title stringlengths 0 1.13k | abstract stringlengths 1 15.7k | PMID int64 22 36.5M |
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Direct differentiation of ears and tassels from cultured shoot apices of maize. | In vitro morphogenesis of inflorescences from the cultured corn seedling shoot tips was obtained on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium in complete darkness. Some shoot tip meristems excised from seedlings of inbred line 515, inbred line 8112 and their filial generations would directly give rise to florets on modified MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L N(6) -bezyladenine (6-BA) in five or six weeks. On the medium with 1.0 mg/L 6-BA and 0.2 mg/L 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), the explants swelled first, and produced multiple shoot clumps, then the culture of the shoot tips from all of the six inbred lines in experiment would ultimately initiate to develop ears and tassels accompanied by multiple shoot clumps developing on the medium with 1.0 mg/L 6-BA and 0.2 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The developmental patterns of the corn inflorescences were similar to the controls of normal plants in the field, but the number of the ears was much more than that of the tassels in vitro. It seemed that proper kinds and concentrations of exogenous hormones were necessary for the initiation and development of the inflorescences. The genotype of explants was responsible for the response to culture conditions. It could be inferred that there were different control mechanisms existing in the vegetative and reproductive developmental processes of maize, because the cultured shoot tips could directly produce the reproductive organs. | 18,726,493 |
Reduction of lesion growth rate of late blight plant disease in transgenic potato expressing harpin protein. | Using harpin protein gene from apple fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora and potato prp1-1 promoter as main DNA elements, the feasibility of using pathogen infection-induced hypersensitive response was explored as a new strategy of engineering fungal disease resistance. Three plant transformation vectors were constructed and 68 transgenic potato plants were produced through Agrobacterium mediated transformation method. Southern, Northern and Western blot analysis demonstrated the insertion, transcription and protein expression of harpin protein gene in transgenic plants. Disease resistance test using a complex race of Phytophthora infestans as challenging pathogen showed that both constitutive and pathogen infection-induced expression of harpin protein gene in transgenic potato reduced the lesion growth rate of fungus. Among plants where harpin protein gene expression was induced only by fungus infection, two plants were found to be highly resistant to P.infestans infection. Fungal hyphae were not produced on total of 30 inoculated leaves from the two resistant plants and necrotic lesion was limited to inoculation area. The results highlighted that engineered hypersensitive response in plants was a very promising approach to produce fungal disease resistant genotype. | 18,726,504 |
A novel recombinant adeno-associated virus vector packaging system with HSV-1 amplicon providing helper functions. | A novel packaging system for producing recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector was described. Instead of the conventional method for rAAV production by two-plasmid co-transfection followed by superinfection with adenovirus 5, an HSV-1 amplicon system expressing AAV-2 rep and cap genes from their native promoters was used to provide complete helper functions for rAAV replicating and packaging. This HSV-1 amplicon stock consisted of two kinds of infectious HSV-1 virions, a replicating-defective HSV-I amplicon pseudovirus harboring multi-copies of AAV-2 rep and cap gene and a temperature-sensitive HSV-1 mutant strain ts-KOS. High-titer rAAV was generated with this new packaging system. This packaging system gives a simple and scaleable process for rAAV production. | 18,726,509 |
Characteristics of photosensitization of Pheophorbide a in liposomal media. | Pheophorbide a (PPa), a decomposition product of chlorophyll a, is a photosensitizer. The photosensitization mechanisms (Type I and Type 11) of PPa in simple buffer solutions and in buffer solutions containing double-layered DPPC liposomes have been studied using techniques of ESR, spin-trapping, spin-counteraction and laser flash photolysis. The results showed that adding DPPC liposomes to the buffer solution caused an increase of efficiency of generating(1)O(2) and PPa-by photoactivating PPa. The increase could be ascribed to the disaggregation of hydrophobic PPa caused by the addition of liposomes and the protective effect of liposomal media on the triplet state of PPa. It is concluded that the photosensitization of PPa in liposomal systems is different from that in simple aqueous solutions, and shows higher efficacy. The results will be useful to elucidating the mechanisms of photodynamic therapy of cancer. | 18,726,510 |
Assistive devices: usage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. | We describe the usage of various assistive devices and identify factors associated with usage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A cross-sectional, multicentre study was performed in three outpatient rheumatology clinics in the Netherlands. Two hundred forty patients with RA participated in the study. The main measures were questionnaires and a semi-structured interview regarding the possession and usage of 21 common assistive devices in the ISO9999 categories orthopaedic footwear, personal care, mobility, household and adaptations for housing. Potential factors associated with usage included sociodemographic variables, health status, quality of life, coping strategies, self-efficacy, outcome expectations and satisfaction. Out of 240 patients, 213 (89%) had one or more assistive devices in possession (median number of devices 3.0, interquartile range 3.0). The proportions of patients never using a device in possession varied between 8% for orthopaedic insoles and 23% for grab bars. The main factors related to usage varied among categories, but common determinants were a specific impairment or disability, satisfaction with the device or related services, self-efficacy and the number of devices in possession. In conclusion, in patients with RA, possession rates are high, with 23% or less of the devices in possession being abandoned. Overall, satisfaction rates were high. Factors associated with usage varied among categories and comprised, apart from the number of devices in possession and variables related to health status, also aspects of satisfaction with the device or related services or self-efficacy. The latter findings underline the need for a systematic evaluation of the outcomes of assistive devices by prescribing health professionals or suppliers in every individual case. | 18,726,549 |
A point-prevalence study for MRSA in a German university hospital to identify patients at risk and to evaluate an established admission screening procedure. | Due to the enormous increase in the number of MRSA-patients, in July 2004, an extended admission screening protocol was implemented in ICUs and surgical wards at Hannover Medical School. In 2005, a point-prevalence study (also known as a cross-sectional study) was conducted to determine the prevalence of MRSA and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) among inpatients, to identify patients at risk for MRSA colonization and to evaluate compliance with admission screening. Inpatients were screened by taking cultures from nose, throat and skin lesions. S. aureus isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and PVL. MRSA was analyzed by staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing. Of 509 inpatients, 145 (28%) were S. aureus carriers. 27 (19%) inpatients were MRSA positive, i.e., the MRSA point-prevalence was 5.3% (95% CI, 3.49; 7.70). spa type t032 was predominant in 67% of the MRSA inpatients. The PVL gene was present in one (0.2%) methicillin-susceptible strain. Comparison with data retrieved from the local hospital MRSA database showed that, the status of 37% of the MRSA had previously remained undetected (10/27). Consequently, MRSA colonization was newly identified in 2.0% (10/509) of the patients. Compliance with admission screening failed in three cases. Nosocomial acquisition was identified in three patients. Four other patients harbouring MRSA were newly identified on wards without routine screening (three neurological, one internal medicine ward). Despite extended admission screening, 37% of all MRSA-positive inpatients were missed. The neurological patients were identified as a further risk group and were included in the admission screening procedure established. | 18,726,552 |
Isolation and characterization of a low phytic acid rice mutant reveals a mutation in the rice orthologue of maize MIK. | Using a forward genetics approach, we isolated two independent low phytic acid (lpa) rice mutants, N15-186 and N15-375. Both mutants are caused by single gene, recessive non-lethal mutations, which result in approximately 75% (N15-186) and 43% (N15-375) reductions in seed phytic acid (inositol hexakisphosphate). High-performance liquid chromatography and GC-MS analysis of seed extracts from N15-186 indicated that, in addition to phytic acid, inositol monophosphate was significantly reduced whereas inorganic phosphorus and myo-inositol were greatly increased when compared with wild-type. The changes observed in N15-186 resemble those previously described for the maize lpa3 mutant. Analysis of N15-375 revealed changes similar to those observed in previously characterized rice lpa1 mutants (i.e. significant reduction in phytic acid and corresponding increase in inorganic phosphorus with little or no change in inositol phosphate intermediates or myo-inositol). Further genetic analysis of the N15-186 mutant indicated that the mutation, designated lpa N15-186, was located in a region on chromosome 3 between the microsatellite markers RM15875 and RM15907. The rice orthologue of maize lpa3, which encodes a myo-inositol kinase, is in this interval. Sequence analysis of the N15-186 allele of this orthologue (Os03g52760) revealed a single base pair change (C/G to T/A) in the first exon of the gene, which results in a nonsense mutation. Our results indicate that lpa N15-186 is a mutant allele of the rice myo-inositol kinase (OsMIK) gene. Identification and characterization of lpa mutants, such as N15-186, will facilitate studies on the regulation of phytic acid biosynthesis and accumulation and help address questions concerning the contribution of the inositol lipid-dependent and independent biosynthetic pathways to the production of seed phytic acid. | 18,726,583 |
Comparative study and expression analysis of the interferon gamma gene locus cytokines in Xenopus tropicalis. | Using bioinformatics approach, the genome locus containing interleukin (IL)-22, IL-26, and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) genes has been identified in the amphibian, Xenopus tropicalis. Like that in other vertebrates such as fish, birds, and mammals, the Xenopus IL-22, IL-26, and IFN-gamma are clustered in the same chromosome and the adjacent genes are conserved. The genomic structures of the Xenopus IL-22, IL-26, and IFN-gamma gene were identical to that of their mammalian counterparts. The Xenopus IL-22 and IL-26 genes contained five exons and four introns while the Xenopus IFN-gamma gene consisted of four exons and three introns. The Xenopus IL-22, IL-26, and IFN-gamma share 14.1-41.6%, 14.6-31.2%, and 23.7-36.5% identity to their counterparts in other species, respectively. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR analyses revealed that the expression of IL-22, IL-26, and IFN-gamma genes was significantly upregulated after simulation with bacterial polyliposaccharide and/or synthetic double-stranded poly(I:C), suggesting these cytokines like those in other vertebrates play an important role in regulating immune response in Xenopus. | 18,726,591 |
Anticipatory control of impending postural perturbation in elite springboard divers. | Among athletes, elite springboard divers (ED) should develop an optimal anticipatory control of postural stability, as a result of specific training. Postural strategies of ED and healthy subjects (HS) while expecting an impending perturbation were compared. The mean center of pressure (COP) position was analyzed during control quiet stance (cQS) and during anticipatory quiet stance (aQS(1-4)), i.e., in expectation of four backward translations of the support surface. During cQS, COP position in ED was not significantly different as compared to HS. During aQS(1-4,) a significant increase in the mean COP position was observed in both groups with ED adopting a more forward inclined vertical alignment than HS. In ED specific training may have resulted in a reference frame offset in a more anterior direction while expecting an impending perturbation. We suggest that leaning more forward may represent a more reliable way of coping with predictable perturbations of postural stability. | 18,726,612 |
The accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the treatment of multicentric invasive breast cancer using a subareolar injection of tracer. | The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and the accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in multicentric breast cancer (MBC) performed by means of a subareolar (SA) injection of both 99Tc-labeled human albumin colloid and lymphazurin. Between January 2002 and October 2007, 34 patients with MBC with clinically negative axilla underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) followed by total axillary node dissection (AD). Overall successful identification rate of SLN was 100%; there were no false negatives and overall accuracy rate was 100%. The mean number of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) identified was 1.8 +/- 0.88 (range = 1-4); the mean number of axillary lymph nodes examined was 21.4 +/- 5.76 (range = 8-36). The authors conclude that SA injection of the tracer is feasible and efficacious in the identification of the SLN. The accuracy of SLNB in MBC is comparable to that obtained in unifocal disease. | 18,726,647 |
Massive pulmonary embolism immediately diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and treated with tenecteplase fibrinolysis. | We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with new onset dyspnoea, hypotension, and right bundle branch block. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed a thrombus in the right pulmonary artery and acute pulmonary embolism was diagnosed. The patient immediately underwent fibrinolysis with tenecteplase, with prompt recovery of clinical conditions and ECG anomalies. Bedside TTE might be helpful for immediate diagnosis of massive PE needing rapid treatment by fibrinolysis. | 18,726,674 |
Research on transition to adulthood: building the evidence base to inform services and supports for youth and young adults with serious mental health disorders. | Since the mid-1990s, research has established a clear picture of the poor real-life outcomes achieved by transition-age youth and young adults who have been diagnosed with a serious mental health disorder. The purpose of this article is to: (1) introduce the reader to the other eight articles in this special issue on Transition to Adulthood Research; (2) illustrate how each is contributing to the research base available to more fully understand these challenges as well as guide the creation of developmentally appropriate and effective services and supports for youth and young adults and their families; and (3) suggest future directions for continuing to advance this field of research and program implementation to improve outcomes though practice and policy improvements. | 18,726,695 |
Biological effects of FoxJ2 over-expression. | As reported previously, we have extensively studied FoxJ2, a member of the Fork Head transcription factors family. While the biochemical and functional structures of this transcription factor are well understood, its biological function remains unknown. Here, we present data that address this point using transgenic mouse technology. We found that the birth rate and the number of transgenic animals obtained when transferring embryos over-expressing the FoxJ2 protein were lower than those obtained with embryos over-expressing a control protein, suggesting FoxJ2 overexpression has a negative effect on embryonic development. Transient FoxJ2 transgenesis experiments have confirmed that FoxJ2 over-expression has a lethal effect on embryonic development from E10.5. Moreover, in vitro culture of FoxJ2-microinjected embryos demonstrated a significant developmental blockage, indicating that FoxJ2 could also have an effect on pre-implantation stages. Most probably, these negative effects of FoxJ2 over-expression during development also explain the low percentage of adult transgenic mice obtained. Furthermore, most of the transgenic mice that lived to adulthood did not show transgene expression. In fact, the only two adult transgenic animals (one male and one female) in which FoxJ2 transgene expression was detected showed a mosaic expression and died prematurely as a result of cardio-respiratory failure. Postmortem analysis of these animals revealed a hypertrophic heart and abnormal testes in the male. In order to identify genes regulated by FoxJ2 consistent with the phenotypes observed for FoxJ2 transgenic mice, EMSA assays and co-transfection experiments were carried out. Our data indicate that the genes coding for the gap junction protein Connexin-43 and the cell-cell contact protein E-Cadherin, may be good candidates for FoxJ2-regulated genes. Interestingly, Connexin-43 and E-Cadherin show expression patterns similar to FoxJ2, and the phenotypes of Connexin-43 and E-Cadherin mutants resemble those of our FoxJ2 transgenic animals. These data suggest that the lethal effect on embryonic development of FoxJ2 overexpression, as well as the alterations observed in the heart and testes of adult transgenic mice, could be determined by changes in the transcription of genes such as Connexin-43 and/or E-Cadherin. | 18,726,704 |
Risk factors for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in Fars province (Southern Iran) dairy herds. | A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2006 in dairy herds in Fars province, southern Iran to determine the herd-level risk factors for infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Statistical analysis using multivariable logistic regression showed that contamination of udders of periparturient cows with manure (OR = 6.4, P = 0.02) and history of having suspected cases of Johne's disease in the herd (OR = 6.7, P = 0.04) were significantly associated with the herd infection status. No relationship between breed, herd size and other management practices with the infection status of the herd were found in this study. Implementing high sanitary measures in the farm, particularly with respect to manure handling and cleaning could be considered as one of the important aspects in controlling disease in the region as well as in the future educational effort. | 18,726,705 |
Observed versus estimated IQ as an index of malingering in traumatic brain injury: classification accuracy in known groups. | This study examined the classification accuracy of observed WAIS-III VIQ, PIQ, and FSIQ minus Barona-estimate differential scores in the detection of Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction (MND) in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) using a known-groups design. Two hundred eleven TBI patients were assigned to one of three groups: Not-MND (n = 87), Indeterminate (n = 68), and MND (n = 56). A General Clinical Sample of 93 no-incentive patients (e.g., CVA, memory disorder) was also included to better study specificity. The VIQ differential accurately differentiated MND from Not-MND TBI patients regardless of injury severity. The PIQ differential was only accurate in mild TBI and did not add incremental validity to the VIQ differential. This study indicates that VIQ declines of greater than 24 points are rare except in very severe TBI. Particularly in mild TBI, such differentials likely indicate intentional suppression of WAIS-III performance consistent with MND. Clinical application is discussed. | 18,726,736 |
Executive functions in a Turkish sample: associations with demographic variables and normative data. | Attention and executive functions are affected by demographic factors. The study presented in this paper examines the effects of education, gender, and age on the scores of the Color Trail Test (CTT) (D'Elia, Satz, Uchiyama, & White, 1999) and the Visual Verbal Test (VVT) (Feldman & Drasgow, 1959), which are considered to be measures of executive functions such as attention, cognitive flexibility, set shifting, abstraction, and concept formation. This paper also presents the normative data for 611 cognitively intact adult Turkish participants (male:female ratio = 361:250; age range = 20-100 years, mean age = 52.038; education range = 0-25 years, mean education = 9.01). As expected, the effects of age and education were significant and sizeable, but the effect of gender was small. Results showed that the CTT and the VVT performances were lower for higher ages and lower educational levels. Based on these results, the current norms for both tests were stratified for age and education. | 18,726,740 |
Administration frequencies of WAIS-III supplementary and optional subtests of board-certified clinical neuropsychologists. | The present investigation surveyed board-certified clinical neuropsychologists in four geographic regions of the United States regarding their administration practices of the WAIS-III supplementary subtests (Letter-Number Sequencing, Symbol Search), optional subtest (Object Assembly), and optional procedures (Digit Symbol-Incidental Learning and Digit Symbol-Copy). Approximately 56% of the surveys were returned and usable. Regardless of geographic region, Letter-Number Sequencing and Symbol Search were the most popular of the supplementary/optional components because they were administered more than 70% of the time. The Digit Symbol-Incidental Learning and Digit Symbol-Copy procedures were the second most frequently administered tasks. Object Assembly was the least frequently administered component by practitioners across the four geographic regions. | 18,726,741 |
Evaluation of a fully automated method to measure the critical removal stress of adult barnacles. | A computer-controlled force gauge designed to measure the adhesive strength of barnacles on test substrata is described. The instrument was evaluated with adult barnacles grown in situ on Silastic T2(R)-coated microscope slides and epoxy replicas adhered to the same substratum with synthetic adhesive. The force per unit area required to detach the barnacles (critical removal stress) using the new automated system was comparable to that obtained with ASTM D5618 (1994) (0.19 and 0.28 MPa compared with 0.18 and 0.27 MPa for two batches of barnacles). The automated method showed a faster rate of force development compared with the manual spring force gauge used for ASTM D5618 (1994). The new instrument was as accurate and precise at determining surface area as manual delineation used with ASTM D5618 (1994). The method provided significant advantages such as higher throughput speed, the ability to test smaller barnacles (which took less time to grow) and to control the force application angle and speed. The variability in measurements was lower than previously reported, suggesting an improved ability to compare the results obtained by different researchers. | 18,726,746 |
Can movie theater advertisements promote health behaviors? Evaluation of a flu vaccination pilot campaign. | As part of a multimedia campaign to promote annual influenza vaccination, three slides were shown as part of the slide show of advertisements prior to the beginning of previews in movie theaters in San Diego County. Intercept surveys were conducted following the movie. The primary target groups for the campaign were adults with children 6 months to 2 years of age and adults over 50 years of age. Overall, 88% of exposed patrons reported seeing some type of movie ad. Among those who recalled any ad, 24% recalled the flu advertisement. In contrast, recall of flu-related news coverage was high, with over 95% of exposed and comparison interviewees recalling news stories during the campaign period. While 56% of those interviewed remembered one or more specific flu-related news items, individuals within this group who also had also been exposed to the movie ads were not more likely to recall flu campaign advertisements. We describe a method for estimating valid recalls and cost per valid exposure. Further research that compares movie ads with public service announcements (PSAs) in other venues is necessary to solidify our conclusions that movie advertising is a highly cost-effective medium for health communication. | 18,726,815 |
Exploring the time course of semantic interference and associative priming in the picture-word interference task. | The picture-word interference (PWI) task is a widely used technique for exploring effects of semantic context on lexical access. In this task, printed words are superimposed over pictures to be named, with the timing of the interfering word relative to the picture systematically manipulated. Two experiments (N = 24 adults in each) explored the time course of effects of associates (e.g., CARROT superimposed on a picture of a rabbit) versus coordinates (e.g., CHIPMUNK superimposed on a picture of a rabbit) on naming latencies. Associates led to faster picture naming than did unrelated words, with facilitative effects occurring at stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs, in ms) ranging from -450 to 0. Coordinates led to slower naming latencies, with the interference effect restricted to SOAs of -150 and 0. The overlapping time course of associative priming and coordinate interference provides important constraints on models of lexical access in speech production. | 18,726,823 |
Modulation of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression by bombesin: a possible mechanism for glucocorticoid resistance in androgen independent prostate cancer. | Treatment with glucocorticoids is one of a limited number of options for androgen independent prostate cancer. Neuroendocrine differentiation has been shown to contribute to androgen-independent prostate cancer progression. To study the potential link between neuroendocrine differentiation and the glucocorticoid action, we investigated the effects of the product of neuroendocrine differentiation--bombesin on glucocorticoid metabolizing enzymes--11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in PC-3 cells. Our Western analysis, RT-PCR, and activity assays demonstrate that while 18-hour exposure to bombesin reduces 11beta-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenases-1 profiles (activities 25% less, protein level 29% lower, mRNA levels 45% lower), contrarily it increases 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases-2 profiles (activities 34%, protein levels 100%, mRNA levels 120%). Blockade bombesin action with bombesin receptor antagonists and the enzyme degrading bombesin prevented these changes, suggesting the observed modulations were bombesin receptor-specific. In addition, bombesin increased the amounts of interleukin-8 and mRNA of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, which were lowered in the presence of cortisol, suggesting that neuropeptide blockade may extend the benefits of glucocorticoids in treating androgen-independent prostate cancer. | 18,726,827 |
Rapid reduction of liver steatosis in omega3-depleted rats injected with a novel lipid emulsion. | The bolus intravenous administration of a novel medium-chain triglyceride: fish oil emulsion (MCT:FO) to normal subjects was recently found to increase within 60 min the amount of long-chain polyunsaturated omega3 fatty acids ( omega3) in platelet and leukocyte phospholipids and, hence, was proposed as a tool to prevent such pathological events as cardiac arrhythmia in selected patients who have to undergo urgent anesthesia and/or surgery. This study investigates whether other cells located outside the vascular bed may also benefit from this procedure for replenishing phospholipids with omega3. For such a purpose, the MCT:FO emulsion (1.0 ml) was injected into normal or omega3-depleted rats examined, one hour later, for the content and fatty acid pattern of liver triglycerides and phospholipids. Control experiments included the administration of saline or a medium-chain triglyceride:olive oil emulsion. The results reveal that the bolus intravenous injection of MCT:FO to the omega3-depleted rats resulted in the enrichment of liver phospholipids in omega3 and a marked reduction in hepatic steatosis. In conclusion, it is proposed that such a procedure may indeed allow a rapid supply of omega3 not only to circulating and vascular endothelial cells but also to extravascular cells, with a resulting correction of the biochemical and biophysical defects linked to a deficiency in these fatty acids. | 18,726,832 |
A case-control comparison of the effectiveness of betamethasone to prevent neonatal morbidity and mortality in preterm twin and singleton pregnancies. | We compared the effectiveness of antenatal betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal morbidity and mortality in preterm twin and singleton gestations. We conducted a case-control study of women with twin versus singleton gestations who received betamethasone for risk of prematurity in a university-affiliated, community-based, tertiary care center between 1997 and 2005. Cases were identified from clinical care and pharmacy databases, then matched for neonatal gender and gestational age (GA) at delivery. Sixty cases and 60 controls of deliveries occurring between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation were identified. The mean GA was 30.4 +/- 2.7 weeks. There were no differences between the groups in maternal demographics (with the exception of maternal age), birth weight, head circumference, Apgar scores, need for mechanical ventilation, days on ventilator, intraventricular hemorrhage grade 3 or 4, necrotizing enterocolitis suspected sepsis, total days in neonatal intensive care unit, or neonatal deaths. No differences in major morbidities or mortality were found in singletons versus twins. Concerns that the added maternal plasma volume in multiple gestations could lessen the neonatal benefits of antenatal betamethasone were not substantiated. This study may be affected by beta-error due to small sample size and sampling bias as a result of a retrospective study. | 18,726,837 |
Drugs, carrier solutions and temperature in hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. | At the Fifth International Workshop on Peritoneal Surface Malignancy, in Milan, the consensus on technical aspects of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal surface malignancy was obtained through the Delphi process. Conflicting points concerning drugs, carrier solution and optimal temperature for hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) were discussed. | 18,726,886 |
Expression of TSLC1, a candidate tumor suppressor gene mapped to chromosome 11q23, is downregulated in unfavorable neuroblastoma without promoter hypermethylation. | Although it has been well documented that loss of human chromosome 11q is frequently observed in primary neuroblastomas, the smallest region of overlap (SRO) has not yet been precisely identified. Previously, we performed array-comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) analysis for 236 primary neuroblastomas to search for genomic aberrations with high-resolution. In our study, we have identified the SRO of deletion (10-Mb or less) at 11q23. Within this region, there exists a TSLC1/IGSF4/CADM1 gene (Tumor suppressor in lung cancer 1/Immunoglobulin superfamily 4/Cell adhesion molecule 1), which has been identified as a putative tumor suppressor gene for lung and some other cancers. Consistent with previous observations, we have found that 35% of primary neuroblastomas harbor loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on TSLC1 locus. In contrast to other cancers, we could not detect the hypermethylation in its promoter region in primary neuroblastomas as well as neuroblastoma-derived cell lines. The clinicopathological analysis demonstrated that TSLC1 expression levels significantly correlate with stage, Shimada's pathological classification, MYCN amplification status, TrkA expression levels and DNA index in primary neuroblastomas. The immunohistochemical analysis showed that TSLC1 is remarkably reduced in unfavorable neuroblastomas. Furthermore, decreased expression levels of TSLC1 were significantly associated with a poor prognosis in 108 patients with neuroblastoma. Additionally, TSLC1 reduced cell proliferation in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Collectively, our present findings suggest that TSLC1 acts as a candidate tumor suppressor gene for neuroblastoma. | 18,726,896 |
Neural correlates of personally familiar faces: parents, partner and own faces. | Investigations of the neural correlates of face recognition have typically used old/new paradigms where subjects learn to recognize new faces or identify famous faces. Familiar faces, however, include one's own face, partner's and parents' faces. Using event-related fMRI, we examined the neural correlates of these personally familiar faces. Ten participants were presented with photographs of own, partner, parents, famous and unfamiliar faces and responded to a distinct target. Whole brain, two regions of interest (fusiform gyrus and cingulate gyrus), and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted. Compared with baseline, all familiar faces activated the fusiform gyrus; own faces also activated occipital regions and the precuneus; partner faces activated similar areas, but in addition, the parahippocampal gyrus, middle superior temporal gyri and middle frontal gyrus. Compared with unfamiliar faces, only personally familiar faces activated the cingulate gyrus and the extent of activation varied with face category. Partner faces also activated the insula, amygdala and thalamus. Regions of interest analyses and laterality indices showed anatomical distinctions of processing the personally familiar faces within the fusiform and cingulate gyri. Famous faces were right lateralized whereas personally familiar faces, particularly partner and own faces, elicited bilateral activations. Regression analyses show experiential predictors modulated with neural activity related to own and partner faces. Thus, personally familiar faces activated the core visual areas and extended frontal regions, related to semantic and person knowledge and the extent and areas of activation varied with face type. | 18,726,910 |
Pseudohomophone effects provide evidence of early lexico-phonological processing in visual word recognition. | Previous research using event-related brain potentials (ERPs) suggested that phonological processing in visual word recognition occurs rather late, typically after semantic or syntactic processing. Here, we show that phonological activation in visual word recognition can be observed much earlier. Using a lexical decision task, we show that ERPs to pseudohomophones (PsHs) (e.g., ROZE) differed from well-matched spelling controls (e.g., ROFE) as early as 150 ms (P150) after stimulus onset. The PsH effect occurred as early as the word frequency effect suggesting that phonological activation occurs early enough to influence lexical access. Low-resolution electromagnetic tomography analysis (LORETA) revealed that left temporoparietal and right frontotemporal areas are the likely brain regions associated with the processing of phonological information at the lexical level. Altogether, the results show that phonological processes are activated early in visual word recognition and play an important role in lexical access. | 18,726,911 |
Risk prediction of fever in neutropenia in children with cancer: a step towards individually tailored supportive therapy? | Fever in severe chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (FN) is the most frequent manifestation of a potentially lethal complication of current intensive chemotherapy regimens. This study aimed at establishing models predicting the risk of FN, and of FN with bacteremia, in pediatric cancer patients. In a single-centre cohort study, characteristics potentially associated with FN and episodes of FN were retrospectively extracted from charts. Poisson regression accounting for chemotherapy exposure time was used for analysis. Prediction models were constructed based on a derivation set of two thirds of observations, and validated based on the remaining third of observations. In 360 pediatric cancer patients diagnosed and treated for a cumulative chemotherapy exposure time of 424 years, 629 FN were recorded (1.48 FN per patient per year, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.37-1.61), 145 of them with bacteremia (23% of FN; 0.34; 0.29-0.40). More intensive chemotherapy, shorter time since diagnosis, bone marrow involvement, central venous access device (CVAD), and prior FN were significantly and independently associated with a higher risk to develop both FN and FN with bacteremia. The prediction models explained more than 30% of the respective risks. The two models predicting FN and FN with bacteremia were based on five easily accessible clinical variables. Before clinical application, they need to be validated by prospective studies. | 18,726,920 |
Screening for trisomy 18 by maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency, free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A. | To derive a model and examine the performance of first-trimester screening for trisomy 18 by maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness, and maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A). Prospective combined screening for trisomy 21 was performed at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks in 56 893 singleton pregnancies, including 56 376 cases of euploid fetuses, 395 with trisomy 21 and 122 with trisomy 18. The measured free beta-hCG and PAPP-A were converted into a multiple of the median (MoM) and then into likelihood ratios (LR). Similarly, the measured NT was transformed into LRs using the mixture model of NT distributions. In each case the LRs for NT and the biochemical markers were multiplied by the age and gestation-related risk to derive the risk for trisomy 21 and trisomy 18. Detection rates (DRs) and false-positive rates (FPRs) were calculated by taking the proportions with risks above a given risk threshold. In screening with the algorithm for trisomy 21, at a FPR of 3%, the estimated DRs of trisomies 21 and 18 were 89% and 82%, respectively. The use of an algorithm for trisomy 18 identified 93% of affected fetuses at a FPR of 0.2%. When the algorithm for trisomy 21 was used and screen positivity was fixed at a FPR of 3%, and in addition the algorithm for trisomy 18 was used and screen positivity was fixed at a FPR of 0.2%, the overall FPR was 3.1% and the DRs of trisomies 21 and 18 were 90% and 97%, respectively. A beneficial side effect of first-trimester combined screening for trisomy 21 is the detection of a high proportion of fetuses with trisomy 18. If an algorithm for trisomy 18 in addition to the one for trisomy 21 is used, more than 95% of trisomy 18 fetuses can be detected with a minor increase of 0.1% in the overall FPR. | 18,726,925 |
Cell-free synthesis of functional proteins using transcription/translation machinery entrapped in silica sol-gel matrix. | Herewith we report the encapsulation of functional protein synthesis machinery in a silica sol-gel matrix. When the sol-gel reaction using alkoxysilane monomers was carried out in the presence of Escherichia coli cell extract, macromolecular protein synthesis machinery in the cell extract was successfully immobilized within a silica gel matrix, catalyzing the translation of co-immobilized DNA when supplied with small-molecular-weight substrates for protein synthesis. The efficiency of protein synthesis was affected by the pore size of the gel structure, which was controlled through the use of appropriate additives during the sol-gel reactions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the reproduction of the entire set of complicated biological process within an inorganic gel matrix, and we expect that the developed technology will find many applications in numerous fields such as high-throughput gene expression and the development of multifunctional biosensors. | 18,726,964 |
Towards in silico liquid crystals. Realistic transition temperatures and physical properties for n-cyanobiphenyls via molecular dynamics simulations. | We study the important n-cyanobiphenyl (with n= 4-8) series of mesogens, using modelling and molecular dynamics simulations. We are able to obtain spontaneously ordered nematics upon cooling isotropic samples of 250 molecules. By using the united-atom force field developed herein, we show that the experimental isotropic-nematic transition temperatures are reproduced within 4 K, allowing a molecular-level interpretation of the odd-even effect along the series. Other properties, like densities, orientational order parameters and NMR residual dipolar couplings are also reproduced well, demonstrating the feasibility of predictive in silico modelling of nematics from the molecular structure. | 18,726,965 |
Sonographic assessment of uterine and ovarian development in normal girls aged 1 to 12 years. | To provide normal references of sonographic uterine and ovarian size in girls aged 1-12 years. Ninety-nine girls were enrolled in the study (mean age +/- SD, 6.9 +/- 2.4 years [range, 1-12 years]). Pubertal status was classified according to Tanner staging, whereas for height and weight assessment a standard stadiometer and weight scale were employed. All subjects underwent pelvic sonographic examination for the measurement of uterine length, volume, ratio of anteroposterior diameter at the fundus divided by the anteroposterior diameter at the cervix (fundal-cervical [F/C] ratio), and ovarian volume and morphology. A gradual increase with age was observed in all uterine and ovarian measurements. Cubic model analysis provided the best curve estimation for uterine length, uterine volume, and ovarian volume in relation to age. Uterine length, uterine volume, ovarian volume and F/C ratio were significantly correlated to both age and height. With respect to ovarian morphology, there was a gradual decrease in frequency of the homogeneous and the paucicystic appearances with increasing age. The macrocystic appearance was observed after the age of 6 years, and its frequency increased gradually with age. There is a continuous increase in size of internal female genitalia from early childhood until the onset of puberty. We have provided reference percentile charts of normal uterine length, uterine volume, and ovarian volume in girls aged 1-12 years. | 18,726,968 |
Apigenin suppresses insulin-like growth factor I receptor signaling in human prostate cancer: an in vitro and in vivo study. | Deregulation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I/IGF-IR signaling has been implicated in the development and progression of prostate cancer. Agents that can suppress the mitogenic activity of the IGF/IGF-IR growth axis may be of preventive or therapeutic value. We have previously demonstrated that apigenin, a plant flavone, modulates IGF signaling through upregulation of IGFBP-3. In this study, we investigated the mechanism(s) of apigenin action on the IGF/IGF-IR signaling pathway. Exposure of human prostate cancer DU145 cells to apigenin markedly reduced IGF-I-stimulated cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Apigenin inhibited IGF-I-induced activation of IGF-IR and Akt in DU145 cells. Similar growth inhibitory and apoptotic responses were observed in PC-3 cells, which constitutively overexpress this pathway. This effect of apigenin appears to be due partially to reduced autophosphorylation of IGF-IR. Inhibition of p-Akt by apigenin resulted in decreased phosphorylation of GSK-3beta along with decreased expression of cyclin D1 and increased expression of p27/kip1. In vivo administration of apigenin to PC-3 tumor xenografts inhibited tumor growth, resulted in IGF-IR inactivation and dephosphorylation of Akt and its downstream signaling. These results suggest that inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis by apigenin are mediated, at least in part, by its ability to inhibit IGF/IGF-IR signaling and the PI3K/Akt pathway. | 18,726,972 |
Alternariol acts as a topoisomerase poison, preferentially affecting the IIalpha isoform. | Alternariol (AOH), a mycotoxin formed by Alternaria alternata, has been reported to possess genotoxic properties. However, the underlying mechanism of action is unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that interactions with DNA-topoisomerases play a role in the DNA-damaging properties of AOH. First we compared DNA-damaging properties of AOH with other Alternaria mycotoxins such as AOH monomethyl ether (AME), altenuene and isoaltenuene. AOH and AME significantly increased the rate of DNA strand breaks in human carcinoma cells (HT29, A431) at micromolar concentrations, whereas altenuene and isoaltenuene did not affect DNA integrity up to 100 microM. Next, we selected AOH as the most DNA-damaging Alternaria metabolite for further studies of interactions with DNA topoisomerases. In cell-free assays, AOH potently inhibited DNA relaxation and stimulated DNA cleavage activities of topoisomerase I, IIalpha and IIbeta. Stabilisation of covalent topoisomerase II-DNA intermediates by AOH was also detectable in cell culture, and here, the IIalpha isoform was preferentially targeted. AOH is thus characterised as a poison of topoisomerase I and II with a certain selectivity for the IIalpha isoform. Since topoisomerase poisoning and DNA strand breakage occurred within the same concentration range, poisoning of topoisomerase I and II might at least contribute to the genotoxic properties of AOH. | 18,727,009 |
Fermentative butanol production by Clostridia. | Butanol is an aliphatic saturated alcohol having the molecular formula of C(4)H(9)OH. Butanol can be used as an intermediate in chemical synthesis and as a solvent for a wide variety of chemical and textile industry applications. Moreover, butanol has been considered as a potential fuel or fuel additive. Biological production of butanol (with acetone and ethanol) was one of the largest industrial fermentation processes early in the 20th century. However, fermentative production of butanol had lost its competitiveness by 1960s due to increasing substrate costs and the advent of more efficient petrochemical processes. Recently, increasing demand for the use of renewable resources as feedstock for the production of chemicals combined with advances in biotechnology through omics, systems biology, metabolic engineering and innovative process developments is generating a renewed interest in fermentative butanol production. This article reviews biotechnological production of butanol by clostridia and some relevant fermentation and downstream processes. The strategies for strain improvement by metabolic engineering and further requirements to make fermentative butanol production a successful industrial process are also discussed. | 18,727,018 |
In vivo nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosis using Raman microspectroscopy. | Nonmelanoma skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), are the most common skin cancers, presenting nearly as many cases as all other cancers combined. The current gold-standard for clinical diagnosis of these lesions is histopathologic examination, an invasive, time-consuming procedure. There is thus considerable interest in developing a real-time, automated, noninvasive tool for nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosis. In this study, we explored the capability of Raman microspectroscopy to provide differential diagnosis of BCC, SCC, inflamed scar tissue, and normal tissue in vivo. Based on the results of previous in vitro studies, we developed a portable confocal Raman system with a handheld probe for clinical study. Using this portable system, we measured Raman spectra of 21 suspected nonmelanoma skin cancers in 19 patients with matched normal skin spectra. These spectra were input into nonlinear diagnostic algorithms to predict pathological designation. All of the BCC (9/9), SCC (4/4), and inflamed scar tissues (8/8) were correctly predicted by the diagnostic algorithm, and 19 out of 21 normal tissues were correctly classified. This translates into a 100% (21/21) sensitivity and 91% (19/21) specificity for abnormality, with a 95% (40/42) overall classification accuracy. These findings reveal Raman microspectroscopy to be a viable tool for real-time diagnosis and guidance of nonmelanoma skin cancer resection. | 18,727,020 |
Voxel-shift and interpolation for hadamard-encoded MR images. | Although Fourier gradient phase-encoding and Hadamard radio-frequency encoding are two established spatial MR localization techniques, the absence of voxel-shift and interpolation postprocessing algorithms for the latter has always placed it at a discouraging disadvantage. This article presents a method for voxel-shift and interpolation of Hadamard-encoded data and demonstrates both theoretically and experimentally the similarities of the respective operations between the two localization methods. | 18,727,037 |
Hippocampal levels of phosphorylated protein kinase A (phosphor-S96) are linked to spatial memory enhancement by SGS742. | Cognitive enhancement by the GABA (B) receptor antagonist SGS742 has been well-documented, but mechanisms of action are not fully elucidated. Previous work has proposed involvement of somatostatin-14 and protein kinase C in cognitive enhancement; phospho-protein kinase A (p-PKA), fyn, and phospho-fyn are known signaling systems for spatial memory. It was the aim of the study to determine hippocampal levels of these proteins following SGS742-treatment and to correlate them with the outcome from the Morris water maze (MWM), represented by the parameter "time spent in the target quadrant" during the probe trial. OF1 mice were used for the experiments and divided into four groups: intraperitoneal SGS742 and saline solution treatment, both, tested in the MWM, and two yoked controls. Six hours following the probe trial, hippocampal protein levels were determined by immunoblotting. In the MWM, time spent in the target quadrant was significantly enhanced by SGS742 treatment. p-PKA levels were significantly increased only in the SGS742-treated group tested in the MWM as compared to saline treatment. In yoked controls, no significant differences in p-PKA levels between SGS742 and saline treatment were observed. Somatostatin-14 levels were significantly increased in both SGS742-treated groups. No statistically significant changes of other protein levels were observed. We propose that GABA (B) antagonism represented by SGS742 treatment led to cognitive enhancement involving p-PKA, because yoked controls treated with SGS742 were comparable to yoked saline-treated controls. The finding that somatostatin-14 was also induced in the SGS742-treated yoked controls points to a drug side effect, and therefore the role of somatostatin-14 for cognitive enhancement remains open. | 18,727,045 |
The protein kinase C phosphorylation site on GAP-43 differentially regulates information storage. | Protein kinase C (PKC) is known to regulate phosphorylation of substrates such as MARCKS, GAP-43, and the NMDA receptor, all of which have been linked to synaptic plasticity underlying information storage processes. Here we report on three transgenic mice isoforms differentiated both by mutation of the PKC site on GAP-43 as well as by their performance in three learning situations: (1) a radial arm maze task, which evaluates spatial memory and its retention, (2) fear conditioning which assesses contextual memory, and (3) the water maze which also evaluates spatial memory and its retention. The present results show, for the first time to our knowledge, that the phosphorylation state of a single site on an identified brain growth- and plasticity-associated protein differentially regulates performance of three different memory-associated tasks. | 18,727,047 |
The human hippocampus at 7 T--in vivo MRI. | The human hippocampus plays a central role in various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), Alzheimer's dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and schizophrenia. Its volume, morphology, inner structure, and function are of scientific and clinical interest. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a widely employed tool in neuroradiological workup regarding changes in brain anatomy, (sub-) volumes, and cerebral function including the hippocampus. Gain in intrinsic MR signal provided by higher field strength scanners and concomitant improvements in spatial resolution seem highly valuable. An examination protocol permitting complete, high-resolution imaging of the human hippocampus at 7 T was implemented. Coronal proton density, T2, T2*, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery contrasts were acquired as well as an isotropic 3D magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo (500 microm isotropic voxel dimension, noninterpolated). Observance of energy deposition restrictions within acceptable scan times remained challenging in the acquisition of thin, spin-echo-based sections. At the higher resolution enabled by 7 T, demarcation of the hippocampus and some internal features including gray/white matter differentiation and depiction of the hippocampal mantle becomes much more viable when compared with 1.5 T; thus, in the future, this imaging technology might help in the diagnosis of subtle hippocampal changes. | 18,727,048 |
Simultaneous flow cytometric detection of basophil activation marker CD63 and intracellular phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in birch pollen allergy. | Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK is a crucial step in IgE-receptor signaling in basophils. The relation of p38 MAPK to the well-validated diagnostic cell surface marker CD63 has not been evaluated in a clinical allergy model. Expression of CD63 and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK were analyzed flow cytometrically in anti-IgE-gated basophils from 18 birch pollen allergic patients, five grass pollen allergic patients, and five healthy individuals, after 3 and 20 min of stimulation with recombinant major birch pollen allergen (rBet v 1). Additional time points and the influence of p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 were studied in birch pollen allergic patients. Phospho-p38 MAPK and CD63 were expressed dose-dependently in birch pollen allergic patient basophils within 1 minute of rBet v 1 stimulation. P38 MAPK phosphorylation was fastest and subsided gradually while CD63 expression remained elevated for at least 20 min. Inhibition of p38 MAPK significantly inhibited CD63 upregulation. With optimal stimulation of the cells (1 μg/mL), sensitivity and specificity for the discrimination between patients and a group of control individuals (grass pollen allergic patients and healthy controls) were 94% and 100% for CD63 at 3 and 20 min and for phospho-p38 MAPK at 3 min. Antigen-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation in human basophils essentially contributes to CD63 upregulation. It is a sensitive and specific intracellular marker for allergy diagnosis and offers new insight into the mechanisms of basophil activation. | 18,727,065 |
In-stent restenosis in bare metal stents versus sirolimus-eluting stents after primary coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction and subsequent transcoronary transplantation of autologous stem cells. | Following stenting for acute myocardial infarction, transcoronary transplantation of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized autologous stem cells (ASC) has been shown to result in an increased in-stent restenosis rate of bare metal stents (BMS). This study sought to compare the extent of neointimal growth in BMS and sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) after primary implantation, and subsequent transcoronary transplantation of G-CSF mobilized stem cells. Patients with stenting of the left anterior descending coronary artery for acute anterior myocardial infarction were randomly assigned to receive a BMS or SES. Intracoronary stem cell injection was performed after G-CSF application for at least 4 d and cell apheresis. The angiograms obtained after cell transplantation and after 6 mo were analyzed by quantitative coronary angiography. We performed primary stenting and stem cell transplantion in 16 patients who received a BMS (n = 8) or an SES (n = 8). In 2 patients with a BMS, late stent thrombosis occurred after 58 d and 177 d, respectively. In the remaining patients, control angiography after 6 mo revealed in-stent restenosis of >50% in no patients with SES but in 4 patients with BMS (67%). Late lumen loss and in-stent plaque volume were significantly higher in patients with BMS compared with patients with SES. Compared with BMS, SES impair in-stent intima hyperplasia after stenting for acute myocardial infarction and transcoronary transplantation of G-CSF mobilized ASC. | 18,727,076 |
Balanced left ventricular myocardial SSFP-tagging at 1.5T and 3T. | The purpose of the study was to evaluate the performance of steady-state free precession (SSFP)-tagging at 1.5T and 3T and to define the ideal settings with respect to optimized tag contrast throughout the cardiac cycle for both field strengths. To identify optimal imaging parameters data acquisition was repeated for different flip angles. Left ventricular tag-tissue contrast, tag fading times, tag persistence, and myocardial signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were quantified in basal, mid-ventricular, and apical slice locations. To assess the effect of field strength on image quality and artifact level, additional semiquantitative image grading was performed by two experienced readers. SSFP-tagging at 3T proved superior to 1.5T and provided significantly enhanced tag persistence and myocardial SNR while maintaining overall image quality and artifact level. The definition of a tag quality index demonstrated optimal SSFP-tagging performance for a flip angle of 20 degrees . Diastolic tag visibility was improved at 3T and resulted in enhanced average tag persistence of 789 +/- 128 ms compared to 523 +/- 40 ms at 1.5T. For SSFP-tagging at 3T the combination of T(1) lengthening and superior myocardial SNR is highly promising and has the potential to improve the depiction of tagged myocardial function throughout the entire cardiac cycle. | 18,727,081 |
In vivo 1H NMR measurement of glycine in rat brain at 9.4 T at short echo time. | Glycine is an amino acid present in mammalian brain, where it acts as an inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter. The two detectable protons of glycine give rise to a singlet at 3.55 ppm that overlaps with the more intense myo-inositol resonances, and its measurement has traditionally required specific editing efforts. The aim of the current study was to reduce the signal intensity of myo-inositol relative to that of glycine by exploiting the fast signal J-evolution of the myo-inositol spin system when using a single spin-echo localization method we recently introduced. Glycine was detected at TE = 20 ms with an average Cramér-Rao lower bound (CRLB) of 8.6% +/- 1.5% in rat brain (N = 5), at 9.4 T. The concentration of glycine was determined using LCModel analysis at 1.1 +/- 0.1 mM, in good agreement with biochemical measurements previously reported. We conclude that at high magnetic fields, glycine can be measured at a relatively short echo time (TE) without additional editing efforts. | 18,727,088 |
Image-based coronary tracking and beat-to-beat motion compensation: feasibility for improving coronary MR angiography. | A method to reduce the effect of motion variability in MRI of the coronary arteries is proposed. It involves acquiring real-time low-resolution images in specific orthogonal orientations, extracting coronary motion from these images, and then using this motion information to guide high-resolution MR image acquisition on a beat-to-beat basis. The present study establishes the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed approach using human motion data in an offline implementation, prior to future online implementation on an MRI scanner. To track the coronary arteries in low-resolution real-time MR images in an accurate manner, a tracking approach is presented and validated. The tracking algorithm was run on real-time images acquired at 15-20 frames per second in four-chamber, short-axis, and coronal views in five volunteers. The systolic and diastolic periods in the cardiac cycles, computed from the extracted motion information, had significant variability during the short time periods typical of cardiac MRI. It is also demonstrated through simulation analysis using human tracked coronary motion data that accounting for this cardiac variability by adaptively changing the trigger delay for acquisition on a beat-to-beat basis improves overall motion compensation and hence MR image quality evaluated in terms of SNR and CNR values. | 18,727,098 |
Modeling SSFP functional MRI contrast in the brain. | Steady-state free precession (SSFP) has recently been proposed for function MRI because of the potential for reducing image distortion and signal dropout. Several different contrast mechanisms have been suggested to explain the reported observations, but there has been limited work comparing theory with experiment in the brain. Moreover, the detailed work that has considered oxygen-dependent signal in SSFP outside the brain has focused on R(2) effects in the pass band, and largely neglected the signal contrast that occurs due to off-resonance effects. The article describes a model for SSFP functional contrast based on the convolution of the theoretical SSFP profile with the underlying frequency distribution. It is demonstrated that such a model must account for the effects of diffusion, which can alter the apparent R(2) and linespread. Monte Carlo simulations are used to calibrate corrections for these terms. This new model has the computational efficiency of the convolution model while encapsulating information from more time-consuming Monte Carlo simulations. This corrected convolution model is shown to agree well with experimental data, and model predictions and limitations are discussed. | 18,727,099 |
One year perspective on COURAGE. | Doctor: "Ma'am you need an angioplasty". "Doctor, the newspaper says that medicine is as good as angioplasty". Doctor: "Ma'am you're having a heart attack". The COURAGE trial was published 1 year ago and received attention from the media, patients, and other medical specialties concerning the value of percutaneous coronary intervention. Now, 1 year later there has been time to reflect on COURAGE, and some newer data have emerged. The purpose of this article is to put into perspective the issues surrounding the COURAGE trial and suggest different approaches for future trials of stable coronary artery disease. | 18,727,125 |
Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy. | To evaluate the emerging role of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) in the management of bladder cancer. Review of the published literature on robotic-assisted radical cystectomy, including data from our cystectomy series of 30 patients. Nearly 150 procedures have been performed worldwide. The benefits of robotic-assisted operations are similar to those of laparoscopically-performed procedures. RARC appears to be technically safe, oncologically and functionally equivalent to open (ORC) and laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC). However, RARC offers superior ergonomics and better vision. These benefits come at extra initial capital expenditure and subsequent higher maintenance costs. With the rapid spread of robotics, it is likely that RARC will become the standard of care in units with access to the technology. | 18,727,138 |
Ion mobility adds an additional dimension to mass spectrometric analysis of solution-phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange. | The goal of this study was to determine the utility of adding ion mobility spectrometry to studies probing the solution-phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HX) of proteins. The HX profile of the Hck SH3 domain was measured at both the intact protein and the peptic peptide levels in the Waters Synapt HDMS system which uses a traveling wave to accomplish ion mobility separation prior to time-of-flight (Tof) m/z analysis. The results indicated a similar loss of deuterium with or without use of mobility in the Synapt and a level of deuterium loss comparable with a non-mobility Q-Tof instrument. The drift time of this small protein and its peptic peptides did not noticeably change due to solution-based deuterium incorporation. Importantly, ion mobility separations provided an orthogonal dimension of separation in addition to the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The additional dimension of separation allowed for the deconvolution of overlapping isotopic patterns for co-eluting peptides and extraction of valuable deuterium incorporation data for those peptides. Taken together, these results indicate that including ion mobility separation in HX MS analyses further improves the mass spectrometry portion of such experiments. | 18,727,141 |
Effect of age and food intake on dietary carbon turnover recorded in sheep wool. | We present the results of a series of controlled feeding experiments with sheep, designed to investigate the effects of age and level of food intake on the kinetics of incorporation of the dietary carbon signal into wool. Four different groups of three sheep each, ranging in age from 6 to 78 months, were fed a C(3) diet and switched to a C(4) diet for up to 250 days. Different quantities of the same C(4) diet were provided to each group, in order to achieve different growth rates (high, low, and no growth). Wool was repeatedly shorn from each animal and processed for delta(13)C analyses. Results show that newly grown wool does not start recording the isotope composition of the new diet immediately after the diet-switch. The time-lag varies according to the age of the animal, from 6 +/- 1 days in lambs to up to 15 +/- 4 days in the older ewes. Wool from fast-growing lambs approached equilibrium faster than that from slow-growing lambs and young ewes, with old ewes being the slowest. However, 3 weeks after the diet-switch, the differences in wool delta(13)C values between the four different groups of animals were relatively small and represented less than 15% of the isotopic difference between the two diets. These results suggest that a single equation can be used to reconstruct previous diets for animals of different age, provided that the diet is similar and all individuals are in positive protein balance. | 18,727,150 |
The gap-filling sequence on the left arm of chromosome 2 in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. | We report a gap-filling sequence between SPBPB21E7.09 (in contig c1348) and SPBPB10D8.01 (in contig pB10D8) on the left arm of chromosome 2 in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The sequence was determined from a BAC clone overlapping SPBPB21E7.01c (eno102) (in contig c1348) and SPBC1683.07 (mal1) (in contig pB10D8). The gap-filling sequence is 17,881 bp in length and contains five putative open reading frames, which were systematically named as SPBC460.01c, SPBC460.02c, SPBC460.03, SPBC460.04c and SPBC460.05. Their deduced amino acid sequences respectively include protein motifs corresponding to amino acid permease, glutathione S-transferase C-terminal domain, taurine catabolism dioxygenase TauD TfdA family and major facilitator superfamily, whereas their functions are unknown. | 18,727,152 |
U.S.: PEPFAR reauthorization bills pass House, Senate committee. | On 2 April 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill (H.R. 5501) to reauthorize the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The House bill would authorize the appropriation of US$50 billion over the next five years--40 percent more than the US$30 billion requested by President George W. Bush. | 18,727,191 |
Refugee claimant's identity as cross-dresser must be considered in assessing adequacy of state protection. | On 11 December 2007, the Federal Court allowed Jose Hernandez's application for judicial review of a November 2006 decision by the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board, which found that the applicant was neither a Convention refugee nor a person in need of protection. Hernandez had requested that the Board's decision be set aside and the matter referred back to a newly constituted panel of the Board for re-determination. | 18,727,196 |
Natural history of hepatocellular carcinoma. | Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a slowly growing tumor, whose natural history is not completely known. Since the hepatocarcinogenetic process may evolve for years in a stepwise fashion from premalignant to overt HCC, detection of early, better treatable tumors is made possible by surveillance of patients at risk. A 6-month interval surveillance with ultrasound is considered cost-effective, generally leading to the identification of a single < 3 cm tumor in 50-70% of the patients at risk. For greater than 2 cm tumors, demonstration of arterial hypervascularization of the node by sonovue US, triphasic spiral CT or MRI is diagnostic for HCC. The diagnosis of a less than 2 cm in diameter tumor may be more difficult due to the risk of false negative diagnoses with contrast imaging technique (50% of the cases) caused by immature arterial vascularization of the small nodules. Prognosis largely depends on the evolutionary stage at which HCC is detected, i.e. a size and number of HCC nodes, vascular invasiveness and degree of liver impairment. The multinodular pattern of HCC, representing one third of all early cancers, heralds poor prognosis, especially for patients not fitting the Milan criteria for liver transplantation. The best prognosis is for a single, less than 5 cm node in compensated cirrhosis without vascular invasion, since this tumor is amenable to both liver transplantation and hepatic resection which may confer long-term survival Better survivals of cirrhotic patients with a recently identified tumors reflect the application of accurate criteria for tumor staging and stringent criteria for curative treatments. However, ageing of the patients, deterioration of liver function during surveillance, occurrence of multinodular tumors and limited access to liver transplantation may hamper surveillance programs effectiveness. | 18,727,270 |
Brunner's gland hamartoma: a case report and review of literature. | Brunner's hamartoma is a quite rare neoformation whose origin is not completely clear. A case of a 69-year-old man with recurrent epigastric pain and an endoscopic finding of a duodenal mass is reported. The complete removal of hamartoma can give a complete remission of symptoms. Hamartoma can be only diagnosed by endoscopy and histological exam; its therapy is always surgical, also in order to avoid possible malignant degeneration. | 18,727,278 |
[Taxonomic diversity of parasites in agnathans and fishes from the Volga River basin. VI. Acanthocephala, Hirudinea and Bivalvia]. | The checklist of Acanthocephala, Hirudinea, and Bivalvia parasitizing agnathans and fishes in the Volga River basin is presented. Hosts and areas of distribution are indicated for each parasites species. The checklist includes 10 species of acanthocephalans, 7 species of leeches, and 9 species of Bivalvia (at the glochidium stage) from 45 fish species. None of the given parasite species is alien for the Volga River basin. | 18,727,362 |
[Morphology of the blackfly species group macropyga of the genus Prosimulium roubaud, 1906, and re-establishment of the generic name Taeniopterna Enderlein, 1925 for this group (Diptera: Simuliidae)]. | The genus Taeniopterna with the types species Melusina macropyga Lundstrom, 1911 was proposed by Enderlein in 1925. Later this taxon was considered as the species group macropyga in the genus Prosimulium Roubaud, 1906 by many authors (Rubzov, 1956; Crosskey et Howard, 1997; Adler et al., 2004, and others). However, differences between this group and the remaining species of Prosimulium s. str. (species group hirtipes/mixtum) seem to be not lesser, than those between other genera (or subgenera) of the tribe Prosimuliini (in our sense), namely Helodon Enderlein, 1921, Urosimulium Contini, 1963, Parahelodon Peterson, 1970, and Distosimulium Peterson, 1970. Taeniopterna differs from other genera of Prosimuliini by the following characters. Imago differs from all other genera in having shortened proboscic (1.5 times shorter than clypeus, while in other genera it is of the same length with clypeus). It differs from all genera except Helodon in having relatively prolonged and lightly pointed distally wings (in other genera wings are wide and rounded distally). Male differs from all other genera of the tribe, except Urosimulium, in having narrow frons between the eyes. It differs from the Urosimulium male by conic gonostyles (in Urosimulium gonostyles bear the large heel). Female differs from all other genera of tribe by very small spermatheca (1/3-1/5 of the lenght of the branch of genital fork (while in other genera spermatheca is equal or longer, than the branch of genital fork) and by the absence of serration on maxillae and mandibles. Female also differs from other genera of the tribe, except Prosimulium, by very long hypogynal valves and by missing or very small and pressed basal tooth of claws (in Helodon, Urosimulium, Parahelodon, and Distosimulium hypogynal valves are short and rounded, basal tooth of claws is moderate or large and put aside). It differs from Prosimulium by smaller head (more narrow than thorax, while in Prosimulium head is near equal by width with thorax) and by absence of sclerotization on the medial edges of hypogynal valves. Larva differs from all other genera of the tribe, except Prosimulium, in having long dorsoventral projections of wide sclerotized band of prothorax (in other genera this band is narrow and without projections). It differs from Prosimulium by another pattern of the hypostomal teeth. Pupa differs from all other genera of the tribe, except Distosimulium, by cocoon covering all the pupal body (in other genera cocoon covers only posterior part of the pupal body). It differs from Distosimulium by long and strong caudal thorns (in Distosimulium caudal thorns are of moderate length and more thin). These and some other characters give the base for the proposition to consider the species group macropyga as a a separate genus Taeniopterna Enderlein, 1925. A list of Taeniopterna species is given. | 18,727,367 |
[Eimeria of cattle in the Republic of Dagestan]. | Data on Eimeria (Sporozoa: Coccidia) parasitizing cattle in different regions of the Republic of Dagestan are given. Eight species of the genus were found. Eimeria zuernii, E. subspherica, and E. bovis appeared to be the dominate species. Total infestation rate in the republic is 67.7%, while in mountain regions of Dagestan in is 83%. | 18,727,369 |
[The geographic varyability of the polytene chromosome banding sequence of non-biting midje Chironomus pseudothummi str. (Diptera, Chironomidae)]. | The karyotypes and chromosomal polymorphism of Chironomus pseudothummi were investigated in different parts of its range. It was established that chromosomal variability in the natural populations of this species was represented mainly by the inversion polymorphism of arm G. Only rare and unique inversions were found as heterozygous in arms C, D, and E. In total, the 14 banding sequences of polytene chromosomes form the banding sequences pool of Ch. pseudothummi. Geographic differences in distribution of chromosomal banding sequences throughout the range were established. The presence of banding sequences pstG1 and pstG2 is characteristic of European populations. Banding sequence pstG1 was completely vanished with simultaneous increase in frequency of pstG2 and appearance of new inversion banding sequence pstG3 in Siberian populations. The differences in the set of the rare and unique inversions in arms C, D, and E between west-European and west-Siberian populations were revealed. | 18,727,406 |
[Diencephalo-telencephalic changes of tyrosine hydroxylase in rats and common frogs (Rana temporaria) after sleep deprivation]. | Based on sleep deprivation-produced changes of electrographic parameters of the wakefulness--sleep cycle (WSC) in rats and common frogs, dynamics of activity of tyrosine hydroxylase, the key enzyme of dopamine synthesis, was studied immunohistochemically in substantia nigra and nigrostriatal pathway in rats and in striatum, paraventricular organ, and extrahypothalamic pathways in frogs. There are revealed changes in dynamics of tyrosine hydroxylase in rats and in common frogs after the 6-h sleep deprivation and after 2 h of postdeprivation sleep. This allows determining the degree of participation of corticostriatal neuroregulatory and hypothalamo-pituitary neurosecretory systems and their role in regulation of WSC. Possible evolutionary peculiarities of morphofunctional differences in homoiothermal and poikilothermal animals are discussed. | 18,727,412 |
[Distribution of metabolic activity (cytochrome oxidase) and immunoreactivity to calcium-binding proteins in turtle brainstem auditory nuclei]. | Using histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques, distribution of activity of oxidative mitochondrial enzyme cytochrome oxidase (CO) and of immunoreactivity to calcium-binding proteins has been studied in spiral ganglion and auditory nuclei of brainstem in two turtle species. It has been shown that immunoreactivity to calbindin, parvalbumin, and calretinin in neurons and neuropil of nuclei of cochlear and superior olivary complexes, in nucleus of lateral lemniscus, and in spiral ganglion neurons coincides topographically with the high CO activity. The similarity of the studied metabolic and neurochemical characteristics of these auditory centers in reptiles, birds, and mammals indicates the existence of some common principles of their organization in amniotes in spite of phylogenetic differences and peculiarities of specialization of the auditory system in different species. | 18,727,419 |
[Hypersiderosis and dissiderosis in the context of data on hemochromatosis microelementosis]. | The review summarizes the results of the state-of-the-art studies of hemochromatosis (HC): iron-regulatory genes (HFE, HJV, HAMP, TFR2, SLC40A1) have been discovered; the HC types caused by mutations in these genes (types 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the OMIM register) have been identified; the inflammation anemia (IA) mediator - the polypeptide hepatic hormone hepcidin that is an important constituent of the natural immunity system - has been found. This gives an idea of hypersiderosis and dissiderosis as types of iron microelementosis. Types 1, 2, and 3 HC in which iron absorption and its total reserves are increased in the body serve as examples of hypersiderosis. Dissiderosis is characterized by the redistribution of iron between the functional and spare funds inherent in type 4 HC and IA. By taking into account their findings, the authors briefly discuss the leading clinical and morphological manifestations of HC and IA, difficulties in differential diagnosis, and treatment ways and prospects. | 18,727,423 |
[Effect of apoptosis proteins on function of vasopressin- and dopaminergic hypothalamic neurons]. | To study character of effect of apoptosis signal proteins on activities of neurosecretory cells and neurons of rat hypothalamus, pharmacologic inhibitors of proapoptotic protein p53 Pifithrin-alpha and antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 HA14-1 were injected into the hypothalamus. Activation of vasopressinergic neurosecretory cells at administration of the blocker Bcl-2 HA14-1 was shown: there were observed an increase of vasopressin mRNA in neurons of hypothalamus supraoptical and paraventricular nuclei, a decrease of the immunoreactive vasopressin content in posterior pituitary, and reduction of diuresis. Inactivation of p53 inhibited release of vasopressin from hypothalamus cell bodies, which is indicated by an elevated content of immunoreactive vasopressin in neurosecretory cell bodies with its unchanged synthesis, a decrease of the neurohormone content in the posterior pituitary, and an increase of diuresis rate. Activation of vasopressinergic neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus was also shown. Administration of the blocker Bcl-2 has been revealed to decrease functional activity both of dopaminergic neurons (Zona Incerta) and of dopaminergic neurosecretory cells (arcuate nucleus), in which a decrease of the tyrosine hydroxylase content was observed. The p53 inactivation also led to a decrease of activity of dopaminergic neurosecretory cells of arcuate nucleus, whereas activity of the proteins Zone Incerta did not change. Thus, it has been shown that a change of the apoptotic protein content in vasopressinergic and dopaminergic neurons and neurosecretory cells leads to a change of their functional activity, the character and possibly mechanisms of effects of apoptotic proteins on activities of vasopressin- and dopaminergic cells being different. | 18,727,420 |
[The morphofunctional characteristics of proteins of nucleolar organizers in uterine smooth muscle tumors]. | The authors have shown the activity of argyrophylic nucleolar organizer region proteins (Ag-NOR-proteins) in the uterine leiomyomas of varying histological structure and determined their relationship to the growth rate, size, and site of a node and endometrial pathology. The investigation indicat yomas with significant sclerosis, 4.32 +/- 0.1 in simple leiomyomas, and 6.2 +/- 0.2 in cell leiomyomas (r = 0.58). In menopause, myomas with significant sclerosis and hyalinosis were characterized with a small number of Ag-NOR (1.44 +/- 0.04). Thus, the organizers numbered 12.1 +/- 0.5 and 21.7 +/- 1.0 in high- and low-grade sarcomas, respectively, which may be used in the differential diagnosis of cellular, bizarre, mitotically active leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. | 18,727,427 |
[Melatonin expression in nasal polyps in patients with asthmatic triad]. | The expression of melatonin in nasal polyps versus the histological structure of tissue was studied in 11 patients with aspirin-induced asthma (AIA), 8 patients with asthma without aspirin intolerance, 13 patients with polypous rhinosinusopathy (PR) without bronchopulmonary diseases, and 10 apparently healthy individuals without nasal polyposis. The expression of melatonin in the nasal mucosa was found to be normal in healthy individuals. It significantly increased in polyp tissue in PR. The specific feature of polyp tissue in patients with aspirin triad was its high eosinophils levels that correlated with the increased area of melatonin expression. Thus, in AIA patients, the role of eosinophils increases in the production and/or delivery of the hormone into polyp tissue along with a drastic reduction in platelet melatonin generation. The findings explain persistent recurrent PR in AIA patients and an exacerbation of the disease after polyp removal. | 18,727,430 |
Antiviral Chemistry & Chemotherapy's current antiviral agents FactFile (2nd edition): DNA viruses. | Although most of the recent attempts to develop new antiviral agents have been focussed on RNA viruses (in particular, HIV and hepatitis C virus), a few new compounds are now awaiting their entry into the field of DNA viruses, particularly poxviruses, such as variola virus, because of the bioterrorist context, and herpesviruses, such as herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus, where the market scene has for many years been dominated by acyclovir, penciclovir and ganciclovir and their respective orally bioavailable prodrugs: valaciclovir, famciclovir and valganciclovir. Here, we review the current 'state of the art' with old compounds ready to rotate off and new compounds eagerly awaiting to appear on the continuously evolving scene of antiviral drug development. | 18,727,440 |
[Congenital neuroblastoma]. | The paper describes a clinicoanatomic case of congenital neuroblastoma of various differentiation degree in a boy aged 1 year and 9 months after 4 courses of up-to-date multidrug therapy. | 18,727,436 |
Clinical features of legume allergy in children from a Mediterranean area. | Lentils, chickpeas, beans, and peas are the most common consumed legumes in the Mediterranean area. However, there is little information about allergy to these legumes. To describe the clinical features of a Spanish pediatric population allergic to legumes (lentils, chickpeas, peas, white beans, and peanuts), to evaluate the clinical allergy to several legumes, and to determine which legume extract is most appropriate to use in the diagnosis of legume allergy by skin tests. Fifty-four children with allergic reactions after exposure to legumes were studied. The diagnosis of legume allergy was confirmed by positive skin prick test results with legume extracts and food challenges or a recent convincing history of severe reactions. The onset of allergic reactions was at approximately the age of 2 years (median, 22 months). Skin prick test results were positive for at least 3 legumes in 38 children (70%). Positive results were more frequent to boiled extracts than to raw extracts in children with a positive oral challenge. Allergy to lentil was the most frequently diagnosed legume allergy (43 children [80%]), followed by allergy to chickpea (32 children [59%]). Oral challenges with more than 1 legume (median, 3 legumes) were positive in 37 children (69%). The most frequent induced symptoms on challenge were respiratory (rhinitis and/or asthma) and cutaneous. In this population, lentils and chickpeas are the legumes that cause most allergic reactions, clinical allergy to more than 1 legume is common, and boiled legume extracts are most appropriate to discriminate between allergic and tolerant sensitized children. | 18,727,474 |
The subthalamic nucleus. Part I: development, cytology, topography and connections. | This monograph (Part I of two volumes) on the subthalamic nucleus (STN) accentuates the gap between experimental animal and human information concerning subthalamic development, cytology, topography and connections. The light and electron microscopical cytology focuses on the open nucleus concept and the neuronal types present in the STN. The cytochemistry encompasses enzymes, NO, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), calcium binding proteins, and receptors (dopamine, cannabinoid, opioid, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, cholinergic, and calcium channels). The ontogeny of the subthalamic cell cord is also reviewed. The topography concerns the rat, cat, baboon and human STN. The descriptions of the connections are also given from a historical point of view. Recent tracer studies on the rat nigro-subthalamic connection revealed contralateral projections. Part II of the two volumes (volume 199) on the subthalamic nucleus (STN) starts with a systemic model of the basal ganglia to evaluate the position of the STN in the direct, indirect and hyperdirect pathways. A summary of in vitro studies is given, describing STN spontaneous activity as well as responses to depolarizing and hyperpolarizing inputs and high-frequency stimulation. STN bursting activity and the underlying ionic mechanisms are investigated. Deep brain stimulation used for symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease is discussed in terms of the elements that are influenced and its hypothesized mechanisms. This part of the monograph explores the pedunculopontine-subthalamic connections and summarizes attempts to mimic neurotransmitter actions of the pedunculopontine nucleus in cell cultures and high-frequency stimulation on cultured dissociated rat subthalamic neurons. STN cell models--single- and multi-compartment models and system-level models are discussed in relation to subthalamic function and dysfunction. Parts I and II are compared. | 18,727,483 |
Fevers, genes, and innate immunity. | The characterization of patients with recurrent inflammatory syndromes into distinct clinical phenotypes provided early clues to the mode of inheritance of these conditions and facilitated the subsequent identification of causative gene mutations. The prototype autoinflammatory syndrome, familial Mediterranean fever, is characterized by self-limiting episodes of localized inflammation. Hallmarks of the classical autoimmune response are largely absent. The use of positional cloning techniques led to the identification of the causative gene, MEFV, and its product pyrin. This previously unrecognized protein plays an important role in modulating the innate immune response. Cryopyrin, the protein encoded by CIAS1, is mutated in a spectrum of autoinflammatory conditions, the cryopyrinopathies. In response to a wide range of potential pathogens, it forms a macromolecular complex termed the "inflammasome," resulting in caspase-1 activation and subsequent release of the active proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). The role of an established biochemical pathway in regulating inflammation was uncovered by the discovery that the hyperimmunoglobulin D with periodic fever syndrome (HIDS) results from mutations in MVK, which encodes an enzyme in the isoprenoid pathway. The discovery that mutations in the gene encoding tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1 (TNFR1) cause a proinflammatory phenotype was unanticipated, as it seemed more likely that such mutations would instead have resulted in an immunodeficiency pattern. This review describes the clinical phenotypes of autoinflammatory syndromes, the underlying gene mutations, and current concepts regarding their pathophysiology. | 18,727,492 |
[Effect of lipopolysaccharide on cyclooxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 release in human nasal epithelia]. | To detect cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release in human nasal epithelia (HNE) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in different concentration gradient and time gradient, and to investigate their roles in nasal inflammatory pathogenesis. Western Blot and fluorescent real time quantitative PCR were performed to detect the expression of COX-2 in HNE induced by LPS and blocked by selective inhibitor of COX-2. The concentrations of PGE2 were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Low expressions of COX-2 and PGE2 were detected in normal HNE. COX-2 expression and PGE2 release increased in HNE induced by LPS in time-dependent or dose-dependent manner. The increased release of PGE2 was later than that of COX-2 expression. COX-2 expression and PGE2 release were dose-dependently attenuated by selective inhibitor of COX-2. LPS effectively induces COX-2 expression and PGE2 release in HNE. And COX-2 is responsible for the synthesis of PGE2. These results indicate that the increased expression of COX-2 and PGE2 is involved in the inflammation of HNE induced by LPS in vitro. | 18,727,513 |
Determination of coenzyme Q10 content in raw materials and dietary supplements by high-performance liquid chromatography-UV: collaborative study. | An international collaborative study was conducted of a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC)-UV method for the determination of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, ubidecarenone) in raw materials and dietary supplements. Ten collaborating laboratories determined the total CoQ10 content in 8 blind duplicate samples. Sample materials included CoQ10 raw material and 4 finished product dietary supplements representing softgels, hardshell gelatin capsules, and chewable wafers. In addition, collaborating laboratories received a negative control and negative control spiked with CoQ10 at low and high levels to determine recovery. Materials were extracted with an acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran-water mixture. Ferric chloride was added to the test solutions to ensure all CoQ10 was in the oxidized form. The HPLC analyses were performed on a C18 column using UV detection at 275 nm. Repeatability relative standard deviations (RSDr) ranged from 0.94 to 5.05%. Reproducibility relative standard deviations (RSDR) ranged from 3.08 to 17.1%, with HorRat values ranging from 1.26 to 5.17. Recoveries ranged from 74.0 to 115%. Based on these results, the method is recommended for Official First Action for determination of CoQ10 in raw materials and dietary supplement finished products containing CoQ10 at a concentration of >100 mg CoQ10/g test material. | 18,727,527 |
Simultaneous estimation of acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel bisulfate in pure powder and tablet formulations by high-performance column liquid chromatography and high-performance thin-layer chromatography. | This paper describes validated high-performance column liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) methods for simultaneous estimation of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and clopidogrel bisulfate (CLP) in pure powder and formulations. The HPLC separation was achieved on a Nucleosil C8 column (150 mm length x 4.6 mm id, 5 microm particle size) using acetonitrile-phosphate buffer, pH 3.0 (55 + 45, v/v) mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min at ambient temperature. The HPTLC separation was achieved on an aluminum-backed layer of silica gel 60F254 using ethyl acetate-methanol-toluene-glacial acetic acid (5.0 + 1.0 + 4.0 + 0.1, v/v/v/v) mobile phase. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 235 nm over the concentration range 4-24 microg/mL for both drugs, with mean recoveries of 99.98 +/- 0.28 and 100.16 +/- 0.66% for ASA and CLP, respectively, using the HPLC method. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 235 nm over the concentration range of 400-1400 ng/spot for both drugs, with mean recoveries of 99.93 +/- 0.55 and 100.21 +/- 0.83% for ASA and CLP, respectively, using the HPTLC method. These methods are simple, precise, and sensitive, and they are applicable for the simultaneous determination of ASA and CLP in pure powder and formulations. | 18,727,533 |
Fatty acid profile of Canadian dairy products with special attention to the trans-octadecenoic acid and conjugated linoleic acid isomers. | Current scientific evidence indicates that consumption of industrial trans fatty acids (TFA) produced via partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils increases the risk of coronary heart disease. However, some studies have suggested that ruminant TFA, especially vaccenic acid (VA or 11t-18:1) and rumenic acid (RA or 9c,11t-18:2), which is a conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomer, may have potential beneficial health effects for humans. To date, no concerted effort has been made to provide detailed isomer composition of ruminant TFA and CLA of Canadian dairy products, information that is required to properly assess their nutritional impacts. To this end, we analyzed the fatty acid profile of popular brands of commercial cheese (n = 17), butter (n = 12), milk (n = 8), and cream (n = 4) sold in retail stores in Ottawa, Canada, in 2006-2007 by silver nitrate thin-layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography. The average total TFA content of cheese, butter, milk, and cream samples were 5.6, 5.8, 5.8, and 5.5% of total fatty acids, respectively. VA was the major trans-octadecenoic acid (18:1) isomer in all the Canadian dairy samples with average levels of (as % total trans-18:1) 33.9% in cheese, 35.6% in butter, 31.0% milk, and 30.1% in cream. The different dairy products contained very similar levels of CLA, which ranged from 0.5 to 0.9% of total fat. RA was the major CLA isomer of all the dairy products, accounting for 82.4-83.2% of total CLA. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the fatty acid profile between the 4 different dairy groups, which suggests lack of processing effects on the fatty acid profile of dairy fat. | 18,727,541 |
Comparison of digestibility and quality of intact proteins with their respective hydrolysates. | Quality of proteins depends on their composition in essential amino acids and on the availability of amino acids. Great interest has been shown in the role played by hydrolysates of proteins in clinical diets for pathologies with reduced absorptive capacity and food allergies caused by intact protein epitopes. Milk proteins are the most important protein source used in the development of protein hydrolysates designed for nutritional support of patients. Several studies have shown that casein and whey hydrolysates have a composition in amino acids equivalent to that in native milk proteins and that digestibility is similar or better. Among plant proteins, soy is the major source of hydrolysates. Soy hydrolysates are also used in infant formulas. Plant hydrolysates have good functional properties and a nutritional quality similar to that of starting material. Some technical improvements in production of hydrolysates, particularly for plants, are nevertheless necessary to improve product palatability. | 18,727,562 |
Practice of venom immunotherapy in the United Kingdom: a national audit and review of literature. | Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is the only effective treatment for prevention of serious allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings in sensitized individuals. However, controversies exist relating to diagnosis, indications for treatment and treatment schedules. We audited current practice of VIT in the United Kingdom to evaluate adherence to international guidelines. An online questionnaire was sent to all clinicians practising immunotherapy identified on the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology website. Eighty-six questionnaires were sent and 53 responses (61.6%) were received. Of these, 48 (85%) carried out VIT at their centre. Skin prick tests (SPT) and serum venom-specific IgE (SSIgE) were equally preferred as first-line investigation. Fifty percent of the respondents perform intradermal tests if both SPT and SSIgE are negative. While 8% of respondents commence VIT in patients with negative SSIgE and a history of severe reaction, 57% prefer to repeat the tests in 6-12 months if serum tryptase is elevated. If the insect responsible is uncertain and SSIgE is detected against bee and wasp venoms, 22% of the respondents will desensitize to both while 32% initiate treatment against the venom with the higher SSIgE. A protocol of weekly up-dosing for 12 weeks is preferred for induction and only 25% of respondents have ever used rush or ultra-rush protocols. Three years is thought to be optimum duration of VIT by most (56%). Eleven percent perform sting challenges at the end of treatment. Although 47% measure SSIgE at the end of treatment, only 3% use these results as a basis for discontinuing VIT. Currently there is considerable variation in the diagnosis and management of hymenoptera venom allergy in the United Kingdom. This audit has demonstrated that the current international guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hymenoptera venom allergy are not being followed by UK allergy practitioners. | 18,727,621 |
Medication overuse headache: predictors and rates of relapse in migraine patients with low medical needs. A 1-year prospective study. | The aim of this study was to evaluate the rates and predictors of relapse, after successful drug withdrawal, in migraine patients with medication overuse headache (MOH) and low medical needs. The study population, study design, inclusion criteria and short-term effectiveness of the medication withdrawal strategies have been described elsewhere (Rossi et al., Cephalalgia 2006; 26:1097). Relapsers were defined as those patients fulfilling, at follow-up, the new International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edn, appendix criteria for MOH. Complete datasets were available for 83 patients. At 1 year's follow up, the relapse rate was 20.5%. Univariate analysis showed that patients who relapsed had a longer duration of migraine with more than eight headache days/month, a longer duration of drug overuse, had tried a greater number of preventive treatments in the past, had a lower reduction of headache frequency after withdrawal, and had previously consulted a greater number of specialists. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed, and three variables emerged as significant predictors of relapse: duration of migraine with more than eight headache days/month [odds ratio (OR) 1.57, P = 0.01], a higher frequency of migraine after drug withdrawal (OR 1.48, P = 0.04) and a greater number of previous preventive treatments (OR 1.54, P = 0.01). In patients with migraine plus MOH and low medical needs, relapse seems to depend on a greater severity of baseline migraine. | 18,727,648 |
Evaluation of a capillary blood collection system for screening for hemoglobinopathies in remote areas. | Accurate estimation of hemoglobin (Hbs) A, Hb A(2), Hb F and abnormal Hb is required for diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies and genetic counseling. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most suitable approach available. But for 70% of the rural Indian population, HPLC analysis facilities are not available and screening would require transportation of samples to laboratories in bigger cities. We thus evaluated the feasibility of using a kit designed for measuring Hb A(1c) using capillary blood for collection and preservation of samples over a period of 15 days at different temperatures for screening for hemoglobinopathies. Capillary blood (5 microl) of 90 individuals was collected in the capillary collection system and run on the Variant Hemoglobin Testing System on days 1, 3, 5, 8, 12 and 15 after incubation at 4, 22, 37, 42 and 50 degrees C. The stability of different Hbs varied at different temperatures. The stability was maintained for 12 to 15 days by most of the samples up to 37 degrees C. Hb E was stable for 3 days up to at 37 degrees C and Hb D and Hb Q for 3 days up to 42 degrees C. This capillary blood collection system would have tremendous potential for sample collection and transportation under adverse climatic conditions for screening of hemoglobinopathies in remote areas in different countries. | 18,727,652 |
Association of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels in serum with periodontal status in older Japanese adults. | The associations between periodontitis and stress-related steroid hormone levels released by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the association between levels of the stress-related steroid hormones cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) and periodontitis in elderly subjects. A total of 467 subjects participated in this study. Serum cortisol and DHEAS levels were determined, and a medical questionnaire regarding medical conditions and lifestyle was administered. In addition, clinical examinations including probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were conducted. The subjects were divided into tertiles on the basis of periodontitis severity. When the analysis was stratified by smoking status, we found that cortisol levels were significantly higher in those with severe CAL among subjects who had never smoked. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis showed that a higher level of cortisol was significantly associated with greater numbers of sites with severe CAL only in those who had never smoked, while a somewhat weaker association was also observed regarding cortisol/DHEAS ratio. In contrast, the level of DHEAS in serum was not associated with periodontitis. There were significant associations between serum cortisol level, including cortisol/DHEAS ratio, and periodontitis severity in elderly subjects who had never smoked. | 18,727,654 |
Raised chondroitin sulphate WF6 epitope levels in gingival crevicular fluid in chronic periodontitis. | To determine the levels of chondroitin sulphate (CS) WF6 epitope, recognized by WF6 monoclonal antibody, in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from different stages of periodontal disease and healthy periodontium, and to correlate those levels with clinical parameters. GCF samples, collected from 389 sites, were analysed for the WF6 epitope levels by the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The median WF6 epitope level was significantly higher in chronic periodontitis sites (n=185) than in healthy and gingivitis sites (n=204) (p<0.001), whereas the median levels did not significantly differ between healthy (n=65) and gingivitis sites (n=139). The median level in severe periodontitis sites (n=60) was significantly higher than that in moderate periodontitis sites (n=63) (p=0.019). Similarly, the median level in moderate periodontitis sites was significantly higher than that in slight periodontitis sites (n=62) (p=0.001). The WF6 epitope levels significantly correlated with probing depth (r=0.777, p=0.001) and loss of clinical attachment level (r=0.814, p=0.001). Elevated CS WF6 epitope levels in GCF are associated with severity of periodontitis. The WF6 antibody may therefore be clinically applied to monitor disease severity and progression. | 18,727,658 |
Hydroxychloroquine-induced hyperpigmentation: the staining pattern. | We report two cases of hydroxychloroquine-induced hyperpigmentation presenting in a 50-year-old Caucasian female (case 1) and a 78-year-old female (case 2), both receiving 400 mg per day. Case 1 had an arthritis predominant undifferentiated connective tissue disease, which was treated with hydroxychloroquine for 4-5 years. She presented with a mottled, reticulated macular gray pigmentation involving the upper back and shoulders. Case 2 had a history of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, treated with hydroxychloroquine for 1.5 years. She presented to the hospital for treatment of constrictive cardiomyopathy and was noted to have a blue macular pigmentation involving the right temple. The biopsies from both patients showed superficial dermal, yellow-brown, non-refractile and coarsely granular pigment deposition. A Fontana-Masson stain highlighted some of these granules, while the Perl's iron stain was negative. Rare, previous reports of hyperpigmentation indicate the presence of both melanin and hemosiderin in patients being treated with antimalarial medication. To our knowledge, this staining pattern for hydroxychloroquine has not been previously reported in the literature and supports that hydroxychloroquine, in addition to chloroquine, binds to melanin. | 18,727,667 |
Automated MRI analysis for identification of hippocampal atrophy in temporal lobe epilepsy. | Hippocampal sclerosis is frequently associated with hippocampal atrophy (HA), which is often observed on routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Manual morphometry of the hippocampus is sensitive to detecting HA, but is time-consuming and prone to operator error. Automated MRI morphometry has the potential to provide rapid and accurate assistance in the clinical detection of HA. We performed a voxel-based morphometry analysis of 23 consecutive subjects with MTLE and 58 matched controls. Images from randomly selected 34 controls were used to create mean and standard deviation images of gray matter volume. Voxel-wise standardized Z-score hippocampal images from patients and the remaining 24 controls were cross-checked with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate sensitivity versus one-specificity rate for a binary classifier (atrophied versus normal hippocampi). The ipsilateral hippocampi of patients with MTLE displayed a significantly lower mean Z-score compared to the hippocampi of controls [F(2,67) = 33.014, p < 0.001, Tukey HSD < 0.001]. A classifier using the hippocampal gray matter Z-scores to discriminate between atrophied and normal hippocampi yielded a fitted ROC = 97.3, traditionally considered an excellent discriminator, with a standard error of classification of 1.173 individuals if 100 patients and 100 controls are studied. Automatic morphometry can be potentially used as a clinical tool to assist the detection of HA in patients with MTLE. It can provide a quantifiable estimative of atrophy, which can aid in the decision about the presence of clinically relevant HA. | 18,727,679 |
Differing lung function development in infants with univentricular hearts compared with healthy infants. | To compare the difference in lung function development of healthy controls and patients with univentricular hearts from birth prior to surgery and during the first year of life when cardiac shunt procedures and the cavopulmonary connection are required. Tidal flow-volume measurements and single-occlusion tests were performed from birth serially up to 18 months of age on 28 unsedated spontaneously breathing infants with univentricular hearts and 58 healthy control infants. Infants with univentricular heart physiology had low tidal volumes, low compliance of the respiratory system and high respiratory rate at birth, which over time normalized, whereas the peak expiratory flow increased during the study period. The lung function measured at birth was predictive of later lung function measurements. The pattern of lung function development is different in the patients with univentricular hearts compared to healthy controls. Lung function measured at birth is predictive of later lung function. | 18,727,686 |
Anaemia and marrow fibrosis in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism before and after curative parathyroidectomy. | To determine the relationship between anaemia and myelofibrosis in patients with symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and to assess the effect of curative parathyroidectomy on anaemia and marrow fibrosis. In this prospective follow-up study of 28 consecutive patients with symptomatic PHPT from January 2005 to June 2006, 15 patients were diagnosed with anaemia (haemoglobin < 130 g/l in males and < 120 g/l in females), eight (53%) of whom were finally recruited for the study. Complete blood cell count, serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, intact PTH and 25-hydroxyvitamin D and bone marrow examination were performed both before and after parathyroidectomy in all (n = 8) patients, but bone marrow examination after surgery was performed only in those who had marrow fibrosis at baseline (n = 6). Anaemia was observed in 15 (53.3%) of the 28 patients with symptomatic PHPT. Normocytic normochromic anaemia that is characteristic of PHPT was found in 14 (50%) patients. Eight of the 15 patients with anaemia had a bone marrow examination and marrow fibrosis was observed in six (75%). Both anaemia and marrow fibrosis improved after successful parathyroidectomy, but improvement in anaemia was significant (P = 0.02) only in those with marrow fibrosis at baseline. Marrow fibrosis did not correlate with duration of the disease (P = 0.17), degree of hypercalcaemia (P = 0.53) or serum levels of intact PTH (P = 0.60). Anaemia is common in patients with symptomatic PHPT, and was associated with marrow fibrosis in the majority of the patients who underwent bone biopsy. Both anaemia and marrow fibrosis improved after curative parathyroidectomy, but improvement in anaemia was noticeable only in those who had marrow fibrosis at presentation. | 18,727,711 |
Experiencing cancer treatment decision-making in managed care. | This paper is a report of a study to explore women's perceptions of and experiences with breast cancer treatment decision-making in managed care organizations (MCOs). Managed care organizations are the predominant form of employer-sponsored healthcare insurance in the United States of America. These healthcare financing entities minimize cost by streamlining healthcare delivery and may impose choice restrictions. The extent of these restrictions has not previously been studied from an in-depth patient perspective. A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted using interviews with a purposive sample of 14 managed care enrollees diagnosed with breast cancer at all stages. The data were collected between 2003 and 2005. Data analysis involved a reflexive process of transcript reading, categorization, data reduction and interpretation. The findings are presented as a single theme: 'decisional conflict in managed care', with two distinct categories: decisions regarding (1) the MCOs and (2) treatment. MCO selection was perceived to be limited by employer constraints, cost issues or healthcare plan providers. For study participants, selecting a MCO was less difficult than issues surrounding treatment decision-making. Women reported that their most important treatment-related decisions surrounded diagnosis and involved selecting a treatment facility and provider. Once a satisfactory facility and provider were selected, these women preferred to defer treatment decisions to their healthcare providers. Decision interventions should be focused on assisting women with provider and treatment facility selection early in diagnosis. Our findings might also serve as a basis for policy/practice changes to address healthcare financing limitations and to expand cancer treatment-related choices while providing desired treatment decision-making support. | 18,727,748 |
Presence of patients' families during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: physicians' and nurses' opinions. | This paper is a report of a study to determine the opinions of physicians and nurses who work in a university hospital intensive care unit and emergency department about the presence of patients' families during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in these units. Healthcare professionals have conflicting opinions about the presence of patients' families during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Families who are allowed to be present have less fear and worry, feel they have supported their family member and are able to cope more easily. The data for this descriptive questionnaire study were collected between November 2006 and January 2007. The respondents were 62 physicians and 82 nurses who worked in an emergency department or in cardiology or anaesthesia intensive care units in Turkey. The data were collected using a questionnaire and the responses summarized using frequencies and percentages. The chi-squared test was performed to test for differences in the opinion by profession, educational level, or number of years of working experience in the profession. The response rate was 79%. Of the respondents, 82.6% did not think it was appropriate for patients' families to be present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The most common concerns mentioned were that the family would interfere with the team's activities (56.3%) and that resuscitation is a very traumatic procedure (43.6%). Policies need to be developed regarding this topic because the absence of policy can cause misunderstanding and differences in practice. Further research is needed to determine what public education is needed to facilitate implementation of such policies. | 18,727,768 |
Induced perceptual grouping. | The term perceptual grouping is associated with classical principles such as similarity and proximity. This article reports induced perceptual grouping, a phenomenon that occurs when placement of a uniform set of items near a structured set induces grouping within the otherwise uniform set. For example, when items grouped pair-wise by similarity are placed near another set of unstructured items, an analogous pair-wise grouping links elements of the second set. Induced grouping affected reaction times in two different visual search tasks, with reaction times depending on whether the target properties were contained within a group or crossed group boundaries as defined by induced grouping due to similarity, proximity, or common fate. Induced grouping was reduced when grouping between the structured and unstructured sets was weakened by means of a common-region cue or decreased similarity. Induced grouping appears to reflect the computation of hierarchical structure in visual images. | 18,727,785 |
Activity of moxifloxacin against the urogenital mycoplasmas Ureaplasma spp., Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma genitalium and Chlamydia trachomatis. | The activity of moxifloxacin was compared with that of other antimicrobial agents against 54 strains of Ureaplasma spp., 54 strains of Mycoplasma hominis, 14 strains of Mycoplasma genitalium, and 44 strains of Chlamydia trachomatis. Moxifloxacin inhibited 90% of all isolates at a concentration </=1 mg/L, being the most active compound against C. trachomatis and sharing the highest activity with garenoxacin and gemifloxacin against mycoplasmas. Moxifloxacin killed the 30 mycoplasma isolates tested at a concentration </=1 mg/L, except those resistant to fluoroquinolone. Thus, moxifloxacin has attracted interest as a potential therapy for mycoplasmal or chlamydial urogenital infections. | 18,727,805 |
Double dermal sinuses: a case study. | Dermal sinus tracts are rare congenital lesions located in the midline characterized by a cutaneous pit or dimple. They occur all along the midline neuroaxis, from the nasion and occipital area down to the lumbar and sacral regions, most frequently in the lumbar and lumbosacral region. Here we report a 5-year-old girl who presented with occasional headache. There were two dimples, one on the dorsal aspect of her head and another on her neck. Dermal sinuses are almost always singular and the co-existence of double dermal sinuses has not been reported previously. | 18,727,820 |
Ultra-brief intervention for problem drinkers: research protocol. | Helping the large number of problem drinkers who will never seek treatment is a challenging issue. Public health initiatives employing educational materials or mass media campaigns have met with mixed success. However, clinical research has developed effective brief interventions to help problem drinkers. This project will employ an intervention that has been validated in clinical settings and then modified into an ultra-brief format suitable for use as a public health intervention. The major objective of this study is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to establish the effectiveness of an ultra-brief, personalized feedback intervention for problem drinkers. Problem drinkers recruited on a baseline population telephone survey conducted in a major metropolitan city in Canada will be randomized to one of three conditions - a personalized feedback pamphlet condition, a control pamphlet condition, or a no intervention control condition. In the week after the baseline survey, households in the two pamphlet conditions will be sent their respective pamphlets. Changes in drinking will be assessed post intervention at three-month and six-month follow-ups. Drinking outcomes will be compared between experimental conditions using Structural Equation Modeling. The primary hypothesis is that problem drinkers from households who receive the personalized feedback pamphlet intervention will display significantly improved drinking outcomes at three and six-month follow-ups as compared to problem drinkers from households in the no intervention control condition. Secondary hypotheses will test the impact of the intervention on help seeking, and explore the mediating or moderating role of perceived drinking norms, perceived alcohol risks and the problem drinker's social reasons for drinking. This trial will provide information on the effectiveness of a pamphlet-based personalized feedback intervention for problem drinkers in a community setting. ClinicalTrials.gov registration #NCT00688584. | 18,727,823 |
Effect of the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin contraceptive patch on body composition. Results of bioelectrical impedance analysis in a population of Italian women. | As weight gain is one of the most frequently cited reasons for not using and for discontinuing hormonal contraceptives, in an open-label, single-arm, multicentre clinical study we evaluated the effect of the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin contraceptive patch (EVRA, Janssen-Cilag International, Belgium) on body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Body weight and impedance vector components (resistance (R) and reactance (Xc), at 50 kHz frequency, Akern-RJL Systems analyzer) were recorded before entry, after 1, 3 and 6 months in 182 Italian healthy women aged 29 yr (18 to 45), and with BMI 21.8 kg/m2 (16 to 31). Total body water (TBW) was estimated with a BIA regression equation. Vector BIA was performed with the RXc mean graph method and the Hotelling's T2 test for paired and unpaired data. After 6 months body weight increased by 0.64 kg (1.1%) and TBW increased by 0.51 L (1.7%). The pattern of impedance vector displacement indicated a small increase in soft tissue hydration (interstitial gel fluid). Body composition changes did not significantly differ among groups of previous contraceptive methods. Arterial blood pressure did not significantly change over time. After 6 months of treatment with the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin contraceptive patch we found a minimal, clinically not relevant, increase in body weight less than 1 kg that could be attributed to an adaptive interstitial gel hydration. This fluctuation is physiological as confirmed by the lack of any effect on blood pressure. This could be useful in increasing women's choice, acceptability and compliance of the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin contraceptive patch. | 18,727,825 |
Costs of treating patients with schizophrenia who have illness-related crisis events. | Relatively little is known about the relationship between psychosocial crises and treatment costs for persons with schizophrenia. This naturalistic prospective study assessed the association of recent crises with mental health treatment costs among persons receiving treatment for schizophrenia. Data were drawn from a large multi-site, non-interventional study of schizophrenia patients in the United States, conducted between 1997 and 2003. Participants were treated at mental health treatment systems, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, community mental health centers, community and state hospitals, and university health care service systems. Total costs over a 1-year period for mental health services and component costs (psychiatric hospitalizations, antipsychotic medications, other psychotropic medications, day treatment, emergency psychiatric services, psychosocial/rehabilitation group therapy, individual therapy, medication management, and case management) were calculated for 1557 patients with complete medical information. Direct mental health treatment costs for patients who had experienced 1 or more of 5 recent crisis events were compared to propensity-matched samples of persons who had not experienced a crisis event. The 5 non-mutually exclusive crisis event subgroups were: suicide attempt in the past 4 weeks (n = 18), psychiatric hospitalization in the past 6 months (n = 240), arrest in the past 6 months (n = 56), violent behaviors in the past 4 weeks (n = 62), and diagnosis of a co-occurring substance use disorder (n = 413). Across all 5 categories of crisis events, patients who had a recent crisis had higher average annual mental health treatment costs than patients in propensity-score matched comparison samples. Average annual mental health treatment costs were significantly higher for persons who attempted suicide ($46,024), followed by persons with psychiatric hospitalization in the past 6 months ($37,329), persons with prior arrests ($31,081), and persons with violent behaviors ($18,778). Total cost was not significantly higher for those with co-occurring substance use disorder ($19,034). Recent crises, particularly suicide attempts, psychiatric hospitalizations, and criminal arrests, are predictive of higher mental health treatment costs in schizophrenia patients. | 18,727,831 |
Risk factors for falls with severe fracture in elderly people living in a middle-income country: a case control study. | Fracture after falling has been identified as an important problem in public health. Most studies of risk factors for fractures due to falls have been carried out in developed countries, although the size of the elderly population is increasing fast in middle income countries. The objective of this paper is to identify risk factors for fall related to severe fractures in those aged 60 or more in a middle-income country. A case-control study was carried out in Rio de Janeiro-Brazil based general hospitals between 2002-2003. Two hundred-fifty hospitalised cases of fracture were matched with 250 community controls by sex, age group and living area. Data were collected for socio-demographic variables, health status and drugs used before the fall. A conditional logistic regression model was fitted to identify variables associated with the risk of fall related severe fracture. Low body mass index, cognitive impairment, stroke and lack of urine control were associated with increased risk of severe fall related fractures. Benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants were also related to an increased risk of severe fractures while moderate use of alcohol was associated with reduced risk. Although the association between benzodiazepines and fractures due to fall has been consistently demonstrated for old people, this has not been the case for muscle relaxant drugs. The decision to prescribe muscle relaxants for elderly people should take into account the risk of severe fracture associated with these drugs. | 18,727,832 |
Fetal ascites owing to congenital cytomegalovirus: response to ganciclovir. | A term newborn with severe congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is described. Fetal ascites was detected at 28 weeks gestation, and at birth there was tense ascites. There was intra-uterine growth retardation, microcephaly, chorioretinitis, jaundice, purpura and pneumonitis. Computed tomographic scan of the brain showed ventriculomegaly with periventricular calcifications. Serology was positive for cytomegalovirus-specific immunoglobulin M, and cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in the ascitic fluid and urine by nested polymerase chain reaction. He received 6 weeks of treatment with ganciclovir. Ascites resolved spontaneously and liver function tests became normal. Although there was a good clinical response to ganciclovir therapy without any side-effects, on follow-up the infant had global developmental delay and bilateral sensorineural deafness. | 18,727,854 |
Poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based co-polymeric hydrogels for transdermal delivery of salbutamol sulphate. | Various co-polymeric hydrogels for transdermal delivery of salbutamol sulphate were synthesized using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), methacrylic acid (MAA) and N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide (DMAPMA) in the presence of ammonium persulphate (APS) and N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) as redox free radical initiator and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a cross-linker. The synthesized co-polymeric hydrogels were characterized using FT-IR spectral studies and swelling studies. It was observed that percentage swelling of co-polymeric hydrogel increased with the increasing concentration of DMAPMA and methacrylic acid. Salbutamol sulphate, a well-known vasodilator, was labeled with (99m)Tc(technetium) and loaded on circular discs of various hydrogels. In vitro permeation of radiolabelled salbutamol sulphate was carried out using a Franz diffusion cell in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) as dissolution medium through mice skin. It was observed that drug release from the co-polymeric hydrogel carriers increased on increasing the amount of DMAPMA in the polymeric carriers, while it decreased on increasing the amount of MAA content. The local toxicity studies of DMAPMA-containing hydrogel patches were carried out in rabbits. Drug-loaded patches applied on rabbit skin showed no toxicity, even after 1 week of studies. | 18,727,860 |
[Assessment of patient satisfaction and preferences with inhalers in asthma with the FSI-10 Questionnaire]. | Lack of adherence to inhaled corticosteroid therapy is common in patients with asthma, and it has been suggested that allowing patients to choose their own inhalers would resolve this problem. The FSI-10 (Feeling of Satisfaction with Inhaler) is a self-completed questionnaire to assess patient opinions regarding ease or difficulty of use, portability, and usability of devices for delivery of inhaled corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to define the measurement properties of the FSI-10 questionnaire and to use this inventory to compare satisfaction and preferences of patients with asthma regarding 3 different devices for delivery of inhaled corticosteroids: Turbuhaler, Accuhaler, and Novolizer. We performed a multicenter, prospective, observational study in 112 stable asthmatic patients (64 women; mean [SD] age, 37 [22] years) treated on a regular basis with inhaled corticosteroids. The use of the devices was explained to the patients and the order in which they should be used in each case was randomly assigned. The devices were used for 7-day periods and at the end of each the FSI-10 questionnaire was completed for the device used. Once the protocol was completed, patients stated their preference for the different devices used. The FSI-10 was easily understood and rapidly completed, and it exhibited acceptable measurement properties. Factor analysis showed that the measure was unidimensional. Although acceptance of all 3 devices assessed was reasonable, the FSI-10 questionnaire detected significant differences between them: Turbuhaler and Novolizer scored higher than Accuhaler on a number of questions. This preference is partly explained by Turbuhaler having been the device that was commonly used by the patients prior to the study. However, the highest scoring and most often preferred inhaler in patients under 16 years of age was the Novolizer, even though the Turbuhaler had also usually been used by those patients prior to the study. The FSI-10 is a useful instrument for assessing the degree of satisfaction of asthmatic patients regarding available inhalation devices. It is easy to understand and complete, and able to identify differences in patient satisfaction with the different inhalers. | 18,727,886 |
Developmental timing: let-7 function conserved through evolution. | Expression of the heterochronic microRNA let-7 is tightly correlated with the onset of adult development in many animals, suggesting that it functions as an evolutionarily conserved developmental timer. This hypothesis has now been confirmed by studies in Drosophila. | 18,727,906 |
HIV-1 infection: going nuclear with TNPO3/Transportin-SR2 and integrase. | Factors necessary for HIV-1 nuclear import have been sought for many years. Recent reports suggest that TNPO3/Transportin-SR2 binds to HIV-1 integrase and is required for HIV-1 infection of interphase cells. | 18,727,908 |
Vision: attention makes the cup flow over. | Scalp potentials are surprisingly informative about visual attention: a recent study that used them to record neural responses to up to four superimposed visual patterns simultaneously has now revealed the flow of attentional signals back to visual cortex. | 18,727,909 |
Pleiotrophin prevents cocaine-induced toxicity in vitro. | Pleiotrophin is a cytokine involved in differentiation, survival and repair processes in the central nervous system. Pleiotrophin is upregulated in the brain after administration of different drugs of abuse, thus suggesting a protective role of this cytokine on drug-induced toxicity. We have tested this hypothesis in vitro using NG108-15 cells, a line widely used for neurotoxicity studies. It was found that pleiotrophin (3 and 6 microM) significantly prevents cocaine (5 mM)-induced cytotoxicity as measured by the neutral red test. Similar results were obtained in PC12 cells, which were found to endogenously express both pleiotrophin and its main target, receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP) beta/zeta. Blockade of pleiotrophin signaling using anti-pleiotrophin antibodies (2 microg/ml) did not potentiate cocaine-induced toxicity; interestingly, incubation of PC12 cells only with anti-pleiotrophin antibodies significantly reduced cellular viability, thus suggesting an important role of endogenous pleiotrophin signaling in cell survival. The data suggest that pleiotrophin overexpression in response to drugs of abuse may be relevant to prevent drug-induced toxicity. | 18,727,926 |
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