title stringlengths 0 901 | abstract stringlengths 3 9.89k | PMID int64 22 25.3M | embedding listlengths 768 768 |
|---|---|---|---|
White blood cell segmentation by color-space-based k-means clustering. | White blood cell (WBC) segmentation, which is important for cytometry, is a challenging issue because of the morphological diversity of WBCs and the complex and uncertain background of blood smear images. This paper proposes a novel method for the nucleus and cytoplasm segmentation of WBCs for cytometry. A color adjustment step was also introduced before segmentation. Color space decomposition and k-means clustering were combined for segmentation. A database including 300 microscopic blood smear images were used to evaluate the performance of our method. The proposed segmentation method achieves 95.7% and 91.3% overall accuracy for nucleus segmentation and cytoplasm segmentation, respectively. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can segment WBCs effectively with high accuracy. | 25,256,107 | [
-0.05114708,
0.345351,
-0.133825,
0.1650711,
0.2367137,
-0.2581772,
-0.06031826,
0.3854114,
0.1225314,
-0.1264195,
-0.05046042,
0.1597679,
-0.1369666,
0.3563125,
-0.080116,
-0.07504848,
-0.1222957,
-0.04139487,
0.02980237,
0.1211054,
0.3249998,
0.2865375,
-0.1254907,
0.... |
Optimization of an optical inspection system based on the Taguchi method for quantitative analysis of point-of-care testing. | This study presents an optical inspection system for detecting a commercial point-of-care testing product and a new detection model covering from qualitative to quantitative analysis. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) strips (cut-off value of the hCG commercial product is 25 mIU/mL) were the detection target in our study. We used a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor to detect the colors of the test line and control line in the specific strips and to reduce the observation errors by the naked eye. To achieve better linearity between the grayscale and the concentration, and to decrease the standard deviation (increase the signal to noise ratio, S/N), the Taguchi method was used to find the optimal parameters for the optical inspection system. The pregnancy test used the principles of the lateral flow immunoassay, and the colors of the test and control line were caused by the gold nanoparticles. Because of the sandwich immunoassay model, the color of the gold nanoparticles in the test line was darkened by increasing the hCG concentration. As the results reveal, the S/N increased from 43.48 dB to 53.38 dB, and the hCG concentration detection increased from 6.25 to 50 mIU/mL with a standard deviation of less than 10%. With the optimal parameters to decrease the detection limit and to increase the linearity determined by the Taguchi method, the optical inspection system can be applied to various commercial rapid tests for the detection of ketamine, troponin I, and fatty acid binding protein (FABP). | 25,256,108 | [
0.2287061,
0.2036739,
-0.2929065,
-0.2785781,
0.3483965,
0.1148903,
-0.2287977,
0.3725898,
0.2804235,
-0.2404456,
-0.2413347,
-0.1672952,
0.0006076456,
0.3242176,
0.03292814,
0.2694999,
-0.8121254,
0.0990034,
0.1966569,
0.1413465,
-0.03545455,
0.1370351,
-0.09587494,
0.... |
Incorporating a wheeled vehicle model in a new monocular visual odometry algorithm for dynamic outdoor environments. | This paper presents a monocular visual odometry algorithm that incorporates a wheeled vehicle model for ground vehicles. The main innovation of this algorithm is to use the single-track bicycle model to interpret the relationship between the yaw rate and side slip angle, which are the two most important parameters that describe the motion of a wheeled vehicle. Additionally, the pitch angle is also considered since the planar-motion hypothesis often fails due to the dynamic characteristics of wheel suspensions and tires in real-world environments. Linearization is used to calculate a closed-form solution of the motion parameters that works as a hypothesis generator in a RAndom SAmple Consensus (RANSAC) scheme to reduce the complexity in solving equations involving trigonometric. All inliers found are used to refine the winner solution through minimizing the reprojection error. Finally, the algorithm is applied to real-time on-board visual localization applications. Its performance is evaluated by comparing against the state-of-the-art monocular visual odometry methods using both synthetic data and publicly available datasets over several kilometers in dynamic outdoor environments. | 25,256,109 | [
-0.1699554,
-0.02542671,
-0.1827964,
0.262547,
0.3048696,
-0.4516157,
-0.2333762,
-0.5867598,
0.1418494,
-0.2270031,
-0.004916373,
-0.4004359,
-0.1082549,
0.1906391,
-0.218698,
-0.1093239,
-0.7389706,
-0.07204171,
-0.1186573,
-0.128959,
-0.1546282,
0.1848538,
-0.1777304,
... |
Blood lactate level and meconium aspiration syndrome. | Approximately 5% of infants born with a meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) develop meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Early recognition of infants at highest risk for the development of MAS and the prediction of disease severity are important for optimizing the clinical strategies for prevention and treatment. The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors for MAS and to investigate the effect of blood lactate level on the development of MAS. Between January 2011 and January 2012, data were recorded with regard to gender, mode of delivery, gestational week, birth weight, 5-min Apgar score, and need for resuscitation of the meconium-stained depressed infants who underwent tracheal aspiration. Moreover, the number of cases developing MAS, blood pH value, and lactate level in capillary blood gases obtained during the first hour after delivery, duration of oxygen supplementation, the number of cases receiving mechanical ventilation and surfactant therapy, duration of hospital stay, and outcomes of the infants were recorded. The number of live births during the study period was 17,202, and of them, 1,341 (7.8%) infants were born through MSAF. Of 195 infants who were meconium-stained depressed, 90 were girls and 105 were boys. Their mean gestational week was 39.37 ± 0.89 weeks and mean birth weight was 3,426 ± 634 g. Eighty-four of them were born through cesarean section (C/S), and 111 were born via normal spontaneous labor. For 40 infants, Apgar score at fifth minute was less than 6. In total, resuscitation was performed on 43 (22.9%) infants. Of the infants, 141 did not develop MAS and 54 developed MAS. While there were no significant differences between infants with and without MAS with regard to gender, delivery route, gestational week, and birth weight, a significant difference was observed regarding the Apgar score (p = 0.0001). The blood pH value in capillary blood gas analysis was less than 7.25 in 18 (28.5%) cases with MAS and four (3.2%) cases without MAS. There was no significant difference between infants with and without MAS with regard to blood pH levels (p = 0.031). The mean blood lactate level was 8.5± 3.4 mmol/L in the patients with MAS, and there was a significant difference between infants with and without MAS regarding blood lactate level (p = 0.0001). The mean duration of oxygen supplementation was 86.62 ± 66.52 and 44.36 ± 19.03 h in patients with MAS and without MAS, respectively. In total, 30 infants required mechanical ventilation (24 infants with MAS and 6 infants without MAS). In addition to mechanical ventilation, 16 infants with MAS were administered surfactant therapy. The mean duration of hospital stay of infants with MAS was significantly higher than infants without MAS (p = 0.0001). There was a correlation between blood lactate levels, blood pH value, and hospitalization duration (p < 0.05). All of the infants, except one patient, were discharged from the NICU. In addition to the blood pH value and 5-min Apgar score, increased blood lactate level may be a risk factor for the development of MAS in infants born with MSAF. This may aid in the early detection of MAS and, with appropriate measures taken sooner, reduce morbidity and mortality. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of lactate level, which is an important indicator of hypoxia during the development of MAS. | 25,256,123 | [
-0.01195422,
-0.1021482,
-0.3328955,
-0.07565841,
0.1145824,
0.1944028,
0.01000777,
-0.1480935,
-0.04309046,
-0.1934955,
-0.2371758,
0.2197518,
0.07742997,
0.01820382,
-0.1123157,
-0.2118041,
-0.2982884,
0.09834112,
0.08085403,
0.05883504,
0.2453229,
0.217397,
-0.1391531,... |
Heterogeneous symptom patterns of sexually abused children in treatment: understanding the complexity of the problem. | A major challenge for clinicians and researchers is the heterogeneity of the severity and type of symptoms presented by sexually abused youth, including those who are subclinical on traditional clinical measures but still present to treatment. Most research continues to treat sexually abused youth as a single population and has not assessed the outcomes or symptom trajectories of various groups of sexually abused youth. Participants included 107 sexually abused children and their nonoffending parents presenting to a cognitive-behavioral group treatment. A cluster analysis using child- and parent-report measures revealed four profiles, including Subclinical, Highly Distressed, Problem Behaviors, and Self-Reported Distress clusters. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to create separate child- and parent-report models of weekly symptomatology to examine differential change over the course of treatment. Contrary to expectation, there was little variation in the weekly rates of change for the different symptom groups; however, all groups evidenced a decrease in symptoms over the course of treatment, including the Subclinical cluster. | 25,256,140 | [
-0.02599762,
0.5917882,
-0.1555344,
-0.2204635,
0.1892537,
-0.3961107,
-0.565668,
-0.1199193,
0.2293098,
0.006566278,
0.3255127,
0.05166589,
-0.3629766,
-0.0732257,
0.1301274,
0.2166846,
-0.1832035,
0.150332,
0.359207,
-0.05481404,
-0.03067329,
-0.01396522,
-0.1670806,
... |
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance for evaluation of heart involvement in ANCA-associated vasculitis. A luxury or a valuable diagnostic tool? | Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-related vasculitis is a systemic small-vessel vasculitis, including 3 clinical syndromes: granulomatosis with polyangiitis, known as Wegener&#039;s granulomatosis (WG), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and the Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). ANCA-related vasculitis usually presents with severe kidney or pulmonary disease, has a mortality of 28% at 5 years, and also contributes to increased morbidity in vasculitis patients. Cardiac involvement in this entity may have different forms, including coronary vessels, pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis, myocardial infarction and subendocardial vasculitis that can contribute to reduced life expectancy. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance using oedema and fibrosis imaging can early reveal, noninvasively and without radiation, heart involvement during vasculitis, undetected by other imaging techniques and guide further risk stratification and treatment of these patients. | 25,256,145 | [
-0.14065,
0.1623861,
0.165859,
-0.03196757,
-0.1100089,
0.02954103,
-0.02526308,
0.209669,
-0.3393268,
-0.02672263,
0.1484257,
0.1245223,
-0.125092,
-0.3495149,
-0.1488514,
-0.1444731,
-0.0256678,
0.07075398,
-0.06266683,
0.09391636,
0.2075575,
0.3570949,
-0.3278545,
-0... |
Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia with joint laxity, leptodactylic type: longitudinal observation of radiographic findings in a child heterozygous for a KIF22 mutation. | Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia with joint laxity, leptodactylic type (SEMDJL2), is a rare disorder due to a KIF22 gene mutation and characterized by postnatal short stature, midface hypoplasia and generalized ligamentous laxity. Radiologic hallmark includes severe involvement of the epiphyses and the slender appearance of the metacarpals and phalanges. The aim of the study was to evaluate radiologic findings of SEMDJL2 in a child followed from age 2 years 9 months to 11 years. Using whole-exome sequencing, we identified a single nucleotide de novo p.Pro148Leu mutation in the KIF22 gene. The child had midface hypoplasia, short stature, hip dislocation and generalized laxity of the joints in the first examination. Knee subluxation and bilateral severe genu valgum became prominent after 3.5 years of age. Short stature became evident gradually with increasing age, and height was 3.6 standard deviations below the mean for age. Small epiphyses with delayed maturation and metaphyseal vertical striations at the distal metaphysis of the femur were observed on initial radiographs. However, the slender metacarpals and proximal phalanges and progressive epiphyseal dysplasia with small and flattened epiphyses on both wrists and knees became more prominent after 7 years of age. In conclusion, we observed that typical radiologic findings became apparent after early childhood. | 25,256,152 | [
0.0974054,
-0.1835434,
0.1487229,
-0.2358303,
0.1061281,
-0.1534249,
-0.1906767,
-0.07113222,
-0.2641729,
0.05964207,
0.06448108,
0.2965841,
0.03152924,
0.1914799,
0.04836589,
0.2960678,
-0.1472391,
0.2369501,
-0.2472972,
-0.2541307,
0.3131831,
-0.04501686,
-0.05953726,
... |
Radiation dose and image quality in pediatric chest CT: effects of iterative reconstruction in normal weight and overweight children. | New CT reconstruction techniques may help reduce the burden of ionizing radiation. To quantify radiation dose reduction when performing pediatric chest CT using a low-dose protocol and 50% adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) compared with age/gender-matched chest CT using a conventional dose protocol and reconstructed with filtered back projection (control group) and to determine its effect on image quality in normal weight and overweight children. We retrospectively reviewed 40 pediatric chest CT (M:F = 21:19; range: 0.1-17 years) in both groups. Radiation dose was compared between the two groups using paired Student's t-test. Image quality including noise, sharpness, artifacts and diagnostic acceptability was subjectively assessed by three pediatric radiologists using a four-point scale (superior, average, suboptimal, unacceptable). Eight children in the ASIR group and seven in the control group were overweight. All radiation dose parameters were significantly lower in the ASIR group (P < 0.01) with a greater than 57% dose reduction in overweight children. Image noise was higher in the ASIR group in both normal weight and overweight children. Only one scan in the ASIR group (1/40, 2.5%) was rated as diagnostically suboptimal and there was no unacceptable study. In both normal weight and overweight children, the ASIR technique is associated with a greater than 57% mean dose reduction, without significantly impacting diagnostic image quality in pediatric chest CT examinations. However, CT scans in overweight children may have a greater noise level, even when using the ASIR technique. | 25,256,153 | [
-0.1245659,
0.3748542,
-0.3558939,
0.06181755,
-0.03022391,
-0.2381792,
-0.2287024,
-0.02777898,
0.03383202,
-0.1573009,
0.2207828,
0.04659735,
-0.396165,
-0.1975482,
-0.4238459,
-0.05764478,
-0.1553712,
-0.1431654,
-0.1527829,
-0.2779588,
0.1231959,
0.2390418,
-0.1115649... |
Effect of post-thaw addition of seminal plasma on motility, viability and chromatin integrity of cryopreserved donkey jack (Equus asinus) spermatozoa. | Pregnancy rates in donkeys after artificial insemination with cryopreserved semen are still low, compared to the horse species. Addition of autologous seminal plasma to frozen-thawed semen appeared to improve pregnancy rates. The aims of this study were to evaluate (1) sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity after thawing (T0) and after one and 2 h (T1 and T2) of post-thaw incubation in either 0% (SP0) or 70% (SP70) autologous seminal plasma and (2) sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and DNA quality (%COMP-αt) after thawing (T0) and after 2 and 4 h (T2 and T4) of post-thaw incubation in either 0% (SP0), 5% (SP5) or 20% (SP20) homologous seminal plasma. In experiment 1, seminal plasma decreased total and progressive sperm motility and plasma membrane intact spermatozoa immediately after dilution and at all following time points (p < 0.05). In experiment 2, total and progressive motility did not differ between treatments immediately after dilution and between SP0 and SP5 at T2, while they were lower in both SP5 and SP20 than in SP0 at T4. Plasma membrane intact sperm cells did not differ between SP0 and SP5 and were lower in SP20 at all time points. DNA quality was not affected by treatment immediately after dilution and was significantly worse for SP20 after 4 h of incubation (p < 0.05). The post-thaw addition of seminal plasma at the tested concentrations did not improve donkey frozen semen characteristics in vitro over time. | 25,256,158 | [
0.103557,
0.2464107,
0.008682317,
0.0456828,
0.1147816,
-0.1615978,
0.04127581,
0.1184074,
0.4764501,
-0.2102876,
0.007803417,
0.5054172,
0.06672132,
-0.003442698,
-0.1861592,
-0.2218249,
-0.4268882,
-0.004418249,
-0.3611144,
-0.001832022,
0.1935889,
0.2229726,
-0.2228808... |
Patentability of self-replicating technologies. | Patents provide an incentive to inventors, investors, and entrepreneurs to conduct research and development, especially in risky (i.e., unpredictable) fields of technology. This review discusses whether self-replicating technologies are patentable within the United States and the issues surrounding them. Self-replicating technologies discussed include plants, bacteria, and genetic technology and the historical legal precedents that have led to the current status of the patent law. To clearly understand these issues, the review also discusses various U.S. Supreme Court cases that, although not related to self-replicating technologies, have an impact on these patentability issues. Finally, some thoughts regarding patent strategy are presented so as to maximize patent protection for these technologies. | 25,256,175 | [
-0.309833,
0.07232597,
0.1664314,
0.08060654,
-0.0486462,
-0.2210336,
-0.4119841,
-0.2307626,
0.1281358,
-0.04054511,
0.05130831,
0.06620528,
-0.1652968,
0.1459512,
-0.8326904,
-0.1276522,
-0.03342132,
0.1686794,
-0.03806714,
-0.1532609,
0.2046731,
0.09100911,
-0.3923099,... |
A cluster-randomised controlled trial of a physical activity and nutrition programme in retirement villages: a study protocol. | Physical activity levels of Australia's ageing population are declining and coincidentally rates of overweight and obesity are increasing. Adequate levels of physical activity and a healthy diet are recognised as important lifestyle factors for the maintenance of a healthy weight and prevention of chronic diseases. Retirement village (RV) residents rarely engage in physical activity and nutrition programmes offered, with poor attendance and low use of existing facilities such as on-site fitness centres and classes and nutrition seminars. The RV provides a unique setting to access and engage with this older target group, to test the effectiveness of strategies to increase levels of physical activity, improve nutrition and maintain a healthy weight. This cluster-randomised controlled trial will evaluate a physical activity, nutrition and healthy weight management intervention for insufficiently active ('not achieving 150 min of moderate-intensity physical activity per week') adults aged 60-75 residing in RV's. A total of 400 participants will be recruited from 20 randomly selected RV's in Perth, Western Australia. Villages will be assigned to either the intervention group (n=10) or the control group (n=10) each containing 200 participants. The Retirement Village Physical Activity and Nutrition for Seniors (RVPANS) programme is a home-based physical activity and nutrition programme that includes educational resources, along with facilitators who will motivate and guide the participants during the 6-month intervention. Descriptive statistics and mixed regression models will be performed to assess the intervention effects. This trial will evaluate an intervention for the modification of health risk factors in the RV setting. Such research conducted in RV's has been limited. Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number: HR128/2012). Dissemination of the study results will occur through publications, reports, conference presentations and community seminars. Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12612001168842). | 25,256,185 | [
0.1019349,
0.2697309,
-0.08224636,
-0.08897727,
0.1353478,
-0.3547376,
-0.2792665,
-0.01453234,
-0.03219759,
0.1251459,
0.08602975,
0.05499071,
-0.06346623,
-0.2325629,
-0.2984198,
0.1259572,
0.04527931,
0.1850181,
0.210911,
-0.2944154,
-0.4051864,
0.360487,
-0.1383438,
... |
Therapist-guided, Internet-based cognitive-behavioural therapy for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD-NET): a feasibility study. | Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). However, most sufferers do not have access to this treatment. One way to increase access to CBT is to administer treatment remotely via the Internet. This study piloted a novel therapist-supported, Internet-based CBT program for BDD (BDD-NET). Uncontrolled clinical trial. Patients (N=23) were recruited through self-referral and assessed face to face at a clinic specialising in obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Suitable patients were offered secure access to BDD-NET. BDD-NET is a 12-week treatment program based on current psychological models of BDD that includes psychoeducation, functional analysis, cognitive restructuring, exposure and response prevention, and relapse prevention modules. A dedicated therapist provides active guidance and feedback throughout the entire process. The clinician-administered Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for BDD (BDD-YBOCS). Symptom severity was assessed pretreatment, post-treatment and at the 3-month follow-up. BDD-NET was deemed highly acceptable by patients and led to significant improvements on the BDD-YBOCS (p=<0.001) with a large within-group effect size (Cohen's d=2.01, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.97). At post-treatment, 82% of the patients were classified as responders (defined as≥30% improvement on the BDD-YBOCS). These gains were maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcome measures of depression, global functioning and quality of life also showed significant improvements with moderate to large effect sizes. On average, therapists spent 10 min per patient per week providing support. The results suggest that BDD-NET has the potential to greatly increase access to CBT, at least for low-risk individuals with moderately severe BDD symptoms and reasonably good insight. A randomised controlled trial of BDD-NET is warranted. Clinicaltrials.gov registration ID NCT01850433. | 25,256,187 | [
-0.01686712,
0.1542136,
0.02978364,
-0.1863641,
0.3442333,
-0.3584387,
-0.1242464,
-0.1952606,
0.01794689,
-0.02545139,
0.1660342,
0.0640565,
-0.1265098,
-0.2651556,
-0.2552252,
0.007340716,
-0.2634917,
0.195874,
0.03643879,
0.0220538,
-0.2048479,
0.429337,
-0.2251053,
... |
First experience with the jailed pressure wire technique in the provisional side branch stenting of coronary bifurcation lesions. | The provisional strategy (PS) is an accepted modality of treatment in coronary bifurcation interventions, though, after main vessel (MV) stenting, the assessment of the side branch (SB) becomes more difficult. In bifurcation interventions, the major advantage of fractional flow reserve (FFR) is the avoidance of the need for SB intervention. However, SB access with a pressure wire after MV stenting may be difficult, sometimes impossible. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of physiologic assessment of SB lesions using FFR with the jailed pressure wire (JPW) in patients undergoing the PS. Although the JPW technique is theoretically possible in the PS, there is no information available on the use of this technique. We retrospectively evaluated 11 patients who were treated with the JPW technique at a single centre. Procedures were successfully accomplished in all cases without complications, such as damage of the pressure sensor, failure to measure FFR value, removing the polymer coating, and entrapment or fracture of the JPW. In conclusion, our limited experience suggests that the JPW technique in the PS may be a safe and technically feasible approach. This technical report details the JPW technique in patients undergoing the PS. | 25,256,199 | [
-0.1603346,
0.09190479,
0.1386702,
-0.2925152,
-0.1682609,
-0.0135866,
0.1288652,
-0.3691193,
0.2332799,
-0.04164444,
0.01605638,
-0.3318227,
-0.2273232,
0.02825901,
-0.279482,
-0.2390382,
-0.1453629,
0.2471176,
-0.198015,
0.1160423,
0.008002032,
-0.1260534,
-0.09070291,
... |
Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Increasing the Meaningful Involvement of Women Living With HIV/AIDS (MIWA) in the Design and Delivery of HIV/AIDS Services. | The meaningful involvement of women living with HIV/AIDS (MIWA) is a key feature of women-centred HIV care, yet little is known about transforming MIWA from principle to practice. Drawing on focus group data from the Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS), we explored HIV-positive women's meaningful involvement in the design and delivery of HIV/AIDS services in British Columbia, Canada. In this article, we highlight the benefits and tensions that emerge as women traverse multiple roles as service users and service providers within their care communities, and the impact this has on their access to care and overall health. | 25,256,222 | [
0.1095704,
0.567052,
-0.1456636,
-0.04674373,
-0.00397322,
0.1391448,
0.3284636,
0.1463527,
0.08947372,
-0.09806799,
0.07913831,
-0.1269792,
-0.005598655,
-0.1926592,
-0.4342818,
-0.02404139,
-0.5158036,
0.01868913,
-0.1773102,
-0.3200831,
0.01267506,
0.3892586,
-0.132616... |
Dietary fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease in men: the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. | The epidemiological evidence of the role of dietary saturated fatty acids (SFA) in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) is inconsistent. We investigated the associations of dietary fatty acids with the risk of CHD and carotid atherosclerosis in men with high SFA intake and high rates of CHD. In total, 1981 men from the population-based Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD), aged 42 to 60 years and free of CHD at baseline in 1984 to 1989, were investigated. Food consumption was assessed with 4-day food recording. Multivariate nutrient-density models were used to analyze isocaloric replacement of nutrients. CHD events were ascertained from national registries. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by ultrasonography of the common carotid artery intima-media thickness in 1015 men. During the average follow-up of 21.4 years, 183 fatal and 382 nonfatal CHD events occurred. SFA or trans fat intakes were not associated with CHD risk. In contrast, monounsaturated fat intake was associated with increased risk and polyunsaturated fat intake with decreased risk of fatal CHD, whether replacing SFA, trans fat, or carbohydrates. The associations with carotid atherosclerosis were broadly similar, whereas the associations with nonfatal CHD were weaker. Our results suggest that SFA intake is not an independent risk factor for CHD, even in a population with higher ranges of SFA intake. In contrast, polyunsaturated fat intake was associated with lower risk of fatal CHD, whether replacing SFA, trans fat, or carbohydrates. Further investigation on the effect of monounsaturated fat on the CHD risk is warranted. | 25,256,234 | [
-0.3644295,
-0.07277588,
-0.2701741,
0.2144161,
0.3693655,
-0.1877316,
0.1962533,
0.4523439,
0.05414254,
-0.250752,
-0.02723127,
0.02411375,
-0.1651361,
-0.320744,
0.04771309,
-0.2904363,
-0.7599955,
0.2325965,
-0.1570123,
-0.02331619,
0.05436338,
0.4769195,
-0.1175952,
... |
Controlling the misuse of cobalt in horses. | Cobalt is a well-established inducer of hypoxia-like responses, which can cause gene modulation at the hypoxia inducible factor pathway to induce erythropoietin transcription. Cobalt salts are orally active, inexpensive, and easily accessible. It is an attractive blood doping agent for enhancing aerobic performance. Indeed, recent intelligence and investigations have confirmed cobalt was being abused in equine sports. In this paper, population surveys of total cobalt in raceday samples were conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Urinary threshold of 75 ng/mL and plasma threshold of 2 ng/mL could be proposed for the control of cobalt misuse in raceday or in-competition samples. Results from administration trials with cobalt-containing supplements showed that common supplements could elevate urinary and plasma cobalt levels above the proposed thresholds within 24 h of administration. It would therefore be necessary to ban the use of cobalt-containing supplements on raceday as well as on the day before racing in order to implement and enforce the proposed thresholds. Since the abuse with huge quantities of cobalt salts can be done during training while the use of legitimate cobalt-containing supplements are also allowed, different urinary and plasma cobalt thresholds would be required to control cobalt abuse in non-raceday or out-of-competition samples. This could be achieved by setting the thresholds above the maximum urinary and plasma cobalt concentrations observed or anticipated from the normal use of legitimate cobalt-containing supplements. Urinary threshold of 2000 ng/mL and plasma threshold of 10 ng/mL were thus proposed for the control of cobalt abuse in non-raceday or out-of-competition samples. | 25,256,240 | [
-0.569375,
0.263548,
-0.04256126,
0.1079985,
-0.03292691,
-0.2541851,
-0.164253,
-0.2159082,
-0.1857897,
-0.2234467,
-0.0006608054,
0.3243862,
0.1645931,
0.004552231,
-0.5008413,
-0.1981026,
0.1406787,
0.06832048,
-0.3053878,
0.07104633,
0.001979765,
0.3948293,
0.03721996... |
The neuroprotective role of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 in neurodegenerative diseases. | Neuropharmacological relation of religious belief supports the role of dopaminergic activation as the leading neurochemical feature. However, vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT-2) has been shown to be responsible for removing of neurotransmitters such as dopamine that may secondarily lead to a neuroprotective activity by different neurodegeneration models. Moreover, there are interesting data showing that VMAT-2 may play an important role during religious belief and experience. In the light of these findings, we aimed to review the preclinical and clinical neuroprotective data of Vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT-2) in different neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. In respect of rapidly increasing evidences about the neurobiological and neuroimaging correlates of religious belief, we hypothesized that there is a link between belief and neuroprotection. | 25,256,242 | [
-0.1796751,
-0.1442374,
-0.1536081,
-0.4865933,
-0.112526,
-0.2537453,
-0.2137355,
-0.1520443,
-0.06361584,
-0.1523924,
-0.07567428,
0.2489404,
0.1200237,
0.06495728,
-0.5324265,
0.2699953,
-0.4926221,
0.1303671,
0.01091743,
0.132724,
0.06227472,
0.1552541,
-0.179666,
-... |
[Epidemiology of bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis according to HIV status of patients followed in the department of infectious diseases Conakry (Guinea)]. | Despite many efforts of prevention and the availability of free treatment, TB/HIV co-infection is still rampant in Guinea. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis according to HIV status among patients hospitalized in the infectious diseases department of Conakry University Hospital. This was a descriptive and analytical retrospective study of patient records admitted for pulmonary tuberculosis from January 2003 to December 2012. During this period, 1953 cases of tuberculosis were collected of which 346 (17.7%) were smear positive. There was a marked male predominance (59.7%). The average age was 38 ± 11 years. The majority of patients originated from the suburbs of Conakry and its surrounding prefectures (76.7%). People without profession were most represented (40.7%). A level of primary education was the most frequently reported (39.7%). Out of 325 patients tested for HIV, the serology was positive in 185 patients (56.9%). A contact with a TB patient was reported in 21.4% of HIV negative patients, and in 6.5% of the HIV-positive group (p = 0.0006). There was no difference between the two groups regarding clinical signs and symptoms. The mean CD4 count was comparable in both groups (p = 0.05). Lethality was higher among co-infected patients (30.4% against 15.56%; p = 0.00037). Strengthening the prevention of TB among PLWHA by the administration of isoniazide seems necessary and warrants further study on this subject in Guinea. | 25,256,251 | [
0.1476261,
-0.313659,
0.2046145,
0.2793487,
-0.0721729,
0.05047688,
-0.09486044,
-0.03858449,
-0.201594,
0.09600345,
0.06943157,
0.08887971,
0.1372229,
0.0766535,
-0.3422751,
-0.2510621,
-0.1899193,
-0.09593804,
0.3208175,
0.4256834,
0.2594689,
0.3825172,
-0.2285841,
0.... |
Children and young adults with CF in the USA have better lung function compared with the UK. | People with cystic fibrosis (CF) are managed differently in the USA and UK providing an opportunity to learn from differences in practice patterns. To compare cross-sectional demographics, practice patterns and clinical outcomes between US and UK CF patients. This was a cross-sectional study using 2010 data from patients in the US Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the UK Cystic Fibrosis patient registries. The a priori outcome measures of interest were lung function and nutritional status. Descriptive statistics and two sample comparisons were performed. Stratification and multivariable linear regression were used to adjust for confounding. The study cohort included 13 777 children and 11 058 adults from the USA and 3968 children and 3965 adults from the UK. In children, mean body mass index centiles were similar. Lung function (FEV1 and FVC% predicted) was significantly higher in US patients ages 6-25 years of age. In a regression model adjusted for only age, FEV1% predicted was on average 3.31% of predicted (95% CI 2.65 to 3.96) higher in the USA compared with the UK. When adjusted for age, age at diagnosis, gender, pancreatic insufficiency and genotype, FEV1% predicted was on average 3.03% of predicted (95% CI 2.37 to 3.69) higher in the USA compared with the UK These differences persisted despite adjustment for possible confounders. Hypertonic saline and dornase alfa were much more commonly prescribed in US children. Children and young adults with CF have better lung function in the USA compared with the UK despite similar nutritional status. | 25,256,255 | [
0.04835825,
-0.2782595,
-0.1378456,
-0.2355722,
-0.1269069,
-0.3247595,
-0.1011694,
-0.09511871,
-0.1845543,
-0.248634,
0.2652428,
0.3107405,
-0.0900734,
-0.1684369,
0.2253336,
-0.4028345,
0.0616205,
0.03108532,
-0.03505752,
0.0976079,
-0.4043485,
0.1301143,
-0.4247002,
... |
Structural connectivity of the salience-executive loop in schizophrenia. | Previously, differences have been shown in effective connectivity of the salience network between healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia. Specifically, the right anterior insula (rAI) fails to modulate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In 35 controls and 31 patients with schizophrenia, we extended these findings by investigating the white matter connectivity of this pathway using tractography, and its relationship with the disrupted effective connectivity. We showed increased fractional anisotropy in the pathway connecting the rAI with the DLPFC, which related to reduced effective connectivity. This may be due to either secondary changes in white matter or a primary defect in structural integrity resulting from deficient axonal pruning. This novel finding warrants further investigation of white matter connectivity in schizophrenia and the mechanisms underlying this pathophysiology. | 25,256,265 | [
0.07231042,
0.4415651,
0.2168051,
-0.1655724,
0.2406892,
-0.1993123,
-0.1385649,
-0.09155915,
-0.2842289,
0.1818413,
0.04596531,
0.2196437,
-0.3011241,
-0.0113626,
-0.07427478,
-0.08572233,
-0.325658,
0.1926229,
-0.3523662,
-0.1832717,
-0.09952985,
0.3998247,
0.05814613,
... |
Wound Documentation by Using 3G Mobile as Acquisition Terminal: An Appropriate Proposal for Community Wound Care. | The increasing numbers of cases of wound disease are now posing a big challenge in China. For more convenience of wound patients, wound management in community health care centers under the supervision of a specialist at general hospitals is an ideal solution. To ensure an accurate diagnosis in community health clinics, it is important that "the same language" for wound description, which may be composed of unified format description, including wound image, must be achieved. We developed a wound information management system that was built up by acquisition terminal, wound description, data bank, and related software. In this system, a 3G mobile phone was applied as acquisition terminal, which could be used to access to the data bank. This documentation system was thought to be an appropriate proposal for community wound care because of its objectivity, uniformity, and facilitation. It also provides possibility for epidemiological study in the future. | 25,256,281 | [
-0.1676273,
0.2484045,
-0.0247421,
-0.3233615,
0.1892347,
-0.2176103,
-0.09281994,
-0.03589565,
-0.02607367,
0.0861188,
-0.06292272,
-0.333692,
-0.1199379,
0.1662022,
-0.01119564,
0.0006013066,
0.008965266,
-0.1117386,
0.2256424,
-0.02736804,
0.3682628,
0.2625116,
-0.2639... |
Conservative Surgery of Diabetic Forefoot Osteomyelitis: How Can I Operate on This Patient Without Amputation? | Surgery is necessary in many cases of diabetic foot osteomyelitis. The decision to undertake surgery should be based on the clinical presentation of diabetic foot osteomyelitis. Surgery is required when the bone is protruding through the ulcer, there is extensive bone destruction seen on x-ray or progressive bone damage on sequential x-ray while undergoing antibiotic treatment, the soft tissue envelope is destroyed, and there is gangrene or spreading soft tissue infection. Several issues should be taken into account when considering surgery for treating diabetic foot osteomyelitis. It is necessary to have a surgeon available with diabetic foot expertise. Regarding location of diabetic foot osteomyelitis, it is important to consider whether isolated bone or a joint is involved. In cases in which osteomyelitis is associated with a bone deformity, surgery should be able to correct this. The surgeon should always reflect about whether extensive/radical surgery could destabilize the foot. The forefoot is the most frequent location of diabetic foot osteomyelitis and is associated with better prognosis than midfoot and hindfoot osteomyelitis. Many surgical procedures can be performed in patients with diabetes and forefoot ulcers complicated by osteomyelitis while avoiding amputations. Performing conservative surgeries without amputations of any part of the foot is not always feasible in cases in which the infection has destroyed the soft tissue envelope. Attempting conservative surgery in such cases risks infected tissues remaining in the wound bed leading to failure. The election of different surgical options depends on the expertise of the surgeons selected for the multidisciplinary teams. It is the aim of this article to provide a sample of surgical techniques in order to remove the bone infection from the forefoot while avoiding amputations. | 25,256,285 | [
-0.1124291,
0.161506,
0.2541839,
-0.02868025,
0.00227671,
-0.4637665,
-0.09040719,
-0.1009311,
0.1655361,
-0.1033858,
0.1380202,
-0.3766701,
-0.2761557,
-0.05501831,
-0.09145053,
-0.08050939,
-0.07317033,
0.02440781,
-0.03207283,
0.06055897,
0.0177081,
0.1141058,
0.001039... |
Chronic Ulceration and Sinus Formation due to Foreign Body: An Often-Forgotten Problem. | Foreign bodies like residues of suture or mesh may lead to a foreign body reaction, cavity formation and continuous secretion and perhaps ulceration. We present a more than 9 years long medical record of a 49 year old man after a simple surgical procedure. The background was a sinus formation generated from a foreign body reaction. The case report shows that this condition is often overlooked and even using advanced equipment, it is difficult to diagnose. The only solution is to diagnose and remove the triggering cause. Fistulography and ultrasound scanning seem to be the optimal diagnostic tool in these cases. The knowledge of the foreign body reaction in tissue continuously needs to be reestablished in the health care system especially in areas, where implantation of foreign material is used. | 25,256,286 | [
-0.2916433,
-0.1811468,
-0.1253821,
0.1740255,
0.2971736,
-0.1568396,
-0.07845946,
-0.3277544,
0.262532,
0.001423958,
0.1588406,
-0.4976605,
-0.1513042,
-0.2280997,
-0.3127241,
-0.04665328,
-0.2075127,
0.1240438,
-0.04807345,
-0.06606609,
0.260715,
0.1386547,
-0.1477833,
... |
Syntactic complexity effects in sentence production. | Syntactic complexity effects have been investigated extensively with respect to comprehension (e.g., Demberg & Keller, 2008; Gibson, 1998, 2000; Gordon et al., 2001, 2004; Grodner & Gibson, 2005; King & Just, 1991; Lewis & Vasishth, 2005; Lewis et al., 2006; McElree et al., 2003; Wanner & Maratsos, 1978). According to one prominent class of accounts (experience-based accounts; e.g., Hale, 2001; Levy, 2008; Gennari & MacDonald, 2008, 2009; Wells et al., 2009), certain structures cause comprehension difficulty due to their scarcity in the language. But why are some structures less frequent than others? In two elicited-production experiments we investigated syntactic complexity effects in relative clauses (Experiment 1) and wh-questions (Experiment 2) varying in whether or not they contained non-local dependencies. In both experiments, we found reliable durational differences between subject-extracted structures (which only contain local dependencies) and object-extracted structures (which contain nonlocal dependencies): Participants took longer to begin and produce object-extractions. Furthermore, participants were more likely to be disfluent in the object-extracted constructions. These results suggest that there is a cost associated with planning and uttering the more syntactically complex, object-extracted structures, and that this cost manifests in the form of longer durations and disfluencies. Although the precise nature of this cost remains to be determined, these effects provide one plausible explanation for the relative rarity of object-extractions: They are more costly to produce. | 25,256,303 | [
-0.2390263,
0.139148,
0.2282059,
0.1963848,
0.5771533,
-0.2213901,
-0.2751831,
-0.06475852,
0.2182396,
0.0871328,
-0.1712401,
0.0517071,
-0.09195356,
-0.3266495,
-0.09900728,
0.191026,
-0.05964438,
0.2623513,
0.007416871,
-0.08179191,
0.3444811,
0.1442383,
-0.1567417,
0... |
The Effects of General Practitioners' Use of Argumentation to Support Their Treatment Advice: Results of an Experimental Study Using Video-Vignettes. | In recent years, general practice consultation has often been characterized as an argumentative activity. It has been argued that, guided by the ethical and legal principle of informed consent and the ideal standards of participatory and evidence-based medicine, doctors should provide argumentative support for their recommendations in order to encourage patients to actively take part in the treatment decision-making discussion. Thus far, however, it has remained unclear what causal effect general practitioners' provision of argumentation may have on consultation outcomes, such as patients' perceptions of their doctors' decision-making style and credibility, their acceptance and recall of the medical advice, and subsequently their intention to adhere to the advice. In this study, therefore, the effect of general practitioners' argumentative support for their treatment recommendations is studied experimentally using scripted video-vignettes. Moreover, rather than focusing merely on the presence of argumentation, the role of the pragma-dialectical reasonableness of general practitioners' argumentation is also taken into account. | 25,256,304 | [
-0.08357742,
0.2190509,
-0.1648027,
-0.1047994,
0.3477344,
-0.06268873,
-0.2504891,
-0.2005942,
0.04548006,
-0.09241492,
-0.0698828,
0.272452,
-0.09016203,
-0.1019169,
-0.15228,
0.09505688,
-0.4033129,
0.3860967,
-0.4446418,
0.2403958,
0.1903047,
0.3443688,
-0.3102132,
... |
Patient selection for TAVI in 2014: is there a justification for treating low- or intermediate-risk patients? The surgeon's view. | The introduction of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has revolutionised the treatment of patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis (AS). In extreme and high-risk patients, randomised studies have shown the benefit of this new therapy. However, there are still a lot of unknowns, and the question has arisen whether it is justified to expand the indication of TAVI to other patient groups, especially intermediate-or even low-risk patients. | 25,256,322 | [
-0.0979233,
0.1581233,
-0.024507,
-0.01931147,
-0.1422417,
-0.1914585,
0.03542504,
-0.07302818,
-0.002117494,
0.003042818,
0.1811156,
0.1872783,
0.04459842,
-0.463902,
-0.1591575,
-0.2911953,
-0.5914229,
0.2473705,
-0.3317579,
0.1387942,
0.008174131,
0.3978078,
0.01775079... |
Valve-in-valve apps: why and how they were developed and how to use them. | Rapid growth in transcatheter heart valve (THV) technology has led to its use in the treatment of degenerated bioprosthetic surgical heart valves (SHV) and failed mitral repairs. Multiple reports of valve-in-valve (VIV) and valve-in-ring (VIR) procedures have appeared in the literature during the last three years. The success of a VIV procedure is based on the correct identification of the surgical valve/ring, choosing the correct size of the THV and its subsequent accurate placement. There are, however, SHV and mitral rings implanted in the last two decades which differ in design, dimensions and fluoroscopic appearances. In the past, the users had to search through the literature to find out case-specific information. Unlike publications, by using the smartphone platform, we have collated vast amounts of available information, which can take the user through various links to present specific information about a clinical scenario relevant to their patient. Once downloaded, the information is available without the need for an Internet connection and can help in planning and performing a VIV/VIR procedure. The app platform also allows the addition of new material easily in the pre-existing user interface. | 25,256,331 | [
-0.4428725,
0.1656467,
-0.3371883,
-0.2021321,
0.1485453,
-0.2735114,
-0.1676217,
0.1134465,
0.1891619,
0.03645038,
0.4417067,
-0.1483273,
-0.1373386,
0.0394937,
-0.5785729,
0.009459094,
-0.5357145,
0.1376414,
-0.09389342,
0.03868813,
0.1588233,
0.2113669,
-0.2917649,
0... |
Transcription coactivator Arabidopsis ANGUSTIFOLIA3 modulates anthocyanin accumulation and light-induced root elongation through transrepression of Constitutive Photomorphogenic1. | ANGUSTIFOLIA3 (AN3), a transcription coactivator, is implicated in modulating cell proliferation. In this study, I found that AN3 is a novel regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis and light-induced root elongation. Seedlings and seeds lacking AN3 activity presented significantly reduced anthocyanin accumulation and light-induced root elongation, whereas those of transgenic plants harbouring the 35S:AN3 construct exhibited increased anthocyanin accumulation. AN3 is required for the proper expression of other genes that affect anthocyanin accumulation and light-induced root elongation, Constitutive Photomorphogenic1 (COP1), encoding a RING motif - containing E3 ubiquitin ligase. AN3 was associated with COP1 promoter in vivo. Thus, AN3 may act with other proteins that bind to COP1 promoter to promote anthocyanin accumulation and inhibit light-induced root elongation. | 25,256,341 | [
0.1565914,
0.04433407,
-0.009331468,
0.07772895,
-0.1845882,
0.06142286,
0.1645141,
0.03785096,
0.1279466,
0.00311451,
0.06117794,
-0.01777912,
-0.1816357,
0.03907182,
-0.1871895,
0.2919297,
-0.5909308,
0.2428046,
0.1022938,
-0.193476,
0.3599809,
0.5117213,
-0.1135778,
... |
Raman spectroscopy of blood serum for Alzheimer's disease diagnostics: specificity relative to other types of dementia. | The key moment for efficiently and accurately diagnosing dementia occurs during the early stages. This is particularly true for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this proof-of-concept study, we applied near infrared (NIR) Raman microspectroscopy of blood serum together with advanced multivariate statistics for the selective identification of AD. We analyzed data from 20 AD patients, 18 patients with other neurodegenerative dementias (OD) and 10 healthy control (HC) subjects. NIR Raman microspectroscopy differentiated patients with more than 95% sensitivity and specificity. We demonstrated the high discriminative power of artificial neural network (ANN) classification models, thus revealing the high potential of this developed methodology for the differential diagnosis of AD. Raman spectroscopic, blood-based tests may aid clinical assessments for the effective and accurate differential diagnosis of AD, decrease the labor, time and cost of diagnosis, and be useful for screening patient populations for AD development and progression. Multivariate data analysis of blood serum Raman spectra allows for the differentiation between patients with Alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia and healthy individuals. | 25,256,347 | [
0.06692779,
-0.02756725,
0.08622541,
-0.1543714,
0.01373076,
-0.1056317,
-0.2443943,
0.3117075,
0.2901895,
0.2671722,
-0.229454,
0.1035859,
0.09820464,
-0.1602615,
-0.1922912,
0.1062371,
-0.4736723,
0.3627969,
-0.06806692,
-0.1939694,
0.124014,
0.2245857,
-0.2035243,
-0... |
Interstrain differences in the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis to fibrosis in mice are associated with altered hepatic iron metabolism. | Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major health problem worldwide. Currently, there is a lack of conclusive information to clarify the molecular events and mechanisms responsible for the progression of NAFLD to fibrosis and cirrhosis and, more importantly, for differences in interindividual disease severity. The aim of this study was to investigate a role of interindividual differences in iron metabolism among inbred mouse strains in the pathogenesis and severity of fibrosis in a model of NAFLD. Feeding male A/J, 129S1/SvImJ and WSB/EiJ mice a choline- and folate-deficient diet caused NAFLD-associated liver injury and iron metabolism abnormalities, especially in WSB/EiJ mice. NAFLD-associated fibrogenesis was correlated with a marked strain- and injury-dependent increase in the expression of iron metabolism genes, especially transferrin receptor (Tfrc), ferritin heavy chain (Fth1), and solute carrier family 40 (iron-regulated transporter), member 1 (Slc40a1, Fpn1) and their related proteins, and pronounced down-regulation of the iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1), with the magnitude being A/J<129S1/SvImJ<WSB/EiJ. Mechanistically, down-regulation of IRP1 was linked to an increased expression of microRNAs miR-200a and miR-223, which was negatively correlated with IRP1. The results of this study demonstrate that the interstrain variability in the extent of fibrogenesis was associated with a strain-dependent deregulation of hepatic iron homeostasis. | 25,256,357 | [
-0.3257594,
-0.4045175,
0.03484705,
-0.3233314,
0.1300967,
-0.2467953,
-0.1207023,
-0.1104675,
0.04852349,
0.06890105,
-0.03335464,
0.2823676,
-0.09118057,
-0.000765988,
-0.5682615,
-0.3697487,
-0.2503701,
-0.07638974,
-0.391442,
-0.003653584,
-0.5570433,
0.3573552,
-0.23... |
Critical assessment of models for transport of engineered nanoparticles in saturated porous media. | To reliably assess the fate of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) in soil, it is important to understand the performance of models employed to predict vertical ENP transport. We assess the ability of seven routinely employed particle transport models (PTMs) to simulate hyperexponential (HE), nonmonotonic (NM), linearly decreasing (LD), and monotonically increasing (MI) retention profiles (RPs) and the corresponding breakthrough curves (BTCs) from soil column experiments with ENPs. Several important observations are noted. First, more complex PTMs do not necessarily perform better than simpler PTMs. To avoid applying overparameterized PTMs, multiple PTMs should be applied and the best model selected. Second, application of the selected models to simulate NM and MI profiles results in poor model performance. Third, the selected models can well-approximate LD profiles. However, because the models cannot explicitly generate LD retention, these models have low predictive power to simulate the behavior of ENPs that present LD profiles. Fourth, a term for blocking can often be accounted for by parameter variation in models that do not explicitly include a term for blocking. We recommend that model performance be analyzed for RPs and BTCs separately; simultaneous fitting to the RP and BTC should be performed only under conditions where sufficient parameter validation is possible to justify the selection of a particular model. | 25,256,358 | [
0.09481909,
0.08090466,
0.06349599,
-0.1637536,
-0.188084,
-0.1863146,
-0.0645309,
-0.10803,
-0.05984057,
-0.04192829,
-0.1881529,
0.008825507,
-0.02633569,
0.3572311,
-0.5667595,
-0.08406692,
-0.6309891,
-0.02906852,
0.03037395,
-0.101214,
-0.003829703,
0.2719401,
-0.033... |
Analysis of patient attrition in a publicly funded bariatric surgery program. | Obesity is a global epidemic, and several surgical programs have been created to combat this public health issue. Although demand for bariatric surgery has grown, so too has the attrition rate. In this study we identify patient characteristics and operational interventions that have contributed to high attrition in a multistage, multidisciplinary bariatric surgery program. A retrospective study was conducted of 1,682 patients referred for bariatric surgery at the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada, from June 2008 to July 2011. Demographic information, presurgical assessment dates, and records describing operational changes were collected. Several penalized likelihood and mixed effects multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine whether patient characteristics, operational changes, and previous experience affected program completion and intermediate transitions between assessments. Although the majority of attrition appears to be the result of patient self-removal, males (odds ratio [OR] 0.511, 95% CI 0.392 to 0.663, p < 0.001), and individuals with active substance use (OR 0.223, 95% CI 0.096 to 0.471, p < 0.001) were less likely to undergo surgery. Operational practices had a detrimental effect on program completion (OR 0.590, 95% CI 0.456 to 0.762, p < 0.001). Conversely, patients with a BMI > 40 kg/m(2) (OR 1.756, 95% CI 1.233 to 2.515, p = 0.002) and those who lived within 25 to 300 km of the center (OR > 1.633, p < 0.001) were more likely to undergo surgery. Certain subgroups in the referral population were found to be at a higher risk of noncompletion. Specialized care pathways must be implemented to address this issue. Furthermore, careful consideration must be given to operational decisions because they may negatively affect access to care, as we have shown. | 25,256,371 | [
0.1369277,
-0.02040643,
-0.4752249,
-0.0788634,
0.06101887,
-0.299882,
-0.3182838,
-0.2361325,
0.07777253,
0.09498899,
0.1649626,
-0.02445728,
0.02139143,
-0.3564945,
-0.07653569,
0.1414681,
-0.1182046,
0.09349607,
0.3339232,
-0.2033244,
-0.2163152,
0.1867719,
0.06840359,... |
Impact of crural relaxing incisions, Collis gastroplasty, and non-cross-linked human dermal mesh crural reinforcement on early hiatal hernia recurrence rates. | Hernia recurrence is the leading form of failure after antireflux surgery and may be secondary to unrecognized tension on the crural repair or from a foreshortened esophagus. Mesh reinforcement has proven beneficial for repair of hernias at other sites, but the use of mesh at the hiatus remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of hiatal hernia repair with human dermal mesh reinforcement of the crural closure in combination with tension reduction techniques when necessary. We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients who had hiatal hernia repair using AlloMax Surgical Graft (Davol), a human dermal biologic mesh. Objective follow-up was with videoesophagram and/or upper endoscopy at 3 months postoperatively and annually. There were 82 patients with a median age of 63 years. The majority of operations (85%) were laparoscopic primary repairs of a paraesophageal hernia with a fundoplication. The crura were closed primarily in all patients and reinforced with an AlloMax Surgical Graft. A crural relaxing incision was used in 12% and a Collis gastroplasty in 28% of patients. There was no mesh-related morbidity and no mortality. Median objective follow-up was 5 months, but 15 patients had follow-up at 1 or more years. A recurrent hernia was found in 3 patients (4%). Tension-reducing techniques in combination with human biologic mesh crural reinforcement provide excellent early results with no mesh-related complications. Long-term follow-up will define the role of these techniques and this biologic mesh for hiatal hernia repair. | 25,256,373 | [
-0.1411545,
0.00726098,
-0.4668656,
-0.1515046,
0.05930375,
-0.33794,
-0.294657,
0.01248327,
0.2427168,
0.1042528,
0.112892,
-0.3694254,
0.2952786,
-0.6244766,
-0.4633524,
0.1073346,
-0.02872144,
0.04249296,
0.02491641,
-0.2536133,
0.07387421,
0.155267,
-0.5613145,
-0.0... |
Comment on Jameson et al.: Prevalence of antibodies against hantaviruses in serum and saliva of adults living or working on farms in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. | This British hantavirus IgG prevalence study, aimed at 119 asymptomatic farmers in England, and using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) as screening technique, concluded that rat-transmitted Seoul virus (SEOV) might be the main suspect as hantaviral pathogen in the UK. Exactly the same conclusion, using the same IFA screening technique, resulted from a 1994 serosurvey in the same country, and in 627 clinical cases plus 100 healthy controls. SEOV-positive study subjects were also mainly farmers with heavy rat-exposure, but residing in Northern-Ireland, a region where all other known rodent reservoirs for pathogenic hantaviruses are known to be absent, except the wild rat. A rodent capture action in and around the farms of eight seropositives confirmed SEOV seropositivity in 21.6% of 51 rats. All SEOV seropositives were patients, hospitalized with an acute feverish condition, a majority of which having the clinical picture of hantavirus-induced nephropathy, known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Leptospirosis, often mimicking perfectly HFRS, was serologically excluded. Thus, SEOV was established as a human hantaviral pathogen in the UK and in Europe 20 years ago. | 25,256,389 | [
0.08868981,
0.1541762,
0.005261906,
-0.05383595,
0.370555,
-0.05745935,
-0.1810014,
-0.0004708931,
-0.1446961,
-0.1511649,
0.2509592,
-0.02621247,
0.2276147,
-0.02170034,
0.04359468,
-0.2422983,
-0.2627117,
0.07008012,
0.0814329,
-0.2439645,
-0.32344,
0.3058013,
-0.278681... |
Filovirus RefSeq entries: evaluation and selection of filovirus type variants, type sequences, and names. | Sequence determination of complete or coding-complete genomes of viruses is becoming common practice for supporting the work of epidemiologists, ecologists, virologists, and taxonomists. Sequencing duration and costs are rapidly decreasing, sequencing hardware is under modification for use by non-experts, and software is constantly being improved to simplify sequence data management and analysis. Thus, analysis of virus disease outbreaks on the molecular level is now feasible, including characterization of the evolution of individual virus populations in single patients over time. The increasing accumulation of sequencing data creates a management problem for the curators of commonly used sequence databases and an entry retrieval problem for end users. Therefore, utilizing the data to their fullest potential will require setting nomenclature and annotation standards for virus isolates and associated genomic sequences. The National Center for Biotechnology Information's (NCBI's) RefSeq is a non-redundant, curated database for reference (or type) nucleotide sequence records that supplies source data to numerous other databases. Building on recently proposed templates for filovirus variant naming [<virus name> (<strain>)/<isolation host-suffix>/<country of sampling>/<year of sampling>/<genetic variant designation>-<isolate designation>], we report consensus decisions from a majority of past and currently active filovirus experts on the eight filovirus type variants and isolates to be represented in RefSeq, their final designations, and their associated sequences. | 25,256,396 | [
-0.1750814,
-0.1180126,
0.02448508,
-0.1250424,
0.1181706,
-0.2178807,
0.04362821,
0.01565469,
0.03857796,
-0.138039,
0.08464672,
-0.2705567,
0.2236291,
-0.03416453,
-0.2706194,
0.009802408,
0.1149923,
-0.1578825,
0.1555825,
-0.05090429,
-0.332205,
0.2526688,
-0.4395826,
... |
Curcumin inhibits cell growth and invasion through up-regulation of miR-7 in pancreatic cancer cells. | Accumulating evidence has revealed that a natural compound curcumin exerts its anti-tumor activity in pancreatic cancer. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Recently, miRNAs have been demonstrated to play a crucial role in tumorigenesis, suggesting that targeting miRNAs could be a promising approach for the treatment of human cancers. In this study, we explored whether curcumin regulates miR-7, leading to the inhibition of cell growth, migration and invasion in pancreatic cancer cells. We observed that curcumin suppressed cell growth, migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis, which is associated with increased expression of miR-7 and subsequently decreased expression of SET8, one of the miR-7 targets. These findings demonstrated that targeting miR-7 by curcumin could be a novel strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. | 25,256,401 | [
-0.44108,
0.1014279,
0.02627661,
0.03389991,
-0.03898047,
0.2955441,
0.01968034,
0.3490804,
0.4021291,
-0.01401014,
0.2677648,
0.1368948,
-0.312007,
-0.1008459,
-0.1914789,
-0.004169333,
-0.1675554,
0.4101591,
0.005936881,
-0.07456852,
-0.0506267,
0.3678228,
-0.1815479,
... |
Protein tyrosine phosphatase regulation of stem and progenitor cell biology. | This review surveys the contributions of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) to maintenance and differentiation of stem and progenitor cells. A diverse family of PTPs acts at multiple steps of signaling cascades and cellular locales. Their activities as signaling modifiers provide another layer of integration of signaling pathways, which functionally link to the cellular activity and ultimately converge into the regulation of stem and progenitor cell fates. The development of agents targeting PTPs is a growing endeavor that will benefit stem cell biology and offer promising therapeutic strategies. | 25,256,403 | [
0.03434742,
-0.153351,
0.04170415,
-0.3692034,
-0.03679721,
-0.1091078,
0.006791831,
0.3216109,
-0.1633634,
0.2426788,
0.1205757,
0.06907233,
-0.2616896,
-0.06526597,
-0.5571949,
-0.1772714,
-0.1556215,
-0.05077951,
-0.04333256,
0.03420719,
0.1271394,
0.04010411,
-0.10421... |
Synthesis and structures of bis-ligated zinc complexes supported by tridentate ketoimines that initiate L-lactide polymerization. | Eight bis-ligated, homoleptic, zinc complexes were synthesized through the reaction of NNO Schiff base ketoimines bearing varying substituents with diethyl zinc in an inert atmosphere glovebox at room temperature and isolated in 62-95% yield. The complexes were characterized with (1)H, (13)C, and (19)F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, absorbance spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The complexes were shown to adopt distorted octahedral coordination geometry around zinc. The (1)H and (19)F NMR spectra of complexes 1-7 showed stable zinc coordination at 300 K while the effect of steric encumbrance and two trifluoromethyl groups in complex 8 was investigated with variable temperature NMR. The bis-ligated zinc complexes were effective initiators for the ring opening polymerization of L-lactide into poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). With [L-lac]/[Zn complex] = 50, the bis-ligated zinc complexes yielded percentage conversion of 14-98% with polymerization times varying from 15-1440 min, where the longest reaction times were required when two trifluoromethyl groups were present. The addition of 4-fluorophenol co-catalyst resulted in up to a 5-fold increase in the percentage conversion in toluene solution and up to a 14-fold increase in bulk melt polymerization with reductions in the poly-dispersity index values for the isolated PLLA. Addition of 4-fluorophenol to complex 1 was studied with (1)H and (19)F NMR and appeared to yield an in situ generated zinc alkoxide complex. | 25,256,407 | [
0.06799746,
0.1739376,
-0.1627999,
0.07037144,
-0.1437078,
-0.2097943,
-0.3240635,
-0.109725,
0.1302606,
0.08753849,
-0.2041272,
0.04960088,
0.2159619,
0.1199777,
-0.3898361,
0.07273309,
-0.2434783,
0.2843579,
0.01974333,
0.2359611,
-0.1077199,
0.3185784,
0.02192936,
0.... |
Standards of Scientific Conduct: Disciplinary Differences. | Teaching of responsible conduct of research is largely predicated on the assumption that there are accepted standards of conduct that can be taught. However there is little evidence of consensus in the scientific community about such standards, at least for the practices of authorship, collaboration, and data management. To assess whether such differences in standards are based on disciplinary differences, a survey, described previously, addressing standards, practices, and perceptions about teaching and learning was distributed in November 2010 to US faculty from 50 graduate programs for the biomedical disciplines of microbiology, neuroscience, nursing, and psychology. Despite evidence of statistically significant differences across the four disciplines, actual differences were quite small. Stricter measures of effect size indicated practically significant disciplinary differences for fewer than 10% of the questions. This suggests that the variation in individual standards of practice within each discipline is at least as great as variation due to differences among disciplines. Therefore, the need for discipline-specific training may not be as important as sometimes thought. | 25,256,408 | [
-0.0529056,
0.1696445,
-0.02431683,
-0.188201,
-0.100964,
-0.2154649,
-0.1095302,
0.3582255,
-0.1646442,
0.05798072,
-0.05228383,
-0.08384228,
-0.0226554,
-0.1661974,
-0.2395621,
-0.05676329,
0.258787,
0.1905458,
0.1086896,
0.1539834,
-0.1541048,
-0.03862124,
0.2260654,
... |
Vitamin D levels in an Australian population. | Levels of vitamin D in the population have come under increasing scrutiny, however there are only a few studies in Australia which measure levels in the general population. The aim of this study was to measure the levels of vitamin D within a large population cohort and examine the association with seasons and selected demographic and health risk factors. A longitudinal cohort study of 2413 participants in the northwest suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia conducted between 2008 and 2010 was used to examine serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) in relation to demographic characteristics (age, sex, income, education and country of birth), seasons, the use of vitamin D supplements and selected health risk factors (physical activity, body mass index and smoking). Both unadjusted and adjusted mean levels of serum 25(OH)D were examined, as were the factors associated with the unadjusted and adjusted prevalence of serum 25(OH)D levels below 50 and 75 nmol/L. Overall, the mean level of serum 25(OH)D was 69.2 nmol/L with 22.7% of the population having a serum 25(OH)D level below 50 nmol/L, the level which is generally recognised as vitamin D deficiency. There were significantly higher levels of 25(OH)D among males compared to females (t = 4.65, p < 0.001). Higher levels of 25(OH)D were also measured in summer and autumn compared with winter and spring. Generally, mean levels of 25(OH)D were lower in those classified as obese. Smokers and those undertaking no or less than 150 minutes/week of physical activity also had lower levels of serum vitamin D. Obesity (as classified by body mass index), season and undertaking an insufficient level of physical activity to obtain a health benefit were significantly associated with the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in South Australia, affecting almost one quarter of the population and levels are related to activity, obesity and season even when adjusted for confounding factors. Improved methods of addressing vitamin D levels in population are required. | 25,256,413 | [
-0.09713136,
-0.02432613,
-0.3557726,
0.1741462,
0.01063252,
-0.1418142,
-0.1745522,
-0.01511184,
-0.2574822,
-0.06195923,
0.2438025,
0.3853814,
0.2000661,
-0.374278,
-0.1189971,
0.07578997,
0.03752987,
0.2437978,
-0.00008091632,
0.08635256,
0.003384501,
0.405562,
-0.3611... |
Control of Glycosylation-Related Genes by DNA Methylation: the Intriguing Case of the B3GALT5 Gene and Its Distinct Promoters. | Glycosylation is a metabolic pathway consisting of the enzymatic modification of proteins and lipids through the stepwise addition of sugars that gives rise to glycoconjugates. To determine the full complement of glycoconjugates that cells produce (the glycome), a variety of genes are involved, many of which are regulated by DNA methylation. The aim of the present review is to briefly describe some relevant examples of glycosylation-related genes whose DNA methylation has been implicated in their regulation and to focus on the intriguing case of a glycosyltransferase gene (B3GALT5). Aberrant promoter methylation is frequently at the basis of their modulation in cancer, but in the case of B3GALT5, at least two promoters are involved in regulation, and a complex interplay is reported to occur between transcription factors, chromatin remodelling and DNA methylation of typical CpG islands or even of other CpG dinucleotides. Transcription of the B3GALT5 gene underwent a particular evolutionary fate, so that promoter hypermethylation, acting on one transcript, and hypomethylation of other sequences, acting on the other, cooperate on one gene to obtain full cancer-associated silencing. The findings may also help in unravelling the complex origin of serum CA19.9 antigen circulating in some patients. | 25,256,425 | [
-0.005281631,
-0.01738197,
-0.1485682,
-0.2832423,
-0.02875381,
-0.2122156,
0.05462337,
0.1576368,
-0.1112647,
0.5039809,
0.08502701,
0.1174204,
-0.02186397,
-0.2693268,
-0.3117489,
-0.03522466,
-0.5699611,
-0.2259274,
0.1964479,
0.03254738,
0.1715974,
0.2908823,
-0.28924... |
Recruitment and retention of home support workers in rural communities. | This qualitative study examined recruitment and retention of home support workers (HSWs) providing home support in rural communities. Thirty-two participants were recruited across four island-based communities located in British Columbia, Canada. Thematic analysis of interview data revealed several key themes: (a) how the rural context shapes HSWs' employment decisions and opportunities; (b) why people become (and stay) HSWs in rural communities; and (c) how rurality influences the nature and scope of HSWs' work. These findings suggest that health human resource policies and programs aimed at HSW recruitment and retention should be tailored to characteristics, strengths, and challenges of rural communities. | 25,256,429 | [
0.2340386,
0.05389732,
0.01721798,
0.0146582,
-0.01208158,
-0.1457152,
-0.1916258,
-0.1121368,
0.002245607,
0.2475354,
0.05901468,
-0.317434,
0.0231123,
-0.195301,
-0.05596579,
-0.253781,
-0.04919063,
0.3833943,
-0.1197343,
-0.1238557,
-0.449441,
0.3842844,
0.0789897,
0... |
The Sexual Beliefs of Turkish Men: Comparing the Beliefs of Men With and Without Erectile Dysfunction. | Sexual beliefs underlying male sexual dysfunction are known to emphasize excessively high sexual performance, among other inaccuracies. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of certain sexual beliefs among Turkish men with and without erectile dysfunction. In this comparative-descriptive study, demographic data and participant views regarding 50 common sexual beliefs were collected with a questionnaire. The study was conducted at the urology clinic of a university hospital in Turkey between May 2011 and August 2013. Participants were 815 men: 304 with erectile dysfunction and 511 without. Men with erectile dysfunction endorsed 8 beliefs about sexual activity more frequently than did men without erectile dysfunction. Findings indicate the association of certain cognitions with erectile dysfunction. Most of these cognitions concerned high expectations of male sexual function. | 25,256,444 | [
0.01066592,
0.2251135,
-0.1853305,
-0.1149201,
0.2040982,
-0.2280765,
-0.07949193,
-0.1343401,
-0.2477767,
0.01141563,
0.1116018,
0.1404926,
-0.2519173,
0.01176482,
-0.4255912,
-0.1253636,
-0.6046156,
0.3067261,
-0.2790739,
-0.04934779,
0.2556942,
0.2939137,
0.2359322,
... |
Rare Late-Onset Presentation of Glutaric Aciduria Type I in a 16-Year-Old Woman with a Novel GCDH Mutation. | Glutaric acidemia type I (GA-I) is a treatable autosomal recessive disorder of lysine, hydroxylysine, and tryptophan metabolism caused by glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) deficiency. Presentation and progression of disease are variable ranging from asymptomatic carrier state to catastrophic encephalopathy. GA-I usually presents before age 18 months, usually triggered by childhood infection, with mild or severe acute encephalopathy, striatal degeneration, and movement disorder, most often acute dystonia. At a presymptomatic stage diagnosis is suggested clinically by macrocephaly, radiologically by widened Sylvian fissures and biochemically by the presence of excess 3-hydroxyglutaric acid and glutaric acid in urine. Treatment consists of lysine-restricted diet and carnitine supplementation, specific diet restrictions, as well as symptomatic and anticatabolic treatment of intercurrent illness. Presymptomatic diagnosis and treatment are essential to prognosis. We report the case of 16-year-old macrocephalic female with late-onset GA-I and unusual paucisymptomatic presentation with fainting after exercise and widespread white matter signal changes at MRI. She was compound heterozygote for a novel mutation (IVS10-2A>G) affecting splicing at GCDH and a common missense mutation (c. 1240C>T; p.Arg402Trp, R402W). Interestingly, the site of the novel mutation is the nucleotide position of a common mutation found almost exclusively in patients of Chinese/Taiwanese origin (IVS10-2A>C). | 25,256,449 | [
-0.1319635,
-0.05383774,
0.1073654,
-0.2565807,
0.08736441,
-0.0627803,
-0.02700257,
-0.1827938,
-0.1056778,
-0.08760476,
0.09009728,
0.7678561,
-0.2662709,
0.1491907,
-0.2218842,
-0.08755715,
-0.4990197,
0.2571503,
-0.279397,
0.01029206,
-0.2802804,
0.5391175,
-0.0751879... |
Self-degradation of tissue adhesive based on oxidized dextran and poly-L-lysine. | We have developed a low-toxicity bioadhesive based on oxidized dextran and poly-L-lysine. Here, we report that the mechanical properties and degradation of this novel hydrogel bioadhesive can be controlled by changing the extent of oxidation of the dextran and the type or concentration of the anhydride species in the acylated poly-L-lysine. The dynamic moduli of the hydrogels can be controlled from 120 Pa to 20 kPa, suggesting that they would have mechanical compatibility with various tissues, and could have applications as tissue adhesives. Development of the hydrogel color from clear to brown indicates that the reaction between the dextran aldehyde groups and the poly-L-lysine amino groups may be induced by a Maillard reaction via Schiff base formation. Degradation of the aldehyde dextran may begin by reaction of the amino groups in the poly-L-lysine. The gel degradation can be ascribed to degradation of the aldehyde dextran in the hydrogel, although the aldehyde dextran itself is relatively stable in water. The oxidized dextran and poly-L-lysine, and the degraded hydrogel showed low cytotoxicities. These findings indicate that a hydrogel consisting of oxidized dextran and poly-L-lysine has low toxicity and a well-controlled degradation rate, and has potential clinical applications as a bioadhesive. | 25,256,455 | [
-0.09300941,
0.1152596,
0.0152282,
0.3008203,
0.2425887,
-0.02057391,
-0.001441974,
0.4522311,
0.2964012,
0.1602065,
0.00146793,
0.2446643,
0.06775279,
0.1475658,
-0.1110856,
0.08134195,
-0.491231,
0.1728865,
0.04801539,
-0.1757146,
0.2989663,
0.2784514,
-0.1927415,
0.1... |
A specific immunological method to detect and quantify bacterial 2-substituted (1,3)-β-D-glucan. | Exopolysaccharides synthesized by lactic acid bacteria have prebiotic properties and contribute to the rheology and texture of fermented foods. Here, we have standardized an immunological method for the specific detection of 2-substituted (1,3)-β-D-glucans. The method allows direct detection and quantification of this exopolysaccharide in culture supernatants containing other mono- and poly-saccharides. Moreover, it allows specific detection of the biomolecules synthesized in vitro in enzymatic reactions. Thus, this method allows the fast identification of producing bacteria, as well as biochemical characterization of the glycosyltransferases responsible for their synthesis. | 25,256,456 | [
0.2673036,
-0.1558781,
-0.176387,
0.2710052,
-0.03467754,
-0.003284703,
-0.01701039,
0.4632096,
0.2276459,
-0.1370338,
-0.02194912,
-0.3215556,
0.07035573,
-0.1213155,
-0.4742399,
0.1072237,
-0.5287441,
0.1013623,
0.04300497,
0.282692,
0.5918953,
0.3893772,
-0.1808309,
... |
Grafting of β-cyclodextrin to magnetic graphene oxide via ethylenediamine and application for Cr(VI) removal. | A novel β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) polymer adsorbent named β-cyclodextrin/ethylenediamine/magnetic graphene oxide (CD-E-MGO) was synthesized for decontamination of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The sorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics, as well as the effects of pH, aniline and ionic strength on the sorption process were investigated. The results indicated that CD-E-MGO could effectively remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solution and the sorption data could be well described by pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models. The intraparticle diffusion study indicated that intraparticle diffusion was not the only rate-limiting step. Thermodynamic parameters revealed that the sorption reaction was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The decontamination of Cr(VI) was influenced by solution pH and ionic strength. In the system with aniline, the Cr(VI) sorption was improved at low pH values but reduced at high pH values. These results are important for estimating and optimizing the removal of metal ions by CD-E-MGO composite. | 25,256,471 | [
-0.2902747,
0.2725408,
-0.3191643,
0.07549246,
0.3234124,
0.008437842,
-0.2474783,
0.1071402,
-0.3660231,
0.1512732,
-0.07512221,
0.2561955,
0.2352929,
0.1544175,
-0.3466901,
-0.1322437,
-0.6008046,
0.07349062,
-0.1702047,
0.1480326,
0.1500348,
0.02906917,
0.05958583,
0... |
Influence of sodium carboxymethylcellulose on the aggregation behavior of aqueous 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride solutions. | The influence of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) on the aggregation phenomena of a surface active ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C16MeImCl) was studied in aqueous solutions using electrical conductivity and surface tension measurements. The counterion condensation behavior of NaCMC (aq) and the premicellar ion-association behavior of C16MeImCl (aq) were also investigated. Two characteristic concentrations, namely the critical aggregation concentration and polymer saturation concentration, before free C16MeImCl micelles appear in C16MeImCl-NaCMC solutions have been identified. Effects of temperature, NaCMC concentration, and the charge density parameter of NaCMC on the self-aggregation of the C16MeImCl have been discussed to elucidate C16MeImCl-NaCMC interactions. The thermodynamic parameters for micellization of C16MeImCl were estimated both in absence and in the presence of NaCMC. The observed enthalpy-entropy compensation effect in C16MeImCl and C16MeImCl-NaCMC systems provided important insight as to how micellization processes are governed by the bulk structural property of the solution with respect to that of the water. | 25,256,477 | [
-0.2046683,
0.1723164,
0.1558906,
-0.2036168,
0.05154356,
0.1774021,
-0.3729769,
-0.2313505,
0.08475281,
-0.01111404,
-0.2854298,
0.2058032,
-0.09594828,
0.2708382,
-0.2937187,
-0.07733963,
-0.2614175,
0.1288685,
-0.1003866,
-0.01003213,
0.3713145,
-0.09928473,
0.3958948,... |
Flexible, highly transparent and iridescent all-cellulose hybrid nanopaper with enhanced mechanical strength and writable surface. | With the development of flexible electronic devices, there is increasing requirement for the inexpensive and environmental-friendly substrates. Cellulose paper has gained great attention because of its abundance, biodegradability and renewability. In this paper, we designed a hybrid nanopaper by introducing native cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) into cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) matrix, which achieved a high optical transmittance while retaining iridescence under polarizing film. This nanopaper is less expensive than neat CNFs-based nanopaper and more feasible for large-scale production. Besides, our transparent hybrid nanopaper possesses the writable surface like regular paper. Compared with commercial paper, however, hybrid nanopaper shows superior optical properties and low surface roughness. The combination of these characteristics makes this nanopaper an excellent candidate for substrates of flexible electronic devices. | 25,256,484 | [
-0.08984835,
0.2670619,
0.2222052,
0.1367807,
0.1058247,
-0.03266671,
-0.2576729,
0.3152255,
0.3138041,
0.2525769,
-0.1171429,
-0.358431,
0.04207585,
-0.01218356,
-0.122543,
-0.2228208,
-0.6889845,
-0.03029697,
-0.2380211,
-0.1777635,
0.07932138,
-0.1776479,
-0.2500604,
... |
Facile synthesis of acyl chitosan isothiocyanates and their application to porphyrin-appended chitosan derivative. | Chitosan (1) was reacted with phenylisothiocyanate in 5% AcOH/H2O to give N-phenylthiocarbamoyl chitosan (2) with a degree of substitution (DS) of N-phenylthiocarbamoyl groups of 0.86 in 87.1% yield. The following acylation of compound 2 with hexanoyl chloride in the presence of pyridine afforded 3,6-di-O-2,3-hexanoyl chitosan isothiocyanate (4a) with a DS of the isothiocyanate groups of 0.70 in high yield, unexpectedly. Compound 4a exhibited high levels of reactivity toward various amines to give the corresponding N-thiocarbamoyl chitosan derivatives in high yields. Other acyl (decanoyl (4b), myristroyl (4c), stearoyl (4d), benzoyl (4e)) chitosan isothiocyanates were also prepared from chitosan (1) in high yields. To evaluate the potential applications of acyl chitosan isothiocyanates, N-(triphenylporphynyl)thiocarbamoyl chitosan derivative 6 with a DS of the triphenylporphynyl groups of 0.46 was prepared from compound 4b. The Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer film of compound 6 gave a good photon-to-electron conversion performance. | 25,256,486 | [
-0.1718813,
0.07584602,
0.06978645,
0.03329408,
0.0567661,
0.0932548,
-0.3779595,
0.435837,
0.1810825,
-0.09237578,
-0.07758971,
-0.1771812,
-0.08296105,
-0.04931924,
-0.247615,
-0.0737821,
-0.4049771,
0.4033779,
0.08173637,
0.1681438,
0.2556493,
0.0406372,
-0.09570045,
... |
Production, purification and application of polysaccharide-based bioflocculant by Paenibacillus mucilaginosus. | The production and purification of polysaccharide-based bioflocculants (PSBs) by Paenibacillus mucilaginosus GIM1.16 in metal ion-supplemented medium and basal medium were evaluated. Three purified PSB1-1, PSB2-1 and PSB3-1 possessed different monosaccharide composition and their molecular weights were 2.53 × 10(6), 7.77 × 10(6) and 13.2 × 10(6)Da, respectively. FT-IR spectrometry indicated the presence of hydroxyl, carboxyl and phosphate groups in the three samples. Scanning electron microscopy showed that they had linear structure. The potential of these PSBs on wastewater treatment was evaluated. Among them, PSB1-1 exhibited the best performance, as it had high flocculating activities (above 94%) at 0.5-4 mg/L and could achieve high flocculating activities (above 97%) in the kaolin suspensions of pH 3-9. PSB1-1 was the key factor that might explain the enhanced flocculating activity of the supernatant from metal ion-supplemented medium. The performance of PSB1-1 on industrial wastewater was also satisfactory. PSB1-1 might be a good candidate as bioflocculant. | 25,256,508 | [
-0.09701745,
0.2294258,
-0.411077,
0.1100257,
-0.361315,
0.01924967,
0.1529532,
0.4007821,
-0.1316416,
-0.1420001,
-0.2742319,
0.04872832,
-0.3878932,
-0.03341902,
0.01595162,
0.02989595,
-0.4026331,
0.09605356,
0.180699,
0.3912942,
0.3091037,
0.5346473,
-0.1014375,
0.0... |
Catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol by using platinum nanoparticles stabilised by guar gum. | We report a facile and green method to synthesise highly stable dispersions of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) with an average particle size of ∼ 6 nm. Natural, nontoxic, eco-friendly biopolymer guar gum was utilised as both the reducing and capping agent precursor in aqueous medium. The PtNPs that had been stabilised by guar gum (GG-s-PtNPs) were characterised by UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD, TEM and XPS. GG-s-PtNPs performed better in terms of catalytic activity for the liquid phase reduction of p-nitrophenol (p-NP) compared to p-aminophenol (p-AP). The efficiency of the catalytic reduction of p-NP over GG-s-PtNPs was found to be 97% in a total time of 320 s at room temperature. The mechanisms of the synthesis and catalytic reduction of p-NP are also discussed. The synthesis approach presented here does not require stringent conditions or toxic agents and thus is a straightforward, rapid, efficient, and green approach to the fabrication of highly active catalysts. | 25,256,515 | [
0.2550715,
0.05401355,
-0.4276137,
0.1478965,
0.01813468,
0.09887234,
-0.3905595,
-0.1224336,
0.2638589,
0.0138549,
-0.164482,
-0.02751206,
-0.2472564,
-0.001830684,
-0.2264112,
0.06963509,
-0.5613321,
0.2181424,
0.07715897,
0.3730307,
0.08668676,
0.03116543,
-0.01411361,... |
MW-assisted synthesis of carboxymethyl tamarind kernel polysaccharide-g-polyacrylonitrile: optimization and characterization. | Microwave-assisted synthesis of graft copolymer of carboxymethyl tamarind seed polysaccharide and polyacrylonitrile was carried out. The effect of formulation and process variables on grafting efficiency of carboxymethyl tamarind kernel polysaccharide-g-poly(acrylonitrile) was studied using response surface methodology. The results revealed that the significant factors affecting grafting efficiency were concentrations of ammonium persulphate, acrylonitrile and interaction effects of ammonium persulphate and acrylonitrile concentrations. The optimal calculated parameters were found to be microwave exposure time-99.48 s, microwave exposure power-160 W, concentration of acrylonitrile-0.10% (w/v), concentration of ammonium persulphate--40 mmol/l, which provided graft copolymer with grafting efficiency of 96%. The formation of graft copolymer was confirmed by FT-IR studies and validated by scanning electron micrographs. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated higher thermal stability of graft copolymer and X-ray diffraction study revealed increase in crystallinity on graft polymerization. Further, the graft copolymer showed pH dependant swelling. | 25,256,516 | [
0.0587391,
0.07488281,
-0.1500206,
0.01968844,
0.4662668,
0.2126035,
-0.3484908,
-0.04017244,
0.2978079,
0.03830124,
0.1091384,
-0.04221081,
-0.1788544,
-0.17674,
-0.003632046,
-0.03964197,
0.02514751,
0.1445766,
-0.1889516,
0.3327636,
0.2531993,
0.2658235,
0.0963527,
0... |
Electrospinning an essential oil: cinnamaldehyde enhances the antimicrobial efficacy of chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers. | Due to the persistent spread of antibiotic resistance, commercial antibiotic treatments are proving ineffective. Cinnamaldehyde (CA), a volatile essential oil, eradicates pathogens non-specifically. However, the ability to incorporate essential oils into nanofiber mats has not yet been demonstrated, and, only six studies have electrospun two immiscible phases. Here, CA (0.5 and 5.0%) was incorporated into chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions that were successfully electrospun into mats with ∼ 50 nm fiber diameters. Solid-state NMR results corroborated with release studies wherein the 5.0% CA mats released a statistically higher amount of CA-liquid (545% more) and CA-vapor (279% more) than the 0.5% CA mats. In time dependent cytotoxicity studies, the intrinsic antibacterial activity of chitosan along with the quick release of CA enabled high inactivation rates against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For the first time we have demonstrated chitosan/CA/PEO nanofiber mats can serve as CA delivery vehicles that potentially eradicate pseudomonas infections. | 25,256,519 | [
-0.02207031,
0.1762545,
0.1749697,
0.1007366,
-0.3654817,
-0.03462581,
-0.1769331,
0.1341568,
0.2143943,
0.01106391,
-0.004284505,
0.1493079,
-0.06636468,
-0.09526704,
-0.4297709,
0.0322855,
-0.3635853,
0.2977515,
-0.2704582,
0.1949487,
-0.293566,
-0.006509827,
-0.0037904... |
Ultra-sensitive immunoassay biosensors using hybrid plasmonic-biosilica nanostructured materials. | We experimentally demonstrate an ultra-sensitive immunoassay biosensor using diatom biosilica with self-assembled plasmonic nanoparticles. As the nature-created photonic crystal structures, diatoms have been adopted to enhance surface plasmon resonances of metal nanoparticles on the surfaces of diatom frustules and to increase the sensitivity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). In this study, a sandwich SERS immunoassay is developed based on the hybrid plasmonic-biosilica nanostructured materials that are functionalized with goat anti-mouse IgG. Our experimental results show that diatom frustules improve the detection limit of mouse IgG to 10 pg/mL, which is ˜100× better than conventional colloidal SERS sensors on flat glass. Ultra-sensitive immunoassay biosensor using diatom biosilica with self-assembled plasmonic nanoparticles. | 25,256,544 | [
0.01749882,
-0.1567865,
0.05111112,
0.1532518,
-0.3579609,
0.1197106,
-0.6170841,
0.2819635,
0.08847395,
0.007294568,
0.062796,
-0.1201179,
0.173009,
-0.3736297,
-0.7049142,
0.004002037,
-0.3045351,
0.1101216,
-0.1790814,
-0.2137204,
0.2491276,
-0.05353675,
-0.4775487,
... |
Five vacuolar Ca(2+) exchangers play different roles in calcineurin-dependent Ca(2+)/Mn(2+) tolerance, multistress responses and virulence of a filamentous entomopathogen. | Multiple Vcx1 (vacuolar calcium exchanger) paralogues exist in many filamentous fungi but are functionally unexplored unlike a single Vcx1 ortholog well characterized in yeasts. Here we show that five Vcx1 paralogues (Vcx1A-E) in Beauveria bassiana are conditionally functional for intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis and contribute differentially to multistress tolerance and virulence in the filamentous entomopathogen. Each vcx1 deletion drastically upregulated transcriptional expressions of four other partners and six P-type Ca(2+)-ATPases, resulting in elevated or lowered intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in some deletion mutants treated with Ca(2+) stress or untreated at 25 and 30 °C. When calcineurin was inactivated by cyclosporine A, Ca(2+) tolerance decreased by 11-17% in five Δvcx1 mutants, but Mn(2+) sensitivity increased only in Δvcx1A and Δvcx1D, at optimal 25 °C. These two mutants were also more sensitive to Ca(2+) stress at 30 °C when calcineurin was active, and showed minor growth defect at 25 and 30 °C when calcineurin was inactive. Moreover, all the Δvcx1 mutants were more sensitive to dithiothreitol (stress-response trigger to endoplasmic reticulum) and Congo red (cell wall stressor); three of them were consistently less tolerant to the oxidants menadione and H2O2. The fungal virulence to Galleria mellonella larvae decreased by 15-40% in four Δvcx1 mutants excluding Δvcx1E, which was uniquely defective in conidial thermotolerance. All the changes were restored by each vcx1 complementation. Our findings indicate that the five Vcx1 paralogues in B. bassiana contribute differentially to calcineurin-dependent Ca(2+)/Mn(2+) tolerance, multistress responses and virulence, and recall attention to multifunctional Vcx1 paralogues in filamentous fungi. | 25,256,588 | [
-0.1292812,
-0.2110762,
-0.05936094,
-0.2267733,
-0.2084032,
-0.0998323,
0.1716972,
-0.1748751,
-0.09895344,
0.02842929,
0.1658805,
-0.07167368,
0.0558523,
0.03342837,
-0.5433964,
-0.2172759,
-0.313329,
-0.1945573,
-0.00673833,
-0.02833221,
0.4563766,
0.3194077,
-0.094350... |
Next-generation DNA sequencing of a Swedish malignant hyperthermia cohort. | Malignant hyperthermia (MH)-related mutations have been identified in the ryanodine receptor type 1 gene (RYR1) and in the dihydropyridine gene (CACNA1S), but about half of the patients do not have causative mutations in these genes. We wanted to study the contribution of other muscle genes to the RYR1 phenotypes. We designed a gene panel for sequence enrichment targeting 64 genes of proteins involved in the homeostasis of the striated muscle cell. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) resulted in >50,000 sequence variants which were further analyzed by software filtering criteria to identify causative variants. In four of five patients we identified previously reported RYR1 mutations while the fifth patient did not show any candidate variant in any of the genes investigated. In two patients pathogenic variants were found in other genes known to cause a muscle disorders. All but one patient carried likely benign rare polymorphisms. The NGS technique proved convenient in identifying variants in the RYR1. However, with a clinically variable phenotype-like MH, the pre-selection of genes poses problems in variant interpretation. | 25,256,590 | [
-0.3092037,
-0.2099512,
-0.1842347,
-0.2957539,
-0.07061093,
-0.1651235,
-0.1914334,
-0.009071338,
-0.03443003,
0.07364742,
0.336391,
0.192286,
0.145392,
-0.1638656,
-0.4649289,
-0.01630057,
-0.4005349,
-0.08677644,
0.03138955,
-0.05895141,
0.3333406,
0.2163207,
-0.171779... |
Tubal ligation and salpingectomy and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer and borderline ovarian tumors: a nationwide case-control study. | According to the recent theories on the ovarian cancer origin, any protective effect of tubal ligation may vary with histologic subtype of ovarian cancer. Furthermore, bilateral salpingectomy may represent an opportunity for surgical prevention of serous ovarian cancer. Nationwide register-based case-control study. Denmark during 1982-2011. Cases were all Danish women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer (n = 13 241) or borderline ovarian tumor (n = 3605) in the study period. Age-matched female population controls were randomly selected by risk set sampling. We required that cases and controls have no previous cancer and that controls have no previous bilateral oophorectomy. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for potential confounders. Epithelial ovarian cancer and borderline ovarian tumors stratified according to histology. Tubal ligation reduced overall epithelial ovarian cancer risk (odds ratios 0.87; 95% confidence interval 0.78-0.98). We observed significant risk variation according to histology (p = 0.003) with the strongest risk reductions associated with endometrioid cancer (odds ratios 0.66; 95% confidence interval 0.47-0.93) and epithelial ovarian cancer of "other" histology (odds ratios 0.60; 95% confidence interval 0.43-0.83). Tubal ligation was not associated with risk of borderline ovarian tumors. Finally, bilateral salpingectomy reduced epithelial ovarian cancer risk by 42% (odds ratios 0.58; 95% confidence interval 0.36-0.95). We confirmed that tubal ligation reduces the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer and particularly endometrioid cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first observational publication to report on salpingectomy and ovarian cancer risk and our promising findings warrant further investigation. | 25,256,594 | [
-0.03512827,
-0.1877398,
-0.2158369,
-0.1851773,
0.03953506,
-0.2361355,
0.1740062,
-0.3633944,
0.04322299,
0.450317,
0.1195932,
0.05754851,
0.04856418,
-0.05743205,
0.1135451,
-0.1888936,
-0.4862398,
0.132278,
0.1310078,
-0.1484973,
0.1908989,
0.3026971,
-0.1824047,
0.... |
Sulfur-based composite cathode materials for high-energy rechargeable lithium batteries. | There is currently an urgent demand for highly efficient energy storage and conversion systems. Due to its high theoretical energy density, low cost, and environmental compatibility, the lithium sulfur (Li-S) battery has become a typical representative of the next generation of electrochemical power sources. Various approaches have been explored to design and prepare sulfur cathode materials to enhance their electrochemical performance. This Research News article summarizes and compares different sulfur materials for Li-S batteries and particularly focuses on the fine structures, electrochemical performance, and electrode reaction mechanisms of pyrolyzed polyacrylo-nitrile sulfur (pPAN@S) and microporous-carbon/small-sulfur composite materials. | 25,256,595 | [
-0.08574899,
0.14205,
0.1048212,
0.1305883,
0.1217006,
0.06388696,
-0.5299059,
-0.05801198,
-0.00158527,
0.1485251,
-0.3271491,
-0.09474821,
0.03143433,
0.3762321,
-0.3625475,
-0.2192056,
-0.2176809,
-0.05412808,
0.1854051,
0.1649123,
0.1743704,
-0.09758354,
-0.2411262,
... |
Contemporary management of symptomatic primary aortic mural thrombus. | Primary aortic mural thrombus (PAMT) is an uncommon condition but an important source of noncardiogenic emboli with a difficult diagnosis and a high rate of complications, including high mortality. We report our experience of thromboembolic disease from PAMT and review its contemporary management. Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all patients who presented with acute occlusion of a limb or visceral vessels between January 2011 and September 2013 was performed. A total of 88 patients presented with acute occlusion of the extremities or visceral arteries. All underwent extensive evaluation for the possible source of the embolism. Of these 88 patients, 19 patients (mean age, 41.2 years; male:female ratio, 1:2.1) were found to have aortic mural thrombus as the source of distal embolism. Thrombus was located in the thoracic aorta in 10 patients, in the perivisceral aorta in three patients, and in the infrarenal aorta in six patients. Thrombus in the thoracic aorta was treated with stent grafts in four patients, bare metal stents in three patients, and anticoagulation alone in two patients. In the suprarenal abdominal aorta, all three patients underwent trapdoor aortic thrombectomy. Infrarenal aortic thrombus was managed by aortobifemoral embolectomy in two patients, aortic stenting in two patients, surgical thrombectomy in one patient, and anticoagulation alone in one patient. Successful treatment, defined as freedom from further embolic events or recurrence of thrombus, was achieved in 14 of 19 patients (76.4%) with a mean follow-up period of 16.2 months (range, 2-28 months). There were four (21%) thrombus-related deaths, all due to primary thromboembolic insults. One patient needed a below-knee amputation because of a recurrent thrombotic episode. Symptomatic PAMT is an uncommon but important source of noncardiogenic embolus. It appears to occur more frequently in young women. Endovascular coverage of the aortic thrombus, when feasible, appears to be an effective and safe procedure with either stent grafts or closed-cell metal stents. When thrombus is located adjacent to visceral vessels, it should be managed with an open trapdoor thromboembolectomy. | 25,256,613 | [
0.08143387,
0.03433122,
-0.2695923,
0.241879,
-0.2164089,
-0.160719,
0.1851824,
0.2885808,
-0.107228,
-0.1370225,
0.01650484,
0.1039055,
-0.122125,
-0.0563884,
-0.04211457,
0.1165479,
-0.290172,
0.1453255,
-0.01985473,
-0.06458669,
0.1634813,
0.3076327,
-0.2268047,
0.16... |
The immune microenvironment confers resistance to MAPK pathway inhibitors through macrophage-derived TNFα. | Recently, the rationale for combining targeted therapy with immunotherapy has come to light, but our understanding of the immune response during MAPK pathway inhibitor treatment is limited. We discovered that the immune microenvironment can act as a source of resistance to MAPK pathway-targeted therapy, and moreover during treatment this source becomes reinforced. In particular, we identified macrophage-derived TNFα as a crucial melanoma growth factor that provides resistance to MAPK pathway inhibitors through the lineage transcription factor MITF (microphthalmia transcription factor). Most strikingly, in BRAF-mutant melanomas of patients and BRAF(V600E) melanoma allografts, MAPK pathway inhibitors increased the number of tumor-associated macrophages, and TNFα and MITF expression. Inhibiting TNFα signaling with IκB kinase inhibitors profoundly enhanced the efficacy of MAPK pathway inhibitors by targeting not only the melanoma cells but also the microenvironment. In summary, we identify the immune microenvironment as a novel source of resistance and reveal a new strategy to improve the efficacy of targeted therapy in melanoma. This study identifies the immune microenvironment as a source of resistance to MAPK pathway inhibitors through macrophage-derived TNFα, and reveals that in patients on treatment this source becomes reinforced. Inhibiting IκB kinase enhances the efficacy of MAPK pathway inhibitors, which identifies this approach as a potential novel strategy to improve targeted therapy in melanoma. | 25,256,614 | [
-0.1270491,
-0.1655103,
-0.06696265,
-0.2216305,
0.1923153,
-0.009254657,
0.02907314,
0.3311814,
-0.05472721,
0.05908433,
0.09796662,
-0.1338868,
-0.007601747,
-0.3464095,
-0.1574878,
0.02071908,
-0.1951932,
0.0279666,
-0.230863,
0.3434347,
0.1832338,
0.1264145,
-0.096187... |
Ichthyosaurs from the French Rhaetian indicate a severe turnover across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. | Mesozoic marine reptiles went through a severe turnover near the end of the Triassic. Notably, an important extinction event affected ichthyosaurs, sweeping a large part of the group. This crisis is, however, obscured by an extremely poor fossil record and is regarded as protracted over the entire Norian-earliest Jurassic interval, for the lack of a more precise scenario. The iconic whale-sized shastasaurid ichthyosaurs are regarded as early victims of this turnover, disappearing by the middle Norian. Here we evaluate the pattern of this turnover among ichthyosaurs by analysing the faunal record of two Rhaetian localities. One locality is Autun, eastern France; we rediscovered in this material the holotypes or partial 'type' series of Rachitrema pellati, Actiosaurus gaudryi, Ichthyosaurus rheticus, Ichthyosaurus carinatus and Plesiosaurus bibractensis; a revised taxonomic scheme is proposed. The second assemblage comes from a new locality: Cuers, southeastern France. Both these assemblages provide several lines of evidence for the presence of shastasaurid-like ichthyosaurs in the Rhaetian of Europe. These occurrences suggest that both the demise of shastasaurids and the sudden radiation of neoichthyosaurians occurred within a short time window; this turnover appears not only more abrupt but also more complex than previously postulated and adds a new facet of the end-Triassic mass extinction. | 25,256,640 | [
0.03477941,
0.06567729,
0.180238,
-0.222626,
0.3061565,
-0.2393604,
-0.2798065,
-0.04456534,
0.3799627,
0.2645595,
-0.2178401,
-0.01743219,
0.002547174,
-0.2140921,
0.03640172,
-0.1441325,
-0.1192429,
0.2755873,
0.1810985,
-0.004666219,
0.4579833,
0.109714,
-0.08719013,
... |
Prevalence and Correlates of Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women With Type 2 Diabetes. | This study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of sexual dysfunction in a sample of Dutch men and women with type 2 diabetes. Patients with type 2 diabetes who were between the ages of 40 and 75 years from 4 Dutch diabetes centers were asked to complete self-report questionnaires covering sociodemographic characteristics, medical characteristics, clinical depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies), and sexual dysfunction (in men: International Index of Erectile Function; in women: Female Sexual Function Index). In total, 158 type 2 diabetes patients (68% men) completed the cross-sectional survey. On the basis of predefined criteria, 69% of men and 70% of women were classified with some degree of sexual dysfunction. Univariable logistic regression analyses revealed that sexual dysfunctions were associated with higher age, clinical depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies score ≥16), and one or more diabetes-related complications in both men and women. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that clinical depression was most strongly associated with both male (OR = 6.87, 95% CI [1.77, 26.63]) and female (OR = 9.33, 95% CI [1.03, 84.87]) sexual dysfunction. In conclusion, sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in men and women with type 2 diabetes and is associated with higher age, clinical depression, and diabetes-related complications. These results suggest that addressing sexual dysfunction in diabetes care is important. | 25,256,659 | [
0.1258056,
-0.01067336,
0.04351609,
-0.2587702,
-0.05164687,
-0.3304501,
-0.02142143,
0.05228033,
-0.04307019,
0.05464276,
0.08564059,
-0.02679615,
-0.2408004,
-0.3964893,
-0.1725563,
-0.3350639,
-0.1824415,
0.646028,
0.1397079,
-0.07184231,
0.01640405,
0.1526119,
-0.0119... |
Pyrolysis technologies for municipal solid waste: a review. | Pyrolysis has been examined as an attractive alternative to incineration for municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal that allows energy and resource recovery; however, it has seldom been applied independently with the output of pyrolysis products as end products. This review addresses the state-of-the-art of MSW pyrolysis in regards to its technologies and reactors, products and environmental impacts. In this review, first, the influence of important operating parameters such as final temperature, heating rate (HR) and residence time in the reaction zone on the pyrolysis behaviours and products is reviewed; then the pyrolysis technologies and reactors adopted in literatures and scale-up plants are evaluated. Third, the yields and main properties of the pyrolytic products from individual MSW components, refuse-derived fuel (RDF) made from MSW, and MSW are summarised. In the fourth section, in addition to emissions from pyrolysis processes, such as HCl, SO2 and NH3, contaminants in the products, including PCDD/F and heavy metals, are also reviewed, and available measures for improving the environmental impacts of pyrolysis are surveyed. It can be concluded that the single pyrolysis process is an effective waste-to-energy convertor but is not a guaranteed clean solution for MSW disposal. Based on this information, the prospects of applying pyrolysis technologies to dealing with MSW are evaluated and suggested. | 25,256,662 | [
-0.1075555,
-0.02338394,
0.002775857,
0.06356586,
0.00599605,
-0.129284,
-0.003470033,
0.008411177,
-0.09540392,
0.06215311,
0.03535561,
-0.02995726,
0.06533562,
0.2453587,
-0.3961232,
-0.312377,
-0.2765097,
0.08456097,
0.2167034,
0.04322895,
0.1524149,
0.4571425,
-0.3289... |
Difference in adherence to and influencing factors of a healthy lifestyle between middle-aged and elderly people in Korea: A multilevel analysis. | Comprehensive research for factors related to healthy lifestyles of the elderly is limited. The present study aimed to elucidate the factors associated with adherence to a healthy lifestyle by age groups. The present study was based on data from the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We calculated crude proportions and adjusted proportions of cigarette smokers, problem alcohol drinkers, and physically inactive people in two age groups (40-59 years and ≥60 years). We carried out multilevel analysis to elucidate factors associated with healthy lifestyles. Of 3194 respondents included in the analysis, 1154 (36.13%) were aged 60 years or older. Older participants smoked less (23.0% vs 17.4%) and exercised less frequently (52.4% vs 66.9%; all P < 0.001) than their middle-aged counterparts. After adjustment, the proportion of regular exercisers was inversed (adjusted proportion 0.468, 95% CI 0.436-0.501 vs 0.377, 95% CI 0.337-0.419, P = 0.004). In multilevel analysis, contextual factors, such as local tax per capita, was associated significantly with cigarette smoking only in the elderly (OR 1.037, 95% CI 1.005-1.070). Different factors were associated with healthy lifestyles of elderly people when compared with middle-aged people. In addition, local tax per capita, an area level variable, was more likely to be associated with smoking in the elderly than the middle-aged group. | 25,256,663 | [
-0.1080313,
0.3938615,
-0.2957193,
0.378092,
0.04058252,
-0.07371929,
-0.2055821,
0.1727653,
0.1415666,
-0.2782354,
0.1141844,
-0.23799,
-0.06706543,
-0.1656666,
-0.123518,
0.302272,
-0.1034121,
0.4984947,
-0.1442825,
-0.1908055,
0.09539696,
0.3790943,
0.0346863,
-0.264... |
Autophagic LC3B overexpression correlates with malignant progression and predicts a poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. | Autophagy is a process that involves lysosomal degradations of cellular organelles and closely related to tumor occurrence and progression. However, its importance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was still controversial. Therefore, this study is aimed to address the clinicopathologic effect of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B) and Beclin-1, as autophagic markers, in HCC patients. Tissue microarray-based immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of LC3B and another autophagy key regulator (Beclin-1) in 156 operable HCC patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis, chi-square test, and Spearman's correlation analysis were used to analyze correlation of LC3B and Beclin-1 and their influence on clinical characteristics and prognosis. We found that the expression level of LC3B was significantly associated with vascular invasion (P = 0.008), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001), and Beclin-1 expression level (P < 0.001). However, LC3B was not related to other clinicopathological features, including hepatitis B virus infection, liver cirrhosis, tumor number, tumor size, pathology grade, and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. Besides, correlation between the expression of Beclin-1 and clinicopathological features were not identified. Survival analysis showed that patients with high LC3B expression had a poorer 5-year overall survival (OS) rate than those with low LC3B expression (high vs. low: 79.5 % vs. 20.5 %, P = 0.026). And high LC3B expression tended to be related with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.074), whereas the expression level of Beclin-1 did not show statistically significant association with OS or PFS. Further multivariate analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis (P = 0.047) and LC3B expression level (P = 0.047) were independent factors to predict the prognosis of OS in all patients. Our study demonstrated that high expression of LC3B, correlated with vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis, might be a novel prognostic biomarker and would be a potential therapy target for HCC, especially in operable patients. | 25,256,671 | [
0.217437,
0.1990091,
-0.05076623,
0.1122145,
-0.2807932,
-0.3747508,
-0.004850685,
0.08994453,
-0.05149274,
0.114209,
0.1416839,
0.002053759,
-0.04542395,
0.06961116,
-0.1896595,
-0.1050302,
-0.09116597,
0.09973995,
0.2332944,
0.2245296,
-0.01953014,
0.09656157,
-0.379565... |
Red blood cell alloimmunization is influenced by recipient inflammatory state at time of transfusion in patients with sickle cell disease. | Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients are at increased risk of red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization. Recipient inflammatory state at time of transfusion has been shown to regulate alloimmunization in murine models, but evidence is lacking in SCD patients. We retrospectively studied a cohort of alloimmunized SCD patients to determine the influence of pro-inflammatory SCD-related complications at time of transfusion on alloimmunization. For each transfusion, the presence of pro-inflammatory state, degree of RBC antigen matching, unit age, storage solution and alloantibody detection date were ascertained. Transfusion-associated pro-inflammatory events were compared between transfusions resulting and not resulting in new alloantibodies. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Fifty-two patients received 3166 pre-storage leuco-reduced transfusions of which 128 resulted in alloantibodies. Transfusions during inflammatory events were associated with increased alloantibody risk on univariate and multivariate analysis; acute chest syndrome and vaso-occlusive crisis showed strongest associations with alloimmunization. Increased antigen matching demonstrated a protective effect on alloimmunization (univariate and multivariate analysis). Although an association was seen between citrate-phosphate-dextrose (adenine) stored units and alloimmunization on univariate analysis, no effect was found on multivariate analysis. Identifying recipient pro-inflammatory states at time of transfusion that promote alloimmunization can impact RBC unit selection decisions for SCD patients at risk for alloimmunization. | 25,256,676 | [
-0.08107592,
0.1607956,
-0.5103299,
-0.06524907,
0.0510741,
-0.09117059,
0.06819627,
0.06499495,
-0.03603182,
-0.211515,
-0.005736187,
0.3355339,
-0.1010507,
-0.2575065,
-0.1331856,
-0.0771614,
0.1334478,
-0.1016038,
0.05288784,
0.3669633,
0.08115809,
0.02065594,
-0.31398... |
Diet composition transiently modulates proliferative and potency features of human cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells. | Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) emerged in the last few years as a promise in regenerative medicine and have been actively tested in several clinical trials worldwide. However, the lack of common standards and a precise definition of MSC preparations remain a major obstacle in research and application. In this study, we compared the effects during culture of two different MSC commercial media (aMEM and SPE-IV) on the proliferative capacities, phenotypic and molecular features in human cord blood derived-MSC lines. Moreover, as miRNA are markers of stem cell multipotency and regulators of somatic cell reprogramming, we performed a miRNome analysis in both conditions. As a result, we observed that SPE-IV promoted a faster growth and modulated stemness and proliferation associated genes such as PDGFRB, p16 and p21. Notably, in aMEM miR-335 and miR-302b, both proposed as putative stemness markers, were upregulated together with miRNAs reported to decrease adipo- and osteogenesis confirming the observed reduced differentiation potential after growth in this condition. Intriguingly, phenotypic divergences were entirely due to culturing conditions and, most importantly, completely transitory since, after medium switch, the cells were able to revert their signatures. Thus, it emerges as crucial keeping constant the experimental settings, starting from culturing conditions, to avoid misleading characterization of stemness and/or potency markers when the eventual goal is unequivocal definition of such parameters for future clinical choice. | 25,256,683 | [
-0.4623602,
-0.07145655,
0.3093868,
-0.2015813,
-0.1392959,
-0.2795619,
-0.3584715,
0.3854409,
0.4301594,
-0.1659033,
-0.3026824,
0.1447122,
-0.2032,
-0.2876959,
-0.4609431,
-0.03894563,
0.03610653,
-0.02803539,
-0.4094633,
0.4219493,
0.2012368,
0.06684358,
0.1135582,
-... |
A functional screen identifies miRs that induce radioresistance in glioblastomas. | The efficacy of radiotherapy in many tumor types is limited by normal tissue toxicity and by intrinsic or acquired radioresistance. Therefore, it is essential to understand the molecular network responsible for regulating radiosensitivity/resistance. Here, an unbiased functional screen identified four microRNAs (miR1, miR125a, miR150, and miR425) that induce radioresistance. Considering the clinical importance of radiotherapy for patients with glioblastoma, the impact of these miRNAs on glioblastoma radioresistance was investigated. Overexpression of miR1, miR125a, miR150, and/or miR425 in glioblastoma promotes radioresistance through upregulation of the cell-cycle checkpoint response. Conversely, antagonizing with antagomiRs sensitizes glioblastoma cells to irradiation, suggesting their potential as targets for inhibiting therapeutic resistance. Analysis of glioblastoma datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed that these miRNAs are expressed in glioblastoma patient specimens and correlate with TGFβ signaling. Finally, it is demonstrated that expression of miR1 and miR125a can be induced by TGFβ and antagonized by a TGFβ receptor inhibitor. Together, these results identify and characterize a new role for miR425, miR1, miR125, and miR150 in promoting radioresistance in glioblastomas and provide insight into the therapeutic application of TGFβ inhibitors in radiotherapy. Systematic identification of miRs that cause radioresistance in gliomas is important for uncovering predictive markers for radiotherapy or targets for overcoming radioresistance. | 25,256,711 | [
-0.01259237,
-0.04135046,
0.06760011,
-0.2198446,
0.006876863,
-0.03193355,
-0.3292192,
0.05921188,
0.1625408,
0.1391599,
0.02277597,
0.003477884,
-0.4076136,
-0.3019459,
-0.1828204,
0.1029833,
0.06911143,
0.3648051,
-0.1430037,
0.1051208,
-0.07495814,
0.3280081,
0.101679... |
Flow-scanning optical tomography. | We present a 3D tomography technique for in vivo observation of microscopic samples. The method combines flow in a microfluidic channel, illumination through a slit aperture, and a Fourier lens for simultaneous acquisition of multiple perspective angles in the phase-space domain. The technique is non-invasive and naturally robust to parasitic sample motion. 3D absorption is retrieved using standard back-projection algorithms, here a limited-domain inverse radon transform. Simultaneously, 3D differential phase contrast images are obtained by computational refocusing and comparison of complementary illumination angles. We implement the technique on a modified glass slide which can be mounted directly on existing optical microscopes. We demonstrate both amplitude and phase tomography on live, freely swimming C. elegans nematodes. | 25,256,716 | [
-0.1543161,
0.2006641,
-0.3177656,
0.04194578,
-0.178418,
-0.1662252,
-0.1475359,
-0.1175333,
0.2190782,
-0.1164465,
0.006966979,
-0.3407394,
-0.008740189,
-0.06079037,
-0.5010397,
0.1638886,
-0.4004342,
-0.01248074,
-0.4533317,
-0.05629905,
0.3017439,
0.08444766,
-0.0235... |
The RBMX gene as a candidate for the Shashi X-linked intellectual disability syndrome. | A novel X-linked intellectual disability (XLID) syndrome with moderate intellectual disability and distinguishing craniofacial dysmorphisms had been previously mapped to the Xq26-q27 interval. On whole exome sequencing in the large family originally reported with this disorder, we identified a 23 bp frameshift deletion in the RNA binding motif protein X-linked (RBMX) gene at Xq26 in the affected males (n = 7), one carrier female, absent in unaffected males (n = 2) and in control databases (7800 exomes). The RBMX gene has not been previously causal of human disease. We examined the genic intolerance scores for the coding regions and the non-coding regions of RBMX; the findings were indicative of RBMX being relatively intolerant to loss of function variants, a distinctive pattern seen in a subset of XLID genes. Prior expression and animal modeling studies indicate that loss of function of RBMX results in abnormal brain development. Our finding putatively adds a novel gene to the loci associated with XLID and may enable the identification of other individuals affected with this distinctive syndrome. | 25,256,757 | [
-0.07973202,
0.0823695,
-0.09455063,
-0.244413,
0.2640327,
-0.0329383,
-0.1047456,
-0.1759255,
0.1146152,
-0.234927,
0.2220859,
0.1572102,
-0.1855014,
-0.3715734,
-0.3909999,
0.01480869,
-0.6556799,
0.03675848,
-0.0624471,
-0.4795702,
-0.05159063,
0.3937047,
0.1070459,
... |
Neural control of the endocrine pancreas. | The autonomic nervous system affects glucose metabolism partly through its connection to the pancreatic islet. Since its discovery by Paul Langerhans, the precise innervation patterns of the islet has remained elusive, mainly because of technical limitations. Using 3-dimensional reconstructions of axonal terminal fields, recent studies have determined the innervation patterns of mouse and human islets. In contrast to the mouse islet, endocrine cells within the human islet are sparsely contacted by autonomic axons. Instead, the invading sympathetic axons preferentially innervate smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. This innervation pattern suggests that, rather than acting directly on endocrine cells, sympathetic nerves may control hormone secretion by modulating blood flow in human islets. In addition to autonomic efferent axons, islets also receive sensory innervation. These axons transmit sensory information to the brain but also have the ability to locally release neuroactive substances that have been suggested to promote diabetes pathogenesis. We discuss recent findings on islet innervation, the connections of the islet with the brain, and the role islet innervation plays during the progression of diabetes. | 25,256,769 | [
-0.06869669,
-0.3179174,
-0.3339611,
-0.1400746,
0.1108072,
-0.3640788,
0.03031879,
0.3128904,
0.197224,
-0.1209544,
0.0461123,
-0.4822695,
0.01355426,
-0.2771168,
-0.3376194,
-0.004933484,
-0.3349948,
0.09502663,
0.09317481,
0.04968893,
0.02517572,
0.1651224,
-0.2142392,... |
The impact of restraint reduction meetings on the use of restrictive physical interventions in English residential services for children and young people. | The aim was to examine the impact of post restraint reduction meetings upon the frequency and restrictiveness of restraint use in English children's residential services. Attention has been drawn to the misuse, overuse and safety of some techniques used to physically restrain children in residential services. Successful interventions to reduce restraints have been reported, mostly from the USA. Demonstrate a significant overall reduction in both, frequency and restrictiveness of restraints; the greatest percentage decrease in the most restrictive floor restraints. Whilst five services reduced both frequency and restrictiveness, five services showed some increases in frequency and/or restrictiveness of restraints employed. Restraint reduction is most effectively reduced through employing multiple strategies and that post restraint reduction meetings maybe one useful component. Organisations seeking to promote restraint reduction meetings need to allocate sufficient priority and resources to support these. | 25,256,775 | [
-0.1915543,
0.3784662,
0.04398734,
-0.0699642,
0.02724274,
-0.08870377,
-0.2203,
-0.1651504,
-0.1256535,
0.1570923,
0.06195791,
-0.06699441,
-0.1791665,
-0.02393966,
0.2581512,
0.1921409,
-0.1514042,
0.1716379,
-0.2033402,
-0.2990696,
-0.1857365,
0.2282442,
0.0275114,
-... |
Gestational hypoxia and epigenetic programming of brain development disorders. | Adverse environmental conditions faced by an individual early during its life, such as gestational hypoxia, can have a profound influence on the risk of diseases, such as neurological disorders, in later life. Clinical and preclinical studies suggest that epigenetic programming of gene expression patterns in response to maternal stress have a crucial role in the fetal origins of neurological diseases. Herein, we summarize recent studies regarding the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the developmental programming of neurological diseases in offspring, primarily focusing on DNA methylation/demethylation and miRNAs. Such information could increase our understanding of the fetal origins of adult diseases and help develop effective prevention and intervention against neurological diseases. | 25,256,780 | [
-0.3006255,
-0.2046147,
0.2082913,
-0.03050718,
0.03123482,
-0.127558,
-0.08909358,
-0.2418225,
0.01706089,
0.1013822,
0.004730834,
0.1770143,
0.1197841,
-0.09220032,
-0.1618402,
-0.08129751,
-0.286757,
0.3339687,
-0.2066825,
-0.1477624,
-0.2484677,
0.2711128,
-0.2716958,... |
The relationship between iron deficiency in patients with Helicobacter pylori-infected nodular gastritis and the serum prohepcidin level. | Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is recognized as a causative agent for unexplained iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). We evaluated many background factors influencing an iron-deficiency state in adult patients with various H. pylori-infected upper gastrointestinal tract diseases. Study 1: H. pylori-infected 121 patients (nodular gastritis (NG) (n = 19), duodenal ulcer (DU) (n = 30), or gastric ulcer (GU) (n = 47), or gastric hyperplastic polyp (GHP) (n = 25)) were enrolled. The RBC count and hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, pepsinogen (PG) I, PG II, gastrin, and anti-H. pylori antibody (Ab) levels in the serum were measured. Study 2: H. pylori-infected 105 patients (NG, n = 19; DU, n = 43; GU, n = 32; GHP, n = 11) and non-H. pylori-infected individuals (n = 35) were examined for the levels of prohepcidin, ferritin, and iron in the serum. In addition, we measured the data before and after the H. pylori eradication. In the patients with GHP and NG, hypoferritinemia was observed in comparison with the GU and DU patients. In the GHP patients, low levels of PG I, a decreased PG I/II ratio, and hypergastrinemia were observed. The levels of serum prohepcidin in the patients with H. pylori-associated disease were higher than those in the uninfected adults. In the patients with NG, the serum prohepcidin levels were higher than those in the other H. pylori-infected patient groups and decreased after the eradication. H. pylori-related iron-deficiency state might be associated with several factors, such as hypochlorhydria and hepcidin, in patients with GHP or NG. | 25,256,783 | [
-0.285234,
-0.4145479,
-0.007754976,
-0.2437196,
0.006406434,
-0.03507109,
0.2551539,
0.1154182,
0.2560347,
0.3685729,
0.1238711,
0.3764174,
-0.1399725,
-0.202921,
-0.316358,
-0.3804575,
-0.0395928,
0.2465011,
0.208564,
0.0667698,
-0.1835643,
-0.1235892,
-0.2011488,
-0.... |
Focusing and continuous separation of microparticles by insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) in stair-shaped microchannel. | Focusing and separation of microparticles in a complex mixture have had wide applications in chemistry, biology, medicine, etc. This work presents a numerical and experimental investigation on focusing and continuous separation of microparticles in a geometrically optimized arrangement of steps in the form of a staircase using insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) mechanism. First, a detailed finite element analysis was performed on important parameters in the focusing and separation of microparticles, such as geometry of stair-shaped microchannel, total voltage, and voltage difference applied to reservoirs. The optimum parameters obtained from numerical analysis were used for experimental work. Theoretically, predicted microparticle trajectories are in good agreement with experimentally observed ones. Experimental and numerical results show that the performance of focusing of microparticles enhances with growth of the total voltage (in a constant voltage difference) and decreases with voltage difference. The fabricated iDEP microchip enhances the performance of focusing and separation of microparticles due to its stair-shaped microchannel and therefore operates at low DC total applied voltages of 90-110 V. | 25,256,784 | [
-0.2866895,
0.08795585,
0.03734855,
0.1444708,
0.1336702,
-0.1709507,
-0.1542179,
0.2803954,
0.02886002,
0.1746241,
-0.1092016,
-0.2326458,
-0.3773193,
0.04410888,
-0.5523587,
0.05383481,
-0.1879204,
-0.2007048,
0.03691703,
0.02287261,
0.1384379,
0.0781837,
0.02866232,
... |
A small molecule inhibits protein disulfide isomerase and triggers the chemosensitization of cancer cells. | Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents represents a major challenge in cancer research. One approach to this problem is combination therapy, the application of a toxic chemotherapeutic drug together with a sensitizing compound that addresses the vulnerability of cancer cells to induce apoptosis. Here we report the discovery of a new compound class (T8) that sensitizes various cancer cells towards etoposide treatment at subtoxic concentrations. Proteomic analysis revealed protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) as the target of the T8 class. In-depth chemical and biological studies such as the synthesis of optimized compounds, molecular docking analyses, cellular imaging, and apoptosis assays confirmed the unique mode of action through reversible PDI inhibition. | 25,256,790 | [
-0.07845463,
-0.01615094,
0.08614678,
0.09010965,
0.2485175,
-0.03116985,
-0.05073679,
0.1009403,
0.3132242,
-0.006756816,
0.1304431,
-0.05756785,
-0.23855,
-0.0520373,
-0.3608091,
0.06720693,
-0.5162955,
0.01841471,
-0.2528678,
0.07094061,
0.03990893,
0.3067341,
-0.12763... |
Bioscouring of cotton using lipase from marine bacteria Bacillus sonorensis. | Bioscouring refers to the enzymatic removal of impurities from cotton fabric, which imparts it with improved hydrophilicity for further wet processes. In the present study, the efficacy of lipase from newly isolated marine bacteria Bacillus sonorensis isolated from marine clams Paphia malabarica collected from Kalbadevi estuary, Mumbai, India, has been evaluated for scouring of cotton fabric and compared with conventional alkaline scouring of cotton. As a scouring agent for cotton fabrics, the lipase from B. sonorensis was capable of removing substantial amount of wax from the cotton surface and hydrolyzing it into fatty acids. Bioscouring carried out with lipase at a concentration of 8 % on the weight of the fabric (owf) at pH 9, temperature 60 °C for 120 min showed maximum weight loss and hydrophilicity. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed that the lipase-scoured fabric showed smooth surface indicating no damage to the fabric whereas the surface of the alkaline-scoured fabric appeared rough causing damage to the fabric. Evaluation of fabric properties such as wettability, whiteness, dyeing behaviour, tensile strength and bending rigidity revealed that the bioscouring using lipase from B. sonorensis is as effective as conventional alkaline treatment. | 25,256,798 | [
0.2323022,
-0.009539018,
-0.2506741,
-0.1315955,
-0.175113,
-0.1142738,
-0.2786341,
-0.08854293,
0.2340156,
-0.352004,
-0.1057171,
-0.2667053,
0.04000217,
0.03074411,
-0.3129746,
0.1104604,
-0.516874,
0.1785717,
0.3303088,
0.2572823,
0.07277828,
0.4095899,
-0.2889589,
0... |
Tailoring of the dopamine coated surface with VEGF loaded heparin/poly-L-lysine particles for anticoagulation and accelerate in situ endothelialization. | Coronary artery disease is a great threat to human health and is the leading killer worldwide. Percutaneous coronary intervention is the most effective therapy; however, thrombus, and restenosis caused by endothelium injury continue to be problematic after treatment. It is widely accepted that surface biofunctional modification to improve blood compatibility and accelerate endothelialization may be an effective approach to prevent the occurrence of adverse cardiac events. In this study, novel VEGF-loaded heparin/poly-L-lysine (Hep/PLL) particles were developed and immobilized on a dopamine coated titanium surface. The size, distribution, zeta potential, and morphology of the prepared particles were subsequently characterized. The influence of changes in the surface physicochemical properties after particle immobilization was assessed for blood compatibility and cytocompatibility. Surface-modified VEGF-loaded particles significantly inhibited platelet adhesion and activation and were effective in promoting the proliferation and survival of endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial cells. Moreover, Hep/PLL particles were also beneficial for controlling the long-term release of VEGF, which may facilitate endothelium regeneration. In conclusion, VEGF-loaded Hep/PLL particles were successfully immobilized on the Ti surface, and the biocompatibility was significantly improved. This study demonstrates a potential application for the multifunctional modification of stent surfaces for clinical use. | 25,256,819 | [
-0.09203992,
0.4534898,
-0.2127628,
0.304038,
0.07707483,
-0.1504948,
0.286759,
0.2938852,
0.06549028,
0.3326904,
-0.0738378,
0.03324378,
-0.07287776,
0.1608544,
-0.1407651,
0.07434661,
-0.2807896,
-0.115384,
0.2974488,
0.1689589,
-0.05133976,
0.2656664,
-0.1170733,
-0.... |
Diagnostic value of aberrant gene methylation in stool samples for colorectal cancer or adenomas: a meta-analysis. | Many studies have reported detection of aberrant methylation of genes in stool sample for early colorectal cancer (CRC) or adenomas had high sensitivity and specificity, but still remained controversial. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of stool testing for markers of CRC and adenomas. Medline, EMbase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and EMbase were systematically searched. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model with sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic OR (DOR), area under the summary ROC curves (SROC) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI). A total of 13 studies including 716 patients with CRC 220 cases of adenoma and 414 healthy controls were eligible for final analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and DOR for the detection of CRC were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.75-0.82), 0.90 (95% CI: 0.91-0.96), 9.612 (95% CI: 6.761-13.666), 0.243 (95% CI: 0.176-0.336), and 48.21 (95% CI: 28.24-82.30), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of adenoma were 0.63 (95% CI: 0.56-0.69) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.90-0.96), respectively. The area under the SROC curve was 0.9438 and 0.9385 in CRC and adenoma detection, respectively. Fecal gene methylation testing as a noninvasive method can be used as a screening measurement for CRC or colorectal adenoma with high sensitivity and specificity. | 25,256,821 | [
-0.08684611,
-0.1703122,
-0.2084649,
-0.3033969,
-0.09102201,
-0.2653924,
-0.3817497,
-0.009203442,
0.210402,
-0.1347686,
-0.07202698,
0.470194,
0.1817216,
0.03266388,
-0.2480558,
-0.1874228,
-0.802309,
0.1380677,
-0.05154472,
0.0950826,
-0.2240604,
0.2248388,
-0.1153979,... |
Terpenoids, flavonoids and caffeic acid derivatives from Salvia viridis L. cvar. Blue Jeans. | Three diterpenoids, 1-oxomicrostegiol (1), viroxocin (2), viridoquinone (3), were isolated from the roots of Salvia viridis L. cvar. Blue Jeans. Five known diterpenoids, microstegiol (4), 7α-acetoxy-14-hydroxy-8,13-abietadiene-11,12-dione (5; 7-O-acetylhorminone tautomer), 7α,14-dihydroxy-8,13-abietadiene-11,12-dione (6; horminone tautomer), ferruginol and salvinolonyl 12-methyl ether (7) were also found in the roots together with 1-docosyl ferulate (8), and a mixture of 2-(4'-alkoxyphenyl) ethyl alkanoates (9). Two lupane triterpenoids, 2α-acetoxy-lup-20(29)-en-3β-ol (10), and 3β-acetoxy-lup-20(29)-en-2α-ol (11) were found in the aerial parts together with known compounds, lup-20(29)-ene-2α,3β-diol (12), ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, β-sitosterol and β-sitosterol glucoside. A known phenylpropanoid, trans-verbascoside (or acteoside; 13), was the main constituent in the polar fraction of the aerial part, and it is now reported in the genus Salvia for the first time. Other polyphenolic compounds were cis-verbascoside (14), leucosceptoside A (15), martynoside (16), caffeic acid, 6-O-caffeoyl-glucose (18), rosmarinic acid, salidroside, luteolin-7-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-galactopyranoside, luteolin-7-O-β-galactopyranoside, luteolin-7-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-glucopyranoside, luteolin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside, and apigenin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside. The structures were determined by 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. Compounds 6, 10, ferruginol, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid exhibited antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 775) with MIC 50 μM, 25 μM, 50 μM, 12.5 μM, 12.5 μM respectively. Ferruginol, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid were also active against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6571), and Bacillus cereus (ATCC 2599) with MIC 12.5-50 μM. 4 was also active against S.aureus (ATCC 6571) with MIC 50 μM. These values are consistent with previous studies on the antimicrobial activity of Salvia diterpenoids. | 25,256,822 | [
-0.06461786,
0.08412989,
-0.02575942,
0.1074314,
0.1570364,
-0.02571652,
-0.4700828,
-0.2918037,
0.09920084,
-0.05025504,
0.08148222,
0.07500868,
0.128215,
-0.07741936,
-0.4139149,
0.08644,
-0.304515,
0.452788,
0.2768794,
0.1744195,
0.430636,
-0.01639564,
-0.2279301,
-0... |
Tension pneumothorax secondary to nasojejunal feeding tube misplacement in a mechanically ventilated dog. | An 11-year-old female terrier-cross underwent general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation for insulinoma resection. Following tumour removal, three consecutive but unsuccessful attempts were made to place a wire-guided nasojejunal feeding tube (NJFT), using both nostrils, with one tube eventually left in situ in the right nostril. A final successful attempt using a smaller NJFT was made via the left nostril. On withdrawal of the previously, unsuccessfully placed NJFT, the dog developed an acute tension pneumothorax. Severe cardiorespiratory dysfunction ensued, including decreasing arterial haemoglobin O2 saturation, increasing end-tidal CO2, hypotension and tachycardia. Immediate thoracocentesis with air evacuation from the pleural cavity followed by continuous air drainage through bilateral thoracostomy tubes produced marked improvement of cardiorespiratory function. During exploratory thoracotomy performed 1 day later, two lung lesions were identified and over sewn, one in the right middle lobe and the other in the accessory lobe. This is the first case report to describe in an anaesthetised and mechanically ventilated dog the occurrence and management of a tension pneumothorax as a life-threatening complication secondary to parenchymal injury after NJFT misplacement into the tracheobronchial tree. It illustrates that presence of a cuffed endotracheal tube does not protect against passing a NJFT into the bronchial system. | 25,256,844 | [
-0.09959544,
-0.02600318,
0.08281752,
-0.7648582,
-0.2603831,
-0.2921669,
-0.1181031,
-0.3138637,
0.2024267,
-0.02163243,
0.197091,
-0.2050138,
-0.1440253,
-0.3745234,
-0.2501819,
-0.2062407,
-0.3398192,
0.1019751,
0.1213682,
-0.4698204,
-0.2748205,
-0.2192474,
-0.1090129... |
Histopathological assessment of intrinsic laryngeal musculature in horses with dynamic laryngeal collapse. | The pathogenesis of bilateral dynamic laryngeal collapse associated with poll flexion (DLC) of horses is unknown but might be associated with intrinsic laryngeal muscle weakness. To investigate histopathological characteristics of the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis, the cricothyroid (CT) and the cricoarytenoideus lateralis muscles in DLC-affected horses and compare these with unaffected controls. Our hypotheses were that evidence of neurogenic atrophy of the CT or cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscles would be found in DLC-affected horses and that observed changes would be symmetrically (left/right) distributed, or that muscle fibre diameter would be significantly reduced in DLC-affected horses compared to unaffected controls, reflecting an underlying paresis. Case-control study. Five DLC horses and 8 controls were included. Muscle samples were harvested immediately following euthanasia. Fibre type proportions and size were evaluated by multiple immunofluorescence labelling of cryosections, and compared between sides (left/right) and groups (DLC-affected cases/ unaffected controls). Subjective and objective assessments of fibre type grouping were compared between sides and groups. Fibre type proportions, fibre size and the subjective assessment of fibre type grouping did not reveal any statistically significant differences between the groups. Objective assessment of fibre type grouping revealed significantly more large clusters of T1 fibres within the left cricoarytenoideus lateralis muscle of DLC-affected cases versus controls, and within the right CT muscle of control horses compared to the DLC-cases. The absence of bilateral symmetric fibre type grouping, fibre type loss and fibre atrophy in the DLC-affected cases do not support a neuromuscular component within the pathogenesis of DLC. The objective assessment of fibre type grouping revealed some statistical differences between the DLC-affected cases and the unaffected controls; however, these findings were inconsistent with regard to DLC. An alternative aetiology of DLC seems likely. | 25,256,848 | [
0.0322871,
0.2093395,
0.2634864,
-0.1306089,
0.314354,
-0.4025796,
0.04813573,
-0.2937277,
-0.01943541,
-0.07913906,
-0.09939522,
0.01676621,
-0.08634949,
0.1543645,
0.1104432,
-0.1980401,
-0.4449741,
0.1330363,
-0.08685496,
-0.2338583,
0.124945,
0.4150715,
-0.285149,
-... |
Nitrate-induced biochemical and histopathological changes in the liver of rats: ameliorative effect of Hyparrhenia hirta. | The present study investigated the protective role of Hyparrhenia hirta (H. hirta) against sodium nitrate (NaNO3)-induced hepatoxicity. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: a control group and two treated groups during 50 d with NaNO3 administered either alone in drinking water or co-administered with H. hirta. NaNO3 treatment induced a significant increase in serum levels of glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride while serum total protein level decreased significantly. Transaminases and lactate deshydrogenase activities in serum were elevated indicating hepatic cells' damage after treatment with NaNO3. The hyperbilirubinemia and the increased serum gamma glutamyl transferase activities suggested the presence of cholestasis in NaNO3 exposed rats. In parallel, a significant increase in malondialdehyde level along with a concomitant decrease in total glutathione content and superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were observed in the liver after NaNO3 treatment. Furthermore, nitrate caused a significant induction of DNA fragmentation. These modifications in NaNO3-treated rats corresponded histologically with hepatocellular necrosis and mononuclear cells infiltration. H. hirta supplementation showed a remarkable amelioration of the abnormalities cited above. The results concluded that the treatment with H. hirta had a significant role in protecting the animals from nitrate-induced liver dysfunction. | 25,256,859 | [
-0.070667,
0.1663631,
-0.1246093,
0.3671023,
-0.1283617,
-0.3752605,
-0.006081309,
-0.1263002,
0.3737727,
0.07316683,
0.08962447,
-0.3037854,
-0.1856813,
0.2724119,
-0.3911183,
0.05116658,
-0.3716496,
0.01373765,
0.4625115,
-0.2678937,
-0.134605,
0.3405203,
0.02831479,
... |
Both GPER and membrane oestrogen receptor-α activation protect ventricular remodelling in 17β oestradiol-treated ovariectomized infarcted rats. | Clinical and experimental studies have established that gender is a factor in the development of ventricular hypertrophy. We investigated whether the attenuated hypertrophic effect of oestradiol was via activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) through non-genomic action. Twenty-four hours after coronary ligation, female Wistar rats were randomized into control, subcutaneous oestradiol treatment or a G-protein coupled oestrogen receptor (GPER) agonist, G-1 and treated for 4 weeks starting from 2 weeks after bilateral ovariectomy. Ventricular hypertrophy assessed by cardiomyocyte size after infarction was similarly attenuated by oestradiol or G-1 in infarcted rats. The phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS was significantly decreased in infarcted rats and restored by oestradiol and G-1, implying the GPER pathway in this process. Oestradiol-induced Akt phosphorylation was not abrogated by G-15 (a GPER blocker). Akt activation was not inhibited by actinomycin D. When a membrane-impermeable oestrogen-albumin construct was applied, similar responses in terms of eNOS activation to those of oestradiol were achieved. Furthermore, PPT, an ERα receptor agonist, activated the phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS. Thus, membrane ERα receptor played a role in mediating the phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS. The specific PI3K inhibitor, LY290042, completely abolished Akt activation and eNOS phosphorylation in infarcted hearts treated with either oestradiol or oestradiol + G-15. These data support the conclusions that oestradiol improves ventricular remodelling by both GPER- and membrane-bound ERα-dependent mechanisms that converge into the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway, unveiling a novel mechanism by which oestradiol regulates pathological cardiomyocyte growth after infarction. | 25,256,868 | [
-0.2470681,
0.3243805,
0.3552487,
-0.2230794,
-0.1749502,
-0.01489943,
0.203978,
-0.2440653,
0.08832373,
0.1183294,
0.1127708,
0.2355503,
-0.2912772,
0.1643573,
-0.335002,
-0.02237908,
-0.5433751,
-0.02956435,
-0.2800595,
-0.1777148,
0.1361028,
0.23395,
-0.3368955,
0.30... |
Hemostatic abnormalities in young females with heavy menstrual bleeding. | To study the prevalence of hemostatic abnormalities, including bleeding disorders and risk factors, in young females referred to a multidisciplinary clinic for evaluation of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). Retrospective chart review was undertaken for 131 post-menarchal girls with HMB, 7 to 17 years of age, enrolled in the institutional 'Menorrhagia Data Registry' protocol. The diagnostic approach included: (1) complete blood count, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, von Willebrand panel (2) platelet aggregometry, specific clotting factor assay, fibrinolytic pathway analysis, and factor XIII level as needed. The prevalence of hemostatic abnormalities and the prognostic significance of clinical variables associated with hemostatic abnormalities in young girls with HMB were evaluated. A hemostatic abnormality was identified in 69 (53%) young girls with HMB. Of these, 27 (21%) had an underlying bleeding disorder and 42 (32%) had a risk factor for bleeding, namely low von Willebrand factor activity. A larger number of girls with underlying bleeding disorder had personal history of other bleeding symptoms (48% vs 31%) and bleeding after surgical or dental procedure (25% vs 8%) when compared to females without hemostatic abnormality. Furthermore, girls with risk factor for bleeding (low vWF activity) were more likely to have bleeding after surgical or dental procedure (15% vs 8%) and family history of bleeding (79% vs 60%) than patients without hemostatic abnormality. There is high prevalence of hemostatic abnormalities, including bleeding disorders and risk factors, in young girls with HMB. These findings support comprehensive and systematic hemostatic evaluation in this group of patients. | 25,256,871 | [
-0.07329085,
-0.1337911,
-0.2404033,
-0.5304971,
0.0460362,
-0.4858192,
0.249202,
0.207886,
-0.2362178,
-0.1627463,
0.02399329,
0.3947039,
-0.2995509,
-0.4493068,
-0.1435441,
-0.3379399,
0.1456053,
0.3142309,
0.1930008,
-0.03083009,
0.5309349,
0.4038481,
-0.2106345,
0.2... |
Laparoscopically assisted neovaginoplasty in vaginal agenesis: a long-term outcome study in 240 patients. | To assess the long-term outcome of an optimized minimally invasive neovaginoplasty technique in vaginal agenesis. Combined retrospective and prospective study. University hospital. 240 patients with congenital vaginal agenesis. Patients with an indication for neovagina creation underwent laparoscopically assisted neovaginoplasty involving vaginoabdominal blunt perforation and intracorporeal traction using tension threads and an abdominally positioned extracorporeal traction device. Long-term anatomic success, functional success compared with similar-aged controls, long-term complications, and incidence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infections. During median follow-up for 16 (range 11-141) months, mean functional neovaginal length remained stable at 9.5 cm in all patients, including those who had no sexual intercourse and had stopped wearing the vaginal dummy. Median dummy wearing time was 8.6 months. Time to epithelialization depended on the time of onset and frequency of sexual intercourse. At long-term follow-up, median total Female Sexual Function Index score was 30.0, comparable with similar-aged controls. No common long-term complications occurred. Four patients required cauterization of granulation tissue. 7/240 (2.9%) patients were HPV-positive with low- to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 3 patients reverting to HPV-negative status at long-term follow-up. Our technique creates a neovagina of adequate size and secretory capacity for normal coitus, requiring no prolonged dilation postoperatively, even in the absence of sexual intercourse. The procedure is fast, effective and minimally traumatic, has a very low long-term complication rate and provides very satisfactory long-term functional results. | 25,256,875 | [
-0.06224023,
0.2353245,
-0.5851915,
0.09731343,
0.04084103,
-0.3402376,
-0.2752804,
-0.05692083,
0.1979108,
0.3212735,
0.09459431,
-0.06283543,
-0.06350831,
-0.4391195,
-0.5202178,
0.03138355,
-0.2872023,
-0.03387419,
-0.3319652,
-0.2099087,
0.2087675,
0.3293807,
-0.07721... |
Ovarian teratoma with predominant hemangiomatous component in early childhood. | Ovarian teratoma with predominant hemangiomatous component in pediatric patients is very rare and its presentation may mimic that of malignancy. A 2-year-old girl presented with proptosis of the right eye. A right ovarian mass was detected on the physical examination. The right orbital lesion was consistent with venolymphatic-type vascular malformation on magnetic resonance imaging. The abdominal computed tomographic scan revealed a solid ovarian mass that raised a suspicion for malignancy. A 5.5-cm right ovarian solid hemorrhagic mass was resected. Microscopically, the mass was almost exclusively composed of variable-sized blood vessels, with few microscopic mature teratomatous foci. Hemangiomatous lesion of the ovary may have a presentation mimicking a malignant neoplasm, and may be associated with multiple vascular lesions. | 25,256,876 | [
-0.1685605,
-0.09476786,
-0.4939143,
-0.2756366,
0.106703,
-0.2229872,
-0.1836658,
-0.1816296,
-0.0820512,
0.1511715,
0.3047921,
0.2518834,
-0.3849804,
-0.3531288,
-0.2292417,
0.2269738,
-0.6388591,
0.06498953,
0.7009532,
-0.3575846,
0.2108676,
0.1952457,
-0.3152218,
0.... |
Interhemispheric somatosensory differences in chronic pain reflect abnormality of the healthy side. | It is widely accepted that complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is associated with shrinkage of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) representation of the affected limb. However, supporting evidence is surprisingly limited and may be compromised by high risk of bias. This study compared the S1 spatial representation of the hand in 17 patients with upper-limb CRPS to 16 healthy controls, using functional MRI. Innocuous vibration was delivered to digits one (D1) and five (D5) in a block-design. Resultant activation maxima were located within a bilateral S1 mask, determined a priori. Distance between D1 and D5 activation maxima, calculated for both hands, was used as a measure of S1 representation. Analyses were blinded to group and hand. In patients, S1 representation was smaller for the affected hand than it was for the healthy hand (t(11) = 2.02, P = 0.03), as predicted. However, S1 representation of the affected hand was no different to that of either hand in controls. Critically, S1 representation of the healthy hand of patients was larger than that of controls' hands. CRPS seems to be associated with an enlarged representation of the healthy hand, not a smaller representation of the affected hand. These findings raise important questions about neuroplasticity in CRPS. | 25,256,887 | [
-0.1184205,
0.4373,
0.0009714816,
-0.07005016,
-0.05023223,
-0.03024336,
0.235395,
0.06628511,
0.2534297,
0.163269,
0.00431074,
0.06444451,
-0.2452485,
-0.2191182,
-0.0409826,
-0.1331647,
-0.3885988,
0.005787688,
-0.4013982,
0.1590935,
-0.2986888,
0.3557849,
0.00890966,
... |
Commentary: Spinal instrumentation for mechanical radiculopathy secondary to lumbar metastases. | Moliterno J, Veselis CA, Hershey MA, et al. Improvement in pain after lumbar surgery in cancer patients with mechanical radiculopathy. Spine J 2014;14:2434-9 (in this issue). | 25,256,897 | [
0.1054175,
0.1003121,
0.04765618,
0.04184074,
-0.2606444,
-0.2694737,
-0.2526908,
0.02108367,
0.1452482,
-0.1587908,
0.1762905,
-0.05995206,
0.08708034,
-0.7103768,
-0.1108483,
-0.2785287,
-0.1638029,
-0.02282971,
0.01227852,
-0.2401183,
0.005604684,
-0.00914204,
-0.21780... |
The longer term experiences of parent training: a qualitative analysis. | Child conduct problems are a major public health priority. Group-based parenting programmes are popular in addressing such problems, but evidence for their longer-term effectiveness is limited. Moreover, process evaluations are rare and little is understood about the key facilitative and inhibitive factors associated with maintaining outcomes in the longer term. This study involved the use of qualitative methods as part of a larger process evaluation to explore the longer-term experiences of parents who participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Incredible Years Parenting Programme (IYPP) in disadvantaged settings in Ireland. A series of one-to-one in-depth interviews was conducted with parents at 12- (n = 20) and 18-month follow-up (n = 8) and analysed using constructivist grounded theory. Most parents reported positive child behaviour despite several challenges, but a substantial subset reported periods of relapse in positive outcomes. A relapse in child behaviour was linked to relinquishing skills in stressful times, the negative influence of an unsupportive environment, and the perceived ineffectiveness of parenting skills. Resilience in implementing skills despite adversity, and the utilization of available social supports, were associated with the maintenance of positive outcomes. Strengthening resilience and social support capacities may be important factors in maintaining positive longer-term outcomes. Those who design, research and deliver parenting programmes might consider the possibility of including a relapse-prevention module and/or the provision of post-intervention supports for more vulnerable families. | 25,256,901 | [
-0.1380082,
0.2195593,
0.01993586,
-0.1842166,
0.1444798,
-0.2005641,
-0.2340439,
-0.1292093,
0.2645447,
0.1576479,
0.05567729,
-0.09689974,
-0.2516819,
-0.3111807,
-0.1608322,
0.2404743,
-0.2477619,
0.4152753,
-0.5294198,
0.2067972,
-0.2886266,
0.1437411,
0.087589,
-0.... |
Initiation of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected adults with skin complaints in northern Tanzania. | Abnormal skin findings are identified in over 90% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons globally. A prospective cohort study of HIV-infected patients with skin complaints commencing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in northern Tanzania was undertaken. Consecutive HIV-infected subjects presenting with skin complaints, who met criteria for ART initiation, were recruited at a Tanzanian Regional Dermatology Training Center. A single dermatologist evaluated all subjects; baseline skin biopsies were performed, and CD4(+) cell counts and plasma HIV RNA levels were measured. All subjects received a fixed-dose combination of stavudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine. A total of 100 subjects were enrolled; 86 subjects completed six months of follow-up. Median baseline CD4(+) cell counts and plasma HIV RNA levels were 120 cells/μl and 5.2 log10 copies/ml. The most common dermatologic condition was papular pruritic eruption (47%). The median baseline score on the Burn Scale was 38%. After six months, 10 subjects had achieved the complete resolution of skin abnormalities. In those without complete resolution, the median Burn Scale score improved to 7%. Five patients developed new eruptions by month 3, which in two cases were attributed to drug reactions. In the 86 subjects remaining on ART after six months, the median CD4(+) cell count had increased to 474 cells/μl, and plasma HIV RNA levels were <400 copies/ml in 85 (99%) subjects. Patients with HIV infection with skin complaints experienced marked clinical improvements following ART initiation. | 25,256,912 | [
0.1429314,
-0.09858706,
-0.1588832,
-0.169748,
0.1548667,
-0.2279319,
0.07131489,
0.1920652,
0.1324716,
0.04689568,
0.06813618,
-0.1580663,
0.07883365,
0.4076768,
-0.1941766,
-0.2866037,
-0.07923159,
0.04457297,
0.1169578,
0.2541384,
0.01366324,
0.3884681,
-0.1944601,
-... |
Antecedents to Psychological Reactance: The Impact of Threat, Message Frame, and Choice. | A 2 (Threat: high vs. low) × 2 (Frame: gain vs. loss) × 2 (Choice: yes vs. no) × 2 (Behavior: prevention vs. detection) factorial design Web-based experiment (N = 814) was conducted to investigate the impact of threat to freedom, message frame, and behavioral choice as antecedents to psychological reactance. The intertwined model for reactance measure was replicated. Results showed that threat to freedom and the loss frame increased, and the gain frame and choice mitigated psychological reactance. The advantages of choice and the gain frame were most salient when threat was high. | 25,256,920 | [
0.03012215,
0.08306386,
-0.1670852,
0.1743056,
0.1812981,
-0.1656327,
-0.0360935,
0.1631115,
0.08528379,
-0.2297553,
0.1194838,
0.2184639,
0.0114202,
-0.03320658,
-0.1536552,
-0.1046065,
-0.2926265,
-0.1836937,
0.06381173,
0.02282623,
0.2469133,
0.2412727,
-0.08595616,
... |
Effects of obesity on body temperature in otherwise-healthy females when controlling hydration and heat production during exercise in the heat. | Previous studies investigating body temperature responses in obese individuals during exercise in the heat fail to control metabolic heat production or hydration status during exercise. To determine if there are differences in body temperature responses between obese and non-obese females when controlling metabolic heat production during exercise. Twenty healthy females, ten obese (43.5 ± 4.5 % fat, 77.5 ± 14.4 kg) and ten non-obese (26.3 ± 6.2 % fat, 53.7 ± 6.4 kg), cycled for 60 min in a warm environment (40 °C, 30 % humidity) at a work load that elicited either 300 W of metabolic heat production (fixed heat production; FHP) or 175 W/m(2) of skin surface area (body surface area, BSA). Before and during exercise, rectal temperature (T re), mean skin temperature (T sk), oxygen uptake (VO2), and sweat rate were measured. Fluid was provided throughout exercise so that euhydration was maintained throughout. In the FHP trial, when absolute heat production was similar between obese (287 ± 15 W) and non-obese (295 ± 18 W) individuals (P > 0.05), there were no differences at the end of exercise in T re (38.26 ± 0.40 vs. 38.30 ± 0.30 °C, respectively) or T sk (36.94 ± 1.65 vs. 35.85 ± 0.67 °C) (all P > 0.05). In the BSA trials, relative heat production was similar between obese and non-obese individuals (168 ± 8 vs. 176 ± 5 W/m(2), respectively; P > 0.05). Similar to the FHP trials, there were no differences between obese and non-obese T re (38.45 ± 0.33 vs. 38.08 ± 0.29 °C, respectively) or T sk (36.82 ± 1.04 vs. 36.11 ± 0.64 °C) at the end of exercise (all P > 0.05). When obese and non-obese females exercised at a fixed metabolic heat production and euhydration was maintained, there were no differences in body temperature between groups. | 25,256,946 | [
-0.1400774,
0.1503001,
-0.3146253,
0.1712762,
-0.1838413,
-0.3133779,
-0.007283262,
-0.1984684,
0.05449065,
-0.05493115,
0.2311063,
0.08555983,
-0.1118538,
-0.1342254,
-0.5364381,
-0.5724687,
-0.1148184,
0.0223628,
-0.2632446,
-0.02693205,
-0.7137814,
0.2052277,
-0.263106... |
The extent of cultural variation between adjacent chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) communities; a microecological approach. | Chimpanzees show cultural differences among populations across Africa but also between neighboring communities. The extent of these differences among neighbors, however, remains largely unknown. Comparing three neighboring chimpanzee community in the Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, we found 27 putative cultural traits, including tool use, foraging, social interaction, communication and hunting behavior, exceeding by far previously known diversity. As foraging behavior is predominantly influenced by the environment, we further compared in detail ecological circumstances underlying insectivore feeding behavior to analyze whether foraging differences on Dorylus ants and Thoracotermes termites seen between neighboring chimpanzee communities were caused by environmental factors. Differences in the prey characteristics of Dorylus ants (aggression level, running speed, and nest structure) that could influence the behavior of chimpanzees were excluded, suggesting that the observed group-specific variation is not ecologically driven. Only one community preyed on Thoracotermes termites despite a similar abundance of termite mounds in all three territories, supporting the idea that this difference is also not shaped by the environment. Therefore, our study suggests that transmission of cultural knowledge plays a role in determining insectivory prey behavior. This behavioral plasticity, independent of ecological conditions, can lead to large numbers of cultural diversification between neighboring chimpanzee communities. These findings not only deepen our understanding of the cultural abilities of chimpanzees in the wild but also open up possible future comparisons of the origin of cultural diversification among humans and chimpanzees. | 25,256,960 | [
0.1301314,
0.1771103,
0.08513432,
-0.04779566,
-0.01168009,
-0.5093768,
0.02186596,
0.1099302,
0.03467147,
-0.09151965,
-0.0617234,
-0.5129454,
0.1275623,
-0.4646029,
-0.4325321,
-0.2981805,
-0.7835314,
0.1097961,
0.2133386,
0.1868613,
-0.008603031,
0.2450611,
-0.2307728,... |
The putative oligosaccharide translocase SypK connects biofilm formation with quorum signaling in Vibrio fischeri. | Quorum signaling (QS) describes how bacteria can use small signaling molecules (autoinducers) to coordinate group-level behaviors. In Vibrio fischeri, QS is achieved through a complex regulatory network that ultimately controls bioluminescence, motility, and host colonization. We conducted a genetic screen focused on qrr1, which encodes a small regulatory RNA that is necessary for the core quorum-signaling cascade to transduce autoinducer information into cellular responses. We isolated unique mutants with a transposon inserted into one of two genes within the syp locus, which is involved in biofilm formation. We found that overexpression of sypK, which encodes a putative oligosaccharide translocase, is sufficient to activate qrr1, and, in addition, this effect appears to depend on the kinase activity of the sensor LuxQ. Consistent with the established model for QS in V. fischeri, enhanced expression of qrr1 by the overexpression of sypK resulted in reduced bioluminescence and increased motility. Finally, we found that induction of the syp locus by overexpression of sypG was sufficient to activate qrr1 levels. Together, our results show how conditions that promote biofilm formation impact the quorum-signaling network in V. fischeri, and further highlight the integrated nature of the regulatory circuits involved in complex bacterial behaviors. | 25,257,018 | [
0.137911,
0.2120429,
-0.238532,
0.0101196,
-0.3799258,
-0.374118,
-0.2091394,
0.232986,
-0.04419341,
-0.4574606,
0.2995397,
0.07044423,
-0.5199906,
-0.2141395,
-0.2928321,
-0.1397648,
-0.6717106,
0.1596959,
0.2875124,
-0.5519226,
0.3352248,
0.2972288,
-0.1222608,
-0.059... |
A multi-channel device for high-density target-selective stimulation and long-term monitoring of cells and subcellular features in C. elegans. | Selective cell ablation can be used to identify neuronal functions in multicellular model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans. The optogenetic tool KillerRed facilitates selective ablation by enabling light-activated damage of cell or subcellular components in a temporally and spatially precise manner. However, the use of KillerRed requires stimulating (5 min-1 h), culturing (~24 h) and imaging (often repeatedly) a large number of individual animals. Current manual manipulation methods are limited by their time-consuming, labor-intensive nature, and their usage of anesthetics. To facilitate large-scale selective ablation, culturing, and repetitive imaging, we developed a densely-packed multi-channel device and used it to perform high-throughput neuronal ablation on KillerRed-expressing animals. The ability to load worms in identical locations with high loading efficiency allows us to ablate selected neurons in multiple worms simultaneously. Our device also enables continuous observation of animals for 24 h following KillerRed activation, and allows the animals to be recovered for behavioural assays. We expect this multi-channel device to facilitate a broad range of long-term imaging and selective illumination experiments in neuroscience. | 25,257,026 | [
0.2451361,
-0.0765934,
-0.1901511,
-0.09734121,
-0.08665404,
-0.1341724,
-0.1604949,
0.2312194,
0.2454925,
-0.252456,
0.01451615,
-0.02403342,
0.0864751,
-0.2332585,
-0.2139175,
0.2825842,
-0.3765707,
0.2365011,
-0.01187121,
0.09201433,
0.2511005,
0.2415974,
0.0275012,
... |
Biologic-free remission of established rheumatoid arthritis after discontinuation of abatacept: a prospective, multicentre, observational study in Japan. | The aim of this study was to determine whether biologic-free remission of RA is possible with discontinuation of abatacept. Japanese RA patients in 28-joint DAS with CRP (DAS28-CRP) remission (<2.3) after >2 years of abatacept treatment in a phase II study and its long-term extension entered this 52 week, multicentre, non-blinded, prospective, observational study. At enrolment, the patients were offered the option to continue abatacept or not. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who remained biologic-free at 52 weeks after discontinuation. Clinical, functional and structural outcomes were compared between those who continued and those who discontinued abatacept. Of 51 patients enrolled, 34 discontinued and 17 continued abatacept treatment. After 52 weeks, 22 of the 34 patients (64.7%) remained biologic-free. Compared with the continuation group, the discontinuation group had a similar remission rate (41.2% vs 64.7%, P = 0.144) although they had a significantly higher mean DAS28-CRP score at week 52 (2.9 vs 2.0, P = 0.012). The two groups were also similar with regard to mean HAQ Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score (0.6 for both, P = 0.920), mean change in total Sharp score (ΔTSS; 0.80 vs 0.32, P = 0.374) and proportion of patients in radiographic remission (ΔTSS ≤ 0.5) at the endpoint (64.3% vs 70.6%, P = 0.752). Those attaining DAS28-CRP < 2.3 or < 2.7 without abatacept at the endpoint had significantly lower HAQ-DI score and/or CRP at enrolment. Non-serious adverse events occurred in three patients who continued or resumed abatacept. Biologic-free remission of RA is possible in some patients after attaining clinical remission with abatacept. Lower baseline HAQ-DI or CRP may predict maintenance of remission or low disease activity after discontinuation of abatacept. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/ (UMIN000004137). | 25,257,039 | [
0.1037712,
0.1079194,
0.2023609,
-0.1041611,
-0.03202067,
-0.2498344,
0.04545653,
0.5901987,
0.06673734,
-0.2193633,
0.08233257,
-0.1671376,
0.2370658,
-0.08564866,
0.07159778,
-0.02852884,
-0.1274565,
0.2081735,
0.05743028,
0.2151103,
-0.3439288,
0.1575727,
-0.2484341,
... |
The achievement of a decentralized water management through stakeholder participation: an example from the Drôme River catchment area in France (1981-2008). | Different water Acts (e.g., the European Water Framework Directive) and stakeholders involved in aquatic affairs have promoted integrated river basin management over recent decades. However, few studies have provided feedback on these policies. The aim of the current article is to fill this gap by exploring how local newspapers reflect the implementation of a broad public participation within a catchment of France known for its innovation with regard to this domain. The media coverage of a water management strategy in the Drôme watershed from 1981 to 2008 was investigated using a content analysis and a geographic information system. We sought to determine what public participation and decentralized decision-making can be in practice. The results showed that this policy was integrated because of its social perspective, the high number of involved stakeholders, the willingness to handle water issues, and the local scale suitable for participation. We emphasized the prominence of the watershed scale guaranteed by the local water authority. This area was also characterized by compromise, arrangements, and power dynamics on a fine scale. We examined the most politically engaged writings regarding water management, which topics of each group emphasized, and how the groups agreed and disagreed on issues based on their values and context. The temporal pattern of participation implementation was progressive but worked by fits and starts. | 25,257,044 | [
-0.4989289,
0.4328543,
0.241621,
0.1757444,
0.08188551,
-0.3215652,
0.03378876,
-0.3037013,
-0.1840227,
0.06737804,
-0.06514188,
-0.3777097,
-0.07985926,
-0.1014069,
-0.2241836,
-0.1342438,
-0.1893256,
0.257383,
-0.2565137,
-0.02700783,
0.3256199,
0.1124437,
-0.08961991,
... |
Evaluation of association of maternal IL-10 polymorphisms with risk of preeclampsia by A meta-analysis. | Emerging evidence shows that interleukin (IL)-10 gene polymorphisms can regulate its expression level and thus influence person's susceptibility to preeclampsia. However, various published results were inconsistent. To explore the association between maternal IL-10 gene polymorphisms and preeclampsia, we performed a meta-analysis based upon 11 individual studies here. Our meta-analysis results indicated that IL-10 -819 C/T (C versus T, OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.08-1.50, P = 0.003) and -592 C/A (C versus A, OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.03-1.59, P = 0.03) polymorphisms were associated with preeclampsia. Although there was no overall association between -1082 A/G polymorphism and preeclampsia (G versus A, OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.77-1.13, P = 0.49), such association existed among Asian (G versus A, OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.04-1.60, P = 0.02) and South American (G versus A, OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.54-0.94, P = 0.02) populations in the subgroup analysis stratified by continents. | 25,257,050 | [
0.1061371,
0.2986211,
-0.08380389,
-0.1197959,
0.1052371,
-0.009911043,
-0.09474732,
-0.2255614,
0.1052281,
-0.04055097,
0.009966991,
0.1844472,
0.1658036,
0.1251059,
-0.02368531,
-0.4280581,
-0.2773637,
0.2843348,
-0.04867714,
0.2370594,
-0.1832376,
0.3632684,
-0.1417752... |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.