title stringlengths 0 901 | abstract stringlengths 3 9.89k | PMID int64 22 25.3M | embedding listlengths 768 768 |
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Spectral transmittance of UV-blocking soft contact lenses: a comparative study. | Three major parts of sunlight consist of visible, ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can result in a spectrum of skin and ocular diseases. UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. We studied the ultraviolet and visible light rays transmission in some soft UV-blocking contact lenses. Four available tinted soft lenses (Acuvue Moist, Zeiss CONTACT Day 30 Air spheric, Pretty Eyes and Sauflon 56 UV) have been evaluated for UV and visible transmission. One-way ANOVA testing was performed to establish is there a statistically significant difference between the UV regions and visible spectra means for the contact lenses (α=0.05). Pretty Eyes, Zeiss CONTACT, Acuvue Moist and Sauflon 56 UV showed UV-B transmittance value of 0.65%, 10.69%, 1.22%, and 5.78%, respectively. Pretty Eyes and Acuvue Moist had UV-A transmittance values of 32% and 34%, Sauflon 56 UV and Zeiss CONTACT had transmittance values of 48% and 43%, respectively. All of the studied lenses transmitted at least 94.6% on the visible spectrum. The results of the one-way ANOVA statistical analysis show that a statistically significant difference exists within the group of contact lenses tested for the visible (p<0.001), UV-B (p<0.001) and UV-A (p<0.001) portions of the spectrum (α=0.05). Acuvue Moist has the best UV-blocking property and also visible transmission between other tested contact lenses in this study. | 25,129,536 | [
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Gonadoblastoma and selected other aspects of gonadal pathology in young patients with disorders of sex development. | Some patients with disorders of sex development (DSDs), previously known as intersex disorders, have abnormal gonadal development and an increased risk of germ cell tumors. Because of their relative rarity, however, many pathologists are unfamiliar with the morphological findings in the gonads of DSD patients and their clinical significance. This review concentrates on some of the most common DSDs where gonadal specimens may come to the attention of pathologists. It highlights the findings in gonadal dysgenesis, a DSD with a spectrum of clinical, pathologic, and molecular features but with the shared attributes of having both Y chromosomal material (even if in very limited amounts) in the gonad and also having mutations or deletions in genes necessary for normal gonadal development, mostly in those upstream of the SOX9 gene. This situation results in testicular tissue lacking normal Sertoli cells, which are now considered an essential element for the normal maturation of the primordial germ cells that migrate to the gonad from the embryonic yolk sac. Germ cells with delayed maturation mimic neoplastic germ cells, but there are both morphological and immunohistochemical differences. If the gonad having germ cells with delayed maturation also harbors the TSPY gene on the GBY locus of the Y chromosome, the cells may undergo neoplastic transformation and result in the distinctive gonadoblastoma, whose pathologic features are explored at length herein, including its potential for variant morphologies, such as a "dissecting" pattern. Another important DSD, the androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), is discussed at length, including the varied appearances of the testis and its distinctive lesions-hamartomas and Sertoli cell adenomas. The potential for germ cell neoplasia in the partial AIS is also discussed and contrasted with that of the complete AIS. A third major topic is ovotesticular DSD (true hermaphroditism). The clinical features and morphology of this condition are reviewed, including the arrangements of the tissue components in an ovotestis. Several other DSDs with distinctive gonadal findings are also considered, including Klinefelter syndrome, 5α-reductase deficiency, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency, and female adrenogenital syndrome. | 25,129,544 | [
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Pathogenic vibrios in environmental, seafood and clinical sources in Germany. | Bacteria of the family Vibrionaceae naturally occur in marine and estuarine environments. Only few species of Vibrionaceae are associated with human cases of gastroenteritis, ear and wound infections, caused by ingestion of seafood or contact with Vibrio containing water. Increasing consumption of seafood (fish, fishery products and shellfish) poses a possible source of Vibrio infections in Germany. Additionally, there is a growing concern that abundances of pathogenic vibrios may increase in German coastal waters as a result of e.g. climate change resulting in probably rising surface water temperatures. According to the One Health concept the VibrioNet consortium started in 2010 to investigate the occurrence and relevance of non-cholera vibrios of human concern in Germany. Vibrios from environmental, seafood and clinical sources were analyzed with the aim to find connections between different reservoirs or sources and to identify potential ways of transmission of these pathogens to assess the risk of infections associated with them. Potentially pathogenic strains mostly belong to the species Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus and non-O1/non-O139 Vibrio cholerae. Investigations on imported seafood and mussels from primary production areas confirmed the frequent occurrence of these species. Moreover, studies of German coastal waters and sediments showed the presence and seasonality of these marine bacteria. So far the incidence of clinical cases of vibriosis in Germany is low. Between 1994 and 2013 thirteen cases of Vibrio spp. associated wound infections and/or septicaemia have been reported. However, the high prevalence of vibrios in aquatic environments and aquatic organisms is of concern and demands continued control of food and surveillance for clinical infections with pathogenic vibrios. | 25,129,553 | [
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A motion-compensated image filter for low-dose fluoroscopy in a real-time tumor-tracking radiotherapy system. | In the real-time tumor-tracking radiotherapy system, a surrogate fiducial marker inserted in or near the tumor is detected by fluoroscopy to realize respiratory-gated radiotherapy. The imaging dose caused by fluoroscopy should be minimized. In this work, an image processing technique is proposed for tracing a moving marker in low-dose imaging. The proposed tracking technique is a combination of a motion-compensated recursive filter and template pattern matching. The proposed image filter can reduce motion artifacts resulting from the recursive process based on the determination of the region of interest for the next frame according to the current marker position in the fluoroscopic images. The effectiveness of the proposed technique and the expected clinical benefit were examined by phantom experimental studies with actual tumor trajectories generated from clinical patient data. It was demonstrated that the marker motion could be traced in low-dose imaging by applying the proposed algorithm with acceptable registration error and high pattern recognition score in all trajectories, although some trajectories were not able to be tracked with the conventional spatial filters or without image filters. The positional accuracy is expected to be kept within ±2 mm. The total computation time required to determine the marker position is a few milliseconds. The proposed image processing technique is applicable for imaging dose reduction. | 25,129,556 | [
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Treatment of PTSD and Chronic Daily Headache. | Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often comorbid with chronic migraine (CM) and chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral psychotherapies, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and venlafaxine have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of PTSD. Amitriptyline, topiramate, sodium valproate, and botulinum toxin A are efficacious for treatment of chronic daily headache (CDH). Treatment studies on individuals with CDH and comorbid PTSD, however, are limited. As such, multiple therapeutic agents or modes of interventions typically are necessary, such that comprehensive treatment simultaneously utilizes approaches with established efficacy for each individual condition. | 25,129,572 | [
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Are the leukocyte telomere length attrition and telomerase activity alteration potential predictor biomarkers for sporadic TAA in aged individuals? | A large variability in occurrence, complications, and age/gender manifestations characterizes individual susceptibility of sporadic thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA), even in subjects with the same risk factor profiles. The reasons are poorly understood. On the other hand, TAA pathophysiology mechanisms remain unclear than those involved in abdominal aorta aneurysms. However, recent evidence is suggesting a crucial role of biological ageing in inter-individual risk variation of cardiovascular diseases, including sporadic TAA. Biological age rather than chronological age is a better predictor of vascular risk. Relevant assumptions support this concept. In confirming this evidence and our preliminary data, the mean of blood leukocyte telomere length, through use of terminal restriction fragment assay and in blood samples from sporadic TAA patients and controls, was examined. Telomerase activity was also analyzed in two groups. In addition, we verified the weight of genetic inflammatory variants and the major TAA risk factors in telomere/telomerase impairment. Aorta histopathological abnormalities and systemic inflammatory mediators were ultimately correlated with telomere/telomerase impairment. Data obtained demonstrated shorter telomeres and a reduced telomerase activity in TAA patients significantly associated with a genetic inflammatory risk profile, age, gender, smoking, hypertension, a histopathological phenotype, and higher levels of systemic inflammatory mediators than controls. In conclusion, telomere and telomerase activity's detection might be used as predictor biomarkers of sporadic TAA. Their impairment also suggests a strong role of vascular ageing in sporadic TAA, evocated by both environmental and genetic inflammatory factors. | 25,129,574 | [
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Experiences with capnography in acute care settings: a mixed-methods analysis of clinical staff. | Although capnography is being incorporated into clinical guidelines, it is not used to its full potential. We investigated reasons for limited implementation of capnography in acute care areas and explored facilitators and barriers to its implementation. A purposeful sample of physicians and nurses in emergency departments and intensive care units participated in semistructured interviews. Grounded theory, iterative data analysis, and the constant comparative method were used to analyze the data to inductively generate ideas and build theories. Nineteen providers were interviewed from 5 hospitals. Six themes were identified: variability in use of capnography among acute care units, availability and accessibility of capnography equipment, the evidence behind capnography use, the impact of capnography on patient care, personal experiences impacting use of capnography, and variable knowledge about capnography. Barriers and facilitators to use were found within each theme. We observed varied responsiveness to capnography and identified factors that work to foster or discourage its use. These data can guide future implementation strategies. A deliberate strategy to foster utilization, mitigate barriers, and broadly accelerate implementation has the potential to profoundly impact use of capnography in acute care areas with the goal of improving patient care. | 25,129,575 | [
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Management of mitral regurgitation in Marfan syndrome: Outcomes of valve repair versus replacement and comparison with myxomatous mitral valve disease. | The study objective was to evaluate patients with Marfan syndrome and mitral valve regurgitation undergoing valve repair or replacement and to compare them with patients undergoing repair for myxomatous mitral valve disease. We reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients with Marfan syndrome treated surgically between March 17, 1960, and September 12, 2011, for mitral regurgitation and performed a subanalysis of those with repairs compared with case-matched patients with myxomatous mitral valve disease who had repairs (March 14, 1995, to July 5, 2013). Of 61 consecutive patients, 40 underwent mitral repair and 21 underwent mitral replacement (mean [standard deviation] age, 40 [18] vs 31 [19] years; P = .09). Concomitant aortic surgery was performed to a similar extent (repair, 45% [18/40] vs replacement, 43% [9/21]; P = .87). Ten-year survival was significantly better in patients with Marfan syndrome with mitral repair than in those with replacement (80% vs 41%; P = .01). Mitral reintervention did not differ between mitral repair and replacement (cumulative risk of reoperation, 27% vs 15%; P = .64). In the matched cohort, 10-year survival after repair was similar for patients with Marfan syndrome and myxomatous mitral disease (84% vs 78%; P = .63), as was cumulative risk of reoperation (17% vs 12%; P = .61). Patients with Marfan syndrome and mitral regurgitation have better survival with repair than with replacement. Survival and risk of reoperation for patients with Marfan syndrome were similar to those for patients with myxomatous mitral disease. These results support the use of mitral valve repair in patients with Marfan syndrome and moderate or more mitral regurgitation, including those having composite replacement of the aortic root. | 25,129,593 | [
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Developmental changes in guard cell wall structure and pectin composition in the moss Funaria: implications for function and evolution of stomata. | In seed plants, the ability of guard cell walls to move is imparted by pectins. Arabinan rhamnogalacturonan I (RG1) pectins confer flexibility while unesterified homogalacturonan (HG) pectins impart rigidity. Recognized as the first extant plants with stomata, mosses are key to understanding guard cell function and evolution. Moss stomata open and close for only a short period during capsule expansion. This study examines the ultrastructure and pectin composition of guard cell walls during development in Funaria hygrometrica and relates these features to the limited movement of stomata. Developing stomata were examined and immunogold-labelled in transmission electron microscopy using monoclonal antibodies to five pectin epitopes: LM19 (unesterified HG), LM20 (esterified HG), LM5 (galactan RG1), LM6 (arabinan RG1) and LM13 (linear arabinan RG1). Labels for pectin type were quantitated and compared across walls and stages on replicated, independent samples. Walls were four times thinner before pore formation than in mature stomata. When stomata opened and closed, guard cell walls were thin and pectinaceous before the striated internal and thickest layer was deposited. Unesterified HG localized strongly in early layers but weakly in the thick internal layer. Labelling was weak for esterified HG, absent for galactan RG1 and strong for arabinan RG1. Linear arabinan RG1 is the only pectin that exclusively labelled guard cell walls. Pectin content decreased but the proportion of HG to arabinans changed only slightly. This is the first study to demonstrate changes in pectin composition during stomatal development in any plant. Movement of Funaria stomata coincides with capsule expansion before layering of guard cell walls is complete. Changes in wall architecture coupled with a decrease in total pectin may be responsible for the inability of mature stomata to move. Specialization of guard cells in mosses involves the addition of linear arabinans. | 25,129,633 | [
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Quantification of cocaine and metabolites in exhaled breath by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry following controlled administration of intravenous cocaine. | Breath has been investigated as an alternative matrix for detecting recent cocaine intake; however, there are no controlled cocaine administration studies that investigated the drug's disposition into breath. Breath was collected from 10 healthy adult cocaine users by asking them to breathe into a SensAbues device for 3 min before and up to 22 h following 25 mg intravenous (IV) cocaine dosing on days 1, 5, and 10, and assayed with a validated liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) method to quantify breath cocaine, benzoylecgonine (BE), ecgonine methyl ester (EME), and norcocaine. The assay was linear from 25 to 1,000 pg/filter, extraction efficiencies were 83.6-126%, intra- and inter-assay imprecision was <10.6%, and bias was between -8.5 and 16.8%. No endogenous or exogenous interferences were observed for more than 75 tested. Analytes were generally stable under short-term storage conditions. Ion suppression was less than 46%. Of breath specimens collected after controlled cocaine administration, 2.6% were positive for cocaine (26.1-66 pg/filter, 1-9.5 h), 0.72% BE (83.3-151 pg/filter, 6.5-12.5 h), and 0.72% EME (50-69.1 pg/filter, 6.5-12.5 h); norcocaine was not detected. Methanolic extraction of the devices themselves, after filters were removed, yielded 19.2% positive cocaine tests (25.2-36.4 pg/device, 10 min-22 h) and 4.3% positive BE tests (26.4-93.7 pg/device, 10 min-22 h), explaining differences between the two extraction techniques. These results suggest that the device reflects the drug in oral fluid as well as lung microparticles, while the filter reflects only drug-laden microparticles. A sensitive and specific method for cocaine, BE, EME, and norcocaine quantification in breath was developed and validated. Cocaine in breath identifies recent cocaine ingestion, but its absence does not preclude recent use. | 25,129,634 | [
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Trends in analyzing emerging drugs of abuse--from seized samples to body samples. | This article summarizes the current status of and new trends of analytical approaches in the field of forensic/clinical toxicology for analyzing emerging drugs of abuse. Instruments and devices used for compound identification will be presented as well as types of biosample used to check for drug intake. Finally, a new and promising strategy will be presented, which allows to monitor the consumption of emerging drugs of abuse without using real body samples. | 25,129,635 | [
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Diminished reliability of tryptase as risk indicator of mastocytosis in older overweight subjects. | Currently, measurement of serum tryptase level is the most commonly used test to estimate the need for bone marrow biopsy in patients suspected to have indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM). Yet tryptase levels do not solely reflect the mast cell load and can be elevated by overweight, older age, and impaired renal function. The influence of these factors on urinary methylhistamine (MH) and methylimidazole acetic acid (MIMA) is still unknown. We investigated the impact of age, body mass index (BMI), and kidney function on the diagnostic accuracy of tryptase, MH, and MIMA to select the most optimal test indicating the necessity of a bone marrow biopsy in ISM-suspected patients. Retrospective data analysis of all adults in whom bone marrow investigations were performed because of high clinical suspicion and/or elevated tryptase, MH, or MIMA. 194 subjects were included. ISM was present in 112 and absent in 82 subjects (non-ISM). Tryptase was elevated by age and body weight in non-ISM subjects and by BMI in ISM subjects; however, these factors did not influence MH or MIMA. In the total study population, the diagnostic accuracy of tryptase, MH, and MIMA were comparable (area under the curve 0.80, 0.80, and 0.83). In subjects >50 years with a BMI >25 kg/m(2), the diagnostic accuracy of MIMA was higher compared with that of tryptase (area under the curve 0.93 vs 0.74; P = .011). In ISM-suspected patients >50 years with a BMI of >25 kg/m(2), MIMA has a greater value compared with tryptase in estimating the need for bone marrow biopsy. | 25,129,675 | [
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Targeted sequencing by proximity ligation for comprehensive variant detection and local haplotyping. | Despite developments in targeted gene sequencing and whole-genome analysis techniques, the robust detection of all genetic variation, including structural variants, in and around genes of interest and in an allele-specific manner remains a challenge. Here we present targeted locus amplification (TLA), a strategy to selectively amplify and sequence entire genes on the basis of the crosslinking of physically proximal sequences. We show that, unlike other targeted re-sequencing methods, TLA works without detailed prior locus information, as one or a few primer pairs are sufficient for sequencing tens to hundreds of kilobases of surrounding DNA. This enables robust detection of single nucleotide variants, structural variants and gene fusions in clinically relevant genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, and enables haplotyping. We show that TLA can also be used to uncover insertion sites and sequences of integrated transgenes and viruses. TLA therefore promises to be a useful method in genetic research and diagnostics when comprehensive or allele-specific genetic information is needed. | 25,129,690 | [
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A simple and effective method to synthesize fluorescent nanoparticles using tryptophan and light and their lethal effect against bacteria. | A simple, environmentally friendly and cost-effective method was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles using tryptophan and light. To prepare the nanoparticles, the following components were used: deionized water, silver nitrate, light and tryptophan. The effects of the tryptophan concentration and light exposure time on the formation of tryptophan silver nanoparticles (Tnnps) were studied. The synthesized Tnnps were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements. The synthesized Tnnps were nearly spherical, with sizes of approximately 17 nm. In addition, the antibacterial activity of Tnnps was determined by monitoring the growth curves of strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Serratia marcescens, and Enterococcus faecalis using the microdilution test. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for 4 of 5 tested bacteria was determined to be between 20.0 and 17.5 μg/mL for 48 h and between 22.5 and 20.0 μg/mL for 72 h. | 25,129,701 | [
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High tibial osteotomy. | High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a widely accepted and performed procedure to treat medial knee arthrosis. The aim of this review is to evaluate the different surgical options in medial knee arthrosis, focusing on indications, patient's selection, long-term follow-up and survival analysis of HTO. Comparison and pooling of results are challenging because of different evaluation systems, small cohort number, and different surgical techniques. No differences have been described between opening and closing wedged HTO in terms of outcomes. Excellent early survivorship and good clinical outcomes were reported also with concomitant procedures. Correct indications, preoperative workup/planning, and technique selection are essential in achieving good results. The choice between opening and closing wedge osteotomy, graft selection in opening wedge HTO, comparison between HTO and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, and the results of revised HTO to total knee replacement are currently under debate and will be discussed in the present review. | 25,129,702 | [
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The reliability of the anterior pelvic plane for computer navigated acetabular component placement during total hip arthroplasty: prospective study with the EOS imaging system. | Computer navigated total hip arthroplasty is mostly based on the use of the anterior pelvic plane (APP) as a reference. EOS is a new imaging system that provides three-dimensional analysis of the pelvis in a functional position with a low dose of radiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the APP for placement of the cup during computer navigated THA using EOS. The reliability of the APP is limited for the placement of the acetabular cup during computer navigated THA. This was a prospective monocentric study using the EOS imaging system evaluating 44 patients in the standing position three months after computer navigated THA (Orthopilot). Reproducibility of EOS measurements were analyzed using SterEOS software and the reliability of the navigation data for the position of the cup were assessed. Intra and interobserver reproducibility of the measurements of the orientation of the cup by EOS were good with correlation coefficients above 93% and 95% and confidence intervals of less than ±5°. Mean cup inclination and anteversion were 41.3° and 20.9° and 44.3° and 29.5° respectively in operatively and post-operatively. The differences between measurements of operative cup inclination using computer assisted navigation and the post-operative EOS measurements were significant (P<0.05) with a correlation coefficient of less than 40%. Our study confirms the lack of precision of the APP as a reference for positioning of the acetabular component, especially in relation to anteversion. Although for many years the APP was considered to be a global reference, in fact, it is subject to significant inter-individual variations and variations during changes in position. These factors, associated with the difficulty of determining the preoperative APP, explain the lack of reliability of this reference. Preoperative evaluation of the orientation of APP by EOS and its integration into the navigation system could help the operator position these components. Level III Prospective diagnostic case controlled study. | 25,129,705 | [
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Physicochemical characteristics of polysaccharide conjugates prepared from fresh tea leaves and their improving impaired glucose tolerance. | Hot-water extracts were prepared from fresh tea leaves and fractionated by DEAE-cellulose DE-52 column chromatography to yield one unexplored polysaccharide-conjugate fraction TPC-L (tea polysaccharide conjugates). Chemical components, molecular weight and its distribution, water vapor sorption properties, zeta potentials and optical characteristics of TPC-L were investigated. As compared with injured cell group, the two dosages of TPC-L (150 and 300 μg/mL) were discovered to possess remarkably protective effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cells against impairments induced by high glucose in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively). Compared with group NC (normal control), the ingestion of 40 mg/kg of TPC-L could significantly reduce blood glucose levels of normal mice ingesting starch, and significant difference of AUC (area under the curve of blood glucose) and ΔAUC (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) at the postprandial time point of 0.5 and 1.0 h were observed. The three dosages of TPC-L (10, 40 and 160 mg/kg) did not significantly lower postprandial blood glucose levels of normal mice ingesting glucose. TPC-L could improve starch tolerance to prevent impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) from developing into diabetes as well as protective effects on HUVE cells against impairments induced by high glucose It was suggested that TPC-L improved IGT through its capability of inhibition on digestive enzymes. | 25,129,719 | [
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Immunomodulation of human macrophages and myeloid cells by 2-substituted (1-3)-β-D-glucan from P. parvulus 2.6. | β-glucans produced by eukaryotic cells and by microorganisms are known to modulate immune responses by affecting macrophage activation. Here, we have investigated the effect of purified 2-substituted (1-3)-β-D-glucan, produced by either Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 or Lactococcus lactis NZ9000[pNGTF], on the effector functions of human PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells and M1 pro-inflammatory monocyte-derived macrophages. The results reveal that this kind of β-D-glucan activates macrophages and has an anti-inflammatory effect. | 25,129,723 | [
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Improvement of polyvinyl alcohol properties by adding nanocrystalline cellulose isolated from banana pseudostems. | Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) isolated from banana pseudostems fibers (BPF) of the Pacovan variety were used as fillers in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) matrix to yield a nanocomposite. The fibers from the external fractions of the BPF were alkaline bleached and hydrolyzed under acidic conditions (H2SO4 62% w/w, 70 min, 45 °C) to obtain CNCs with a length (L) of 135.0 ± 12.0 nm and a diameter (D) of 7.2 ± 1.9 nm to yield an aspect ratio (L/D) of 21.2. The CNCs were applied to PVOH films at different concentrations (0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% w/w, dry basis). With higher concentrations of CNCs, the water-vapor barrier of the films increased, while the optical properties changed very little. Increasing the concentration of the CNCs up to 3% significantly improved the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite. | 25,129,731 | [
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Electrosprayed inulin microparticles for microbiota triggered targeting of colon. | Inulin, a naturally occurring polysaccharide, was acetylated to make it processable by electrospraying, a facile and single step method for microparticle fabrication. Electrospraying process parameters were optimized for fabrication of spherical and monodisperse indomethacin (IDM) loaded inulin acetate (INA) microparticles. The apparent entrapment efficiency of IDM was determined to be 100%, whereas working encapsulation efficiency was estimated to be 35.39 ± 1.63%. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed molecular dispersion of IDM in an amorphous state within the INA matrix. Finally, the results from in vitro release study performed in simulated gastro-intestinal fluids demonstrated that IDM was released only in simulated colonic fluid that contained inulinase. Therefore, this study demonstrates that acetylation of inulin does not alter its susceptibility to inulinase and that microparticles fabricated from INA can be developed as a colon targeting drug delivery system. | 25,129,739 | [
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Alginate based hybrid copolymer hydrogels--influence of pore morphology on cell-material interaction. | Alginate based hybrid copolymer hydrogels with unidirectional pore morphology were prepared to achieve synergistic biological performance for cardiac tissue engineering applications. Alginate based hybrid copolymer (ALGP) were prepared using alginate and poly(propylene fumarate) (HT-PPF) units. Different hybrid bimodal hydrogels were prepared by covalent crosslinking using poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) and vinyl monomer viz acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate and N-N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide and ionic crosslinking with calcium. The morphologically modified hydrogels (MM-hydrogels) with unidirectional elongated pores and high aspect ratio were prepared. MM-hydrogels favour better mechanical properties; it also enhances cell viability and infiltration due to unidirectional pores. However, the crosslinkers influence the fibroblast infiltration of these hydrogels. Synthesis of collagen and fibroblast infiltration was greater for alginate copolymer crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate-acrylic acid (ALGP-PA) even after one month (288%). This hybrid MM-hydrogel promoted cardiomyoblast growth on to their interstices signifying its potent applications in cardiac tissue engineering. | 25,129,740 | [
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Viscoelastic behavior of maize kernel studied by dynamic mechanical analyzer. | The creep recovery, stress relaxation, temperature-dependence and their frequency-dependence of maize kernel were determined within a moisture content range of 11.9% to 25.9% (w/w) by using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. The 4-element Burgers model was found to adequately represent the creep behavior of the maize seeds (R(2)>0.97). The 5-element Maxwell model was able to better predict the stress relaxation behavior of maize kernel than the 3-element Maxwell model. The Tg values for the maize kernels decreased with increased moisture content. For example, the Tg values were 114 °C and 65 °C at moisture content values of 11.9% (w/w) and 25.9% (w/w), respectively. The magnitude of the loss moduli and loss tangent and their rate of change with frequency were highest at 20.7% and lowest at 11.9% moisture contents. The maize kernel structure exhibited A-type crystalline pattern and the microstructure was found to expand with increase in moisture content. | 25,129,754 | [
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Characterization of glucomannan from Amorphophallus oncophyllus and its prebiotic activity in vivo. | Porang (Amorphophallus oncophyllus) is local perennial plant rich in glucomannan. The aim of this study was to extract and characterize glucomannan from porang tuber and to evaluate its potency as prebiotic in vivo. The research consisted of the following steps, i.e. extraction of glucomannan, evaluation of its physico-chemical properties, and in vivo study. Extraction was done by immersing porang fluor with water at 55 °C followed by coagulating glucomannan using ethanol. Solubility, water holding capacity, viscosity, degree of acetylation, degree of polymerization (DP), and purity of the glucomannan were evaluated. In vivo study was done using thirty-two Wistar rats which were divided into four groups. Each group was treated for 14 days with standard AIN 93 (standard), porang glucomannan, commercial konjac glucomannan, and inulin diet as source of fiber. Bacterial population and chemical properties of digesta were analyzed after intervention. The results of the study indicated that the yield of glucomannan from porang flour was 18.05% with 92.69% purity. Compared to commercial glucomannan, porang glucomannan showed higher solubility (86.4%) and degree of acetylation (13.7%), but lower viscosity (5400 cps), WHC (34.5 g/g), and DP (9.4). Diet supplemented with porang glucomannan inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, enhanced the production of total SCFA, and reduced pH value of cecal content. The study indicated that glucomannan from porang may be used as functional food. | 25,129,770 | [
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Green synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles employing levan, a biopolymer from Acetobacter xylinum NCIM 2526, as a reducing agent and capping agent. | With a vision of finding greener materials to synthesize nanoparticles, we report the production and isolation of levan, a polysaccharide with repeating units of fructose, from Acetobacter xylinum NCIM2526. The isolated levan were characterized using potassium ferricyanide reducing power assay, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H NMR). To exploit levan in nanotechnology, we present a simple and greener method to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using biopolymer, levan as both reducing and stabilizing agents. The morphology and stability of the AgNPs and AuNPs were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-vis absorption (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The possible capping mechanism of the nanoparticles was postulated using FTIR studies. As synthesized biogenic nanoparticles showed excellent catalytic activity as evidenced from sodium borohydride mediated reduction of 4-nitro phenol and methylene blue. | 25,129,779 | [
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Influence of feeding regimens on rat gut fluids and colonic metabolism of diclofenac-β-cyclodextrin. | Feeding states may affect the performance of colonic prodrugs. The aim is to investigate the influence of feeding regimen in Wistar rats on: (i) distribution and pH contents along the gut and (ii) metabolism of two colonic prodrugs, diclofenac-β-cyclodextrin and a commercially available control, sulfasalazine, within the caecal and colonic contents. Male Wistar rats were subject to four different feeding regimens, the gut contents characterized (mass and pH) and the metabolism of prodrugs investigated. The feeding regimen affects gut contents (mass and pH), more specifically in the stomach and lower intestine, and affects the rate of metabolism of diclofenac-β-cyclodextrin, but not that of sulfasalazine. The latter's degradation is much faster than that of diclofenac-β-cyclodextrin while the metabolism of both prodrugs is faster in colonic (versus caecal) contents. Fasting results in most rapid degradation of diclofenac-β-cyclodextrin, possibly due to lack of competition (absence of food) for microbial enzymatic activity. | 25,129,806 | [
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Magnetic resonance perfusion and diffusion imaging characteristics of transient bone marrow edema, avascular necrosis and subchondral insufficiency fractures of the proximal femur. | To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion and diffusion imaging characteristics in patients with transient bone marrow edema (TBME), avascular necrosis (AVN), or subchondral insufficiency fractures (SIF) of the proximal femur. 29 patients with painful hip and bone marrow edema pattern of the proximal femur on non-contrast MR imaging were examined using diffusion-weighted and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced sequences. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) and perfusion parameters were calculated for different regions of the proximal femur. Regional distribution and differences in ADC values and perfusion parameters were evaluated. Seven patients presented with TBME, 15 with AVN and seven with SIF of the proximal femur. Perfusion imaging showed significant differences for maximum enhancement values (Emax), slope (Eslope) and time to peak (TTP) between the three patient groups (p<0.05). In contrast, no significant differences for ADC values were calculated when comparing TBME, AVN, and SIF patients. Diffusion weighted imaging of bone marrow of the proximal femur did not show significant differences between patients with TBME, AVN or SIF. In contrast, MR perfusion imaging demonstrated significant differences for the different patient groups and may as a complementary imaging technique add information to the understanding of the pathophysiology of diseases associated with bone marrow edema. | 25,129,825 | [
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Remarkable diversity of tick or mammalian-associated Borreliae in the metropolitan San Francisco Bay Area, California. | The diversity of Lyme disease (LD) and relapsing fever (RF)-group spirochetes in the metropolitan San Francisco Bay area in northern California is poorly understood. We tested Ixodes pacificus, I. spinipalpis, and small mammals for presence of borreliae in Alameda County in the eastern portion of San Francisco Bay between 2009 and 2012. Analyses of 218 Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb sl) culture or DNA isolates recovered from host-seeking I. pacificus ticks revealed that the human pathogen Bb sensu stricto (hereinafter, B. burgdorferi) had the broadest habitat distribution followed by B. bissettii. Three other North American Bb sl spirochetes, B. americana, B. californiensis and B. genomospecies 2, also were detected at lower prevalence. OspC genotyping of the resultant 167 B. burgdorferi isolates revealed six ospC alleles (A, D, E3, F, H and K) in I. pacificus. A novel spirochete belonging to the Eurasian Bb sl complex, designated CA690, was found in a questing I. spinipalpis nymph. Borrelia miyamotoi, a relapsing-fever (RF) group spirochete recently implicated as a human pathogen, was detected in 24 I. pacificus. Three rodent species were infected with Bb sl: the fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) with B. burgdorferi, and the dusky-footed wood rat (Neotoma fuscipes) and roof rat (Rattus rattus) with B. bissettii. Another spirochete that clustered phylogenetically with the Spanish R57 Borrelia sp. in a clade distinct from both the LD and RF groups infected some of the roof rats. Together, eight borrelial genospecies were detected in ticks or small mammals from a single Californian county, two of which were related phylogenetically to European spirochetes. | 25,129,859 | [
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Gait and lower extremity kinematic analysis as an outcome measure after femoroacetabular impingement surgery. | Lower extremity and pelvis kinematics have been shown to be abnormal in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). We conducted this systematic review to evaluate the current status of gait and lower extremity kinematics as an outcome measure in patients treated surgically for FAI. We searched the Embase, Medline, and PubMed databases for all reports of studies published through February 22, 2014, evaluating kinematic assessment of patients undergoing FAI surgery. A review of eligible studies was conducted, and the references were searched. Methodologic quality was evaluated for all studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data were extracted regarding methods of kinematic assessment and clinical and kinematic outcomes. We identified 633 reports, of which 5 met our eligibility criteria. These studies included a total of 58 patients with symptomatic FAI (age range, 18 to 50 years). All included studies were of moderate methodologic quality. Kinematic assessments were completed preoperatively and postoperatively with variable methodology and follow-up (range, 3 to 32 months). Most studies used high-speed motion-capture camera systems with reflective tracking markers to evaluate in vivo kinematic function. Of the 5 included studies, 3 documented kinematic improvements postoperatively particularly regarding sagittal hip range of motion primarily with flexion (weighted mean, 35.1° ± 5.4° preoperatively and 37.8° ± 6.3° postoperatively). Gait and lower extremity kinematics can be used as an outcome measure after FAI surgery. However, the lack of uniformity in the methodology used and underpowered case series limit the ability to identify clear and predictable differences after corrective surgery for FAI. Though statistically significant, functional outcome improvements were often conflicting and not necessarily of clinical significance. A uniform outcome measure and technique to reliably assess in vivo hip motion are required for future comparative studies. Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies. | 25,129,866 | [
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The effects of family-friend visits on anxiety, physiological indices and well-being of MI patients admitted to a coronary care unit. | To investigate the effect of family-friend visits on anxiety, physiological indices and well-being of patients with acute myocardial infarction. A checklist was used to gather socio-demographic data and physiologic indices including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and arterial oxygen saturation. The short-form of the Spielberger state anxiety inventory, a visual analog scale well-being and cardiac monitoring devices were used for collecting data. Patients exhibited a lower heart rate and respiratory rate in the normal range during the 10-min visiting period and within 10 and 30 min after the visiting period. The arterial oxygen saturation increased in this period. After the visiting period, patients exhibited an increase in the sense of well-being and a decrease in the level of anxiety. Family-friend visits can improve MI patients' sense of well-being and decrease their anxiety. Moreover, the visits can help to keep the physiological indices within normal limits. | 25,129,882 | [
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Absence of a simple code: how transcription factors read the genome. | Transcription factors (TFs) influence cell fate by interpreting the regulatory DNA within a genome. TFs recognize DNA in a specific manner; the mechanisms underlying this specificity have been identified for many TFs based on 3D structures of protein-DNA complexes. More recently, structural views have been complemented with data from high-throughput in vitro and in vivo explorations of the DNA-binding preferences of many TFs. Together, these approaches have greatly expanded our understanding of TF-DNA interactions. However, the mechanisms by which TFs select in vivo binding sites and alter gene expression remain unclear. Recent work has highlighted the many variables that influence TF-DNA binding, while demonstrating that a biophysical understanding of these many factors will be central to understanding TF function. | 25,129,887 | [
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[Effects of drought stress on growth and water use efficiency of two medicinal plants]. | Growth characteristics, stable carbon isotope discrimination (Delta13C), water use efficiency (WUE), and their correlation of Cassia obtusifolia and Isatis indigotica were measured at three soil water levels, i. e., 30%, 50% and 75% of field water holding capacity (FWHC), and at three growth stages. The growth indices of the two medicinal plants at 75% of FWHC were higher than those at 30% and 50% of FWHC, suggesting that the two medicinal plants could obtain high production under sufficient moisture condition. The Delta13C(A) (aboveground biomass-based Delta13C) and Delta13C(T) (total biomass-based Delta13C) decreased, and the WUE(A) (aboveground biomass-based WUE) and WUE(T) (total biomass-based WUE) of C. obtusifolia and I. indigotica increased with the increasing degree of drought stress. The growth indices of the two medicinal plants had little difference in the different water treatments, which indicated that the two medicinal plants were insensitive to drought stress. Water use efficiency of I. indigotica had significant negative relationships with aboveground biomass and total biomass, while that of C. obtusifolia had a significant positive correlation with the root/shoot ratio. | 25,129,928 | [
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[Effects of inoculating plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on the biological characteristics of walnut (Juglans regia) rhizosphere soil under drought condition]. | Effects of four plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) , namely Pseudomonas sp. YT3, Bacillus subtilis DZ1, B. cereus L90 and B. fusiformis L13 on the biological characteristics of walnut (Juglans regia) rhizosphere soil under drought stress were investigated. Results showed that drought stress had little effect on available nutrients of walnut rhizosphere soil, but significantly decreased the activity of organic carbon by 18.4% and increased the pH from 7.34 to 7.79. Under drought stress condition, the inoculation of Bacillus cereus L90 significantly increased high-labile organic carbon in walnut rhizosphere by 14.5% relative to the un-inoculated control, and decreased the pH to 7.41. Compared with the irrigated control, the total microbial populations, root exudates, microbial biomass carbon, and microbial biomass nitrogen in walnut rhizosphere soil were significantly decreased by 36.0%, 20.7%, 33.5% and 30.7%, respectively, because of drought stress. However, L90 inoculation decreased these deficits to 14.1%, 10.3%, 12.1% and 12.7%, respectively. Some terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs) disappeared under the drought condition and PGPR inoculation had great influence on T-RFs according to Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism profiles. The Margalef index and the Shannon index of walnut rhizosphere soil significantly decreased, but the Simpson index increased relative to the irrigated control. Compared with the un-inoculated control, the Margalef index significantly increased from 0.42 to 0.99, as well as the Shannon index increased from 0.52 to 0.98. However, the Simpson index de- creased from 0.60 to 0.39. Inoculating YT3, DZ1 and L13 had weaker effects on the biological characteristics of walnut rhizosphere soil compared to inoculating L90, suggesting L90 inoculation could interfere with the suppression of drought stress to the biological characteristics of walnut rhizosphere soil. | 25,129,951 | [
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[Analysis of TEOAE and AABR hearing screening and follow-up in NICU]. | To study the results of TEOAE and AABR hearing screening and follow-up in NICU. Total 574 cases in NICU were included in this study, all cases received both TEOAE and AABR hearing screening while admission and rescreening when one-month-old. The cases that were abnormal on either test in rescreening were asked to return for diagnostic tests at 3 moths old. The patients who didn't return as required in 3 months were surveyed by call and analyzed. Among 574 cases, 472 cases passed both TEOAE and AABR hearing screening while admission. While 102 cases had abnormal test results in either screening test. Thirty-three cases returned for follow-up, 13 of which passed rescreening test one month after discharge, the other 20 cases had ABR diagnostic tests after 3 months. Among them, 8 cases had normal hearing, 12 cases had various degree of hearing loss. Sixty-nine cases lost follow-up. The reason of lost follow-up was as follows, parents changed phone number/contact information, parents didn't understand the screening results, parents believe that their children having no need for further testing; parents had retest in other hospitals, parents didn't pay attention to hearing loss because of other severe complicated comorbidities. The passing rate (normal) of TEOAE and AABR hearing screening in NICU was 82.2%, non- passing rate wass 17.8%, and the prevalence of hearing loss was high in those followed cases. Hyperbilirubinemia was the main risk factors of hearing loss in our NICU patients. We reviewed the reason for high rate (67.6%) of losing follow-up. | 25,129,970 | [
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[Comparison of application of several psychophysical olfactory test methods in clinic]. | To compare the consistency of four olfactory psychophysical test methods. Twenty out-patients were done with olfactory psychophysical test and the results were analyzed. The four olfactory psychophysical test methods include simple test method, UPSIT, Sniffin Sticks test and the T&T olfactometer test. The consistency of four test methods reached 85%, and UPSIT test can identify pseudo smell obstacles. There is reliable and stable outcome of the four psychophysical olfactory test methods. | 25,129,973 | [
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[Effect of ambroxol on biofilm of Haemophilus influenzae and bactericidal action]. | To establish a biofilm model of Haemophilus influenzae and observe the effect of ambroxol on biofilm of Haemophilus influenzae and bactericidal action. Thirty strains of Haemophilus influenzae were isolated from adenoids of children with adenoidal hypertrophy. Two strains which could build stronger biofilms was selected in a 96-well plate. The effect of ambroxol on biofilms were determined by crystal violet, and the structure of biofilms were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The numbers of viable bacterial in biofilm after ambroxol treatmented determined by plate culture count. Through crystal violet assay, significant difference (P < 0.01) between the two group after treatment was found when ambroxol concentration reached at 0.25 mg/ml and 0.49 mg/ml. The biofilms was destroyed by SEM. Ambroxol had the positive effect on bacterial killing by plate culture count,and the effect was in a dose dependent. Ambroxol could destroy the biofilm of Haemophilus influenzae, and had bactericidal function in vitro. | 25,129,975 | [
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Glucocorticoids activate cardiac mineralocorticoid receptors in adrenalectomized Dahl salt-sensitive rats. | We previously showed that selective mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blockade by eplerenone is cardioprotective in Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats. To clarify the consequences of glucocorticoid-mediated MR activation in these animals, we investigated the effects of exogenous corticosterone on blood pressure as well as cardiac remodeling and function after adrenalectomy. DS rats were subjected to adrenalectomy at 6 weeks of age and thereafter fed a high-salt diet and administered corticosterone (20 mg/kg per day) or vehicle. Systolic blood pressure was higher in the corticosterone group than in the vehicle group at 7 weeks and thereafter. By 11 weeks, corticosterone had reduced left ventricular (LV) mass and induced LV diastolic dysfunction. The ratio of collagen type I to type III mRNA levels in the left ventricle was increased in the corticosterone group compared with the vehicle group. Administration of a non-antihypertensive dose of the MR antagonist spironolactone (20 mg/kg per day) from 6 weeks inhibited the effects of corticosterone on both the collagen type I to type III mRNA ratio and diastolic function without affecting the decrease in LV mass. Spironolactone attenuated both the increase in NADPH oxidase activity in the left ventricle and coronary vascular inflammatory responses apparent in the corticosterone group. These results indicate that exogenous glucocorticoids induce hypertension, cardiac remodeling, and diastolic dysfunction in adrenalectomized DS rats fed a high-salt diet. The cardiac effects of exogenous glucocorticoids are likely attributable, at least in part, to myocardial oxidative stress and coronary vascular inflammation induced by glucocorticoid-activated MRs. | 25,129,992 | [
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Factors associated with early postpartum maternity blues and depression tendency among Japanese mothers with full-term healthy infants. | Maternity blues and postpartum depression are common mental health problems during the early postpartum period. However, few studies have examined the factors associated with maternity blues and postpartum depression in healthy mothers with spontaneous births of healthy full-term infants. This study aimed to determine the demographic and obstetric factors, various feelings during pregnancy, and psychological factors by using the Maternity Blues Scale (MBS) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale (EPDS) among healthy Japanese mothers. We distributed the MBS and EPDS self-administered questionnaires to 100 Japanese mothers during their 4-5 day hospitalization and at a health check-up 1-month after delivery, respectively. Multiple regression analyses were performed including the above-mentioned variables as independent variables and the maximum MBS or EPDS scores as dependent variables. The answers "Having a friend I can talk to about maternity life or child rearing" [beta (95% confidence interval) = -1.53 (-2.68 - -0.378)] and "Satogaeri bunben", a Japanese traditional support system wherein a postnatal woman lives with her husband/parents [-2.82 (-4.73 - -0.898)] were significantly associated with MBS scores. The answer "Having a friend I can talk to about maternity life or child rearing" [-2.83 (-4.76 - -0.903)] was also significantly associated with EPDS scores, although the association between the partner's age and these scores was marginally significant [-0.106 (-0.008 - 0.221)]. This study shows that it is important to provide support for healthy women without delivery complications, both at home and in the community. | 25,129,999 | [
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Gamma knife radiosurgery of brain metastasis from malignant pleural mesothelioma--report of three cases with autopsy study in a case. | The median survival time of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has been 9 months. Given the short survival, there have been only few cases in which brain metastases have been diagnosed and treated before death. Three cases of brain metastases treated by gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR) are reported. Case I showed a metastatic lesion in the right frontal lobe which was treated by GKR two years after diagnosis of MPM. The lesion markedly reduced and the symptoms were improved, But the patient died of progression of pleural tumor four months after GKR. A year and three months after the diagnosis, asymptomatic bifrontal lesions were treated with GKR. However, Case 2 died of abdominal mass a month after. Case 3 showed headache one and half year after the diagnosis. Three brain lesions were treated by GKR, which disappeared in 4 months. The patient died of new multiple brain metastases and periventricular dissemination seven months after. The autopsy revealed a MPM occupying the left pleural cavity. No neoplastic lesion was found in gamma knife-treated sites. The cause of death was the mass effect by new metastatic lesions. GKR was found effective also for the treatment of brain metastasis of MPM. | 25,130,005 | [
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Hazard analysis of Arid and semi-Arid (ASAL) regions of Kenya. | This paper describes a situationanalysis on hazards in the Arid and semi-Arid lands of Kenya. The leading hazards affecting the Arid and semi-arid lands are mainly natural and include among others drought, floods, and landslides. Other hazards of importance were found to be war and conflict, HIV/AIDS and fires. Over 80% of these are weather related. The overall objective of this study was to prioritize hazards in the ASAL region. Specifically, the study identified the top ten hazards in the ASAL Districts of Kenya, determined Probability of occurrence; Analyzed the potential impact of the hazard and utilizing multiplier effect prioritized the Hazards using a hypothetical model. This was a descriptive study conducted in over half of the Kenya's ASAL Districts in four regions of Lower and Upper Eastern, North Eastern and part of the Coast region. Six Districts were purposively selected per region with six officers from each District all totaling one hundred and forty four. The sectors where respondents were sourced from were Agriculture, Health, local Government, and Provincial Administration, Environment and NGO. The members through a consensus process analyzed hazards in groups of their respective districts using a tool that had been developed and respondents trained on its use. One hundred and forty four (144) officers from Twenty four Districts in the four regions were recruited. One hundred twenty seven (81%) were male and only 27 (19% ) were female The representation of participants per sector was Governance 25% followed by Civil society organizations 21%, Health 16%, Agriculture and arid lands 15%, Research and scientific institutions 13%. The top Priority Hazards identified using the mean score were Drought and famine (5.4) Epidemics and epizootics (3.8), HIV/AIDS (3.6), War and conflict (2.5), Floods (2.5) CONCLUSIONS: The exercise confirmed the priority hazards in the Arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya and described vulnerability factors that included water scarcity, poverty and low educational levels. The region suffers from a variety of hazards in particular Drought and famine, Epidemics including HIV/AIDS and War and conflict. Environmental degradation though given a low score may be more of a perception. There is need to undertake a comprehensive hazard and Vulnerability analysis at regional and country level to inform interventions and other developmental activities. Women should be targeted at the community and leadership level, and efforts to empower them should be stepped up. | 25,130,021 | [
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The kallikrein-kinin system in diabetic retinopathy. | Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major microvascular complication associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, which can lead to visual impairment and blindness. Current treatment strategies for DR are mostly limited to laser therapies, steroids, and anti-VEGF agents, which are often associated with unwanted side effects leading to further complications. Recent evidence suggests that kinins play a primary role in the development of DR through enhanced vascular permeability, leukocytes infiltration, and other inflammatory mechanisms. These deleterious effects are mediated by kinin B1 and B2 receptors, which are expressed in diabetic human and rodent retina. Importantly, kinin B1 receptor is virtually absent in sane tissue, yet it is induced and upregulated in diabetic retina. These peptides belong to the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), which contains two separate and independent pathways of regulated serine proteases, namely plasma kallikrein (PK) and tissue kallikrein (TK) that are involved in the biosynthesis of bradykinin (BK) and kallidin (Lys-BK), respectively. Hence, ocular inhibition of kallikreins or antagonism of kinin receptors offers new therapeutic avenues in the treatment and management of DR. Herein, we present an overview of the principal features and known inflammatory mechanisms associated with DR along with the current therapeutic approaches and put special emphasis on the KKS as a new and promising therapeutic target due to its link with key pathways directly associated with the development of DR. | 25,130,041 | [
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Management of children with possible appendicitis: a survey of emergency physicians in Australia and New Zealand. | To describe current practice in managing children with possible acute appendicitis in EDs in Australia and New Zealand as the basis for a clinical practice guideline (CPG). An anonymous survey was distributed to consultant emergency physicians working at PREDICT (Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative) sites in Australia and New Zealand in April 2013. A second, site-based survey was distributed to the PREDICT representatives at each of the 13 sites. The response rate was 100% (13/13) for the site-based survey and 82% (145/176) for the physician survey. Most respondents agreed that right lower quadrant (RLQ) tenderness (94%), anorexia (92%), migration of abdominal pain to the RLQ (86%), rebound tenderness in the RLQ (60%) and RLQ tenderness produced on coughing, hopping or percussion (63%) were valuable symptoms and signs in diagnosing appendicitis. The responses regarding nausea and vomiting and fever were less consistent. Less than 50% regarded blood tests (C-reactive protein, white cell count) as relevant for the diagnosis of appendicitis. Most physicians (61%) agreed there was a role for a validated CPG for possible appendicitis in children, although only 3/13 sites reported use of such a CPG. This survey of senior emergency physicians across Australia and New Zealand demonstrated congruence in several clinical markers and disagreements in others in the approach to diagnosing children with possible appendicitis. Whereas emergency physicians would like a validated CPG, this survey has highlighted some critical issues. Particularly, the low regard for blood tests, integral to published diagnostic scoring systems, will be a challenge for the development and introduction of such a CPG in Australia and New Zealand. | 25,130,047 | [
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A half-sandwich organometallic single-ion magnet with hexamethylbenzene coordinated to the Dy(III) ion. | A half-sandwich organolanthanide complex, [(C6Me6)Dy(AlCl4)3], in which Dy(III) is coordinated with a π-bonded arene was synthesized and magnetically characterized. This complex displays slow magnetic relaxation and a hysteresis loop associated with single-ion magnet behavior. The orientation of the magnetic anisotropy axis is analyzed using ab initio calculations. | 25,130,080 | [
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Single-walled carbon nanotube-based polymer monoliths for the enantioselective nano-liquid chromatographic separation of racemic pharmaceuticals. | Single-walled carbon nanotubes were encapsulated into different polymer-based monolithic backbones. The polymer monoliths were prepared via the copolymerization of 20% monomers, glycidyl methacrylate, 20% ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 60% porogens (36% 1-propanol, 18% 1,4-butanediol) or 16.4% monomers (16% butyl methacrylate, 0.4% sulfopropyl methacrylate), 23.6% ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 60% porogens (36% 1-propanol, 18% 1,4-butanediol) along with 6% single-walled carbon nanotubes aqueous suspension. The effect of single-walled carbon nanotubes on the chiral separation of twelve classes of pharmaceutical racemates namely; α- and β-blockers, antiinflammatory drugs, antifungal drugs, dopamine antagonists, norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors, catecholamines, sedative hypnotics, diuretics, antihistaminics, anticancer drugs and antiarrhythmic drugs was investigated. The enantioselective separation was carried out under multimodal elution to explore the chiral recognition capabilities of single-walled carbon nanotubes using reversed phase, polar organic and normal phase chromatographic conditions using nano-liquid chromatography. Baseline separation was achieved for celiprolol, chlorpheniramine, etozoline, nomifensine and sulconazole under multimodal elution conditions. Satisfactory repeatability was achieved through run-to-run, column-to-column and batch-to-batch investigations. Our findings demonstrate that single-walled carbon nanotubes represent a promising stationary phase for the chiral separation and may open the field for a new class of chiral selectors. | 25,130,087 | [
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A novel approach to the quantitative detection of anabolic steroids in bovine muscle tissue by means of a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry instrument. | In recent years, the analysis of veterinary drugs and growth-promoting agents has shifted from target-oriented procedures, mainly based on liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-QqQ-MS), towards accurate mass full scan MS (such as Time-of-Flight (ToF) and Fourier Transform (FT)-MS). In this study, the performance of a hybrid analysis instrument (i.e. UHPLC-QuadrupoleTime-of-Flight-MS (QqToF-MS)), able to exploit both full scan HR and MS/MS capabilities within a single analytical platform, was evaluated for confirmatory analysis of anabolic steroids (gestagens, estrogens including stilbenes and androgens) in meat. The validation data was compared to previously obtained results (CD 2002/657/EC) for QqQ-MS and single stage Orbitrap-MS. Additionally, a fractional factorial design was used to shorten and optimize the sample extraction. Validation according to CD 2002/657/EC demonstrated that steroid analysis using QqToF has a higher competing value towards QqQ-MS in terms of selectivity/specificity, compared to single stage Orbitrap-MS. While providing excellent linearity, based on lack-of-fit calculations (F-test, α=0.05 for all steroids except 17β-ethinylestradiol: α=0.01), the sensitivity of QqToF-MS proved for 61.8% and 85.3% of the compounds more sensitive compared to QqQ-MS and Orbitrap-MS, respectively. Indeed, the CCα values, obtained upon ToF-MS/MS detection, ranged from 0.02 to 1.74μgkg(-1) for the 34 anabolic steroids, while for QqQ-MS and Orbitrap-MS values ranged from 0.04 to 0.88μgkg(-1) and from 0.07 to 2.50μgkg(-1), respectively. Using QqToF-MS and QqQ-MS, adequate precision was obtained as relative standard deviations for repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility, were below 20%. In case of Orbitrap-MS, some compounds (i.e. some estrogens) displayed poor precision, which was possibly caused by some lack of sensitivity at lower concentrations and the absence of MRM-like experiments. Overall, it can be concluded that QqToF-MS offers good quantitative and confirmatory performance using the ToF-MS/MS mode whereas the full scan HR-ToF-MS allows screening for potential new designer drugs. | 25,130,093 | [
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Marked elevation of serum hyaluronan levels in collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy. | Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy is a rare glomerular disease characterized by the massive deposition of type III collagen in mesangial and subendothelial spaces. We observed markedly increased serum hyaluronan levels in patients with collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy; levels in three patients were more than 1,000-times greater than the normal upper limit. However, one kidney transplant patient had normal serum hyaluronan levels. We found that serum levels and activities of the enzyme hyaluronidase were normal, and hyaluronan was not markedly deposited in the mesangial or subendothelial spaces. Our findings suggest that serum hyaluronan levels may be a specific diagnostic marker of collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy, and kidney transplantation may alleviate marked increases in serum hyaluronan. | 25,130,114 | [
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Wandering pneumonia caused by dabigatran. | We herein describe the case of a 74-year-old man who experienced pulmonary consolidation and chest pain following administration of dabigatran, a novel oral anticoagulant. The consolidation settled spontaneously in another lung area, a condition sometimes referred to as "wandering pneumonia." Although we did not find specific pathological evidence of interstitial lung disease on transbronchial lung biopsy, a lung opacity spontaneously disappeared following discontinuance of dabigatran, and there was no recurrence. There are no other reports of dabigatran-induced lung injury, except alveolar hemorrhage and eosinophilic pneumonia. We should consider that any novel drug could cause various types of pulmonary injuries. | 25,130,119 | [
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... |
Crystalglobulinemia with fulminant course with cylinder-like bodies on peripheral blood smear. | A 63-year-old woman presented to our hospital with fever, purpura and pain in both legs and died 4 days after admission. Her blood smear and skin biopsy showed cylinder-like bodies (20×120 μm). She was diagnosed to have monoclonal gammopathy (IgG, lambda type). An autopsy revealed cylinder-like bodies in the vasculature of various organs. We noted a proliferation of atypical plasma cells in her bone marrow, suggesting pre-existing myeloma. Crystalglobulinemia is a rare manifestation of hypergammaglobulinemia that can cause multiple embolisms of the small vessels, and this resulted in the patient's fulminant course. The identification of cylinder-like bodies in the peripheral blood may help in reaching a diagnosis in such cases. | 25,130,123 | [
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Bortezomib-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: clinical and imaging features. | Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare and potentially harmful complication in patients receiving targeted chemotherapy. We herein present a case of PRES that occurred after 33 days of high-dose bortezomib treatment and propose both overwhelmed cerebral autoregulation and toxin-mediated blood-brain barrier damage as the underlying mechanisms based on the imaging findings. A favorable recovery was observed two days after achieving stringent hypertension control and withholding bortezomib. Follow-up images obtained two weeks later unveiled a dramatic remission, with faint areas of subcortical hyperintensity in the bilateral parieto-occipital regions. With explicit clinical and imaging features, this case highlights the need for early recognition of PRES during the clinical course of bortezomib therapy. | 25,130,124 | [
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Prevotella brain abscesses and stroke following dental extraction in a young patient: a case report and review of the literature. | A brain abscess is a life-threatening infection. There are few reports describing Prevotella bacteremia with middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and brain abscess following dental extraction in the literature. We herein describe a 32-year-old healthy man who experienced headache after tooth extraction. He was not correctly diagnosed until he experienced a stroke and a blood culture revealed Prevotella denticola weeks later. This case and our detailed review of related cases highlight the importance of thorough medical history-taking and clinical evaluations. Brain abscess formation should be considered in previously healthy patients with fever, stroke, and a recent history of tooth extraction. | 25,130,130 | [
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Barriers and facilitators to yoga use in a population of individuals with self-reported chronic low back pain: a qualitative approach. | Yoga has been found to be efficacious in treating chronic low back pain, yet biomedical treatments are most commonly used for pain. Promoting yoga as part of integrative care would reduce exclusive reliance on high-cost, higher-risk biomedical treatments. Attitudes toward yoga play a role in consideration of it as a treatment. The current study examined attitudes toward yoga in adults with chronic low back pain and compared these results to those found in a 2009 general population study. Participants completed a semi-structured interview where they responded to items about perceptions of potential barriers and facilitators to trying yoga. Participant responses were analyzed qualitatively and several common themes emerged. Themes identified by participants indicated there is mixed information about yoga in the public domain and that clarification of what yoga is, how it can be beneficial, and what it requires one to do physically may help promote its use. | 25,130,139 | [
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Immune gene expressions in grouper larvae (Epinephelus coioides) induced by bath and oral vaccinations with inactivated betanodavirus. | Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) has caused mass mortality in many mariculture fish species. Bath vaccination of inactivated NNV and oral immunization of recombinant NNV coat protein are reported to protect grouper larvae against NNV infection. However, the information of immune gene expression in grouper larvae (Epinephelus coioides) after bath and oral immunizations is still limited. In this study, grouper larvae were respectively bath- and orally immunized with binary ethylenimine (BEI)-inactivated NNV, and the expression levels of immune genes were analyzed. Significant gene expressions of IL-1β, Mx, MHC-I, MHC-II, CD8α, IgM and IgT were observed in bath- and orally immunized fish 1-4 weeks post immunization (wpi). Particularly, the up-regulation of IL-1β and Mx gene expression lasted for 4 weeks. The IgT gene expression in gill was only induced by bath immunization, while that in gut was only stimulated by oral immunization. Both immunizations elicited MHC-I and CD8α gene expression relative to cellular immunity. Furthermore, NNV RNA genome, which was detected in inactivated NNV, could induce Mx gene expression in grouper brain (GB) cells, indicating that NNV RNA genome could be recognized by pathogen-recognition receptors (PRRs). In summary, bath and oral vaccinations with BEI-inactivated NNV triggered the gene expression of not only humoral immunity but also cellular immunity. | 25,130,145 | [
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Comparative nutritional and chemical phenome of Clostridium difficile isolates determined using phenotype microarrays. | Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of infectious diarrhea in North America and Europe. The risk of CDI increases significantly in the case where antimicrobial treatment reduces the number of competing bacteria in the gut, thus leading to the increased availability of nutrients and loss of colonization resistance. The objective of this study was to determine comprehensive nutritional utilization and the chemical sensitivity profile of historic and newer C. difficile isolates and to examine the possible role of the phenotype diversity in C. difficile virulence. Phenotype microarrays (PMs) were used to elucidate the complete nutritional and chemical sensitivity profile of six C. difficile isolates. Of the 760 nutrient sources tested, 285 compounds were utilized by at least one strain. Among the C. difficile isolates compared, R20291, a recent hypervirulent outbreak-associated strain, appears to have an expanded nutrient utilization profile when compared to all other strains. The expanded nutritional utilization profile of some newer C. difficile strains could be one of the reasons for infections in patients who are not exposed to the hospital environment or not undergoing antibiotic treatment. This nutritional profile could be used to design tube feeding formulas that reduce the risk of CDI. | 25,130,165 | [
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Enriched CD44(+)/CD24(-) population drives the aggressive phenotypes presented in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). | The mechanism underlying the aggressive behaviors of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is not well characterized yet. The association between cancer stem cell (CSC) population and the aggressive behaviors of TNBC has not been established. We found the CD44(+)/CD24(-) cell population was enriched in TNBC tissues and cell lines, with a higher capacity of proliferation, migration, invasion and tumorigenicity as well as lower adhesion ability. The CD44(+)/CD24(-) cell population with cancer stem cell-like properties may play an important role in the aggressive behaviors of TNBC. This discovery may lead to new therapeutic strategies targeting CD44(+)/CD24(-) cell population in TNBC. | 25,130,168 | [
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Bergamottin, a natural furanocoumarin obtained from grapefruit juice induces chemosensitization and apoptosis through the inhibition of STAT3 signaling pathway in tumor cells. | Persistent activation of signal transducers and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been closely related to growth, survival, proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis of various cancer cells, and thus its inhibition can be considered a potential therapeutic strategy. In this study, we investigated the role of bergamottin (BGM) obtained from grapefruit juice in abrogating the constitutive STAT3 activation in multiple myeloma (MM) cells. This suppression was mediated through the inhibition of phosphorylation of Janus-activated kinase (JAK) 1/2 and c-Src. Pervanadate reversed the BGM induced down-regulation of STAT3 activation, suggesting the involvement of a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP). Furthermore, BGM induced the expression of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1, and gene silencing of the SHP-1 by small interfering RNA abolished the ability of BGM to inhibit STAT3 activation, suggesting a critical role for SHP-1 in the action of BGM. BGM also downregulated the expression of STAT3-regulated gene products such as COX-2, VEGF, cyclin D1, survivin, IAP-1, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xl in MM cells. This correlated with induction of substantial apoptosis as indicated by an increase in the sub-G1 cell population and caspase-3 induced PARP cleavage. Also, this agent significantly potentiated the apoptotic effects of bortezomib and thalidomide in MM cells. Overall, these results suggest that BGM is a novel blocker of STAT3 activation pathway thus may have a potential in therapy of MM and other cancers. | 25,130,169 | [
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Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α directly activates leptin receptor (Ob-R) in pancreatic cancer cells. | The aim of this study is to investigate the regulatory mechanism of leptin receptors (Ob-R) in pancreatic cancer. We found that the over-expression of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1)α and hypoxia up-regulated the expression of Ob-R in pancreatic cancer cells. When HIF-1α gene was silenced in vitro, the expression of Ob-R was significantly decreased. Xenograft mouse models showed that the inhibition of HIF-1α resulted in the concomitant decrease of Ob-R in vivo. In addition, HIF-1α expression was correlated with Ob-R in pancreatic cancer tissues by immunohistochemical staining. Clinical data showed that over-expression of HIF-1 was associated with pathological tumor node metastasis stage, lymph node metastasis and overall survival. HIF-1α directly bound to the hypoxia-responsive element (HRE) located in Ob-R gene promoter (-828/-832) and activated the transcription. Finally, we demonstrated that the silence of HIF-1α gene reversed the inhibitory effect of leptin/Ob-R in pancreatic cancer cells. Taken together, our results indicate that HIF-1α directly regulated Ob-R expression in pancreatic cancer, which might be a valuable therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer. | 25,130,171 | [
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Family meals and disordered eating in adolescents: are the benefits the same for everyone? | To examine the association between family meals and disordered eating behaviors within a diverse sample of adolescents and further investigate whether family-level variables moderate this association. Data from adolescents (EAT 2010: Eating and Activity in Teens) and their parents (Project F-EAT: Families and Eating and Activity among Teens) were collected in 2009-2010. Surveys were completed by 2,382 middle and high school students (53.2% girls, mean age = 14.4 years) from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, public schools. Parents/guardians (n = 2,792) completed surveys by mail or phone. Greater frequency of family meals was associated with decreased odds of engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors in boys, and dieting, unhealthy and extreme weight control behaviors in girls. Results indicate that the protective effects of family meals are, in general, robust to family-level variables; 64 interactions were examined and only seven were statistically significant. For example, among girls, the protective nature of family meals against dieting and unhealthy weight control behaviors was diminished if they also reported family weight-related teasing (both p < .01). The results confirmed previous research indicating that participation in family meals is protective against disordered eating for youth, particularly girls. However, results suggest that in some cases, the protection offered by family meals may be modified by family-level variables. | 25,130,186 | [
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Assessing the effectiveness of the 'Incredible Years(®) parent training' to parents of young children with ADHD symptoms - a preliminary report. | This study examined the effectiveness of an evidence-based parent training program in a real-world Scandinavian setting. Parents of 36 young children with or at risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) self-referred to participate in the Incredible Years(®) Parent Training Program (IYPT) through a Danish early intervention clinic. Using a benchmarking approach, we compared self-report data with data from a recent efficacy study. Eight out of nine outcome measures showed comparable or higher magnitude of effect from pretest to posttest. Effects were maintained or improved across six months. The methodology of this study exemplifies a rigorous but feasible approach to assessing effectiveness when evidence-based US protocols are transferred into the existing Scandinavian service delivery. Findings suggest that IYPT can be implemented successfully as an easy-access early intervention to families of children with or at risk of ADHD. | 25,130,208 | [
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Family gym: a model to promote physical activity for families with young children. | This report describes Family Gym, a family-centered model that (1) provides free access to physical activity for low-income families in the inner city; (2) targets young children (3-8 years) and their families; (3) engages families together in physical activity; and (4) stimulates social interaction among families. | 25,130,227 | [
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Do our patients have enough to eat?: Food insecurity among urban low-income cancer patients. | This study assessed the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity among a cohort of underserved oncology patients at New York City cancer clinics. A demographic survey and the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module were administered. A multivariate General Linear Model Analysis of Covariance was used to evaluate predictors of food insecurity. Four hundred and four (404) completed the surveys. Nearly one-fifth (18%) had very low, 38% low, 17% marginal, and 27% high food security. The Analysis of Covariance was statistically significant (F[7, 370] = 19.08; p &lt; .0001; R-Square = 0.26). Younger age, Spanish language, poor health care access, and having less money for food since beginning cancer treatment were significantly associated with greater food insecurity. This cohort of underserved cancer patients had rates of food insecurity nearly five times those of the state average. More research is needed to understand better the causes and impact of food insecurity among cancer and chronic disease patients. | 25,130,231 | [
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Case of radioactive iodine exposure during pregnancy. | A 43-year-old woman (gravida 0, para 0) was diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma and had been receiving radioactive iodine for remnant ablation. Eventually, her pregnant status became apparent; during radiation, she was at 5 gestational weeks. She decided to continue the pregnancy and delivered a boy of 2362 g at 37 gestational weeks. The infant did not present thyroid dysfunction or developmental abnormalities at 2 months of age. The patient was in the early pregnancy stage during radiation, so the fetus did not develop radiation-related damage of the thyroid gland because at this stage, the fetal thyroid does not concentrate iodine. Although the mother had received radioactive iodine during the critical organogenesis period, the fetus did not develop teratogenicity because the radiation was administered at the borderline threshold for teratogenicity. This case suggests the importance of iodine thyroid absorption when considering radiation-related damage to the fetal thyroid gland during early pregnancy. | 25,130,255 | [
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Use of porcine luteinizing hormone at oestrous onset in a protocol for fixed-time artificial insemination in gilts. | The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH) given at oestrous onset in gilts, by different routes and doses, on the interval between onset of oestrus and ovulation (IOEO) and reproductive performance using a single fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). A total of 153 gilts were submitted to oestrous detection at 8-h intervals and assigned to three groups: control - without hormone application and inseminated at 0, 24 and 48 h after oestrous onset; VS2.5FTAI - 2.5 mg pLH by the vulvar submucosal route at oestrous onset and a single FTAI 16 h later; IM5FTAI - 5 mg pLH by the intramuscular route at oestrous onset and a single FTAI 16 h later. More VS2.5FTAI gilts (47.1%; p < 0.05) ovulated within 24 h after oestrous onset than control gilts (25.5%) whereas IM5FTAI gilts had an intermediate percentage (31.4%; p > 0.05). The IOEO tended to be shorter (p = 0.06) in VS2.5FTAI (30.2 ± 1.4 h) than in control (34.7 ± 1.4 h) gilts, but there was no difference (p > 0.05) between control and IM5FTAI (32.8 ± 1.4 h) gilts. Farrowing rate was not different (p > 0.05) among treatments. Total born piglets (TB) was lower (p < 0.05) in VS2.5FTAI (12.3 ± 0.4) than in control gilts (14.1 ± 0.4), whereas intermediate TB was observed in IM5FTAI gilts (13.3 ± 0.4). Due to the advancement of ovulation, reduction of the hormonal dose and the ease of application, the vulvar submucosal route would be the best option for FTAI protocols, but their negative impact on litter size remains to be elucidated. Taking into account the good fertility results obtained in IM5FTAI gilts whose ovulation was not advanced, the possibility of a single FTAI without any hormonal treatment should be further investigated, to establish reliable FTAI protocols for gilts. | 25,130,264 | [
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Diagnosing and following adult patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in the genomic age. | The diagnosis and follow-up process of adult patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is challenging to clinicians and laboratory staff alike. While several sets of recommendations have been published over the years, the development of high throughput screening and characterization for both genetic and epigenetic events have evolved with astonishing speed. Here we attempt to provide a practical guide to diagnose and follow adult AML patients with a focus on how to balance the wealth of information on the one hand, with the restriction put on these processes in terms of time, feasibility and economy when caring for these patients, on the other. | 25,130,287 | [
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Rats' choices with token stimuli in concurrent variable-interval schedules. | Four rats responded on concurrent variable-interval schedules that delivered token stimuli (stimulus lights arranged vertically above each of two side levers). During exchange periods, each token could be exchanged for one food pellet by responding on a center lever, with one response required for each pellet delivery. In different conditions, the exchange requirements (number of tokens that had to be earned before they could be exchanged for food) varied between one and four for the two response levers. The experiments were closely patterned after research with pigeons by Mazur and Biondi (2013), and the results from the rats in the present experiment were similar. Response percentages on the two levers changed as each additional token was earned, and these patterns indicated that choice was controlled by both the time to the exchange periods and the number of food pellets that were delivered in the exchange period. In some conditions, the exchange requirement was three tokens for each lever, but the token lights were not turned on as they were earned for one of the two keys. The rats showed a slight preference for the lever without the token lights, which may indicate that the token lights were not serving as conditioned reinforcers (a result also found by Mazur and Biondi with pigeons). Overall, these results suggest that, in this choice procedure, the token stimuli served primarily as discriminative stimuli that signaled the temporal proximity and quantity of the primary reinforcer, food. | 25,130,299 | [
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Cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity in rats: the protective effect of arjunolic acid. | In the present study, the effect of arjunolic acid on testicular damage induced by intraperitoneal injection of rats with 7 mg/kg cisplatin was studied. Cisplatin induced a significant reduction in testicular weights, plasma testosterone, and testicular reduced glutathione levels in addition to a significant elevation of testicular malondialdehyde levels and testicular gene expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Lower tubular diameters and depletion of germ cells and irregular small seminiferous tubules with Sertoli cells only were observed in the cisplatin group. Arjunolic acid administration significantly corrected the changes in both biochemical and histopathological parameters. Arjunolic acid plays a significant protective role against cisplatin-induced testicular injury by attenuating oxidative stress parameters along with downregulation of iNOS, TNF-α, and p38-MAPK testicular expressions. | 25,130,312 | [
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Obesity. | This narrative symposium was inspired by the American Medical Associations (AMA) decision to label obesity a disease. How do people who have been classified as obese feel this decision impacts on their lives? Personal narrative authors offer their experiences with obesity and healthcare. The symposium also hosts five commentary articles from scholars and stakeholders with a wide range of perspectives. These articles pull from themes in the personal narratives and bring them into dialogue with the current scholarly literature on this topic. | 25,130,337 | [
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Edge effects in the primate community of the biological dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, Amazonas, Brazil. | While much is known about abiotic and vegetative edge effects in tropical forests, considerably less is known about the impact of forest edges on large mammals. In this study, we examine edge effects in a primate community to determine: 1) the distance from the edge over which edge effects in primate density are detectable, 2) whether individual species exhibit edge effects in their density, and 3) whether biological characteristics can be used to predict primate presence in edge habitats. Given their importance to many primate species, we also examine the influence of the number of large trees. We found edge penetration distances of 150 m for the five species that experienced edge effects, suggesting that primates respond to edge-related changes in the plant community that are known to be strongest over the first 150 m. Four species had higher edge densities: Alouatta macconnelli (folivore-frugivore), Chiropotes chiropotes (frugivorous seed predator), Saguinus midas (frugivore-faunivore), and Sapajus apella apella (frugivore-faunivore); one species' density was lower: Ateles paniscus (frugivore); and the final species, Pithecia chrysocephala (frugivorous seed predator), did not show an edge-related pattern. The lone significant relationship between the biological characteristics examined (body weight, diet, group size, and home range size) and primate presence in edge habitats was a negative relationship with the amount of fruit consumed. Though we did not examine primate responses to edges that border a denuded matrix, we have shown that edges influence primate distribution even following decades of secondary forest regeneration at habitat edges. | 25,130,367 | [
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miR-338-3p is over-expressed in blood, CFS, serum and spinal cord from sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and seriously disabling adult-onset neurological disease. Ninety percent of ALS patients are sporadic cases (sALS) with no clear genetic linkage. Accumulating evidence indicates that various microRNAs (miRNAs), expressed in a spatially and temporally controlled manner in the brain, play a key role in neuronal development. In addition, microRNA dysregulation contributes to some mental disorders and neurodegeneration diseases. In our research, the expression of one selected miRNA, miR-338-3p, which previously we have found over-expressed in blood leukocytes, was studied in several different tissues from sALS patients. For the first time, we detected a specific microRNA disease-related upregulation, miR-338-3p, in blood leukocytes as well in cerebrospinal fluid, serum, and spinal cord from sALS patients. Besides, staining of in situ hybridization showed that the signals of miR-338-3p were localized in the grey matter of spinal cord tissues from sALS autopsied patients. We propose that miRNA profiles found in tissue samples from sALS patients can be relevant to understand sALS pathogenesis and lead to set up effective biomarkers for sALS early diagnosis. | 25,130,371 | [
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Efficiency of electronically monitored amblyopia treatment between 5 and 16 years of age: new insight into declining susceptibility of the visual system. | The notion of a limited, early period of plasticity of the visual system has been challenged by more recent research demonstrating functional enhancement even into adulthood. In amblyopia ("lazy eye") it is still unclear to what extent the reduced effect of treatment after early childhood is due to declining plasticity or lower compliance with prescribed patching. The aim of this study was to determine the dose-response relationship and treatment efficiency from acuity gain and electronically recorded patching dose rates, and to infer from these parameters on a facet of age dependence of functional plasticity related to occlusion for amblyopia. The Occlusion Dose Monitor was used to record occlusion in 27 participants with previously untreated strabismic and/or anisometropic amblyopia aged between 5.4 and 15.8 (mean 9.2) years during 4months of conventional treatment. Group data showed improvement of acuity throughout the age span, but significantly more in patients younger than 7years despite comparable patching dosages. Treatment efficiency declined with age, with the most pronounced effects before the age of 7years. Thus, electronic recording allowed this first quantitative insight into occlusion treatment spanning the age range from within to beyond the conventional age for patching. Though demonstrating improvement in over 7year old patients, it confirmed the importance of early detection and treatment of amblyopia. Treatment efficiency is presented as a tool extending insight into age-dependent functional plasticity of the visual system, and providing a basis for comparisons of effects of patching vs. emerging alternative treatment approaches for amblyopia. | 25,130,409 | [
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Ultrathin core-sheath fibers for liposome stabilization. | Ultrathin core-sheath fibers with small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) in the core were prepared by coaxial electrospinning. SUVs/sodium hyaluranate (HA-Na)/water and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/ethanol solutions were used as core and sheath fluid in electrospinning, respectively. The ultrathin fibers were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The SUVs were successfully encapsulated in the core HA-Na matrix of the ultrathin fibers and are in the elliptic shape. The SUVs encapsulated in the core matrix of the ultrathin fibers have an excellent stability. The SUVs embedded in the ultrathin fibers are stable. When the ultrathin fibers were re-dissolved in water after one-month storage at room temperature, the rehydrated SUVs have the similar size and size distribution as the as-prepared SUVs. The liposome-loaded ultrathin fiber mats have the promising applications in wound healing materials. | 25,130,418 | [
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Delphinid systematics and biogeography with a focus on the current genus Lagenorhynchus: multiple pathways for antitropical and trans-oceanic radiation. | The six species currently classified within the genus Lagenorhynchus exhibit a pattern of antitropical distribution common among marine taxa. In spite of their morphological similarities they are now considered an artificial grouping, and include both recent and the oldest representatives of the Delphinidae radiation. They are, therefore, a good model for studying questions about the evolutionary processes that have driven dolphin speciation, dispersion and distribution. Here we used two different approaches. First we constructed a multigenic phylogeny with a minimum amount of missing data (based on 9 genes, 11,030bp, using the 6 species of the genus and their closest relatives) to infer their relationships. Second, we built a supermatrix phylogeny (based on 33 species and 27 genes) to test the effect of taxon sampling on the phylogeny of the genus, to provide inference on biogeographic history, and provide inference on the main events shaping the dispersion and radiation of delphinids. Our analyses suggested an early evolutionary history of marine dolphins in the North Atlantic Ocean and revealed multiple pathways of migration and radiation, probably guided by paleoceanographic changes during the Miocene and Pliocene. L. acutus and L. albirostris likely shared a common ancestor that arose in the North Atlantic around the Middle Miocene, predating the radiation of subfamilies Delphininae, Globicephalinae and Lissodelphininae. | 25,130,419 | [
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IFN-γ CA microsatellite polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to respiratory syncytial virus Infection and severity. | IFN-γ, an essential cytokine in the viral cell-mediated immune response, has been associated with the pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis and to the severity of the infection. The aim of this study was to investigate whether IFN-γ CA microsatellite (rs3138557) polymorphism was associated with susceptibility to RSV in Chinese Han children and with the severity of the infection. The IFN-γ CA microsatellite was tested in 218 RSV bronchiolitis inpatients and 303 healthy controls, and the severity of the RSV bronchiolitis was evaluated using a standardised respiratory scoring system. The frequencies of CA12+/CA12+, CA12+/CA12- and CA12-/CA12- in the 218 RSV bronchiolitis patients and 303 controls were approximately 11% versus 19%, 55% versus 53% and 34% versus 28%, respectively. The gene polymorphism of IFN-γ CA repeats between the two groups was statistically different. The clinical respiratory scores of RSV bronchiolitis cases with CA12+/CA12+ and CA12+/CA12- were 2.84 ± 0.40 (SD) and 2.95 ± 0.44 (SD), respectively, and these were significantly lower than the 3.1 ± 0.36 (SD) score for those with CA12-/CA12-. IFN-γ CA microsatellite polymorphism was associated with the susceptibility of Chinese Han children to RSV and the severity of the infection. | 25,130,433 | [
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Improved tracking performance of Lagrangian block-matching methodologies using block expansion in the time domain: in silico, phantom and in vivo evaluations. | The aim of this study was to evaluate tracking performance when an extra reference block is added to a basic block-matching method, where the two reference blocks originate from two consecutive ultrasound frames. The use of an extra reference block was evaluated for two putative benefits: (i) an increase in tracking performance while maintaining the size of the reference blocks, evaluated using in silico and phantom cine loops; (ii) a reduction in the size of the reference blocks while maintaining the tracking performance, evaluated using in vivo cine loops of the common carotid artery where the longitudinal movement of the wall was estimated. The results indicated that tracking accuracy improved (mean = 48%, p < 0.005 [in silico]; mean = 43%, p < 0.01 [phantom]), and there was a reduction in size of the reference blocks while maintaining tracking performance (mean = 19%, p < 0.01 [in vivo]). This novel method will facilitate further exploration of the longitudinal movement of the arterial wall. | 25,130,445 | [
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Friends interventions in psychosis: a narrative review and call to action. | To highlight the importance of friendships to young people with psychosis, and the need for clinical interventions to help maintain peer relationships during illness. To structure a research agenda for developing evidence-based interventions with friends. An argument is developed through a narrative review of (i) the proven efficacy of family interventions, and (by comparison) a relative absence of friend-based interventions; (ii) the particular primacy of friendships and dating for young people, and typical effects of exclusion; and (iii) reduced friendship networks and dating experiences in psychosis, in pre-, during and post-psychosis phases, also links between exclusion and psychosis. We put forward a model of how poor friendships can potentially be a causal and/or maintenance factor for psychotic symptoms. Given this model, our thesis is that interventions aiming to maintain social networks can be hugely beneficial clinically for young people with psychosis. We give a case study to show how such an intervention can work. We call for 'friends interventions' for young people with psychosis to be developed, where professionals directly work with a young person's authentic social group to support key friendships and maintain social continuity. An agenda for future research is presented that will develop and test theoretically driven interventions. | 25,130,455 | [
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Correlates of adolescent and young adult sexual initiation patterns. | Identifying adolescent characteristics associated with different patterns of sexual initiation is critical to promoting healthy sexual development. Patterns of sexual initiation were examined among 12,378 respondents to Waves 1 (1994-1995) and 4 (2008) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Multinomial logistic regression explored associations between adolescent characteristics and membership in five latent classes capturing the timing, sequence, pace and variety of sexual initiation patterns. Age and indicators of greater psychosocial conventionality were associated with membership in the atypical "postponers" class (characterized by postponement of oral, vaginal and anal sexual activity until early adulthood), although patterns of associations varied by gender. For example, compared with males who attended religious services at least once a week, males who never attended religious services were more likely to appear in the vaginal initiators/multiple behaviors class (characterized by initiation of vaginal sex first and then initiation of another behavior after at least one year), rather than in the postponers class (relative risk ratio, 2.5). Compared with women who prayed at least once a day, those who never prayed were more likely to be in the vaginal initiators/single behavior class (whose members typically engaged in only one type of behavior), rather than in the postponers class (2.0). Individuals who are more adherent, and presumably more committed, to the attitudes, values and expectations of conventional society are more likely than others to delay multiple types of sexual activity until well beyond the norm for their peers. | 25,130,473 | [
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Validation of mechanical, electrical and thermal nociceptive stimulation methods in horses. | To validate a model for investigating the effects of analgesic drugs on mechanical, thermal and electrical stimulation testing. To investigate repeatability, sensitivity and specificity of nociceptive tests. Randomised experiment with 2 observers in 2 phases. Mechanical (M), thermal (TL) and electrical (E) stimuli were applied to the dorsal metacarpus (M-left and TL-right) and coronary band of the left thoracic limb (E) and a thoracic thermal stimulus (TT) was applied caudal to the withers in 8 horses (405 ± 43 kg). Stimuli intensities were increased until a clear avoidance response was detected without exceeding 20 N (M), 60°C (TL and TT) and 15 V (E). For each set of tests, 3 real stimuli and one sham stimulus were applied (32 per animal) using a blinded, randomised, crossover design repeated after 6 months. A distribution frequency and, for each stimulus, Chi-square and McNemar tests compared both the proportion of positive responses detected by 2 observers and the 2 study phases. The κ coefficients estimated interobserver agreement in determining endpoints. Sensitivity (384 tests) and specificity (128 tests) were evaluated for each nociceptive stimulus to assess the evaluators' accuracy in detecting real and sham stimuli. Nociceptive thresholds were 3.1 ± 2 N (M), 8.1 ± 3.8 V (E), 51.4 ± 5.5°C (TL) and 55.2 ± 5.3°C (TT). The level of agreement after all tests, M, E, TL and TT, was 90, 100, 84, 98 and 75%, respectively. Sensitivity was 89, 100, 89, 98 and 70% and specificity 92, 97, 88, 91 and 94%, respectively. The high interobserver agreement, sensitivity and specificity suggest that M, E and TL tests are valid for pain studies in horses and are suitable tools for investigating antinociceptive effects of analgesics in horses. | 25,130,475 | [
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A prognosis based classification of undifferentiated uterine sarcomas: identification of mitotic index, hormone receptors and YWHAE-FAM22 translocation status as predictors of survival. | Undifferentiated uterine sarcomas (UUS) are rare tumors with a heterologous biology and a poor prognosis. The goal of this study was to examine clinicopathology, biomarkers and YWHAE-FAM22 translocation status, in the prognosis of these tumors. Twenty-six cases of UUS were included. All original slides were rereviewed and age at diagnosis, tumor stage, "Kurihara" diagnosis, mitotic index, presence of necrosis and grade of nuclear atypia were recorded. Additionally, a tissue microarray was constructed from 22 of the cases, and the protein biomarkers P53, P16, Ki-67, Cyclin-D1, ER, PR and ANLN were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. All tumors were evaluated for the presence of a YWHAE-FAM translocation; the translocation was demonstrated in the three Cyclin-D1 positive tumors. Follow-up data in the form of overall survival were available on all patients. These tumors could be divided into two prognostic groups, a high mitotic index group (10 cases, M = 36.8, SD = 5.4) and a low mitotic index group (16 cases, M = 8.7, SD = 5.8). These two groups showed a statistically significant difference in prognosis. The expression of ER, PR or presence of the YWHAE-FAM22 translocation correlated with low mitotic index and an additionally improved prognosis, although the number of cases was small. These results indicate that UUS can be divided into two prognostic groups using mitotic index as a primary criteria, followed by expression of either ER, PR or the presence of a YWHAE-FAM22 translocation as a secondary criteria. This study demonstrates the presence of statistically significant prognostic subgroups within UUS, and provides treatment insights. | 25,130,488 | [
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Comparison of therapeutic results from radiofrequency ablation and stereotactic body radiotherapy in solitary lung tumors measuring 5 cm or smaller. | This retrospective study was conducted to compare the clinical outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with those of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients with lung tumors. Local tumor progression, adverse events, and overall survival were compared in patients who underwent either RFA or SBRT for a single lung tumor measuring 5 cm or smaller. This study was approved by the institutional review boards of two institutions. Informed consent was waived. During September 2009 to June 2012, 48 patients [30 males and 18 females, with a mean age ± standard deviation (SD) of 75.0 ± 7.5 years] underwent RFA at one institution and 47 patients (21 males and 26 females, with a mean age ± SD of 77.0 ± 7.5 years) underwent SBRT in another. The mean maximum tumor diameter ± SD was 2.0 ± 0.8 cm (range 0.6-3.9 cm) in the RFA group, and 2.1 ± 0.9 cm (range 0.8-4.7 cm, p = 0.539) in the SBRT group. The RFA and SBRT groups showed similar 3-year local tumor progression [9.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6-23.9% vs. 7.0%, 95% CI 0.2-20.2%, p = 0.746] and overall survival rates (86.4%, 95% CI 69.2-94.3% vs. 79.6%, 95% CI 60.6-90.1%, p = 0.738). No factor significantly affected local tumor progression. A maximum tumor size of 2 cm was identified as a prognostic factor in both univariate and multivariate analyses. No death was related to treatment procedures. Major complication rates (Grade 3 adverse events) of the RFA (10.4%, 5/48) and SBRT (8.5%, 4/47, p > 0.999) groups were similar. For lung tumor patients, lung RFA provided local tumor control and survival that were similar to those achieved using SBRT, with equal safety. | 25,130,494 | [
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Investigation of pediatric neck response and muscle activation in low-speed frontal impacts. | Pediatric necks present different responses and injury patterns compared with those of adults in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). To evaluate the effect of different muscle modeling methodologies, three muscle models were developed and simulated under low-speed frontal impact conditions with an average peak acceleration of 3g's. The muscle activation curve for the curve-guided model, the muscle segment was curved using guiding nodes, was further optimized based on experimental data. The pediatric neck model was also simulated under more severe frontal impact conditions with an average peak acceleration of 8g's. Simulation results revealed that the curve-guided model needed more muscle force than the straight-guided model, in which the muscle segment was straight with guiding nodes, and the curve-constrained model, in which the muscle segment was curved without guiding nodes and which imposes more constraints on the head and neck than the curve-guided model. The predicted head responses for the child finite element neck model were within or close to the experimental corridors of 3- and 8-g's frontal impacts. The neck injuries for a 10-year-old child commonly occurred at the interspinous ligament in the C7-T1 segment. The model could be used to analyze the responses and injuries of pediatric neck and head in low-speed frontal impacts. | 25,130,495 | [
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Mesochanneled hierarchically porous aluminosiloxane aerogel microspheres as a stable support for pH-responsive controlled drug release. | The molecular-scale self-assembly of a 3D aluminosiloxane (Al-O-Si) hybrid gel network was successfully performed via the cocondensation of hydrolyzed alumina (AlOOH) and (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APS). It was transformed into a microspherical aerogel framework of Al-O-Si containing mesochannels with tunable hierarchically bimodal meso/macroporosities by a subcritical drying technique. Good homogeneity of AlOOH and APS brought during the synthesis guaranteed a uniform distribution of two metal oxides in a single body. A systematic characterization of the aerogel support was carried out using FTIR, SEM, TEM, nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis, WAXS, SAXS, and ξ-potential measurement in order to explore the material for drug uptake and release. The drug loading and release capacity and chemical stability of an aluminosiloxane aerogel were studied using two nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, ibuprofen and aspirin. A comprehensive evaluation of the aluminosiloxane aerogel with ordered mesoporous MCM-41 was also performed. Aerogel supports showed a high drug loading capacity and a pH-responsive controlled-release property compared to MCM-41. Meanwhile, kinetic modeling studies indicate that the drug releases with a zero-order profile following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. The biocompatibility of aluminosiloxane aerogels was established via ex vivo and in vivo studies. We also outline the use of aluminosiloxane aerogel as a support for a possible 3D matrix for an osteoconductive structure for bone tissue engineering. | 25,130,541 | [
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Asymmetric synthesis of agrochemically attractive trifluoromethylated dihydroazoles and related compounds under organocatalysis. | The unique, partially saturated, fluorinated five-membered heterocyclic compounds, trifluoromethylated dihydroazoles, and their derivatives, have emerged as a new class of heterocycles with remarkable biological activities in the 21st century. Despite their small molecular structures, a single sterically demanding tetrasubstituted trifluoromethylated stereogenic carbon center has prevented chemists from achieving the asymmetric synthesis of these compounds. In this account, we describe our recent progress in the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of a series of trifluoromethylated heterocycles, such as isoxazolines and pyrrolines having a stereogenic carbon center, based on organocatalysis. Our protocols have advantages in terms of employing inexpensive reagents and organocatalysts and they would be useful for industrial production. | 25,130,550 | [
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Sea surface temperature contributes to marine crocodylomorph evolution. | During the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, four distinct crocodylomorph lineages colonized the marine environment. They were conspicuously absent from high latitudes, which in the Mesozoic were occupied by warm-blooded ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. Despite a relatively well-constrained stratigraphic distribution, the varying diversities of marine crocodylomorphs are poorly understood, because their extinctions neither coincided with any major biological crises nor with the advent of potential competitors. Here we test the potential link between their evolutionary history in terms of taxic diversity and two abiotic factors, sea level variations and sea surface temperatures (SST). Excluding Metriorhynchoidea, which may have had a peculiar ecology, significant correlations obtained between generic diversity and estimated Tethyan SST suggest that water temperature was a driver of marine crocodylomorph diversity. Being most probably ectothermic reptiles, these lineages colonized the marine realm and diversified during warm periods, then declined or became extinct during cold intervals. | 25,130,564 | [
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JSAP1 and JLP are required for ARF6 localization to the midbody in cytokinesis. | The ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) GTPase is important in cytokinesis and localizes to the midbody. However, the mechanism and regulation of ARF6's recruitment to the midbody are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the functions of two binding partners of active ARF6, c-Jun NH2 -terminal kinase (JNK)/stress-activated protein kinase-associated protein 1 (JSAP1) and JNK-associated leucine zipper protein (JLP), by gene knockout and rescue experiments in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Depleting both JSAP1 and JLP impaired ARF6's localization to the midbody and delayed cytokinesis. These defects were almost completely rescued by wild-type JSAP1 or JLP, but not by JSAP1 or JLP mutants that were unable to interact with active ARF6 or with the kinesin heavy chain (KHC) of kinesin-1. In transfected cells, a constitutively active form of ARF6 associated with KHC only when co-expressed with wild-type JSAP1 or JLP and not with a JSAP1 or JLP mutant. These findings suggest that JSAP1 and JLP, which might be paralogous to each other, are critical and functionally redundant in cytokinesis and control ARF6 localization to the midbody by forming a tripartite complex of JSAP1/JLP, active ARF6, and kinesin-1. | 25,130,574 | [
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Male patients with terminal renal failure exhibit low serum levels of antimüllerian hormone. | Male reproductive function is impaired during end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Disturbance of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, and therefore the regulation of sex hormones, is one of the major causes. Our focus was to include antimüllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B concentrations. Twenty male patients on hemodialysis, median age 40 (26-48) years, were analyzed for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone, estradiol, AMH and inhibin B levels. We used 144 proven fertile men, median age 32 (19-44) years as a control group and analyzed differences using multiple linear regression. Males with ESRD demonstrated higher mean values for prolactin, 742 versus normal 210 mIE l-1 (95% confidence interval (CI): 60.3, 729), LH, 8.87 versus normal 4.5 IE l-1 (95% CI: 2.75, 6.14), and estradiol 89.7 versus normal 79.0 pmol l-1 (95% CI: -1.31, -0.15). Mean value for AMH was lower, 19.5 versus normal 47.3 pmol l-1 (95% CI: -37.6, -11.6). There were no differences found for FSH, SHBG, inhibin B and testosterone. The most important difference was found for AMH, a marker of Sertoli cell function in the testes, which decreased by close to 60% when compared with controls. Combined with an increase in LH, these findings may indicate a dysfunction of Sertoli cells and an effect on Leydig cells contributing to a potential mechanism of reproductive dysfunction in men with ESRD. | 25,130,586 | [
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Benzodithiophene based π-conjugated macrocycles: synthesis, morphology and electrochemical characterization. | A 7,8-didodecyloxybenzo[1,2-b:4,3-b']dithiophene (BdT-Dod) containing a macrocycle was synthesized from a thiophene capped BdT-Dod comonomer through a Ti(iv) mediated McMurry reaction and characterized by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Additionally, the morphological characterization was performed by AFM and SEM to investigate the self-aggregation properties. The macrocycle underwent self-assembly in the solid state to form fibers on the Si/SiO2 surface with a length in the μm range and a thickness of about 400 nm. | 25,130,594 | [
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A nationwide population-based cohort study on tonsillectomy and subsequent cancer incidence. | Tonsillectomy is related to increased risk of certain types of cancer. This study evaluates the possible association between tonsillectomy and cancer in Taiwan. Data from the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan was used. A cohort study consisting of 997 patients with a new diagnosis of tonsillectomy from 2000 to 2005 and a comparison cohort of 3,988 subjects without tonsillectomy were used in the Poisson regression analysis to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of cancers. The incidence rate of all cancer types was higher in the tonsillectomy group than in the control group (4.28 vs. 2.97 per 1,000 person-years, respectively), with an IRR = 1.54 and 95% CI of 1.05 to 2.25, but the significant difference was limited to patients with more than 3 years follow-up. Site-specific analysis found no significant association between tonsillectomy and any individual cancer after adjusting for age, sex, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes; however, tonsillectomy patients with more than 3 years follow-up had a marginally significantly higher risk for breast cancer development (adjusted IRR = 2.62; CI = 0.97-7.03). Our study found that Taiwanese people with tonsillectomy have a significantly higher overall risk of developing cancer and a marginally higher risk of developing breast cancer when follow-up is longer than 3 years. | 25,130,597 | [
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Nursing educators' perceptions about disaster preparedness and response in Istanbul and Miyazaki. | As healthcare professionals, nursing educators need to be prepared to manage and deliver care in what are often dangerous conditions. This research aims to determine and compare nursing educators' perceptions of disaster preparedness and response (DP&R) in Istanbul and Miyazaki. An 18 question descriptive questionnaire was used. One hundred and forty-four nursing educators representing two state university nursing schools in Istanbul, Turkey, and one state and two private universities in Miyazaki, Japan were enrolled. Educators had an average age of 40 years and had been educators for 1-15 years. Just over half of the participants had basic knowledge regarding DP&R with most of them considering taking special courses in the future. The majority considered "caregiver" as a role they could undertake in a disaster situation. The existence of major concerns and conflicts in disaster responses were low. The top ranked item was in the area of conflict between family and job responsibilities. Age and academic levels showed significant differences in basic knowledge on DP&R. Regardless of knowledge in this subject area, no statistical significance on personal preparedness or being a volunteer to disaster events was found. Nursing educators were not thinking about what kinds of disasters occur in the areas where they currently teach and were underprepared to deal with disaster situations. To improve the perceptions of the nursing educators on DP&R, mass casualty care and disaster management skills need to be incorporated into formal education and training on disaster preparedness and workplace preparedness. | 25,130,598 | [
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Fabrication of ultralong hybrid microfibers from nanosheets of reduced graphene oxide and transition-metal dichalcogenides and their application as supercapacitors. | Two-dimensional materials have attracted increasing research interest owing to their unique electronic, physical, optical, and mechanical properties. We thus developed a general strategy for the fabrication of ultralong hybrid microfibers from a mixture of reduced graphene oxide and transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), including MoS2 , TiS2 , TaS2 , and NbSe2 . Furthermore, we prepared fiber-based solid-state supercapacitors as a proof-of-concept application. The performance of thus-prepared supercapacitors was greatly improved by the introduction of the TMDs. | 25,130,600 | [
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[Effect of the liquid milk nutritional supplement with enhanced content of whey protein on the nutritional status of the elderly]. | The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term administration of liquid nutritional supplement with increased amounts of whey protein and reduced amounts of lactose, produced in accordance with a new recipe "Nutrisen" on the elderly living in institutionalized care. The study was carried out from May to July, 2013, on 47 retirement home residents, living in Prague, all of which were 65 years or older. Supplemented group (n = 23) consumed (200 ml) milk drinks with three different flavours on a daily basis for eight weeks. The reference group was on a normal diet. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between participants in both groups. Anthropometric and biochemical indicators of nutritional status and tolerance of the nutritional supplement during long-term use were evaluated. Both compliance (daily intake program) and tolerance of the nutritionally defined supplement were very good. For the supplemented group, there was an average weight increased of 700 grams after the 8 week nutritional supplement test period. Average levels of albumin and prealbumin increased significantly (from the beginning to the end of the program), 35.5 ± 4.52 g/l vs 36.19 ± 4.1 g/l and 0.160 ± 0.05 vs 0.174 ± 0.04 g/l (p < 0.05), vitamin D levels increased from 31.2 ± 16.4 nmol/l to 36.8 ± 17.7 nmol/l (p < 0.001) and HDL-cholesterol levels increased from 1.29 ± 0.33 mmol/l to 1.35 ± 0.35 mmol/l (p < 0.001). The specific nutritionally defined milk drink (Nutrisen), used in this study, was well tolerated by the elderly study participants, over the eight-week clinical study. We observed a positive effect on the participants weight, serum albumin, prealbumin, vitamin D and HDL-cholesterol. | 25,130,629 | [
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[Importance of lymphangiogenesis and ultrastructure of lymphatic capillaries in metastasis of malignant melanoma]. | Lymphangiogenesis - proliferation of lymphatic capillaries - in melanoma and in its vicinity plays an important role in metastatic process of malign melanoma cells in organism. Melanoma produces epidermal growth factor EGF which induces vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF-C and thereby starts lymphangiogenesis. It is very probable that malignant melanoma cells enter lymphatic capillaries also through specialized inter-endothelial junctions (endothelial microvalves, primary valves) situated in their walls. After entry of malign cells into lymphatic capillaries, these cells travel in lymph to the sentinel lymph node. Malign cells metastasize through lymphatic vessels probably also directly into distal regional lymphatic nodes. Metastasizing through blood vessels is suggestible also in early stage melanoma. | 25,130,633 | [
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[What is new in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction within last five years?]. | Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction of left ventricle (heart failure with normal ejection fraction, HFPEF, HFNEF) is frequent disease with serious consequences. Incidence of HFPEF in population is still growing. The exact pathophysiological mechanism of HFPEF remain unclear .Recent evidence suggests a relationship between inflammation associated with obesity or Diabetes mellitus and progression of HFPEF. Consistently, it has been reported that serum concentration of some pro-inflammatory markers such as adiponectin is positively related to HFPEF. By HFPEF is attended diastolic dysfunction. Diastolic dysfunction is linked to many other cardiac and non-cardiac diseases. Despite the great effort and new therapeutic approaches the prognosis of HFPEF does not improve. The gold standard in HFPEF diagnosis remains heart catheterization. Electrocardiography, chest X-ray, blood examination including diagnostic markers of heart failure and mainly echocardiography with Doppler imaging are used diagnose the underlying disease leading to heart failure. | 25,130,634 | [
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[Specifics of diabetes mellitus in women]. | Approximately 4 % of female population suffers from diabetes. A permanent interaction between diabetes, its treatment and sex hormonal changes (childhood, puberty, reproduction, pregnancy, menopause) occurs in those women. This review article summarizes up to date published studies concerning reciprocal relationship between diabetes and sexual development in women. | 25,130,635 | [
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[Education model at the Clinic of Internal Medicine of the Faculty Hospital Motol Prague - our experience with local education project for young physicians on postgraduate education]. | In 2004 the principal legislative changes were accepted in the field of postgraduate medical education in Czech Republic (law No. 95/2004 Code). Replacement of two-stage system of specialized education by its one- stage option has brought some problems and according to our opinion did not lead to clear improvement of postgraduate education, more likely the other way around. Our effort to improve the quality of process of postgraduate specialization in internal medicine brought us to creation of own local system of postgraduate education using the next 4 basic principles: principle of robust internal base as a platform for the following specialization, principle of repeating to fix the knowledge, principle of knowledge control and last but not least principle of active participation in educational system. | 25,130,637 | [
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The protective role of prosaposin and its receptors in the nervous system. | Prosaposin (also known as SGP-1) is an intriguing multifunctional protein that plays roles both intracellularly, as a regulator of lysosomal enzyme function, and extracellularly, as a secreted factor with neuroprotective and glioprotective effects. Following secretion, prosaposin can undergo endocytosis via an interaction with the low-density lipoprotein-related receptor 1 (LRP1). The ability of secreted prosaposin to promote protective effects in the nervous system is known to involve activation of G proteins, and the orphan G protein-coupled receptors GPR37 and GPR37L1 have recently been shown to mediate signaling induced by both prosaposin and a fragment of prosaposin known as prosaptide. In this review, we describe recent advances in our understanding of prosaposin, its receptors and their importance in the nervous system. | 25,130,661 | [
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Genetic variability in anthocyanin composition and nutritional properties of blue, purple, and red bread (Triticum aestivum L.) and durum (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. turgidum convar. durum) wheats. | Renewed interest in breeding for high anthocyanins in wheat (Triticum ssp.) is due to their antioxidant potential. A collection of different pigmented wheats was used to investigate the stability of anthocyanins over three crop years. The data show higher anthocyanins in blue-aleurone bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), followed by purple- and red-pericarp durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. turgidum convar. durum), using cyanidin 3-O-glucoside as standard. HPLC of the anthocyanin components shows five to eight major anthocyanins for blue wheat extracts, compared to three anthocyanins for purple and red wheats. Delphinidin 3-O-rutinoside, delphinidin 3-O-glucoside, and malvidin 3-O-glucoside are predominant in blue wheat, with cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, peonidin 3-O-galactoside, and malvidin 3-O-glucoside in purple wheat. Of the total anthocyanins, 40-70% remain to be structurally identified. The findings confirm the high heritability for anthocyanins, with small genotype × year effects, which will be useful for breeding purposes, to improve the antioxidant potential of cereal-based foods. | 25,130,676 | [
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Sequential gene silencing using wavelength-selective caged morpholino oligonucleotides. | Spectrally differentiated caged morpholino oligonucleotides (cMOs) and wavelength-selective illumination have been used to sequentially inactivate organismal gene function. The efficacy of these reverse-genetic chemical probes has been demonstrated in zebrafish embryos, and these reagents have been employed to examine the mechanisms of mesoderm patterning. | 25,130,695 | [
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The effects of the pharmaceutical carbamazepine on life history characteristics of flat-headed mayflies (Heptageniidae) and aquatic resource interactions. | Pharmaceutical pollutants are commonly detected in freshwater ecosystems around the world and have biological effects on aquatic organisms. However, current understanding of the influence this contaminant class has on freshwater communities and ecosystems is lacking. Recently the scientific community has called for research focusing on certain pharmaceuticals due to their ubiquity and potential toxicity. Carbamazepine is one of these pharmaceuticals. To better understand the effect carbamazepine has on life history characteristics of aquatic organisms and consumer-resource interactions, we quantified the influence of carbamazepine on the development, growth and behavior of mayfly nymphs (Stenonema sp.) and the alterations in food consumer-resource interactions between Stenonema and algae (Chaetophora). Microcosms were assembled in a factorial design containing algae and mayfly nymphs native to central Indiana and dosed with environmentally relevant concentrations of carbamazepine. From this ecotoxicological experiment we were able to infer that carbamazepine at 2,000 ng/L influenced the development and behavior of Stenonema nymphs and the body dimensions of adult individuals. However, it appears that carbamazepine does not influence consumer-resource interactions at concentrations found in surface waters. The pharmaceutical carbamazepine may influence the behavior, growth and development of mayflies, which could have significant consequences at the population, community and ecosystem level. | 25,130,701 | [
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Injurious tail biting in pigs: how can it be controlled in existing systems without tail docking? | Tail biting is a serious animal welfare and economic problem in pig production. Tail docking, which reduces but does not eliminate tail biting, remains widespread. However, in the EU tail docking may not be used routinely, and some 'alternative' forms of pig production and certain countries do not allow tail docking at all. Against this background, using a novel approach focusing on research where tail injuries were quantified, we review the measures that can be used to control tail biting in pigs without tail docking. Using this strict criterion, there was good evidence that manipulable substrates and feeder space affect damaging tail biting. Only epidemiological evidence was available for effects of temperature and season, and the effect of stocking density was unclear. Studies suggest that group size has little effect, and the effects of nutrition, disease and breed require further investigation. The review identifies a number of knowledge gaps and promising avenues for future research into prevention and mitigation. We illustrate the diversity of hypotheses concerning how different proposed risk factors might increase tail biting through their effect on each other or on the proposed underlying processes of tail biting. A quantitative comparison of the efficacy of different methods of provision of manipulable materials, and a review of current practices in countries and assurance schemes where tail docking is banned, both suggest that daily provision of small quantities of destructible, manipulable natural materials can be of considerable benefit. Further comparative research is needed into materials, such as ropes, which are compatible with slatted floors. Also, materials which double as fuel for anaerobic digesters could be utilised. As well as optimising housing and management to reduce risk, it is important to detect and treat tail biting as soon as it occurs. Early warning signs before the first bloody tails appear, such as pigs holding their tails tucked under, could in future be automatically detected using precision livestock farming methods enabling earlier reaction and prevention of tail damage. However, there is a lack of scientific studies on how best to respond to outbreaks: the effectiveness of, for example, removing biters and/or bitten pigs, increasing enrichment, or applying substances to tails should be investigated. Finally, some breeding companies are exploring options for reducing the genetic propensity to tail bite. If these various approaches to reduce tail biting are implemented we propose that the need for tail docking will be reduced. | 25,130,712 | [
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Canalicular network morphology is the major determinant of the spatial distribution of mass density in human bone tissue: evidence by means of synchrotron radiation phase-contrast nano-CT. | In bone remodeling, maturation of the newly formed osteonal tissue is associated with a rapid primary increase followed by a slower secondary increase of mineralization. This requires supply and precipitation of mineral into the bone matrix. Mineral delivery can occur only from the extracellular fluid via interfaces such as the Haversian system and the osteocyte pore network. We hypothesized that in mineralization, mineral exchange is achieved by the diffusion of mineral from the lacunar-canalicular network (LCN) to the bone matrix, resulting in a gradual change in tissue mineralization with respect to the distance from the pore-matrix interface. We expected to observe alterations in the mass density distribution with tissue age. We further hypothesized that mineral exchange occurs not only at the lacunar but also at the canalicular boundaries. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the spatial distribution of mass density in the perilacunar and pericanalicular bone matrix and to explore how these densities are influenced by tissue aging. This is achieved by analyzing human jawbone specimens originating from four healthy donors and four treated with high-dosage bisphosphonate using synchrotron radiation phase-contrast nano-CT with a 50-nm voxel size. Our results provide the first experimental evidence that mass density in the direct vicinity of both lacunae (p < 0.001) and canaliculi (p < 0.001) is different from the mean matrix mass density, resulting in gradients with respect to the distance from both pore-matrix interfaces, which diminish with increasing tissue age. Though limited by the sample size, these findings support our hypotheses. Moreover, the density gradients are more pronounced around the lacunae than around the canaliculi, which are explained by geometrical considerations in the LCN morphology. In addition, we speculate that mineral exchange occurs at all interfaces of the LCN, not only in mineralization but also in mineral homeostasis. | 25,130,720 | [
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Genetic battle between Helicobacter pylori and humans. The mechanism underlying homologous recombination in bacteria, which can infect human cells. | Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative pathogenic bacterium that colonises the human stomach. The chronic infection it causes results in peptic ulcers and gastric cancers. H. pylori can easily establish a chronic infection even if the immune system attacks this pathogen with oxidative stress agents and immunoglobulins. This is attributed to bacterial defence mechanisms against these stresses. As a defence mechanism against oxidative stresses, in bacterial genomes, homologous recombination can act as a repair pathway of DNA's double-strand breaks (DSBs). Moreover, homologous recombination is also involved in the antigenic variation in H. pylori. Gene conversion alters genomic structures of babA and babB (encoding outer membrane proteins), resulting in escape from immunoglobulin attacks. Thus, homologous recombination in bacteria plays an important role in the maintenance of a chronic infection. In addition, H. pylori infection causes DSBs in human cells. Homologous recombination is also involved in the repair of DSBs in human cells. In this review, we describe the roles of homologous recombination with an emphasis on the maintenance of a chronic infection. | 25,130,723 | [
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Conformation-specific antibodies to target amyloid β oligomers and their application to immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease. | Amyloid β-protein (Aβ) oligomers, intermediates of Aβ aggregation, cause cognitive impairment and synaptotoxicity in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Immunotherapy using anti-Aβ antibody is one of the most promising approaches for AD treatment. However, most clinical trials using conventional sequence-specific antibodies have proceeded with difficulty. This is probably due to the unintended removal of the non-pathological monomer and fibrils of Aβ as well as the pathological oligomers by these antibodies that recognize Aβ sequence, which is not involved in synaptotoxicity. Several efforts have been made recently to develop conformation-specific antibodies that target the tertiary structure of Aβ oligomers. Here, we review the recent findings of Aβ oligomers and anti-Aβ antibodies including our own, and discuss their potential as therapeutic and diagnostic tools. | 25,130,729 | [
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... |
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