro.
Lipoprotein-X (Lp-X) is an abnormal particle present in the plasma of patients with familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency syndromes or cholestatic liver disease. Compared to other lipoproteins, Lp-X contains a high content of unesterified cholesterol (30%, w/w) to phosphatidylcholine (60%, w/w). The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of LCAT and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) in Lp-X metabolism in vitro and to elucidate the regulation of cholesterol esterification in this unique lipoprotein. Lp-X isolated from sera of patients with obstructive jaundice had a high content of unesterified cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine and contained apolipoprotein E, apoCs, and albumin. Although human recombinant LCAT used as an enzyme source did bind to isolated Lp-X, no cholesterol esterification was detected. However, addition of human apoA-I in the presence of albumin resulted in significant cholesterol esterification in Lp-X (Vmax 0.25 +/- 0.04 nmol/h per microgram LCAT protein). Exogenous apoA-I did not change the size of Lp-X particle as determined by quasi-elastic light scattering analysis. A reduction in Lp-X size was observed when both apoA-I and LCAT were included in the reaction mixture (from 47 nm to 42 nm). Furthermore, addition of apoA-I (but not HDL) dramatically changed the electrophoretic mobility of Lp-X from cathodic to anodic migration. Such changes are not due to displacement of apoC or apoE proteins from Lp-X by apoA-I. While increasing apoA-I concentration (up to 35 micrograms/ml) in the reaction mixture stimulated cholesterol esterification in Lp-X, addition of apoA-I at the concentration of 8 micrograms/ml inhibited cholesterol esterification in VLDL, LDL, and HDL by more than 50%. Albumin was required for the LCAT reaction to Lp-X. Our results suggest that while LCAT binds to isolated Lp-X, apoA-I is needed for the LCAT reaction to proceed. The presence of apoA-I does not result in the displacement of apoCs and apoE from Lp-X and addition of apoA-I changes the electrophoretic mobility but not the size of Lp-X.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Effect of a half dose of tamoxifen on proliferative activity in normal breast tissue.
To investigate the proliferative activity of the mammary gland epithelium and plasma levels of progesterone, estradiol, prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in premenopausal women treated with 10 and 20 mg of tamoxifen (TAM) for 22 days. A randomized double-blind study was performed with 43 premenopausal women with a diagnosis of fibroadenoma of the breast. The patients were divided into three groups: A (n = 15, placebo); B (n = 15, TAM 10 mg/day) and C (n = 13, TAM 20 mg/day). They started taking an oral dose of TAM or placebo on the very first day of the menstrual cycle. Lumpectomy was performed on the 22nd day of therapy. Normal breast tissue samples were collected during surgery, immediately immersed in 10% buffered formalin, processed for routine histology and immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) detection. Two peripheral blood samples were collected, both on the 22nd day of the menstrual cycle, in order to evaluate the hormone levels. PCNA expressing epithelial cells were quantified by using a digital program Kontron Image System KS-300 in 1000 cells (400 x ). The percentage of cells expressing PCNA was significantly higher in the group receiving placebo (group A, 50.3%) when compared to groups receiving TAM 10 or 20 mg/day (group B, 24.1%; and group C, 23.2%, respectively) (P < 0.001). Differences between groups B and C were not significant. Levels of progesterone, estradiol and SHBG were significantly higher in B and C groups compared to group A. Increasing concentrations of FSH (P < 0.0045) and lower levels of prolactin (P < 0.0055) were only found in the group receiving 20 mg/day of TAM (group C). A 22-day TAM therapy, either with 10 or 20 mg/day, significantly reduced the PCNA expression and therefore the proliferative activity of the normal human breast tissue. Increasing levels of estradiol, progesterone and SHBG were associated with TAM therapy at 10 or 20 mg/day. However, a significant change of the level of FSH and prolactin was reached only with a 20-mg/day dose.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Detailed anatomy of penile neurovascular structures: surgical significance.
In 10 formalin-preserved adult male cadavers, dissection of the penile veins, arteries and nerves revealed information of clinical importance. The main venous drainage of the corpora cavernosa is via the cavernous veins, with additional drainage through the circumflex, deep dorsal, and crural veins. The arterial supply of the cavernous bodies varied remarkably, and the incidence of an accessory internal pudendal artery was high. The cavernous nerves, previously believed to be microscopic structures, were in fact identifiable grossly, and we were able to follow them from the region of the hilum of the penis to the prostate. The nature of these nerves was then confirmed by serial histologic sectioning. This detailed knowledge of the venous drainage and arterial and nervous supply of the penis, as well as of the relationships among the cavernous structures in the hilum of the penis, can elucidate the cause of erectile dysfunction and provide a valuable guide for surgical correction of vasculogenic and neurogenic impotence.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Peripheral conversion of L-5-hydroxytryptophan to serotonin induces drinking in rats.
Female rats administered serotonin (0.25 to 4.0 mg/kg, s.c.) showed a dose-dependent increase in water intake. The dipsogenic response was nearly maximal when 2 mg/lg was administered s.c. and plateaued by 2 hr after treatment. l-5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), the precursor of serotonin, is also a potent dipsogen which induces drinking by way of the renin-angiotensin system. The possibility that the dipsogenic activity of 5-HTP is dependent on decarboxylation to serotonin was the objective of these studies. Either benserazide (30 mg/kg. s.c.), a central and peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor, or carbidopa (6.5 mg/kg, s.c.), a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor, was administered 15 min prior to the dipsogen. Both decarboxylase inhibitors attenuated the dipsogenic response to 5-HTP (25 mg/kg, s.c.) but not to serotonin (2 mg/kg, s.c.). The peripheral serotonergic receptor antagonist, methysergide (3 mg/kg, i.p.), blocked the dipsogenic responses to both 5-HTP (25 mg/kg, s.c.) and serotonin (2 mg/kg, s.c.). There was no interaction between 5-HTP (18 mg/kg, s.c.) and serotonin (1 mg/kg, s.c.) when administered simultaneously with respect to their dipsogenic effects. Thus, the drinking response accompanying administration of 5-HTP occurs following peripheral conversion to serotonin which, in turn, activates peripheral serotonergic receptors. The mechanisms(s) by which activation of peripheral serotonergic receptors increases water intake is not known, but appears to involve release of renin from the kidney.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Principles of burn dressings.
Throughout history burn wounds have been treated by covering with dressings of many different materials. The successful application of a burn dressing remains an objective for biomaterial development. This paper examines how the burn wound differs from other skin injuries, the requirements of the ideal burn wound dressing, and reviews the type of dressings available. The dressings in common use in the treatment of burns are compared with the 'ideal' dressing, in so far as it can be defined.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Propulsive force of Paramecium as revealed by the video centrifuge microscope.
Using the video centrifuge microscope we constructed, we observed the behavior of Paramecium cells in a solution of graded densities under centrifugal acceleration. Beyond 300g, they not only gather in the zone where the density is closest to theirs, but also orient themselves with their longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of centrifugation turning their anterior ends toward either centripetal or centrifugal direction. Since all of them retain still active swimming capacity, it is possible to calculate their propulsive force from the difference in density between theirs (1.04 g cm-3) and that of the upper or lower layer which they can reach. The propulsive force of single Paramecium cells thus obtained was calculated to be about 7 x 10(-4) dyn.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Sensitive Determination of Cannabinoids in Whole Blood by LC-MS-MS After Rapid Removal of Phospholipids by Filtration.
Direct analysis of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids in crude acetonitrile extracts of whole blood by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using pneumatically assisted electrospray ionization (LC-ESI-MS-MS) was subjected to pronounced ion suppression from co-eluting phospholipids (PLs). The interferences were mainly caused by the lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine classes of PLs. The PLs were easily removed from crude extracts by filtration through a sorbent with Lewis acid properties, which typically increased the THC and cannabinol (CBN) signal intensities by a factor of 5. Based on this technique, a simple high-throughput LC-MS-MS method was developed for the determination of cannabinoids in 100 μL samples of whole blood. The lower limits of quantification were 0.2 μg/L for THC, CBN, cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA-A) and 0.5 μg/L for 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-OH) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH). The mean ion suppression levels after clean-up were 10% (THC), 9% (CBN), 17% (CBD), 0% (THC-OH), 2% (THC-COOH) and 9% (THCA-A) at blood concentration levels of 1-10 μg/L. The mean true extraction recoveries were 97% (THC), 101% (CBN), 101% (CBD), 98% (THC-OH), 95% (THC-COOH) and 90% (THCA-A) at the same concentration levels. The relative intra-laboratory reproducibility standard deviations were <9% at concentrations of 1 μg/L or higher. The trueness expressed as the relative bias of the test results was within ±4% at concentrations of 1 μg/L or higher.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Research ethics committees in Japan: A perspective from thirty years of experience at Tokushima University.
The first Japanese ethics committee for biomedical research involving human subjects was established at Tokushima University in 1982. Although this committee was not formed as a response to national directives, the government eventually developed ethical guidelines, such as the Ethical Guidelines for Clinical Studies that were established in 2003. The practical impact of such guidelines was a rapid increase in the number of protocols seeking ethics committee approval and, accordingly, an increase in the workload of ethics committees. This review describes the activity of the ethics committee at Tokushima University during the last thirty years and discusses the infrastructure that best supports the activities of this committee. In addition, we address the issues that ethics committees now face and discuss future directions. J. Med. Invest. 62: 114-118, August, 2015.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Pure red cell aplasia.
The so-called pure red cell aplasia or hypoplasia may occur in various instances: 1- Congenital form, usually occuring in childhood; 2-Drug-induced types; 3-The forms associated with thymoma, carcinoma and hypogamma-globulinemia; and 4-As an isolated syndrome. In the etiology of congenital PRCA some immune mechanisms are considered to be important but the role of a genetic factor in producing the syndrome is more acceptable, although the exact pathogenesis of impairment of erythropoiesis is not clear. Disregarding the drug-induced types of the aplasia, acquired PRCA with or without thymoma is produced by immunologic mechanisms. Finding some factors such as antibody against erythroblast nuclei, inhibitor of heme synthesis and recently a cytotoxic factor that are in gamma G-globulin fraction of plasma of PRCA patients support the idea that the syndrome is of immunologic origin. It seems that the thymoma is only a manifestation of impaired immunologic state, and its role in producing the aplasia is a subject of controversy. Besides, we can not say that all cases of PRCA have the same pathogenesis and further investigations are necessary to provide some informations about the pathogenesis of this syndrome.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The evolution of the vertebrate beta-globin gene promoter.
Complexity analysis is capable of highlighting those gross evolutionary changes in gene promoter regions (loosely termed "promoter shuffling") that are undetectable by conventional DNA sequence alignment. Complexity analysis was therefore used here to identify the modular components (blocks) of the orthologous beta-globin gene promoter sequences of 22 vertebrate species, from zebrafish to humans. Considerable variation between the beta-globin gene promoters was apparent in terms of block presence/absence, copy number, and relative location. Some sequence blocks appear to be ubiquitous, whereas others are restricted to a specific taxon. Block similarities were also evident between the promoters of the paralogous human beta-like globin genes. It may be inferred that a wide variety of different mutational mechanisms have operated upon the beta-globin gene promoter over evolutionary time. Because these include gross changes such as deletion, duplication, amplification, elongation, contraction, and fusion, as well as the steady accumulation of single base-pair substitutions, it is clear that some redefinition of the term "promoter shuffling" is required. This notwithstanding, and as previously described for the vertebrate growth hormone gene promoter, the modular structure of the beta-globin promoter region and those of its paralogous counterparts have continually been rearranged into new combinations through the alteration, or shuffling, of preexisting blocks. Some of these changes may have had no influence on promoter function, but others could have altered either the level of gene expression or the responsiveness of the promoter to external stimuli. The comparative study of vertebrate beta-globin gene promoter regions described here confirms the generality of the phenomenon of sequence block shuffling and thus supports the view that it could have played an important role in the evolution of differential gene expression.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
|
Efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil on recurrent glomerulonephritis after renal transplantation.
Recurrent glomerulonephritis in transplanted kidneys is not rare despite classical immunosuppressive drugs and depends on the etiology of nephropathy. Treatment of recurrence of renal disease on graft remains controversial. We report 6 cases of patients with recurrent glomerulonephritis after renal transplantation treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). The glomerular diseases were Wegener's granulomatosis (n = 1), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I (n = 1), focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis (n = 1), membranous glomerulonephritis (idiopathic membranous nephropathy (n = 1) and systemic lupus erythematous) (n = 1)) and immunoglobulin A nephropathy (n = 1). MMF was introduced because of intolerance of classical immunosuppressive treatment in 2 cases and because of its inefficiency in the other cases. MMF was introduced between 3 months and 36 months (13.5 +/- 7 months) after recurrence of the primitive glomerulonephritis. During combined MMF/cyclosporine/prednisone therapy, only 3 patients responded to MMF. MMF was disrupted precociously in 1 out of 3 patients who stabilized renal function because of discovery of lung cancer and in 2 out of the 3 other patients because of gastrointestinal intolerance and severe anemia. We supposed that MMF could represent a new effective alternative therapy of recurrent glomerulonephritis on renal graft in some cases.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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A missense mutation in a patient with guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I deficiency missed in the newborn screening program.
A patient with guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I deficiency passed the newborn phenylketonuria screening program. The characteristic clinical phenotype developed in a 5-month-old patient; elevated plasma phenylalanine, undetectable urinary pterins, and absence of the enzyme activity in a liver biopsy were present. A point mutation that results in an amino acid substitution from methionine to isoleucine at position 211 was proposed to be the cause for this new phenotypic expression of guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I deficiency.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Analysis of VH gene rearrangement and somatic hypermutation in Sjogren's syndrome and IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis.
IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis is currently considered as an autoimmune disease distinct from Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and responds extremely well to steroid therapy. To further elucidate the characteristics of IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis, we analysed VH fragments of IgH genes and their somatic hypermutation in SS (n = 3) and IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis (n = 3), using sialolithiasis (n = 3) as a non-autoimmune control. DNA was extracted from the affected inflammatory lesions. After PCR amplification of rearranged IgH genes, at least 50 clones per case (more than 500 clones in total) were sequenced for VH fragments. Monoclonal IgH rearrangement was not detected in any cases examined. When compared with sialolithiasis, there was no VH family or VH fragment specific to SS or IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis. However, rates of unmutated VH fragments in SS (30%) and IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis (39%) were higher than that in sialolithiasis (14%) with statistical significance (P = 0.0005 and P < 0.0001, respectively). This finding suggests that some autoantibodies encoded by germline or less mutated VH genes may fail to be eliminated and could play a role in the development of SS and IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
|
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