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Topic maps for exploring nosological, lexical, semantic and HL7 structures for clinical data.
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A topic map is implemented for learning about clinical data associated with a hospital stay for patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, diabetes and hypertension. The question posed is: how might a topic map help bridge perspectival differences among communities of practice and help make commensurable the different classifications they use? The knowledge layer of the topic map was generated from existing ontological relationships in nosological, lexical, semantic and HL7 boundary objects. Discharge summaries, patient charts and clinical data warehouse entries rectified the clinical knowledge used in practice. These clinical data were normalized to HL7 Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) markup standard and stored in the Clinical Document Repository. Each CDA entry was given a subject identifier and linked with the topic map. The ability of topic maps to function as the infostructure ;glue' is assessed using dimensions of semantic interoperability and commensurability.
| 19,008,277
|
Pinhole versus parallel-hole collimators for parathyroid imaging: an intraindividual comparison.
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This study was undertaken to determine the effects of collimators on the accuracy of preoperative sestamibi parathyroid imaging of the neck. Forty-nine patients with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent preoperative (99m)Tc-sestamibi parathyroid imaging. The protocol included early and late pinhole and parallel-hole imaging. One experienced nuclear physician, without knowledge of other test results or final diagnoses, interpreted studies. For both pinhole and parallel-hole images, focally increased sestamibi accumulation outside the normal tracer biodistribution that persisted or increased in intensity from early to late images was interpreted as positive for a parathyroid lesion. Final diagnoses were operatively confirmed in all patients. Fifty-four parathyroid lesions were resected from the 49 patients. Forty-five patients had single-gland disease. Four patients had multigland disease: 3 had 2 lesions and 1 had 3 lesions. Median lesion weight was 840 mg. Pinhole imaging was significantly more sensitive than parallel-hole imaging (89% vs. 56%; P = 0.0003) for all 54 lesions. Specificity did not significantly differ between pinhole and parallel-hole imaging (93% vs. 96%, P = 0.29). Pinhole imaging was significantly more sensitive than parallel-hole imaging for lesions above (100% vs. 68%, P = 0.003) and below (77% vs. 42%, P = 0.03) the median weight and for single-gland disease (96% vs. 67%, P = 0.001). Pinhole imaging also was more sensitive for multigland disease, although the difference was only marginally significant (55% vs. 0%, P = 0.037). Because sensitivity is significantly higher, sestamibi parathyroid imaging of the neck should be performed with a pinhole collimator.
| 19,008,287
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Poor vision accompanied with other sensory impairments as a predictor of falls in older women.
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we studied visual acuity (VA) and co-existing hearing impairment and poor standing balance as predictors of falls. prospective study with 1-year follow-up. research laboratory and residential environment. 428 women aged 63-76 years from the Finnish Twin Study on Aging. participants were followed up for incidence of falls over 1 year. VA, hearing ability and standing balance were assessed at the baseline. The incidence rate ratios (IRR) for falls were computed using the negative binomial regression model. during the follow-up, 47% of participants experienced a fall. After adjusting for age and interdependence of twin sisters, participants with vision impairment (VA of <1.0) but no other sensory impairments had a higher, but non-significant, risk for falls compared to persons with normal vision (IRR 1.5, 95% CI 0.6-4.2). Co-existing vision impairment and impaired balance increased the risk (IRR 2.7, 95% CI 0.9-8.0), as also did co-existing vision and hearing impairment (IRR 4.2, 95% CI 1.5-11.3), compared to those with normal vision. Among persons with all three impairments, the IRR for falls increased to 29.4 (95% CI 5.8-148.3) compared to participants with good vision. the impact of vision impairment on fall risk was higher when accompanied with other sensory and balance impairments, probably because the presence of other impairments prevented the reception of compensatory information about body posture and environment being received from other sensory sources. When aiming to prevent falls and their consequences in older people, it is important to check whether poor vision is accompanied with other impairments.
| 19,008,307
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Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor expression and functional signaling in murine gonadotrope-like cells.
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Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a key regulator of the mammalian stress response, mediating a wide variety of stress-associated behaviors including stress-induced inhibition of reproductive function. To investigate the potential direct action of CRH on pituitary gonadotrope function, we examined CRH receptor expression and second messenger signaling in alpha T3-1 cells, a murine gonadotrope-like cell line. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) studies demonstrated that alpha T3-1 cells express mRNA for the two CRH receptor subtypes, CRHR1 and CRHR2, with CRHR2alpha as the predominant CRHR2 isoform. Stimulation of the cells with CRH or urocortin (UCN) resulted in rapid, transient increases in the intracellular levels of cAMP that were completely blocked by the addition of alpha-helical CRH 9-41 or astressin, non-selective CRH receptor antagonists. Stimulation of the cells with CRHR2-specific ligands, urocortin 2 (UCN2) or urocortin 3 (UCN3), resulted in rapid increases in intracellular cAMP levels to 50-60% of the levels observed with UCN. Treatment with a selective CRHR2 antagonist, antisauvagine, completely blocked UCN3-mediated increases in cAMP and significantly reduced, but did not completely block UCN-mediated increases in cAMP, demonstrating that both CRHR1 and CRHR2 are functionally active in these gonadotrope-like cells. Finally, UCN treatment significantly increased the transcriptional activity of the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit promoter as assessed by alpha-luciferase transfection assays. Together, these results demonstrate the functional signaling of CRH receptors in alpha T3-1 cells, suggesting that CRH may also modulate pituitary gonadotrope function in vivo.
| 19,008,330
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The effect of human GATA4 gene mutations on the activity of target gonadal promoters.
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GATA transcription factors are crucial regulators of cell-specific gene expression in many tissues including the gonads. Although clinical cases of reproductive dysfunction have yet to be formally linked to GATA gene mutations, they have begun to be reported in other systems. Heterozygous GATA4 mutations have been associated with cases of congenital heart defects. Little is known, however, about the effect of these mutations on gonadal gene transcription. Since individuals carrying these mutations do not appear to suffer from gross reproductive defects, we hypothesized that this might be due to the differential transcriptional properties of the mutant proteins on heart versus gonadal target genes. Five mutations (S52F, E215D, G295S, V266M, and E359X) were recreated in the rat GATA4 protein. Several parameters were used to analyze the transcriptional properties of the mutants: activation of known gonadal target promoters (Star, Cyp19a1, and Inha), DNA binding, and interaction with GATA4 transcriptional partners. Three mutations (S52F, G295S, and E359X) reduced GATA4 transcriptional activity on the different gonadal promoters. With the exception of the G295S mutant, which showed a significant loss of DNA-binding affinity, the decrease in activity of the other GATA4 mutants was not associated with a change in DNA binding. All GATA4 mutants retained their ability to interact and cooperate with their major gonadal partners (NR5A1 and NR5A2) thereby compensating in part for the loss in intrinsic GATA4 transcriptional activity. Thus, unlike the heart, where the GATA4 mutations have deleterious effects, our data suggest that they would have a lesser impact on gonadal gene transcription and function.
| 19,008,335
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Overexpression of SIRT1 protects pancreatic beta-cells against cytokine toxicity by suppressing the nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway.
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SIRT1, a class III histone/protein deacetylase, is known to interfere with the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway and thereby has an anti-inflammatory function. Because of the central role of NF-kappaB in cytokine-mediated pancreatic beta-cell damage, we postulated that SIRT1 might work in pancreatic beta-cell damage models. RINm5F (RIN) cells or isolated rat islets were treated with interleukin-1beta and interferon-gamma. SIRT1 was activated by resveratrol, a pharmacological activator, or ectopic overexpression. The underlying mechanisms of SIRT1 against cytokine toxicity were further explored. Treatment of RIN cells with cytokines induced cell damage, and this damage was well correlated with the expression of the inducible form of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) and NO production. However, SIRT1 overexpression completely prevented cytokine-mediated cytotoxicity, NO production, and iNOS expression. The molecular mechanism by which SIRT1 inhibits iNOS expression appeared to involve the inhibition of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway through deacetylation of p65. In addition, SIRT1 activation by either resveratrol or adenoviral-directed overexpression of SIRT1 could prevent cytokine toxicity and maintain normal insulin-secreting responses to glucose in isolated rat islets. This study will provide valuable information not only into the mechanisms underlying beta-cell destruction but also into the regulation of SIRT1 as a possible target to attenuate cytokine-induced beta-cell damage.
| 19,008,341
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Pacemakers handshake synchronization mechanism of mammalian respiratory rhythmogenesis.
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Inspiratory and expiratory rhythms in mammals are thought to be generated by pacemaker-like neurons in 2 discrete brainstem regions: pre-Bötzinger complex (preBötC) and parafacial respiratory group (pFRG). How these putative pacemakers or pacemaker networks may interact to set the overall respiratory rhythm in synchrony remains unclear. Here, we show that a pacemakers 2-way "handshake" process comprising pFRG excitation of the preBötC, followed by reverse inhibition and postinhibitory rebound (PIR) excitation of the pFRG and postinspiratory feedback inhibition of the preBötC, can provide a phase-locked mechanism that sequentially resets and, hence, synchronizes the inspiratory and expiratory rhythms in neonates. The order of this handshake sequence and its progression vary depending on the relative excitabilities of the preBötC vs. the pFRG and resultant modulations of the PIR in various excited and depressed states, leading to complex inspiratory and expiratory phase-resetting behaviors in neonates and adults. This parsimonious model of pacemakers synchronization and mutual entrainment replicates key experimental data in vitro and in vivo that delineate the developmental changes in respiratory rhythm from neonates to maturity, elucidating their underlying mechanisms and suggesting hypotheses for further experimental testing. Such a pacemakers handshake process with conjugate excitation-inhibition and PIR provides a reinforcing and evolutionarily advantageous fail-safe mechanism for respiratory rhythmogenesis in mammals.
| 19,008,356
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Do walking and leisure-time physical activity protect against arthritis in older women?
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To examine the prospective dose-response relationships between both leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and walking with self-reported arthritis in older women. Data came from women aged 73-78 years who completed mailed surveys in 1999, 2002 and 2005 for the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Women reported their weekly minutes of walking and moderate to vigorous physical activities. They also reported on whether they had been diagnosed with, or treated for, arthritis since the previous survey. General estimating equation analyses were performed to examine the longitudinal relationship between LTPA and arthritis and, for women who reported walking as their only physical activity, the longitudinal relationship between walking and arthritis. Women who reported arthritis or a limited ability to walk in 1999 were excluded, resulting in data from 3613 women eligible for inclusion in these analyses. ORs for self-reported arthritis were lowest for women who reported "moderate" levels of LTPA (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.92), equivalent to 75 to <150 minutes of moderate-intensity LTPA per week. Slightly higher odds ratios were found for women who reported "high" (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.69 to 0.95) or "very high" (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.72 to 0.98) LTPA levels, indicating no further benefit from increased activity. For women whose only activity was walking, an inverse dose-response relationship between walking and arthritis was seen. The results support an inverse association between both LTPA and walking with self-reported arthritis over 6 years in older women who are able to walk.
| 19,008,369
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Global health equity: evidence for action on the social determinants of health.
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More than 30 years ago, the older of us published a paper with the proposal that all scientific papers should start with a statement along the lines of: "These are the opinions on which I base my facts". Why pretend? To take a topical example, if you are on the nature side of the nature/nurture debates, is it likely that your next paper will be an apologia: "I take it all back; genes don't matter at all; it is all environment"? Unlikely. Similarly, if you are on the other side. (We know. It's both.) Here, we are not in any way arguing for a relativist credo that would say opinions are all. Along with other readers of this journal, we spend a good part of our working lives gathering, analysing and interpreting empirical evidence. Evidence matters. But everyone has values and they do affect our positions.
| 19,008,370
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Increased Foxp3(+) CD4(+) regulatory T cells with intact suppressive activity but altered cellular localization in murine lupus.
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Foxp3(+) CD4(+) regulatory T (T(reg)) cells play a pivotal role in the maintenance of dominant self tolerance. Understanding how the failures of immune control by T(reg) cells are involved in autoimmune diseases is important for the development of effective immunotherapies. In the present study, we analyzed the characteristics of endogenous T(reg) cells in (NZB x NZW) F1 (BWF1) mice, a murine model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Unexpectedly, T(reg) number and frequency in aged BWF1 mice with developing lupus nephritis were increased, not decreased, and in vitro suppressive activity in lymphoid organs was intact. In addition, T(reg) cells trafficked to target organs because cells were present in the kidney and lung. T(reg) cells of aged BWF1 mice exhibited altered localization within lymph organs, however, and an altered phenotype, with higher expression levels of chemokine receptors and activation markers, suggesting a highly activated cellular state. Notably, the expression levels of co-stimulatory molecules were also markedly enhanced in the T(reg) cells of aged BWF1 mice. Furthermore, T(reg) cells of BWF1 mice did not show any suppressive effects on antibody production in vitro. Taken together, we conclude that T(reg) cells in BWF1 mice are not predisposed to functional incompetence but rather are present in a highly activated state.
| 19,008,373
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Detection of bovine papillomavirus type 2 in the peripheral blood of cattle with urinary bladder tumours: possible biological role.
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Bovine papillomavirus type 2 (BPV-2) infection has been associated with urinary bladder tumours in adult cattle grazing on bracken fern-infested land. In this study, we investigated the simultaneous presence of BPV-2 in whole blood and urinary bladder tumours of adult cattle in an attempt to better understand the biological role of circulating BPV-2. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 78 cattle clinically suffering from a severe chronic enzootic haematuria. Circulating BPV-2 DNA was detected in 61 of them and in two blood samples from healthy cows. Fifty of the affected animals were slaughtered at public slaughterhouses and neoplastic proliferations in the urinary bladder were detected in all of them. BPV-2 DNA was amplified and sequenced in 78 % of urinary bladder tumour samples and in 38.9 % of normal samples as a control. Circulating episomal BPV-2 DNA was detected in 78.2 % of the blood samples. Simultaneous presence of BPV-2 DNA in neoplastic bladder and blood samples was detected in 37 animals. Specific viral E5 mRNA and E5 oncoprotein were also detected in blood by RT-PCR and Western blot/immunocytochemistry, respectively. It is likely that BPV-2 can persist and be maintained in an active status in the bloodstream, in particular in the lymphocytes, as a reservoir of viral infection that, in the presence of co-carcinogens, may cause the development of urinary bladder tumours.
| 19,008,389
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Accumulation of calcium in the centre of leaves of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is due to an uncoupling of water and ion transport.
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The aim of this study is to understand the parameters regulating calcium ion distribution in leaves. Accumulation of ions in leaf tissue is in part dependent on import from the xylem. This import via the transpiration stream is more important for ions such as calcium that are xylem but not phloem mobile and cannot therefore be retranslocated. Accumulation of calcium was measured on bulk coriander leaf tissue (Coriandrum sativum L. cv. Lemon) using ion chromatography and calcium uptake was visualized using phosphor-images of (45)Ca(2+). Leaves of plants grown in hydroponics had elevated calcium in the centre of the leaf compared with the leaf margin, while K(+) was distributed homogeneously over the leaf. This calcium was shown to be localised to the mesophyll vacuoles using EDAX. Stomatal density and evapotranspiration (water loss per unit area of leaf) were equal at inner and outer sections of the leaf. Unequal ion distribution but uniformity of water loss suggested that there was a difference in the extent of uncoupling of calcium and water transport between the inner and outer leaf. Since isolated tissue from the inner and outer leaf were able to accumulate similar amounts of calcium, it is proposed that the spatial variation of leaf calcium concentration is due to differential ion delivery to the two regions rather than tissue/cell-specific differences in ion uptake capacity. There was a positive correlation between whole leaf calcium concentration and the difference in calcium concentration between inner and outer leaf tissue. Exposing the plants to increased humidity reduced transpiration and calcium delivery to the leaf and abolished this spatial variation of calcium concentration. Mechanisms of calcium delivery to leaves are discussed. An understanding of calcium delivery and distribution within coriander will inform strategies to reduce the incidence of calcium-related syndromes such as tip-burn and provides a robust model for the transport of ions and other substances in the leaf xylem.
| 19,008,410
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Genomic loss of microRNA-101 leads to overexpression of histone methyltransferase EZH2 in cancer.
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Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a mammalian histone methyltransferase that contributes to the epigenetic silencing of target genes and regulates the survival and metastasis of cancer cells. EZH2 is overexpressed in aggressive solid tumors by mechanisms that remain unclear. Here we show that the expression and function of EZH2 in cancer cell lines are inhibited by microRNA-101 (miR-101). Analysis of human prostate tumors revealed that miR-101 expression decreases during cancer progression, paralleling an increase in EZH2 expression. One or both of the two genomic loci encoding miR-101 were somatically lost in 37.5% of clinically localized prostate cancer cells (6 of 16) and 66.7% of metastatic disease cells (22 of 33). We propose that the genomic loss of miR-101 in cancer leads to overexpression of EZH2 and concomitant dysregulation of epigenetic pathways, resulting in cancer progression.
| 19,008,416
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A role for the ESCRT system in cell division in archaea.
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Archaea are prokaryotic organisms that lack endomembrane structures. However, a number of hyperthermophilic members of the Kingdom Crenarchaea, including members of the Sulfolobus genus, encode homologs of the eukaryotic endosomal sorting system components Vps4 and ESCRT-III (endosomal sorting complex required for transport-III). We found that Sulfolobus ESCRT-III and Vps4 homologs underwent regulation of their expression during the cell cycle. The proteins interacted and we established the structural basis of this interaction. Furthermore, these proteins specifically localized to the mid-cell during cell division. Overexpression of a catalytically inactive mutant Vps4 in Sulfolobus resulted in the accumulation of enlarged cells, indicative of failed cell division. Thus, the archaeal ESCRT system plays a key role in cell division.
| 19,008,417
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IL-7 sustains CD31 expression in human naive CD4+ T cells and preferentially expands the CD31+ subset in a PI3K-dependent manner.
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The CD31(+) subset of human naive CD4(+) T cells is thought to contain the population of cells that have recently emigrated from the thymus, while their CD31(-) counterparts have been proposed to originate from CD31(+) cells after homeostatic cell division. Naive T-cell maintenance is known to involve homeostatic cytokines such as interleukin-7 (IL-7). It remains to be investigated what role this cytokine has in the homeostasis of naive CD4(+) T-cell subsets defined by CD31 expression. We provide evidence that IL-7 exerts a preferential proliferative effect on CD31(+) naive CD4(+) T cells from adult peripheral blood compared with the CD31(-) subset. IL-7-driven proliferation did not result in loss of CD31 expression, suggesting that CD31(+) naive CD4(+) T cells can undergo cytokine-driven homeostatic proliferation while preserving CD31. Furthermore, IL-7 sustained or increased CD31 expression even in nonproliferating cells. Both proliferation and CD31 maintenance were dependent on the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. Taken together, our data suggest that during adulthood CD31(+) naive CD4(+) T cells are maintained by IL-7 and that IL-7-based therapies may exert a preferential effect on this population.
| 19,008,454
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Novel markers reveal subpopulations of subplate neurons in the murine cerebral cortex.
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The subplate lays the foundation of the developing cerebral cortex, and abnormalities have been suggested to contribute to various brain developmental disorders. The causal relationship between cellular pathologies and cognitive disorders remains unclear, and therefore, a better understanding of the role of subplate cells in cortical development is essential. Only by determining the molecular taxonomy of this diverse class of neurons can we identify the subpopulations that may contribute differentially to cortical development. We identified novel markers for murine subplate cells by comparing gene expression of subplate and layer 6 of primary visual and somatosensory cortical areas of postnatal day (P)8 old mice using a microarray-based approach. We examined the utility of these markers in well-characterized mutants (reeler, scrambler, and p35-KO) where the subplate is displaced in relation to the cortical plate. In situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry confirmed subplate-selective expression of complexin 3, connective tissue growth factor, nuclear receptor-related 1/Nr4a2, and monooxygenase Dbh-like 1 while transmembrane protein 163 also had additional expression in layer 5, and DOPA decarboxylase was also present in the white matter. Localization of marker-positive cells in the reeler and p35-KO cortices suggests different subpopulations of subplate cells. These new markers open up possibilities for further identification of subplate subpopulations in research and in neuropathological diagnosis.
| 19,008,461
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Variation in outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage: a study of neurosurgical units in UK and Ireland.
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The purpose of the study was to describe the characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with confirmed aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and to compare outcomes across neurosurgical units (NSUs) in the UK and Ireland. A cohort of patients admitted to NSUs with subarachnoid hemorrhage between September 14, 2001 and September 13, 2002 was studied longitudinally. Information was collected to characterize clinical condition on admission and treatment. Death or severe disability, defined by the Glasgow Outcome Score-Extended, was ascertained at 6 months. Data for 2397 patients with a confirmed aneurysm and no coexisting neurological pathology were collected by all 34 NSUs in the UK and Ireland. Aneurysm repair was attempted in 2198 (91.7%) patients (surgical clipping, 57.7%; endovascular coiling, 41.2%; other repair, 1.0%). Most patients (65.0%) were admitted to the NSU on the same day or the day after their hemorrhage; 32.0% of treated patients had the aneurysm repaired on the day of admission to the NSU (day 0), day 1 or day 2 and a further 39.3% by day 7. Glasgow Outcome Score-Extended at 6 months was obtained for 90.6% of patients (2172), of whom 38.5% had an unfavorable outcome. The median risk of an unfavorable outcome for all patients was 31% (5(th) and 95(th) percentiles, 12% and 83%), depending on prerepair prognostic factors. After adjustment for case-mix, the percentage of patients with an unfavorable outcome in each NSU did not differ significantly from the overall mean. In this study that collected representative data from the UK and Ireland, there was no evidence that the performance of any NSU differed from the average.
| 19,008,474
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Mesenteric lymph duct ligation prevents trauma/hemorrhage shock-induced cardiac contractile dysfunction.
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Clinical and experimental studies have shown that trauma combined with hemorrhage shock (T/HS) is associated with myocardial contractile dysfunction. However, the initial events triggering the cardiac dysfunction are not fully elucidated. Thus we tested the hypothesis that factors carried in intestinal (mesenteric) lymph contribute to negative inotropic effects in rats subjected to a laparotomy (T) plus hemorrhagic shock (HS; mean arterial blood pressure of 30-40 Torr for 90 min) using a Langendorff isolated heart preparation. Left ventricular (LV) function was assessed 24 h after trauma plus sham shock (T/SS) or T/HS by recording the LV developed pressure (LVDP) and the maximal rate of LVDP rise and fall ( +/- dP/dt(max)) in five groups of rats: 1) naive noninstrumented rats, 2) rats subjected to T/SS, 3) rats subjected to T/HS, 4) rats subjected to T/SS with mesenteric lymph duct ligation (T/SS+LDL), or 5) rats subjected to T/HS+LDL. Cardiac function was comparable in hearts from naive, T/SS, and T/SS+LDL rats. Both LVDP and +/- dP/dt(max) were significantly depressed after T/HS. The T/HS hearts also manifested a blunted responsiveness to increases in coronary flow rates and Ca(2+), and this was prevented by LDL preceding T/HS. Although electrocardiograms were normal under physiological conditions, when the T/HS hearts were perfused with low Ca(2+) levels ( approximately 0.5 mM), prolonged P-R intervals and second-degree plus Wenckebach-type atrioventricular blocks were observed. No such changes occurred in the control or T/HS+LDL hearts. The effects of T/HS were similar to those of the Ca(2+) channel antagonist diltiazem, indicating that an impairment of cellular Ca(2+) handling contributes to T/HS-induced cardiac dysfunction. In conclusion, gut-derived factors carried in mesenteric lymph are responsible for acute T/HS-induced cardiac dysfunction.
| 19,008,486
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Cancer screening in US workers.
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Regular cancer screening can prevent the development of some cancers and increase patient survival for other cancers. We evaluated the reported cancer screening prevalence among a nationally representative sample of all US workers with data from the 2000 and 2005 Cancer Screening Supplements of the National Health Interview Survey. Overall, workers with the lowest rates of health insurance coverage (in particular, Hispanic workers, agricultural workers, and construction workers) reported the lowest cancer screening. There was no significant improvement from 2000 to 2005.
| 19,008,502
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Overexpression of apolipoprotein F reduces HDL cholesterol levels in vivo.
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Apolipoprotein F (ApoF) is a protein component of several lipoprotein classes including HDL. It is also known as lipid transfer inhibitor protein (LTIP) based on its ability to inhibit lipid transfer between lipoproteins ex vivo. We sought to investigate the role of ApoF in HDL metabolism. Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) based on serotype 8, were used to overexpress either murine or human ApoF in mice. Overexpression of murine ApoF significantly reduced total cholesterol levels by 28% (P<0.001), HDL by 27% (P<0.001), and phospholipid levels by 19% (P<0.001). Overexpression of human ApoF had similar effects. Human ApoF was nearly exclusively HDL-associated in mice. In agreement with this finding, greater than 90% of the ApoF in human plasma was found on HDL(3), with only a small amount on LDL. Overexpression of mouse ApoF accelerated the plasma clearance of [(3)H]-cholesteryl ether labeled HDL. Plasma from mice overexpressing ApoF showed improved macrophage cholesterol efflux on a per HDL-C basis. ApoF overexpression reduces HDL cholesterol levels in mice by increasing clearance of HDL-CE. ApoF may be an important determinant of HDL metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport.
| 19,008,531
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Flow-based image abstraction.
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We present a non-photorealistic rendering technique that automatically delivers a stylized abstraction of a photograph. Our approach is based on shape/color filtering guided by a vector field that describes the flow of salient features in the image. This flow-based filtering significantly improves the abstraction performance in terms of feature enhancement and stylization. Our method is simple, fast, and easy to implement. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in producing stylistic and feature-enhancing illustrations from photographs.
| 19,008,556
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Multiscale time activity data exploration via temporal clustering visualization spreadsheet.
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Time-varying data is usually explored by animation or arrays of static images. Neither is particularly effective for classifying data by different temporal activities. Important temporal trends can be missed due to the lack of ability to find them with current visualization methods. In this paper, we propose a method to explore data at different temporal resolutions to discover and highlight data based upon time-varying trends. Using the wavelet transform along the time axis, we transform data points into multi-scale time series curve sets. The time curves are clustered so that data of similar activity are grouped together, at different temporal resolutions. The data are displayed to the user in a global time view spreadsheet where she is able to select temporal clusters of data points, and filter and brush data across temporal scales. With our method, a user can interact with data based on time activities and create expressive visualizations.
| 19,008,560
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Calibration, registration, and synchronization for high precision augmented reality haptics.
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In our current research we examine the application of visuo-haptic augmented reality setups in medical training. To this end, highly accurate calibration, system stability, and low latency are indispensable prerequisites. These are necessary to maintain user immersion and avoid breaks in presence which potentially diminish the training outcome. In this paper we describe the developed calibration methods for visuo-haptic integration, the hybrid tracking technique for stable alignment of the augmentation, and the distributed framework ensuring low latency and component synchronization. Finally, we outline an early prototype system based on the multimodal augmented reality framework. The latter allows colocated visuo-haptic interaction with real and virtual scene components in a simplified open surgery setting.
| 19,008,561
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Correlation of intra-operative frozen section consultation with the final diagnosis at a referral center in Karachi, Pakistan.
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The correlation of intra-operative frozen section diagnosis with final diagnosis on permanent sections is an integral part of quality assurance in surgical pathology laboratories. However, there is scant data on this topic from Pakistan. Similarly, no local study has looked at frozen section turnaround times. To analyze indications, discrepancies and deferrals for all frozen sections performed or received at our institution over a 1-year period and to determine the turnaround time for frozen section diagnoses in our cases. A retrospective study, was undertaken, of all frozen sections reported at our institution between 1 st January 2006 and 31 st December 2006. The records of these cases were reviewed. The number and types of discrepancies, including sampling and interpretation errors were determined. The deferred cases and causes for deferral were also determined. The turnaround times of all cases were recorded. Agreement rates were calculated as percent agreement, sensitivity/specificity and positive and negative predictive values. A total of 356 specimens were received. Out of these, 14 cases (3.93%) were deferred to permanent sections. Of the remaining 342 cases, the discordant diagnostic frequency was 2.92% while the concordant diagnostic frequency was 97.08%. The most common pathological processes encountered were presence/typing of neoplasm (51.12%) and assessment of surgical margins (27.53%). The average turn-around time for frozen section diagnosis was 23 minutes; 60% of the cases were reported in 20 minutes or less. The accuracy of frozen section diagnosis at AKUH pathology department can be interpreted as comparable with most international quality control statistics for frozen sections. The overall error and deferral rates are within the range of previously published errors in pathology. Deferrals and errors in some sub-specialties were higher than in others. The results suggest specific measures should be taken to reduce the number of discrepancies. The overall goal is to reduce errors, reduce the number of deferrals and improve frozen section diagnosis turnaround times.
| 19,008,568
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A clinicopathological study of malignant melanoma with special reference to atypical presentation.
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Malignant melanoma is a tumor of melanocytic origin. Lymphatic and hematogenous metastases are common in this condition. Retrospective analysis was performed in 16 consecutive cases diagnosed histopathologically as malignant melanoma at the pathology department of a medial college in eastern India. 75% of the patients were male; majority of them was in their sixth decade. All (100%) the lesions were pigmented. The primary site was known in all cases, except two (12.5%). Out of the 14 cases with known primary site 11 (78.57%) were cutaneous melanomas, including one arising in labia minora, two (14.29%) were ocular and one (7.14%) was vaginal in origin. Among cutaneous melanomas, superficial spreading type was the commonest variety and mixed population of epithelioid and spindle cell was the commonest histopathological pattern. The commonest grade of invasion was grade III (Clark's). The clinical presentation of the case of vaginal melanoma and the two cases of secondary melanomas, including the one with obscure primary tumor, were bewildering and hence are discussed separately.
| 19,008,571
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Mucin-producing signet ring cell adenoma of the thyroid.
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Signet ring cell adenoma of the thyroid, though rare, is well documented. This change is chiefly due to intracellular accumulation of thyroglobulin that appears mucinous. Awareness of this entity is important as it may closely simulate a metastatic mucin-secreting signet ring cell carcinoma. Although the mucinous material in signet ring cells has been reported to stain positive with thyroglobulin, in some cases it may not be so. We herein describe a rare case of a 46-year-old man who was hypothyroid and the mass removed from the thyroid showed a mucin-producing signet ring cell adenoma of the thyroid.
| 19,008,577
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Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis with pseudomyxoma peritonei.
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Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis is an extremely rare tumor with very few case reports in literature. Pseudomyxoma peritonei is an uncommon condition characterized by the presence of mucinous gelatinous material in the peritoneal cavity. It occurs secondary to primary mucinous neoplasms of particularly the appendix and the ovary. We present a case of a 35-year-old female who had a history of dull aching pain in the right flank since one and a half years. Upon ultrasonography (USG) and computerized tomography (CT) scan, there was a large cystic mass measuring 15x15x12 cm, extending into the right lumbar region. Grossly, the entire kidney was converted into a cystic mass measuring 15x15x12 cm containing gelatinous mucinous material weighing 1 kg. Histologically, the tumor was composed of simple and complex glandular acini together with a superficial resemblance to colonic mucosa with abundant extracellular mucin. Thus, a diagnosis of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis leading to pseudomyxoma peritonei was made.
| 19,008,588
|
Chondroid lipoma in a child.
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Chondroid lipoma (CL), a rare lipoma variant, has not been described well for patients younger than 14 years of age. We herein report an extremely unusual instance of CL in a 7-year-old child. The cut surface of the tumor showed peculiar tan-brown and yellow-white areas. Histopathological sections showed the presence of eosinophilic variably vacuolated round- to oval-spindle cells in a myxo-hyaline background. The findings were consistent with CL. The case is reported because of its extreme rarity.
| 19,008,590
|
Multiple myeloma presenting with coexisting severe marrow hypoplasia.
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A 68-year-old man was referred to us with clinical and bone marrow (BM) features compatible with aplastic anemia. The correct diagnosis, hypoplasia of the BM coexisting with multiple myeloma, became apparent after noting rouleaux in the peripheral blood (PB) and approximately 50% plasma cells in the touch imprint of one of the two BM biopsies done. As standard therapy was precluded, the patient was put on dexamethasone but died within 4 days. This first case of the coexistence of untreated myeloma with aplastic BM shows that even apparently straightforward hypoplasia seen on the BM biopsy should be interpreted in conjunction with the PB smear and the BM touch imprint findings. Among other things, the BM biopsy and imprint should be repeated if the PB has findings such as rouleaux that do not fit with straightforward aplastic anemia. The combination of myeloma and BM aplasia precludes standard therapy and is rapidly fatal.
| 19,008,591
|
Erosive effects of acidic center-filled chewing gum on primary and permanent enamel.
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The higher incidence of dental erosion in children and teenagers possibly reflects a high intake of acidic food and beverages as well as a more frequent diagnosis on this condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the erosive potential of acidic filling of chewing gum in primary and permanent enamel. Eighty enamel blocks (40 primary and 40 permanent teeth) were used and randomly distributed into eight groups. Groups were divided according to types of dental substrates (permanent or primary), frequency of exposure to the acidic substance (2X or 4X/day), and concentration (pure or diluted). Exposure time to the acidic content of the chewing gum was five minutes under agitation, during five days. All groups showed a significant decrease in surface microhardness (P P = 0.002), D3 (pure, 4X/day) and D4 (diluted, 4X/day) (P = 0.009) regarding the concentration, then the diluted acid content was associated with a greater decrease in microhardness. It is concluded that the acidic filling of a chewing gum reduced the microhardness of primary and permanent enamel.
| 19,008,622
|
Evaluation of different sterilization and disinfection methods on commercially made preformed crowns.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes caused by different sterilization or disinfection methods on the vestibular surface of four commercially made preformed crowns using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Preformed crowns (NuSmile Primary Anterior Crown (NSC), Kinder Krowns (KK), Pedo Pearls (PP) and polycarbonate crowns (PC)) were sterilized and/or disinfected by one of the following techniques: no sterilization or disinfection (G1 control group); steam autoclaving at 134 degrees C (30 psi) for 4 min (G2); steam autoclaving at 134 degrees C (30 psi) for 12 min (G3); steam autoclaving at 121 degrees C (15 psi) for 30 min (G4); and ultrasonication in a bath containing 4% Lysetol AF for 5 min at room temperature (chemical disinfection) (G5). Scanning electron micrographs of the crowns were taken before and after their sterilization or disinfection. The changes on the vestibular surface were then scored for the presence or absence of crazing, contour alteration, fracturing, and vestibular surface changes. The data were analyzed statistically using the chi-square test. No changes were observed before and after sterilization or disinfection in the stereomicroscopic evaluation of the vestibular surface of the crowns. However, all methods in which steam autoclaving was used to sterilize the crowns caused significant (P < 0.05) crazing and contour alterations of the vestibular surface of the crowns when they were examined by SEM. Chemical disinfection using an aldehyde-free disinfectant is the preferred method of disinfection for crowns that have been used previously in other dental patients.
| 19,008,625
|
Detection of diastolic abnormality by dyssynchrony imaging: correlation with coronary artery disease in patients presenting with visibly normal wall motion.
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Post-systolic shortening (PSS) is a sensitive indicator of myocardial ischemia. We have developed a tissue Doppler imaging technique that portrays PSS, and whether PSS correlates with coronary artery disease (CAD) was investigated in 186 patients presenting with chest pain and normal echocardiograms. Delays of the displacement peaks from end-systole were calculated in the apical views and displayed from green (0 ms) to red (>or=100 ms): detection of diastolic abnormality by dyssynchrony imaging (DADI). CAD was judged positive by DADI when the left ventricular segments were color-coded red. Patients subsequently underwent thallium-201 myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (n=150), coronary angiography (CAG, n=74), or both (n=37). CAD(-) was defined as negative scintigraphy test and/or no significant coronary artery stenosis by CAG. In 43 patients (23%), CAD(+) was confirmed by CAG as >75% diameter stenosis. DADI predicted CAD with sensitivity of 60%, specificity of 75%, predictive accuracy of 72%, positive predictive value of 42%, and negative predictive value of 86%. Among 74 patients who underwent CAG, sensitivity was best for the left anterior descending artery. DADI detected the regional diastolic abnormality, which correlated with the presence of CAD in patients presenting with visibly normal wall motion.
| 19,008,630
|
[The establishment of SUMC (Severance Union Medical College) Psychiatry Department and the formation of humanistic tradition].
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Psychiatry is a branch of medicine which deals with the problem of mental health. Although psychiatric concept and treatment is not absent in traditional medicine in Korea, it was not regarded as an independent discipline of medicine. Modern psychiatry was introduced into Korea as modern Western medicine w as introduced in 19th century. The American medical missionary Dr. Allen and Dr. Heron gave the first classification of mental diseases of Korean patients in their first year report of Jejoongwon hospital. The statistics are characterized by relatively high rate of hysteria patients among the patients with mental disorders. It was Dr. Mclaren who took the charge of the Psychiatric Department of Severance hospital, the successor of Jejoongwon hospital. As a psychiatrist, Dr. Mclaren had a deep interest in human nature and mind. His thinking on the subjects was based on his Christian faith and philosophy. He claimed that Christian faith plays an important role in curing mental diseases. And several medical students decided to become a psychiatrist under his influence. Among them is Dr. Lee Chung Chul who took the charge of the Department of Psychiatry after Mclaren. After graduation in 1927, Dr. Lee studied in Peking Union Medical College, Australia, and Japan. His main research interests were focused on the biological aspects of mental disorders, and he published several important papers on the subject. But his unexpected early resignation and subsequent expulsion of Dr. Mclaren from Korea by Japanese colonial government hindered further development of psychiatry in Severance Union Medical College until the Liberation from Japanese occupation in 1945. But some of their students specialized in psychiatry during the hard period of early 1940s and they played an important role in the development of modem psychiatry in Korea after the Liberation.
| 19,008,654
|
Success indicators for integrating mental health interventions with community-based rehabilitation projects.
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Community interventions for people with physical disabilities and for people with mental illness have evolved following similar trajectories, although at different periods of time. This study develops and tests indicators for successful integration of community-based rehabilitation (CBR)-mental health and development (MHD) services. An in-depth study was conducted of two organizations in Sri Lanka and India that successfully integrated CBR and MHD services as well as two organizations in Nepal and Bangladesh, which were planning integration. Interviews and focus groups were used to gather nonconfidential information. The study suggests many benefits of integration and several indicators of readiness: willingness to work with mentally ill people, a basic understanding of the mental health concept and mental illness problems, a match of context and strategy between current CBR activities and proposed MHD activities, stability of basic resources and infrastructure in the organization. A second set of indicators determined the long-term viability of an integrated CBR-MHD approach: ability to strategize and plan a mental health programme, ability to network with stakeholders effectively, ability to make use of resources efficiently. A major finding of the study was the need for training in the practical aspects of integration of mental health interventions with CBR. Tool sets are available that can be used by donors and by local organizations for assessing needs and readiness as well as developing viable strategies for the integration of community-based mental health interventions into existing CBR work.
| 19,008,676
|
Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation attendance in England: variability by region and clinical characteristics.
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Cardiac rehabilitation is an effective but underprovided treatment for patients recovering from acute cardiac events. The geographical spread of provision has not been investigated recently in any country. This study aimed to investigate the level of participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs of patients following myocardial infarction or revascularization (eligible patients) and the geographical equity of attendance. Questionnaire data were collected from all cardiac rehabilitation centers in England for the year 2003/2004. The number of patients attending rehabilitation was compared with eligible patients across the 9 Government Office Regions of England as indicated by Hospital Episode Statistics. Nationally, 29% of eligible patients attended rehabilitation, while within various regions, the proportion of eligible patients participating in rehabilitation ranged between 14% (95% CI, 13.2-14.3) and 37% (95% CI, 36.6-37.6). Participation also differed significantly by primary cardiac event: myocardial infarction, 25%; percutaneous coronary intervention, 24%; and coronary artery bypass surgery, 66% (P < .001). The participation rate of eligible patients in cardiac rehabilitation was low in all regions. There were large differences between regions with widely varying incidence of attendance in different parts of the country.
| 19,008,693
|
Patterns of psychosocial adjustment following cardiac surgery.
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The purpose of this research was to document the postoperative experiences of a group of cardiac surgery patients with a view to identifying factors relevant to postsurgical mood and adjustment. Forty-six cardiac surgery patients (mean age = 63.6 years, SD = 11.0) were recruited through a cardiac rehabilitation program at a large teaching hospital in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. A semistructured interview (Austin CEP Interview) was used to canvass a broad range of postsurgical issues, and 3 mood questionnaires were administered to provide a quantitative assessment of mood at the time of interview. Three distinct patterns of adjustment and outcome following cardiac surgery were identified and described: "new well me," "new sick me," and "me as always." Undergoing major cardiac surgery per se did not predict mood and adjustment difficulties, whereas the presence of chronic and disabling cardiac symptoms prior to surgery did. Adjustment issues primarily manifested as the extent of change in a patient's identity relating to health and illness perceptions, with age acting as a predictor of the type of adjustment difficulties experienced. This study highlights the significance of psychosocial factors for assessing surgical outcomes and the importance of tailoring rehabilitation programs to the specific needs of individual patients.
| 19,008,695
|
Measurement of functional activity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the grocery shelving task.
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The aim of this study was to develop a standardized test to evaluate functional performance, including arm activity, of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Fifty-seven patients (mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second % predicted = 46) were recruited to measure reproducibility (n = 10) of a grocery shelving task (GST) over 6 weeks without intervention and responsiveness (n = 47) of the task following a 6-week pulmonary rehabilitation program. In 25 of these patients, the pattern and magnitude of cardiorespiratory responses during the task were compared with the unsupported upper limb exercise test. Time taken to perform the GST was highly reproducible over a 6-week period (ICC = 0.97). Patients demonstrated a significant 8.0% improvement (95% CI, 4.6-11.3) on the task following pulmonary rehabilitation. There were significant correlations for peak cardiorespiratory responses between the GST and the unsupported upper limb exercise test. The findings suggest that a standardized GST is a reproducible, valid, and responsive functional outcome measure that incorporates unsupported arm activity for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
| 19,008,696
|
Interactions between metallopeptidase 3 polymorphism rs679620 and BMI in predicting blood pressure in African-American women with hypertension.
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BMI represents an internal metabolic and physiological environment that plays a key role in development of high blood pressure (BP) for many Americans. African-American women have a higher prevalence of high BP and being overweight than men or other ethnic groups. This study examines the genetic-environmental interaction effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms and BMI on BP among African-American women using 1418 African-American women and men from the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy study. A total of 403 tests of single nucleotide polymorphism-BMI interaction were conducted using methods of internal replication, cross-validation, and false discovery rate. One single nucleotide polymorphism (located in the ATP6B1 gene, rs2266917) passed adjustments for multiple testing and had a significant independent main effect (P = 0.0018) on diastolic BP among African-American women. A significant sex-specific interaction effect was found between MMP3_rs679620 and BMI in African-American women (P = 0.0009). MMP3_rs679620 (A-G polymorphism) encodes a Lys-Glu nonsynonymous variant at the 45th amino acid of metallopeptidase 3 and indicates a putative functional modification of metallopeptidase 3. These findings were not identified in African-American men. MMP3_rs679620 appears to have a protective effect on diastolic BP in women with high BMI. Surprisingly, MMP3_rs679620 had the opposite effect on women with low BMI, resulting in higher diastolic BP.
| 19,008,710
|
The beta-lactam antibiotic, ceftriaxone, dramatically improves survival, increases glutamate uptake and induces neurotrophins in stroke.
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Ceftriaxone has been reported to reduce neuronal damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in an in-vitro model of neuronal ischaemia through increased expression and activity of the glutamate transporter, GLT1. We tested the effects of ceftriaxone on mortality, neurological outcome, and infarct size in experimental stroke in rats and looked for underlying mechanisms. Male normotensive Wistar rats received ceftriaxone (200 mg/kg intraperitoneal) as a single injection 90 min after middle cerebral artery occlusion (90 min with reperfusion). Forty-eight hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion, infarct size (MRI) and neurological deficits were estimated. GLT1 expression was determined by real time RT-PCR, immunoblotting and promoter reporter assay, astrocyte GLT1 activity by measuring glutamate uptake. Bacterial load in various organs was measured by real time RT-PCR, neurotrophins and IL-6 by immunoblotting. Ceftriaxone dramatically reduced early (24-h) mortality from 34.5% (vehicle treatment, n = 29) to 0% (P < 0.01, n = 19). In a subgroup, followed up for 4 weeks, mortality persisted at 0%. Ceftriaxone strongly tended to reduce infarct size, it significantly improved neuronal survival within the penumbra, reduced neurological deficits (P < 0.001) and led to an upregulation of neurotrophins (P < 0.01) in the peri-infarct zone. Ceftriaxone did not increase GLT1 expression, but increased GLT1 activity (P < 0.05). Ceftriaxone causes a significant reduction in acute stroke mortality in a poststroke treatment regimen in animal studies. Improved neurological performance and survival may be due to neuroprotection by activation of GLT1 and a stimulation of neurotrophins resulting in an increased number of surviving neurons in the penumbra.
| 19,008,722
|
Integrated analysis of cardiac tissue structure and function for improved identification of reversible myocardial dysfunction.
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Myocardial deformation imaging and contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI) have been used to define myocardial viability in ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. This study evaluated the incremental predictive value of an integrated analysis of function and tissue structure for functional improvement after revascularization therapy. In 59 patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction, myocardial viability was defined by pixel-tracking-derived myocardial deformation imaging and ceMRI to predict recovery of function at 9+/-2 months follow-up after revascularization. For each left ventricular segment in a 16-segment model, peak systolic radial strain was determined from parasternal two-dimensional echocardiographic views using an automatic frame-by-frame tracking system of natural acoustic echocardiographic markers, and extent of hyperenhancement using ceMRI. Five categories were generated for each parameter, allowing subsequent combination. The predictive power for segmental improvement in function was determined for each of the modalities as well as the combination of both. From 512 dysfunctional segments at baseline, 251 segments (49%) demonstrated functional recovery. The accuracy to predict functional recovery was area under curve (AUC)=0.846 for peak systolic radial strain and AUC=0.834 for extent of hyperenhancement. A combination of both parameters improved the predictive accuracy compared with hyperenhancement alone, AUC=0.861, P value of less than 0.001. In sequential Cox models, the predictive power for segmental functional recovery of extent of hyperenhancement alone (chi model 171.0, P<0.001), or peak systolic radial strain alone (chi model 205.9, P<0.001), was strengthened by a combination of both parameters (chi model 248.5, P<0.001). The advantage of image integration was particularly strong in those segments with intermediate degree of late enhancement (DeltaAUC=0.065, P<0.001). Integration of advanced information on myocardial function using deformation imaging and findings on myocardial tissue structure increases the accuracy to identify reversible myocardial dysfunction.
| 19,008,764
|
Relationship between bone mineral density and clinical features in women with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
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To evaluate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and clinical features in women with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (IBPPV). Prospective study. Tertiary referral center. Patients with BMD measurements made after a diagnosis of IBPPV were included. The IBPPV (n = 78) and control groups (n = 177) were divided into ordinal age categories of similar size. Group A (n = 20) patients were aged 20 to 39 years, Group B (n = 21) patients were aged 40 to 49 years, Group C (n = 18) patients were aged 50 to 59 years, and Group D (n = 19) patients were aged 60 to 69 years. In each age range, the BMD values were compared according to the number of canalith repositioning maneuvers (CRMs) or the presence of recurrence. We divided all patients into 2 groups with the normal and abnormal BMD values and compared both groups based on the number of CRMs or the frequency of recurrence. The BMD value, the number of CRMs, and the presence of recurrence. In Groups A, B, and C, there was a significant difference in the BMD values between the control, 1-visit, and 2-or-more-visits subgroups. In Group D, the 2-or-more-visits subgroup had a lower BMD value than other subgroups. The difference in the number of CRMs between the normal and abnormal BMD groups was significant. In Groups A and B, there was a significant difference in the BMD values between the control, first-attack, and recurrent-attacks subgroups. In Groups C and D, the recurrent-attacks subgroup had lower BMD values than other subgroups. The difference in the frequency of recurrence between the normal and abnormal BMD groups was significant. Patients with IBPPV had lower BMD values compared with control subjects, and patients with low BMD values showed a significant increase in the number of CRMs required and the recurrence rate.
| 19,008,769
|
Assessing stapes piston position using computed tomography: a cadaveric study.
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Temporal bone computed tomographic (CT) scanning in the postoperative stapedotomy patient is inaccurate in assessing stapes piston position within the vestibule. Poststapedotomy patients that have persistent vertigo may undergo CT scanning to assess the position of the stapes piston within the vestibule to rule out overly deep insertion. Vertigo is a recognized complication of the deep piston, and CT evaluation is often recommended. The accuracy of CT scan in this setting is unestablished. Stapedotomy was performed on 12 cadaver ears, and stainless steel McGee pistons were placed. The cadaver heads were then scanned using a fine-cut temporal bone protocol. Temporal bone dissection was performed with microscopic measurement of the piston depth in the vestibule. These values were compared with depth of intravestibular penetration measured on CT scan by 4 independent measurements. The intravestibular penetration as assessed by computed tomography was consistently greater than the value found on cadaveric anatomic dissection. The radiographic bias was greater when piston location within the vestibule was shallower. The axial CT scan measurement was 0.53 mm greater, on average, than the anatomic measurement. On average, the coronal CT measurement was 0.68 mm greater than the anatomic measurement. The degree of overestimation of penetration, however, was highly inconsistent. Standard temporal bone CT scan is neither an accurate nor precise examination of stapes piston depth within the vestibule. We found that CT measurement consistently overstated intravestibular piston depth. Computed tomography is not a useful study in the evaluation of piston depth for poststapedectomy vertigo and is of limited value in this setting.
| 19,008,770
|
Toll-like receptors in ischemia-reperfusion injury.
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Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries are implicated in a large array of pathological conditions such as myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, and hepatic, renal, and intestinal ischemia, as well as following cardiovascular and transplant surgeries. The hallmark of these pathologies is excessive inflammation. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are recognized as one of the main contributors to pathogen-induced inflammation and, more recently, injury-induced inflammation. Endogenous ligands such as low-molecular hyaluronic acid, fibronectin, heat shock protein 70, and heparin sulfate were all found to be cleaved in the inflamed tissue and to activate TLR2 and TLR4, initiating an inflammatory response even in the absence of pathogens and infiltrating immune cells. In this review, we discuss the contribution of TLR activation in hepatic, renal, cerebral, intestinal, and myocardial I/R injuries. A greater understanding of the role of TLRs in I/R injuries may aid in the development of specific TLR-targeted therapeutics to treat these conditions.
| 19,008,778
|
Retinoid X receptor alpha participation in dexamethasone-induced rat bile acid coenzyme A-amino acid N-acyltransferase expression in septic liver.
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To test the hypothesis that dexamethasone (Dex) treatment would restore rat hepatic bile acid coenzyme A-amino acid N-acyltransferase (rBAT) expression in septic rats after cecal ligation and puncture by increasing expression of retinoic acid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha), we assessed survival rate and bile and bile salt concentration in the Dex-treated septic group and compared these results with those for a nontreated septic group, a Dex-treated nonseptic group, and a sham group. Dexamethasone treatment (0.01 mg/kg) significantly improved the survival rate and increased the bile and bile salt concentration in the bile ducts of septic rats (P = <0.05). In our assessment of bile salt-related genes, during sepsis, there were decreases in protein and mRNA expression of rBAT and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1). Treatment with Dex restored expression of rBAT and RXR[alpha] but not CYP7A1, bile salt export pump, or multidrug resistance associated protein 2 (MRP2). Na+-taurocholate cotransport protein and organic anion transporting polypeptide 1 were unchanged. In addition, treatment with Dex also restored the DNA-binding activity of RXR/farnesoid-X receptor to rBAT promoter containing inverted repeat 1 sequence. In an experiment to confirm our findings, RXR[alpha] siRNA was found to significantly block Dex-induced increases in expression of rBAT in hepatocytes taken from septic rats (P < 0.01). Dex restored the expression of rBAT in septic rats by enhancing RXR[alpha], a process that might explain the mechanism underlying Dex's anticholestatic effect.
| 19,008,781
|
Mathematical modeling of posthemorrhage inflammation in mice: studies using a novel, computer-controlled, closed-loop hemorrhage apparatus.
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Hemorrhagic shock (HS) elicits a global acute inflammatory response, organ dysfunction, and death. We have used mathematical modeling of inflammation and tissue damage/dysfunction to gain insight into this complex response in mice. We sought to increase the fidelity of our mathematical model and to establish a platform for testing predictions of this model. Accordingly, we constructed a computerized, closed-loop system for mouse HS. The intensity, duration, and time to achieve target MAP could all be controlled using a software. Fifty-four male C57/black mice either were untreated or underwent surgical cannulation. The cannulated mice were divided into 8 groups: (a) 1, 2, 3, or 4 h of surgical cannulation alone and b) 1, 2, 3, or 4 h of cannulation + HS (25 mmHg). MAP was sustained by the computer-controlled reinfusion and withdrawal of shed blood within +/-2 mmHg. Plasma was assayed for the cytokines TNF, IL-6, and IL-10 as well as the NO reaction products NO2-/NO3-. The cytokine and NO2-/NO3- data were compared with predictions from a mathematical model of post-hemorrhage inflammation, which was calibrated on different data. To varying degrees, the levels of TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and NO2/NO3 predicted by the mathematical model matched these data closely. In conclusion, we have established a hardware/software platform that allows for highly accurate, reproducible, and mathematically predictable HS in mice.
| 19,008,782
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Simvastatin reduces endotoxin-induced nuclear factor kappaB activation and mortality in guinea pigs despite lowering circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
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Statins, which are effective lipid-lowering drugs, also possess anti-inflammatory potential. However, circulating lipoproteins may also play a protective role during acute inflammatory diseases because of their ability to bind bacterial toxins. Low cholesterol levels have been reported in inflammatory conditions, and plasma cholesterol concentrations inversely correlate with severity and clinical outcome in septic patients. It is thus paradoxical that statins, which drastically reduce circulating cholesterol levels, should be beneficial in patients with inflammatory disease who are already hypocholesterolemic. We investigated the effect of simvastatin on LPS-induced nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation, TNF release, and mortality in guinea pigs, an animal model with a lipoprotein profile and pattern similar to humans. In the present study, simvastatin reduced circulating total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 68% and 76%, respectively, and LPS-induced mortality from 73% to 20%. This reduction was accompanied by a significant reduction of NF-kappaB activation in the liver tissue, splenocytes, and plasma TNF levels by about 80%, 50%, and 77%, respectively. Our data suggest that simvastatin, despite lowering circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, decreased LPS toxicity by reduction of NF-kappaB activation and subsequent release of TNF by modulating 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity and therefore deserves consideration as a possible adjuvant therapy in acute inflammatory disease.
| 19,008,785
|
[Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (van der Knaap disease)].
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A history of the discovery, hypotheses of the pathogenesis, neuromorphologic data, clinical appearances, differential diagnostics and an own description of a single case of rare hereditary children leukoencephalopathy, with megalencephaly, changes of myelin structure and formation of subcortical cysts are presented. Taking into account non-specific clinical appearances of this disease and difficulties of genetic analysis, a priority role of MRI-diagnostics revealing typical signs of the disease is emphasized.
| 19,008,793
|
[Effects of the anticholinesterase drug neuromidin in patients with schizophrenia with marked neurocognitive deficits].
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An objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of neuromidin in stable schizophrenic patients with predominance of symptoms of pseudoorganic deficits. Fifty-five patients stable after a transition from routine medication to monotherapy with risperidone were randomized into two groups with add-on placebo or neuromidin treatment. Patients were studied during 24 weeks. The PANSS and a battery of neurocognitive tests were used for assessment of treatment. In the end of the trial, positive changes on the following PANSS items - N1, N2, N6, N7, G4, G7 and G13 were observed in the neuromidin group. In the placebo group, the changes were found only on one PANSS item - N2. The decrease of scores on this item (emotional withdrawal) during the study was more significant only in the patients receiving neuromidin (p=0,037). The results of assessment of cognitive functioning showed the positive changes in visual-spatial memory, attention, retention and retrieval of data, planning in the group treated with neuromidin. In the placebo group, the positive changes were observed only in one index - one type of mistakes (omissions) in visual-spatial memory test. In the end of the trial, between-group differences were significant for planning - number of tasks with time-limit violation and rule violations. All differences were beneficial for patients treated with neuromidin. Not all tests were sensitive to changes in cognitive status of patients: indices of working memory, psychomotor speed, flexibility of attention were not changed significantly in both groups, nor they changed between groups. The authors conclude that the problem of rationality of add-on anticholinergic treatment in schizophrenia is not solved yet due to the difficulties in selection of patients and tests for cognitive assessment. The need of further studies is emphasized.
| 19,008,797
|
[Clinical-metabolic data base on chronic generalized parodontitis].
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As the result of clinical-lab study of 40 oral fluid parameters in 176 patients new block of data was received disclosing key pathogenetic links of chronic generalized parodontitis (CGP) to which could be attributed endocrine dysfunction with cortisol level reduction and free thyroid hormones increase, enforcing prooxidant processes with multiple iron content increase. As the result of it molecules of medium mass were accumulated; protein spectrum, protein coupling capacity, content of collagenous C-peptide, osteocalcine, Ca, P and Mg were changing. In comprehensive CGP treatment due to Natursyl (lipophilic fraction of holy thistle) applications the disease clinical signs disappeared quicker and biochemical markers normalized.
| 19,008,822
|
[Adequacy analysis of bacteriological studies of pyo-inflammatory diseases of ENT organs with fatal outcome].
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Results of analysis of the case history patients that died from complications of pyo-inflammatory diseases of ear, nose, and throat in multifield hospitals of Moscow during the last 10 years are presented. Data of microbiological studies for the entire period of each patient's stay in the hospitals are extracted They indicate that bacteriological studies are not prescribed as frequently as needed. As a rule, seeding is conducted after a patient is transferred to the intensive therapy department in 16 or more days following admission to the hospital. The materials seeded are largely biological fluids rather than pathological excreta from primary inflammatory foci.
| 19,008,838
|
[New possibilities for the treatment of pharyngeal and tracheal stenoses following resection of an organ and laryngectomy in patients with disseminated laryngeal and laryngopharyngeal cancer].
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Results of the treatment of 174 patients with stenosis of larynx and trachea by conservative, surgical, and endoscopic methods at different periods after operation indicate that application of novel endoscopic and physical techniques substantially extends possibilities for the low-invasive correction of postoperative laryngeal and tracheal stenoses.
| 19,008,841
|
Impediment of E. coli UvrD by DNA-destabilizing force reveals a strained-inchworm mechanism of DNA unwinding.
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Escherichia coli UvrD is a non-ring-shaped model helicase, displaying a 3'-5' polarity in DNA unwinding. Using a transverse magnetic tweezer and DNA hairpins, we measured the unwinding kinetics of UvrD at various DNA-destabilizing forces. The multiform patterns of unwinding bursts and the distributions of the off-times favour the mechanism that UvrD unwinds DNA as a dimer. The two subunits of the dimer coordinate to unwind DNA processively. They can jointly switch strands and translocate backwards on the other strand to allow slow (approximately 40 bp/s) rewinding, or unbind simultaneously to allow quick rehybridization. Partial dissociation of the dimer results in pauses in the middle of the unwinding or increases the translocation rate from approximately 40 to approximately 150 nt/s in the middle of the rewinding. Moreover, the unwinding rate was surprisingly found to decrease from approximately 45 to approximately 10 bp/s when the force is increased from 2 to 12 pN. The results lead to a strained-inchworm mechanism in which a conformational change that bends and tenses the ssDNA is required to activate the dimer.
| 19,008,855
|
N-6 from different sources protect from metabolic alterations to obese patients: a factor analysis.
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First, to analyze the interactions among fatty acids (FAs) from diet, plasma and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (AT), and second, the relationship among FAs from these different sources and obesity-related alterations in extreme obesity. We studied 20 extreme obese subjects. A food-frequency questionnaire was used to determine the FA intakes. Serum and AT (subcutaneous and visceral) FA concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. Cardiometabolic risk parameters were assessed. Principal factor analysis was performed to define specific FA factors in the metabolic alterations. We found important associations among diet, plasma, and AT FA and cardiometabolic parameters. In this regard, it is interesting to highlight the negative associations between plasma cholesterol and dietary n-3 FA. In the subcutaneous depot, as occurred in plasma, n-6 and polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA) were negatively associated with triacylglycerols (TGs). Factor analysis revealed TGs as the unique cardiovascular risk parameter appearing in the first factor (F1), together with n-6 (load factor = 0.94) and PUFA (0.91). Besides, n-3 from diet and plasma appeared in the third factor inversely related to cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and insulin. In an opposite way, dietary and AT trans FAs and saturated FA (SFA) were associated to an increase of the metabolic risk. We have shown, for the first time, the importance of n-6 and PUFAs composition as protective factors against metabolic alterations in extreme obese subjects. These findings support current dietary recommendations to increase PUFA intakes and restrict saturated and trans FA intakes even in extreme obesity.
| 19,008,865
|
BMI compared with central obesity indicators as a predictor of diabetes incidence in Mauritius.
|
The aim of the study was to compare BMI with waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-stature ratio (WSR) as a predictor of diabetes incidence. A total of 1,841 men and 2,104 women of Mauritian Indian and Mauritian Creole ethnicity, aged 25-74 years, free of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and gout were seen at baseline in 1987 or 1992, and follow-up in 1992 and/or 1998. At all time points, participants underwent a 2 h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Hazard ratios for diabetes incidence were estimated applying an interval-censored survival analysis using age as timescale. Six hundred and twenty-eight individuals developed diabetes during the follow-up period. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for diabetes incidence corresponding to a 1 s.d. increase in baseline BMI, WC, WHR, and WSR for Mauritian Indians were 1.49 (1.31-1.71), 1.58 (1.38-1.81), 1.54 (1.37-1.72), and 1.61 (1.41-1.84) in men and 1.33 (1.17-1.51), 1.35 (1.19-1.53), 1.39 (1.24-1.55), and 1.38 (1.21-1.57) in women, respectively; and for Mauritian Creoles they were 1.86 (1.51-2.30), 2.07 (1.68-2.56), 1.92 (1.62-2.26), and 2.17 (1.76-2.69) in men and 1.29 (1.06-1.55), 1.27 (1.04-1.55), 1.24 (1.04-1.48), and 1.27 (1.04-1.55) in women. Paired homogeneity tests showed that there was no difference between BMI and each of the central obesity indicators (all P > 0.05). The relation of BMI with the development of diabetes was as strong as that for indicators of central obesity in this study population.
| 19,008,866
|
Super-shedding and the link between human infection and livestock carriage of Escherichia coli O157.
|
Cattle that excrete more Escherichia coli O157 than others are known as super-shedders. Super-shedding has important consequences for the epidemiology of E. coli O157 in cattle--its main reservoir--and for the risk of human infection, particularly owing to environmental exposure. Ultimately, control measures targeted at super-shedders may prove to be highly effective. We currently have only a limited understanding of both the nature and the determinants of super-shedding. However, super-shedding has been observed to be associated with colonization at the terminal rectum and might also occur more often with certain pathogen phage types. More generally, epidemiological evidence suggests that super-shedding might be important in other bacterial and viral infections.
| 19,008,890
|
The curious case of the tumour virus: 50 years of Burkitt's lymphoma.
|
Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) was first described 50 years ago, and the first human tumour virus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was discovered in BL tumours soon after. Since then, the role of EBV in the development of BL has become more and more enigmatic. Only recently have we finally begun to understand, at the cellular and molecular levels, the complex and interesting interaction of EBV with B cells that creates a predisposition for the development of BL. Here, we discuss the intertwined histories of EBV and BL and their relationship to the cofactors in BL pathogenesis: malaria and the MYC translocation.
| 19,008,891
|
Galectin-1 promotes basal and kainate-induced proliferation of neural progenitors in the dentate gyrus of adult mouse hippocampus.
|
We examined the expression of galectin-1, an endogenous lectin with one carbohydrate-binding domain, in the adult mouse hippocampus after systemic kainate administration. We found that the expression of galectin-1 was remarkably increased in activated astrocytes of the CA3 subregion and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, and in nestin-positive neural progenitors in the dentate gyrus. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that the galectin-1 mRNA level in hippocampus began to increase 1 day after kainate administration and that a 13-fold increase was attained within 3 days. Western blotting analysis confirmed that the level of galectin-1 protein increased to more than three-fold a week after the exposure. We showed that isolated astrocytes express and secrete galectin-1. To clarify the significance of the increased expression of galectin-1 in hippocampus, we compared the levels of hippocampal cell proliferation in galectin-1 knockout and wild-type mice after saline or kainate administration. The number of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells detected in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of galectin-1 knockout mice decreased to 62% with saline, and to 52% with kainate, as compared with the number seen in the wild-type mice. Most of the BrdU-positive cells in SGZ expressed doublecortin and neuron-specific nuclear protein, indicating that they are immature neurons. We therefore concluded that galectin-1 promotes basal and kainate-induced proliferation of neural progenitors in the hippocampus.
| 19,008,923
|
Massive hemorrhage in pregnancy caused by a diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectum--EUS as imaging modality of choice.
|
Hemorrhoidal bleeding is common during pregnancy. Other preexisting anorectal conditions can also be exacerbated by the increased vascular volume and pelvic congestion. We present the case of a young woman who developed life-threatening rectal bleeding requiring early delivery. Through use of endorectal endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), the condition was diagnosed as a diffuse cavernous rectal hemangioma. To our knowledge, this is the first report to present Doppler images of pulsatile flow through the cavernous hemangioma. The EUS findings are correlated with those of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imagining (MRI), and a brief discussion follows.
| 19,008,968
|
Minilaparotomy removal of giant gastric trichobezoar in a female teenager.
|
While small gastric trichobezoars may be removed via gastroscopy, large trichobezoars require surgical removal by gastrotomy through abdominal incision. We present a case of a successful minilaparotomy removal of a giant (2500-g) gastric trichobezoar in a 15-year-old girl with marginal psychological disturbances.
| 19,008,981
|
Recognizing nonadherence in patients with multiple sclerosis and maintaining treatment adherence in the long term.
|
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) face many challenges. One significant challenge is long-term adherence to disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Four of the 6 currently available DMTs involve self-injection, and all cause adverse events of varying degrees of severity. Although effective, the benefit of DMTs is difficult to determine on an immediate basis. Healthcare providers must play a major role in recognizing nonadherence and identifying strategies to promote adherence. We conducted a literature search of the MEDLINE database using the search terms "adherence" and "multiple sclerosis" to gather data from relevant studies investigating adherence among patients with MS. Barriers to maintaining treatment adherence in patients with MS include forgetting the medication, injection anxiety, perceived lack of efficacy, coping with adverse events, and issues with complacency and treatment fatigue. An open and honest healthcare provider-patient relationship is a core element in maintaining motivation and adherence in patients with MS. In addition, continuous education and consistent reinforcement of the value of treatment are essential strategies in the maintenance of treatment adherence. Other strategies to promote adherence include management of treatment expectations and minimization of adverse events. The chronic nature of MS makes treatment adherence challenging in patients with long-standing disease. Patients and healthcare providers need to work together to establish open lines of communication and a trust-based therapeutic relationship to ensure that patients have the knowledge and skills they need to adhere to long-term MS therapy.
| 19,008,986
|
Epidemiology of kidney cancer.
|
Some tumors are known to have a definite cause-effect etiology, but renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is not one of them precisely. With regard to RCC we can only try to identify some clinical and occupational factors as well as substances related to tumorigenesis. Smoking, chemical carcinogens like asbestos or organic solvents are some of these factors that increase the risk of the RCC. Viral infections and radiation therapy have also been described as risk factors. Some drugs can increase the incidence of RCC as well as other neoplasms. Of course, genetics plays an outstanding role in the development of some cases of kidney cancer. Chronic renal failure, hypertension, and dialysis need to be considered as special situations. Diet, obesity, lifestyle, and habits can also increase the risk of RCC. The aim of this review is to summarize the well-defined causes of renal cell carcinoma.
| 19,009,036
|
PPARalpha/gamma-Independent Effects of PPARalpha/gamma Ligands on Cysteinyl Leukotriene Production in Mast Cells.
|
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha ligands (Wy-14,643, and fenofibrate) and PPARgamma ligands (troglitazone and ciglitazone) inhibit antigen-induced cysteinyl leukotriene production in immunoglobulin E-treated mast cells. The inhibitory effect of these ligands on cysteinyl leukotriene production is quite strong and is almost equivalent to that of the anti-asthma compound zileuton. To develop new aspects for anti-asthma drugs the pharmacological target of these compounds should be clarified. Experiments with bone-marrow-derived mast cells from PPARalpha knockout mice and pharmacological inhibitors of PPARgamma suggest that the inhibitory effects of these ligands are independent of PPARs alpha and gamma. The mechanisms of the PPAR-independent inhibition by these agents on cysteinyl leukotriene production are discussed in this review.
| 19,009,039
|
Genetic counseling in renal masses.
|
All urologists have faced patients suffering a renal cancer asking for the occurrence of the disease in their offspring and very often the answer to this question has not been well founded from the scientific point of view, and only in few cases a familial segregation tree is performed. The grate shift seen in the detection of small renal masses and renal cancer in the last decades will prompt us to know the indications for familial studies, which and when are necessary, and probably to refer those patients with a suspected familial syndrome to specialized oncological centers where the appropriate molecular and familial studies could be done. Use of molecular genetic testing for early identification of at-risk family members improves diagnostic certainty and would reduce costly screening procedures in at-risk members who have not inherited disease-causing mutations. This review will focus on the molecular bases of familial syndromes associated with small renal masses and the indications of familial studies in at-risk family members.
| 19,009,041
|
Dip-pen nanolithography and SERRS as synergic techniques.
|
We demonstrate the powerful combination of dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) performed on non-flat plasmonic gold surfaces and subsequent detection by surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS).
| 19,009,064
|
Mononuclear Ti[triple bond]N complexes formed by the facile multiple deprotonation of H3N x B(C6F5)3: the importance of chloride ligands.
|
The crystalline ion-pair [TiCl(NMe(2))(2)(NMe(2)H)(2)](+)[TiCl(2){NB(C(6)F(5))(3)}(NMe(2)H)(2)](-), in which the anion has a triply bonded nitridoborate ligand, is formed through the multiple activation of H(3)N x B(C(6)F(5))(3) when treated with [Ti(NMe(2))(3)Cl].
| 19,009,078
|
Exploiting the natural metabolic diversity of Streptomyces venezuelae to generate unusual reduced macrolides.
|
An unusual set of reduced macrolide antibiotics was discovered by combination of organic synthesis and a biosynthetic approach using the unique metabolic diversity of Streptomyces venezuelae; two unnatural 16-membered ring macrolides are also created by employing this bio-catalyst.
| 19,009,080
|
Polyfunctional benzylic zinc chlorides by the direct insertion of magnesium into benzylic chlorides in the presence of LiCl and ZnCl2.
|
Benzylic zinc chlorides bearing various functional groups are smoothly prepared by the direct insertion of magnesium into benzylic chlorides in the presence of LiCl and ZnCl(2).
| 19,009,094
|
[Leprosy: control of household contacts in the municipality of Londrina-PR for a ten-year period].
|
The purpose of this descriptive study is to analyze variables related to leprosy patients' household contacts who received treatment in Londrina-PR-Brazil for a ten-year period. The data analysis was based on the health service's records and from a system of infectious disease. Out of 1055 leprosy's patients, it was recorded 3394 contacts with an average of 3,2. The most exposed individuals were those aged up to 40 (71,5%); son/daughter (40.6%) and husband/wife (17.8%). Of the1731 contacts (51.0%) examined, 183 showed some signs of the disease: there were 16 confirmed cases, 47 were excluded and 120 did not finish the clinical investigation. Most of the contacts (51.6%) were exposed to the multibacillary forms and 12.8% proved they were vaccinated with two doses of BCG. It is possible to conclude that the follow-up of the contacts was not adequate.
| 19,009,109
|
[Leprosy social mobilization workshop: an experience report].
|
The aim of the present study was to describe the report of the experience of a Social Mobilization and Theoretical Approach to Leprosy workshop among nursing academics. As methodology it was used the experience of the referred workshop amongst the three stages of its accomplishment, the main topics which stood out were, consecutively: speeches on the theme, record of doubts, questionnaires which provide feedback on the matter, discussions, debates, exhibition of technical information and accounts, role plays, elaboration of educational materials for future academic practices and finally, the theoretical study. In the evaluation done by the participants an advance could noticed in the approach to leprosy.
| 19,009,121
|
[Fertility of indigenous women in Minas Gerais State, Brazil: an analysis using the 2000 census].
|
Indigenous populations living in villages in Brazil have presented high total fertility rates (TFR) that have increased over time in some cases. Meanwhile, data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) or National Census Bureau show a decline in the TFR for the total self-declared indigenous population (combining urban, rural, and specific rural residence). The current study uses data from the 2000 Population Census to describe and compare the structure and level of period fertility for the cohort of self-declared indigenous women living in the State of Minas Gerais. We calculated age-specific fertility rates (ASFR), the period TFR for 2000, and the cohort TFR for women 50 years and older. According to the findings, self-declared indigenous women living in Minas Gerais experienced high fertility in the past, regardless of their place of residence. In conclusion, the 2000 Population Census is an important data source for studies on indigenous populations in Brazil, based on the high coverage and wealth of information.
| 19,009,128
|
Vulnerability and non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV patients, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
|
The aim of the present study was to describe vulnerability profiles and to verify their association with non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among 295 HIV-patients receiving their first prescription in two public-referral centers in Minas Gerais States, Brazil. The cumulative incidence of non-adherence was 36.9%. Three pure vulnerability profiles (lower, medium and higher) were identified based on the Grade of Membership method (GoM). Pure type patients of the "higher vulnerability" profile had, when compared to the overall sample, an increased probability of being younger, not understanding the need of ART, having a personal reason to be HIV-tested, not disclosing their HIV status, having more than one (non-regular) sexual partner, reporting use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs, and having sex among men. Non-adherence to ART was statistically associated (p < 0.001) with this profile. Also, the heterogeneity of the sample was found to be high, since over 40% were mixed type. The implications are that health staff should be trained to develop strategies for incorporating risk-reduction interventions, bearing in mind the three dimensions of vulnerability and the diversity of those patients initiating antiretroviral therapy.
| 19,009,140
|
[Bayesian model for the risk of tuberculosis infection for studies with individuals lost to follow-up].
|
To develop a statistical model based on Bayesian methods to estimate the risk of tuberculosis infection in studies including individuals lost to follow-up, and to compare it with a classic deterministic model. The proposed stochastic model is based on a Gibbs sampling algorithm that uses information of lost to follow-up at the end of a longitudinal study. For simulating the unknown number of reactors at the end of the study and lost to follow-up, but not reactors at time 0, a latent variable was introduced in the new model. An exercise of application of both models in the comparison of the estimates of interest was presented. The point estimates obtained from both models are near identical; however, the Bayesian model allowed the estimation of credible intervals as measures of precision of the estimated parameters. The Bayesian model can be valuable in longitudinal studies with low adherence to follow-up.
| 19,009,157
|
Evaluation of prescription of exercise, for rehabilitation of coronary artery disease patients by myocardial scintigraphy.
|
It is advisable that the intensity of the exercises for rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease does not cause myocardial ischemia. Compare the capacity of myocardial tomographic scintigraphy with the electrocardiogram capacity in ischemia detection during rehabilitation session. Twenty six patients with coronary artery disease, undergoing the rehabilitation program and with previous scintigraphy, with transient hypo-uptake have been administered a new injection of MIBI-Tc-99m during a training session when they were also monitored with dynamic electrocardiography. The rest scintigraphies, after ergometric treadmill test and rehabilitation session, were assessed in a semi-quantitative way using scores from 0 to 4 to classify each one of the chosen segments (0 = normal; 1 = discrete hypo-uptake; 2 = moderate; 3 = intense; 4 = lack of uptake). The means of the total scores found were: at rest = 12.9; after treadmill test = 19.3; after rehabilitation session = 15.1. There were statistically significant differences among them. An individual assessment showed that in 14 cases (53.8 %) hypo-uptake to some degree was identified during rehabilitation and in 12 cases (46.6%) it was not. Monitoring with the Holter system didn't show in any of the cases a ST segment depression equal or greater than 1mm. The exercises prescribed for patients with coronary artery disease, according to recommendations found in the literature, may trigger myocardial ischemia, assessed by scintigraphy during a rehabilitation session.
| 19,009,174
|
[Competition between Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus larvae in the laboratory].
|
This study had the aim of evaluating the effects of intra and interspecies larval competition between Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, survival of larvae time taken to develop and wing length. The experiment was carried out with three densities and five proportions of the species. Aedes aegypti survival was greater than Aedes albopictus survival at intermediate density, while it was lower at high density. Only the time taken for Aedes albopictus to develop was affected. The differences found in comparing the species combinations demonstrated that the mean wing length of Aedes aegypti was generally greater than that of Aedes albopictus. For both species, competition had greater effect on wing length and survival than on the time taken to develop. Aedes aegypti seems to present better competitive capacity than does Aedes albopictus, at intermediate density.
| 19,009,190
|
[Effect of larval rearing water on Aedes aegypti oviposition in the laboratory].
|
To evaluate the influence of larval rearing water on Aedes aegypti oviposition, four types of water were provided for gravid females. It was observed that more eggs were laid in the mixed larval rearing water (2,837) than in the Aedes albopictus water (690) or control water (938), but that this number was similar to what was seen in the Aedes aegypti water (2,361).
| 19,009,198
|
[Isoenzymatic characterization of human isolates of Leishmania sp (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) from the municipalities of Rio Preto da Eva and Manaus, State of Amazonas].
|
Twenty-three isolates of Leishmania sp from patients in the municipalities of Rio Preto da Eva and Manaus were characterized and identified by means of isoenzyme electrophoresis and the degree of similarity between the organisms was analyzed. The results indicated that Leishmania guyanensis and Leishmania naiffi were present in these two environments and that the Leishmania naiffi samples were heterogenous.
| 19,009,197
|
Inhibition of migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells via deletion of Rac1 with RNA interference.
|
Cell migration and invasion are triggered by a number of chemoattractants that stimulate intracellular signaling pathways through regulating reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Rac1, an intracellular signal transducer, regulates a variety of cell functions, including the organization of the cytoskeleton, cell migration, and invasion. However, currently, very little is known about the roles of Rac1 in the cytoskeleton formation and invasion of human colorectal cancer cells. In our study, Rac1-shRNA was used to silence the Rac1 to reduce its expression specifically in Lovo cells. Our studies showed that RNA interference-mediated deletion of Rac1 strongly inhibited lamellipodia formation, cell migration, and invasion of Lovo cells in vitro. The deletion of Rac1 can serve as an alterative therapy to inhibit the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.
| 19,009,236
|
Detection and quantification of serum or plasma HCV RNA: mini review of commercially available assays.
|
The treatment schedule (combination of compounds, doses, and duration) and the virological follow-up for management of antiviral treatment in patients chronically infected by HCV is now well standardized, but to ensure good monitoring of the treated patients, physicians need rapid, reproducible, and sensitive molecular virological tools with a wide range of detection and quantification of HCV RNA in blood samples. Several assays for detection and/or quantification of HCV RNA are currently commercially available. Here, all these assays are detailed, and a brief description of each step of the assay is provided. They are divided into two categories by method: those based on signal amplification and those based on target amplification. These two categories are then divided into qualitative, quantitative, and quantitative detection assays. The real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based assays are the most promising strategy in the HCV virological area.
| 19,009,249
|
Structural and functional analysis of the HCV p7 protein.
|
The p7 membrane polypeptide from HCV is essential for virus infection. It exhibits ion-channel activity reported to be specifically blocked by various compounds. These properties make p7 an attractive candidate target for antiviral intervention to combat viral hepatitis C infection. In this context, in vitro functional analyses of isolated p7 coupled to structural characterization are critical for further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of p7 ion-channel activity and for the development of new antiviral drugs. We present here in vitro assays designed to purify synthetic p7 by RP-HPLC, to investigate its ion-channel properties by means of planar lipid-bilayer assays and patch-clamp recordings after reconstitution into liposomes, and to analyze its structural features by circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and molecular dynamics (MD).
| 19,009,258
|
Studying HCV cell entry with HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp).
|
HCV infection leads in 50 to 80% of cases to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferons and the nucleoside analog ribavirin form the basis for treatment but are not sufficiently effective and have numerous side effects. Although about 300 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected, the characterization of HCV biology and associated pathologies and development of new therapeutics have been slow. Systems that support HCV replication and particle formation in vitro have emerged only over the last few years, over 15 years after the discovery of the virus. The available infection models have remained limited to chimpanzee (1) and immunodeficient mice carrying engrafted human liver cells (2). HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp) were the first in vitro infection system to become available for investigation of entry and neutralization of this major human pathogen. HCVpp are formed by incorporation of the full-length hepatitis C virus glycoproteins E1 and E2 onto lenti- or retroviral core particles. HCVpp have been validated by many research groups, closely mimic the functionality of the wild-type virus in terms of cell entry and neutralization, and have even been used to isolate the recent HCV receptor Claudin-1. HCVpp are a useful model system not only because of the functional conservation of the envelope glycoproteins with those of the wild-type virus, but also because the retro- or lentiviral vectors used to form them offer of a number of significant technical advantages.
| 19,009,269
|
Selectivity for glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, and pyruvate in ternary mixtures from the multivariate analysis of near-infrared spectra.
|
Near-infrared spectroscopy offers the potential for direct in situ analysis in complex biological systems. Chemical selectivity is a critical issue for such measurements given the extent of spectral overlap of overtone and combination spectra. In this work, the chemical basis of selectivity is investigated for a set of multivariate calibration models designed to quantify glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, and pyruvate independently in ternary mixtures. Near-infrared spectra are collected over the combination region (4,000-5,000 cm(-1)) for a set of 60 standard solutions maintained at 37 degrees C. These standard solutions are composed of randomized concentrations (0.5-30 mM) of glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, and pyruvate. Individual calibration models are constructed for each solute by using the partial least-squares (PLS) algorithm with optimized spectral range and number of latent variables. The resulting standard errors are 0.90, 0.72, and 0.32 mM for glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, and pyruvate, respectively. A pure component selectivity analysis (PCSA) demonstrates selectivity for each solute in these ternary samples. The concentration of each solute is also predicted for each sample by using a set of net analyte signal (NAS) calibration models. A comparison of the PLS and NAS calibration vectors demonstrates the chemical basis of selectivity for these multivariate methods. Selectivity of each PLS and NAS calibration model originates from the unique spectral features associated with the targeted analyte. Overall, selectivity is demonstrated for each solute with an order of sensitivity of pyruvate > glucose-6-phosphate > glucose.
| 19,009,286
|
MAP2-mediated in vitro interactions of brain microtubules and their modulation by cAMP.
|
Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are involved in microtubule (MT) bundling and in crossbridges between MTs and other organelles. Previous studies have assigned the MT bundling function of MAPs to their MT-binding domain and its modulation by the projection domain. In the present work, we analyse the viscoelastic properties of MT suspensions in the presence or the absence of cAMP. The experimental data reveal the occurrence of interactions between MT polymers involving MAP2 and modulated by cAMP. Two distinct mechanisms of action of cAMP are identified, which involve on one hand the phosphorylation of MT proteins by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) bound to the end of the N-terminal projection of MAP2, and on the other hand the binding of cAMP to the RII subunit of the PKA affecting interactions between MTs in a phosphorylation-independent manner. These findings imply a role for the complex of PKA with the projection domain of MAP2 in MT-MT interactions and suggest that cAMP may influence directly the density and bundling of MT arrays in dendrites of neurons.
| 19,009,287
|
Ribosomal ITS sequences allow resolution of freshwater sponge phylogeny with alignments guided by secondary structure prediction.
|
Freshwater sponges include six extant families which belong to the suborder Spongillina (Porifera). The taxonomy of freshwater sponges is problematic and their phylogeny and evolution are not well understood. Sequences of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of 11 species from the family Lubomirskiidae, 13 species from the family Spongillidae, and 1 species from the family Potamolepidae were obtained to study the phylogenetic relationships between endemic and cosmopolitan freshwater sponges and the evolution of sponges in Lake Baikal. The present study is the first one where ITS1 sequences were successfully aligned using verified secondary structure models and, in combination with ITS2, used to infer relationships between the freshwater sponges. Phylogenetic trees inferred using maximum likelihood, neighbor-joining, and parsimony methods and Bayesian inference revealed that the endemic family Lubomirskiidae was monophyletic. Our results do not support the monophyly of Spongillidae because Lubomirskiidae formed a robust clade with E. muelleri, and Trochospongilla latouchiana formed a robust clade with the outgroup Echinospongilla brichardi (Potamolepidae). Within the cosmopolitan family Spongillidae the genera Radiospongilla and Eunapius were found to be monophyletic, while Ephydatia muelleri was basal to the family Lubomirskiidae. The genetic distances between Lubomirskiidae species being much lower than those between Spongillidae species are indicative of their relatively recent radiation from a common ancestor. These results indicated that rDNA spacers sequences can be useful in the study of phylogenetic relationships of and the identification of species of freshwater sponges.
| 19,009,316
|
One thousand laparoscopic cholecystectomies in a single surgical unit using the "critical view of safety" technique.
|
Bile duct injuries have been substantially increased after the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). They are accompanied by major morbidity, occasional mortality, lengthening of hospital stay, additional health costs, and deterioration of patients' quality of life and life expectancy. The aim of this study was to present the method of "critical view of safety" (CVS) as safe and feasible for the prevention of bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. During a 6-year period from January 2002 till December 2007, 1,046 LCs (369 men and 677 women) were performed mainly for symptomatic gallstone disease. The CVS technique recommends clearing the triangle of Calot of fat and fibrous tissue and taking the gallbladder off the lowest part of its attachment to the gallbladder bed. The "infundibular" technique (identification of cystic duct and gallbladder junction) was used whenever CVS was not possible to perform. The CVS was performed in 998 patients (95.4%). Overall, 27 patients needed conversion to the open approach (2.6%). This rate was higher in patients with acute inflammation undergoing early operation (nine of 128, 7%) compared with patients operated later or electively (18 of 914, 1.9%). There was no bile duct injury in the 1,046 cholecystectomies. Postoperatively, five patients had bile leaks which were transient and stopped spontaneously after 2-14 days. Two reoperations were performed because of severe bleeding. CVS clarifies the relations of the anatomic structures that should be divided, and therefore, it should be ideally and routinely applied in all LCs because of its highly protective role against bile duct injuries.
| 19,009,323
|
Altered heart rate control in response to postural change in patients with Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3).
|
To assess heart rate (HR) regulation in Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), we evaluated HR variability at rest and the initial HR response to standing suddenly in 13 MJD patients and 26 normal control subjects. A head-up tilt (HUT) test involving the monitoring of blood pressure, HR, and cerebral oxy/deoxyhemoglobin concentration was also performed in each participant. There was no significant difference in HR variability at rest between the two groups, but the transient HR rise just after standing suddenly in the MJD group was significantly less than that in the control group (p < 0.01). The HUT test, where each participant was gradually tilted upward, induced a significantly greater HR increase in the MJD group compared with the controls (p < 0.01), while there were no significant differences in the blood pressure and cerebral oxygenation changes between the two groups. In our MJD study, the transient HR rise just after standing suddenly was diminished, and HR markedly increased during sustained orthostatic stress.
| 19,009,326
|
Scrub typhus as a possible aetiology of Guillain-Barré syndrome: two cases.
|
Neurological complications of scrub typhus are reported to be rare. Peripheral nervous system involvement has been reported in only one case. We present two cases of Guillan-Barré syndrome (GBS) associated with scrub typhus. In both cases, the findings of an elevated indirect immunofluorescent antibody titer for Orientia tsutsugamushi and nerve conduction study showing sensory-motor polyneuropathy, have led us to believe that scrub typhus could be one of the antecedent illnesses associated with GBS.
| 19,009,332
|
Decomposing group differences of latent means of ordered categorical variables within a genetic factor model.
|
A genetic factor model is introduced for decomposition of group differences of the means of phenotypic behavior as well as individual differences when the research variables under consideration are ordered categorical. The model employs the general Genetic Factor Model proposed by Neale and Cardon (Methodology for genetic studies of twins and families, 1992) and, more specifically, the extension proposed by Dolan et al. (Behav Genet 22: 319-335, 1992) which enables decomposition of group differences of the means associated with genetic and environmental factors. Using a latent response variable (LRV) formulation (Muthén and Asparouhov, Latent variable analysis with categorical outcomes: multiple-group and growth modeling in Mplus. Mplus web notes: No. 4, Version 5, 2002), proportional differences of response categories between groups are modeled within the genetic factor model in terms of the distributional differences of latent response variables assumed to underlie the observed ordered categorical variables. Use of the proposed model is illustrated using a measure of conservatism in the data collected from the Australian Twin Registry.
| 19,009,342
|
Effect of burn injury on apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-related genes/proteins in skeletal muscles of rats.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence and possible mechanisms of apoptosis in skeletal muscles after burn injury. After a 40% body surface area burn to rats, TA muscles were examined for apoptosis at varying times by TEM, TUNEL and cell death ELISA assay. Thermal injury was found to induce apoptosis in skeletal muscle on the first day and maximal apoptosis appeared 4 days post-injury. Apoptotic ligands in serum assessed by ELISA revealed rapidly increase of TNF-alpha and subsequent increase of sFasL to sFas ratio after burn injury. It implied TNF-alpha induced apoptosis in early stage and FasL induced apoptosis in later stage after burn injury. Apoptosis-related genes/proteins in skeletal muscles examined by real-time PCR array and Western blotting showed pro-apoptotic genes/proteins, including Tnfrsf1a, Tnfrsf1b and Tnfsf6 in TNF ligand and receptor family, Bax and Bid in Bcl-2 family, caspase-3 and caspase-6 in caspase family, Dapk1, FADD and Cidea in death and CIDE domain family, Apaf-1 in CARD family, and Gadd45a were up-regulated, while anti-apoptotic gene Bnip1 was down-regulated compared with that of time-matched controls. In addition, increment of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 activity provided further evidence for their role in apoptosis in skeletal muscle. Significant increase in expression in pro-apoptotic genes/proteins and activity of caspases suggested that death receptor-mediated signaling pathways and other apoptotic related pathways participated in apoptosis in skeletal muscle after burn injury. However, it was found that some anti-apoptotic genes such as Bcl2l1, Mcl-1, Nol-3, Il-10 and Prok2 were also up-regulated, which might imply the co-existence of protective response of the body after burns. In conclusion, the data suggest that apoptosis and pro-apoptotic signaling are enhanced in muscles of burned rats. To further elucidate the underlying apoptotic mechanisms mediating the atrophic response is important in establishing potential therapeutic interventions that could prevent and/or reduce skeletal muscle wasting and preserve its physiological function.
| 19,009,350
|
Degradation pathway of an anthraquinone dye catalyzed by a unique peroxidase DyP from Thanatephorus cucumeris Dec 1.
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The reactants produced by action of a purified unique dye-decolorizing peroxidase, DyP, on a commercial anthraquinone dye, Reactive Blue 5, were investigated using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and (1)H- and (13)C- nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results of ESI-MS analysis showed that phthalic acid, a Product 2 (molecular weight 472.5), and a Product 3 (molecular weight 301.5), were produced. Product 2 and Product 3 were generated by usual peroxidase reaction, whereas phthalic acid was generated by hydrolase- or oxygenase-catalyzed reaction. One potential associated product, o-aminobenzene sulfonic acid, was found to be converted to 2,2'-disulfonyl azobenzene by ESI-MS and NMR analyses. From these results, we propose, for the first time, the degradation pathway of an anthraquinone dye by the enzyme DyP.
| 19,009,358
|
Distribution of volatile organic compounds in Madrid (Spain).
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From November 1995 to October 1996, airborne concentrations of VOCs were measured in the Madrid area to study the organic pollution in general, and the correlation between different pollutants in relation to such parameters as location and season. Mean concentrations for up to 90 compounds were measured at four test sites, including both urban and suburban areas. At the urban sites, maximum concentrations occurred in the autumn and winter, whereas minimum concentrations were reached in summer and spring. Similar changes were obtained for the less contaminated site located in the SE of the city, whereas a different pattern was found at the site in the NW of the city due to meteorological aspects. Mean levels of hydrocarbons in Madrid were quite similar to those found in other European cities. Chemometrical techniques were applied to the set of data in order to assess the influence of such factors as traffic, temperature and seasonal variations on the VOC levels.
| 19,009,389
|
Measurements of selected PCBs in open urban ambient air of Madrid (Spain): First results.
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The focus of this study was to characterize the concentration levels of selected PCBs and compare them to compiled data in order to contribute to the international database. The sampling site is located in the outskirts of Madrid and can be considered an open urban area. 32 samples of air were taken from February 1998 to June 1998 by using a high volume air sampler. Glass fiber filters and polyurethane foam (PUF) were used to collect the paniculate and gas phase material, respectively. PUF plugs were Soxhlet extracted and filters were ultrasonically extracted by using pesticide-grade hexane and dichloromethane, respectively. The cleanup procedure was carried out on a florisil column with hexane and hexane/dichloromethane as elution solvents. GC/MS in a selected ion monitoring mode was used for quantification and 29 selected PCBs congeners were analyzed.
| 19,009,391
|
Soil-atmosphere exchange of radiatively and chemically active gases.
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Exchanges between the soils and the atmosphere may control or significantly affect the global budgets of many environmentally important trace gases, both natural and man-made. Flux measurements, taken in several ecosystems, show that soils are a substantial source of chloroform (8 +/- 4 microg/m(2)/d) and a sink for methyl chloride (-10(-3)(+6) microg/m(2)/d). The known sources and sinks of these gases are insufficient to explain the observed concentrations. Our findings will help to balance the global budget of chloroform but may put the budget of methyl chloride further out of balance. We also found, consistent with previous research, that soils are a substantial source of nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide and take up hydrogen and methane. The uptake of man-made chlorocarbons was observed, but the rates are small. Observed fluxes of non-methane hydrocarbons showed few patterns except that soils may be a source of ethane and butane.
| 19,009,426
|
The war in Kosovo: Evidence of pollution transport in the Balkans during operation "Allied Force".
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During the operation "Allied Force" in the spring of 1999, the burning or damaging of industrial and military targets in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia resulted in the release of a large number of chemicals into the atmosphere. The releases contained not only conventional air pollutants, but also Semi-Volatile Organic compounds (SVOs) which are known to be hazardous to health. Under suitable meteorological conditions, these chemicals can be transported across borders over large distances. In this paper, an analysis of measurements and dispersion calculations is presented which provides evidence of pollutant transport from the conflict area to Greece. The measuring program was carried out in Xanthi, Greece and included aerosol sampling and subsequent analysis for the determination of the concentration of SVOs including dioxins, furans, PCBs (PolyChlorinated Biphenyls), PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) and organic phthalates. This paper focuses on two episodes of organic phthalates that were observed during the conflict period. Pollution measurements are interpreted by means of air trajectories and dispersion calculations. For this purpose, the HYSPLIT_4 (HYbrid Single-Particle Langrangian Integrated Trajectory) modeling system is used to calculate the dispersion of toxic substances.
| 19,009,430
|
Multidimensional risk analysis of antifouling biocides.
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In order to improve the orientation about the long-term sustainability of the use of the antifouling biocides tributyltin (TBT), copper, Irgarol 1051, Sea-Nine 211 and zinc pyrithione, used for the protection of fouling in sea-going ships, the risks posed to the marine biosphere due to their use are evaluated. The newly presented method of risk analysis uses release rate, spatiotemporal range, bioaccumulation, bioactivity and uncertainty as 5 dimensions of ecotoxicological risk. For each dimension, a scoring procedure is briefly described. The resulting risk profiles of the antifouling biocides show characteristics of the different substances, but also indicate where further information is required. Application of the method is proposed as a decision support in the integrated development of products, informed purchasing and for regulatory purposes.
| 19,009,431
|
GM Risk Assessment.
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GM risk assessments play an important role in the decision-making process surrounding the regulation, notification and permission to handle Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Ultimately the role of a GM risk assessment will be to ensure the safe handling and containment of the GMO; and to assess any potential impacts on the environment and human health. A risk assessment should answer all 'what if' scenarios, based on scientific evidence. This chapter sets out to provide researchers with helpful guidance notes on producing their own GM risk assessment. While reference will be made to UK and EU regulations, the underlying principles and points to consider are generic to most countries.
| 19,009,454
|
Pain among veterans with spinal cord injury.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration cares for approximately 15% of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States. However, the nature and characteristics of pain among veterans with SCI are not well understood. This study used a postal survey to compare veterans with SCI and nonveterans with SCI on pain intensity; pain interference; functioning; and other pain, demographic, and medical characteristics. Veterans tended to be older than nonveterans but these groups were otherwise comparable on demographic and medical variables. Veterans were not significantly different from nonveterans on pain intensity or pain interference. Veterans reported lower levels of functioning than nonveterans and higher levels of pain-related catastrophizing. However, differences in functioning between veterans and nonveterans were attributable to age differences between the groups. In summary, differences between veterans with SCI and nonveterans with SCI were few and small in magnitude, suggesting that veterans with SCI are not at greater risk for pain and pain-related problems. However, pain-related catastrophizing may be a particular concern among veterans with SCI.
| 19,009,466
|
Effect of model design, cushion construction, and interface pressure mats on interface pressure and immersion.
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Measuring interface pressure (IP) is one way to characterize cushion performance in the clinic and laboratory. This study explored how the presence of four commercially available IP mats affected IP on and immersion of two buttocks models. We loaded seven cushions with each buttocks model and captured pressure data using FSA sensors (Vista Medical Ltd; Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada). Analysis was performed to compare pressure magnitude and immersion. Overall, both pressure magnitude and immersion changed after mat introduction. A significant interaction existed between cushion and mat condition and cushion and model for all variables. Introducing an IP mat to the model-cushion interface alters the loading on the cushion. The mats bridged the contours of the model, causing a change in IP at the locations studied. Although immersion was statistically different between mat conditions, the magnitude of the difference was less than 1 mm once we accounted for the thickness of the mats. The significance of the cushion-mat interaction indicates that the mat effect differed across cushion design. Clinical and research users of pressure mats should consider the effect of mat presence, the effect of model design, and mat and buttocks interactions with cushions for successful use.
| 19,009,473
|
Models of reading performance in older adults with normal age-related vision.
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Reading rate with print size (reading performance) was studied in a group of 132 older readers with normal age-related vision using the Minnesota Low Vision Reading Acuity (MNREAD) test. Regression by a monotonic Weibull model had greater convergence success with lower residual error than either Logistic or Gompertz models. Reading performance by Weibull model regression was characterized by inflexion slope, critical print size, and maximum reading rate. Successive shortening of the data set length before regression by the monotonic Weibull model gave decreased fitting error. This finding suggests that some individual reading rates, rather than asymptoting at the largest print size, may give nonsigmoidal responses. Shortening the data set length decreases regression error but significantly changes regression parameter values. A nonmonotonic Weibull model that was sensitive to declining reading rate at large print size improved regression on 22% of our data. This result indicates that a subgroup of subjects had response falloff at large print size and reading performance characteristics that included incremental and decremental reading rate slopes at different print sizes, which were separated by a reading rate plateau.
| 19,009,476
|
Effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus on the pharmacokinetics of nelfinavir in rats.
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The HIV protease inhibitor, nelfinavir (NFV), has been used widely for HIV infection. The drug exhibits high binding characteristics to serum protein (unbound fraction: 0.01). The effect of experimentally induced diabetes mellitus on the pharmacokinetics of NFV was investigated, focusing on the change of protein-binding due to the glycosylation of albumin in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus rats (diabetic rats). The unbound fraction of NFV in diabetic rats (0.04) was greater than that in the control (0.015). In diabetic rats, although the AUC of NFV was decreased after both intravenous (control: 1.75+/-0.08, diabetic: 1.36+/-0.17 microg h/ml) and intraduodenal (control: 1.69+/-0.25, diabetic: 1.19+/-0.39 microg h/ml) administrations, the unbound AUC was increased significantly (intravenous, control: 0.026+/-0.001, diabetic: 0.054+/-0.007 microg h/ml, intraduodenal, control: 0.025+/-0.004, diabetic: 0.048+/-0.016 microg h/ml). The unbound total clearance (control: 131.3+/-6.0, diabetic: 64.3+/-8.0 l/h/kg) and the unbound steady state distribution volume (control: 274.0+/-18.0, diabetic: 123.0+/-14.0 l/kg) were decreased significantly; therefore, greater pharmacological effects can be expected in diabetes mellitus. The contribution of increasing the unbound fraction to these results was significantly higher. In addition, there were no significant differences in the systemic and hepatic availability, peak time and mean absorption time between the diabetic and control rats, suggesting that diabetes mellitus did not affect the absorption of NFV.
| 19,009,515
|
Infrared laser desorption/vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry of petroleum saturates: a new experimental approach for the analysis of heavy oils.
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A novel method combining infrared (IR) laser desorption with tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization mass spectrometry (LD/VUV PIMS) is applied to characterize a number of petroleum saturates samples from Lungu atmospheric residue (LGAR) under different treatment procedures. The mass spectra of these saturates are well resolved with even masses as the dominant ions and are clearly sample-dependent. In order to assess the ability of IR LD/VUV PIMS to determine the average molecular weight of heavy oils, the dependence of the measured molecular weight distributions on the VUV ionization photon energies is also discussed.
| 19,009,521
|
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