title stringlengths 0 1.13k | abstract stringlengths 1 15.7k | PMID int64 22 36.5M |
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Wolbachia: master manipulators of invertebrate biology. | Wolbachia are common intracellular bacteria that are found in arthropods and nematodes. These alphaproteobacteria endosymbionts are transmitted vertically through host eggs and alter host biology in diverse ways, including the induction of reproductive manipulations, such as feminization, parthenogenesis, male killing and sperm-egg incompatibility. They can also move horizontally across species boundaries, resulting in a widespread and global distribution in diverse invertebrate hosts. Here, we review the basic biology of Wolbachia, with emphasis on recent advances in our understanding of these fascinating endosymbionts. | 18,794,912 |
Harmonic interferometry in the visible and UV, based on second- and third-harmonic generation of a 25 ps mode-locked Nd:YAG laser. | A second-harmonic interferometer using 25 ps pluses is presented, achieving a sensitivity of 9x10(-10) m in measuring line-integrated dispersion between 1064 and 532 nm. Using the same laser source, a third-harmonic interferometer is demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge, achieving a sensitivity of 7x10(-9) m in measuring line-integrated dispersion between 1064 and 355 nm. The prospect for the development and use of high-harmonic interferometry is discussed. | 18,794,934 |
A picosecond time-resolved vibrational circular dichroism spectrometer. | We present an experimental setup to detect transient vibrational circular dichroism signals. A femtosecond laser system is synchronized to a photoelastic modulator to produce alternating left- and right-handed circularly polarized mid-IR pulses at 1 kHz repetition rate. Transient changes in the circular dichroism of the CH-stretch vibrations of a cobalt-sparteine complex were probed in a proof-of-principle experiment and are clearly distinct from conventional transient absorption changes. | 18,794,939 |
Laser-induced fluorescence imaging of subsurface tissue structures with a volume holographic spatial-spectral imaging system. | A three-dimensional imaging system incorporating multiplexed holographic gratings to visualize fluorescence tissue structures is presented. Holographic gratings formed in volume recording materials such as a phenanthrenquinone poly(methyl methacrylate) photopolymer have narrowband angular and spectral transmittance filtering properties that enable obtaining spatial-spectral information within an object. We demonstrate this imaging system's ability to obtain multiple depth-resolved fluorescence images simultaneously. | 18,794,943 |
Optical parametric generation of nearly transform-limited mid-infrared pulses in dispersion-engineered nonlinear waveguides. | Optical parametric generation in dispersion-engineered waveguides fabricated by proton exchange in periodically poled lithium niobate is numerically investigated as a means for producing widely tunable mid-infrared ultrashort pulses starting from low energy pump pulses at a 1.55 microm wavelength and with 100 fs duration, which are typical parameters of amplified Er-fiber oscillators. Numerical evidence is given about the generation of sub-100 fs nearly transform-limited pulses in the 2.4-4.4 microm spectral range. | 18,794,946 |
Miniaturized bending-free solitons by restoring symmetry in periodically biased photorefractives. | We consider optical propagation through a centrosymmetric photorefractive crystal with the externally applied bias voltage modulated along the optical propagation direction. We analytically prove that, if the modulation scale is smaller than the optical diffraction length, the resulting effective nonlinearity has an even parity in the transverse plane for an even-symmetric intensity profile and supports bending-free solitons down to few-micrometer beam widths. Numerical integration of the full photorefractive model for light-matter interaction allows us to confirm the feasibility of these miniaturized solitons and, for longer modulation periods, to investigate the excitation of self-trapped wiggling optical beams. | 18,794,947 |
Nanofabrication with controllable localization energy based on the interference modulation of surface plasmons. | A nanolithography technique based on the interference of surface plasmons (SPs) is proposed and demonstrated to modulate the localized exposure energy. The SP waves participating in interference are excited by two distinct structures, namely, the grating and the nanotaper. Constructive or destructive interference, which ultimately causes an enhanced or reduced modulation to the localized energy, can be obtained merely by adjusting the distance of the grating and the taper. Detailedly speaking, the localized energy can be modulated consecutively with a constant periodicity, and the modulation range of energy is extremely wide, for instance, the maximum energy is nearly 3 orders of magnitude larger than the minimum by our FDTD simulation results. Moreover, since the localized electric field at the taper tip, which leads to the exposure of the photoresist, is extremely sensitive to interference, it suggests a potential way to produce patterns with different depths and critical widths in one chip via beforehand programming and reasonably controlling the corresponding interference of SPs. | 18,794,976 |
A wavelength-selective add-drop switch using silicon microring resonator with a submicron-comb electrostatic actuator. | Electrostatic comb-drive micro actuator with submicron comb fingers was connected to silicon microring resonator to consist a wavelength-selective add-drop switch at 1.5 microm wavelength with variable coupling mechanism. A 500 nm wide 260 nm thick 63.4 microm long silicon microring waveguide was suspended in air with low-loss suspension arms. The air gap between the microring and the input/output waveguides was adjusted by the voltage applied to the comb actuator to vary the coupling efficiency. Transmittance from the input port to a drop port was varied 32.9dB by applying the voltages from 0V to 28.2V. At 28.2V, transmittance from the input port to a through port decreased by 7.83 dB from that at 0V, and 55% of the intensity was transmitted to the drop port. The full-width-half-maximum bandwidth of the dropped light was 0.5 nm, corresponding to a Q-value of 3150. | 18,794,978 |
Nonlinear absorption in CuPc-doped PMMA thin film in the femtosecond regime: experimental and theoretical studies. | The nonlinear absorption (NLA) properties of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)-doped polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) thin film in the femtosecond regime were investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The open-aperture (OA) Z-scan measurements of the film were carried out by femtosecond laser pulse. A transition from saturable absorption (SA) to reverse saturable absorption (RSA) was observed as the excitation intensity is increased. The rate equation analysis based on an developed efficient energy level model was performed and the intensity dependence of level populations was obtained, which reveals the source of NLA. The results show that the transition from SA to RSA is ascribed to the fifth-order effect of excited-state absorption (ESA) induced by two-photon absorption (TPA) process. Furthermore, it is found that the CuPc-doped PMMA thin film possesses a large fifth-order coefficient (beta((5))) of 0.24 x 10(-21)cm(3)/W(2). It indicates that the CuPc-doped PMMA thin film could be a promising candidate for optical limiting material. | 18,794,992 |
Optical turbulence parameters characterized via optical measurements over a 2.33 km free-space laser path. | Optical turbulence research contributes to improved laser communications, adaptive optics, and long-range imaging systems. This paper presents experimental measurements of scintillation and focal spot displacement to obtain optical turbulence information along a near-horizontal 2.33 km free-space laser propagation path. Calculated values for the refractive index structure constant (C(n)(2)) and Fried parameter (r0) are compared to scintillometer-based measurements for several cases in winter and spring. Optical measurements were investigated using two different laser sources for the first and second parts of the experiment. Scintillation index estimates from recorded signal intensities were corrected to account for aperture averaging. As a result, we found that an earlier calculation algorithm based on analysis of log-amplitude intensity variance was the best estimator of optical turbulence parameters over the propagation path considered. | 18,795,001 |
Ocean color remote sensing: choosing the correct depth weighting function. | Values of reflectance and remote sensing reflectance are proportional to the ratio of sea water backscattering to absorption. However, in vertically non-homogeneous waters, this fraction needs to be depth weighted. The usual practice uses normalized vertical transmittance profiles as the weighting function. Recently, it was shown that the correct approach is to use, instead of transmittance, its first derivative. We used both approaches to calculate spectral reflectance and remote sensing reflectance over a submerged bubble cloud and chlorophyll rich layer and compared the results with a radiative transfer Monte Carlo code. We also compared several methods of approximating diffuse attenuation (not measured directly) to estimate the effect on calculating reflectance. Our results show that the traditional method of IOP weighting is inadequate in the presence of bubble clouds and/or chlorophyll rich layers. This is relevant for both "ground truth" studies and inverse methods of remote sensing (including lidar ones) for vertically inhomogeneous ocean sea waters. | 18,795,006 |
Feedback control of an atom laser. | We report the first real-time feedback control of an atom laser. The unique feature of metastable helium atoms, the production of ions in the atom laser outcoupling process, is exploited to actively control the spatial location inside the Bose-Einstein condensate where outcoupling occurs. Unlike alkali atom lasers, this provides almost instantaneous feedback which reduces frequency, amplitude and spatial mode fluctuations in the atom laser beam. | 18,795,009 |
Soft X-ray holographic grating beam splitter including a double frequency grating for interferometer pre-alignment. | Grating beam splitters have been fabricated for soft X-ray Mach- Zehnder interferometer using holographic interference lithography. The grating beam splitter consists of two gratings, one works at X-ray laser wavelength of 13.9 nm with the spatial frequency of 1000 lines/mm as the operation grating, the other works at visible wavelength of 632.8 nm for pre-aligning the X-ray interferometer with the spatial frequency of 22 lines/mm as the pre-alignment grating. The two gratings lie vertically on the same substrate. The main feature of the beam splitter is the use of low-spatial- frequency beat grating of a holographic double frequency grating as the pre-alignment grating of the X-ray interferometer. The grating line parallelism between the two gratings can be judged by observing the diffraction patterns of the pre-alignment grating directly. | 18,795,013 |
Instabilities and solitons in systems with spatiotemporal dispersion. | A simple model based on the 1D nonlinear Schrödinger equation is studied, which contains both spatially and temporally dispersive terms. Parametric instabilities for plane waves are analyzed in detail, and solitary waves (both bright and dark) are found. The model presented here is able to describe the non-trivial unstable dynamics of intense, nonlinear light propagation near a material resonance in presence of negative spatial dispersion. We provide as a practical example the light propagation near the tail of an exciton-polariton resonance in a specially designed semiconductor superlattice. | 18,795,025 |
Adaptive dielectric liquid lens. | A tunable-focus liquid lens using dielectrophoretic effect is demonstrated. When a voltage is applied to a dielectric liquid droplet, the generated electric field inside the droplet is inhomogeneous. As a result, the liquid bears a dielectric force and its surface profile can be reshaped which causes the focal length to change. Adaptive lenses with different apertures are fabricated and their performances evaluated. In comparison to the patterned-electrode liquid lenses, our lens uses continuous electrode which is much simpler for fabrication. | 18,795,032 |
3D shape measurement of the aspheric mirror by advanced phase measuring deflectometry. | An advanced Phase Measuring Deflectometry(PMD) is proposed to measure the three dimensional (3D) shape of the aspheric mirror. In the measurement process, a liquid crystal display(LCD)screen displaying sinusoidal fringe patterns and a camera observing the fringe patterns reflected via the tested mirror, are moved along the tested mirror optical axis, respectively. At each movement position, the camera records the fringe patterns of the screen located at two different positions. Using these fringe patterns, every camera pixels can find a corresponding point on the tested mirror and gets its coordinate and slope. By integrating, the 3D shape of the tested mirror can be reconstructed. Compared with the traditional PMD, this method doesn???t need complex calibration and can measure the absolute height of the aspheric mirror which has large range of surface geometries unambiguously. Furthermore, this method also has strong anti-noise ability. Computer simulations and preliminary experiment validate the feasibility of this method. | 18,795,046 |
Thin film solar cell design based on photonic crystal and diffractive grating structures. | In this paper we present novel light trapping designs applied to multiple junction thin film solar cells. The new designs incorporate one dimensional photonic crystals as band pass filters that reflect short light wavelengths (400 - 867 nm) and transmit longer wavelengths(867 -1800 nm) at the interface between two adjacent cells. In addition, nano structured diffractive gratings that cut into the photonic crystal layers are incorporated to redirect incoming waves and hence increase the optical path length of light within the solar cells. Two designs based on the nano structured gratings that have been realized using the scattering matrix and particle swarm optimization methods are presented. We also show preliminary fabrication results of the proposed devices. | 18,795,062 |
Cardiotrophin-1. Review. | Cardiotrophin-1 is newly discovered chemokin with a lot of functions. Aim of our work was to describe most important of them. systematically scan of available scientific resources. Cardiotrophin-1 stimulates the proliferation of cardiomyocytes. Cardiotrophin-1 expression and plasma values are elevated in individuals with heart failure and have high diagnostic efficacy for the heart failure. Plasma values are also an independent prognostic factor. Preliminary findings suggest that the determination of plasma cardiotrophin-1 may be useful for the follow-up of hypertensive heart disease in routine clinical practice. Cardiotrophin-1 also plays an important cardioprotective effect on myocardial damage, is a potent regulator of signaling in adipocytes in vitro and in vivo and potentiates the elevation the acute-phase proteins. Cardiotrophin-1 may play also an important protective role in other organ systems (such as hematopoietic, neuronal, developmental). Cardiotrophin is a newly discovered chemokin with a lot of system effects and is stable in system circulation hence permitting its development in the routine clinical investigation. | 18,795,069 |
Macleaya cordata extract and Sangrovit genotoxicity. Assessment in vivo. | Sanguinarine (SG) has been reported to form DNA adducts in vitro and increase the levels of DNA single strand breaks in the blood and bone marrow of mice treated intraperitoneally with SG. Recently, we showed no genotoxic effects of orally administrated 120 mg/kg feed Macleaya cordata extract (a mixture of sanguinarine and chelerythrine) in pigs or rats in 90-day studies. The goal of this paper was to assess the possible genotoxicity of M. cordata extract when included as a dietary admixture to rodents at concentrations providing 600 mg/kg feed and 100, 7000 or 14000 mg/kg feed Sangrovit (natural feed additive containing M. cordata extract and powdered M. cordata) in a 90-day pilot study. The rats consumed ad libitum either the standard diet or the diets containing 367 ppm of sanguinarine and chelerythrine in M. cordata extract, and 5, 330, or 660 ppm of total alkaloids in Sangrovit for 90 days. The DNA adducts formation in liver was analyzed by (32)P-postlabeling technique and DNA single strand breaks in lymphocytes were evaluated by Comet assay. The results showed that M. cordata extract and/or Sangrovit induced no DNA damage to rat lymphocytes or hepatocytes after 90-days oral administration. Data from the studies described in this paper and the fact that Sangrovit given to the rats in our experiments were higher than the recommended dose (50 to 100 mg/kg feed), argue strongly in favour of the use of Sangrovit in live stock. | 18,795,072 |
Potential diagnostic markers in nodular lesions of the thyroid gland: an immunohistochemical study. | The differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules in routine practice can be problemmatic for both pathologists and clinicians. Effective treatment requires a determination of the biological nature of the lesions. For this reason, ancilliary diagnostic markers along with histological examination of the nodules may be useful. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of novel markers in the diagnosis of hyperplastic and neoplastic nodules. Forty eight thyroid lesions forming four diagnostic groups including adenomatous goiters (AS), follicular adenomas (FA), follicular (FC) and papillary carcinomas (PC) were examined using standard immunohistochemical methods. Monoclonal antibodies against galectin-3, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) -2 and -7 and endothelial markers CD31 and CD105 were used. The cytoplasmatic expression of galectin-3 was positive in all cases of papillary carcinoma. Moreover, statistically significant differences between fused groups of benign (AS and FA) and malignant lesions (FC and PC) were found Fischer's exact test (p = 0.0001). No significant differences in cytoplasmic expression of MMPs -2 and -7 and in vascular density assessed by using of both endothelial markers between benign lesions and malignant tumors were revealed. Galectin-3 appears to be a useful marker in the diagnosis of papillary carcinoma only. The matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -7 are not helpful in distinguishing hyperplastic and neoplastic thyroid nodules. Endothelial markers do not appear to be suitable for thyroid differential diagnosis. A panel of antibodies in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodular lesions would seem most suitable and further studies with larger sets of patients are awaited. | 18,795,075 |
Evaluation of the new software program DegifXL4 in the determination of the glycaemic indices of foodstuffs. | There is no standardized protocol for measuring glycemic index (GI) that takes time-of-day effects into account. The software DegifXL2 and Medtronic-Minimed's CGMS and Solutions, makes the GI calculation at breakfast and dinner time possible. The aim of this study was to assess the enhanced data processing software (DegifXL4) enabling the GI calculation at breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner times. The glucose levels of 20 healthy volunteers were monitored after they consumed either 50 g of glucose or one of ten alternative foodstuffs either for breakfast and dinner or for lunch or snack. Within the 9-day test period, 10 such meals were monitored in 3 replicates for each volunteer. Specifically, CGMS was used to monitor plasma glucose levels at 5-minute intervals for a period of 120 min following the foodstuff ingestion. Using the enhanced spreadsheed DegifXL 4, a total of 640 profiles were obtained and 491 (77 %) accomplished the criteria for further processing. The percentage of successful tests in each foodstuff varied from 57 to 87 %. The use of the new software DegifXL4 offers accurate GI estimates for foodstuffs eaten for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinners in three replicates. In combination with the CGMS Solutions Software is DegifXL4 an enhanced efficient and comfortable way to routinely measure GI values. | 18,795,077 |
The value of dynamic contrast enhanced breast MRI in mammographically detected BI-RADS 5 microcalcifications. | To evaluate the role of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of BI-RADS-5 type of microcalcifications of the breast, to compare the size of the microcalcification lesions using mammography (MG) and MRI, and to determine the value of MRI in surgery for microcalcifications. The study also determines the morphology of microcalcification lesions, assesses kinetic curves and compare MRI features of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) for different histopathological grades. Our group consisted of 32 patients with mammographically detected BI-RADS 5 microcalcifications. The MRI was done in this group of women which was later followed by stereotactic vaccum-assisted biopsy (SVAB). Surgery was performed on all patients with a biopsy that resulted in a diagnosis of breast cancer or atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH). Of our group of 32 patients, there were 35 mammograhically detected microcalcification lesions, 32 DCIS, one ADH and two benign findings according to the final histology. The microcalcification lesions were larger using MRI than in MG in 10 women. We diagnosed DCIS multifocality in 6 women and bilateral carcinoma in one woman. As with kinetic curve assessment, we found in 67 % of DCIS a rapid rise, 27 % a moderate and in 6 % a slow initial rise. With the pattern of enhancement in the delayed phase, we found in 30 % of DCIS a washout pattern, 67 % a plateau and in 3 % a persistent pattern. Noted difference between high and low grade DCIS was confirmed. MRI sensitivity in the detection of DCIS was 94 % in our group of patients and was the sole evidence for detection of multifocality and bilateral incidence of carcinoma. In 26 % of women the outcome of MRI was the most important for converting breast conserving surgery to mastectomy. | 18,795,084 |
Implementation of contact definitions calculated by FEA to describe the healing process of basal implants. | Bone structure around basal implants shows a dual healing mode: direct contact areas manifest primary osteonal remodeling, in the void osteotomy-induced spaces, the repair begins with woven bone formation. This woven bone is later converted into osteonal bone. The purpose of this study was to develop a model to accurately represent the interface between bone and basal implant throughout the healing process. The model was applied to the biological scenario of changing load distribution in a basal implant system over time. Computations were made through finite element analysis using multiple models with changing boneimplant contact definitions which reflected the dynamic nature of the interface throughout the bony healing process. Five stages of bony healing were calculated taking into account the changes in mineral content of bone in the vicinity of the load transmitting implant surfaces. As the bony integration of basal implants proceeds during healing, peak stresses within the metal structure shift geographically. While bony repair may still weaken osteonal bone, woven bone has already matured. This leads to changes in the load distribution between and within the direct contact areas, and bone areas which make later contact with implant. This study shows that basal implants undergo an intrinsic shift of maximum stress regions during osseointegration. Fatigue testing methods in the case of basal implants must therefore take into account this gradual shift from early healing phase until full osseointegration is achieved. | 18,795,095 |
Mitochondrial and nuclear genes suggest that stony corals are monophyletic but most families of stony corals are not (Order Scleractinia, Class Anthozoa, Phylum Cnidaria). | Modern hard corals (Class Hexacorallia; Order Scleractinia) are widely studied because of their fundamental role in reef building and their superb fossil record extending back to the Triassic. Nevertheless, interpretations of their evolutionary relationships have been in flux for over a decade. Recent analyses undermine the legitimacy of traditional suborders, families and genera, and suggest that a non-skeletal sister clade (Order Corallimorpharia) might be imbedded within the stony corals. However, these studies either sampled a relatively limited array of taxa or assembled trees from heterogeneous data sets. Here we provide a more comprehensive analysis of Scleractinia (127 species, 75 genera, 17 families) and various outgroups, based on two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase I, cytochrome b), with analyses of nuclear genes (ss-tubulin, ribosomal DNA) of a subset of taxa to test unexpected relationships. Eleven of 16 families were found to be polyphyletic. Strikingly, over one third of all families as conventionally defined contain representatives from the highly divergent "robust" and "complex" clades. However, the recent suggestion that corallimorpharians are true corals that have lost their skeletons was not upheld. Relationships were supported not only by mitochondrial and nuclear genes, but also often by morphological characters which had been ignored or never noted previously. The concordance of molecular characters and more carefully examined morphological characters suggests a future of greater taxonomic stability, as well as the potential to trace the evolutionary history of this ecologically important group using fossils. | 18,795,098 |
Discovery of porcine microRNAs and profiling from skeletal muscle tissues during development. | MiRNAs (microRNAs) play critical roles in many important biological processes such as growth and development in mammals. In this study, we identified hundreds of porcine miRNA candidates through in silico prediction and analyzed their expression in developing skeletal muscle using microarray. Microarray screening using RNA samples prepared from a 33-day whole embryo and an extra embryo membrane validated 296 of the predicted candidates. Comparative expression profiling across samples of longissimus muscle collected from 33-day and 65-day post-gestation fetuses, as well as adult pigs, identified 140 differentially expressed miRNAs amongst the age groups investigated. The differentially expressed miRNAs showed seven distinctive types of expression patterns, suggesting possible involvement in certain biological processes. Five of the differentially expressed miRNAs were validated using real-time PCR. In silico analysis of the miRNA-mRNA interaction sites suggested that the potential mRNA targets of the differentially expressed miRNAs may play important roles in muscle growth and development. | 18,795,099 |
TRK-A, HER-2/neu, and KIT Expression/Activation Profiles in Salivary Gland Carcinoma. | Salivary duct carcinomas (SDCs) and adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs) are the most aggressive and the most frequent carcinomas of the salivary glands, respectively. Little is known about them in terms of molecular/biochemical characterization and conventional treatments are ineffective. On cryopreserved material, we analyzed the expression/activation status of TRK-A, HER-2/neu, and KIT receptors by means of immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis experiments, and the presence of their cognate ligands by means of Western blot analysis and/or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 9 SDCs, 12 ACCs, and 8 normal glands. The amplification status of HER-2/neu was also investigated by means of fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis on fixed material. The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-deregulated profile of the SDCs was characterized by the overexpression of activated TRK-A in the presence of its ligand, and the overexpression of HER-2/neu sustained by gene amplification. The RTK signature of the ACCs was represented by the overexpression of activated KIT and TRK-A and their cognate ligands, and the overexpression of activated HER-2/neu, in the absence of gene amplification, possibly sustained by epidermal growth factor receptor heterodimerization. In conclusion, SDCs and ACCs, although sharing TRK-A autocrine loop activation, have different pathologically activated RTK-deregulated profiles that may be potential targets for pharmacological RTK inhibitors. | 18,795,122 |
Proteasome Inhibitor MG132 Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Invasion of Human Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Cells. | Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignancy tightly associated with asbestos exposure. The increasing incidence of MPM and its resistance to all therapeutic modalities necessitate an urgent development of new treatments for MPM. Proteasome inhibitors (PIs) have emerged as promising agents for treating human cancers that are refractory to current chemotherapies. In this study, we characterized MG132, a commonly used PI, for its proapoptotic and anti-invasion activities in NCI-H2452 and NCI-H2052 human thoracic MPM cell lines to determine the therapeutic effect of PIs on MPM. We found that as low as 0.5 microM MG132 caused a significant apoptosis in both cell lines as evidenced by DNA damage, cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase and caspases 3, 7, and 9, and mitochondrial release of Smac/DIABLO and Cytochrome c. Mitochondrial caspase activation was found to be the underlying mechanism of the MG132-induced apoptosis. Mcl-1, among the Bcl-2 and IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis protein) antiapoptotic family proteins tested, was proved to be a major inhibitor of the MG132-induced apoptosis in MPM cells. Meanwhile, subapoptotic doses of MG132 inhibited the invasion of both MPM cell lines through reducing Rac1 activity. These observations demonstrate that MG132 possesses proapoptotic and anti-invasion activities in human MPM cells, therefore encouraging further investigations on the value of PIs for treating MPM. | 18,795,123 |
Circadian phase resetting via single and multiple control targets. | Circadian entrainment is necessary for rhythmic physiological functions to be appropriately timed over the 24-hour day. Disruption of circadian rhythms has been associated with sleep and neuro-behavioral impairments as well as cancer. To date, light is widely accepted to be the most powerful circadian synchronizer, motivating its use as a key control input for phase resetting. Through sensitivity analysis, we identify additional control targets whose individual and simultaneous manipulation (via a model predictive control algorithm) out-perform the open-loop light-based phase recovery dynamics by nearly 3-fold. We further demonstrate the robustness of phase resetting by synchronizing short- and long-period mutant phenotypes to the 24-hour environment; the control algorithm is robust in the presence of model mismatch. These studies prove the efficacy and immediate application of model predictive control in experimental studies and medicine. In particular, maintaining proper circadian regulation may significantly decrease the chance of acquiring chronic illness. | 18,795,146 |
Shorter telomeres may mark early risk of dementia: preliminary analysis of 62 participants from the nurses' health study. | Dementia takes decades to develop, and effective prevention will likely require early intervention. Thus, it is critical to identify biomarkers of preclinical disease, allowing targeting of high-risk subjects for preventive efforts. Since telomeres shorten with age and oxidative stress, both of which are important contributors to the onset of dementia, telomere length might be a valuable biomarker. Among 62 participants of the Nurses' Health Study, we conducted neurologic evaluations, including patient and caregiver interviews, physical exam, neurologic exam, and neuropsychologic testing. We also conducted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a sample of 29 of these women. In these preliminary data, after adjustment for numerous health and lifestyle factors, we found that truncated telomeres in peripheral blood leukocytes segregate with preclinical dementia states, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI); the odds of MCI were 12-fold higher (odds ratio = 12.00, 95% confidence interval 1.24-116.5) for those with shorter telomere length compared to longer telomere length. In addition, decreasing telomere length was strongly related to decreasing hippocampal volume (p = 0.038). These preliminary data suggest that telomere length may be a possible early marker of dementia risk, and merits further study in large, prospective investigations. | 18,795,148 |
Right heart pressure increases after acute increases in ambient particulate concentration. | We explored the association between acute changes in daily mean pulmonary artery (PA) and right ventricular (RV) pressures and concentrations of ambient fine particulate matter [PM with aerodynamic diameter < or = 2.5 microm (PM(2.5))] as an explanation for previous associations between congestive heart failure (HF) hospital admissions and PM. In the Chronicle Offers Management to Patients with Advanced Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure (COMPASS-HF) trial, to see whether management of ambulatory HF could be improved by providing continuous right heart pressure monitoring to physicians, the Chronicle Implantable Hemodynamic Monitor (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) continuously measured multiple right heart hemodynamic parameters, heart rate, and activity trends in subjects with moderate/severe HF. Using these trial data, we calculated daily mean pressures, using only those time intervals where the subject was not physically active (n = 5,807 person-days; n = 11 subjects). We then studied the association between mean daily PA/RV pressures and mean ambient PM(2.5) concentrations on the same day and previous 6 days. Each 11.62-microg/m(3) increase in same-day mean PM(2.5) concentration was associated with small but significant increases in estimated PA diastolic pressure [0.19 mmHg; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.05-0.33] and RV diastolic pressure (0.23 mmHg; 95% CI, 0.11-0.34). Although we saw considerable differences in the magnitude of response by COMPASS-HF randomization group (total data access for physicians vs. blocked clinician access), season, left ventricular ejection fraction, and obesity, these effects were not significantly different. These pilot study findings provide a potential mechanism for previous findings of increased risk of HF associated with ambient PM. However, because of the small number of subjects, a larger study is needed for confirmation. | 18,795,158 |
Raw single-wall carbon nanotubes induce oxidative stress and activate MAPKs, AP-1, NF-kappaB, and Akt in normal and malignant human mesothelial cells. | Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), with their unique physicochemical and mechanical properties, have many potential new applications in medicine and industry. There has been great concern subsequent to preliminary investigations of the toxicity, biopersistence, pathogenicity, and ability of SWCNTs to translocate to subpleural areas. These results compel studies of potential interactions of SWCNTs with mesothelial cells. Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma in 80-90% of individuals who develop the disease. Because the mesothelial cells are the primary target cells of asbestos-induced molecular changes mediated through an oxidant-linked mechanism, we used normal mesothelial and malignant mesothelial cells to investigate alterations in molecular signaling in response to a commercially manufactured SWCNT. In the present study, we exposed mesothelial cells to SWCNTs and investigated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cell viability, DNA damage, histone H2AX phosphorylation, activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERKs), Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), protein p38, and activation of activator protein-1 (AP-1), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), and protein serine-threonine kinase (Akt). Exposure to SWCNTs induced ROS generation, increased cell death, enhanced DNA damage and H2AX phosphorylation, and activated PARP, AP-1, NF-kappaB, p38, and Akt in a dose-dependent manner. These events recapitulate some of the key molecular events involved in mesothelioma development associated with asbestos exposure. The cellular and molecular findings reported here do suggest that SWCNTs can cause potentially adverse cellular responses in mesothelial cells through activation of molecular signaling associated with oxidative stress, which is of sufficient significance to warrant in vivo animal exposure studies. | 18,795,165 |
Nicotine does not reduce blood flow to healthy bone in rats. | Given the increased incidence of orthopedic complications among smokers, we tested the null hypothesis that nicotine, the most vasoactive substance in cigarettes, does not reduce blood flow to long bones. Nicotine was administered to adult rats at a rate of 2.4 or 3.6 mg/kg/d for 2 weeks to determine if nicotine has a dose-dependent effect on bone blood flow. Control rats received nicotine-free solution. After 2 weeks, the rats were anesthetized. The microsphere technique was used to measure flow to femurs and tibias. Blood was collected to measure plasma nicotine. The lower dose established a plasma level of 14 ng/mL (SEM, 4 ng/mL); the higher dose elevated nicotine to 43 ng/mL (SEM, 11 ng/mL). Neither dose altered blood flow to tibias or femurs. A higher dose or longer treatment may be required to reduce bone blood flow. Alternatively, nicotine may not reduce blood flow to healthy bone at any dose but may delay bone healing by other mechanisms (ie, inhibiting angiogenesis and/or osteogenesis). | 18,795,191 |
Scoring of dual fluorescein and ICG inflammatory angiographic signs for the grading of posterior segment inflammation (dual fluorescein and ICG angiographic scoring system for uveitis). | To propose a semiquantitative dual fluorescein angiography (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) scoring system for uveitis that would assist in the follow-up of disease progression and monitoring response to treatment. The scoring system was based on the FA scoring systems, the standardized ICGA protocol, and schematic interpretation of ICGA findings in posterior uveitis that have been previously published. We assigned scores to the fluorescein and ICG angiographic signs that represent ongoing inflammatory process in the posterior segment. We rated each angiographic sign according to the impact it has on our appreciation of active intraocular inflammation. In order to permit direct comparison between FA and ICGA, we multiplied the total ICGA score by a coefficient of 2 to adjust to the total score of FA. A total maximum score of 40 was assigned to the FA signs, including optic disc hyperfluorescence, macular edema, retinal vascular staining and/or leakage, capillary leakage, retinal capillary nonperfusion, neovascularization of the optic disc, neovascularization elsewhere, pinpoint leaks, and retinal staining and/or subretinal pooling. A total maximum score of 20 was assigned to the ICGA signs, including early stromal vessel hyperfluorescence, choroidal vasculitis, dark dots or areas (excluding atrophy), and optic disc hyperfluorescence. The combined fluorescein and ICG angiographic scoring system proposed herein may help estimate the magnitude of retinal versus choroidal inflammation, monitor disease progression and response to treatment, and provide comparable data for clinical studies. The applicability of the proposed system needs to be tested in clinical settings, and intra- and interobserver variations need to be determined. | 18,795,232 |
Incidence of parathyroid glands located in thymus in patients with renal hyperparathyroidism. | Parathyroid glands are frequently located in thymus, and it is essential to resect thymic tissue from the neck incision, especially in surgery for renal hyperparathyroidism (HPT). In this study, we evaluated the incidence, location, and type of intrathymic parathyroid glands in 902 patients who underwent initial parathyroidectomy (PTx) for advanced renal HPT in our department. Removal of the thymic tongues on both sides was routinely performed from the neck incision, and the thymic tissue was carefully examined both macroscopically and microscopically. Of the 902 patients in the study, 269 had only inferior parathyroid glands in the thymus, in 62 patients only supernumerary glands were found in the thymic tongue, and in 78 patients both inferior and supernumerary glands were present in thymic tissue. Therefore the incidence of patients with intrathymic glands was 45.3% (269 + 62 + 78 = 409/902). In 129 (92.1%) of 140 patients with supernumerary glands in the thymic tongue, these glands were detected only on histopathological examination, and about half of them were classified as the parathyromatosis type. In the human, parathyroid glands might be located in the thymus in about 50%. If the inferior gland/glands cannot be found around the inferior pole of thyroid lobe, it is very important to search for glands in the thymic tongue. Moreover, to avoid missing supernumerary glands, removal of the thymic tongue on both sides is essential in surgery for renal HPT. | 18,795,242 |
Genetic variation in strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the implications for ecotoxicology studies. | There is substantial evidence that genetic variation, at both the level of the individual and population, has a significant effect on behaviour, fitness and response to toxicants. Using DNA microsatellites, we examined the genetic variation in samples of several commonly used laboratory strains of zebrafish, Danio rerio, a model species in toxicological studies. We compared the genetic variation to that found in a sample of wild fish from Bangladesh. Our findings show that the wild fish were significantly more variable than the laboratory strains for several measures of genetic variability, including allelic richness and expected heterozygosity. This lack of variation should be given due consideration for any study which attempts to extrapolate the results of ecotoxicological laboratory tests to wild populations. | 18,795,247 |
Diagnosis and temporal evolution of signs of intracranial hypotension on MRI of the brain. | A comprehensive evaluation of cranial magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) of 23 patients with intracranial hypotension (IH) was performed, and the evolution of the abnormalities on follow-up MRIs was correlated with the clinical outcome. The MRI report database at the University Health Network in Toronto was searched, and 23 cases of IH were identified between 2001 and 2007. A retrospective review of the MRIs of the brain and the electronic patient chart was performed. A control group of 40 subjects was also selected to complement the analysis of the pituitary gland. A positive venous distention sign (VDS) was observed in 23 out of 23 patients and was the first sign to disappear on early follow-up scans following successful treatment. Pachymeningeal enhancement was seen in 23 out of 23 patients, and pachymeningeal thickening was detectable on unenhanced fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences in 17 out of 23 patients (74%). An increase in pituitary size in IH was also demonstrated based on the measured pituitary height and was qualitatively detectable in 12 out of 21 (57%) patients as the protrusion of the pituitary gland above the sella turica (two postpartum patients were excluded from this analysis). Overall, there was good correlation between the imaging findings and clinical outcome following treatment. Accurate diagnosis and follow-up of IH should be possible is some patients on unenhanced MRI of the brain by combining the signs on FLAIR and sagittal T1W images, enabling timely diagnosis in unsuspected cases and avoiding unnecessary administration of gadolinium compounds. In addition, VDS might be useful for early assessment of response to treatment. | 18,795,275 |
Growth inhibition of Struvite crystals in the presence of juice of Citrus medica Linn. | Struvite, one of the components of urinary stone grows rapidly forming "staghorn-calculi", is a painful urological disorder. It is necessary to study the growth-inhibition of Struvite crystals. This in vitro study has been carried out in the presence of the juice of Citrus medica Linn. by using single diffusion gel growth technique. Sodium metasilicate solution of specific gravity 1.05 and an aqueous solution of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate of 0.5 M concentration were mixed so that the pH value 7.0 could be set. After the gelation, supernatant solutions comprising of pure 1.0 M Magnesium acetate (control solution) as well as mixed with the different concentrations of the juice were gently poured on the set gels. From the study of growth-inhibition behavior of Struvite crystals, it was found that Citrus medica Linn. inhibits the growth of the crystals. This study may be used for formulating the strategy for prevention or dissolution of Struvite. | 18,795,276 |
Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma in a child: whole-body MRI in the initial and follow-up evaluations. | Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is classified as an unusual subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma that preferentially infiltrates the subcutaneous tissue without overt lymph node involvement. SPTCL is particularly rare in children, and there have been only a few case reports describing the US and CT findings of SPTCL. To our knowledge, the use of whole-body (WB) MRI as the initial and follow-up diagnostic method to assess the extent of disease and relapse of SPTCL has not been reported in children. In our case report involving one child, WB MRI was useful as both the initial and follow-up diagnostic method to assess the extent of disease and to monitor the patient's response to therapy for SPTCL. | 18,795,279 |
Effects of nitrogen sources on cell growth and lipid accumulation of green alga Neochloris oleoabundans. | Microalgal lipids are the oils of future for sustainable biodiesel production. However, relatively high production costs due to low lipid productivity have been one of the major obstacles impeding their commercial production. We studied the effects of nitrogen sources and their concentrations on cell growth and lipid accumulation of Neochloris oleoabundans, one of the most promising oil-rich microalgal species. While the highest lipid cell content of 0.40 g/g was obtained at the lowest sodium nitrate concentration (3 mM), a remarkable lipid productivity of 0.133 g l(-1) day(-1) was achieved at 5 mM with a lipid cell content of 0.34 g/g and a biomass productivity of 0.40 g l(-1) day(-1). The highest biomass productivity was obtained at 10 mM sodium nitrate, with a biomass concentration of 3.2 g/l and a biomass productivity of 0.63 g l(-1) day(-1). It was observed that cell growth continued after the exhaustion of external nitrogen pool, hypothetically supported by the consumption of intracellular nitrogen pools such as chlorophyll molecules. The relationship among nitrate depletion, cell growth, lipid cell content, and cell chlorophyll content are discussed. | 18,795,284 |
Cardiac MRI and CT features of inheritable and congenital conditions associated with sudden cardiac death. | Cardiac MRI (CMR) and electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) are increasingly important tools in the identification and assessment of cardiac-related disease processes, including those associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). While the commonest cause of SCD is coronary artery disease (CAD), in patients under 35 years inheritable cardiomyopathies such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy are important aetiologies. CMR in particular offers both accurate delineation of the morphological abnormalities associated with these and other conditions and the possibility for risk stratification for development of ventricular arrhythmias with demonstration of macroscopic scar by delayed enhancement imaging with intravenous gadolinium. | 18,795,295 |
Diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for complex cystic focal liver lesions: blinded reader study. | The study was aimed at evaluating the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in characterizing complex cystic focal liver lesions (FLLs). Sixty-seven complex cystic FLLs in 65 patients were examined with conventional ultrasound (US) and real-time CEUS. The US and CEUS images were reviewed by a resident radiologist and a staff radiologist independently. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance, and the interobserver agreement was analysed. The results showed that complete non-enhancement throughout three phases of CEUS or sustained enhancement in the portal and late phases were exhibited in most benign lesions. Conversely, hypo-enhancement in the late phase was seen in all malignancies. After ROC analysis, the areas (Az) under the ROC curve were 0.774 at US versus 0.922 at CEUS (P=0.047) by the resident radiologist, and 0.917 versus 0.935 (P=0.38) by the staff radiologist. A significant difference in Az between the resident and the staff radiologists was found for US (0.774 versus 0.917, P=0.044), whereas not found for CEUS (0.922 versus 0.935, P=0.42). Interobserver agreement was improved after CEUS (kappa=0.325 at US versus kappa=0.774 at CEUS). Real-time CEUS improves the capability of discrimination between benign and malignant complex cystic FLLs, especially for the resident radiologist. | 18,795,298 |
Costs and effectiveness of a brief MRI examination of patients with acute knee injury. | The aim of this study was to assess the costs and effectiveness of selective short magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with acute knee injury. A model was developed to evaluate the selective use of MRI in patients with acute knee injury and no fracture on radiography based on the results of a trial in which 208 patients were randomized between radiography only and radiography plus MRI. We analyzed medical (diagnostic and therapeutic) costs, quality of life, duration of diagnostic workup, number of additional diagnostic examinations, time absent from work, and time to convalescence during a 6-month follow-up period. Quality of life was lowest (EuroQol at 6 weeks 0.61 (95% CI 0.54-0.67)); duration of diagnostic workup, absence from work, and time to convalescence were longest; and the number of diagnostic examinations was largest with radiography only. These outcomes were more favorable for both MRI strategies (EuroQol at 6 weeks 0.72 (95% CI 0.67-0.77) for both). Mean total costs were 2,593 euros (95% CI 1,815-3,372) with radiography only, 2,116 euros (95% CI 1,488-2,743) with radiography plus MRI, and 1,973 euros (95% CI 1,401-2,543) with selective MRI. The results suggest that selective use of a short MRI examination saves costs and potentially increases effectiveness in patients with acute knee injury without a fracture on radiography. | 18,795,300 |
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU): effective and safe therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent to major hepatic veins. | Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an especially frequent malignancy in China. Radiofrequency ablation, percutaneous ethanol injection, transarterial chemoembolization, cryoablation, microwave coagulation, and laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy all offer potential local tumor control and occasionally achieve long-term disease-free survival. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as a noninvasive therapy, can be applied to treat tumors that are difficult to treat with other techniques. The preliminary results of HIFU in clinical studies are encouraging. The aims of this investigation were to assess the efficacy of the system in obtaining necrosis of the target tissue and to determine whether HIFU ablation is hazardous to adjacent major blood vessels. Over 7 years, thirty-nine patients with HCC were enrolled in this investigation. The inferior vena cava (IVC), main hepatic vein branches, and the portal vein and its main branches were evaluated. The distance between tumor and main blood vessel was less than 1 cm in all these enrolled patients. Contrast-enhanced MRI was used to evaluate the perfusion of tumors and major blood vessels. We conducted HIFU ablation for the treatment of 39 patients with 42 tumors, with each tumor measuring 7.4+/-4.3 (1.5-22) cm in its greatest dimension. Among the 39 patients, 23 were males and 16 females. The average age was 53.2 years (range 25-77 years). Thirty-seven patients had a solitary lesion, one had two lesions, and the remaining one had three lesions. Nineteen lesions were located in the right lobe of liver, 18 in the left lobe, and 5 in both right and left lobes. Among the 42 tumors, 25 were adjacent to 1 blood vessel, 12 adjacent to 2 main vessels, 2 adjacent to 3 main vessels, and 1 adjacent to 4 main vessels. Twenty-one of the 42 tumors were completely ablated, while the rest of the tumors were ablated by more than 50% of lesion volume after one session of HIFU. No major blood vessel injury was observed in any subject after 23.8+/-17.2 months follow-up. HIFU can achieve complete tumor necrosis even when the lesion is located adjacent to the major hepatic blood vessels. Short-term and long-term follow-up results show that HIFU can be safely used to ablate the tumors adjacent to major vessels. | 18,795,303 |
Complete decapitation of a motorcycle driver due to a roadblock chain. | An 18-year-old male driving an off-road motorcycle died from complete decapitation when his motorcycle tore a roadblock chain from its attachment. The decapitation injuries of the head and the torso corresponded perfectly, without apparent loss of tissue. The severance plane passed horizontally through the upper cervical region and C4, which sustained a comminuted fracture. The sharply delineated severance edge had a band-like abrasion. The decapitation resulted from the rotational movement of the unstrung chain, which struck and strangled the driver's neck. We were able to explain the movement of the chain and the decapitation mechanism. This case emphasizes the importance of discussing dynamics with experts to clarify a causal mechanism. | 18,795,312 |
Rapid regression of retinal hemorrhage and neovascularization in a case of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. | To report a case of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) rapidly resolved by intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. A 36-year-old woman complained about floaters and visual field defect. Funduscopic examinations revealed retinal vessel anastomosis located between the equator and ora serrata in both eyes. The right eye was accompanied with slight vitreous hemorrhage. Since the patient declined retinal cryopexy for cosmetic reasons, intravitreal bevacizumab injections (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) were performed in both eyes. Treatment resulted in the rapid regression and the accelerated fibrosis of neovascular tissues. At 4-month follow-up in the right eye and 1-month follow-up in the left, no signs of systemic or ocular complications were detected. Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab may be considered as an alternative method in treating FEVR. | 18,795,314 |
Electron microscopy of high pressure frozen samples: bridging the gap between cellular ultrastructure and atomic resolution. | Transmission electron microscopy has provided most of what is known about the ultrastructural organization of tissues, cells, and organelles. Due to tremendous advances in crystallography and magnetic resonance imaging, almost any protein can now be modeled at atomic resolution. To fully understand the workings of biological "nanomachines" it is necessary to obtain images of intact macromolecular assemblies in situ. Although the resolution power of electron microscopes is on the atomic scale, in biological samples artifacts introduced by aldehyde fixation, dehydration and staining, but also section thickness reduces it to some nanometers. Cryofixation by high pressure freezing circumvents many of the artifacts since it allows vitrifying biological samples of about 200 mum in thickness and immobilizes complex macromolecular assemblies in their native state in situ. To exploit the perfect structural preservation of frozen hydrated sections, sophisticated instruments are needed, e.g., high voltage electron microscopes equipped with precise goniometers that work at low temperature and digital cameras of high sensitivity and pixel number. With them, it is possible to generate high resolution tomograms, i.e., 3D views of subcellular structures. This review describes theory and applications of the high pressure cryofixation methodology and compares its results with those of conventional procedures. Moreover, recent findings will be discussed showing that molecular models of proteins can be fitted into depicted organellar ultrastructure of images of frozen hydrated sections. High pressure freezing of tissue is the base which may lead to precise models of macromolecular assemblies in situ, and thus to a better understanding of the function of complex cellular structures. | 18,795,316 |
Function and regulation of claudins in the thick ascending limb of Henle. | The thick ascending limb (TAL) of Henle mediates transcellular reabsorption of NaCl while generating a lumen-positive voltage that drives passive paracellular reabsorption of divalent cations. Disturbance of paracellular reabsorption leads to Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) wasting in patients with the rare inherited disorder of familial hypercalciuric hypomagnesemia with nephrocalcinosis (FHHNC). Recent work has shown that the claudin family of tight junction proteins form paracellular pores and determine the ion selectivity of paracellular permeability. Importantly, FHHNC has been found to be caused by mutations in two of these genes, claudin-16 and claudin-19, and mice with knockdown of claudin-16 reproduce many of the features of FHHNC. Here, we review the physiology of TAL ion transport, present the current view of the role and mechanism of claudins in determining paracellular permeability, and discuss the possible pathogenic mechanisms responsible for FHHNC. | 18,795,318 |
The microscopic (optical and SEM) examination of putrefaction fluid deposits (PFD). Potential interest in forensic anthropology. | This article describes the potential interest in physical and forensic anthropology of the microscopic analysis of residues of putrefaction fluid, a calcified deposit frequently found associated with bone rests. Its sampling and analysis seem straightforward and relatively reproducible. Samples came from archeological material (Monterenzio Vecchia, an Etruscan necropolis from the north of Italy dated between the fifth and third century B.C.; body rests of Agnès Sorel, royal mistress died in 1450 A.D.; skull and grave of French King Louis the XI and Charlotte of Savoy dated from 1483 A.D.). All samples were studied by direct optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy. Many cytological, histological, and elemental analysis were possible, producing precious data for the identification of these remains and, in some cases, the cause of death. | 18,795,323 |
Angiogenesis in salivary carcinomas with and without myoepithelial differentiation. | To investigate whether salivary carcinomas with and without myoepithelial differentiation could present differences regarding degree of angiogenesis, we compared tumor vascularization between adenoid cystic (31 cases) and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas (14) versus mucoepidermoid (37) carcinoma. The expression of peroxiredoxin I was also studied to verify the potential relationship between cellular metabolism and microvascular density. Microvascular density for CD34 and CD105 were significantly lower in carcinomas with myoepithelial differentiation. However, no correlation was found between degree of angiogenesis and amounts of myoepithelial cells. High-grade peroxiredoxin I expression was found in 73.7% of mucoepidermoid carcinomas, whereas 85.1% of carcinomas with myoepithelial differentiation presented low-grade expression. In conclusion, carcinomas with myoepithelial differentiation, regardless of the amounts of myoepithelial cells, are associated to a significantly lower vascular density. The reasons for this lower angiogenic activity remain to be determined but could be related to metabolic characteristics of the cancer cells. | 18,795,324 |
Mediation of oviposition responses in the malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi Liston by certain fatty acid esters. | The chemical factors involved in oviposition site selection by mosquitoes have become the focus of interest in recent years, and considerable attention is paid to the chemical cues influencing mosquito oviposition. Studies on synthetic oviposition attractants/repellents of long-chain fatty acid esters against Anopheles stephensi are limited. Screening and identification of chemicals which potentially attract/repel the gravid females to/or from oviposition site could be exploited for eco-friendly mosquito management strategies. The ester compounds demonstrated their ability to repel and attract the gravid A. stephensi females in the treated substrates. Significant level of concentration-dependent negative oviposition response of mosquitoes to octadecyl propanoate, heptadecyl butanoate, hexadecyl pentanoate, and tetradecyl heptanoate were observed. In contrast, decyl undecanoate, nonyl dodecanoate, pentyl hexadecanoate, and propyl octadecanoate elicited concentration-dependent positive oviposition responses from the gravid mosquitoes. Forcing a female to retain her eggs due to unavailability of a suitable oviposition site and attracting them to lay the eggs in a baited ovitraps shall ensure effective control of mosquito breeding and population buildup because the oviposition bioassay target the most susceptible stage of an insect life cycle. Treating relatively smaller natural breeding sites with an effective repellent and placing ovitraps containing an attractant in combination with insect-growth regulator (IGR)/insecticide would be a promising method of mosquito management. | 18,795,330 |
Apparent autosomal dominant keratoconus in a large Australian pedigree accounted for by digenic inheritance of two novel loci. | Keratoconus is a debilitating ocular disease characterised by progressive asymmetrical thinning of the cornea, the clear covering at the front of the eye. The resulting protrusion of the cornea results in severe refractive error, in the most severe cases requiring corneal grafting. It is a complex disease with a genetic component. Despite several reports of linked loci, major gene identification has been elusive. A genome-wide linkage scan in a large Australian pedigree with apparent autosomal dominant keratoconus was conducted using the Affymetrix 10K SNP chip and two regions of linkage identified. Functional candidate genes from within both linkage peaks were assessed for corneal expression and screened for mutations in affected family members. Equal evidence of linkage was detected to both 1p36.23-36.21 and 8q13.1-q21.11 with LOD scores of 1.9. Analysis of both loci concurrently suggests digenic linkage with two-locus LOD score of 3.4. All affected individuals carry identical haplotypes at both loci. Carriers of either linked haplotype without the other do not have keratoconus. No mutations were identified in the following candidate genes expressed in the cornea: ENO1, CTNNBIP1, PLOD1, UBIAD1, SPSB1 or TCEB1. Although the pedigree appears to demonstrate simple autosomal dominant inheritance, the disorder is actually genetically complex. This pedigree may provide a link between inherited forms of keratoconus and sporadic cases. | 18,795,334 |
Measurement of the concentration of three antituberculosis drugs in the focus of spinal tuberculosis. | This is an experimental study on the distribution of antituberculosis drugs such as rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide in pathologic vertebrae of spinal tuberculosis in order to provide the regimen of chemotherapy and surgical treatment of spinal tuberculosis. The distribution of antituberculosis drugs in pathologic vertebral tissues matters greatly to the clinical effect of spinal tuberculosis' treatment. However, few pharmacokinetic studies and clinical reports about the concentrations of antituberculosis drugs in vertebral foci have been published so far. Twenty-four patients with spinal tuberculosis were divided into sclerotic group (n = 15) or non-sclerotic group (n = 9) according to radiographic features of lesion. All patients received chemotherapy with 2HRZ/2.5H(2)R(2)Z(2) for a duration of 4.5 months. Four weeks after chemotherapy all patients underwent surgery and the specimen of serum, ilium, and pathologic vertebral tissues, including sclerotic wall, subnormal osseous tissue, and foci were obtained during operation in 120-130 and 180-190 min after oral intake in the morning, respectively. The levels of three drugs in the specimen were measured using HPLC method. The concentration levels of isoniazid, rifampin and pyrazinamide varied greatly in different tissues of spinal tuberculosis, of which the bactericidal concentration values of isoniazid and rifampin and fivefold minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) of pyrazinamide were found in subnormal vertebral bone and self-contrast ilium, the MICs of all drugs were found in sclerotic wall outside foci, and undetected level was found in foci inside the sclerotic wall. To patients without vertebral sclerotic wall around the foci, the isoniazid in foci was of bactericidal level and rifampin and pyrazinamide in foci corresponded to the MICs respectively. The sclerotic bone of affected vertebra plays an important role in blocking the antituberculosis drug's penetration into tuberculosis focus. | 18,795,341 |
Relationship between psychological factors and performance-based and self-reported disability in chronic low back pain. | Cross sectional study, performed in an outpatient university based pain rehabilitation setting. To analyze the relationship between psychological factors (psychosocial distress, depression, self efficacy, self-esteem, fear of movement, pain cognitions and coping reactions) and performance-based and self-reported disability, as measured with a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). It has been suggested that a strong relationship exists between psychological factors and disability in patients with CLBP. In former research disability was often measured by self-report and seldom performance-based. Study sample consisted of 92 patients with CLBP admitted for multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Prior to treatment, all patients completed questionnaires to measure psychological factors and self-reported disability, and performed an FCE to measure performance-based disability. Correlation coefficients between psychological variables and FCE and self-reported disability were calculated. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed with self-reported or performance based disability measures as outcome variables, and psychological measures as predictor variables. Out of 42 relations analyzed, 5 were statistically significant. This concerned one significant correlation between kinesiophobia and a subtest of FCE, and four correlations between psychological factors and RMDQ. No correlation was significant after the Bonferroni correction was applied (P < 0.001). The strength of significant correlations ranged from r = -0.33 to r = 0.25. The multivariate analysis revealed that psychological variables measured in this study could explain 19% of the variance of self-reported disability, with kinesiophobia being the only psychological variable that contributed significantly. The suggested strong relationship between psychological factors and performance-based and self-reported disability could not be confirmed in this study. This may implicate that the relationship between psychological factors and disability in patients with CLBP is not as unambiguous as suggested. | 18,795,346 |
Spatial learning in pigs: effects of environmental enrichment and individual characteristics on behaviour and performance. | This study investigated the effects of both environmental enrichment and individual behavioural characteristics on spatial cognitive capabilities of pigs, using a novel latent spatial learning paradigm based on Tolman's detour experiments (1948). Pigs were housed either in 'barren' pens or in pens enriched with straw bedding from birth. Pigs were restrained in a Backtest at 10 and 17 days postpartum. Based on their escape behaviour in this test, which has been shown to reflect their behavioural style, six 'high-resisting'(HR) and six 'low-resisting' (LR) pigs were selected from each housing environment (n = 24 in total). At 12 weeks of age, pairs of pen mates (LR and HR) were exposed to a maze three times (exploration trials). Pigs were then placed individually in the maze, and social reinstatement proved to be a strong incentive to find the exit leading to the home pen. We subsequently blocked the direct route to the exit, forcing animals to find a detour (memory test 1, MT1). This test was repeated once to investigate the relative improvement, i.e. detour learning (memory test 2, MT2). Housing condition and Backtest response strongly affected exploration patterns. In spite of this, no effects on performance during the subsequent memory tests were found. Performance was substantially improved in MT2, indicating that once a goal is apparent, pigs are able to solve a complex spatial memory task easily. In conclusion, social reinstatement provided a good incentive to complete a spatial task, and the substantial improvement in performance between MT1 and MT2 stresses the need for task complexity when testing spatial memory in pigs. Housing conditions or individual behavioural style did not affect spatial memory during MT1 or MT2. However, housing environment and behavioural style strongly affected explorative behaviour of pigs in an unfamiliar maze during both exploration trials and memory tests. This implicates that apparent effects of environmental enrichment on spatial learning and memory in pigs might reflect differences in explorative patterns rather than in cognitive processes. | 18,795,350 |
Modeling distraction osteogenesis: analysis of the distraction rate. | Distraction osteogenesis is a useful technique aimed at inducing bone formation in widespread clinical applications. One of the most important factors that conditions the success of bone regeneration is the distraction rate. Since the mechanical environment around the osteotomy site is one of the main factors that affects both quantity and quality of the regenerated bone, we have focused on analyzing how the distraction rate influences on the mechanical conditions and tissue regeneration. Therefore, the aim of the present work is to explore the potential of a mathematical algorithm to simulate clinically observed distraction rate related phenomena that occur during distraction osteogenesis. Improvements have been performed on a previous model (Gómez-Benito et al. in J Theor Biol 235:105-119, 2005) in order to take into account the load history. The results obtained concur with experimental findings: a slow distraction rate results in premature bony union, whereas a fast rate results in a fibrous union. Tension forces in the interfragmentary gap tissue have also been estimated and successfully compared with experimental measurements. | 18,795,353 |
Identification of Inonotus obliquus and analysis of antioxidation and antitumor activities of polysaccharides. | Inonotus obliquus, a wild wood-decay fungus which grows on Betula trees in cool climates, has a variety of biological activities that the scientific community is paying more and more attention to. However, the research work is moving at a snail's pace. The methods of strain identification and the hypha microstructure have not been reported. We isolated one strain of filamentous molds from fruit body which was collected from birch wood on Changbai Mountain, cultivated mycelia on an inclined plane, and examined its micromorphology based on macroscopic examination. The strain was identified as I. obliquus by sequencing its ITS (internal transcribed spacer) domain. We subsequently investigated some of the mycelium polysaccharides' biological activities. The strain used in this study as the producers of antioxidation and anticancer polysaccharides was LNUF008. After fermentation in a 30-L fermenter, mycelia were obtained. The polysaccharides were extracted by transonic recirculation and ethanol precipitation. In order to identify the antioxidation effect, we designed an assay to test the inhibition of endogenous and Fe(2+)-Cys-induced lipid peroxidation as well as ferrous sulfate/ascorbate (Fe(2+)-VC)-induced mitochondrial swelling. The MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] method was used to study the antiproliferation activity of the polysaccharides on SMMC7721 hepatoma cells. The results indicate that I. obliquus polysaccharides exhibit high antitumor and antioxidation effects. The submerged culture method of growing I. obliquus will enable large-scale production of the polysaccharides. | 18,795,365 |
Laparoscopic rectosigmoid resection for acute sigmoid diverticulitis. | Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy has been widely accepted as elective approach but is, however, still discussed controversially for acute cases. Patients receiving a laparoscopic early single-stage procedure benefit from an early postoperative convalescence with a minimum of disability. As more surgeons gain expertise in minimally invasive surgery of the rectosigmoid, this video highlights the main steps of a rectosigmoid resection for acute complicated diverticulitis. | 18,795,376 |
Importance of routine preoperative upper GI endoscopy: why all patients should be evaluated? | Morbid obesity is associated with different gastrointestinal alterations and diseases. Surgically induced weight loss has become the best treatment for morbidly obese patients. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most common procedure performed worldwide. Concerns regarding difficulties in further evaluation of stomach remnant for early detection of gastric cancer, however, have emphasized the routine use of preoperative upper endoscopy, even in asymptomatic patients, to detect upper gastrointestinal abnormalities. The main outcome of this study was to identify the most common preoperative endoscopic findings. Data was collected from a prospective database and medical records of patients with available endoscopic reports, who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass from February 1999 to June 2006. Logistic regression analysis was performed to detect preoperative clinical variables that might be associated with abnormal endoscopy. Six hundred twenty-six patients were identified. Four hundred fifty-two (72%) were female; age and body mass index were 38.5 +/- 11.3 years and 42 +/- 6.5 kg/m(2), respectively. Abnormalities were found in 288 (46%) patients. The age of patients with abnormal and normal endoscopy was 40 +/- 11 and 36.8 +/- 11 years, respectively (p < 0.001). The most common findings were gastritis 21% (n = 132), esophagitis 16% (n = 100), and hiatal hernia 10.7% (n = 67). Duodenitis has a frequency of 7.8% (n = 49), gastric ulcers of 2.7%(n = 17), duodenal ulcers of 2.6% (n = 16), gastric polyps of 1.3% (n = 8), Barrett's esophagus of 0.16% (n = 1), and gastric cancer of 0.16% (n = 1). Age was the only clinical variable associated to abnormal endoscopy (odds ratio = 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.05). Routine preoperative endoscopy detects different abnormalities which need specific approach prior to surgery. Preoperative endoscopy should be performed to all patients prior to surgery. | 18,795,381 |
Impact of a combined resistance and aerobic exercise program on motivational variables in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. | Short term exercise interventions have been shown to be beneficial for breast cancer survivors soon after treatments but longer term adherence is needed. To examine the effects of a supervised exercise program on motivational variables in breast cancer survivors using Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Sixty breast cancer survivors were randomized in a cross-over design to either an immediate exercise group (IEG; n = 30) that exercised from baseline to week 12 or a delayed exercise group (DEG; n = 30) that exercised from week 12 to 24. SDT variables were assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks using the Behavioral Regulation for Exercise Questionniare-2 and the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale. Fifty-eight participants completed the follow-up assessments and achieved a 61.3% adherence rate. Analyses of variance revealed significant time by group interactions for almost all psychological needs and motivations that favored the exercise intervention time periods. For example, autonomy increased in the IEG from baseline to 12 weeks by 2.0 points compared to the DEG where scores decreased by 0.1 points (mean group difference = 2.0, p < 0.001). The cross-over results further supported the main findings. Supervised exercise soon after breast cancer treatments may help to develop a positive exercise motivational profile among breast cancer survivors that could portend longer term adherence. | 18,795,388 |
Wideband middle ear power measurement in infants and children. | Wideband middle ear power (WMEP) measurement is a method of middle ear analysis that may provide improved diagnostic capability over single-frequency tympanometry. However, normative data, information about test-retest reliability, and results in clinical disorders are needed for clinical application. Normative and reliability data on WMEP in children three days to 47 months of age were obtained using a prototype commercial instrument. A prospective study was conducted in children enrolled from a well-child pediatric clinic (n = 97), with comparisons of age, gender, and middle ear status and stimulus type (broadband chirp and sine wave). No significant age effect for power reflectance across the age range of this study was found, except at 6000 Hz. Significantly higher-power reflectance was found for ears with poor ear status, specifically otitis media with effusion. Smaller but nonsignificant differences in power reflectance were found for ears with positive and negative tympanometric peak pressure. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed significant correlations of 0.68 to 0.97 at various test frequencies using the chirp stimulus. Multivariate analysis of variance showed no significant effect of stimulus type (sine wave vs broadband chirp), ear, or gender. These results provide normative data for wideband middle ear power analysis for infants and children from birth to age four years. | 18,795,470 |
Tethered cord syndrome in adulthood. | The standard treatment for tethered cord syndrome (operative vs nonoperative management) that presents in adulthood remains controversial. A comparative study of tethered cord syndrome in adulthood is needed. A retrospective chart-based analysis. Patients admitted to Gulhane Military Medical Academy Department of Neurosurgery for management of caudal spinal cord tethering from June 1999 through December 2006 (N = 22). Conus level was normal in 1 patient with split cord malformation and dermal sinus. Tight terminal filum was found in 21 patients, including postrepair myelomeningocele tethered cord in 4, lipomyelomeningocele/meningocele in 8, split cord malformation in 3, dermal sinus in 7, and syringomyelia in 3. The most common complaints were back pain (15 patients, 68.1%), bladder dysfunction (8, 36.3%), fecal incontinence (2, 9.09%), and leg pain (7, 31.8%). One patient had hydrocephalus (4.5%). Ten of 22 patients underwent surgery; 8 of 10 patients had detethering; and 12 patients refused surgery. Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage requiring reinforcement sutures occurred in 1 patient. There were no infectious complications. Neurologic status and outcomes were compared with preoperative findings. Some patients refuse surgery despite severe neurologic disturbances. Neurosurgeons should fully explain the risks and benefits of surgery for tethered cord to the patient and family. A much larger and prospective randomized series is needed to determine the effects of operative vs nonoperative management of tethered cord syndrome in adulthood. | 18,795,476 |
Spinal angiolipoma: case report and literature review. | Spinal angiolipoma (SAL) is an uncommon clinico-pathological entity. Single case report. Retrospective data analysis. An obese woman with a 1-year history of progressive spastic paraparesis and acute deterioration underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine, the results of which suggested a tumor compressing the thoracic spinal cord. The histopathological examination of the completely resected tumor revealed an epidural angiolipoma. This case report offers a reminder that SAL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of long-standing, slowly progressive paraparesis. It remains unclear whether an increased body mass index might be a contributing factor to the development of SAL. | 18,795,485 |
Putting medical nutrition on to the international agenda: actions by the European Nutrition for Health Alliance. | In the European Union, most attention from the public, policymakers and health promotion campaigns in relation to nutrition is aimed at obesity. Until recently, this has overshadowed another facet of poor nutrition, whereby inadequate nutritional intake--often associated with disease--leads to weight loss, impaired body function and a poor clinical outcome. Malnutrition not only compromises health outcomes by impairing response to medical treatment, delaying recovery and increasing mortality, but also severely impacts on the economic and social burden to carers and healthcare systems. A group of stakeholders from across the European health arena recently formed the European Nutrition for Health Alliance (ENHA) in a united effort to raise awareness of the importance and the urgency of the issue of malnutrition and to build an agenda for action, both at European level and in individual countries. | 18,795,500 |
Increased patient safety with an Internet-based reporting system. | An efficient, goal-directed and positive approach allows learning from medical errors. The systematic analysis of patient safety incidents increases initiative and innovation in problem solving. In Finland, a nationally implemented Internet-based, voluntary reporting system provides a tool for the development of patient safety. The system is used by over 40 health care organisations. Vaasa Hospital District includes over 100 units and 3500 employees from specialty wards to primary care clinics and ambulances. All employees may submit reports which are processed by the chief medical officer and head nurse of each unit. The processing officers are able to intervene immediately to problems underlying a patient safety incident immediately. Classifying incidents according to an agreed structure creates an electronic database that serves as a tool for hospital management. The strength of an Internet-based reporting system is its simplicity and usability. It can help in promoting safety culture in health care. | 18,795,505 |
Survival of glass fiber post restorations over 5 years. | To evaluate the survival of glass fiber reinforced composite post (GFP) restorations and to identify risk factors for restoration failure. GFPs of three consecutively placed post systems, two tapered and one parallel-sided, were adhesively luted and the core was built with a resin composite. Teeth served as abutment teeth according to the prosthetic treatment plan. 149 GFP in 121 patients (age: 53 +/- 15 year; 50 men; 71 women) were followed for 5-79 months (mean +/- SD: 50 +/- 21 months). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between several clinical variables and the failure rate. After exclusion of endodontic failures (n = 3), significantly higher failure rates were found for restorations of anterior teeth compared to posterior teeth (hazard regression (HR): 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4; 5.8; P = 0.004). Restorations in teeth with no proximal contacts compared to at least one proximal contact, single crowns compared to fixed partial dentures and less than two remaining cavity walls had a HR of 2.4 (CI: 0.8-7.1), 2.4 (CI: 0.6-8.7), and 1.5 (CI: 0.6-3.8), respectively. However, these correlations were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). | 18,795,525 |
Effect of intensive statin therapy on arterial elasticity in patients with coronary artery disease. | Reduced arterial compliance is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and is commonly encountered in patients with coronary artery disease. Statins may produce cholesterol-independent effects which can result at least in part from direct improvement of the arterial function. In this study, we sought to determine the effect of intensive statin therapy according to the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines on arterial compliance in dyslipidaemic patients with angiographically-proven CAD selected for medical treatment. Patients (n = 33) received atorvastatin 40 mg/day for 6 months. Large arterial compliance and small arterial compliance were measured at baseline and after 6 months of atorvastatin treatment. After treatment, the large artery elasticity index (LAEI) increased from 11.85 +/- 3.46 to 13.80 +/- 3.95 ml/mm Hg x 100 (P < 0.001) and the small artery elasticity index (SAEI) increased from 3.84 +/- 1.97 to 4.97 +/- 1.98 ml/mm Hg (P = 0.03). There was no correlation between the change in either LAEI or SAEI and other baseline variables or changes in lipid levels. Our findings suggest that intensive statin therapy according to the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines improves arterial elasticity in CAD patients selected for medical treatment. The beneficial vascular effect of atorvastatin on arterial elasticity was independent of lipid parameters. | 18,795,584 |
Pregnancy and teratogenicity of antiepileptic drugs. | Maternal use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of congenital abnormalities in the fetus. This is partly attributable to AEDs. We aimed to analyse seizure frequency and the rate and type of any congenital malformation related to pregnancies in women with epilepsy in this prospective study. Eighty four pregnant women with epilepsy on AEDs were followed for congenital malformations. Z test was used for statistical analysis. Pregnancy did not influence the seizure frequency in 64 (76.2%) pregnancies. The seizure frequency increased in 16 (19.04%) pregnancies. In 4 (4.76%) pregnancies the number of seizures decreased during pregnancy. Overall percentage of congenital malformations in infants of mothers with epilepsy treated with AEDs was 10%, versus 3.65% in the general Turkish population. Percentages of malformations in children of pregnancies in women with epilepsy on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were; 6.52% (3/46) for carbamazepine (CBZ), 14.28% (2/14) for phenytoin (PHT), 13.33% (2/15)for valproic acid (VPA) and 20% (1/5) for phenobarbital (PB). This comfirms previous reports that all four AEDs (CBZ, PHT VPA, PB) are associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations, although CBZ seems to be the the safest agent in monotherapy. | 18,795,597 |
[Early recurrence after the resection of hepatocellular carcinoma]. | To observe the precise time of the recurrence after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to further explore the risk factors associated with postoperative recurrence. Totally 94 patients who had undergone resection of HCC were divided into three groups based on the time of recurrence, which was indicated by the digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination: recurrence between 1 to 6 months, recurrence between 7 to 12 months, and tumor-free after 12 months. Patients with intra-hepatic recurrence were treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and confirmed by CT scans after embolization, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging. The recurrence rates of 6 months and 1 year were 30.9% and 36.2%, respectively. No statistically significant difference between 6-month and 1-year recurrence rates was observed. Nine (26.5%) patients with recurrence and five (8.3%) patients free of tumor had previously presented as multifocal HCC, which showed a statistical significance (P = 0.032). The diagnostic accuracy of DSA was 87.2%, which was eventually confirmed by the other investigations. Most recurrences occure within the first six months postoperatively and multifocal carcinogenesis is one of the risk factors associated with early recurrence after liver resection for advanced HCC. DSA is an important surveillance for early detection of intra-hepatic recurrence after surgery; meanwhile, it also provides information for early management to control the disease progression and for future active therapies. | 18,795,612 |
[Laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomies for intrahepatic bile duct stone]. | To assess the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomies (LAH) for intrahepatic bile duct stone. LAH was performed in 14 patients with intrahepatic bile duct stone, while another 20 patients with intrahepatic bile duct stone underwent classical operation. Surgical time, blood loss, postoperative complications, and postoperative hospital stay were recorded. The operations were successful in all 14 patients who underwent LAH. Surgical time was 190-420 mm [mean (259 +/- 134) mm]. Blood loss during operation was 220-1 000 ml [mean (454.5 +/- 314.2) ml]. No serious postoperative complications occurred. All these 14 patients were discharged with T dragin 7-14 days later, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was (9.2 +/- 3.4) days. In the classical operation group, the surgical time was 125-257 mm [mean (178 +/- 58) mm] and the blood loss was 210-1200 ml [mean (550.9 +/- 348.1) ml] All the patients were discharged with T dragin 9-25 days after operation, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was (13.4 +/- 4.7) days. Surgical time of LAH was longer than classical operation (P < 0.05). Rate of postoperative complications and postoperative hospital stay were decreased in LAH (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The difference of blood loss during operation was no significance between LAH and classical operation (P > 0.05). LAH is feasible and safe for selected patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones. As a minimally invasive procedure, it can reduce surgical time, blood loss, hospital stay, and postoperative complications. | 18,795,622 |
The esthetic management of a severe isolated periodontal defect in the maxillary anterior. | A 30-plus year-old woman presented to the periodontist with a chief complaint concerning the esthetics of the black space between her maxillary right lateral and central incisors (Figure 1). The history of the problem dated back several years when her general dentist noted increased pocket depth in this area. The patient was referred to a periodontist who elected to attempt grafting in this site to improve both the bone and soft tissue. The patient reported that after the initial surgery the defect became significantly worse and a large quantity of gingival tissue was lost. The patient was then referred to a second periodontist who, after evaluation, also chose to attempt both a bone and soft tissue grafting procedure and again the defect became worse. At that point the second periOdontist referred the patient to the periodontist in our group for evaluation and treatment. At her initial consultation the patient indicated she had been managing the defect esthetically by placing pink wax into the large open space every day to minimize the appearance. | 18,795,645 |
High levels of serum basic fibroblast growth factor in children with biliary atresia. | The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and clinical outcome in biliary atresia (BA) patients after surgical treatment. Sixty-five pediatric patients with BA post Kasai operation and 12 healthy children were recruited. The patients were categorized into 2 groups according to their serum levels of total bilirubin (TB < 2, no jaundice vs. TB > or = 2mg/dL, persistent jaundice) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT < 100 vs. ALT > or = 100 U/L). The serum bFGF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean serum bFGF level of the BA patients was higher than that of normal controls (14.2 +/- 1.6 vs. 9.0 +/- 2.2 pg/mL, p < 0.03). Serum bFGF levels in the persistent jaundice group were significantly higher than those without jaundice (17.6 +/- 3.1 vs. 11.9 +/- 1.5 pg/mL, p < 0.04). Additionally, patients with serum ALT > or = 100 U/L had higher serum levels of bFGF than those with serum ALT < 100 U/L (19.0 +/- 2.4 vs. 8.9 +/- 1.6 pg/mL, p < 0.0005). In the no jaundice group, serum bFGF levels were significantly elevated in the patients with portal hypertension (PH) compared with those without PH (15.8 +/- 2.2 vs. 8.6 +/- 1.9 pg/mL, p < 0.02). The significant elevation in bFGF levels is associated with the presence of PH and the severity of hepatic damage. bFGF may play a role in the pathogenesis of progressive inflammation and the perpetuation of PH in BA patients after Kasai procedure. | 18,795,654 |
Capecitabine cardiotoxicity--case reports and literature review. | This study presents 3 case reports of patients who experienced anginous pain during treatment with capecitabine. The interruption of capecitabine and sublingual or intravenous nitroglycerine treatment lead to recovery. Rechallenge of capecitabine with dose reduction of 30% lead to repeated anginous pain in 2 patients. Treatment with capecitabine had been replaced with weekly bolus 5FU-LV, without further cardiotoxicity. The literature contains data from about 50 patients who experienced cardiotoxicity during capecitabine treatment. The most frequent manifestations of capecitabine cardiotoxicity included: anginous pain in 38/53 (71.7%), arrhythmia in 6/53 (11.3%), myocardial infarction in 6/53 (11.3%). Cardiotoxicity of capecitabine lead to death in 6/53 (11.3%) patients. Risk factors for cardiotoxicity are associated with the grade 4 and the fatal outcome of cardiotoxicity (p = 0.035, p = 0.015), but not with the symptom recurrence upon capecitabine rechallenge (p = 0.18). The combination chemotherapy regimens are associated with the grade 4 of cardiotoxicity (p = 0.048), but not with the fatal outcome (p = 0.3). Rechallenge of capecitabine lead to symptoms recurrence in 10/16 patients. Neither the dose reduction of capecitabine (p = 0.18) nor the additional medical prophylaxis (p = 0.37) were important for the outcome of capecitabine rechallenge. | 18,795,667 |
Sexual function in men with rectal and rectosigmoid cancer after laparoscopic and open surgery. | Postoperative sexual dysfunction is a serious problem in rectal cancer patients. Although laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer is reportedly feasible, there are few studies comparing male sexual function after laparoscopic and after open surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the incidences and degrees of this complication between laparoscopic and open surgery for rectal cancer. Male patients undergoing anterior resection for rectal cancer between 1994 and 2001 without recurrence were identified in a database. A retrospective analysis of sexual function before and after surgery was conducted using a postal questionnaire consisting of 5 questions regarding libido, erection, rigidity, ejaculation, and satisfaction. Of 68 sexually active male patients who returned the questionnaires, 29 (42.6%) underwent laparoscopic surgery (LS) and 39 (57.4%), open surgery (OS). Each parameter was reduced following LS as well as OS. No significant difference was found between the changes in each score and the total score between LS and OS. According to univariate analysis, the lower tumor location was significantly associated with sexual dysfunction (p = 0.0111). Male sexual dysfunction following laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer is commensurate with that after open surgery. Lower tumor location is the only factor associated with male sexual dysfunction. | 18,795,677 |
Optimizing time management after perforation by colonoscopy results in better outcome for the patients. | Perforation during colonoscopy is a rare but severe complication. The aim of this study was to assess the time management and laparoscopic therapy of this complication and to evaluate patient outcomes. A retrospective analysis was done on 15 patients operated for a perforation from colonoscopy between January 2000 and December 2006. Three perforations occurred during diagnostic and 12 perforations during interventional colonoscopy. Two perforations occurred as transmural thermal injury to the colon wall. Peritonitis was found in 4 cases and significantly correlated with the mean time between perforation and operation. Twelve perforations were oversewn laparoscopically and 3 perforations were oversewn by laparotomy. After laparoscopic treatment, hospital stay was significantly shorter than after laparotomy. One patient had a postoperative wound infection, mortality was 0%. Laparoscopic oversewing is a safe and effective method in the treatment of perforation from colonoscopy. Optimizing the time range between perforation and laparoscopic therapy results in a better outcome for the patients. | 18,795,678 |
Deficient response of IL-6 impaired liver regeneration after hepatectomy in patients with viral hepatitis. | Liver regeneration after surgical resection is still a serious concern. The present study is designed to understand the relations between liver injury/regeneration and cytokines after hepatectomy with viral hepatitis. Twenty-one consecutive patients undergoing liver resection were studied, which included two patients with biliary tract cancer, three patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer, and sixteen patients with primary liver tumor. They were also divided into two groups according to the existence of chronic viral hepatitis: 10 patients with viral hepatitis and 11 patients without viral hepatitis. Viral hepatitis reduced pre-operative liver function (ICG-R15 and platelet count) with raised levels of sFas. Interestingly, this also reduced postoperative surge of IL-6, but not HGF, though they were equally at basal levels pre-operatively. Recovery of liver size, calculated with resected liver mass and volumetry with CT scan, was deteriorated in liver with viral hepatitis, but any difference of postoperative liver damage was observed between two groups. Viral infection, somehow, increased sFas level pre-operatively, but does not influence the post-operative liver injury. Deficient response of IL-6, but not HGF, may be a major cause for poor liver regeneration after hepatectomy in patients with viral hepatitis independent from liver injury. | 18,795,707 |
Electrogastrography in patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction after previous Billroth gastrectomy. | The aim of this prospective study was to characterize gastric myoelectrical activity in patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction after previous Billroth gastrectomy. Thirteen patients entered the study (6 men and 7 women, aged 35-57). The mean time from Roux-en-Y reconstruction to electrogastrography (EGG) recording was 5 years. Surface cutaneous EGG was recorded using a Digitrapper EGG in the morning both fasting and after a standard solid test meal. All patients assessed their dyspeptic symptoms at the time of EGG in a semi-quantitative subjective scale. EGG was abnormal in all studied patients (but one postprandial recording). Dyspepsia was not meal-related and was not more severe in Helicobacter pylori positive patients. There was a significant negative correlation between time from Roux-en-Y reconstruction to EGG recording and bradygastria percent activity, both fasted and postprandial (r = -0.576; p = 0.0022). There was an inverse trend between severity of dyspepsia and normal slow-wave rhythm percent activity. Older patients tended to have more severe dyspepsia. The results of this study suggest that abnormal EGG recording is associated with dyspepsia in patients after Roux-en-Y reconstruction. | 18,795,720 |
Direct space decomposition of ELI-D: interplay of charge density and pair-volume function for different bonding situations. | The topological features, i.e., gradients and curvatures of the same-spin electron pair restricted electron localizability indicator (ELI-D) in position space are analyzed in terms of those of the electron density and the pair-volume function. The analysis of the topology of these constituent functions and their interplay on ELI-D attractor formation for a number of molecules representing chemically different bonding situations allows distinguishing between different chemical bonding scenarios on a quantum mechanical basis without the recourse to orbitals. The occurrence of the Laplacian of the electron density in the expression for the Laplacian of ELI-D allows us to establish a physical link between electron localizability and electron pairing as displayed by ELI-D and the role of Laplacian of the density in this context. | 18,795,765 |
Thermodynamics of unstable DNA structures from the kinetics of the microgene PCR. | The microgene polymerization reaction (MPR) generates head-to-tail tandem repeats from homoduplexes (HDs). In MPR initiation, one HD putatively aligns two others in the proximity required to form a nucleation complex, thus allowing the DNA polymerase to skip the intertemplate gap and generate an initial doublet (ID) prone to repeat propagation. The current investigation refines this stage by additional thermodynamic considerations and elucidates the fundamental mechanism underlying propagation. Four different HD types were designed to extend the range of melting temperatures and to simultaneously modify the stabilities of their secondary structures. Following the propagation kinetics with these, using real-time PCR at different temperatures revealed a new stage in the MPR, amplification of an ID by an original HD, and enabled us to decipher the biphasic kinetics of the process. This amplification merges with the propagation stage if the lifetime of the staggered conformation of the ID is sufficiently long for DNA polymerase to fill in the overhangs. The observed increase with temperature of thermodynamically unfavorable conformations of singlet and doublet HDs that underlies, respectively, MPR initiation and propagation is well correlated with simulations by UNAFold. | 18,795,769 |
Conformation of adsorbed layers of polyNIPAM on silica in a binary solvent. | The conformation of poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) chains adsorbed at a silica interface was studied as a function of concentration in the methanol-water binary solvent mixture. Both water and methanol are good solvents for PNIPAM; however, in certain mixtures cononsolvency is induced by a lowering of the LCST. This led to a decrease in the extent of the PNIPAM layer away from the interface as measured using the colloidal probe technique in the poor solvent region. At low methanol concentrations but still in the good solvent region capillary bridging between the silica surfaces with adsorbed PNIPAM layers was observed due to the increased methanol concentration in this interfacial region over that of the bulk. Furthermore, adsorption measurements showed that PNIPAM adsorbed only weakly to the silica interface with a low surface excess on the order of 0.23 mg/m (2), which allowed study of the behavior of the immobilized PNIPAM chains under highly dilute conditions using the quartz crystal microbalance. As the concentration of methanol increased toward the phase transition boundary, a slight contraction followed by an expansion of the PNIPAM was observed, which is in agreement with previous predictions from theory for polymers in solution. | 18,795,773 |
Intramolecular O-H...O hydrogen-bond-mediated reversal in the partitioning of conformationally restricted triplet 1,4-biradicals and amplification of diastereodifferentiation in their lifetimes. | The photoreactivity and nanosecond transient phenomena have been investigated for a rationally designed set of ketones 4-9 in order to gain comprehensive insights concerning the influence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding on (i) the lifetimes of triplet 1,4-biradicals and (ii) the partitioning of the latter between cyclization and elimination. Comparisons of the photochemical results and lifetime data for the biradicals of ketones 6 versus 8 and 7 versus 9 revealed a remarkable influence of hydrogen bonding when superimposed upon steric factors: while 6 and 7 yielded cyclobutanols in poor yields, cyclization was found to be overwhelmingly predominant for 8-anti and moderately so for 9-anti, with a high stereoselectivity in the formation of cyclobutanols (>95% for 8-anti). The diastereochemistry in the case of 8 permitted the occurrence of fragmentation or cyclization almost exclusively (>90% cyclization for 8-anti and >75% elimination for 8-syn). Significantly, the intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the biradicals of 8 and 9 was found to reverse their partitioning between cyclization and elimination compared with the behavior of the biradicals of ketones 3; the ketones 8-anti and 9-anti underwent cyclization in benzene, predominantly leading to cyclobutanols with syn stereochemistry between the C2 and C3 substituents. In accordance with photoproduct profiles, an unprecedented approximately 2-fold difference in the lifetimes of the intermediate diastereomeric triplet biradicals of ketones 8 in nonpolar solvents (e.g., tau(syn) = 123 ns and tau(anti) = 235 ns in cyclohexane) was observed via nanosecond laser flash photolysis, while no such difference in lifetimes was found for the triplet biradicals of acetoxy ketones 9. The intriguing diastereodifferentiation in the lifetimes of the diastereomeric triplet 1,4-biradicals of 8 and the product profiles of ketones 6, 7, and 9 are best reconciled via a unified mechanistic picture in which superposition of steric factors over varying magnitudes of O-H...O hydrogen bonding selectively facilitates a particular pathway. In particular, the diastereodifferentiation in the photochemical outcomes for the diastereomers of ketone 8 and in the lifetimes of their triplet biradicals can be understood on the basis of rapid deactivation of the 8-syn triplet biradical via fragmentation and slow cyclization of the 8-anti triplet biradical from chair- and twist-boat-like hydrogen-bonded conformations, respectively. The photolysis in polar aprotic solvents such as DMSO and pyridine was found to reverse the chemoselectivity, yielding reactivity paralleling that of ketones 3, for which the steric factors between the C2 and C3 substituents control the photochemical outcome. | 18,795,778 |
Isolation, biological significance, synthesis, and cytotoxic evaluation of new natural parathiosteroids A-C and analogues from the soft coral Paragorgia sp. | Three unusual new steroid thioesters, parathiosteroids A-C (1a-3a), were isolated from the 2-propanol extract of the soft coral Paragorgia sp. collected in Madagascar. Their structures, determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis, were confirmed by synthesis and represent the first isolation of natural steroids bearing a C22 thioester in their side chain. These compounds displayed cytotoxicity against a panel of three human tumor cell lines at the micromolar level. The preparation of several analogues revealed structure/activity relationships in this type of steroids, for example, that the XCH2CH2NHCOCH3 moiety (X = S, O, NH) in the side chain is essential for the antiproliferative activity, and a low degree of oxidation in the A-ring results in higher bioactivity. These natural products could be biosynthetic intermediates in the steroid side chain degradation pathway involving activation with CoA and beta-oxidations. | 18,795,787 |
Macrocyclic cyclophanes with two and three alpha,omega-dichalcogena-1,4-diethynylaryl units: syntheses and structural properties. | By means of four- and six-component cyclization reaction various cyclophanes were synthesized. The components were the di(lithium) salts of 1,4-di(ethynyl)benzene (11), 4,4'-di(ethynyl)biphenyl (13), 1,4-di(ethynyl)-2,5-di(n-hexyl)benzene (18), and 1,4-di(ethynyl)-2,5-di(n-propyl)benzene (19). These building blocks were reacted with alpha,omega-dithiocyanato-n-alkanes and alpha,omega-diselenocyanato-n-alkanes with n = 3-6. In the case of 10 also 1,1'-di(2-thiocyanatoethyl)cyclohexane (24) was reacted to afford a cyclophane comprising three subunits of 11. From most of the resulting macrocyclic cyclophanes (4(n) (n = 3, 5), 5, 6, 7(n) , 8(n) (n = 3-6), 9(n) (n = 3, 5), and 10), we were able to grow single crystals. The X-ray analysis of 4(3), 7(3), 8(3), 8(4), 6, 7(5), and 8(5) revealed close contacts between the chalcogen atoms. These chalcogen-chalcogen interactions impose a ribbon-shape arrangement of molecules in 4(3) and a mutual crossing of two perdendicular planes built of 8(4) molecules. For 4(3) we found a close contact (3.28 A) between the pi planes of two neighboring C6H4 rings of different molecules, whereas in 8(4) such a close contact (3.74 A) was due to an intermolecular interaction. Tubular stacking of the macrocyclic rings was found for 7(5) and 8(5) caused by a ladder-type intermolecular chalcogen-chalcogen interaction. | 18,795,790 |
Kinetic and chemical mechanism of arylamine N-acetyltransferase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. | Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are cytosolic enzymes that catalyze the transfer of the acetyl group from acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA) to the free amino group of arylamines and hydrazines. Previous studies have reported that overexpression of NAT from Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be responsible for increased resistance to the front-line antitubercular drug, isoniazid, by acetylating and hence inactivating the prodrug. We report the kinetic characterization of M. tuberculosis NAT which reveals that substituted anilines are excellent substrates but that isoniazid is a very poor substrate for this enzyme. We propose that the expression of NAT from M. tuberculosis (TBNAT) is unlikely to be a significant cause of isoniazid resistance. The kinetic parameters for a variety of TBNAT substrates were examined, including 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid and AcCoA, revealing K m values of 0.32 +/- 0.03 and 0.14 +/- 0.02 mM, respectively. Steady-state kinetic analysis of TBNAT reveals that the enzyme catalyzes the reaction via a bi-bi ping-pong kinetic mechanism. The pH dependence of the kinetic parameters reveals that one enzyme group must be deprotonated for optimal catalytic activity and that two amino acid residues at the active site of the free enzyme are involved in binding and/or catalysis. Solvent kinetic isotope effects suggest that proton transfer steps are not rate-limiting in the overall reaction for substituted aniline substrates but become rate-limiting when poor hydrazide substrates are used. | 18,795,795 |
Preparation of CdS nanocrystals within supramolecular self-assembled nanoreactors and their phase transfer behavior. | A new strategy for the synthesis of CdS nanocrystals (NCs) within supramolecular self-assembly nanoreactors has been described. The self-assembly nanoreactors were readily constructed through the electrostatic interactions and ion pairs between palmitic acid and the terminal amine groups of hyperbranched polymer. In a chloroform/water two-phase system, aqueous Cd (2+) ions were spontaneously encapsulated into the cavities of self-assembly nanoreactors in chloroform. After reaction with S (2-) ions, the CdS NCs with high stability were obtained. By the addition of excess triethylamine, CdS NCs formed in the self-assembly nanoreactors were transferred from organic phase into aqueous phase. After dialysis and rotorary evaporation, aqueous CdS NCs could be redispersed into chloroform solution containing palmitic acid. | 18,795,808 |
Ferulic acid supplements abrogate oxidative impairments in liver and testis in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. | The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of ferulic acid (FA), a phenolic antioxidant, in ameliorating oxidative stress in the testis and liver of diabetic pubertal rats. Male (6 wk old) rats were rendered diabetic by an acute dose (60 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneal) of streptozotocin (STZ) and were given oral supplementation of FA (50 mg/kg body weight/d on alternate days) for 4 weeks. The protective efficacy of FA was assessed by measuring markers of oxidative stress in the testis and liver along with the effect of stress on lipid profile in serum/testis. Terminally, the testis (cytosol and mitochondria) of STZ-administered rats exhibited a marked elevation in the status of lipid peroxidation and enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production compared to the non-diabetic controls. FA treatment completely normalized the oxidative impairments in the testis. Further, STZ-induced depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) and elevated protein carbonyl content in the testis were restored to normalcy by FA treatment. The protective effects of FA were also discernible in the testis in terms of restoration of activities of various antioxidant enzymes in the diabetic rats. Furthermore, STZ-induced oxidative impairments in the liver were also abrogated significantly by FA treatment. STZ-induced perturbations in serum and testicular lipid profiles in the diabetic rats were also significantly attenuated by FA treatment. Collectively, these results indicate that oral supplementation of FA can significantly mitigate diabetes-associated oxidative impairments in the testis as well as in the liver and suggests the efficacy of FA as a complementary therapeutic agent in the management of diabetes-associated oxidative stress-mediated complications. | 18,795,822 |
Owner-perceived, weighted quality-of-life assessments in dogs with spinal cord injuries. | To evaluate changes over time in owner-perceived, weighted quality-of-life assessments in dogs with spinal cord injuries and determine whether scores were associated with underlying etiology or with veterinarian-assigned scores for severity of neurologic dysfunction. Cohort study. 100 dogs with spinal cord injury. Duration of dysfunction, modified Frankel neurologic injury score, and etiology were recorded. At initial and recheck (4- to 6-week) evaluations, owners were asked to identify 5 areas or activities they believed had the most influence on their dogs' quality of life, assess their dogs' current status in each area, and provide a weighting for the importance of each area; results were used to construct a weighted quality-of-life score. Owners were also asked to provide a quality-of-life score with a visual analog scale (VAS). At initial and recheck evaluations, weighted quality-of-life scores were higher for ambulatory than for nonambulatory dogs. However, scores did not differ among groups when dogs were grouped on the basis of underlying etiology or duration of injury. Dogs with an increase in Frankel score between the initial and recheck evaluations had a significant increase in weighted quality-of-life score, whereas for dogs that did not have any change in Frankel score, initial and recheck weighted quality-of-life scores were not significantly different. Results suggested that owner-assigned, weighted quality-of-life scores for dogs with spinal cord injuries did not vary significantly on the basis of underlying etiology or duration of injury but were higher for ambulatory than for nonambulatory dogs. | 18,795,855 |
Comparison between coelioscopy and coeliotomy for liver biopsy in channel catfish. | To evaluate endoscopic liver biopsy and compare that technique with a standard coeliotomy biopsy technique in fish. Randomized controlled clinical trial. 30 channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). 10 fish were randomly assigned into control, coeliotomy, and coelioscopy groups. Anesthesia was performed with a recirculating anesthesia machine. Body weight, PCV, and total protein (TP) concentration in blood as well as plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and sorbitol dehydrogenase were measured before and after surgery. Standard ventral coeliotomy or coelioscopy was performed, and the biopsy specimens were scored histologically. Coeliotomy and coelioscopy procedures were well tolerated without acute deaths. Blood TP concentration and PCV decreased after surgery in the coelioscopy group because of intracoelomic fluid administration to aid visualization. Minor changes in activities for hepatic and muscular enzyme activities were apparent, but were not significantly different between the coelioscopy and coeliotomy groups. Coelioscopy and coeliotomy yielded biopsy specimens of similar diagnostic quality. However, coelioscopy permitted a more extensive evaluation of the viscera, and all 10 surgical wounds healed completely, compared with severe wound dehiscence in 3 of 10 fish that underwent coeliotomy. Both coelioscopy and coeliotomy were capable of yielding antemortem liver biopsy specimens of diagnostic quality in catfish. Coelioscopy permitted a more detailed examination of the coelomic viscera through a smaller surgical incision, was less traumatic, and resulted in decreased wound dehiscence. | 18,795,862 |
Nuclear transfer of sand cat cells into enucleated domestic cat oocytes is affected by cryopreservation of donor cells. | In the present study, we used the sand cat (Felis margarita) as a somatic cell donor to evaluate whether cryopreservation of donor cells alters viability and epigenetic events in donor cells and affects in vitro and in vivo developmental competence of derived embryos. In Experiment 1, flow cytometry analysis revealed that the percentage of necrosis and apoptosis in cells analyzed immediately after freezing/thawing (61 vs. 8.1%, respectively) was higher than that observed in frozen/thawed cells cultured for 18 h (6.9 vs. 3.3%, respectively) or 5 days (38 vs. 2.6%; respectively). The relative acetylation level of H3K9 was lower in frozen/thawed cells (5.4%) compared to that found in cultured cells (60.1%). In Experiment 2, embryos reconstructed with frozen/thawed cells had a lower cleavage rate (85%; day 2) than did embryos reconstructed with cultured cells (95%), while development to the blastocyst stage (day 8) was not affected by cell treatment (17.0% with frozen/thawed cells vs. 16.5% with cultured cells). In Experiment 3, pregnancy rates were similar between both cell treatments (32% with frozen/thawed cells vs. 30% with cultured cells), but the number of embryos that were implanted, and the number of fetuses that developed to term was lower for embryos reconstructed with frozen/thawed cells (1.2 and 0.3%, respectively) than those reconstructed with cultured cells (2.6 and 1.8%, respectively), while the number of fetuses reabsorbed by day 30 was higher (75%) for embryos reconstructed with frozen/thawed cells than those reconstructed with cultured cells (31%). A total of 11 kittens from cultured cells and three kittens from frozen/thawed cells were born between days 60 to 64 of gestation. Most kittens died within a few days after birth, although one kitten did survive for 2 months. In Experiment 4, POU5F1 mRNA expression was detected in 25% of blastocysts derived from frozen/thawed cells, whereas 88 and 87% of blastocysts derived from cultured cells and by in vitro fertilization, respectively, expressed POU5F1. We have shown that cell cryopreservation increased the incidence of necrosis and apoptosis and altered epigenetic events in donor cells. Consequently, the number of embryos that cleaved, implanted, and developed to term-gestation and POU5F1 expression in derived blastocysts indirectly was affected. | 18,795,868 |
A comparative analysis of standard microtiter plate reading versus imaging in cellular assays. | We evaluated the performance of two plate readers (the Beckman Coulter [Fullerton, CA] DTX and the PerkinElmer [Wellesley, MA] EnVision) and a plate imager (the General Electric [Fairfield, CT] IN Cell 1000 Analyzer) in a primary fluorescent cellular screen of 10,000 Molecular Libraries Screening Center Network library compounds for up- and down-regulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, which has been shown to be up-regulated in atherothrombotic vascular disease and is a general indicator of chronic inflammatory disease. Prior to screening, imaging of a twofold, six-step titration of fluorescent cells in a 384-well test plate showed greater consistency, sensitivity, and dynamic range of signal detection curves throughout the detection range, as compared to the plate readers. With the same 384-well test plate, the detection limits for fluorescent protein-labeled cells on the DTX and EnVision instruments were 2,250 and 560 fluorescent cells per well, respectively, as compared to 280 on the IN Cell 1000. During VCAM screening, sensitivity was critical for detection of antagonists, which reduced brightness of the primary immunofluorescence readout; inhibitor controls yielded Z' values of 0.41 and 0.16 for the IN Cell 1000 and EnVision instruments, respectively. The best 1% of small molecule inhibitors from all platforms were visually confirmed using images from the IN Cell 1000. The EnVision and DTX plate readers mutually identified approximately 57% and 21%, respectively, of the VCAM-1 inhibitors visually confirmed in the IN Cell best 1% of inhibitors. Furthermore, the plate reader hits were largely exclusive, with only 6% agreement across all platforms (three hits out of 47). Taken together, the imager outperformed the plate readers at hit detection in this bimodal assay because of superior sensitivity and had the advantage of speeding hit confirmation during post-acquisition analysis. | 18,795,873 |
Design of phenotypic screens for bioactive chemicals and identification of their targets by genetic and proteomic approaches. | Cell-based screening using phenotypic assays is a useful means of identifying bioactive chemicals for use as tools to elucidate complex cellular processes. However, the chemicals must display sufficient selectivity and their targets have to be identified. We describe how cell-based screening assays can be designed to maximize the likelihood of discovering selective compounds through the choice of positive readouts, low chemical concentrations and long incubation periods. Examining the potency, efficacy and activity range of chemicals can further help set apart those likely to act more specifically. Identifying the cellular targets of active chemicals can be especially demanding. Secondary screens and the cautious use of the candidate approach can help narrow down their mechanisms of action, but biased approaches may lead to the identification of secondary or even irrelevant targets. We discuss strategies for unbiased target identification by sampling potential targets at the genome-wide and proteome-wide levels. | 18,795,880 |
Chemogenomics and cancer chemotherapy: cell-based assays to screen for small molecules that impair microtubule dynamics. | Microtubules are still a promising target for new therapeutic agents. Thus, there is a continuous interest for compounds able to modify microtubule assembly, either by interacting directly with tubulin, or by interacting with microtubules regulators. Because of its dynamic characteristics, the microtubule cytoskeleton is a suitable target for small molecules that rapidly diffuse in the cell cytoplasm. Moreover, compounds targeting the microtubule cytoskeleton have proved to be valuable tools for basic research in cell biology. In this paper, after a short presentation of the apparent molecular pathways involved in the anticancer effect of agents that interfere with microtubules functions, the potentials and impact of chemogenomics and cell-based assays in the discovery of new therapeutic compounds and of new regulators of the microtubule cytoskeleton are described. | 18,795,881 |
COMMD1 expression is controlled by critical residues that determine XIAP binding. | COMMD {COMM [copper metabolism Murr1 (mouse U2af1-rs1 region 1)] domain-containing} proteins participate in several cellular processes, ranging from NF-kappaB (nuclear factor kappaB) regulation, copper homoeostasis, sodium transport and adaptation to hypoxia. The best-studied member of this family is COMMD1, but relatively little is known about its regulation, except that XIAP [X-linked IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis)] functions as its ubiquitin ligase. In the present study, we identified that the COMM domain of COMMD1 is required for its interaction with XIAP, and other COMMD proteins can similarly interact with IAPs. Two conserved leucine repeats within the COMM domain were found to be critically required for XIAP binding. A COMMD1 mutant which was unable to bind to XIAP demonstrated a complete loss of basal ubiquitination and great stabilization of the protein. Underscoring the importance of IAP-mediated ubiquitination, we found that long-term expression of wild-type COMMD1 results in nearly physiological protein levels as a result of increased ubiquitination, but this regulatory event is circumvented when a mutant form that cannot bind XIAP is expressed. In summary, our findings indicate that COMMD1 expression is controlled primarily by protein ubiquitination, and its interaction with IAP proteins plays an essential role. | 18,795,889 |
Longitudinal monocyte human leukocyte antigen-DR expression is a prognostic marker in critically ill patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. | Critical illness in cirrhotic patients is associated with a poor prognosis and increased susceptibility to infections. Monocyte HLA-DR expression is decreased in cirrhotic patients, but its prognostic value has not been investigated prospectively. Thirty-eight critically ill patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were included in this prospective study. On admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), inflammatory parameters (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein), interleukin (IL)-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma serum levels, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha ex vivo stimulation (whole blood assay) and HLA-DR expression on monocytes (FACS analysis) were determined. Immune parameters were furthermore measured every third day until discharge from the ICU or death of the patients. Intensive care unit mortality of the cirrhotic patients was 34.2%. During admission, TNF ex vivo, IFN-gamma and HLA-DR expression were lower in non-survivors (all P<0.05), while IL-10 levels were increased in non-survivors compared with survivors (P=0.001). However, individual values clearly overlapped between groups. Prospective analysis revealed that monocyte HLA-DR expression remained stable or increased in survivors, but decreased in non-survivors (P=0.002). A decrease in HLA-DR expression between admission and day 3 was strongly associated with decreased IFN-gamma levels and increased ICU mortality (hazard ratio 3.36, P=0.008), mostly owing to late sepsis. This association was independent of the sequential organ failure assessment and model for end-stage liver disease score. Here we establish the relative HLA-DR expression (admission/day 3) as a prognostic marker for ICU mortality in critically ill cirrhotic patients. These results may guide the evaluation of immune-modulating therapies in these patients. | 18,795,898 |
The outcome in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a Norwegian region. | To evaluate the therapeutic strategies used in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) during the last 15 years in our department. A retrospective study of 27 neonates with CDH treated at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Ullevaal University Hospital between 1992 and 2006. Since 1992 we have used delayed operative repair and high-frequency ventilation (HFV). Because surfactant replacement and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy have been used since 1997, we divided the patients into two groups; group 1 from 1992 to 1996 (9 patients) and group 2 from 1997 to 2006 (18 patients). The overall survival was 70%. Group 1 had an exceptionally good outcome, 100% survival versus 56% in the last group. Pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension are still the most challenging factors in treatment of neonates with CDH, despite novel therapeutic modalities, such as HFV, surfactant and iNO. Delayed surgery in CDH allows pre-operative stabilization. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation must be considered in the most severe cases. | 18,795,908 |
Shave biopsy without local anaesthetic to diagnose basal cell carcinoma and other skin tumours prior to definitive treatment: analysis of 109 lesions. | Diagnostic biopsy of basal cell carcinoma and other skin tumours may be necessary prior to definitive treatment. To assess whether shave biopsy sampling of tumours without local anaesthetic can provide adequate tissue to make an accurate histological diagnosis, and to determine whether any discomfort is associated with the technique. One hundred and nine lesions from 99 patients were sampled by shave biopsy without local anaesthetic. Any discomfort associated with the procedure, and the adequacy of the histological specimen, were documented. The pathology diagnosis was also compared against the clinically suspected diagnosis. In 108 of the 109 lesions sampled, sufficient tissue was obtained to make an accurate histological diagnosis. In only six of the 109 procedures was any discomfort reported and in all cases this was rated as minor. A high correlation was found between histological diagnosis and initial clinical suspicion. Shave biopsy without local anaesthetic is a simple, relatively pain-free method of obtaining tissue samples for histological diagnosis in appropriate tumours. | 18,795,923 |
Methyldibromoglutaronitrile allergy: relationship between patch test and repeated open application test thresholds. | Methyldibromoglutaronitrile (MDBGN) is a preservative, which was approved for use in cosmetics in the mid-1980s. The incidence of allergy to MDBGN rose during the 1990s, but is now decreasing due to regulatory intervention. Experimental studies with other allergens have shown a significant relationship between the patch test and the repeated open application test (ROAT) reactivity. To study the relationship between elicitation threshold doses at single occluded exposure and repeated open application, using MDBGN as the allergen. Eighteen subjects allergic to MDBGN were tested with a dilution series of MDBGN in a patch test and a ROAT (duration up to 21 days). Seventeen people with no MDBGN allergy were included as a control group for the ROAT. The response frequency for the ROAT (in microg MDBGN cm(-2) per application) was significantly higher than the response frequency for the patch test, while the response frequency for the accumulated ROAT dose, at 1, 2 and 3 weeks was very similar to the patch test response frequency; indeed there was no statistical significant difference. For elicitation of MDBGN allergy the response frequency for the patch test is lower than the response frequency (per application) for the ROAT, but approximately the same as the response frequency for the accumulated ROAT doses. This is important for risk assessment in general. | 18,795,931 |
Palifermin-induced flexural hyperpigmentation: a clinical and histological study of five cases. | Palifermin is a human keratinocyte growth factor that is efficacious in reducing duration and severity of oral mucositis during autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for haematological cancer as well as chemotherapy for colorectal cancers. We report the clinical and histological characteristics of a series of five patients who developed flexural hyperpigmentation after treatment with palifermin. All patients showed ill-defined symmetrical hyperpigmented papillomatous plaques with slight erythema in the skin folds, especially affecting axillary and inguinal areas. The most striking histological finding was the thickened granular layer in all patients. We demonstrate that filaggrin, an essential component in the terminal differentiation of the epidermis, was upregulated in these cases. Palifermin-induced flexural hyperpigmentation is a newly defined clinical and histological entity. The possible aetiology is discussed. | 18,795,935 |
The adaptive response of anaerobically grown Saccharomyces cerevisiae to hydrogen peroxide is mediated by the Yap1 and Skn7 transcription factors. | The molecular mechanisms involved in the ability of cells to adapt and respond to differing oxygen tensions are of great interest to the pharmaceutical, medical and fermentation industries. The transcriptional profiles reported in previous studies of cells grown under anaerobic, aerobic and dynamic growth conditions have shown significantly altered responses including induction of genes regulated by the oxidative stress transcription factor Yap1p when oxygen was present. The present study investigated the phenotypic changes that occur in cells when shifted from anaerobic to aerobic growth conditions and it was found through mutant analyses that the elevated activity of Yap1p during the shift was mediated by the phospholipid hydroperoxide-sensing protein encoded by GPX3. Cell viability and growth rate were unaffected even though anaerobically grown cells were found to be hypersensitive to low doses of the oxidative stress-inducing compound hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Adaptation to H(2)O(2) treatment was demonstrated to occur when anaerobically grown wild-type cells were aerated for a short time that was reliant on the Yap1p and Skn7p transcription factors. | 18,795,957 |
Multimodal techniques for smoking cessation: a review of their efficacy and utilisation and clinical practice guidelines. | Nicotine addiction is a complex, chronic condition with physiological and psychological/behavioural aspects that make smoking cessation extremely difficult. This paper reviews current recommendations for smoking cessation and the efficacy of pharmacotherapy and behavioural modification techniques, used either alone or in combination, for smoking cessation. Abstinence rates for pharmacotherapies range from approximately 16% to approximately 30% at 1-year follow-up, with efficacy odds ratios (ORs) compared with placebo of approximately 1.7 for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), approximately 1.9 for bupropion sustained release and approximately 3.0 for varenicline. Behaviour modification therapies have achieved quit rates of between 8% and 43% for up to 1 year, with ORs in comparison to no treatment of between approximately 1.2 and approximately 2.2. No direct comparisons have been made between pharmacotherapy alone and psychological behaviour strategies alone. However, combining physiological approaches with counselling significantly increases the odds of quitting compared with either technique alone. Applying multimodal techniques for the treatment of nicotine addiction is the recommended approach and has demonstrated the potential to improve rates of permanent abstinence in smokers attempting cessation. While the numbers of patients receiving help and advice regarding smoking cessation is increasing, the multimodal approach appears to be currently underutilised by clinicians and therefore smoking cessation strategies are not being optimised. | 18,795,968 |
Obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome presenting in the neurology clinic: a prospective 5-year study. | An observational study of cases of obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS), both suspected and established, presenting to general neurology outpatient clinics over a 5-year period was undertaken. Only eight new cases of OSAHS, confirmed by sleep studies, were identified, most with neurological problems (poor seizure control, blackouts and headache) in addition to excessive daytime somnolence. OSAHS appears to be a rare cause of new symptomatic neurological presentations, although cases may have been overlooked as judgement was based on the index of clinical suspicion alone. | 18,795,971 |
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