title stringlengths 0 1.13k | abstract stringlengths 1 15.7k | PMID int64 22 36.5M |
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[Isolated ACTH deficiency in a late onset case of hypogonadism (LOH) not diagnosed by examination in an internal medicine clinic]. | We present a case of isolated adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) deficiency (IAD) in a late onset hypogonadism (LOH) clinic, not diagnosed by examinations in internal medicine. A 54-year-old man showed body weight loss with severe appetite loss, general malaise and hypotension. He visited our clinic for a checkup for LOH after general examinations in internal medicine. His hormonal examination showed undetectable ACTH and cortisol levels. However, the values of other pituitary hormones and testosterone were normal. A load test for anterior pituitary hormone (CRH + TRH + LHRH + GRH test) revealed that the ACTH-cortisol system showed no response although the other pituitary hormones responded. These findings confirmed the diagnosis of isolated ACTH deficiency. Administration of hydrocortisone dramatically improved his symptoms. Symptoms of IAD are similar to those of LOH syndrome and depression. Thus, we should consider IAD as one of the differential diagnoses in LOH clinics. | 18,788,451 |
Modulation of cardiac contractility through endothelin-1 release and myocardial mast cell degranulation. | The aim of this study was to outline the consequences of a hypertonic saline-dextran-40 (HSD) infusion-induced peripheral flow stimulus on the ventricular function in closed-chest, pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. We hypothesized that HSD-induced elevation in endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) release can have a role in myocardial contractile responses; and that cardiac mast cells (MC) degranulation may be involved in this process. The consequences of disodium cromoglycate (a MC stabilizer) or ETR-p1/fl peptide (an endothelin-A receptor antagonist) treatment were evaluated. A 4 ml/kg iv HSD40 infusion significantly increased cardiac index and myocardial contractility, and resulted in a decreased peripheral resistance. The postinfusion period was characterized by significant plasma NO and ET-1 elevations, these hemodynamic and biochemical changes being accompanied by a decreased myocardial ET-1 content, NO synthase activity and enhanced myocardial MC degranulation. Disodium cromoglycate treatment inhibited the HSD40-induced elevations in myocardial contractility and MC degranulation, and similar hemodynamic changes were noted after treatment with ETR-p1/fl peptide, together with a normalized myocardial myocardial ET-1 content, NO synthesis and a significant reduction in MC degranulation. These results indicate that peripheral NO and ET-1 release modulates the cardiac contractility through myocardial ET-A receptor activation and MC degranulation. | 18,788,466 |
[Long-term paratesticular leiomyosarcoma. Conceptual and literature review]. | To know the incidence and clinical and pathologic characteristics of the paratesticular leiomyosarcoma (LMS) with the contribution of a case of long evolution, studying the histopathologic criteria that must be valued for this type of tumours. A 73-year-old patient includes for study with scrotal tumour present left side for 30 months. Histopathologic and imunohistochemical study is realized. Of equal form there is realized a bibliographical search of this type of tumours and their different subtypes across Medline and of not index-linked search. Our case is the second of greater evolution of international literature, first in greater of 60 years and one of those of smaller mitotic index (1 x 50 cga). Nevertheless, his atipia, tumorlike necrosis next to 50% of the injury and its pleomorphic properties, as well as his inmunophenotypic characterization corresponds with a well differentiated LMS, degree 1 (French Federation Cancer). We have found only 107 published cases of this type of sarcomas, of them 5 in our country, which gives to a profile of the low incidence of these tumours, that within sarcomas 1% do not reach. We included the clinical and pathologic profile of such. The long evolution of a paratesticular tumour and the absence of metastasis does not exclude its malignancy. The low incident of the LMSs in this location, implies that a protocol of actuation validate for such does not exist. We considered of great importance, its creation on the part of urologist, oncologists, radiologists and pathologists like he took control of located in retroperitoneal cavity and deep soft tissues. | 18,788,490 |
[Molecular typing of isolates from two dysentery outbreaks in Chengdu, through pulsed field gel electrophoresis technology]. | Using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) typing to analyze strains isolated from two outbreaks caused by Shigella sonnei and to trace the source of infection. Virulence genes ipaH and ial were detected by PCR and PFGE was used to subtype the isolates. Patterns were compared, using the software BioNumerics. Within the 54 isolates, all were ipaH positive with 48 as ial positive. Strains from the Chongzhou outbreak were clustered into 4 PFGE patterns, with the predominant pattern accounted for 72% of the analyzed strains. The pattern of strains isolated from the cold pork with sauce was identical to the predominant pattern. The strains from Dayi outbreak were clustered into 8 PFGE patterns and the predominant pattern accounted for 56% of the test strains. Strains from the two outbreaks were quite different and the 'cold pork with sauce' seemed to be the major source of infection, causing the outbreak of diarrhea in Chongzhou. The sources of infection of the Dayi outbreak might be complicated whereas PFGE showed a discriminatory and reproducible laboratory tool in the epidemiologic investigation on outbreaks of diarrhea. | 18,788,530 |
[Ultrasonographic fetal nasal bone assessment in prenatal screening for Down syndrome]. | To investigate the clinic value of ultrasonographic fetal nasal bone examination as a screening marker for Down syndrome (DS). The study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from Oct 2004 to Mar 2007. Two-dimensional ultrasound was used to assess the fetal nasal bone of 1863 normal pregnancies (normal group) and 25 cases with DS fetus (study group) during their second and third trimesters. The incidence of nasal bone absence or short nasal bone in two groups was determined. The fetal nasal bone absence should be confirmed in three orthogonal planes of the fetal face, and the short nasal bone included the cases that the fetal nasal bone was shorter than the 2.5th percentile of normal according to the gestational week. The diagnostic test index was used for assessing the value of fetal nasal bone abnormality as a marker in prenatal screening for DS. (1) 1761 fetuses of normal group were successfully examined for the nasal bone and the detection rate was 94.5% (1761/1863). 102 fetuses failed examination because of inconvenient intra-uterine position. (2) The nasal bone length grew in a linear fashion throughout pregnancy and the growth pattern correlated well with gestational age (r = 0.605, P < 0.05) in normal group. The nasal bone was absent in 3 normal fetuses (0.2%, 3/1761) and short nasal bone was found in 44 normal fetuses (2.5%, 44/1761). (3) The nasal bone was absent in 7 DS fetuses (28.0%, 7/25) and short nasal bone was found in 15 DS fetuses (60.0%, 15/25). (4) When the absence of nasal bone was used as a cut-off, the sensitivity for DS was 28.0%, the specificity was 99.8%, the positive likelihood ratio was 164.45 (95% CI: 45.11-599.60), and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.57-0.92). When short nasal bone was used as a cut-off, the sensitivity was 60.0%, specificity was 97.5%, the positive likelihood ratio was 24.03 (95% CI: 7.15-80.71), and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.41 (95% CI: 0.29-0.59). Fetal nasal bone hypoplasia at the second and third trimester scan is associated with a high risk for Down syndrome and it can be used as a screen marker for this chromosomal abnormality. | 18,788,563 |
[Clinical analysis of six cases of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia]. | To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN). A retrospective study was made of 6 patients with VAIN, who were hospitalized at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1980 to 2006. Five cases had a history of hysterectomy, two of whom were because of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or invasive cervical cancer. Four cases had the infection of high-risk oncogenic human papillomaviruses detected with hybrid capture II (HC-II), the other two had no record. In all patients the VAIN lesions were within the upper one third of the vagina. They were all diagnosed by colposcopic examination and directed biopsy after the abnormal cytology by thinprep cytology test (TCT). Six cases of VAIN II-III were treated by excisional surgery. One case had residual lesion and had another surgery 3 months after the first one. Two patients obtained remission at one-year follow-up, three had abnormal cytology by TCT 6 months after surgery, and one had abnormal cytology by TCT at six-month follow-up but normal at one-year follow-up. A history of CIN is the main risk factor for VAIN, so routine vaginal cytology is needed for the patients after hysterectomy due to CIN. Cytology, colposcopic examination and directed biopsy are the mainstays of VAIN diagnosis. Excisional surgery is recommended for the patients with VAIN II-III. Long term follow-up is necessary after treatment. | 18,788,568 |
[Regional lymph nodes targetting with enrichment of polyphase liposome]. | To investigate the feasibility of regional lymph nodes targetting with enrichment of radioactive 99mTc-polyphase liposome of 5-fluorouracil (99mTc-FL, FL). 18 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups, 6 rabbits per group. All rabbits were injected hypodermally with of 99mTc-FL in the right and left big toe webs, 18.5 MBq each side. The post-injection interval was 3 h in group 1, 6 h in group 2, and 8 h in group 3. The radioactivity was examined in the resected local lymph nodes, non-draining lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, lung, intestines, and in blood and urine. The radioactive isotope uptake percentage (%) was 2.32 +/- 0.75 in group 1, 5.37 +/- 1.73 in group 2, 8.61 +/- 1.89 in group 3. The radioactive isotope uptake percentage (%) per gram in local lymph nodes was significantly different between each two groups among the 3 groups (P < 0.05). The ratios of x of regional lymph nodes/non-draining lymph nodes, regional lymph nodes/blood, regional lymph nodes/urine, regional lymph nodes/liver, regional lymph nodes/spleen, regional lymph nodes/kidney, regional lymph nodes/heart, regional lymph nodes/lung, regional lymph nodes/intestine in group 1 were 232.00, 16.57, 23.20, 29.00, 19.33, 25.78, 46.40, 46.40 and 25.78, respectively. The ratios in group 2 were 89.50, 41.31, 18.52, 67.13, 41.31, 25.57, 134.25, 59.67 and 59.67, respectively. The ratios in group 3 were 86.10, 61.50, 16.56, 53.81, 57.40, 10.01, 107.63, 107.63 and 86.10, respectively. The differences of radioactive isotope uptake percentage were statistically significant (P < 0.01) between regional lymph nodes and other organs, i. e. non-draining lymph nodes, blood, urine, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, lung and intestine per gram in each group. The radioactive 99mTc-FL may slowly flow into regional lymphatic chains rather than directly enter blood circulation. So 99mTc-FL can be highly accumulated in the local lymph nodes. This regional lymph nodes targetting with enrichment of radioactive 99mTc-FL evidently indicates the feasibility of regional lymph system chemotherapy for pulmonary malignancies. | 18,788,628 |
[Relationship of ezrin protein expression to the carcinogenesis and prognosis of infitrating breast ductal carcinoma]. | To investigate the relationship of ezrin protein expression to the carcinogenesis and prognosis of infiltrating breast ductal carcinoma. S-P immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the ezrin protein expression in 88 patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, and in 54 patients with intraductal hyperplastic lesions of the breast. The clinicopathological data and follow-up information of these patients were all obtained. The relationship of ezrin protein expression to the clinicopathological parameters and the prognostic significance in the infiltrating breast ductal carcinoma was analyzed using Chi-square test (chi2), Kaplan-Meier and Cox models. The immunohistochemical staining results showed that the strong positive expression rate of ezrin protein in the normal ductal epithelium, simple ductal hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia and infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast was 9.1%, 16.7%, 43.3% and 64.8%, respectively, which was significantly higher in atypical hyperplasia and infiltrating ductal carcinoma than that in the normal ductal epithelium and simple ductal hyperplasia (P < 0.05). The strong ezrin protein expression in the infiltrating ductal carcinoma was positively correlated with axillary lymph node metastasis, histological differentiation grade, TNM stage and CD44v6 expression, but negatively correlated with the expression of E-cadherin (P < 0.05). It was also found that the survival of the patient with strong positive expression of ezrin protein was significantly shorter than that of the control (P < 0.05). Ezrin protein may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of infiltrating breast ductal carcinoma. The strong expression of ezrin protein may be used as a biomarker for predicting poor prognosis in the patients with infiltrating breast ductal carcinoma. | 18,788,632 |
More daytime sleeping predicts less functional recovery among older people undergoing inpatient post-acute rehabilitation. | To study the association between sleep/wake patterns among older adults during inpatient post-acute rehabilitation and their immediate and long-term functional recovery Prospective, observational cohort study. Two inpatient post-acute rehabilitation sites (one community and one Veterans Administration). Older patients (aged > or = 65 years, N = 245) admitted for inpatient post-acute rehabilitation. None. Based on 7-day wrist actigraphy during the rehabilitation stay, mean nighttime percent sleep was only 52.2% and mean daytime percent sleep was 15.8% (16.3% based on structured behavioral observations). Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), participants reported their sleep was worse during rehabilitation compared to their premorbid sleep. Functional recovery between admission and discharge from rehabilitation (measured by the motor component of the Functional Independence Measure) was not significantly associated with reported sleep quality (PSQI scores) or actigraphically measured nighttime sleep. However, more daytime percent sleep (estimated by actigraphy and observations) during the rehabilitation stay was associated with less functional recovery from admission to discharge, even after adjusting for other significant predictors of functional recovery (mental status, hours of rehabilitation therapy received, rehospitalization, and reason for admission; adjusted R2= 0.267, P < 0.0001). More daytime sleeping during rehabilitation remained a significant predictor of less functional recovery in adjusted analyses at 3-month follow-up. Sleep disturbance is common among older people undergoing inpatient post-acute rehabilitation. These data suggest that more daytime sleeping during the rehabilitation stay is associated with less functional recovery for up to three months after admission for rehabilitation. | 18,788,654 |
Eszopiclone improves overnight polysomnography and continuous positive airway pressure titration: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. | To assess whether premedication with eszopiclone would improve sleep duration and continuity during polysomnography, thereby improving the quality of diagnostic and CPAP titration studies. Prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial Academic, multidisciplinary sleep center. 226 adult subjects undergoing polysomnography for suspected sleep disordered breathing; 113 received eszopiclone and 113 received placebo. Subjects received eszopiclone 3 mg or matching placebo before polysomnography. We compared sleep latency, efficiency, total sleep time, and apnea-hypopnea index between these groups. We also compared rates of inadequate studies, defined as insufficient sleep time (< 120 min or sleep efficiency < or = 70%) or incomplete CPAP titrations (> or = 5 events/h on the highest CPAP or complete intolerance). Eszopiclone premedication significantly improved a number of measured variables. Eszopiclone reduced sleep latency (21.7 +/- 27.1 vs. 32.6 +/- 38.2 min, P = 0.014), improved sleep efficiency (87.6% +/- 10.8% vs. 78.1% +/- 15.6%, P < 0.001), reduced wake after sleep onset (39.2 +/- 31.9 vs. 64.5 +/- 45.4 min, P <0.001) and prolonged sleep time (346.5 +/- 53.1 vs. 312.2 +/- 64.2 min, P < 0.001). Sleep efficiencies < or = 70% were more common with placebo than medication (21.2% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.004). Eszopiclone facilitated improved CPAP titrations with fewer residual events (5.7 +/- 10.3 vs. 11.9 +/- 19.6, P = 0.02) and fewer incomplete titrations (31.1% vs. 48.0%, P = 0.04). Poor quality studies (46.0% vs. 26.5%, P = 0.004) were more common with placebo than with eszopiclone. There was a trend for more non-usable studies with placebo (7.1% vs. 2.7%, P = 0.22). Side effects were uncommon and did not differ between groups. Pretreatment with eszopiclone improves the quality of polysomnography and CPAP titration and decreases the need to repeat studies. Given the ever-growing demand for polysomnography and the need to improve efficiency, the routine use of nonbenzodiazepines as premedication for polysomnography should be considered. | 18,788,656 |
Initial experience and result of thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy. | Conventional esophagectomy requires either a laparotomy or a thoracotomy. Currently, the minimally invasive esophagectomy is an evolving alternative to the open technique. Assess and evaluate the early outcomes of the authors' experiences with the minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Outcome data were collected prospectively from 28 consecutive patients, 22 men and six women with a mean age of 63 years and a range of 36-77 years. Thoracoscopic esophageal mobilizations were successful in 17 patients. Four patients were converted to open thoracotomy. Laparoscopic gastric mobilizations were successful in eight patients and only one patient was converted to laparotomy. Mortality was one (3.5%), and perioperative morbidity was nine (32%), including pneumonia, pleural effusion, wound infection, anastomosic leakage, and hoarseness. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is feasible and can be performed at the Prince of Songkla University Hospital. Optimal results require appropriate patient selection and surgeon experience. | 18,788,691 |
Biochemical and spectroscopic characterization of morning glory peroxidase from an invasive and hallucinogenic plant weed Ipomoea carnea. | A novel heme peroxidase MGP from the latex of Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa (morning glory) belonging to the Convolvulaceae family was purified to homogeneity using ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme is glycosylated and has a molecular mass of 42.06 kDa (MALDI-TOF) and an isoelectric point of pH 4.3. The enzyme has high yield, broad substrate specificity, and a high stability toward pH, temperature, chaotrophs, and organic solvents. The extinction coefficient (epsilon 280 (1%)) of the enzyme was estimated as 20.56 and it consists of 13 tryptophan, 9 tyrosine, and 8 cysteine residues forming 4 disulfide bridges. There is significant effect of inhibitors targeting S-S bridges (mercaptoethanol, l-cysteine, glutathione), as well as of inhibitors targeting heme (sodium azide and hydroxylamine) on peroxidase activity, whereas inhibition was not observed with ethylmaleinimide due to the absence of reduced cysteine in the enzyme. Polyclonal antibodies against the enzyme have been raised in rabbit, and immunodiffusion suggests that the antigenic determinants of MGP are unique. The N-terminal sequence of MGP (D-E-A-C-I-F-S-A-V-K-E-V-V-D-A) exhibited considerable similarity to the sequence of other known plant peroxidases. Spectroscopic studies (absorbance, fluorescence, and circular dichroism) reveal that MGP has secondary structural features with alpha/beta type with approximately 20% alpha-helicity. | 18,788,710 |
Excitation energy dependence of photoinduced processes in pentathiophene-perylene bisimide dyads with a flexible linker. | In the present paper, photoinduced processes in the dyad molecules of pentathiophene (5T) and perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) with a flexible alkyl linker (propyl or hexyl) were investigated by using femtosecond laser flash spectroscopy in various solvents. Since absorption of 5T covers the wavelength region where absorption of PDI has minima and fluorescence of 5T overlaps with absorption of PDI, combination of 5T and PDI is favorable to achieve light energy harvesting as well as efficient electron transfer. When the sample was excited at the PDI moiety of the dyad, charge separation occurred almost quantitatively even in nonpolar solvent as well as in polar solvents. When the 5T moiety of the dyad was excited, efficient energy transfer to the PDI moiety from which charge separation occurred was confirmed, indicating that 5T acts as an antenna of the charge separation system, like a photosynthesis system of a plant. On the basis of Forster and Marcus theories and the estimated energy and electron-transfer rates, it was indicated that these dyads tend to take a folded structure in all solvents investigated. | 18,788,715 |
Antitumor compounds based on a natural product consensus pharmacophore. | We report the design and highly enantioselective synthesis of a potent analogue of the spliceosome inhibitor FR901464, based on a non-natural product scaffold. The design of this compound was facilitated by a pharmacophore hypothesis that assumed key interaction types that are common to FR901464 and an otherwise unrelated natural product (pladienolide). The synthesis allows for the preparation of numerous novel analogues. We present results on the in vitro activity for this compound against several tumor cell lines. | 18,788,726 |
Glycol porphyrin derivatives as potent photodynamic inducers of apoptosis in tumor cells. | The design and synthesis of glycol-functionalized porphyrins that contain one to four low molecular weight glycol chains that are linked via ether bonds to the meta-phenyl positions of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin and the comparison of fluorinated and nonfluorinated para derivatives are reported. The cellular uptake and photodynamic activity significantly depend on terminal groups of the glycol substituent. Hydroxy glycol porphyrins, in contrast with methoxy glycol porphyrins, show efficient intracellular transport and a high induction of apoptosis in tumor cell lines in vitro . Furthermore, the ethylene glycol chain at the meta position exhibits a superior efficacy that leads to the permanent ablation of human breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231) in nude mice. In addition, fluorination enhanced the photosensitizing potential of para-phenyl derivatives. The analysis of the cell-death mechanism revealed that glycol-functionalized porphyrins represent novel nonmitochondrially localized photosensitizers that have a profound ability to induce apoptosis in tumor cells that act upstream of caspase activation. The strong interaction with a tumor marker (sialic acid) indicates the preferential association of these compounds with tumor cells. | 18,788,727 |
Structure-activity relationship studies for the peptide portion of the bladder epithelial cell antiproliferative factor from interstitial cystitis patients. | We performed comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies on the peptide portion of antiproliferative factor (APF), a sialylated frizzled-8 related glycopeptide that inhibits normal bladder epithelial and urothelial carcinoma cell proliferation. Glycopeptide derivatives were synthesized by solid-phase methods using standard Fmoc chemistry and purified by RP-HPLC; all intermediate and final products were verified by HPLC-MS and NMR analyses. Antiproliferative activity of each derivative was determined by inhibition of (3)H-thymidine incorporation in primary normal human bladder epithelial cells. Structural components of the peptide segment of APF that proved to be important for biological activity included the presence of at least eight of the nine N-terminal amino acids, a negative charge in the C-terminal amino acid, a free amino group at the N-terminus, maintenance of a specific amino acid sequence in the C-terminal tail, and trans conformation for the peptide bonds. These data provide critical guidelines for optimization of structure in design of APF analogues as potential therapeutic agents. | 18,788,730 |
Heteroarylnitrones as drugs for neurodegenerative diseases: synthesis, neuroprotective properties, and free radical scavenger properties. | New 1,2,4-thiadiazolylnitrones and furoxanylnitrones were developed and evaluated as neuroprotective agents on a human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells model. They inhibited at low micromolar concentrations the oxidative damage and the death induced by exposure to hydrogen peroxide. These heteroarylnitrones showed excellent peroxyl free radical absorbance capacities, analyzed by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay with fluorescein as the fluorescent probe, ranging from 1.5- to 16.5-fold the value of the reference nitrone, alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN). The electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) demonstrated the ability of these derivatives to directly trap and stabilize oxygen, carbon, and sulfur-centered free radicals. These results demonstrated the potential use of these heteroarylnitrones as neuroprotective agents in preventing the death of cells exposed to enhanced oxidative stress and damage. | 18,788,732 |
A rational basis for the axial ligand effect in C-H oxidation by [MnO(porphyrin)(X)]+ (X = H2O, OH-, O2-) from a DFT study. | Oxyl radical character in the MnO group of the title system is shown from a density functional theory study to be essential for efficient C-H cleavage, which is a key step in C-H oxidation. Since oxyl species have elongated Mn-O bonds relative to the more usual oxo species of type MnO, the normal expectation would be that high trans-influence ligands X should facilitate oxyl character by elongating the Mn-O bond and thus enhance both oxyl character and reactivity. Contrary to this expectation, but in line with the experimental data (Jin, N.; Ibrahim, M.; Spiro, T. G.; Groves, J. T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 12416), we find that reactivity increases along the series X = O(2-) < OH(-) < H2O for the following reasons. The ground-state singlet (S) is unreactive for all X, and only the higher-energy triplet (T) and quintet (Q) states have the oxyl character needed for reactivity, but the higher trans-influence X ligands are also shown to increase the S/T and S/Q gaps, thus making attainment of the needed T and Q states harder. The latter effect is dominant, and high trans-influence X ligands thus disfavor reaction. The higher reactivity in the presence of acid noted by Groves and co-workers is thus rationalized by the preference for having X = H2O over OH(-) or O(2-). | 18,788,735 |
Influence of altitudinal variation on the content of phenolic compounds in wild populations of Calluna vulgaris, Sambucus nigra, and Vaccinium myrtillus. | This study deals with the effect of altitudinal variation on the content of phenolic compounds in three traditional herbal plants, which are also consumed as food in Central Europe. Herbs of Calluna vulgaris (L.) HULL, flowers and fruits of Sambucus nigra L., and berries of Vaccinium myrtillus L. collected in the Naturpark Solktaler (Austria) were extracted using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). Identification and quantification of the constituents in the polar extracts (methanol 80%, v/v) were achieved by means of RP-HPLC-PDA and/or LC-PDA-MS analysis with external standards. 3,5- O-Dicaffeoylquinic acid was identified in flowers of S. nigra for the first time. Rising concentrations of flavonoids and especially flavonol-3- O-glycosides with adjacent hydroxyl groups in ring B in C. vulgaris and S. nigra with increasing altitude were observed. Anthocyanins from the berries of both S. nigra and V. myrtillus occurred in decreasing amounts with rising altitude. C. vulgaris showed the best radical scavenging capacity based on the DPPH assay. | 18,788,745 |
Sequential interval motif search: unrestricted database surveys of global MS/MS data sets for detection of putative post-translational modifications. | Tandem mass spectrometry is the prevailing approach for large-scale peptide sequencing in high-throughput proteomic profiling studies. Effective database search engines have been developed to identify peptide sequences from MS/MS fragmentation spectra. Since proteins are polymorphic and subject to post-translational modifications (PTM), however, computational methods for detecting unanticipated variants are also needed to achieve true proteome-wide coverage. Different from existing "unrestrictive" search tools, we present a novel algorithm, termed SIMS (for Sequential Motif Interval Search), that interprets pairs of product ion peaks, representing potential amino acid residues or "intervals", as a means of mapping PTMs or substitutions in a blind database search mode. An effective heuristic software program was likewise developed to evaluate, rank, and filter optimal combinations of relevant intervals to identify candidate sequences, and any associated PTM or polymorphism, from large collections of MS/MS spectra. The prediction performance of SIMS was benchmarked extensively against annotated reference spectral data sets and compared favorably with, and was complementary to, current state-of-the-art methods. An exhaustive discovery screen using SIMS also revealed thousands of previously overlooked putative PTMs in a compendium of yeast protein complexes and in a proteome-wide map of adult mouse cardiomyocytes. We demonstrate that SIMS, freely accessible for academic research use, addresses gaps in current proteomic data interpretation pipelines, improving overall detection coverage, and facilitating comprehensive investigations of the fundamental multiplicity of the expressed proteome. | 18,788,753 |
Reversible UV-light-induced ultrahydrophobic-to-ultrahydrophilic transition in an alpha-Fe2O3 nanoflakes film. | We describe a simple and robust approach to fabricating an alpha-Fe2O3 switchable surface. The hydrophobicity of alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures was observed for the first time. A remarkable surface wettability transition can be easily achieved by ultraviolet (UV) illumination. The distinctive properties of surface defects are disclosed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The nanoscale adsorption and photocatalytic properties of Fe2+ defects account for the highly amphiphilic character of the surfaces. We believe that the experiment will further the molecular-scale understanding and manipulation of the wetting behavior on smart devices. | 18,788,762 |
Linkage isomerism in the binding of pentapeptide Ac-His(Ala)3His-NH2 to (ethylenediamine)palladium(II): effect of the binding mode on peptide conformation. | The reaction of the pentapeptide Ac-His1-Ala2-Ala3-Ala4-His5-NH2 (AcHAAAHNH2) (1) with [Pd(en)(ONO2)2] (en = NH2CH2CH2NH2) in either DMF-d(7) or H2O:D2O (90%:10%) gave three linkage isomers of [Pd(en)(AcHAAAHNH2)](2+) (2), 2a, 2b, and 2c, which differ only in which pair of imidazole nitrogen atoms bind to Pd. In the most abundant isomer, 2a, Pd is bound by N1 from each of the two imidazole rings. In the minor isomers 2b and 2c, Pd is bound by N1(His1) and N3(His5) and by N3(His1) and N1(His5), respectively. The reactions of [Pd(en)(ONO2)2] with the N-methylated peptides Ac-(N3-MeHis)-Ala-Ala-Ala-(N3-MeHis)-NH2 (AcH*AAAH*NH2) (3), Ac-(N3-MeHis)-Ala-Ala-Ala-(N1-MeHis)-NH2 (AcH(*)AAAH(#)NH2) (4), and Ac-(N1-MeHis)-Ala-Ala-Ala-(N3-Me-His)-NH2 (AcH(#)AAAH(*)NH2) (5) each gave a single species [Pd(en)(peptide)](2+) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or aqueous solution, 7, 8, and 9, respectively, with Pd bound by the two nonmethylated imidazole nitrogen atoms in each case. These complexes were analogous to 2a, 2b, and 2c, respectively. Ac-(N1-MeHis)-Ala-Ala-Ala-(N1-MeHis)-NH2 (AcH(#)AAAH(#)NH2) (6) with [Pd(en)(ONO2)2] in DMF slowly gave a single product, [Pd(en)(AcH(#)AAAH(#)NH2)](2+) (10), in which Pd was bound by the N3 of each imidazole ring. The corresponding linkage isomer of 2 was not observed. Complex 10 was also the major product in aqueous solution, but other species were also present. All compounds were exhaustively characterized in solution by multinuclear 1D ((1)H , (13)C, and, with (15)N-labeled ethylenediamine, (15)N) and 2D (correlation spectroscopy, total correlation spectroscopy, transverse rotating-frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy (T-ROESY), heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation, and heteronuclear single quantum coherence) NMR spectra, circular dichroism (CD) spectra, electrospray mass spectroscopy, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. ROESY spectra were used to calculate the structure of 2a, which contained a single turn of a peptide alpha helix in both DMF and water, the helix being better defined in DMF. The Pd(en)(2+) moiety was not used in structure calculations, but its location and coordination by one imidazole N1 from each histidine to form a 22-membered metallocycle were unambiguously established. Convergence of the structures was greatest when calculated with two hydrogen-bond constraints (Ala4 peptide NH...OC acetyl and His5 peptide NH...OC-His1) that were indicated by the low temperature dependence of these NH chemical shifts. Vicinal HN-CHalpha coupling constants and chemical shifts of alpha-H atoms were also consistent with a helical conformation. Similar long-range ROE correlations were observed for [Pd(en)(AcH(*)AAAH(*)NH2)](2+) (7), which displayed a CD spectrum in aqueous solution that suggested the presence of some helicity. Long-range ROE correlations were not observed for 8, 9, or 10, but a combination of NMR data and CD spectroscopy was interpreted in terms of the conformational behavior of the coordinated pentapeptide. Only for the linkage isomer [Pd(en)(AcH(*)AAAH(#)NH2)](2+) (8) was there evidence of a contribution from a helical conformation. The data for 8 were interpreted as interconversion between the helix and random coil conformations. Zn(2+) with peptides gave broad NMR peaks attributed to lability of this metal ion, while reactions of cis-[Pt(NH3)2(ONO2)2] were slow, giving a complex mixture of products rather than the macrochelate ring observed with Pd(en)(2+). In summary, these studies indicate that Pd(en)(2+) coordinates to histidine with similar preference for each of the two imidazole nitrogens, enabling the formation of up to four linkage isomers in its complexes with pentapeptides His-xxx-His. Only the N1-N1 linkage isomer that forms a 22-membered macrochelate ring is able to induce an alpha-helical peptide conformation, whereas the 20- and 21-membered rings of linkage isomers do not. This suggests that linkage isomeric mixtures may compromise histidine coordination to metal ions and reduce alpha-helicity. | 18,788,796 |
Supramolecular chemistry in the structure direction of microporous materials from aromatic structure-directing agents. | A combination of fluorescence spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and molecular mechanics calculations has been used to study the structure-directing effect of the aromatic benzylpyrrolidine (BP) molecule (and its monofluorinated derivatives), and (S)-(-)-N-benzylpyrrolidine-2-methanol (BPM) in the synthesis of the microporous AFI structure. The results clearly show that, while all molecules form supramolecular aggregates in concentrated water solution, BPM molecules have a much more pronounced trend to aggregate as dimers within the AFI structure due to the development of interdimer H-bond interactions. Instead, BP (and its ortho- and meta-fluorinated derivatives) SDAs tend to incorporate in the AFI structure as monomers but with the simultaneous occlusion of water molecules, while para-fluorinated BP derivatives do not form compact dimers able to be accommodated in the AFI structure. We propose a crystallization mechanism where the presence of dimers is required for the nucleation step to occur, while crystal growth takes place through the simultaneous occlusion of SDA monomers and water (when the synthesis is performed with BP and derivatives) or through the occlusion of SDA dimers (in the synthesis with BPM). | 18,788,801 |
Fullerene-based anchoring groups for molecular electronics. | We present results on a new fullerene-based anchoring group for molecular electronics. Using lithographic mechanically controllable break junctions in vacuum we have determined the conductance and stability of single-molecule junctions of 1,4-bis(fullero[c]pyrrolidin-1-yl)benzene. The compound can be self-assembled from solution and has a low-bias conductance of 3 x 10(-4) G0. Compared to 1,4-benzenedithiol the fullerene-anchored molecule exhibits a considerably lower conductance spread. In addition, the signature of the new compound in histograms is more significant than that of 1,4-benzenediamine, probably owing to a more stable adsorption motif. Statistical analyses of the breaking of the junctions confirm the stability of the fullerene-gold bond. | 18,788,808 |
Guar foaming albumin: a low molecular mass protein with high foaming activity and foam stability isolated from guar meal. | The water extract of guar meal ( Cyamopsis tetragonolobus) was examined for its foamability. Compared with egg white, the extract showed an extraordinary foam stability: no drainage after 3 h of standing in contrast to 65% drainage for egg white at the same protein concentration. The acid-precipitated protein from the extract was responsible for the high foamability and designated guar foaming albumin (GFA). The foaming activity of GFA was 20 times higher than that of egg white. GFA consisted of two subunits with molecular masses of 6 and 11 kDa linked to each other through disulfide bonds. The cleavage of disulfide bonds in GFA affected the foamability only slightly. GFA remarkably decreased the surface tension of water at low protein concentrations. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that GFA did not react to the antisera from allergic patients against plant food. These results suggest that GFA serves as an effective food additive in developing protein-stabilized foam. | 18,788,814 |
Interaction of Fe(III) tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridinium)porphyrin with sodium dodecyl sulfate at submicellar concentrations. | Interaction of water soluble Fe(III) tetrakis(4- N-methylpyridinium)porphyrin (Fe(III)TMPyP) with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in submicellar concentrations has been studied by surface tension, optical absorption, resonance light scattering (RLS), zeta-potential, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) measurements. Measurements were conducted for a fixed concentration of Fe(III)TMPyP (6 x 10 (-5) M) and SDS in various concentrations ranging between 6 x 10 (-6) and 6 x 10 (-2) M. Two macroscopic phase transitions, precipitation and redissolution, were observed as function of SDS concentration. The presence of a new surface active porphyrin-surfactant complex was detected. Furthermore, the presence of two oppositely charged Fe(III)TMPyP-SDS bulk moieties has been demonstrated. Possible structures for the different moieties are suggested, and the phase transitions are discussed. | 18,788,822 |
Resolving sub-diffraction limit encounters in nanoparticle tracking using live cell plasmon coupling microscopy. | We use plasmon coupling between individual gold nanoparticle labels to monitor subdiffraction limit distances in live cell nanoparticle tracking experiments. While the resolving power of our optical microscope is limited to approximately 500 nm, we improve this by more than an order of magnitude by detecting plasmon coupling between individual gold nanoparticle labels using a ratiometric detection scheme. We apply this plasmon coupling microscopy to resolve the interparticle separations during individual encounters of gold nanoparticle labeled fibronectin-integrin complexes in living HeLa cells. | 18,788,826 |
Double-walled boron nitride nanotubes grown by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition. | One-dimensional nanostructures exhibit quantum confinement which leads to unique electronic properties, making them attractive as the active elements for nanoscale electronic devices. Boron nitride nanotubes are of particular interest since, unlike carbon nanotubes, all chiralities are semiconducting. Here, we report a synthesis based on the use of low pressures of the molecular precursor borazine in conjunction with a floating nickelocene catalyst that resulted in the formation of double-walled boron nitride nanotubes. As has been shown for carbon nanotube production, the floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition method has the potential for creating high quality boron nitride nanostructures with high production volumes. | 18,788,828 |
Best practice in diagnostic immunohistochemistry: prostate carcinoma and its mimics in needle core biopsies. | The unrelenting challenge encountered when differentiating limited-volume prostate carcinoma and sometimes subtle variants from its many morphologic mimics has increased the use of ancillary immunohistochemistry in routine prostate needle biopsies. The availability of prostate cancer-associated and basal cell-associated markers has been an invaluable addition to diagnostic surgical pathology. To review commonly used immunohistochemical stains, including innovative combinations, for confirmation or differential diagnosis of prostate carcinoma, and to propose appropriately constructed panels using morphologic patterns in prostate needle biopsies. These best practices are based on our experience with routine and consultative case sign-outs and on a review of the published English-language literature from 1987 through 2008. Basal cell-associated markers p63, high-molecular-weight cytokeratin 34 beta E12, cytokeratin 5/6 or a cocktail containing p63 and high-molecular-weight cytokeratin 34 beta E12 or cytokeratin 5/6 and prostate carcinoma-specific marker alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A (coA) racemase alone or in combination are useful adjuncts in confirming prostatic carcinoma that either lacks diagnostic, qualitative or quantitative features or that has an unusual morphologic pattern (eg, atrophic, pseudohyperplastic) or is in the setting of prior treatment. The combination of alpha-methylacyl coA racemase positivity with negative staining for basal cell-associated markers supports a malignant diagnosis in the appropriate morphologic context. Dual chromogen basal cell- associated markers (p63 [nuclear] and high-molecular-weight cytokeratin 34 beta E12/cytokeratin 5/6 [cytoplasmic]) and alpha-methylacyl coA racemase in an antibody cocktail provide greater sensitivity for the basal cell layer, easing evaluation and minimizing loss of representation of the focal area interest because the staining is performed on one slide. In the posttreatment setting, pancytokeratin facilitates detection of subtle-treated cancer cells. Prostate-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase markers are helpful in excluding secondary malignancies involving the prostate, such as urothelial carcinoma, and occasionally in excluding nonprostatic benign mimickers, such as nephrogenic adenoma, mesonephric gland hyperplasia, and Cowper glands. There is no role for ordering immunohistochemistry prospectively in all cases of prostatic needle biopsies. | 18,788,849 |
Dental anomalies of number in the permanent dentition of patients with bilateral cleft lip: radiographic study. | To radiographically evaluate the prevalence of dental anomalies in patients with complete and incomplete bilateral cleft lip, comparing the prevalence of anomalies between genders and cleft types. Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo (HRAC/USP), Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. 150 randomly selected panoramic radiographs of individuals with complete or incomplete bilateral cleft lip; patient age 12 to 25 years (mean age 13.8 years). Data were statistically analyzed to compare the possible association between presence of hypodontia and supernumerary teeth, according to gender and cleft type. Among the 150 patients evaluated, 80 (53.3%) were male and 70 (46.6%) were female. Since no statistically significant difference was found in hypodontia between genders, data were grouped for analysis, revealing prevalence of 31.6% for complete clefts and 26.8% for incomplete clefts. Concerning supernumerary teeth, the prevalence for the male patients was 28.2% for complete cleft lip and 29.2% for incomplete cleft lip. For female patients, the prevalence was significantly (p = .006) lower for complete cleft lip (17.5%) than for incomplete cleft lip (46.6%). The present results suggest that the prevalence of hypodontia was higher in patients with complete cleft lip, and the prevalence of supernumerary teeth was higher in patients with incomplete cleft lip, in agreement with previous studies. | 18,788,864 |
DNA methylation changes during cleft palate formation induced by retinoic acid in mice. | The aim of this study was to analyze epigenetic (specifically, DNA methylation) participation in the mechanisms of cleft palate only induced by maternal exposure to all-trans retinoic acid in mice. Cleft palate only was induced in fetuses by maternal exposure to all-trans retinoic acid. Their secondary palates were excised for analysis. Cytosine extension assay and restriction landmark genomic scanning were performed to analyze DNA methylation status. The expression levels of the DNA methyltransferases were examined by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Using cytosine extension assay, on gestation day 14.5, the status of DNA methylation within CpG islands and in global DNA was decreased significantly in all-trans retinoic acid-treated groups compared with the controls (p < .01 and p < .05). In the controls, the status within CpG islands on gestation day 14.5 was significantly increased compared with gestation days 13.5 and 18.5 (p < .01). Using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, there was no significant change in the expression of DNA methyltransferases, except on gestation day 18.5. Using restriction landmark genomic scanning on gestation day 18.5, five spots (0.49%) in the controls and one spot (0.1%) in all-trans retinoic acid-treated groups were specifically detected. These results indicate that changes in DNA methylation may play an important role in the manifestation of cleft palate only caused by environmental factors such as maternal exposure to all-trans retinoic acid. | 18,788,878 |
Architectural malformation of the muscularis propria as a cause for intestinal pseudo-obstruction: two cases and a review of the literature. | Two patients are presented with intestinal pseudo-obstruction and malformations of their intestinal muscularis propria. Histopathological findings in each case indicate a distinct alteration of intestinal muscle architecture. The 1st patient, a teenager with lifelong constipation, had an additional circular muscle tunic in 2 dilated segments of his large intestine. The 2nd patient, an infant with multiple malformations, had diffuse abnormal layering of his small intestine. The rare reports of other individuals with similar pathological findings are discussed. | 18,788,889 |
Endogenous thyrotropin and triiodothyronine concentrations in individuals with thyroid cancer. | Thyroid hormone suppression therapy is associated with decreased recurrence rates and improved survival in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Recently higher baseline thyrotropin (TSH) levels have been found to be associated with a postoperative diagnosis of differentiated thyroid cancer. Our objective was to confirm whether preoperative TSH levels were higher in patients who were diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer after undergoing thyroidectomy, compared with patients who were found to have benign disease. We also sought to determine whether thyroid hormone levels were lower in the patients with malignancy. The study was a retrospective analysis of a prospective study. The study setting was the General Clinical Research Center of an Academic Medical Center. Participants were 50 euthyroid patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Thyroxine, triiodothyronine (T(3)), and TSH levels were documented in patients prior to their scheduled thyroidectomy. Following thyroidectomy, patients were divided into those with a histologic diagnosis of either differentiated thyroid cancer or benign disease. Preoperative thyroid profiles were correlated with patients' postoperative diagnoses. All patients had a normal serum TSH concentration preoperatively. One-third of the group was diagnosed with thyroid cancer as a result of their thyroidectomy. These patients had a higher serum TSH level (mean = 1.50 mIU/L, CI 1.22-1.78 mIU/L) than patients with benign disease (mean = 1.01 mIU/mL, CI 0.84-1.18 mIU/L). There was a greater risk of having thyroid cancer in patients with TSH levels in the upper three quartiles of TSH values, compared with patients with TSH concentrations in the lowest quartile of TSH values (odd ratio = 8.7, CI 2.2-33.7). Patients with a thyroid cancer diagnosis also had lower T(3) concentrations measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (mean = 112.6 ng/dL, CI 103.8-121.4 ng/dL) than did patients with a benign diagnosis (mean 129.9 ng/dL, CI 121.4-138.4 ng/dL). These data confirm that higher TSH concentrations, even within the normal range, are associated with a subsequent diagnosis of thyroid cancer in individuals with thyroid abnormalities. This further supports the hypothesis that TSH stimulates the growth or development of thyroid malignancy during its early or preclinical phase. We also show for the first time that patients with thyroid cancer also have lower T(3) levels than patients with benign disease. | 18,788,918 |
Exophytic and ulcerated local recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma with spectacular response to external beam radiotherapy. | A 60-year-old female patient with a history of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma was referred to the endocrinology clinic for an exophytic and ulcerated lesion at the right base of the neck. Twelve years earlier she had undergone a total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter. Four years after the total thyroidectomy she had a lymph node dissection of the neck and was then treated twice with 100 mCi 131I. Five years after the second dose of 131I she was lost to followup. Before she was lost to followup the serum thyroglobulin (Tg) after recombinant TSH administration was 84 ng/ml (normal values < 2 ng/ml) and there was no uptake on a radioiodine whole body scan. Neck ultrasonography and MRI revealed a 1.7 by 1.7 cm mass in the region where the right lobe of the thyroid gland is. Surgical removal of the lesion was not possible since the neoplasm infiltrated the adjacent vital structures. The disease was treated with external beam radiation therapy. Two years later the patient is still alive and local control of the disease is achieved. In selected patients where other therapeutic modalities such as surgery, levothyroxine suppression therapy or radioactive iodine are not an option or ineffective, external beam radiotherapy can likely prolong survival. | 18,788,923 |
Fibroblast growth factor-2 and -4 promote the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by the activation of the PI3K-Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. | Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) have the capacity for self-renewal, and differentiation into a variety of cell types. They thus represent an attractive source of material for cell therapy. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the proliferation of BMMSCs. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors and signaling pathways involved in the proliferation of stem cell antigen-1(+) (Sca-1(+)) BMMSCs. Among the cytokines and growth factors examined in this study, fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and FGF-4 significantly stimulated the proliferation of Sca-1(+) BMMSCs, as determined by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. PI3K-Akt, ERK1/2, and JAK/STAT3 pathways were investigated after stimulation with FGF-2 or FGF-4 via Western blot analysis. No changes were observed in the total ERK1/2 and Akt; however, the pERK1/2 and pAkt levels were upregulated early within 15 min in the FGF-2- or FGF-4-treated Sca-1(+) BMMSCs. Moreover, the pERK1/2 and pAkt upregulation induced by FGF-2 and -4 were completely abolished by treatment with the MEK1/2 inhibitor, U0126 and the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002. However, no change in pJAK2 or total JAK2 levels was observed in the Sca-1(+) BMMSCs induced by FGF-2 or FGF-4. As a consequence of PI3K-Akt and ERK1/2, the upregulation of c-Jun in the Sca-1(+) BMMSCs, after stimulation with FGF-2 or FGF-4, was observed after 12 and 24 h. Moreover, the activation of c-Jun in FGF-2- and FGF-4-treated Sca-1(+) BMMSCs was significantly reduced by U0126. Taken together, these data suggest that FGF-2 and -4 promote the proliferation of Sca-1(+) BMMSCs by activation of the ERK1/2 and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. | 18,788,932 |
Differences in clinical disease and immune response of pigs challenged with a high-dose versus low-dose inoculum of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. | Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) continues to be an economically important infectious disease of swine. Mechanisms governing activation of the innate immune response to PRRSV remain to be elucidated. Virulence differences observed between PRRSV isolates have been attributed to replication ability in vivo, though immunogenic differences likely contribute to virulence also. The current study utilized a single PRRSV isolate given at two different challenge doses to investigate the effect of viral replication and load on immune responses, including type I interferon activation. Body temperature, viral load, antibody levels, cellular infiltration into pulmonary tissue, and the interferon response were measured in animals receiving either a low (10(2) CCID(50)) or high (10(6) CCID(50)) dose of inoculum to understand the role of challenge dose in acute immune responses. Initial PRRSV dose did not correlate with serum levels of PRRSV vRNA or antibody titers during the acute stage of infection (days 2-12 PI), but did have an effect on the immune response and mortality. Type I interferon responses, measured by transcriptional changes in IFN-beta, IFN-alpha, Mx, and PKR, were uniquely different when assessed relative to viral dose or cell type, but no overall trend existed to discern responses based on challenge dose. Serum IFN-gamma levels correlated with serum viral RNA load at day 19 PI. Overall, between days 2 and 12 PI, serum vRNA load was not significantly different between pigs challenged with a low or high dose of PRRSV. Animals receiving high-dose inoculum were viremic longer and eventually succumbed to respiratory disease. IFN-gamma may play a role in PRRSV pathogenesis, as serum levels increased significantly in pigs challenged with the high dose of PRRSV. | 18,788,940 |
Differential regulation of GM1 and asialo-GM1 expression by T cells and natural killer (NK) cells in respiratory syncytial virus infection. | We previously reported that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection increases lung CD8(+) T cell GM1 expression. The related lipid asialo-GM1 (ASGM1) is expressed by T cells in viral infection and by natural killer (NK) cells. The in vivo co-expression of GM1 and ASGM1 by immune cells is not defined. Here we analyzed lung lymphocyte GM1 and ASGM1 expression in RSV-infected mice. GM1 and ASGM1 were coordinately upregulated by activated CD8(+) T cells in RSV-infected BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. In contrast, RSV infection had no effect on constitutively high NK cell GM1 expression, while increasing NK cell ASGM1 expression. GM1 and ASGM1 co-localized in lipid raft structures in NK and CD8(+) T cells sorted from the lungs of RSV-infected mice. Anti-ASGM1 Ab treatment of RSV-infected BALB/c mice depleted GM1/ASGM1-expressing NK cells and GM1/ASGM1-expressing T cells, reduced lung IFN-gamma levels, increased viral load, delayed viral clearance, and reduced illness. STAT1(-/-) mice are more susceptible to RSV replication and disease than wild-type mice. In RSV-infected STAT1(-/-) mice, anti-ASGM1 Ab altered cytokine levels, but in contrast to BALB/c mice, antibody treatment had no effect on viral load or illness. Taken together, GM1 and ASGM1 expression are differentially regulated by T and NK cells in RSV infection. Also, GM1/ASGM1-expressing cells are important for control of RSV in BALB/c mice, whereas STAT1(-/-) mice clear RSV by an alternative pathway. | 18,788,941 |
Alcoholism screening in patients with advanced cancer: impact on symptom burden and opioid use. | Alcoholism is a devastating disease that can cause patient and family suffering and is frequently underdiagnosed. Preliminary studies suggest that it is associated with increased symptom expression and opioid dose escalation. The CAGE questionnaire is a widely used tool for alcoholism screening. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of patients who screen positive for alcoholism in a palliative care outpatient clinic (PCOC). We reviewed 665 consecutive charts of patients referred to the PCOC and collected data regarding age, gender, and type of cancer. For the first 100 consecutive CAGE positive (CAGE+) and 100 consecutive CAGE negative (CAGE-) patients, time from advanced cancer diagnosis (AC) to PCOC was calculated, and symptoms (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, ESAS) and Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (MEDD) were collected. CAGE was available for 598 of 665 (90%) patients. Of 598 patients, 100 (17%) were CAGE+. CAGE+ patients were younger (58 versus 60 years, p < 0.05), predominantly male (68% versus 47%, p < 0.0001), and with head/neck malignancies (24% versus 9%, p < 0.05). CAGE+ patients were referred earlier (5 +/- 27 months after AC, p < 0.0001). At baseline, pain, sleep, dyspnea, well-being, and total symptom distress were significantly worse among CAGE+ patients. Both groups showed similar improvement in symptoms. CAGE+ patients were more frequently on opioids upon referral (47/100 versus 29/100, p < 0.05) and follow-up (27/65 versus 16/68, p < 0.05). At follow-up, opioid doses did not show significant changes. Seventeen percent of the patients were CAGE+. These patients were referred earlier to palliative care, had more symptom expression, and were more frequently on opioids. The palliative care team successfully improved symptom control in both groups without opioid dose escalation. | 18,788,955 |
Staff experiences with end-of-life care in the pediatric intensive care unit. | The purposes of this study were to describe the experiences of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) staff caring for a child who dies, and to determine whether responses included unprompted indications of moral distress as described in the literature. This qualitative, descriptive study consisted of semistructured interviews conducted with professional caregivers of a child who died in a large, multidisciplinary PICU. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and subjected to content analysis. Main results Interviews (n = 32) were conducted with 29 staff members regarding 8 patient deaths. Participants included nurses, physicians, and psychosocial support personnel. The overall tone of the interviews was positive, and participants expressed satisfaction with their work and the work of their colleagues. The major themes of staff members experiences were (1) importance of communication, (2) accommodating the wishes of others despite personal preferences, (3) ambiguity about the use of technology, (4) sadness, and (5) emotional support. Descriptions of moral distress were seen infrequently. Many welcomed the sadness they experienced as a sign of their humanity and emotional availability, but did not feel adequately supported in dealing with their grief. The experience of caring for a child who dies in the PICU is multifaceted. Grief, rather than moral distress, was the dominant psychological response of caregivers. Future research could focus on enhancing communication and emotional support. | 18,788,959 |
Palliative care telephone consultation: who calls and what do they need to know? | Access to expertise in palliative management in areas not served by palliative care consultants is an ongoing challenge. This study examines a unique service offered in British Columbia: a 24-hour telephone hotline available to physicians, nurses, and pharmacists across the province. Records of calls to the hotline over 4 years were collected. Call data included information on the caller, patient, and problem. The resulting database was analyzed for trends, including cross-tabulations to look for associations between call characteristics. Six hundred ninety-two calls were included. A large variety of topics were addressed in significant numbers, ranging from symptom control to ethical concerns. The primary reason for calls to the line was pain management, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, and bowel obstruction. Patients with cancer diagnoses dominated the call volume; lung, colon, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer were the most common specific diagnoses. The majority of calls, when analyzed by population, came from areas with significant rural populations. British Columbia's Palliative Care Hotline provides a valuable service that has been utilized province-wide with increasing frequency over the 6 years it has been in operation. It serves a variety of professionals and significant number of patients. Rural communities utilize the service with the most frequency, indicating the support needed in these communities. Similar services should be considered in other jurisdictions. | 18,788,963 |
Risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies among low-income, illicit drug-using women. | Poor women of childbearing age who use crack, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin may be at risk for having an alcohol-exposed pregnancy because of concurrent alcohol use. Women who use illicit drugs may not know the harmful effects of fetal alcohol exposure. Fetal alcohol exposure is a leading cause of developmental disabilities and mental retardation. We report findings of a survey administered to 2672 women 18-44 years of age in settings serving low-income women, including an urban jail, a drug treatment facility, and healthcare facilities in Florida, Virginia, and Texas. We compared women who reported using more than one illicit drug (drug users) and women who reported never using illicit drugs (nonusers) for frequent alcohol consumption, binge drinking, failure to use contraception, unplanned pregnancies, and drinking during pregnancy. Of women interviewed, 75% (2000) reported using more than one illicit drug. Drug users were more likely to report frequent drinking (33%, relative risk [RR] 12.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.9-20.4, binge drinking (39%, RR 5.7, 95% CI 4.9-7.6), and drinking during pregnancy (37%, RR 2.10, 95% CI 1.75-2.53) compared with nonusers (3%, 7%, 17%, respectively, p < 0.0001). Greater proportions of drug users (27%, RR 2.20, 95% CI 1.75-2.53) also failed to used contraception compared with nonusers (19%, p < 0.05). Notable proportions of both groups, drug users (91%) and nonusers (82%), reported unplanned pregnancies. The findings suggest that poor women who reported ever using more than one illicit drug were at greater risk for having an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancies in both groups surpassed national averages. Poor women likely require enhanced education about the hazards of drinking during pregnancy and methods to reduce unplanned pregnancies. | 18,788,989 |
[First results of open randomized clinical study of Acridilol in combination therapy of patients with arterial hypertension and obesity or type 2 diabetes (Mellitus-Open Multicenter Clinical Study ACCORD)]. | To study efficacy and safety of a preparation of carvedilol Acridilol (Akrikhin, Russia) in patients with mild and moderate arterial hypertension (AH) and obesity and/or compensated type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Patients (n=592) suffering from mild to moderate AH in combination with DM and/or obesity participated in a randomized comparative open study with parallel groups. By means of randomization these patients were distributed into 2 groups: patients of group 1 (n=291) after washout period following withdrawal of previously taken b-blockers received acridilol for 24 weeks together with other antihypertensive therapy. In control group 2 (n=301) stable antihypertensive therapy was carried out during 24 weeks. Efficacy of hypotensive therapy was assessed during visits to physicians every 2 weeks throughout the whole study. At the beginning and in the end of the study we conducted assessment of biochemical parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, registered 12-lead ECG, and assessed status of anxiety and depression. At the background of the conducted treatment in patients of both groups significant lowering of hemodynamic parameters (systolic and diastolic BP and heart raid) was revealed, differences between groups by the 24-th week were statistically significant. By the end of the study target BP level was achieved in 96.8% of patients in carvedilol group and in 88% of patients of control group (p < 0.001). In both groups positive dynamics of parameters of anxiety-depression status of patients was noted while therapy with carvedilol (acridilol) led to statistically significant (p=0.01) improvement of status of depression compared with control treatment. Also necessity in hospitalization significantly decreased in patients of both groups: number of hospitalizations declined 5 times in acridilol group (p < 0.0001) and 3 times in control group (p < 0.0001). During the study 32 cases of adverse effects were registered: 17 at the background of therapy with acridilol and 15 at the background of control treatment (p=0.58), however most of them were of weak or moderate degree of severity. The results obtained demonstrate high efficacy and safety of the preparation of carvedilol acridilol in patients with combination pathology, high metabolic risk, and high risk of cardiovascular complications. | 18,789,007 |
[Molecular mechanisms of effects of rosuvastatin on systemic oxidative stress and endogenous inflammation in patients with atherosclerosis]. | Aim of the study was to investigate peculiarities of effects of rosuvastatin on the state of oxidative stress and endogenous inflammation in patients with extensive atherosclerosis. Patients with extensive atherosclerosis included into the study (n=46, mean age 56.5 +/- 2.2 years) were distributed to 2 equivalent according to clinico-instrumental data groups. To patients of group 1 (n=24) standard therapy was prescribed (antiaggregants, ACE inhibitors, b-adrenoblockers, and nitrates when indicated), patients of group 2 (n=22) in addition to standard therapy took rosuvastatin (10 mg/day). Investigations included measurement of parameters of serum lipid profile, content of thiol groups of blood serum proteins, activity of enzyme glutathione peroxidase, in vivo oxidation of whole blood serum and HDL, concentration of 3-nitrotirosine, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, activity of type 2IIA secretory phospholipase A2. It was found that level of 3-nitrotirosine and activity of secretory phospholipase A2 together with high sensitivity C-reactive protein appear to be effective markers of systemic oxidative stress and endogenous inflammation in patients with extensive atherosclerosis. Treatment with rosuvastatin in moderate doses significantly suppressed activity of endogenous inflammation and oxidative stress by way of activation of antioxidant system of plasma, decrease of oxidation of fractions of lipoproteins, suppression of " nitrotirosine " stress, as well as partial inhibition of efficacy of action of secretory phospholipase A2, lowering of content of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. | 18,789,009 |
[The influence of purine nucleotides and adenosine on bioelectrical activity of bat (Pipistrellus nathusii) heart]. | The aim of work was to investigate effects of adenosine, AMP, GMP and ADP-ribose on bioelectric activity of bat heart. Purine nucleotides decreased action potential duration at level of 90% (APD90) repolarization in bat ventricular myocardium. When preparation of right ventricle was paced with frequency of 6 Hz, APD50 and APD90 were 7 +/- 2 ms and 60 +/- 5 ms, respectively. Adenosine decreased APD90 by 50 +/- 10% (n=6), AMP - by 30 +/- 10% (n=6), GMP - by 38 +/- 5% (n=6), ADP-ribose - by 24 +/- 6% (n=6) (concentration of all compounds - 10 ). Effects of purine nucleotides and nucleoside in bat ventricular myocardium exceed effects of same compounds in rat and ground squirrel ventricular myocardium. Inhibitory effects of purine nucleotides and adenosine in bat heart could be mediated by A1 adenosine receptors. | 18,789,010 |
[Prognostication of results of coronary artery bypass surgery in men living in the North]. | We analyzed immediate and remote results of coronary artery bypass surgery and prognostication of outcome of the intervention in dependence on various risk factors in 576 men aged 29 - 71 years living in the North. We formed a model with strong prognostic effect on lethal outcome during in-hospital postoperative period which included the following parameters: perioperative myocardial infarction, complex character of surgery, left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, number of distal anastomoses 5 and more, functional class III chronic heart failure. Method of regression analysis revealed factors also related to lethal outcome in period of hospitalization: functional class IV of angina, duration of operation more than 5 hours, mitral insufficiency of 2nd degree and above, myocardial infarction of left ventricular anterior wall, history of 2 or more infarctions. Model with strong prognostic effect on mortality in remote period (3 years after surgery) included the following parameters: left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, functional class III chronic heart failure, repeat character of operation, left ventricular aneurysm, lack of use of internal mammary artery. Most significant factors additionally affecting long term mortality were the following: involvement of left coronary artery trunk, duration of surgery more than 5 hours, atherosclerosis of magistral arteries, mitral insufficiency of 2nd degree and above, cardiac rhythm disturbances. | 18,789,024 |
The importance of clinical experience for mental health nursing - part 2: relationships between undergraduate nursing students' attitudes, preparedness, and satisfaction. | Clinical experience is consistently emphasized in research findings as the primary influence in encouraging more positive attitudes to mental health nursing. The available research, however, presents two major limitations. First, it does not measure the specific factors that might contribute to a positive clinical experience. Second, it does not consider the relationship between clinical experience and attitudes towards people experiencing a mental illness or towards mental health nursing. This is the second of a two-part paper presenting findings from a statewide survey of undergraduate nursing students in Victoria. A pre-/post-test design was used to measure the impact of clinical experience on the following subscales: (i) attitudes towards people experiencing a mental illness; (ii) attitudes toward mental health nursing; and (iii) preparedness for mental health practice. Subscale (iv) satisfaction with clinical experience was also measured in the post-test phase. The findings demonstrated an improvement on all three subscales in the post-test phase and a high level of satisfaction with clinical experience. Furthermore, a relationship between all four subscales was evident. | 18,789,043 |
Hydrolysis of arbutin to hydroquinone by human skin bacteria and its effect on antioxidant activity. | Arbutin, the beta-D-glucopyranoside of hydroquinone, is a skin whitening cosmetic ingredient. Compared with arbutin, hydroquinone is a more potent skin lightening agent, but shows cytotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and genotoxicity. To evaluate whether skin microflora can hydrolyze arbutin to hydroquinone, we measured the hydrolytic activity of the main skin microflora: Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus. All strains hydrolyzed arbutin, with activities of 0.16-4.51 nmol/min/mg. The hydrolyzed hydroquinone showed more potent 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and tyrosinase inhibition than arbutin. These findings suggest that normal skin microflora may increase the skin lightening effect of arbutin due to the antioxidant action of hydroquinone. | 18,789,053 |
Effects of various concentrations of glycolic acid at the corneoxenometry and collaxenometry bioassays. | Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid used as a chemical peeling for more than a quarter century. The primary tissue target is the stratum corneum. This study aims to assess the effects of various concentrations of glycolic acid on the stratum corneum and collagen fibers using two selected bioassays. Corneoxenometry was performed to test the effects on human stratum corneum. Collaxenometry was similarly designed to quantify the effect on sheets of collagen fibers. Different glycolic acid concentrations ranging from 5% to 70% in alcohol were tested, respectively, for 3- and 10-min exposure times. Both bioassays showed consistent reactivities with a dose-effect relationship when using a 3-min exposure time. By contrast, the tests appeared unreliable or uninformative for the 10-min exposure time. Corneoxenometry and collaxenometry appear useful for in vitro testing peeling agents during short exposure times. | 18,789,054 |
Effect of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb on androgen-induced alopecia. | Alopecia is a psychologically distressing condition. Androgenetic alopecia, which affects millions of men and women, is an androgen-driven disorder. Here, Cuscuta reflexa Roxb is evaluated for hair growth activity in androgen-induced alopecia. Petroleum ether extract of C. reflexa was studied for its hair growth-promoting activity. Alopecia was induced in albino mice by testosterone administration for 20 days. Its inhibition by simultaneous administration of extract was evaluated using follicular density, anagen/telogen ratio, and microscopic observation of skin sections. To investigate the mechanism of observed activity, in vitro experiments were performed to study the effect of extract and its major component on activity of 5alpha-reductase enzyme. Petroleum ether extract of C. reflexa exhibited promising hair growth-promoting activity as reflected from follicular density, anagen/telogen ratio, and skin sections. Inhibition of 5alpha-reductase activity by extract and isolate suggest that the extract reversed androgen-induced alopecia by inhibiting conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. The petroleum ether extract of C. reflexa and its isolate is useful in treatment of androgen-induced alopecia by inhibiting the enzyme 5alpha-reductase. | 18,789,055 |
The effect of topical caffeine on the morphology of swine hypodermis as measured by ultrasound. | Cellulite or lipodystrophy involves the modification of the subcutaneous adipose tissue. A wide variety of topical products is available to combat cellulite, but these have difficulties in being absorbed through the skin. One option is the therapeutic use of the ultrasound to enhance the trans-dermic transport of these drugs. The objective of this study was the analysis of the effect of caffeine on the morphology of the swine hypodermis, both when applied topically and in combination with ultrasound treatment. The following treatments were applied to the dorsal areas of five pigs (Landrace x Large White, 35 days old, weighing 15 kg each): gel, gel + ultrasound, gel + caffeine (5%, w/w), and gel + caffeine + ultrasound, daily for 15 days. A fifth area received no topical application and was used as a control. Continuous ultrasound of 3 MHz with an intensity of 0.2 W/cm(2) was applied at a rate of 1 min/cm(2). After histological processing (hematoxylin and eosin), morphometric analyses were conducted to determine the thickness and numerical profile of the hypodermis. A one-way analysis variance using a Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was conducted, with a Tukey test used to identify significant differences. A confidence level of P < or = 0.05 was adopted. Caffeine treatment was effective only when associated with ultrasound therapy; the combination resulted in a significant reduction in the thickness of the subcutaneous adipose tissue, as well as damage to the adipocytes, consequently decreasing the number of cells. Ultrasound treatment was effective in increasing the cutaneous permeation of caffeine, as evidenced by the reduction in thickness of the hypodermis and number of adipocytes. | 18,789,063 |
Neonatal pemphigus vulgaris. | A male newborn with skin erosions was born to a 32-year-old woman who was under treatment for pemphigus vulgaris that had been diagnosed 16 months earlier. Antibodies to desmoglein (Dsg)1 and Dsg3 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Index values of antibodies to Dsg1 and Dsg3 were 49 (normal index values, <14) and 121 (normal index values, <7), respectively. Those findings concluded a diagnosis of neonatal pemphigus vulgaris. No new vesicles or bullae appeared in the newborn after the birth. Non-corticosteroid ointments produced prompt epithelialization on the erosive lesions. All the eruptions disappeared in 3 weeks. The level of serum anti-Dsg3 autoantibodies when measured at the 76th day was negative (<5). | 18,789,074 |
Pilomatricomas in Turner syndrome. | Pilomatricomas are benign, cutaneous tumors of the hair matrix cells, which present predominantly in childhood. Although usually an isolated finding, they have been described in association with several inherited conditions. We report a 10-year-old girl with Turner syndrome who has two pilomatricomas, including one giant tumor. In combination with a previous report of pilomatricoma in two patients with Turner syndrome, our observation indicates that it is likely a real, although uncommon, association of pilomatricomas with Turner syndrome exists. This apparent predisposition may be etiologically related to the abnormalities of hair-bearing skin observed in Turner syndrome. Doctors involved in the diagnosis and management of cutaneous masses in children should be aware of this association. | 18,789,085 |
Intrapulmonary administration of recombinant activated factor VII in diffuse alveolar haemorrhage: a report of two case stories. | Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) is a serious pulmonary complication characterised by a high mortality rate and the absence of specific treatment. The intrapulmonary administration of activated recombinant factor VII (rFVIIa) in DAH was recently published in six patients by Heslet et al with an efficient hemostatic effect. We describe two cases of DAH treated with intrapulmonary rFVIIa. Two cases of DAH were admitted to the ICU after presenting abrupt desaturation, tachypnea, cough and haemoptysis, requiring orotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. The diagnosis was achieved by the bloody return during the bronchoalveolar lavage, during the procedure rFVIIa (50 mug/Kg in 50 ml of isotonic saline) was administered via the bronchoscope. Immediate cessation of bleeding was observed. Prior to intrapulmonary administration of rFVIIa, the FiO2 was 1, which was reduced to 0.4 24 hours later. Following the procedure, the haemostatic effect made blood transfusion superfluous. No thrombotic complications associated with administration of the drug were observed. After the intervention both cases progressed fast and was discharged from the ICU with no further episodes of bleeding. 1. Local intrabronchial deposition of DAH with rFVIIa has been shown to be effective in controlling life-threatening DAH. 2. In the case described above, no thrombotic complications were observed following the intrapulmonary administration of rFVIIa. | 18,789,132 |
Fibrolipoma of the lip treated by diode laser surgery: a case report. | Several neoplasms of the adipose tissue can involve the soft tissues of the head and neck region. These neoplasms are mainly treated surgically and an accurate histological examination is mandatory for a precise diagnosis. We report a case of fibrolipoma involving the lower lip of a 43-year-old man, which was successfully treated by diode laser surgery. This approach allowed adequate resection of the neoplasm with minimal damage to the adjacent tissues, thus reducing post-surgical scarring. Diode laser surgery for the treatment of benign lesions of the oral mucosa appears to be a convenient alternative to conventional blade surgery and has proved to be effective for the excision of fibrolipoma of the lip. The possibility of avoiding direct suture after excision is surely helpful when aesthetic areas, such as the lip, are surgically treated. For these reasons, and also considering the lower histological alteration of the specimen obtained with diode laser surgery if adequately used, the diode laser is undoubtedly a good alternative to conventional surgery. | 18,789,134 |
Magnet therapy for the relief of pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (CAMBRA): a randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial. | Rheumatoid arthritis is a common inflammatory autoimmune disease. Although disease activity may be managed effectively with prescription drugs, unproven treatments such as magnet therapy are sometimes used as an adjunct for pain control. Therapeutic devices incorporating permanent magnets are widely available and easy to use. Magnets may also be perceived as a more natural and less harmful alternative to analgesic compounds. Of interest to health service researchers is the possibility that magnet therapy might help to reduce the economic burden of managing chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Magnets are extremely cheap to manufacture and prolonged treatment involves a single cost. Despite this, good quality scientific evidence concerning the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of magnet therapy is scarce. The primary aim of the CAMBRA trial is to investigate the effectiveness of magnet therapy for relieving pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. The CAMBRA trial employs a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design. Participant will each wear four devices: a commercially available magnetic wrist strap; an attenuated wrist strap; a demagnetised wrist strap; and a copper bracelet. Device will be allocated in a randomised sequence and each worn for five weeks. The four treatment phases will be separated by wash out periods lasting one week. Both participants and researchers will be blind, as far as feasible, to the allocation of experimental and control devices. In total 69 participants will be recruited from general practices within the UK. Eligible patients will have a verified diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis that is being managed using drugs, and will be experiencing chronic pain. Outcomes measured will include pain, inflammation, disease activity, physical function, medication use, affect, and health related costs. Data will be collected using questionnaires, diaries, manual pill counts and blood tests. Magnetism is an inherent property of experimental devices which is hard to conceal. The use of multiple control devices, including a copper bracelet, represents a concerted attempt to overcome methodological limitations associated with trials in this field. The trial began in July 2007. At the time of submission (August 2008) recruitment has finished, with 70 trial participants, and data collection is almost complete. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN51459023. | 18,789,135 |
Role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha in the integrity of articular cartilage in murine knee joints. | Chondrocytes have to withstand considerable hypoxic conditions within the avascular articular cartilage. The present study investigated the effects of inhibiting or stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha by 2-methoxyestradiol or dimethyloxaloylglycine on the progression of osteoarthritis in murine knee joints. 2-Methoxyestradiol was injected six times over a period of 2 weeks into the left knee joint of Balb/C mice. Joints were assessed by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods, 3 weeks and 12 weeks following the first injection. Dimethyloxaloylglycine, an inhibitor of HIF-degrading prolyl-hydroxylases, was injected into the left knee joints of STR/ORT mice once a week over the entire period of 12 weeks. Right knee joints that received a saline solution served as controls. In addition, the effects of dimethyloxaloylglycine on HIF-1 target gene expression and on collagen metabolism were analyzed in vitro. Injection of 2-methoxyestradiol led to osteoarthritic changes in the treated knee joints of Balb/C mice. The first signs of osteophyte formation were observed in the knee joints after 3 weeks, followed by progressive destruction of the articular cartilage at 12 weeks that was not, however, accompanied by inflammatory reactions. Injection of dimethyloxaloylglycine could not prevent severe osteoarthritis that spontaneously developed in the knee joints of STR/ORT mice. In chondrocyte cultures, administration of dimethyloxaloylglycine resulted in an upregulation of Sox9 expression. Such a stimulatory effect was not observed, however, for the expression of type II collagen, which might be the indirect consequence of intracellular collagen retention observed by immunofluorescence or of increased expression of IL-1 beta and IL-6. Induction of osteoarthritis by 2-methoxyestradiol demonstrates the importance of HIF-1 in maintaining the integrity of hypoxic articular cartilage. Stabilization of HIF-1 by dimethyloxaloylglycine, however, was not of therapeutic value, since this nonselective prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitor also interferes with proper collagen metabolism and induces the expression of catabolic cytokines. | 18,789,153 |
Programmed inappropriate ICD ventricular defibrillation for cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation. | In this report we briefly describe a patient with a dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator in the context of severe ischemic cardiomyopathy who developed persistent atrial fibrillation. After appropriate anticoagulation and under mild sedation the patient was successfully cardioverted to sinus rhythm after a programmed ventricular synchronized defibrillation using his defibrillator. Programmed internal cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation in patients who have an implantable cardioverter defibillator without atrial defibrillation capabilities could be an effective and safe therapeutic option. Unlike external electrical cardioversion, this strategy does not interfere with the implantable cardioverter defibrillator, is more effective, and obviates the need of general anesthesia. This strategy should be further evaluated in clinical trials. | 18,789,158 |
Predictors of nutritional status among community-dwelling older adults in Wuhan, China. | To examine the nutritional and functional status of community older adults in China, to identify the related factors and best predictors of elder nutrition. A cross-sectional, descriptive correlation design was utilized. A convenience sample of 162 community older adults (aged > or = 65 years) were administered three questionnaires, which were used to obtain demographic characteristics, nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment, MNA) and functional status (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, IADL). The mean MNA score was 23.8 (sd 3.92), 36.4 % of elders were at risk of malnutrition and 8.0 % were malnourished; 61.7 % were functionally independent. Spearman's correlation analysis indicated that age, marital status, education level, personal income, number of chronic medical conditions suffered and functional status had significant correlations with nutritional status. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis identified that the best predictors were the number of chronic conditions suffered, age, functional status and marital status. The study has suggested that nutritional health remains a problem among older adults in the Chinese community. A large proportion was on the borderline of malnutrition, and deficiency as well as excesses coexisted. Malnutrition is an increasing hazard especially for those suffering from more diseases, at a highly advanced age, functionally dependent and widowed. | 18,789,169 |
Priming a perspective in Spanish monolingual children: the use of syntactic alternatives. | We used a syntactic priming paradigm to show priming effects for active and passive forms in monolingual Spanish-speaking four- and five-year-olds. In a baseline experiment, we examined children's use of the fue-passive form and found it was virtually non-existent in their speech, although they produced important elements of the form. Children used a more frequent Spanish passive form, the subjectless/se-passive. In a priming experiment, we presented children with drawings described using either active or fue-passive sentences. Children then described novel drawings. Priming was induced for active and passive forms; however, children did not produce the fue-passive provided for them. Instead, children used the subjectless/se-passive and what we term the function-passive, which like the fue-passive, emphasize the patient of the action. We argue that children's use of different passive forms suggests they are sensitive to experimenter's input as it relates to scene interpretation and to syntax. | 18,789,181 |
A preliminary study of negative appraisals and dysfunctional coping associated with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following myocardial infarction. | To investigate associations between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following myocardial infarction (MI) and subjective experience of MI, negative perception of consequences, negative appraisals of symptoms, and use of dysfunctional coping strategies, as described by Ehlers and Clark's (2000) model of PTSD. Cross-sectional questionnaire study of people who experienced a MI within the previous 12 weeks (N=74; 51% response rate). Participants completed questionnaires assessing PTSD symptoms, subjective experience of MI, perception of consequences, appraisal of symptoms, and dysfunctional coping strategies. Of the participants, 16% met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD and a further 18% reported moderate to severe PTSD symptoms. People with PTSD symptoms also had more somatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction. PTSD symptoms were associated with perceived severity and danger of MI, a history of psychological problems, previous trauma, negative appraisal of symptoms, perceived severe consequences, and dysfunctional coping strategies. These variables were entered into a regression with MI and past history variables on Step 1, and appraisal and coping variables on Step 2. This showed that perceived consequences and dysfunctional coping were strongly associated with PTSD symptoms after controlling for MI and past history variables. The results of this preliminary study suggest perception of consequences and dysfunctional coping may be important in PTSD symptoms following MI. | 18,789,186 |
Effects of psychological state on pain perception in the dental environment. | Psychological factors have an important influence on pain perception. Both in the clinic and in experimental settings, distraction has been shown to reduce pain. Further, negative emotions increase pain, whereas positive emotions have the opposite effect. Other more complex psychological states alter the way we feel pain. For instance, empathy for another person who is suffering increases our own pain experience, and expectation of pain relief underlies much of the placebo effect. Neuroimaging studies show a physiological basis for psychological pain modulation, with activity in pain pathways altered by attentional state, positive and negative emotions, empathy and the administration of a placebo. The same psychological factors activate intrinsic modulatory systems in the brain, including those stimulated when opiates are given for pain relief. It is important for the dentist and patients to understand the influence of psychological state on pain transmission. Such an understanding will not only help patients learn how to participate in their own pain control, but will also help the clinician create a fostering environment. | 18,789,200 |
[Histone deacetylases: a new class of efficient anti-tumor drugs]. | Circa twenty-five years ago, cancer research was dominated by the concept that the origin of cancer was genetic. Thousands of genetic alterations have indeed been identified involving more than hundred different genes in cancer development. Today, the model has evolved: it has been demonstrated that malignancies can be initiated not only through genetic alterations but also through epigenetic deregulations. By altering the expression of gene involved in cell regulation, epigenetic alterations, such as histone acetylation, play a key role in the initiation and progression of neoplasm. It has been shown that an imbalance between the acelylated and deacetylated status of chromatin is significantly involved in the acquisition of a malignant phenotype. Thus, the modulation of the histone acetylation level by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors could lead to a genetic re-programmation in cancer cells that would favor apoptosis and prevent proliferation. The potential therapeutic value of several HDAC inhibitors for cancer patients has been evaluated in clinical assays with very promising outcome. Indeed, the first inhibitors available for patients has been recently approved for cancer patients tracing the way for a new class of promising anti-cancer therapy modalities. | 18,789,222 |
Treatment with LXR agonists after focal cerebral ischemia prevents brain damage. | Stroke is characterized by massive inflammation in areas surrounding the injury that magnifies damage to the brain. The liver X receptors (LXRs) are nuclear receptors that regulate cholesterol, lipid, and glucose metabolism. Synthetic LXR agonists have potent anti-inflammatory properties in a variety of settings, including neuroinflammation. However, the ability of LXR agonists to suppress stroke-associated inflammation has not been evaluated. Here, we have used time-lapse magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to show that a single dose of an LXR ligand administered post-injury dramatically reduces brain damage in a model of acute brain ischemia. Neuroprotection was associated with suppression of neuroinflammation. | 18,789,330 |
A generalized compartmental model to estimate the fibre mass in the ruminoreticulum: 1. Estimating parameters of digestion. | Parameters related to the microbial digestion of nutrients in the ruminoreticulum have been estimated by fitting mathematical models to degradation profiles generated from kinetic studies. In the present paper, we propose a generalized compartmental model of digestion (GCMD) based on implicit theoretical concepts and the gamma probability density function to estimate fibre digestion parameters. The proposed model is consistent to a broader compartmental model presented in a companion paper that integrates aspects of fibre digestion and passage. Different versions of the GCMD were generated by increasing the integer order of time dependency of the gamma function. These versions were fitted to 192 published fibre degradation profiles that were obtained using an in vitro fermentation technique. The quality of fit was evaluated based on the frequency of minimum sum of squares of errors (SSE), the number of runs of signs of residuals, and its likelihood probability calculated according to the Akaike's Information Criterion. The likelihood of the proposed model was also compared to a discrete lag time model (DLT), which is commonly used to interpret fibre degradation profiles. The GCMD had superior quality of fit compared to the DLT and was considered more likely in describing 68.75% of the profiles evaluated. Only 9.38% of the degradation profiles that were fitted to the DLT model had a lower SSE. Even though the degradation profiles studied were generated by incubating feed samples up to 96h, the true asymptotic limit of fibre degradation can only be achieved by long-term fermentations. This fact leads to questioning the uniformity of the potentially digestible fibre fraction and a further approach based on GCMD-type model was used to account for its heterogeneous nature. | 18,789,339 |
Chlordecone, a mixed pregnane X receptor (PXR) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) agonist, alters cholesterol homeostasis and lipoprotein metabolism in C57BL/6 mice. | Chlordecone (CD) is one of many banned organochlorine (OC) insecticides that are widespread persistent organic pollutants. OC insecticides alter lipid homeostasis in rodents at doses that are not neurotoxic or carcinogenic. Pretreatment of mice or rats with CD altered tissue distribution of a subsequent dose of [(14)C]CD or [(14)C]cholesterol (CH). Nuclear receptors regulate expression of genes important in the homeostasis of CH and other lipids. In this study, we report that CD suppresses in vitro reporter systems for human liver X receptors (LXRs) and activates those for human farnesoid X receptor (FXR), pregnane X receptor (PXR) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) in a concentration-dependent manner (0-50 muM). Consistent with human PXR activation in vitro, three days after a single dose of CD (15 mg/kg) hepatic microsomal CYP3A11 protein increases in C57BL/6 mice. CD decreases hepatic CH ester content without altering total CH concentration. Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) contents of hepatic lipoprotein-rich and microsomal fractions of CD-treated mice are higher than controls. There is a significant reduction in non-high density lipoprotein CH but not apolipoprotein B-48/100 (apoB-48/100) in plasma from CD-treated mice after a 4 h fast. At 14 days after 15 mg CD/kg apoA-I and apoB-100 proteins but not CYP3A11 protein in hepatic microsomes are similar to controls. This work indicates that altered CH homeostasis is a mode of OC insecticide action of relevance after a single dose. This at least partially explains altered CH tissue distribution in CD-pretreated mice. | 18,789,348 |
Involvement of cytoskeleton in Junín virus entry. | The early events in Junín virus (JUNV) infection are not thoroughly understood. We have previously shown that JUNV enter cells by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. In this report we examine the role of microfilaments and microtubules during early virus infection. Inhibitory effects of drugs affecting main cytoskeletal components on JUNV entry into Vero cells were analyzed. Drugs that disrupted microfilaments or stabilized microtubules inhibited early steps of virus entry. In contrast, drugs that stabilized microfilaments or depolymerized microtubules were not able to block virus entry very efficiently. Furthermore, real time PCR was performed to detect viral entry and we found more than 10-fold less RNA when microfilaments were depolymerized while a 100-fold diminution was seen when microtubules were stabilized. Taken together our results demonstrate that JUNV relies on an intact actin network during early infection in Vero cells while a dynamic microtubule network is also needed. This represents an important contribution to the characterization of arenavirus multiplication cycle. | 18,789,362 |
Construction and evaluation of live attenuated myxoma virus vaccines with targeted virulence gene deletions. | Three deletion mutant viruses were constructed as potential vaccines against myxomatosis using the naturally attenuated Uriarra strain of myxoma virus. The viruses had the M007 (encodes a secreted gamma-interferon receptor homologue), M010 (encodes an epidermal growth factor homologue) and M011 (encodes an inhibitor of apoptosis in T lymphocytes) genes insertionally inactivated as either DeltaM007, DeltaM010/M011 or DeltaM007/M010/M011. All three viruses induced high serum antibody titres. Rabbits immunized with these deletion mutants were protected from lethal challenge. However, immunization of adult rabbits with DeltaM007 or DeltaM010/M011 was associated with mild clinical signs that would make these viruses unacceptable as vaccines. The triple gene knock-out virus (DeltaM007/M010/M011) termed Ur-TKO was very well tolerated by adult and juvenile rabbits. The low pathogenicity of Ur-TKO was confirmed by pathogenesis studies in domestic and wild rabbits. | 18,789,367 |
Lipid peroxidation products do not activate hepatic stellate cells. | Lipid peroxidation (LPO) is known to be associated with liver fibrosis in chronic liver injury. However, direct effects of the products of LPO on liver fibrogenesis are still not clear. In this study, we examined the LPO products, such as malondiladehyde (MDA), 8-iso-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (8-iso-PGF(2alpha)), and 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF(2alpha) (15-keto-PGF(2alpha)), on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vivo and in vitro. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) was given orally to rats twice a week for 8 weeks. Corn oil was given daily to rats for 8 weeks. CCl(4) induced both free-radical-medicated and cyclooxygenase-2-dependent LPO. Free radical-medicated LPO showed an increase with corn oil treatment, whereas no effect was reflected on COX-2-dependent LPO. CCl(4) induced liver fibrosis in rats, but no liver fibrosis was observed in rats treated with corn oil. In vitro studies demonstrated that MDA, 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) and 15-keto-PGF(2alpha), did not activate HSCs, which were preactivated or not preactivated by TGF-beta1. Our results clearly indicate that LPO products, such as MDA, 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) and 15-keto-PGF(2alpha), cannot directly activate HSCs. | 18,789,371 |
Effect of the organophosphorus pesticide diazinon on glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetic rats. | We have reported that the toxicity of the organophosphorus pesticide diazinon (DZN) and its metabolites is increased in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (type 1 diabetic rats). In the present study, we have investigated the effect of DZN on glucose tolerance in genetic type 2 diabetic rats, Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (2g/(5 ml kg)) was assessed before, and 1 and 2 weeks after intraperitoneal injection of DZN (6.5 mg/kg) in Wistar and GK rats. DZN significantly increased the levels of glucose in plasma at designated blood sampling points in GK rats. The activity of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes and expression of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP3A2 and CYP2D1, which oxidize DZN to DZN-oxon, a potent ChE inhibitor, were measured before DZN injection. There were no significant differences in the activity and expression of CYPs between both rat groups, indicating that the ability of metabolic activation might be almost the same in Wistar and GK rats. DZN dramatically decreased the activity of cholinesterase (ChE) in plasma by approximately 40% in both Wistar and GK rats. However, no significant differences in the activity of ChE in plasma were observed between Wistar and GK rats for 5 days after DZN injection. No massive necrotic and apoptotic areas, leukocyte infiltration and immunoreactive insulin-positive cells (beta-cells) were observed in pancreas 2 weeks after DZN injection. Moreover, DZN might not affect plasma insulin levels in Wistar and GK rats. These results suggest that DZN deteriorates the glucose tolerance in GK rats. It is unlikely that this phenomenon is due to differences in ChE activity and/or DZN-oxon production levels between Wistar and GK rats. | 18,789,379 |
The effect of lead on intracellular Ca(2+) in mouse lymphocytes. | Lead exposure is one of major public health problems. The aim of this study was to examine in vitro the effect of lead on lymphocyte intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i). Lymphocytes were separated from mice spleen and treated with three doses of PbCl(2) (1, 10 and 100 micromol/L). [Ca(2+)]i was measured in a Thermo Labsystems Fluoroskan Ascent after loading the cells with Fura2-AM probe. The lymphocyte [Ca(2+)]i in 10 and 100 micromol/L PbCl(2) groups increased to the highest level after 10 min of lead exposure (P<0.05). After 1h of lead exposure, however, lymphocyte [Ca(2+)]i levels were not statistically different from that in control group cells (P>0.05). Removal of Ca(2+) from external solution did not significantly affect the PbCl(2)-induced lymphocyte [Ca(2+)]i. PbCl(2) increased the [Ca(2+)]i under both normal Ca(2+) and Ca(2+)-free conditions. With pretreatment of calmodulin (CaM) antagonist W7, lymphocyte [Ca(2+)]i levels were still high, but [Ca(2+)]i levels were not as high as those in the absence of W7. When the lymphocytes were exposed to PbCl(2) ranging from 1 to 100 micromol/L, the lymphocyte [Ca(2+)]i level was increased, but the increase appeared reversible(.) CaM may play a role in the process of the effect of lead on the lymphocyte [Ca(2+)]i. | 18,789,383 |
Novel expression of importin alpha homologue in marine teleost, Pagrus major. | Importin alpha proteins are critical modulators of the classical nuclear protein import pathway. Although the physiological roles of importin alpha have been extensively studied in invertebrates and mammals, very little is known about their counterparts in lower vertebrates. In this study, to elucidate the roles of importin alpha in a teleost species, we isolated and characterized red seabream (Pagrus major) importin alpha cDNA derived from ovary and found changes in the mRNA levels of importin alpha in male and female red seabream during sexual maturation. The 1846-bp cDNA encodes a 520 amino acid protein that includes the importin beta-binding domain, a short acidic domain, and an armadillo (arm) repeat domain. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed transcription of red seabream importin alpha in testis and ovary but not in the other tissues. The importin alpha mRNA levels in males increase in association with testicular development, whereas those in females remain high throughout sexual maturation. These findings suggest that red seabream ovary-derived importin alpha may be controlled in a tissue-specific manner and may perform unique functions in the gonad in addition to its involvement in nuclear transport. | 18,789,395 |
The extent of lower extremity occlusive disease predicts short- and long-term patency following endovascular infrainguinal arterial intervention. | Endovascular revascularization of the femoral-politeal arterial segment has gained acceptance despite lower patency than surgical bypass due to lower morbidity. Choosing patients that are ideal candidates for endovascular therapy remains controversial. We have assessed hemodynamic factors that might predict longer primary patency after endovascular therapy. Ninety-nine limbs were treated with endovascular therapy from January 2001 to January 2005 with a mean and median follow-up of 338 and 293 days. Primary patency was considered lost when recurrent symptoms developed, ankle-brachial index (ABI) decreased following initial improvement, or a subsequent procedure was required. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate patency. Patients with an ABI > or =.5 prior to intervention had longer primary patency compared to those with an ABI less than .5 (P = .043). Having 1 or more patent tibial runoff vessels was associated with improved patency for the first 24 months post-procedure (P = .001). Patients with an ABI > or =.5 or at least 1 patent tibial vessel runoff have significantly higher hemodynamic and clinical success following endovascular therapy of the femoral-popliteal arterial segment. | 18,789,419 |
Musculoskeletal complaints among nurses related to patient handling tasks and psychosocial factors--based on logbook registrations. | The aims were to evaluate the inter-method reliability of a registration sheet for patient handling tasks, to study the day-to-day variation of musculoskeletal complaints (MSC) and to examine whether patient handling tasks and psychosocial factors were associated with MSC. Nurses (n=148) fulfilled logbooks for three consecutive working days followed by a day off. Low back pain (LBP), neck/shoulder pain (NSP), knee pain (KP), psychosocial factors (time pressure, stress, conscience of the quality of work) and patient transfers and care tasks were reported. The logbook was reliable for both transfer and care tasks. The numbers of nurses reporting MSC and the level of pain increased significantly during the three working days (15%-30% and 17%-37%, respectively) and decreased on the day off. Stress and transfer task were associated with LPB and transfer tasks were associated with KP. Our results confirm a relationship between work factors and MSC and indicate that logs could be one way to obtain a better understanding of the complex interaction of various nursing working conditions in relation to MSC. | 18,789,431 |
Reductive openings of benzylidene acetals. Kinetic studies of borane and alane activation by Lewis acids. | The reaction kinetics for a number of reductive openings of methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranoside have been investigated. Openings to give free HO-6 (using BH(3) x THF-AlCl(3)-THF or LiAlH(4)-AlCl(3)-Et(2)O) follow first order kinetics, while reactions yielding free HO-4 (using BH(3) x NMe(3)-AlCl(3)-THF or BH(3) x NMe(3)-BF(3) x OEt(2)-THF) follow higher order kinetics. The addition of water to the BH(3) x NMe(3)-AlCl(3)-THF results in faster reactions. The BH(3) x SMe(2)-AlCl(3)-THF system constitutes a borderline case, yielding both free HO-6 (by a first order reaction) and free HO-4 (by a higher order reaction). These results correlate well with the concept of regioselectivity by activation of borane complexes. | 18,789,434 |
The stiffness characteristics of hybrid Ilizarov fixators. | The use of hybrid Ilizarov models around femoral area is gaining clinical popularity lately. Hybrid systems show different mechanical properties. The purpose of this report is to examine the stiffness characteristics of the C-arch and half-pins on the hybrid Ilizarov fixators. Eight models that included standard Ilizarov and hybrid models were applied to six femoral sawbones. The distal part of fixation was composed of a two-ring frame applied identically to all bones. The difference of the configuration was at the proximal part, where half-pins with or without C-arches were either added to the proximal two-ring frame or replaced the proximal one- or two-ring frame. Osteotomy was performed in the femoral diaphysis and the bone was distracted 2cm. The stability of the system was tested with the axial compression testing machine. Displacements between the adjacent fracture sides were measured with the video extensometer in three dimensions. We found that proximal half-pin applications alone had less stiffness, but half-pins with C-arch had more stiffness than the model including only half-pins. Additional half-pins onto one- or two-ring frames had more longitudinal stiffness, but this system showed weak resistance against transverse displacement. | 18,789,446 |
Determination of organochlorine pesticides in sediment using graphitized carbon black solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. | An analytical method for the determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediment samples involves ultrasonic extraction, solid-phase extraction (SPE), gas-chromatography (GC)/electron-capture detection (ECD), and GC/mass spectrometry (MS). OCPs were extracted from sediment samples by ultrasonication in mixtures of n-hexane and acetone. Several SPE sorbents [Florisil, silica gel, C18, Oasis HLB, and graphitized carbon black (GCB)] were evaluated as means of preliminary purification. GCB SPE cartridges successfully removed major contaminants such as non-polar hydrocarbons when eluted with an acetone-acetonitrile mixture. After purification, the extract was preferentially screened using GC/ECD and confirmed and quantified using GC/MS. The percentage recovery of samples spiked with 10 or 100ng/g OCP ranged from 73.9% to 106.0% with a relative standard deviation of 0.4-5.7%. Detection limits ranged from 0.002 to 0.005ng/g for GC/ECD and from 0.03 to 0.50ng/g for GC/MS detection. The linear dynamic range extended from 0.2 to 20ng/g, with a correlation coefficient (R(2)) greater than 0.995. The method was validated using a standard reference material (SRM 1941b) and spiked sediment samples. Real sediment samples collected from a river near a Korean industrial area exhibited low levels of several OCPs when analyzed using this method. | 18,789,449 |
Drug resistance profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Jos, Nigeria. | The drug resistance profile of 100 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases in Jos, Nigeria, was investigated between August 2006 and September 2007. Drug susceptibility testing for 50 new, 11 follow-up and 39 unclassified cases of PTB was performed on Löwenstein-Jensen medium by the proportion method, using isoniazid (0.2 microg/ml), rifampicin (40 microg/ml), ethambutol (2 microg/ml) and streptomycin (4 microg/ml). Susceptibility to all four drugs was found in 76, 62 and 55%, and multidrug resistance (combined resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin with or without resistance to any other drug) in 4, 31 and 18% of the new, unclassified and follow-up cases, respectively. Monoresistance was found in 15% of the cases. Nine of the 16 isolates (56%) showing multidrug resistance were resistant to all four drugs. These findings are critical and the risk to public health is high, particularly with an overall multidrug resistance of 16%. We suggest that TB management and control programs in Jos are revised to enhance patient's accessibility to treatment sites, promote patients' adherence to drugs, improve diagnostic practices, regularly assess drug resistance profiles, and undertake contact tracing for patients with multidrug-resistant TB. | 18,789,463 |
Microsurgical removal of sylvian fissure lipoma with pterion keyhole approach-case report and review of the literature. | Intracranial lipomas are thought to be congenital in origin and are very rare, representing 0.1% to 1.7% of all intracranial tumors. Most ICLs are located at midline. Lipomas at sylvian fissure are extremely rare. They are slow growing, and biological course is favorable even without surgical treatment. A Medline search of the literature from 1965 to 2007 revealed only 13 cases of sylvian fissure lipomas reported. Of 9 patients with sylvian fissure lipoma diagnosed during life, 6 patients were operated on with no mortality and got improvement of symptoms. Surgical intervention should be considered if there are problems such as compressive effect or resistance to anticonvulsive medical treatment. We report a 57-year-old woman with a sylvian fissure lipoma presenting with persistent intractable headache. Imaging study showed a lobular nonenhanced lesion associated with abnormal vessels in the right sylvian fissure. The patient underwent minimally invasive pterion keyhole approach, and the lipoma was successfully and totally removed. Headache and subsided postoperatively. There are only few cases of sylvian fissure lipomas in which surgical excision has been attempted. Because of improvement of microsurgical techniques, direct surgical approach with total removal of lipomas, via a minimally invasive pterion keyhole approach, is feasible. Therefore, it should be kept in mind that the primary goal of the surgery is adequate decompression; and total removal may be achieved if the lesion permits. | 18,789,493 |
Endonasal transsphenoidal endoscopy-assisted removal of a shotgun pellet in the sphenoid sinus: a case report. | Gunshot accidents are not uncommon in Taiwan, but involvement limited to the ocular region and sphenoid sinus is rare. Minimal invasive treatment by endonasal transsphenoidal endoscopy-assisted procedure should be considered if there are no additional injuries in the craniocerebral region. A 39-year-old man had severe pain in the left eye with resulting blindness after being accidentally hit in the left eye by a gunshot pellet while walking in a wooded area. He was referred from another hospital with the impression of left eyeball rupture. There was no severe neurologic deficit except for blindness of the left eye when he arrived at the emergency department of our hospital. Brain and orbits CT scans showed a round metallic foreign body at the right sphenoid sinus without predominant damages of brain parenchyma. Endonasal transsphenoidal endoscopy-assisted procedure was used to remove the shotgun pellet, and the patient had good clinical outcomes. Herein we present this rare case to show the possibility of a shotgun pellet injury remaining in the sphenoid sinus. The role of radiological studies such as CT scans and intraoperative C-arm fluoroscope plain films in diagnosis and management of this case is affirmed. The strategy of minimally invasive treatment by endonasal transsphenoidal endoscopy-assisted procedure for those limited injuries is a good choice for treatment. | 18,789,498 |
Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). | Pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes are common sites of metastases from gynecologic malignancies and may act as a sanctuary of chemoresistant tumor cells in some patients. There is no doubt that the evaluation of the regional lymph nodes provides important prognostic information for patients with gynecologic malignancies. The rationale is a more accurate assessment of the extent of disease, allowing for better individualization of adjuvant therapy. Nonetheless, the therapeutic role of systematic lymphadenectomy in patients with gynecologic malignancies is still under debate. The retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) has been shown to prolong survival for patients with chemorefractory ovarian immature teratoma. Furthermore, RPLND is an important aspect of post-chemotherapy debulking surgery for nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, which is the counterpart of the ovarian immature teratoma. Therefore, the ability to perform an extensive RPLND is an important skill in the surgical armamentarium of the gynecologic oncologist. In the following article we outline the surgical anatomy and describe the essential steps of the RPLND. | 18,789,513 |
Tyrosine kinase-independent inhibition by genistein on spermatogenic T-type calcium channels attenuates mouse sperm motility and acrosome reaction. | Although the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor, genistein, has been widely used to investigate the possible involvement of PTK during reproductive functions, it is unknown whether it modulates sperm calcium channel activity. In the present study, we recorded T-type calcium currents (I(Ca,T)) in mouse spermatogenic cells using whole-cell patch clamp and found that extracellular application of genistein reversibly decreased I(Ca,T) in a concentration-dependent manner (IC(50) approximately 22.7 microM). To determine whether TK activity is required for I(Ca,T) inhibition, we found that peroxovanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, was ineffective in preventing the inhibitory effect of genistein. Furthermore, intracellular perfusion of the cells with ATP-gamma-S also did not alter the inhibitory effect of genistein. To further reveal the direct inhibitory mechanism of genistein on I(Ca,T), we applied into the bath lavendustin A, a PTK inhibitor structurally unrelated to genistein, and found that the current amplitude remained unchanged. Moreover, daidzein, an inactive structural analog of genistein, robustly inhibited the currents. The inhibitory effect of genistein on T-type calcium channels was associated with a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of inactivation. Genistein was observed to decrease sperm motility and to significantly inhibit sperm acrosome reaction (AR) evoked by zona pellucida. Using transfected HEK293 cells system, only Cav3.1 and Cav3.2, instead of Cav3.3, channels were inhibited by genistein. Since T-type calcium channels are the key components in the male reproduction, such as in AR and sperm motility, our data suggest that this PTK-independent inhibition of genistein on I(Ca,T) might be involved in its anti-reproductive effects. | 18,789,523 |
Associations between depression subtypes and substance use disorders. | Evaluating whether certain subtypes of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are more strongly associated with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) may help clarify reasons for MDD-SUD relations. Therefore, this study compared DSM-IV-defined non-atypical/non-melancholic depression (undifferentiated depression; n=365), atypical depression (n=117), melancholic depression (n=245), and atypical-melancholic depression (n=68) in the prevalence of current SUDs, while controlling for relevant demographic and clinical variables. Psychiatric outpatients with a current diagnosis of unipolar MDD were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, supplemented by questions from the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. Results showed that compared with patients with undifferentiated depression, melancholic patients had higher rates of current nicotine dependence (34% vs. 26%) and drug abuse/dependence (8% vs. 3%), Ps<0.05. These differences were explained by the association between specific melancholic features (marked psychomotor agitation and weight loss/decreased appetite) and nicotine and drug use disorders. Atypical depression, atypical-melancholic depression, and other subtype symptoms were not significantly associated with any SUDs. Although this study is limited by low prevalence of alcohol and drug use disorders, the present findings suggest that different symptomatic expressions of MDD differentially associate with some SUDs. | 18,789,540 |
Are relational style and neuropsychological performance predictors of social attributions in chronic schizophrenia? | Attributional style is defined as the pervasive tendency to explain the cause of social actions in terms of oneself, or others, or the context of the event. While the clinical correlates of this aspect of social cognition have been widely researched, its links with relationship style and neuropsychological performance, although hypothesised, have received less attention. This study investigated whether attributional style is predicted by variance in either relationship style or neuropsychological performance in schizophrenia. We assessed attributional style (using the Internal, Personal and Situational Attributions Questionnaire [IPSAQ]), relationship style (using Bartholomew and Horowitz's Relationship Questionnaire), and neuropsychological function (using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, the Wechsler Memory Test, and the Cambridge Automated Test Battery) in 73 stabilised outpatients with chronic schizophrenia and 78 controls matched for age and gender. 'Externalising bias' (attributing positive rather than negative events to oneself) was predicted by verbal ability in both patients and controls. 'Personalising bias' (attributing negative events to others rather than to situational factors) was predicted by higher secure relationship style ratings, but only in the patient group. This study highlights the importance of relationship style and neuropsychological performance for different aspects of attributional style in schizophrenia. | 18,789,541 |
Good grief: staff responses to childbearing loss. | The emotional implications for staff of loss in childbearing have been inadequately addressed. In this paper I focus on maternity situations, but it is necessary to draw on other areas' findings. I address crying by the care provider and its association with staff grief. The conclusion emerges that education is likely to help staff to provide quality care in these most sensitive of sensitive situations. | 18,789,560 |
Adenovirus-mediated ING4 expression suppresses lung carcinoma cell growth via induction of cell cycle alteration and apoptosis and inhibition of tumor invasion and angiogenesis. | Previous studies demonstrated that ING4 as a novel member of ING (inhibitor of growth) family has potential effect on tumor inhibition via multiple pathways. However, adenovirus-mediated ING4 expression in inhibition of human tumors has not been reported. To explore its therapeutic effect on human lung carcinoma, we constructed a recombinant adenoviral vector Ad-ING4 expressing the humanized ING4 gene derived from murine ING4 with two amino acid modifications at residue 66 (Arg to Lys) and 156 (Ala to Thr) by site-directed mutagenesis. We demonstrated that Ad-ING4-mediated transfection of A549 human lung carcinoma cells induced cell apoptosis, altered cell cycle with S phase reduction and G2/M phase arrest, suppressed cell invasiveness, and down-regulated IL-6, IL-8, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression of transfected tumor cells. In athymic mice bearing A549 lung tumors, intratumoral injections of Ad-ING4 suppressed the tumor growth and reduced the tumor microvessel formation. Therefore, Ad-ING4 may be useful in gene therapy of human lung carcinoma. | 18,789,575 |
Perchlorate adsorption and desorption on activated carbon and anion exchange resin. | The mechanisms of perchlorate adsorption on activated carbon (AC) and anion exchange resin (SR-7 resin) were investigated using Raman, FTIR, and zeta potential analyses. Batch adsorption and desorption results demonstrated that the adsorption of perchlorate by AC and SR-7 resin was reversible. The reversibility of perchlorate adsorption by the resin was also proved by column regeneration test. Solution pH significantly affected perchlorate adsorption and the zeta potential of AC, while it did not influence perchlorate adsorption and the zeta potential of resin. Zeta potential measurements showed that perchlorate was adsorbed on the negatively charged AC surface. Raman spectra indicated the adsorption resulted in an obvious position shift of the perchlorate peak, suggesting that perchlorate was associated with functional groups on AC at neutral pH through interactions stronger than electrostatic interaction. The adsorbed perchlorate on the resin exhibited a Raman peak at similar position as the aqueous perchlorate, indicating that perchlorate was adsorbed on the resin through electrostatic attraction between the anion and positively charged surface sites. | 18,789,577 |
Pharmacokinectics of vancomycin and amikacin in the subeschar tissue fluid in patients with severe burn. | The specific aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic parameters of antibiotics represented by vancomycin and amikacin in the subeschar tissue fluid (STF) in patients with early stage severe burn. Twenty patients were studied: age 30.7+/-8.0 years old, weight 60.6+/-8.4 kg, total burn surface area (TBSA) 68.39+/-17.85%, creatinine clearance (CCr) 95.45+/-23.14 ml/min, mean+/-S.D. Patients received intravenous infusion of 500 mg vancomycin (10 patients) or 400mg amikacin (10 patients) for 60 min at 24h after burn. Subeschar tissue fluid (STF) samples were collected at 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, 96, 144, 192, 240 h at the end of infusion. Concentrations of these antibiotics in the samples were determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) method. Pharmacokinetic parameters of vancomycin and amikacin were calculated by the use of Program 3P97 and statistical analyses were performed by the use of Program Package SPS S10.0. The concentration-time curves of vancomycin and amikacin in the STF were both fitted in two-compartment model. Pharmacokinetic parameters of vancomycin in the STF were: distribution half-life (t(1)/2alpha)=3.74+/-2.64 h, elimination half-life (t(1)/2beta)=92.18+/-11.73 h, apparent volume of distribution (V(c))=25.64+/-5.68 L, area under the curve (AUC)=1279.42+/-256.12 microg h ml(-1), clearance (CLs)=0.4048+/-0.0788 L h(-1). Pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin in the STF were: t(1)/2alpha=4.35+/-1.66 h, t(1)/2beta=80.04+/-9.52 h, V(c)=13.17+/-1.32 L, AUC=1802.49+/-285.68 microg h ml(-1), CLs=0.2272+/-0.0383 L h(-1). This study demonstrated significant low clearance, long half life of vancomycin and amikacin in the STF in patients with severe burn compared to the parameters obtained in the serum of normal volunteers in previous studies. Elimination half-lives (t(1)/2beta) of vancomycin and amikacin in the STF of severe burns were 18.75-34.87 times and 28.20-44.78 times longer than those in the serum of normal volunteers, respectively. Concentrations of vancomycin and amikacin in STF at 24h after the end of a single dose infusion was higher than MIC on common pathogenic bacteria. Their effective inhibitory concentration were maintained at least for 24h. There was antibiotic retention in the third space after early and short-term use of potent antibiotics. An antibiotic barrier could form in the STF, and could prevent an invasive bacterial infection from burn wound. | 18,789,586 |
The comparative study of solvents to expedite removal of bitumen. | Hot-bitumen burn is a unique case in all types of burns. This melting substance is difficult to remove when it adheres to the skin and solidifies. It causes burns and sticks to the skin when it is cooled to the skin temperature. Some reports are available on many kinds of solvents for the removal of solid bitumen. However, there have thus far been no comparative studies. It is necessary to seek for an optimum method to remove bitumen without consuming so much time and with minimum injury to the skin. The selected solvents in this study were petrolatum, olive oil, salad oil, butter, Neosporin ointment and De-solv-it. They were often reported as being effective for hot-bitumen burn injuries with little irritation for a damaged skin. It is easy to purchase them commercially. Each solvent was poured over the bitumen in a test tube. Afterwards, the concentrations of the bitumen in the solvents were quantified with the fluorescence measurement technique. We consider De-solv-it is the one of the best solvent for the removal of bitumen and highly recommended for hot-bitumen burns. The results of this study suggest that dressing change should be done every 4 to 8 h or as frequently as needed until the bitumen is entirely removed. | 18,789,588 |
The extent of thermal injury affects fractions of mononuclear cells. | The mononuclear cell (MNC) fraction contains a variety of cell types, including stem cells such as endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). EPC can rapidly revascularise ischaemic areas, but their role in burns is unclear. This study investigates how thermal injury to the skin might influence mononuclear cells, CD34(+) cells and circulating EPC. The study group comprised 17 people with burns and 17 age-matched controls. Blood samples were collected at five different time points during the first 5 days of hospitalisation. Clinical parameters and scores were documented as well as cell counts for MNC, CD34(+) cells and EPC. Counts were quantified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Serum was tested for vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF(165) by ELISA. All cell populations displayed significant, differing changes in counts and percentages after burn. These effects varied markedly over time and expressed different patterns if clinical scores were subjected to significance testing. EPC counts were significantly lowered in cases with fatal outcome. Burn affects the numbers of circulating MNC, CD34(+) and EPC. These time-dependent changes imply involvement of these cell groups in the trauma. EPC counts seem to be a predictive factor for outcome of cases of severe burn. | 18,789,594 |
Genistein and phycocyanobilin may prevent hepatic fibrosis by suppressing proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells. | Hepatic fibrosis reflects hepatotoxin-mediated activation of hepatic stellate cells, resulting in their proliferation and transformation to myofibroblasts that secrete collagen. This activation is suppressed by estrogen, an effect which explains the decreased risk for hepatic fibrosis enjoyed by premenopausal women and by postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy. Since stellate cells have been found to express the beta but not the alpha isoform of the estrogen receptor, it can be predicted that nutritional intakes of the soy isoflavone genistein - a selective agonist for ERbeta in the low nanomolar plasma concentrations achievable with these intakes - have potential for suppressing hepatic fibrosis, in both men and women. The antiproliferative impact of estrogen on stellate cells is mediated at least in part by suppression of NADPH oxidase activity; oxidant production by this enzyme complex plays a crucial role in stellate cell activation. Alternatively, it may be feasible to inhibit NADPH oxidase with phycocyanobilin (PCB), a biliverdin homolog found in spirulina that has recently been shown to inhibit the NADPH oxidase activity of human cell cultures in low micromolar concentrations. Joint administration of soy isoflavones and PCB in appropriate doses might have considerable potential for prevention of hepatic fibrosis in at-risk subjects. | 18,789,597 |
Sex and race differences in the relative lengths of metacarpals and metatarsals in human skeletons. | Previous research has revealed that the ratios of the lengths of various pairs of human fingers differ in males and females. In an attempt to determine whether parallel sex differences also exist in the relative lengths of human metacarpals and metatarsals, the lengths of the metapodials for both hands and both feet were measured in a collection of human skeletons. For each hand and each foot, all of the 10 possible pairwise ratios for length of the five metapodials were calculated. For the skeletons of European/Caucasian extraction (Ns=89 males, 50 females), there were substantial sex differences for several of the metacarpal-length ratios, but the pattern was not identical with the pattern previously reported for human fingers. Namely, the largest sex differences were for the three ratios involving metacarpal 5 on the left hand, while the sex difference for the ratio comparing the second and fourth metacarpals (the comparison commonly showing the largest sex difference for fingers) was small and non-significant for both hands in these European-Americans. For the skeletons of African extraction (Ns=65 males, 55 females), no sex differences were found in any of the 20 metacarpal-length ratios. This outcome was unexpected because past research had shown sex differences in finger-length ratios for people of African extraction. For metatarsals, none of the 20 ratios exhibited a substantial sex difference for either group of skeletons. A discrepancy apparently exists between the length ratios based on fingers and those based on metacarpals. | 18,789,613 |
Actin depolymerization contributes to ethanol inhibition of NMDA receptors in primary cultured cerebellar granule cells. | We have previously reported that a 30s ethanol (10 and 100mM) pre-exposure significantly enhanced EtOH inhibition of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA-induced currents)-induced peak currents in primary cultured cerebellar granule cells (CGCs). The purpose of this study was to determine if intracellular factors play a role in ethanol pre-exposure-enhanced inhibition of NMDA-induced currents and if so, to identify the intracellular target(s) mediating this effect. Ethanol pre-exposure-enhanced inhibition was reduced when ethanol was present intracellularly prior to the initiation of the pretreatment protocol. Similar to results acquired with the whole-cell configuration, ethanol pre-exposure-enhanced inhibition of NMDA-induced currents was also observed in the perforated patch-clamp mode. Collectively, these results suggest an intracellular target not easily dialyzed from the cell. Perturbation of the actin cytoskeleton was responsible for the ethanol pre-exposure-enhanced inhibition of NMDA-induced currents was supported by the observation that the intracellular presence of the actin stabilizer phalloidin prevented ethanol pre-exposure-enhanced inhibition. Similar to the effects of ethanol, the depolymerizing agent latrunculin A inhibited NMDA-induced currents after a 30s pretreatment exposure with full recovery of receptor function after washout of the drug. Furthermore, latrunculin A occluded the enhanced inhibition of NMDA-induced currents by ethanol pre-exposure for both 10 and 100mM ethanol. The microtubule depolymerizing agent taxol had no affect on ethanol pretreatment-enhanced inhibition of NMDA-induced currents. Confocal microscopy with phalloidin-FITC indicated that F-actin filaments in neurites were depolymerized after a 30s treatment of either latrunculin A or 100mM ethanol. Our observations indicate that ethanol inhibition of NMDAR function may involve perturbation of the actin cytoskeleton. | 18,789,629 |
Sinus membrane elevation in combination with placement of blasted implants: a 3-year case report of sinus augmentation without grafting material. | Owing to the increasing use of dental implants to restore edentulous conditions, clinicians often face situations where available bone volumes are reduced and need to be augmented before implant placement. This is common in the posterior maxilla, where the presence of the maxillary sinus combined with severe atrophy of the bone crest, owing to long-standing edentulism or pathological conditions, might preclude implant placement. Techniques to augment the sinus floor in combination with several grafting materials are commonly used to restore adequate volumes for implantation. Recent studies have described bone reformation and integration of oxidized implants by simple elevation of the sinus membrane without any grafting material. The aim of this case report is to document the application of the sinus membrane elevation technique in combination with the placement of 3 blasted microthreaded implants in a patient who was clinically and radiographically followed up for 3 years. During the follow-up period, the blasted implants were all stable and intraoral radiographs showed that the bone reformed in contact with the implants and remained stable. | 18,789,651 |
The social and recreational characteristics of adults with intellectual disability and pica living in institutions. | This paper reports on the social life of adults with intellectual disability (ID) who engage in pica behaviour (i.e., ingestion of non-food items). Secondary analyses were conducted on the population of adults residing in Ontario's three remaining specialized institutions for persons with ID (N=1008); 220 individuals (21.8%) had pica. All persons were assessed using the interRAI Intellectual Disability assessment, a comprehensive and standardized instrument that supports person-centered service planning. A series of logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between pica and various indicators of social relationships and activities, while controlling for a set of covariates. Pica was significantly associated with increased likelihood of not having a strong and supportive relationship with family, lack of social contact, absence of participation in activities of long-standing interest, absence of involvement in a day program, as well as lack of involvement in recreational activities; though it was not related to interpersonal conflict. Attention should be equally paid to the social correlates of pica rather than solely concentrate on its health risks. Implications for the community supports needed to ensure the successful transition of persons with pica from institutional to community settings is also discussed. | 18,789,647 |
Effects of food fortification on nutritional and functional status in frail elderly nursing home residents at risk of malnutrition. | Malnutrition is a frequent problem in the elderly and is associated with an impaired functional status and higher morbidity and mortality. In this study we evaluated the effect of a 12-wk nutritional intervention with fortified food on nutritional and functional status in nursing home residents at risk of malnutrition. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment. Body composition was measured with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Functional status was assessed with handgrip strength, peak flow, the Barthel Index, and the Physical Functioning component of the Short Form 36 questionnaire. The residents were assigned to a group receiving the standard food of the nursing home or a group with a protein- and energy-enriched diet and snacks. Sixty-five nursing home residents were included; 62 were at nutritional risk and 3 were severely malnourished according to the Mini Nutritional Assessment. Protein intake was significantly higher in the group on the enriched diet, whereas energy intake did not differ from the group on the standard diet. Both groups significantly improved most nutritional and body composition parameters during the intervention period. We did not observe convincing improvements in muscle function. Furthermore, the Barthel Index and the Physical Functioning component of the Short Form 36 questionnaire declined in all participants. Standard food in this nursing home provided sufficient energy and macronutrients. Provision of snacks was not effective in increasing energy intake. Although nutritional status improved, functional status did not increase as a consequence. Functional frailty in this study population seems to be influenced more by age-related morbidity and immobilization than by nutritional intake. | 18,789,649 |
Temporal similarity measures for querying clinical workflows. | In this paper, we extend a preliminary proposal and discuss in a deeper and more formal way an approach to evaluate temporal similarity between clinical workflow cases (i.e., executions of clinical processes). More precisely, we focus on (i) the representation of clinical processes by using a temporal conceptual workflow model; (ii) the definition of ad hoc temporal constraint networks to formally represent clinical workflow cases; (iii) the definition of temporal similarity for clinical workflow cases based on the comparison of temporal constraint networks; (iv) the management of the similarity of clinical processes related to the Italian guideline for stroke prevention and management (SPREAD). Clinical processes are composed by clinical activities to be done by given actors in a given order satisfying given temporal constraints. This description means that clinical processes can be seen as organizational processes, and modeled by workflow schemata. When a workflow schema represents a clinical process, its cases represent different instances derived from dealing with different patients in different situations. With respect to all the cases related to a workflow schema, each clinical case can be different with respect to its structure and to its temporal aspects. Clinical cases can be stored in clinical databases and information retrieval can be done evaluating the similarity between workflow cases. We first describe a possible approach to the conceptual modeling of a clinical process, by using a temporally extended workflow model. Then, we define how a workflow case can be represented as a set of activities, and show how to express them through temporal constraint networks. Once we have built temporal constraint networks related to the cases to compare, we propose a similarity function able to evaluate the differences between the considered cases with respect to the order and duration of corresponding activities, and with respect to the presence/absence of some activities. In this work, we propose an approach to evaluate temporal similarity between workflow cases. The proposed approach can be used (i) to query clinical databases storing clinical cases representing activities related to the management of different patients in different situations; (ii) to evaluate the quality of the service comparing the similarity between a (possibly synthetic) case, perceived as the good one with respect to a given clinical situation, and the other clinical cases; and (iii) to retrieve a particular class of cases similar to an interesting one. | 18,789,660 |
Lysosomal and proteasome-dependent proteolysis are differentially regulated by insulin and/or amino acids following feeding in young, mature and old rats. | Skeletal muscle proteolysis is inhibited by oral feeding in the young and mature but not in the elderly. However, the proteolytic pathway(s) responsible for the decreased muscle proteolysis in the postprandial (PP) state is (are) unknown in the young. Moreover, muscle proteolysis is inhibited by both insulin (INS) and amino acids (AA) in vitro, but their respective roles on specific proteolytic pathways in vivo remain to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the respective role of INS and AA on the inhibition of proteolytic pathways in the PP state in skeletal muscles from young, mature and old rats. Rats were fed over 1 h either a 25% (AA+) or a 0% (AA-) amino acid/protein meal. In each nutritional condition, PP insulin secretion was maintained (AA+/INS+ and AA-/INS+) or blocked (AA+/INS- and AA-/INS-) with diazoxide injections. We report that the PP inhibition of proteolysis in young rats was mediated by the increased INS secretion and resulted from a down-regulation of both lysosomal and Ca(2+)-dependent proteolysis. Moreover, our data showed that proteasome activities are inhibited by either INS or AA in mature rats, whereas they become selectively insensitive to AA in old rats. In conclusion, the present work provides direct evidence that the lack of PP regulation of proteasome-dependent proteolysis in old rats resulted from a selective resistance to AA. | 18,789,664 |
Dihydroxy-cholecalciferol stimulates adipocytic differentiation of porcine mesenchymal stem cells. | Dihydroxy-cholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D3] has been shown to have pleiotropic effects on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) based on species and culture conditions. We have examined the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the differentiation of porcine MSC under culture conditions designed to promote proliferation in order to attempt to mimic the conditions in young, rapidly growing animals. The MSC were isolated from bone marrow of a young pig and grown in basal media (BM) containing DMEM+10% fetal bovine serum and antibiotics. Cells received either BM, BM+10(-8) M 1,25(OH)2D3 or BM+10(-7) M 1,25(OH)2D3 with complete media changes every 3 days for a total of 12 days of culture. On days 3, 6, 9 and 12, viable cell numbers were determined, and samples were collected for gene expression analysis and cytochemical staining. There was a treatment-based reduction in cell numbers on 6, 9 and 12 days (P<.05). The concentrations of mRNAs encoding peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, lipoprotein lipase, and adipocyte-binding protein 2 were increased (P<.05) in a manner indicative of adipocytic differentiation by treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 in a dose-dependent manner. However, the mRNA levels of osteocalcin, a late stage marker of osteoblastic differentiation, was also increased (P<.05) by treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3. An increased percentage of lipid filling, based on Oil Red O staining, and decreased alkaline phosphatase activity, was also seen with 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment. These data suggest that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) stimulates the differentiation of porcine MSC towards an adipocytic phenotype. | 18,789,667 |
Design, synthesis and characterization of podocarpate derivatives as openers of BK channels. | We found that the podocarpic acid structure provides a new scaffold for chemical modulators of large-conductance calcium-activated K(+) channels (BK channels). Structure-activity analysis indicates the importance of both the arrangement (i.e., location and orientation) of the carboxylic acid functionality of ring A and the hydrophobic region of ring C for expression of BK channel-opening activity. | 18,789,683 |
Artificial neural network model for earthquake prediction with radon monitoring. | Apart from the linear monitoring studies concerning the relationship between radon and earthquake, an artificial neural networks (ANNs) model approach is presented starting out from non-linear changes of the eight different parameters during the earthquake occurrence. A three-layer Levenberg-Marquardt feedforward learning algorithm is used to model the earthquake prediction process in the East Anatolian Fault System (EAFS). The proposed ANN system employs individual training strategy with fixed-weight and supervised models leading to estimations. The average relative error between the magnitudes of the earthquakes acquired by ANN and measured data is about 2.3%. The relative error between the test and earthquake data varies between 0% and 12%. In addition, the factor analysis was applied on all data and the model output values to see the statistical variation. The total variance of 80.18% was explained with four factors by this analysis. Consequently, it can be concluded that ANN approach is a potential alternative to other models with complex mathematical operations. | 18,789,709 |
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