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pubmed_1033_5848 | This paper reports the facile synthetic strategy of a series of novel pi-conjugated dendrimers (G0 and G1) based on 10,15-dihydro-5H-diindeno[1,2-a;1',2'-c]fluorene (truxene) in which the benzene cores are generated "in-situ" from acetyl aromatics by the acid-promoted cyclotrimerizations. The unique NMR behaviors, physical properties, and electroluminescence device applications are also presented. Besides the purity, the structure, and the confirmation of the successful formation and isolation of desired compounds by clear assignments of every molecule by (1)H and (13)C and 2D NMR characterizations, several astonishing NMR behaviors have been observed in various solvents. For 1, chemical shift values belonging to H-2' of hexyl substituents move to the most upfield; however, such chemical shift values move from 0.48 to 0.85 ppm when pyridine-d(5) or benzene-d(6) is used as solvent. Our dendrimers as the emissive layers in organic light-emitting diodes gave blue-green light with an external quantum efficiency up to 0.16% both for G0 and for G1 in nitrogen, respectively, which exhibit unique electroluminescence spectra in comparison with their corresponding photoluminescence ones. | 10.1021/jo049268p |
pubmed_1028_9229 | The clinical presentations of 3 patients found to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm with ureteric involvement have been described. The world literature concerning this problem and methods of surgical treatment have been reviewed. The importance of medial displacement of the ureters as an early diagnostic sign indicating the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is again emphasised. The possibility of a relatively benign course for the aneurysm should be considered in patients with renal or cardiorespiratory complications. In such cases, treatment of the ureteric involvement alone is justified. | 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1978.tb03638.x |
pubmed_314_12847 | DNA toroids formed by calf thymus DNA and trivalent cation bis(ethylenediamine)gold(III) are investigated using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Stable dispersions containing toroids with diameters of around 44 nm and thicknesses between 12 and 17 nm are readily prepared. These toroids are shown to be a robust platform for the preparation of metallic nanomaterials. Depending on the reaction conditions, the reduction of gold(III) in their presence can result in either toroids coated with many small (<10 nm) gold particles or larger continuous gold structures. | 10.1021/la100402j |
pubmed_789_15059 | BACKGROUND
DNA methylation is essential for normal development and differentiation and plays a crucial role in the development of nearly all types of cancer. Aberrant DNA methylation patterns, including genome-wide hypomethylation and region-specific hypermethylation, are frequently observed and contribute to the malignant phenotype. A number of studies have recently identified distinct features of genomic sequences that can be used for modeling specific DNA sequences that may be susceptible to aberrant CpG methylation in both cancer and normal cells. Although it is now possible, using next generation sequencing technologies, to assess human methylomes at base resolution, no reports currently exist on modeling cell type-specific DNA methylation susceptibility. Thus, we conducted a comprehensive modeling study of cell type-specific DNA methylation susceptibility at three different resolutions: CpG dinucleotides, CpG segments, and individual gene promoter regions.
RESULTS
Using a k-mer mixture logistic regression model, we effectively modeled DNA methylation susceptibility across five different cell types. Further, at the segment level, we achieved up to 0.75 in AUC prediction accuracy in a 10-fold cross validation study using a mixture of k-mers.
CONCLUSIONS
The significance of these results is three fold: 1) this is the first report to indicate that CpG methylation susceptible "segments" exist; 2) our model demonstrates the significance of certain k-mers for the mixture model, potentially highlighting DNA sequence features (k-mers) of differentially methylated, promoter CpG island sequences across different tissue types; 3) as only 3 or 4 bp patterns had previously been used for modeling DNA methylation susceptibility, ours is the first demonstration that 6-mer modeling can be performed without loss of accuracy. | 10.1186/1471-2105-13-S3-S15 |
pubmed_781_10457 | The United States has a changing populace with an increasing number of vulnerable, diverse, and older adults. Of people aged 65 and older, nearly two-thirds suffer from serious comorbidities. Costs associated with chronic illness increase with age and number of conditions. More than 25% of older adults do not have advanced care planning. The current model of health care cannot meet these needs. The initiation of palliative care in the ICU will capture many patients who meet the criteria for palliative care and improve their QOL by management their end-of-life symptoms and reduce unnecessary utilization of health care resources. | pubmed_781_10457 |
pubmed_847_13084 | Methotrexate (MTX) has been used in treating various types of cancers but can also cause damage to normal organs and cell types. Folinic acid (FA) is a well-known MTX antidote that protects against toxicity caused by the drug and has been used for decades. Since hearing loss caused by MTX treatment is not well studied, herein we aimed to investigate the efficiency of the antioxidant Avenanthramide-C (AVN-C) on high-dose MTX (HDMTX) toxicity in the ear and provide insights into the possible mechanism involved in MTX-induced hearing loss in normal adult C57Bl/6 mice and HEI-OC1 cells. Our results show that the levels of MTX increased in the serum and perilymph 30 minutes after systemic administration. MTX increased hearing thresholds in mice, whereas AVN-C and FA preserved hearing within the normal range. MTX also caused a decrease in wave I amplitude, while AVN-C and FA maintained it at higher levels. MTX considerably damaged the cochlear synapses and neuronal integrity, and both AVN-C and FA rescued the synapses. MTX reduced the cell viability and increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in HEI-OC1 cells, but AVN-C and FA reversed these changes. Apoptosis- and ROS-related genes were significantly upregulated in MTX-treated HEI-OC1 cells; however, they were downregulated by AVN-C and FA treatment. We show that MTX can cause severe hearing loss; it can cross the blood-labyrinth barrier and cause damage to the cochlear neurons and outer hair cells (OHCs). The antioxidant AVN-C exerts a strong protective effect against MTX-induced ototoxicity and preserved the inner ear structures (synapses, neurons, and OHCs) from MTX-induced damage. The mechanism of AVN-C against MTX suggests that ROS is involved in HDMTX-induced ototoxicity. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0266108 |
pubmed_74_18952 | D151 resin preloaded with Fe3+ [denoted as R-Fe3+] was to investigate R-Fe3+ as an adsorbent for glyphosate from water in the presence high concentration of salt. The adsorption mechanism revealed the coordination of Fe3+ inside R-Fe3+ with O atoms of P-O and N atoms in glyphosate molecule. The adsorption capacity of glyphosate by R-Fe3+ was much larger than that of D151 resin preloaded with Ni2+, Cu2+, Na+ and H+. Even in glyphosate solutions containing 16% NaCl, R-Fe3+ showed the constant adsorption capacity of glyphosate. The result provided the first evidence of R-Fe3+ as a salt resistant adsorbent for glyphosate. The adsorption capacity of glyphosate was the maximum at pH 3.35. The adsorption thermodynamics showed that the adsorption of glyphosate by R-Fe3+ was the ligand exchange of glyphosate and water. The maximum coordination ratio of glyphosate to Fe3+ inside R-Fe3+ was 1:1. The maximum adsorption capacity of glyphosate by R-Fe3+ was up to 481.85 mg/g, which is much higher than that of other reported adsorbents in the presence 16% NaCl. 2 mol/L NaOH, 2 mol/L H2SO4 and 2 mol/L Fe2(SO4)3 could all be used to achieve over 97% regeneration of R-Fe3+. | 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.110140 |
pubmed_425_9938 | Through a close reading of texts, this essay traces the development of catatonia from its origination in Kahlbaum's 1874 monograph to Kraepelin's catatonic subtype of his new category of Dementia Praecox (DP) in 1899. In addition to Kraepelin's second to sixth textbook editions, I examine the six articles referenced by Kraepelin: Kahlbaum 1874, Brosius 1877, Neisser 1887, Behr 1891, Schüle 1897, and Aschaffenburg 1897 (Behr and Aschaffenburg worked under Kraepelin). While Brosius and Neisser confirmed Kahlbaum's descriptions, Behr, Schüle, and Aschaffenburg concluded that his catatonic syndrome was nonspecific and only more narrowly defined forms, especially those with deteriorating course, might be diagnostically valid. Catatonia is first described by Kraepelin as a subform of Verrücktheit (chronic nonaffective delusional insanity) in his second to fourth editions. In his third edition, he adds a catatonic form of Wahnsinn (acute delusional-affective insanity). His fourth and fifth editions contain, respectively, catatonic forms of his two proto-DP concepts: Psychischen Entartungsprocesse and Die Verblödungsprocesse. Kahlbaum's catatonia required a sequential phasic course. Positive psychotic symptoms were rarely noted, and outcome was frequently good. While agreeing on the importance of key catatonic signs (stupor, muteness, posturing, verbigeration, and excitement), Kraepelin narrowed Kahlbaum's concept, dropping the phasic course, emphasizing positive psychotic symptoms and poor outcome. In his fourth to sixth editions, as he tried to integrate his three DP subtypes, he stressed, as suggested by Aschaffenburg and Schüle, the close clinical relationship between catatonia and hebephrenia and emphasized the bizarre and passivity delusions seen in catatonia, typical of paranoid DP. | 10.1093/schbul/sbz101 |
pubmed_590_273 | Although Cushing's syndrome has been described in association with various neuroendocrine tumors producing ectopic adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), primary ovarian carcinoma rarely causes this syndrome. We hereby report the case of a 61-year-old woman presented with abdominal distension, facial swelling and skin pigmentation. Clinical and diagnostic evaluation revealed a right ovarian tumor with hypercortisolemia, high plasma ACTH, extremely high plasma ACTH precursors and lack of dexamethasone suppression. Removal of the tumor led to normalization of ACTH, ACTH precursors and cortisol levels. In addition, hypokalemia, hyperglycemia and elevated serum CA 125 were noted, which were also normalized after resection of the tumor. Histopathological examination indicated a primary ovarian carcinoma with a mixed pattern of differentiation. Immunohistochemistry showed immunoreactivity for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and ACTH. Hence, the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome arising from an ovarian carcinoma secreting ectopic ACTH was made. The case was managed successfully, with subsequent good recovery and no evidence of recurrence at 4 years of follow-up. | 10.1007/BF03401329 |
pubmed_805_12940 | The aim of the present study was to investigate differential emotional response patterns to film stimuli by multimodal assessment of mood ratings, perception of bodily sensations, salivary cortisol, autonomic variables and facial electromyogram (EMG). Film stimuli, chosen to elicit positive and negative emotional states, were presented to 12 subjects with general anxiety disorder and 12 controls. Changes in mood, bodily sensations, autonomic activity (heart rate, respiration rate and skin conductance), facial EMG activity (corrugator and zygomatic muscle region) and salivary cortisol were measured. Analyses revealed differential changes in all response systems except for respiration rate and salivary cortisol. Although high-anxious subjects did not differ from controls in their average responses to the negative film stimuli, there is a tendency of a greater coherence of emotional response components in generalized anxiety subjects. However, spontaneous facial expressions to positive and negative film stimuli were associated with augmented electrodermal activity within both groups. Results are interpreted in light of directional response fractionation, dimensional approaches of emotion, and the facial feedback literature. | 10.1016/0301-0511(90)90079-c |
pubmed_692_25727 | Collagen I is not only responsible for maintaining the integrity of most tissues due to its mechanical properties, but also for its active participation in the functionality of tissues because of its interaction with cells present in the extracellular matrix. The synthesis of collagen begins with tissue injury and remains until the end of the healing process. The use of non-coherent light for healing processes is still understudied. This procedure stands out as a biostimulation method for tissue repair, which increases local circulation, cell proliferation, and collagen synthesis. This study sought to quantify collagen I in the healing process after the treatment of wounds with the light-emitting diode (LED) treatment. The histologic analysis with tissue samples stained with picrosirius red showed a statistical difference between the positive controls, LED 627 and LED 945 nm groups; the group treated with LED 627 nm showed a predominance of mature collagen. The immunohistochemical analysis showed a statistically significant high concentration of collagen I in the LED 945 nm group. The irradiation of wounds with the higher wavelength (945 nm) used in the study produced the best activity of collagen I formation in experimental model. | 10.1007/s10103-014-1668-3 |
others_270_9530 | This experiment compared silages obtained from 3 hybrids of sorghum grown on 2 farms of the Po Valley (one irrigated and one not), in terms of in vitro degradability, gas production (GP), and energy value. Hybrids (forage, sweet or grain genotypes) were sown in experimental plots (3 plots × 3 hybrids), harvested at late-milk stage of maturity, and ensiled into mini-silos (3 silos × 3 hybrids) for 60 d. After ensiling, silages were analyzed for composition and fermentation profile. Two incubations (at 48 h) were carried out to measure NDF degradability (NDFd), GP, and the metabolizable energy (ME) content of silages. Data of silage composition were submitted to ANOVA , considering farm (F), hybrid (H), and F × H interaction as variation sources. Incubation (run) was also considered as a fixed effect in the statistical model for the parameters obtained by in vitro incubation (NDFd, GP, and energy content). On the irrigated farm (Farm 2), the DM contents of silages were higher than those of the non-irrigated one (P<0.001) and the fermentation profile was more favorable. Values of GP at 24 and 48 h and ME content were higher (P<0.05) for silages of Farm 2 in comparison with Farm 1. Within hybrids, the grain sorghum revealed the greatest DM content whereas the forage sorghum, as expected, was the richest in fibrous fraction content, followed by the sweet and grain genotypes (P<0.001). Consequently, values of GP were significantly (P<0.01) influenced by hybrid (167, 200, 215 ml/g DM and 229, 257, 267 ml/g DM for forage, sweet and grain genotypes after 24 and 48 h of incubation, respectively). The F × H interaction was significant for all considered parameters excluding DM, lignin, ash, pH, and in vitro parameters. On the two farms, in general, forage and grain genotypes were largely different, whereas the sweet sorghum was quite similar to the forage in one case or grain in the other. Results of this experiment highlight the large variability of the nutritional values of sorghum hybrids grown in different conditions. © 2016 Walter de Gruyter GmbH. All rights reser | 10.1515/aoas-2015-0082 |
pubmed_144_1295 | A 60-year-old man presented with thoracic myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). His spinal cord was severely impinged anteriorly by a beak-type OPLL and posteriorly by ossification of the ligamentum flavum at T4/5. He underwent surgical posterior decompression with instrumented fusion (PDF). Immediately after surgery, he developed a Brown-Séquard-type paralysis, which spontaneously resolved without requiring the addition of OPLL extirpation. This example highlights that the risk of postoperative neurological deterioration cannot be eliminated even when PDF is selected as the surgical procedure for thoracic OPLL, especially in instances in which the spinal cord is severely compressed. | 10.1016/j.jocn.2010.04.030 |
pubmed_575_12111 | PrEP delivery and routine care provide a unique opportunity to promote sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention by both increasing STI testing frequency and creating a space for affirmative and effective safer sex counseling. This study was a feasibility and acceptability pilot of an adapted framed message intervention to increase condom use frequency with PrEP. In the formative phase, two focus groups with PrEP users (N = 7) provided feedback on a provisional loss-framed message intervention and identified potential study barriers. In the pilot trial, the adapted loss-framed message intervention was compared to a gain-framed message intervention and enhanced skills condition in a sample of PrEP users (N = 29). In terms of intervention feasibility, 58% of approached PrEP users completed the eligibility screen; 79% of those eligible enrolled in the study and 66% of enrolled participants completed the three-month follow-up. In terms of intervention acceptability, participants found the informational messages, regardless of assignment, to be moderately interesting (M = 6.24, SD = 2.97) and useful (M = 7.07, SD = 3.00), and very easy to understand (M = 9.50, SD = 0.97) on Likert-type scales ranging from 1 to 10. In terms of intervention effects, there was a small effect of the gain-framed intervention (b = .58, SE = .93, CI = -1.33, 2.48, Cohen's d = .26) on HIV/STI risk transmission. There was a small-medium effect of both the loss- (b = 2.00, SE = .90, CI = .15, 3.85, Cohen's d = 1.46) and gain-framed (b = 2.24, SE = .93, CI = .34, 4.15, Cohen's d = 1.65) interventions on condom use motivation. Finally, there was a medium-large effect of both the loss- (b = .97, SE = 1.33, CI = -1.88, 3.82, Cohen's d = .54) and gain-framed intervention (b = 1.97, SE = 1.33, CI = -.88, 4.82, Cohen's d = .87) on condom use frequency. Further refinement and testing, in a larger -scale trial with higher ecological validity than this initial pilot intervention, is warranted. | 10.1007/s10508-021-02045-1 |
pubmed_102_2266 | The Journal of Clinical Engineering has conducted its second survey of the salaries paid to Clinical Engineers and Biomedical Equipment Technicians in U.S. hospitals. This paper reports the salary data obtained from 1,350 professionals in relationship to: Certification; Region of the U.S.; Teaching Versus Nonteaching Facilities; Hospital Bed Count; Years of Experience; Education; Union Membership; and, Gender. Data are included on Wage Increases and Job Responsibilities. This was the largest salary survey ever obtained in this field. New job categories were introduced for BMET Supervisor and CE Supervisor. A new quartile analysis of Wages is introduced. The typical BMET I has 3.1 years of experience and earns $19,000 +/- $4,400 (Std. Dev.). The typical BMET II has 5.9 years of experience and earns $24,500 +/- $4,500. The typical BMET III has 10.8 years of experience and earns $29,500 +/- $5,300. The typical BMET Supervisor has 12.6 years of experience and earns $32,600 +/- $8,800. The typical CE has 7.3 years of experience and earns $34,200 +/- $7,800. CE Supervisors are the highest paid in the field with an average 13.1 years of experience and an average salary of $41,200 +/- $10,100. Wages are the highest on the West Coast and lowest in the Southeast. From 1985 to 1986, respondents received raises ranging from +5.9% to +9.1% depending on job category. The highest quartile of CE Supervisors earns between $46,700 and $86,000 per year. Certified individuals earn from $1,003 to $8,656 more than noncertified. | 10.1097/00004669-198707000-00015 |
pubmed_469_6659 | Previously, the attempt to compile German dietary guidelines into a diet score was predominantly not successful with regards to preventing chronic diseases in the EPIC-Potsdam study. Current guidelines were supplemented by the latest evidence from systematic reviews and expert papers published between 2010 and 2020 on the prevention potential of food groups on chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. A diet score was developed by scoring the food groups according to a recommended low, moderate or high intake. The relative validity and reliability of the diet score, assessed by a food frequency questionnaire, was investigated. The consideration of current evidence resulted in 10 key food groups being preventive of the chronic diseases of interest. They served as components in the diet score and were scored from 0 to 1 point, depending on their recommended intake, resulting in a maximum of 10 points. Both the reliability (r = 0.53) and relative validity (r = 0.43) were deemed sufficient to consider the diet score as a stable construct in future investigations. This new diet score can be a promising tool to investigate dietary intake in etiological research by concentrating on 10 key dietary determinants with evidence-based prevention potential for chronic diseases. | 10.3390/nu14112359 |
pubmed_146_22016 | The impact of obesity on nitric oxide (NO)-mediated coronary microvascular responses is poorly understood. Thus NO-mediated vasomotor responses were investigated in pressurized coronary arterioles ( approximately 100 microm) isolated from lean (on normal diet) and obese (fed with 60% of saturated fat) rats. We found that dilations to acetylcholine (ACh) were not significantly different in obese and lean rats (lean, 83 +/- 4%; and obese, 85 +/- 3% at 1 microM), yet the inhibition of NO synthesis with N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester reduced ACh-induced dilations only in vessels of lean controls. The presence of the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor oxadiazolo-quinoxaline (ODQ) elicited a similar reduction in ACh-induced dilations in the two groups of vessels (lean, 60 +/- 11%; and obese, 57 +/- 3%). Dilations to NO donors, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and diethylenetriamine (DETA)-NONOate were enhanced in coronary arterioles of obese compared with lean control rats (lean, 63 +/- 6% and 51 +/- 5%; and obese, 78 +/- 5% and 70 +/- 5%, respectively, at 1 microM), whereas dilations to 8-bromo-cGMP were not different in the two groups. In the presence of ODQ, both SNP and DETA-NONOate-induced dilations were reduced to a similar level in lean and obese rats. Moreover, SNP-stimulated cGMP immunoreactivity in coronary arterioles and also cGMP levels in carotid arteries were enhanced in obese rats, whereas the protein expression of endothelial NOS and the sGC beta1-subunit were not different in the two groups. Collectively, these findings suggest that in coronary arterioles of obese rats, the increased activity of sGC leads to an enhanced sensitivity to NO, which may contribute to the maintenance of NO-mediated dilations and coronary perfusion in obesity. | 10.1152/ajpheart.01198.2007 |
pubmed_1068_115 | In the course of examining single unit responses from the cortex of unrestrained and unanesthetized cats, we have come upon a population of cells that appears to be sensitive to auditory stimuli only if the cat "pays attention" to the sound source. We have described these responses, since they have not been previously reported and since they illustrate an important difference between the information which can be gleaned from experiments of this type and that obtained in the usual "acute" microelectrode experiment. | 10.1126/science.129.3358.1279 |
pubmed_600_16911 | Beverages are among the first independent product choices that school-aged children will make and unhealthy choices can be a threat to children's health. The present study investigated which beverage attributes shape adults' and children's health perceptions. For this purpose, 100 children (fifty-two boys; mean age 8·8 (SD 1·1) years) and their parents were invited to independently perform a beverage-sorting task. Participants were asked to place twenty commonly consumed soft drinks in a line ranging from 'unhealthy' to 'healthy'. The sorting data were analysed using multidimensional scaling with property fitting and hierarchical clustering. Sugar content (βparents= - 0·78, βchildren= - 0·68; P< 0·001), artificial sweeteners (βparents= - 0·68, βchildren= - 0·66; P< 0·001), fruit content (βparents= 0·33, βchildren= 0·36; P< 0·05) and caffeine content (βparents= - 0·45, βchildren= - 0·46; P< 0·01) were found to be the predictors of parents' and children's health perceptions. Parents' and children's estimates were strongly related (rs 0·70 (SD 0·15)); both groups classified the beverages into similar clusters. However, compared with their parents, children perceived beverages such as fruit juices and grapefruit soda to be healthier. In conclusion, parents' and children's health perceptions were strongly related based on the same relevant attributes for evaluation. However, fruit content was considered a more important criterion by children, which might lead to differences in the health perception between children and their parents. Low fruit content and the belief of beverages being 'natural' could positively bias perceptions. Therefore, certain soft drinks such as squashes or fruit lemonades are problematic, and the consumer's awareness of their low nutritional quality should be raised. | 10.1017/S0007114514004073 |
pubmed_1023_4372 | Two patients had distinctive adnexal skin tumors that showed cellular differentiation toward the formation of more than one adnexal structure. In one patient, the tumor showed differentiation toward pilar and sweat ductal structures. In the second patient, tumor differentiation toward the formation of sebaceous glands, pilar, and sweat ductal structures was found. We propose the term "combined adnexal tumor of the skin" for this neoplasm. | pubmed_1023_4372 |
pubmed_132_19627 | BACKGROUND
Patients with respiratory failure undergoing prone positioning (PP) are often monitored by the transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) technique. However, it remains unclear whether the measurement of TPTD-derived variables is influenced by PP. We investigated the effects of 135° PP on the accuracy of TPTD-derived variables and their changes over an 8-10 h period of time.
METHODS
We studied 16 mechanically ventilated patients who underwent PP for acute respiratory distress syndrome or acute lung injury and received hemodynamic monitoring by the TPTD technique. Measurements of extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI), ejection fraction corrected GEDVI (cGEDVI), pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) and hemodynamic variables were obtained 10 min before and after positioning and repositioning. One-way analysis of variance and Friedman's test with Student-Newman-Keuls method for all pairwise multiple comparisons were used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
EVLWI increased after proning (12.7 ± 4.7 vs. 14.8 ± 7.8 ml/kg) and remained elevated until end of prone positioning (15.1 ± 7.2 vs. 12.8 ± 4.9 ml/kg) with P < 0.05 for difference between respective time points. After proning, GEDVI remained unchanged (571 ± 153 vs. 593 ± 152 ml/m²). At the end of prone positioning GEDVI was 610 ± 55 ml/m² and decreased after returning to supine to 553 ± 14 ml/m². Proning increased cGEDVI from 525 ± 136 to 570 ± 11 ml/m² and repositioning decreased cGEDVI from 558 ± 116 to 496 ± 121 ml/m². No significant changes in PVPI were observed during the study period.
CONCLUSIONS
EVLWI and GEDVI measurements are possibly influenced by prone positioning. In spite of statistical significance, the differences in EVLWI and GEDVI are low and presumably of no clinical relevance. | 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2011.02519.x |
pubmed_329_18699 | Hemodynamic monitoring has long formed the cornerstone of heart failure (HF) and pulmonary hypertension diagnosis and management. We review the long history of invasive hemodynamic monitors initially using pulmonary artery (PA) pressure catheters in the hospital setting, to evaluating the utility of a number of implantable devices that can allow for ambulatory determination of intracardiac pressures. Although the use of indwelling PA catheters has fallen out of favor in a number of settings, implantable devices have afforded clinicians an opportunity for objective determination of a patient's volume status and pulmonary pressures. Some devices, such as the CardioMEMS and thoracic impedance monitors present as part of implantable cardiac defibrillators, are supported by a body of evidence which show the potential to reduce HF related morbidity and have received regulatory approval, whereas other devices have failed to show benefit and, in some cases, harm. Clearly these devices can convey a considerable amount of information and clinicians should start to familiarize themselves with their use and expect further development and refinement in the future. | 10.5500/wjt.v6.i3.542 |
pubmed_862_12874 | We describe and compare two methods of displaying autostereoscopic three-dimensional images by integral photography. One method is to display the image in front of the lens array, and the other method is to display the image behind the lens array. We compare and discuss these two methods from the viewpoints of lateral resolution, depth resolution, and viewing angle. We also discuss the effect of the optical parameter difference in the pickup and display. | 10.1364/ao.40.005217 |
pubmed_1095_16501 | Severe clinical incidents occur in up to 10% of all non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients, which have an estimated mortality of 5-8%. As in the prehospital setting, early clinical warning signs can be identified in the majority of cases. Studies suggest that introduction of an in-hospital medical emergency team (MET) which responds to objective criteria of physiological deterioration, may effectively reduce the incidence of in-hospital cardiac arrests as well as unanticipated or readmissions to the ICU. According to this concept, METs would evaluate and treat non-ICU patients at risk at an early stage before a potentially fatal deterioration of cardiorespiratory parameters occurs. This article reviews available data on preventive in-hospital intensive care medicine and reflects on the circumstances for an implementation of METs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. | 10.1007/s00101-007-1271-0 |
pubmed_202_13078 | It is well established that a rise in circulating thyroid hormone during the second half of chick embryo development significantly influences muscle weight gain and bone growth. We studied thyroid influence on differentiation in slow anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) and fast posterior latissimus dorsi (PLD) muscles of embryos rendered hypothyroid by hypophysectomy or administration of an anti-thyroid drug. The expression of native myosins and myosin light chains (MLCs) was studied by electrophoretic analysis, and the myosin heavy chain (MHC) was characterized by immunohistochemistry. The first effects of hypothyroid status were observed at day 21 of embryonic development (stage 46 according to Hamburger and Hamilton). Analysis of myosin isoform expression in PLD muscles of hypothyroid embryos showed persistence of slow migrating native myosins and slow MLCs as well as inhibition of neonatal fast MHC expression, indicating retarded differentiation of this muscle. In ALD muscle, hypothyroidism maintained fast embryonic MHC and induced noticeable amounts of fast MLCs, thus delaying slow muscle differentiation. Our results suggest that thyroid hormones play a role in modulating the appearance of neonatal fast MHC and the disappearance of isomyosins transiently present during embryogenesis. However, T3 supplemental treatment would seem to compensate in part for the effects of hypothyroidism induced by hypophysectomy, suggesting that thyroid hormone might interfere with other factors also accounting for the observed effects. | 10.1242/dev.115.4.1121 |
pubmed_968_11525 | The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between women's age and risk of pregnancy-related complications. The study was a retrospective cohort analysis of the pregnancy-related complications and outcomes between two age groups of parturient women. Categorical data were expressed as absolute and relative frequencies. Statistical analysis was performed using χ2-test. The incidence of gestational diabetes was higher in the 40-47 age group as compared with the 20-24 age group. The rates of hypertension, preeclampsia, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and hypothyroidism did not differ between the two groups. The rates of labor induction, oxytocin use, vaginal delivery, and need for episiotomy were higher in younger age group. Dystocia and breech presentation as indications for cesarean section were more common among younger women. According to study results, the risk of gestational diabetes and rates of cesarean delivery increased with advanced maternal age. | 10.20471/acc.2021.60.02.16 |
pubmed_832_24479 | OBJECTIVES
A major issue in Japan's health policy is the geographical maldistribution of physicians. This study aimed to analyse temporal trends in the geographical distribution of physicians and analyse physicians in high and intermediate physician density areas and factors related to their movement to low physician density areas in Japan.
DESIGN
A longitudinal study.
SETTING
All physicians in 344 secondary medical districts.
PARTICIPANTS
I analysed data from the biennial national census, conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare between 1996 and 2016 and and divided it into two cohorts of 10 years each: 1996-2006 and 2006-2016.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES
I estimated the temporal trends in the number and percentages of physicians, and used logistic regression to analyse physicians in high and intermediate physician density areas and the factors related to their movement to low physician density areas.
RESULTS
The overall number of Japanese doctors increased by 31% between 1996 and 2016. The number of physicians per population in the physician high-density areas increased by 29%, while those in low-density areas increased by 32%, suggesting that the gap between areas marginally decreased. The multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that academic hospital experience had the highest OR for predicting physician movement to low physician density areas after 10 years, both in the 1996 and 2006 cohorts. Other factors that positively correlated with physician movement were being male, being younger than 40 years, being qualified after the age of 30, urban area, intermediate physician density area and practice in a non-academic hospital.
CONCLUSIONS
As less-experienced physicians demonstrate high mobility among geographic categories, and retention rates are low in low physician density areas, especially for less-experienced physicians, a new system that considers these factors would create opportunities for younger physicians to work in low-density areas. | 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041187 |
pubmed_765_25736 | The aim of this study was to examine the role of support people in determining migrant agricultural workers' access to, or ability to navigate, public spaces and services. While the role of support networks for this population is still in its infancy, much can be gained from understanding the emerging best practices for helping this group. Using a situational analysis research approach, we carried out 4 focus groups and 25 one-on-one interviews, recruiting a total of 30 informal and formal support people as study participants between 2018 and 2019. Data analysis occurred over a 2-year period largely simultaneously with data collection. Developing analytic maps as outlined by Clarke's approach to situational analysis, we reviewed texts and preliminary codes by organising them in terms of situations, social worlds, and discursive positions. Ultimately, we identified four best practices: (a) Anticipating and addressing barriers; (b) building trust and community; (c) acknowledging rights and system accountability and (d) bearing witness and looking to the future. Underlying these best practices was the need for support people to display 'support readiness', or specialised skills, motivation and a personal connection to migrant farmworkers. While these practices have the potential to improve migrant workers' ability to fully participate in public spaces and access public services, until systemic constraints are addressed, support people will be unable to fill the gaps in support for this population. | 10.1111/hsc.13088 |
pubmed_1037_21691 | Neuropathic pain is a kind of pain caused by damage to somatosensory nervous system. Currently, neuropathic pain is still a medical problem for clinicians. Ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2B (Ube2b) is validated to be implicated with nerve function, but whether Ube2b can play a role in neuropathic pain is still elusive. In this work, we constructed chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat model by ligating the left sciatic nerve, Ube2b protein expression was confirmed to be decreased in spinal cord tissues of CCI rats via Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Moreover, Ube2b elevation alleviated the thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical hyperalgesia in CCI rats according to paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) and paw withdrawal mechanic threshold (PWMT). In addition, Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed that Ube2b elevation suppressed chronic sciatic nerve injury. All these data suggested that Ube2b could ameliorate neuropathic pain in CCI rats. Mechanically, Ube2b upregulation elevated the protein level of Kcna2 (potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 2) and decreased the protein level of DNMT3a (DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha). Ube2b elevation could increase Kcna2 expression via suppressing DNMT3a. Rescue assays unveiled that Ube2b overexpression modulated-mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia were reversed by Kcna2 depletion, indicating that Ube2b alleviated neuropathic pain via mediating Kcna2 via the regulation of DNMT3a. In summary, we found that Ube2b elevation ameliorated neuropathic pain through regulating Kcna2, which might offer a novel biomarker for the therapies of neuropathic pain. | 10.1080/21655979.2021.1976895 |
pubmed_626_1784 | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is defined as a progressive, usually only partially reversible, obstruction of the airways The disease is associated with an inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles, particularly cigarette smoke. Numerous epidemiological studies have shown a significant association between impaired lung function and the presence of cardiovascular, metabolic or other extrapulmonary comorbidities. Systemic inflammation may be the missing link between COPD and its extrapulmonary manifestations, although the exact mechanism of this relationship remains unclear. The development and validation of score systems that classify COPD severity, not only by changes in lung function, is an important step. The BODE score (body-mass index, airways obstruction, dyspnea, exercise capacity) is such a system. Based on the concept of COPD as a systemic disease, a concept is needed which describes in detail the pharmacological treatment of the pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations of the disease. In addition, the part of the disease that is treatable with physiotherapy and rehabilitation must be fully taken into account. Such multimodal treatment regimens have so far not been implemented into clinical guidelines. | 10.1055/s-0029-1222594 |
pubmed_583_259 | OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of the histological response at the time of interval debulking surgery (IDS) in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for unresectable advanced-stage ovarian cancer (ASOC).
STUDY DESIGN
A retrospective study to select cases fulfilling 4 inclusion criteria: (1) patients with unresectable ASOC; (2) at least 3 courses of platinum and paclitaxel NACT; (3) patients who underwent IDS after NACT and who were free of macroscopic residual disease at the end of debulking surgery and (4) histologic analysis of specimens performed in the same institution. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the histological response to NACT group 1: no histologic residual disease; group 2: persistent residual disease but with marked histological changes and group 3: persistence of at least 1 site with no changes in the tumour. Survival was compared.
RESULTS
Fifty-eight patients (49 stage IIIC and 9 stage IV) fulfilled inclusion criteria. Respectively 8, 14 and 36 patients were in groups 1, 2 and 3. The median duration of follow-up was 41 months. Three-year event-free survival in groups 1, 2 and 3 was respectively: 63%, 12% and 19% (p=.02).
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the degree of the histological response has a limited impact on survival when complete debulking surgery is achieved at IDS. The degree of tumour cell viability after initial chemotherapy is not a reliable marker for modifying chemotherapy after debulking surgery in such patients. | 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2009.07.016 |
pubmed_600_19073 | A bouncing droplet, self-propelled by its interaction with the waves it generates, forms a classical wave-particle association called a "walker." Previous works have demonstrated that the dynamics of a single walker is driven by its global surface wave field that retains information on its past trajectory. Here we investigate the energy stored in this wave field for two coupled walkers and how it conveys an interaction between them. For this purpose, we characterize experimentally the "promenade modes" where two walkers are bound and propagate together. Their possible binding distances take discrete values, and the velocity of the pair depends on their mutual binding. The mean parallel motion can be either rectilinear or oscillating. The experimental results are recovered analytically with a simple theoretical framework. A relation between the kinetic energy of the droplets and the total energy of the standing waves is established. | 10.1103/PhysRevE.90.063017 |
pubmed_1138_13695 | Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides an accurate measurement of left ventricular mass but imaging time can be up to 45 min. We tested a more rapid multislice spin echo technique on 16 volunteers without evidence of heart disease. Multislice short axis spin echo images were acquired in up to three sets of five, clustered around end systole. Total imaging time was 15 min. Myocardial areas were summed and specific gravity was assumed. Comparison was made with multiple single acquisitions timed to end systole. There was good agreement between the two measurements of left ventricular mass. Mean (+/- standard deviation (sd), range) values were 212 g (+/- 41.71, 152 to 311) by the multislice method and 213 g (+/- 44.26, 155 to 317) by the single slice method. The mean difference (+/- sd of difference) between measurements was -1.72 +/- 14.89 g (95% confidence interval for limits of agreement was +/- 14%). We have therefore established a more rapid and accurate method of measuring left ventricular mass. | 10.1259/0007-1285-67-793-86 |
others_79_12084 | Signalment, clinicai features, fixation techniques, complications, and outcome for dogs presenting with distai diaphyseal and supracondylar femoral fractures were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 45 dogs with unilateral femoral fractures were included. Supracondylar femoral plates were the most popular method of fixation. However, various fixation techniques resulted in favorable outcomes in most dogs with 19/45 cases achieving full function and 22/45 achieving acceptable function. Degree of fracture comminution did not appear to affect complication rate or be a surrogate for worse clinicai outcome. © 2020 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. All rights reser | others_79_12084 |
pubmed_132_25247 | The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and concomitant oxidative stress have been considered deleterious consequences of aluminum toxicity. However, several lines of evidence suggest that ROS can function as important signaling molecules in the plant defense system for protection from abiotic stress and the acquisition of tolerance. The role of ROS-scavenging enzymes was assayed in two different coffee cell suspension lines. We treated L2 (Al-sensitive) and LAMt (Al-tolerant) Coffea arabica suspension cells with 100 μM AlCl(3) and observed significant differences in catalase activity between the two cell lines. However, we did not observe any differences in superoxide dismutase or glutathione reductase activity in either cell line following Al treatment. ROS production was diminished in the LAMt cell line. Taken together, these results indicate that aluminum treatment may impair the oxidative stress response in L2 cells but not in LAMt cells. We suggest a possible role for Al-induced oxidative bursts in the signaling pathways that lead to Al resistance and protection from Al toxicity. | 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2011.09.031 |
pubmed_738_12512 | This paper deals with the vulnerability of machine learning models to adversarial examples and its implication for robustness and generalization properties. We propose an evolutionary algorithm that can generate adversarial examples for any machine learning model in the black-box attack scenario. This way, we can find adversarial examples without access to model's parameters, only by querying the model at hand. We have tested a range of machine learning models including deep and shallow neural networks. Our experiments have shown that the vulnerability to adversarial examples is not only the problem of deep networks, but it spreads through various machine learning architectures. Rather, it depends on the type of computational units. Local units, such as Gaussian kernels, are less vulnerable to adversarial examples. | 10.1016/j.neunet.2020.04.015 |
pubmed_524_9624 | Cell division site positioning is precisely regulated but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. In the social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus, the ~15 MDa tripartite PomX/Y/Z complex associates with and translocates across the nucleoid in a PomZ ATPase-dependent manner to directly position and stimulate formation of the cytokinetic FtsZ-ring at midcell, and then undergoes fission during division. Here, we demonstrate that PomX consists of two functionally distinct domains and has three functions. The N-terminal domain stimulates ATPase activity of the ParA/MinD ATPase PomZ. The C-terminal domain interacts with PomY and forms polymers, which serve as a scaffold for PomX/Y/Z complex formation. Moreover, the PomX/PomZ interaction is important for fission of the PomX/Y/Z complex. These observations together with previous work support that the architecturally diverse ATPase activating proteins of ParA/MinD ATPases are highly modular and use the same mechanism to activate their cognate ATPase via a short positively charged N-terminal extension. | pubmed_524_9624 |
pubmed_394_16220 | We describe the case of a previously healthy 11-year-old girl with a Staphylococcal aureus renal abscess. The diagnosis was confirmed by renal ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography. We emphasize the need to obtain an abdominal ultrasound scan and computed tomography scan in patients with abdominal or flank pain, and laboratory evidences of infection to avoid diagnostic and therapeutic delays. | 10.1016/j.urology.2008.07.044 |
pubmed_39_6612 | According to the World Economic Forum, the diffusion of unsubstantiated rumors on online social media is one of the main threats for our society. The disintermediated paradigm of content production and consumption on online social media might foster the formation of homogeneous communities (echo-chambers) around specific worldviews. Such a scenario has been shown to be a vivid environment for the diffusion of false claim. Not rarely, viral phenomena trigger naive (and funny) social responses-e.g., the recent case of Jade Helm 15 where a simple military exercise turned out to be perceived as the beginning of the civil war in the US. In this work, we address the emotional dynamics of collective debates around distinct kinds of information-i.e., science and conspiracy news-and inside and across their respective polarized communities. We find that for both kinds of content the longer the discussion the more the negativity of the sentiment. We show that comments on conspiracy posts tend to be more negative than on science posts. However, the more the engagement of users, the more they tend to negative commenting (both on science and conspiracy). Finally, zooming in at the interaction among polarized communities, we find a general negative pattern. As the number of comments increases-i.e., the discussion becomes longer-the sentiment of the post is more and more negative. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0138740 |
pubmed_1118_16252 | Implicit theories refer to assumptions people hold about different domains, also known as mindsets. There are two implicit theories on the malleability of one's ability: entity theory and incremental theory. They constrain and regulate people's understanding and responses to an individual's behavior, leading to different social cognitive patterns and behavioral responses. Resilience is a positive adaptation in highly stressful situations that represents mechanisms for coping with and transcending difficult experiences, i.e., a person's ability to successfully adapt to change, resist the adverse effects of stressors, avoid significant dysfunction, and be chronically affected by considered a protective factor for mental health. Although previous studies showed that individuals' implicit theories are associated with resilience, this relationship has received little attention in the nursing population. It is unclear which variables may contribute to explaining the relationship between implicit theories and resilience. Therefore, the current study aims to deeply explore the relationship between implicit theories and the resilience of Chinese nurses. In addition, we also seek to demonstrate the chain mediating effects of grit and meaning in life on this relationship. We surveyed 709 Chinese nurses through online questionnaires using the self-made demographic questionnaire, the Implicit Theories Scale, the Short Grit Scale, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. After controlling for demographic variables such as age, gender, educational background, marital status, professional title, and working years, the results reveal positive associations between Chinese nurses' implicit theories and their resilience, and grit and meaning in life play a partial mediating role in this relationship, respectively. Furthermore, grit and meaning in life play a chain mediating role between implicit theories and resilience. These findings contribute to understanding the psychological impact mechanism of implicit theories on nurses' resilience and provide a theoretical basis for nursing managers to formulate strategies to improve nurses' psychological resilience. | 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.940138 |
pubmed_949_20280 | Immunofluorescence and fluorescence in in situ hybridization represent powerful approaches to correlate biochemical and molecular data with the structural organization of cells and tissues. However, the analysis of tissues by fluorescence microscopy is limited by the fact that most methods currently used to preserve the morphological integrity of sectioned samples at high resolution do not allow access of the labeled probes to the target molecules. Here we have made use of semithin cryosections obtained from rat supraoptic nucleus to perform immunofluorescence with antibodies directed against cytoplasmic and nuclear antigens, as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization with antisense oligonucleotide probes complementary to the poly(A) tail of mRNA and to specific mRNAs. In addition, DNA was visualized by incubation of sections with digoxigenin-labeled nucleotides in the presence of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I. The high resolution of this DNA staining in combination with immunolabeling for nuclear antigens provides a powerful tool to analyze the structural and functional compartmentalization of neuronal cell nuclei. The major conclusion from this study is that performing fluorescence microscopy on 1 micron-thick cryosections provides an important tool to accurately localize proteins, DNA and RNA within nervous tissue in general and particularly in the model of supraoptic nucleus. Moreover, the cryosectioning technique appears particularly suited to the study of the localization of specific mRNA species in the neuronal cytoplasm and represents a useful approach to addressing the functional significance of mRNA localization in protein targeting. | 10.1016/s0165-0270(97)00060-5 |
pubmed_936_18720 | BACKGROUND
The advantages of probiotic administration for acute diarrhoea are mainly shorter duration of symptoms as well as reduced number of stools per day while use of traditional yogurt has similar results. So, this study was conducted to compare the efficacy of yogurt with probiotic in children with acute gastroenteritis.
METHODS
This randomized controlled trial was conducted at department of Paediatrics, Children Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad over 1 year. A total of nine hundred and thirty (930) children between 1-5 years of age presenting with acute diarrhoea were enrolled and equally randomized to Group-A (yogurt) and Group-B (lactobacillus rhamnosus) with ORS. The primary outcome was mean frequency of diarrhoea in first 24 hours after initiation of treatment in both the groups.
RESULTS
Gender distribution revealed that out of 930 patients, 643 (69.1%) were male and 287 (30.9%) were female while the mean age was 3.14±1.18 years. Mean duration of disease was 4.23±2.02 days. Mean no. of stools in first 24 hours after treatment in Group-A (yogurt) was 3.25±1.64 and 3.29±1.74 in Group-B (probiotics). Student t-test for independent samples was applied and no significant difference was found between the two groups (p=0.713).
CONCLUSIONS
Mean frequency of diarrhoea in first 24 hours after treatment with traditional yogurt and commercially available probiotics was not statistically significant in this study. | 10.55519/JAMC-02-9215 |
pubmed_841_16397 | Policies surrounding xenotransplantation, and many other emerging high-technology interventions, must balance opportunity and risk. Whereas traditional stakeholders, such as the researcher community, government agencies and the commercial sector, readily contribute to the debates that influence policies, the voice of the public is seldom heard. Not only does this raise ethical concerns but also it might ultimately prove to be shortsighted. Before any country settles unilaterally on comprehensive policies governing the practice of xenotransplantation, well-informed public opinions need to be taken into account. | 10.1016/s0167-7799(02)01917-0 |
pubmed_988_2800 | This study included 107 patients who were given ofloxacin at daily doses of 400-800 mg for 10 days to 12 months for treatment of a variety of infections. 77 patients were given ofloxacin orally and 30 received it intravenously. Infections treated were bronchopneumonia (29), chronic bronchitis with acute exacerbation (15), chronic osteomyelitis with exacerbation (20), soft tissue infections (13), complicated urinary tract infections (7), chronic prostatis with exacerbation (7), malignant external otitis (4), or other infections (12). Pathogens included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (39), Acinetobacter spp. (9), various Enterobacteriaceae (30), Haemophilus influenzae (26), pneumococci (1) and Staphylococcus aureus (4). MICs of ofloxacin ranged from less than 0.06-2 mg/l. Clinically, 69% of the patients were cured, 18% improved and 13% failed to respond. Bacteriologically, pathogens were eradicated in 70%, persisted in 16% and relapsed in 14%. Resistance during therapy developed almost exclusively in P. aeruginosa strains (17.9%). The following adverse reactions were reported: gastrointestinal disturbances (6), rash plus facial oedema (1), abnormal liver function tests (5) and leukopenia (1). It is concluded that ofloxacin is suitable for treatment of a variety of infections, ranging from serious life threatening infections in ICU patients to chronic ones that require prolonged therapy. | pubmed_988_2800 |
pubmed_942_2144 | This paper reports the purification and structural determination of the mannolipid shown previously (Ericson and Delmer 1977 Plant Physiol 59: 341-347) to serve as an intermediate in glycoprotein synthesis in cotyledons of Phaseolus vulgaris. The mannolipid was purified by chromatography in organic solvents on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose, followed by repeated steps of deacylation and rechromatography on Sephadex LH-20. Binding and elution behavior on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose was consistent with the presence of a monophosphate residue. Lability of the mannolipid to mild acid treatment as well as its resistance to hot phenol treatment or catalytic hydrogenation are consistent with the structure of a polyprenol having a saturated alpha-residue. After methanolysis, the chloroform-methanol-soluble portion of the mannolipid was analyzed by mass spectrometry. The fragmentation pattern obtained was nearly identical to that obtained from standard dolichol-phosphate. An intense ion at m/e 69 represented the omega-terminal isoprenoid residue, and repeating fragments separated by 68 mass units were observed up to m/e of > 1,200. All evidence supports the conclusion that the mannolipid is dolichol-monophosphate-mannose and thus provides further support for the concept that the processes involved in the glycosylation of protein in higher plants are similar to those known to occur in the animal kingdom. | 10.1104/pp.61.1.25 |
pubmed_791_16821 | PURPOSE
To describe and correlate the clinical, radiological and EEG findings in children with lissencephaly.
METHOD
Retrospective record analysis of children with lissencephaly presenting to tertiary health centre in Northern India was performed. Radiological classification and severity scoring were done. EEG findings were categorized into three patterns and its association with clinical severity was studied.
RESULTS
Twenty-eight children (males = 17) with lissencephaly were enrolled. Median age at diagnosis was 6.5months (range 3days-3years). Global developmental delay (median social quotient (SQ) = 25 (range15-68) was seen in all; motor deficits in 23 (82 %); epilepsy in 21 (75 %); behavioural problems in 18 (64 %); ophthalmic problems in 17 (61 %); microcephaly in 13 (46 %); feeding difficulty in 12 (43 %). Radiologically, classical Type I lissencephaly was seen in 18(64 %), cobblestone variant (Type II) in 5 (18 %) and microlissencephaly in 5 (18 %). Grade 4 (diffuse pachygyria) radiologic severity was most common (severity grade 1-6); no cases with severity score 5 or 6 were seen. The clinical profile did not correspond with radiological severity grading. EEG pattern recognition revealed pattern I in 14 (50 %); pattern II in 6 (21 %); pattern III in 8 (29 %). Children with pattern III EEG had drug resistant epilepsy and severe developmental delay. No relationship between EEG patterns and radiological severity grading was evident.
CONCLUSION
EEG is better predictor of clinical status and outcome rather than radiological severity grading. EEG pattern III is associated with severe developmental delay and drug resistant epilepsy. | 10.1016/j.seizure.2020.10.020 |
pubmed_579_23709 | OBJECTIVE
Increased prevalence and penetration of cellphone and mobile Internet use have raised significant concerns about children's health and safety by offering new spaces for cyberbullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct. "Cyberhero Mobile Safety" is a videogame-based education program designed using tenets of the capacity model with the goal of instilling the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and productively navigate the mobile online environment. This study evaluates its usability, appeal, and perceived impact and usefulness.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Six educational videogames were part of a program delivered to 3rd-6th grade students (n=108) across six public schools in Upstate New York. Videogame play was electronically captured to evaluate usability. Likeability, acceptability, and perceived usefulness of videogame content were evaluated through postgame questionnaires.
RESULTS
Videogame usability criteria were achieved on 82.7 percent of the students' gameplays. On a scale from 1 (low) to 5 (high), mean ratings were 4.09 (standard deviation [SD]=1.28) for likeability, 3.54 (SD=1.61) for acceptability, and 4.16 (SD=1.33) for perceived message usefulness.
CONCLUSIONS
The "Cyberhero Mobile Safety" program is a feasible and potentially effective platform for delivering information about safe and healthy cellphone and Internet use to children. Results support the use of the capacity model to design educational videogames because games that aligned with theory principles were reported as having the most impact and being the most useful at shifting children's online behaviors. Future research should directly test the individual components of the capacity model to inform educational game design. | 10.1089/g4h.2013.0074 |
pubmed_465_14690 | The changes in concentration of plasma oestradiol, oestrone, progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, cortisol and FSH were followed in intact female ferrets brought into oestrus by extension of the photoperiod from 8 to 16 h daily. An additional group of spayed females was similarly exposed to the extended photoperiod. There was no change in the blood oestrone, androstenedione and testosterone levels in the spayed females; the concentration of oestradiol, progesterone and FSH fell, while that of cortisol rose after 6 weeks. The intact females showed no change in plasma oestrone and cortisol concentrations, a rise in plasma oestradiol associated with the onset of oestrus, and falls in the blood levels of testosterone, androstenedione, progesterone and FSH. These results indicate that the changes in plasma gonadal steroid levels after extension of the photoperiod differ markedly from those in rodents or ruminants. | 10.1677/joe.0.0990361 |
pubmed_94_21811 | INTRODUCTION
A solid body of preclinical evidence shows that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists attenuate the effects of substance use disorder related behaviors. The mechanisms underlying these effects remain elusive. In the present study, we hypothesized that GLP-1R activation modulates dopaminetransporter (DAT) and thus dopamine (DA) homeostasis in striatum. This was evaluated in three different experiments: two preclinical and one clinical.
METHODS
Rat striatal DA uptake, DA clearance and DAT cell surface expression was assessed following GLP-1 (7-36)-amide exposure in vitro. DA uptake in mice was assesed ex vivo following systemic treatment with the GLP-1R agonist exenatide. In addition, DA uptake was measured in GLP-1R knockout mice and compared with DA-uptake in wild type mice. In healthy humans, changes in DAT availability was assessed during infusion of exenatide measured by single-photon emission computed tomography imaging.
RESULTS
In rats, GLP-1 (7-36)-amide increased DA uptake, DA clearance and DAT cell surface expression in striatum. In mice, exenatide did not change striatal DA uptake. In GLP-1R knockout mice, DA uptake was similar to what was measured in wildtype mice. In humans, systemic infusion of exenatide did not result in acute changes in striatal DAT availability.
CONCLUSIONS
The GLP-1R agonist-induced modulation of striatal DAT activity in vitro in rats could not be replicated ex vivo in mice and in vivo in humans. Therefore, the underlying mechanisms of action for the GLP-1R agonists-induced efficacy in varios addiction-like behavioural models still remain. | 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104772 |
others_400_615 | Pollinators may influence plant community assembly through biotic filtering and/or plant-plant competition and facilitation. The relative importance of each process, however, vary according to the scale and how strongly plants share their pollinators, and possibly in relation to the pollinator groups considered. We here investigated the assembly of three Atlantic forest hummingbird-pollinated plant communities across space (among all species in the communities) and time, i.e. yearly flowering phenology (between pairs of co-flowering species), based on the pairwise distances of multiple floral traits (corolla length, anther and stigma height, colour and nectar). Because tropical hummingbird-pollinated plants are often subdivided in two pollination niches (hermits versus non-hermits), we also analyzed these groups separately. We found that trait structure across space was clustered for some floral traits, suggesting biotic filtering and facilitation. All floral traits had weak phylogenetic signal, indicating that closely related species were not more similar than distantly related species. Moreover, floral traits were randomly structured along the phenology when analyzing all plants together. On the other hand, we found similar corolla length but divergent anther height in co-flowering pairs within the same pollination niche. Thus, plants may benefit from flowering together and avoid competition through fine adjustments in reproductive traits. The results also suggest that clear signals of competition and facilitation among plants are only apparent when species strongly share their pollinators and depending on the traits that are considered. Our study illustrates a complex interplay of biotic filtering, facilitation and competition as processes structuring guilds of plants sharing the same functional group of pollinators | 10.1111/oik.05571 |
pubmed_214_22324 | Early detection and long-term monitoring are important for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). Urine cytology and existing markers have insufficient diagnostic performance. Here, we examined medium-sized extracellular vesicles (EVs) in urine to identify specific markers for UCB and evaluated their usefulness as diagnostic material. To identify specific markers in urinary EVs derived from UCB, we undertook shotgun proteomics using urine from four UCB patients and four healthy subjects. Next, 29 healthy specimens, 18 noncancer specimens, and 33 UCB specimens, all from men, were analyzed for urinary EVs by flow cytometry to evaluate the diagnostic performance of UCB-specific EVs. Nanoparticle-tracking analysis indicated that the size of EVs extracted from urine was mostly <400 nm. By shotgun proteomics, we detected several proteins characteristic of UCB and found that carcinoembryonic antigen-related adhesion molecule (CEACAM) proteins were increased in patients. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the degree of expression of CEACAM1, CEACAM5, and CEACAM6 proteins on the surface of EVs varied among patients. Extracellular vesicles expressing CEACAM proteins also expressed mucin 1, suggesting that they were derived from tumorigenic uroepithelial cells. The number of EVs expressing CEACAM1, 5, and 6 proteins was significantly increased in UCB (mean ± SD, 8.6 ± 13%) compared to non-UCB (0.69 ± 0.46) and healthy (0.46 ± 0.34) by flow cytometry. The results of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed a good score of area under the ROC curve of 0.907. We identified EVs that specifically express CEACAM proteins in urine and have potential for diagnostic applications. These EVs are potential targets in a new liquid biopsy test for UCB patients. | 10.1111/cas.15438 |
others_422_15653 | Leafy vegetables, including lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), are considered to be healthy due to their high content of fiber, folate, carotenoids, phenolic and antioxidant compounds, minerals, and vitamins A, C, and K. Recently, LEDs are being used extensively as a supplementary light source in indoor agriculture due to the economical and physiological advantages that this artificial illumination offers compared to traditional fluorescence illumination. In this work, two commercially important lettuce varieties, Batavia Lettony (green leaves) and Batavia Diablotin (red leaves), were used to study the impact of LEDs (white and red–blue lights) and fluorescent illumination on their quality and health properties. Changes in the photosynthetic photon flux density from 250 to 400 µmol m−2 s−1 of fluorescent light increased growth parameters (leaf number, fresh and dry weight, and percentage of dry matter) of B. Lettony plants. We observed a positive impact of red–blue LED illumination on growth parameters analyzed in B. Diablotin plants compared to plants grown under fluorescent light at 250 µmol m−2 s−1. Leaf texture significantly increased in B. Lettony plants grown under 400 µmol m−2 s−1 fluorescent and LED illumination compared to that of plants grown under 250 µmol m−2 s−1 fluorescent light. This variable was only increased under red–blue LED illumination in B. Diablotin plants. Accumulation of bioactive compounds, such as anthocyanins and vitamin C, was higher in B. Diablotin plants grown under 250 µmol m−2 s−1 fluorescent light. Nutrient content in the foliar part was not modified under the light conditions used, except the Ca2+ content of B. Lettony plants grown under PPFD 400 µmol m−2 s−1 fluorescent light. Catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) activities were differentially modified by light conditions in B. Lettony plants. However, POX activity was only modified in response to light conditions in B. Diablotin plants. Thus, this study demonstrates that LEDs could be used as an alternative to produce food under sustainable conditions. In this sense, although several horticultural studies have been conducted to establish the effectiveness of LEDs in lettuce growth, additional investigations are necessary to determine the optimal conditions for the use of LEDs to promote lettuce production and the accumulation of beneficial components, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidant compounds. © 2020, Korean Society for Horticultural Scien | 10.1007/s13580-019-00191-z |
pubmed_942_3953 | The filamentous bacterium Frankia of the Actinomycetales, isolated from the nitrogen-fixing root nodules of certain woody plants, has shown nitrogenase activity in culture, using the acetylene reduction method. In the present work, nitrogenase activity in pure cultures of Frankia sp. CpIl is confirmed using mass spectrometric measurements of (15)N(2) incorporation. After addition of carrier NH(4) (+) to digested cultures, those exposed to (15)N(2) (25 atom%) had a (15)N content of 3.16 atom% compared to 0.354 atom% (15)N in the controls. | 10.1104/pp.68.4.983 |
others_182_6854 | The pharmacokinetics of 186Re-HEDP, a radiopharmaceutical for palliative treatment of metastatic bone pain, was investigated in 11 patients (17 studies) who suffered from metastatic breast or prostate cancer. Half- life times of 186Re in three blood fractions (whole blood, plasma and plasma water) were 40.1 ± 5.0, 41.0 ± 6.0 and 29.5 ± 6.4 hr, respectively. Time-dependent increase in plasma-protein binding was observed, probably caused by in vivo decomposition of 186Re-HEDP. Total urinary 186Re excretion was 69% ± 15%, of which 71% ± 6% was excreted in the first 24 hr after injection. The BSI (i.e., fraction of the skeleton showing scintigraphic evidence of metastatic disease) closely correlated with the fraction of dose non-renally cleared (r = 0.98). This implies that the amount of radioactivity taken up by the skeleton and hence the bone marrow absorbed dose can be predicted from a diagnostic pre-therapy 99mTc-HDP scintigram. The pharmacokinetic behavior indicates that 186Re-HEDP has suitable properties to justify its applica | others_182_6854 |
pubmed_787_2078 | Roughness profiles of fracture surfaces formed as a result of the fast crack propagation through a filled rubber were analyzed by means of the height-height correlation functions. The fracture surface was found to be anisotropic in a certain domain of values of length scales; i.e., different values of roughness exponents are observed across and along the crack propagation direction. A two-dimensional analysis reveals a Family-Vicsek scaling in this domain characterized as well by two exponents. These characteristic values of the roughness exponents are found to be close to those observed for fracture surfaces of certain nonrubber materials at length scales smaller than the size of the fracture process zone. Hence, a ductile fracture process can be surmised to occur within the domain of the corresponding length scales. | 10.1103/PhysRevE.80.046120 |
pubmed_473_688 | Reports on the nutritional composition of cowpea leaves have been limited to a small number of lines and the palatability characteristics of leaves apparently have not been studied. This study was therefore undertaken on cowpea leaves to determine the nutrient composition of fifteen varieties and the sensory attributes of ten varieties grown in Ghana. Nutritional components studied were moisture, protein, phosphorus and ascorbic acid. The sensory attributes included leaf size, taste and overall acceptability. There were significant (p > 0.05) differences among varieties in all nutrient components (fresh and dry weight basis), leaf size and overall acceptability. The nutrient composition values, on a dry weight basis, ranged from 9.4 to 13.0% for moisture, 303.8 to 468.9 mg/100 g for phosphorus, 33.5 to 148.0 mg/100 g for ascorbic acid, and 27.1 to 34.7% for protein. Differences in the sensory scores of leaves for taste were not significant (p > 0.05). Overall acceptability positively correlated with leaf size. Moisture content was negatively correlated with overall acceptability, phosphorus and ascorbic acid. Results can be exploited in a breeding program to develop nutritionally superior and acceptable cowpea varieties which can be used for harvesting of both leaves and seeds. | 10.1023/a:1008019113245 |
pubmed_933_17920 | The spindle pole body (SPB) in the interphase cell of the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans was studied in detail by freeze-substitution and serial ultrathin sectioning electron microscopy. The SPB was located on the outer nuclear envelope and appeared either dumbbell- or bar shaped. The dumbbell-shaped SPBs were 228-365 nm long with amorphous spheres on each end, each sphere being 78-157 nm in diameter. The bar-shaped SPBs were 103-260 nm long and 32-113 nm thick. They consisted of filamentous materials. The dumbbell-shaped SPBs were more frequent (61%) than the bar-shaped SPBs. The bar-shaped SPBs may be regarded as dumbbell-shaped SPBs whose spherical parts became sufficiently small. There seemed to be no relationship between the SPB shape and the cell cycle stage of G1-G2, since both types of SPB appeared not only in unbudded cells but also in budded cells and their appearance seems to be random. It is not clear at present whether morphological changes between dumbbell- and bar shapes have any physiological function. The SPB tended to be localized away from the nucleolus (141 degrees +/- 44 degrees), but localized randomly to the bud (97 degrees +/- 50 degrees). The present study highlights the necessity of observing a large number of micrographs in three dimensions to describe accurately the ultrastructure of the SPB in yeast. | 10.1093/jmicro/dfp054 |
pubmed_71_9851 | Bullying is a public health problem and this integrative review's aim was to assess the relationship between family context and the occurrence of such a phenomenon. Its original contribution is to broadly address this type of violence. The SPIDER strategy was used to develop the study, which was guided by the question: what is the role of the family in the development, perpetuation and prevention of bullying? The following databases were searched: PsycInfo and Lilacs, and the SciELO Virtual Library using the descriptors 1. bullying and family; 2. bullying and parents, and their correlates in Portuguese and Spanish. The studies' methodological quality was assessed according to level of evidence. A total of 27 papers published between 2009 and 2013 and written either in English, Spanish or Portuguese were included; the evidence found in the papers mostly ranged from strong to moderate. The analysis revealed most studies had a cross-sectional design and did not report the theoretical framework used. Aspects of the family context, sociodemographic characteristics and domestic violence, were associated with the involvement of students with bullying. Bullying requires intersectorial interventions and further studies are recommended to focus not only on individual characteristics of students but also on their contexts. | 10.1590/1413-81232017225.09802015 |
pubmed_281_6621 | OBJECTIVE
Association between some somatic diseases and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) are well-known. We aimed to study psychiatric diseases and dementia and their association with POAG in the total population of Region Stockholm.
METHODS
All living individuals above 18 years of age who resided in Stockholm County, Sweden, on 1 January 2017 (N = 1,703,675) were included. Data were obtained from administrative regional data. We identified individuals with specified psychiatric disorders in the years 2010-2019, and further identified those with an incident diagnosis of POAG during 2012-2018. Analyses were performed by age-group and sex. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusted for age and neighborhood socio-economic status for individuals with POAG, and used individuals without POAG as referents.
RESULTS
A total of 16,299 cases of POAG were identified, of whom 9204 were women and 7095 men. Adjusted OR (95% CI) for the risk of POAG was 0.653 (0.610-0.698) for women and 0.714 (0.656-0.778) for men with dementia, respectively. The OR for POAG was 0.478 (0.355-0.643) for women with psychosis, and 1.164 (1.105-1.227) for women with depression. A high neighbourhood socio-economic status was associated with a higher risk of POAG. Other associations were non-significant.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of newly diagnosed POAG was decreased in men and women with dementia, and in women with psychosis, which could be an underestimation, owing to lack of investigation, which warrants attention. The risk of POAG was increased in women with depression, which could be secondary to the glaucoma diagnosis.KEY MESSAGESThe prevalence of newly diagnosed glaucoma was decreased in men and women with dementia, and in women with psychosis. A lower prevalence of newly diagnosed glaucoma may be due to an underestimation, owing to a lack of investigation.The risk of glaucoma was increased in women with depression, which could be secondary to the glaucoma diagnosis. | 10.1080/07853890.2022.2148735 |
pubmed_649_9680 | Nitrazepam pharmacokinetics were studied in 14 obese (mean +/- s.e. mean body weight 107 +/- 9 kg; percent ideal body weight [IBW] 166 +/- 12%) and 14 normal body weight (63 +/- 3 kg; percent IBW 98 +/- 2%) subjects. After an overnight fast, each subject ingested 10 mg nitrazepam orally. Nitrazepam concentrations were determined in plasma samples obtained over the following 72 h. Comparison of peak nitrazepam plasma concentration (94.2 +/- 10.3-obese vs 119 +/- 14.6 ng ml-1; NS) and time required after drug administration to reach peak concentration (1.52 +/- 0.24-obese vs 1.59 +/- 0.36 h; NS) indicated no differences between obese and control subjects. Elimination half-life was markedly increased in obese subjects (33.5 +/- 2.2 vs 23.9 +/- 1.2 h; P less than 0.001) due to increased apparent volume of distribution (Vd) (290 +/- 45 vs 137 +/- 12 l; P less than 0.005). Oral clearance was also increased in the obese subjects (101 +/- 12.4 vs 66.8 +/- 12.4 ml min-1; P less than 0.02). Extent of nitrazepam binding to plasma proteins was slightly decreased in obese subjects (% unbound--19.7 +/- 0.4-obese vs 17.9 +/- 0.3%; P less than 0.005). Correction of both Vd (2.62 +/- 0.17-obese vs 2.22 +/- 0.19 l kg-1; NS) and clearance (0.93 +/- 0.06-obese +/- 1.07 +/- 0.07 ml min-1 kg-1; NS) for total body weight (TBW) suggested that increases in obese subjects of both of these parameters were a function of body weight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1986.tb02934.x |
pubmed_117_21666 | Declining biodiversity and ecosystem functions put many of nature's contributions to people at risk. We review and synthesize the scientific literature to assess 50-y global trends across a broad range of nature's contributions. We distinguish among trends in potential and realized contributions of nature, as well as environmental conditions and the impacts of changes in nature on human quality of life. We find declining trends in the potential for nature to contribute in the majority of material, nonmaterial, and regulating contributions assessed. However, while the realized production of regulating contributions has decreased, realized production of agricultural and many material commodities has increased. Environmental declines negatively affect quality of life, but social adaptation and the availability of substitutes partially offset this decline for some of nature's contributions. Adaptation and substitutes, however, are often imperfect and come at some cost. For many of the contributions of nature, we find differing trends across different countries and regions, income classes, and ethnic and social groups, reinforcing the argument for more consistent and equitable measurement. | 10.1073/pnas.2010473117 |
others_330_11702 | : Medicine in low socio-economic countries is primarily disease-oriented; prevention and rehabilitative care are secondary concerns. Hence, curative care erodes the few resources allocated to health. Despite the well-documented benefits of communityrehabilitation in the management of chronic conditions, little is known about common conditions present in the community in Butembo. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the conditions encountered during rehabilitation in Butembo and to identify the trends of the five most common conditions during the study period. Method: Data were extracted from a rehabilitation programme connect to one centre in Butembo. A descriptive retrospective medical study was performed for the period between 2004 and 2007. Descriptive statistics with percentages were computed. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate the differences with a probability of 5%. Results: Cerebral palsy (46.9%), cataract (17.3%), clubfoot (11.8%), glaucoma (6.8%), and cleft lip (4.5%) were the most commonly encountered conditions, with cerebral palsy the most common condition throughout the study period. With regard to gender, male patients were significantly more affected by cataracts (p = 0.0290), clubfoot (p < 0.0100) and glaucoma (p < 0.0100) than female patients. Children aged five or younger had a higher incidence of cerebral palsy (χ2 = 263.2, df = 1, p = 0.0000) cataract (p = 0.0170), clubfoot (p < 0.0010), and glaucoma (p = 0.0010). Additionally, the overall comparisons by gender and age demonstrated differences for the five most common conditions (χ2 = 15.3, df = 4, and p = 0.0040; and χ2 = 114, df = 4, and p < 0.0001 for gender and age, respectively). Conclusion: Common conditions and associated factors were identified that will add to the effectiveness of the programme in terms of materials needed, staff skills, and programming. Special skills are still needed to help treat some acute conditions that can be handled at the rehabilitation centre, and a triage of attending rehabilitation centres could improve the effectiveness of the programme and lower the possibility of missed opportunities for acute stage patients. © 2011. The Authors | 10.4102/phcfm.v3i1.215 |
pubmed_824_859 | Temporal autocorrelation in demographic processes is an important aspect of population dynamics, but a comprehensive examination of its effects on different life-history strategies is lacking. We use matrix population models from 454 plant and animal populations to simulate stochastic population growth rates (log λs ) under different temporal autocorrelations in demographic rates, using simulated and observed covariation among rates. We then test for differences in sensitivities, or changes of log λs to changes in autocorrelation among two major axes of life-history strategies, obtained from phylogenetically informed principal component analysis: the fast-slow and reproductive-strategy continua. Fast life histories exhibit highest sensitivities to simulated autocorrelation in demographic rates across reproductive strategies. Slow life histories are less sensitive to temporal autocorrelation, but their sensitivities increase among highly iteroparous species. We provide cross-taxonomic evidence that changes in the autocorrelation of environmental variation may affect a wide range of species, depending on complex interactions of life-history strategies. | 10.1111/ele.12892 |
pubmed_454_7083 | Six fractions, named TiA - TiF, were obtained by fractionating the crude ethanol extract of the stem bark of Tamarindus indica using column chromatographic techniques. On TLC, fraction TiB showed five bands, TiC three bands, while TiD and TiE showed two bands each. TiC, TiD and TiE were re-eluted with different solvent systems to yield two fractions each, while TiB yielded four. These subfractions were designated B1-B4; C1-C2; D1-D2 and E1-E2, respectively. Tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids, among other components, were detected, albeit in different proportions with respect to fractions and subfractions and were compartmentalized with respect to the solvent systems used. The in vitro antibacterial activity of fractions and subfractions was tested separately and in combinations using the agar well diffusion technique. The susceptibly of test strains (expressed as %) were: 83.3% (TiA and TiB), 75.0% (crude extract and TiC), 66.7% (TiD), 50.0% (TiE) and 16.7% (TiF) when used singly, whereas in combination, the corresponding susceptibilities were 100% (CE), 83.3% (DE), 66.7% (AB, AF, BC, BD, DE and EF), 50% (AC and CD), 33.3% (BE and BF) and 16.7% (AD) against Gram negative bacteria strains and 100% (EF), 80% (DE), 60% (AB, BC and CE), 40% (AC, BD, BF, CF and DF) and 20% (AE, AF, BE and CD) against Gram positive strains. Percentage susceptibility with combinatorial use of re-fractions ranged from 85.7-57.1% and 60-40% against Gram negative and positive strains (TiB subfractions), respectively, 100-85.7% and 40-0% against Gram negative and positive strains (TiC, TiD and TiE sub-fractions). | 10.3390/molecules16064818 |
pubmed_383_1990 | Extracorporeal treatment with low intensity shock-wave therapy (LI-ESWT) is a recently introduced non-invasive method which purposes the restoration of the pathophysiological alterations at the base of vasculogenic ED in male patients. The evidence in favour of the neoangiogenic potential of this treatment derived from in vitro studies and on animal models. The purpose of this study, in which the Power Doppler method was applied, is to demonstrate 'objectively' the real efficacy of LI-ESWT at the level of the microcirculation of the corpora cavernosa (neoangiogenesis) in patients affected by vasculogenic ED. Data from this study show, for the first time, that LI-ESWT treatment promotes neovascularisation of the functional arteries in patients affected by vasculogenic ED. | 10.1038/s41443-021-00411-0 |
pubmed_327_17315 | To determine whether the antihypertensive agent guanabenz affects the circadian rhythm in the hemorheologic properties of the platelet, we evaluated the aggregability of platelets collected from 11 healthy subjects in the morning and the evening after the oral administration of this agent, daily for 2 weeks. We analyzed platelet aggregation by the turbidimetric method. In an in vitro study, guanabenz, 10 nM-100 microM, did not affect platelet aggregation, whereas epinephrine induced platelet aggregation at an EC50 of 1.5 microM. The healthy volunteers demonstrated a diurnal variation in platelet aggregability that was high in the morning and low in the evening (66 +/- 10% and 56 +/- 11% respectively, of the percent platelet aggregation induced by epinephrine). The same variation was seen with the platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (62 +/- 8% [morning] vs. 51 +/- 7% [evening]). After the administration of guanabenz, platelet aggregability was significantly reduced in the morning compared with that before drug administration, when platelet aggregation was induced by epinephrine (49 +/- 9%, p < 0.05) or ADP (48 +/- 7%, p < 0.05), although the plasma levels of catecholamine were unchanged. A suppressive effect of guanabenz on platelet aggregability was observed in the evening, as the platelets were stimulated by epinephrine (38 +/- 9%, p < 0.05), but not by ADP (49 +/- 5%). Findings suggest that guanabenz mainly suppressed the morning enhancement in platelet aggregability, which contributes to the formation of intravascular thrombi. Thus, in addition to its antihypertensive actions, guanabenz may help to reduce the risk of vascular accidents, which frequently occur in the morning. | 10.1097/00005344-200101000-00010 |
pubmed_637_4688 | Male aggressiveness is highly variable among populations of a subsocial spider mite that occurs throughout Japan. The average level of aggressiveness is positively correlated with mean winter temperature and with the relative size among males of leg I, which is used as a weapon in this species. The relatedness of males within nests is influenced by rates of overwinter survival, with high survivorship leading to low relatedness, increased aggressiveness, and larger legs I. Within this species, variation in the intensity of sexual selection may therefore be influenced both by natural selection and by kin selection. | 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1995.tb02273.x |
pubmed_245_21644 | BACKGROUND
Inline dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are actuated by an external air source and have distinct advantages for delivering aerosols to infants and children, and to individuals with compromised lung function or who require ventilator support. However, current inline DPIs either perform poorly, are difficult to operate, and/or require large volumes (∼1 L) of air. The objective of this study was to develop and characterize a new inline DPI for aerosolizing spray-dried formulations with powder masses of 10 mg and higher using a dispersion air volume of 10 mL per actuation that is easy to load (capsule-based) and operate.
METHODS
Primary features of the new low air volume (LV) DPIs are fixed hollow capillaries that both pierce the capsule and provide a continuous flow path for air and aerosol passing through the device. Two different configurations were evaluated, which were a straight-through (ST) device, with the inlet and outlet capillaries on opposite ends of the capsule, and a single-sided (SS) device, with both the inlet and outlet capillaries on the same side of the capsule. The devices were operated with five actuations of a 10 mL air syringe using an albuterol sulfate (AS) excipient-enhanced growth (EEG) formulation. Device emptying and aerosol characteristics were evaluated for multiple device outlet configurations.
RESULTS
Each device had specific advantages. The best case ST device produced the smallest aerosol [mean mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) = 1.57 μm; fine particle fraction <5 μm (FPF<5μm) = 95.2%)] but the mean emitted dose (ED) was 61.9%. The best case SS device improved ED (84.8%), but produced a larger aerosol (MMAD = 2.13 μm; FPF<5μm = 89.3%) that was marginally higher than the initial deaggregation target.
CONCLUSIONS
The new LV-DPIs produced an acceptable high-quality aerosol with only 10 mL of dispersion air per actuation and were easy to load and operate. This performance should enable application in high and low flow mechanical ventilation systems and high efficiency lung delivery to both infants and children. | 10.1089/jamp.2017.1424 |
pubmed_380_1690 | BACKGROUND
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) permanently impairs patients' perception of their health-related quality of life(HRQoL). A variable that may influence HRQoL perception is the capacity to cope with the disease, which may be influenced by previous experiences. In this respect, it is unknown whether past experience with previous relapses of IBD influences HRQoL perception.
OBJECTIVE
the present study aims to determine whether HR-QoL at disease onset differs from that in repeated relapses of the disease.
PATIENTS AND METHOD
120 patients with clinically active IBD according to the Rachmilewitz index for the 57 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or the Harvey-Bradshaw index for the 63 with Crohn's Disease (CD). Patients were divided into two different groups depending on whether the outbreak was at onset of the disease (42 patients) or corresponded to the fourth or more relapses(78 patients). Each patient completed three HRQoL questionnaires: two generic (EuroQol and the Psychological General Well-Being Index -PGWBI-) and one specific (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire -IBDQ-).
RESULTS
patient characteristics (age, sex, smoking habit, activity index, hospital admission) were similar among the 4 groups of patients included. Time of evolution since diagnosis was significantly longer in the prolonged disease groups (median [percentiles 25-75]: (40 124-481 and 68 [36-120] for UC and CD, respectively) compared with the debut groups (1 [1-21 and 2 [1-2] for UC and CD, respectively) (p<0.001). IBDQ score did not differ between debut and prolonged disease groups either in UC or CD(4.0 vs 4.1 in CC and 4.3 us 4.3 in CD, p=ns). Absence of differences was also observed with the PGWBI (89 vs 78 in UC and 80.5 us 83 in CD, p=ns) and the EuroQol (tariff of 0.64 vs 0.57 in UC and 0.60 us 0.68 in CD, p=ns).
CONCLUSIONS
accumulated previous experience with IBD relapses does not seem to significantly affect HRQoL perception during relapses of the disease. | pubmed_380_1690 |
pubmed_260_12655 | OBJECTIVE
To examine the risk of sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) associated with prior psychiatric conditions beyond that of fixed demographic variables.
DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study of non-referred community-dwelling male US veterans.
METHODS
Two-hundred and seventy-one individuals who sustained a TBI with altered consciousness were compared with 630 controls without a history of head injury, selected from a larger sample of 3766.
RESULTS
Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were used to model odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the unique association between pre-existing psychiatric disorders and the likelihood of incurring a TBI while adjusting for demographic characteristics and other known predictor variables. Mood (odds ratio 2.48, 95% confidence interval 1.23-5.01), anxiety (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.01-2.68) and conduct disorders (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.16-2.38) increased the risk of head injury.
CONCLUSIONS
The pre-existence of psychiatric illness, particularly depression, anxiety and conduct disorder, increased the future risk of incurring a TBI. The implementation of early identification and treatment of psychiatric conditions may potentially lower risk and reduce yearly incidence rates of TBI. | 10.1080/02699050701426832 |
pubmed_65_3815 | BACKGROUND
Experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies have implicated mitogenic metabolites of arachidonic acid such as prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in colorectal carcinogenesis. Recently, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) which catalyses the conversion of arachidonic acid to PGE(2), has displayed increased levels in human colorectal cancer.
AIMS
To evaluate whether there is differential COX-2 expression from different locations (caecum, ascending, transverse, descending, or sigmoid colon, and rectum) in human colorectal cancer.
METHODS
Protein levels of COX-2 were determined by western blot analysis in tumours and adjacent normal mucosa of 39 patients with colorectal cancer.
RESULTS
There was a notable overexpression of COX-2 protein in tumours located in the rectum (p<0.001) compared with other locations in the colon. Rectal tumours revealed elevated COX-2 protein levels in 18/20 cases compared with 4/19 colonic cases. No association between enhanced COX-2 protein expression in tumour tissue and Dukes's stages was found.
CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that the differential COX-2 expression may be due to differences in gene regulatory factors affecting COX-2 expression and/or reflect secondary changes in tumour progression which may have clinical implications. | 10.1136/gut.45.5.730 |
pubmed_556_14481 | STUDY QUESTION
What is the reason for insufficient contraceptive efficacy of levonorgestrel (LNG) delivered by intravaginal ring (IVR) releasing comparable amounts of LNG as approved progestogen-only pills (POPs)?
SUMMARY ANSWER
The pharmacokinetic (PK) evaluation in a subpopulation indicated that the steady-state concentration of plasma LNG was markedly lower in the participants in the USA compared to those in Japan suggesting non-compliance in the US participants which may explain a clearly higher Pearl Index (PI) in USA (8.2, unadjusted PI) compared to Japan (1.4, unadjusted PI).
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Contraceptive efficacy of LNG in POPs has been demonstrated following different routes of administration (e.g. orally, implants, intrauterine systems), and the PK is well-characterized including a target exposure needed for contraception. Exposure above this target concentration was reached in Phase 1 studies using IVR delivering 40 µg LNG per day.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
The primary objective of this multicenter, open-label, single-arm study conducted in the USA and in Japan was to assess the contraceptive efficacy of an LNG-containing IVR during a planned treatment period of 1 year in healthy women 18-35 years of age. The study was planned to be conducted in 1600 participants (1300 in the USA, 300 in Japan). The study was prematurely terminated after approximately one-third of the planned exposure was reached due to a high number of pregnancies (28) in the US study population.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
In total, 1471 participants were treated (1166 participants in the USA and 305 participants in Japan). The PI as a measure of contraceptive efficacy was calculated from the frequency of unintended pregnancies during treatment. LNG exposure in the systemic circulation was assessed during treatment in 136 participants (PK subgroups: 106 in the USA and 30 in Japan).
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
The PK evaluation in the PK subgroups indicated that the steady-state concentration of plasma LNG after 6 months was markedly lower in the participants in the USA (geometric mean 91.2 ng/l) compared to those in Japan (263.8 ng/l). This PK finding cannot be explained by the regional differences in body weight observed between the PK subgroups, thus suggesting non-compliance in the US participants. In 15.7% of the samples collected in the USA and 3.5% samples in Japan, the LNG concentration at steady state was below the lower limit of quantification (10 ng/l), which is not expected with the required continuous use of the IVR documented in most of the eDiaries.
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
The planned duration of treatment was 12 months, but due to the premature termination of the study none of the participants completed the 12-month treatment. All data collected until the study termination were considered, but it is to be noted that the amount of missing data limits the conclusions that can be drawn from the data.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
The results of this study triggered the termination of the project, because the objective to show sufficient contraceptive efficacy of the LNG IVR was not met. The choice of a user-dependent contraceptive method with an LNG dose that is not inhibiting ovulation is not advisable for women who may have compliance issues.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
The study was funded by Bayer AG and all authors are employees of Bayer AG.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT02403401. | 10.1093/humrep/deaa195 |
pubmed_875_18190 | The image of nursing - and of male nurses - in the eyes of the public must be radically altered if the profession is to attract more men. | 10.7748/ns.2.14.31.s62 |
pubmed_32_15527 | Numerous factors such as changes in plasma protein binding, tissue binding, hepatic blood flow, hepatic metabolism, and distribution may occur in hepatic disease. The impact of these physiologic changes on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of anti-infective agents is likely to be clinically significant. Unfortunately, these issues have not been thoroughly investigated. Even within the same type of liver disease, there is considerable interpatient variability in pharmacokinetic variables, rendering it difficult to predict drug disposition accurately. Pharmacokinetics of selected anti-infective agents are altered in hepatic disease, necessitating careful monitoring and dosage titration to avoid enhanced drug concentrations and risk of toxicity. | 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)30045-1 |
pubmed_699_9517 | AIMS
To describe logistics and outcomes of the accreditation program of centres of excellence in heart failure (HF) developed in Spain by the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC) between 2016 and 2021.
METHODS AND RESULTS
A scientific committee created by the SEC defined three types of HF units (community, specialized, and advanced), depending on the characteristics of the hospital and their portfolio of services and equipment, as well as the quality standards required for the accreditation of excellence. The units were required to submit to the SEC a document certifying compliance with the requirements and quality standards. Once verified these, the unit received accreditation of excellence from the SEC. Between 2017 and October 2021, 78 HF units spread throughout Spain applied for accreditation. This represents 50.6% of all Spanish national health system centres with cardiology departments. Accreditation was definitive in 56.4% of the applicant centres and provisional in the remaining 43.6%. Of the 78 units, 19 were community units, 44 specialized, and 15 advanced. Of the 34 units that received provisional accreditation for failure to meet any of the required quality standards, all resolved these deficits within 6 months of the initial evaluation, subsequently receiving definitive accreditation.
CONCLUSIONS
Our experience indicates that implementation of an accreditation programme for excellence and quality of care of HF units at the national level by a scientific society is feasible and sustainable over time, leading the majority of HF units in the country to apply for accreditation and to meet the required quality standards. | 10.1002/ehf2.14029 |
pubmed_840_15291 | In plant, iron uptake and homeostasis are tightly regulated to ensure its absorption from soil and to avoid excess iron in the cell. Many genes involved in this process have been identified during past several years, but there are many problems remain unsolved in the genetic regulation of whole plant iron trafficking and allocation. MYB transcription factors contain tandem repeats of a approximately 50 amino acid DNA-binding motif (R) and are involved in the regulation of many aspects of plant development, hormone signaling and metabolism. Here, we report that the ectopic expression of orchid R2R3-MYB gene DwMYB2 in Arabidopsis thaliana confers the transgenic plants hypersensitivity to iron deficiency. In DwMYB2 transgenic plants, the iron content in root is two-fold higher compared to that in wild-type root, while the reverse is true in shoot. This imbalance of iron content in root and shoot suggested that the translocation of iron from root to shoot was affected by the expression of DwMYB2 in the transgenic plants. Consistently, gene chip and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the ferric-chelate reductase gene, AtFRO2, and the iron transporter gene, AtIRT1 and AtIRT2, are up-regulated by DwMYB2 expression, while other potential iron transporters such as AtIREG1, AtFRD3 and NRAMP1 are down-regulated. In addition, the expression of several putative peptide transporters and transcription factors are also altered in the 35S::DwMYB2 transgenic lines. These data provide us insight into the whole plant translocation of iron and identify candidate genes for iron homeostasis in plants despite the fact that a heterologous gene was expressed. | 10.1038/sj.cr.7310099 |
pubmed_1064_2357 | (-)-Matairesinol is a central biosynthetic intermediate to numerous 8-8'-lignans, including the antiviral agent podophyllotoxin in Podophyllum species and its semi-synthetic anticancer derivatives teniposide, etoposide, and Etopophos. It is formed by action of an enantiospecific secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase, an NAD(H)-dependent oxidoreductase that catalyzes the conversion of (-)-secoisolariciresinol. Matairesinol is also a plant-derived precursor of the cancer-preventative "mammalian" lignan or "phytoestrogen" enterolactone, formed in the gut following ingestion of high fiber dietary foodstuffs, for example. Additionally, secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase is involved in pathways to important plant defense molecules, such as plicatic acid in the western red cedar (Thuja plicata) heartwood. To understand the molecular and enantiospecific basis of Podophyllum secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase, crystal structures of the apo-form and binary/ternary complexes were determined at 1.6, 2.8, and 2.0 angstrom resolution, respectively. The enzyme is a homotetramer, consisting of an alpha/beta single domain monomer containing seven parallel beta-strands flanked by eight alpha-helices on both sides. Its overall monomeric structure is similar to that of NAD(H)-dependent short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases, with a conserved Asp47 forming a hydrogen bond with both hydroxyl groups of the adenine ribose of NAD(H), and thus specificity toward NAD(H) instead of NADP(H). The highly conserved catalytic triad (Ser153, Tyr167, and Lys171) is adjacent to both NAD(+) and substrate molecules, where Tyr167 functions as a general base. Following analysis of high resolution structures of the apo-form and two complex forms, the molecular basis for both the enantio-specificity and the reaction mechanism of secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase is discussed and compared with that of pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase. | 10.1074/jbc.M413266200 |
pubmed_919_16281 | The Freeman-Sheldon syndrome is a congenital disease primarily affecting the facial, limb and respiratory muscles that give rise to classical clinical features including typical whistling face and short webbed neck associated with difficult intubation. We present successful awake nasotracheal intubation in a 6-year-old patient with typical clinical features of Freeman-Sheldon syndrome by using fiberoptic bronchoscope on two separate occasions. | 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2004.01533.x |
pubmed_313_22225 | DNA-encoded chemical libraries (DECLs) are pools of DNA-tagged small molecules that enable facile screening and identification of bio-macromolecule binders. The successful development of DECLs has led to their increasingly important role in drug development, and screening hits have entered clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the development and currently active research areas of DECLs with a focus on contributions from groups at academic institutes. We further look at opportunities and future directions of DECL research in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology based on the symbiotic relationship between academia and industry. Challenges associated with the application of DECLs in academic drug discovery are further discussed. | 10.1002/cbic.201600567 |
pubmed_776_15806 | In Denmark, about 1800 new cases of cancer of the female genital organs (i.e., uterine cervix, uterine corpus and ovary) occur every year. The similarity in incidence contrasts with the differences in survival patterns for these three cancer types, the crude five-year survival rates being 59% (cervix), 68% (corpus) and 27% (ovary). An overall increase in relative one-, two- and five-year survival rates was observed for cancers of the cervix, corpus and ovary between 1943 and 1987. For uterine cervical cancer there has been an equal improvement in one-, two- and five-year survival rates (12, 11 and 14%), whereas for uterine corpus cancer a greater improvement was seen in the five-year rates (19%) than in those one year after diagnosis (10%). These figures are contrasted by those for ovarian cancer, for which the improvement in one-year survival rate (21%) was nearly twice that for the five-year survival rate (12%). For all the three cancer types, the age at diagnosis increased significantly over the past 40 years. The improvement in survival from cancer of the uterine corpus was most pronounced for older women whereas that for ovarian cancer was greatest among women aged 59 or less. After 1970, there was a decrease in survival rates after cervical cancer among women 60 years or older at the time of diagnosis. This is in contrast to the pattern for younger women (less than 40 at diagnosis), whose survival rate has increased continuously since 1943. | pubmed_776_15806 |
pubmed_605_17161 | OBJECTIVE
To determine a difference in the stone-free-rate among different renal locations in children after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL).
STUDY DESIGN
A descriptive study.
PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY
Urology Department, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from January 2007 to June 2015.
METHODOLOGY
The study included children who underwent ESWL, divided into three groups based on location of stones in kidney as group A (lower pole stones), group B (upper and mid pole stones) and group C (renal pelvis stone), respectively. ESWL was done by standard technique using Storz Modulith SLX lithotripter 3rd generation. Data was collected by chart review. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis.
RESULTS
Among 76 children with mean age of 7.55 ±4.16 years, 55 (72.4%) were males whereas 21 (27.6%) were females. Mean stone size was 1.08 ±0.59 cm. There were 34, 17 and 25 cases in groups A, B and C, respectively. Post- ESWL stone-free-rate was 47% in lower pole stones, 70.58% in upper and mid pole stones, and 68% in renal pelvis stones. Hematuria was seen in one patient from each group, sepsis in two patients from each of the mid pole/upper pole and lower pole group, while Steinstrasse in one patient from each group.
CONCLUSION
ESWL is a safe and effective way of treating renal stones in all poles in pediatric population. | 2475 |
pubmed_412_2097 | The multidrug resistance (MDR)-associated P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a membrane transporter which carries, at the expense of MgATP hydrolysis, many amphiphilic molecules, such as the MDR-related cytotoxic drugs vincristine and vinblastine, and the MDR-reversing agents verapamil and progesterone. We have tested the effects on P-gp function of bromocriptine (BCT), an ergot alkaloid known as a D2 dopaminergic receptor agonist. BCT (at 4 microM) partially reverses the P-gp-mediated vincristine resistance of the Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts DC-3F/ADX, a MDR cell line. P-gp containing membrane vesicles prepared from the DC-3F/ADX cells exhibit, in the absence of any added drug, a basal MgATPase activity due to P-gp. BCT inhibits this basal ATPase activity, with a half-inhibiting concentration of 0.30 +/- 0.15 microM. BCT also inhibits the verapamil-induced P-gp ATPase stimulation competitively (Ki approximately 0.2 microM), and the progesterone-induced P-gp ATPase stimulation non-competitively (Ki approximately 0.07-0.10 microM). BCT also non-competitively inhibits the vinblastine-dependent P-gp ATPase activity within the same concentration range. Hydroxylated metabolites of BCT have different effects on P-gp ATPase, only the monohydroxylated being able to modulate both the basal and the drug-stimulated ATPase activities. In conclusion, these effects of BCT on P-gp function can be linked to a specific interaction with P-gp, probably involving inhibition of P-gp-mediated drug transport. | 10.1006/bbrc.1998.8289 |
pubmed_629_14769 | The cone and plate(let) analyzer is an established method for assessing platelet function. It evaluates adherence of platelets on an extracellular matrix, expressed as a percentage of surface coverage and the average size of the aggregates. The purpose of this study was to determine the applicability of the cone and plate(let) analyzer in monitoring platelet function and predicting postoperative bleeding. The relationship between postoperative bleeding, perioperative platelet function, and other parameters was studied. A significant decrease in surface coverage was detected upon establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass (from 6.9% +/- 3.9% to 4.7% +/- 1.7%) with a return to preoperative values at the end of surgery. Preoperative average size and surface coverage were the only parameters that significantly and linearly correlated with postoperative bleeding. Patients with an aggregate average size < 20 microm(2) had a significantly higher incidence of severe bleeding (> 965 mL) than those with a size > 20 microm(2) (44% vs. 0%), and a higher mean blood loss (908 +/- 322 mL vs. 337 +/- 78 mL). Similar results were obtained for surface coverage < 5%, indicating the predictive value of these parameters. Preoperative platelet function as evaluated by the cone and plate(let) analyzer is an independent risk factor determining postoperative bleeding. | 10.1177/021849230601400409 |
pubmed_361_7518 | The monoclonal antibody Ki-67 recognizes a nuclear antigen which is expressed during the G1, S, G2 and M phases of the cell cycle. Immunostaining of frozen biopsy material thus presents a convenient and rapid method for the estimation of the growth fraction in human neoplasia. This report summarizes the results obtained in 178 neurosurgical biopsies. The highest incidence of Ki-67 positive nuclei was observed in 8 metastatic carcinomas (mean: 20%) and in 53 cases of glioblastoma multiforme (10%). Glioblastomas showed considerable variation, the fraction of stained nuclei ranging from 1 to 28%. For astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas we found a close correlation between the Ki-67 index and the histological grade in agreement with known biological behaviour. In anaplastic gliomas (WHO grade III) the upper limit was 11%, in grade II gliomas, 6%. Juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas and pituitary adenomas showed mean staining indices of approximately 1%. In 13 meningiomas the mean Ki-67 index was 1% but rose to 5% in recurrent and anaplastic meningiomas. Assessment of the growth fraction in human brain tumours by immunostaining with Ki-67 could become an important tool in the prediction of the biological behaviour of nervous system neoplasms and the planning of adjuvant therapy. | 10.1007/978-3-7091-8978-8_22 |
pubmed_64_18846 | Thermal modification is an environmentally friendly process in which technological properties of wood are modified using thermal energy without adding chemicals, the result of which is a value-added product. Wood samples of three tropical wood species (meranti, padauk, and merbau) were thermally treated according to the ThermoWood process at various temperatures (160, 180, 210 °C) and changes in isolated lignin were evaluated by nitrobenzene oxidation (NBO), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). New data on the lignins of the investigated wood species were obtained, e.g., syringyl to guaiacyl ratio values (S/G) were 1.21, 1.70, and 3.09, and molecular weights were approx. 8600, 4300, and 8300 g·mol-1 for meranti, padauk, and merbau, respectively. Higher temperatures cause a decrease of methoxyls and an increase in C=O groups. Simultaneous degradation and condensation reactions in lignin occur during thermal treatment, the latter prevailing at higher temperatures. | 10.3390/polym13070993 |
pubmed_499_10003 | BACKGROUND
Elderly individuals occupy an increasing part of the general population. Conventional and speckle-tracking transthoracic echocardiography may help guide risk stratification in these individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential utility of conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography in the screening of cardiac abnormalities in the elderly population.
METHODS
Two cohorts of elderly individuals (sample size: 1441 and 944) were analyzed, who were part of a randomized controlled clinical trial (LOOP study) and of an observational study (Copenhagen City Heart Study), recruiting participants from the general population >70 years of age with cardiovascular risk factors (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, or prior stroke) and sinus rhythm. Participants underwent a comprehensive transthoracic echocardiographic examination, including myocardial speckle tracking. Cardiac abnormalities were defined according to the ASE/EACVI guidelines.
RESULTS
Structural cardiac abnormalities such as left ventricular (LV) remodeling, mitral annular calcification (MAC), and aortic valve sclerosis (with or without stenosis) were highly prevalent in the LOOP study (40%, 39%, and 27%, respectively). Moreover, a high prevalence of functional cardiac alterations such as LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), abnormal LV longitudinal systolic strain (GLS), and abnormal left atrial (LA) reservoir strain was present in the LOOP study (27%, 18%, and 9%, respectively). Likewise, the rate of LVDD, abnormal GLS, and abnormal LA reservoir strain was comparable in the validation sample from the Copenhagen City Heart Study. In line with these findings, subjects with LV remodeling, MAC, and aortic valve changes had a higher prevalence of LVDD, abnormal GLS, and abnormal LA reservoir strain than those without structural cardiac alterations.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this study highlight the potential clinical utility of conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography in the screening of structural and functional cardiac abnormalities in the elderly population. Further studies are warranted to determine the prognostic relevance of these findings. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0269475 |
pubmed_1072_23834 | BACKGROUND
Despite the fact that antiretroviral therapy (cART) suppresses HIV-viremia, an adequate CD4 T-cell recovery is not always achieved (immunodiscordant response to cART). IL17a-producing CD4 T-cells (Th17) constitutes an important subset involved in the preservation of mucosal surfaces integrity, which depletion has been associated with disease progression in HIV-infection. However, whether Th17 frequency at cART initiation is associated with a poor CD4 T-cell recovery has not been yet explored. Our aim was to explore whether the Th17 cells and other IL17a-producing T-cell subsets at cART initiation were associated with a subsequent immunodiscordant response to cART.
METHODS
We selected pre-cART samples of antiretroviral-naïve subjects with and without a low CD4 recovery after cART (LR-subjects and HR-subjects, respectively). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with PMA/ionomycine, and the production of several cytokines including IL17a was analyzed by flow cytometry.
RESULTS
A trend to higher Th17 (p = 0.05) and increased frequencies of IL17a-producing Treg (p = 0.011) was found in LR-subjects before cART onset. Despite increased frequencies of both Treg and Th17 in LR-subject at cART initiation, no alteration of Treg/Th17 ratio was observed. While polifunctional profile of CD4 T-cells was not different, frequencies of CD4 T-cells producing cytokine-combinations including IL17a were increased in LR-subjects.
CONCLUSION
Increased frequencies of Th17, IL17a-producing Treg and CD4 T-cells producing specific IL17a-containing combinations of cytokines, precede the immunodiscordant response to cART, suggesting a potential contribution of these subsets in such anomalous response to cART. | 10.1016/j.jinf.2017.10.010 |
pubmed_1078_2940 | Palsies involving the anterior interosseous nerve comprise less than 1% of all upper extremity nerve palsies. Patients often present initially with acute pain in the proximal forearm, lasting several hours to days. The pain subsides, to be followed by paresis or total paralysis of the pronator quadratus, flexor pollicis longus and the radial half of the flexor profundus, either individually or together. Patients with a complete lesion will have a characteristic pinch deformity. We report a case of anterior interosseous syndrome in a 42-year-old male. The patient was admitted initially for chronic osteomyelitis of the left calcaneum. He had a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line inserted into a brachial vein for the administration of intravenous antibiotics, and developed anterior interosseous nerve palsy as a complication of this procedure. The catheter was subsequently removed and a new line was placed on the other side, and his neurological deficit has been improving since. This case highlights the potential hazards of venupuncture or arterial puncture of the brachial vein or artery respectively, even under controlled conditions with the benefit of ultrasound guidance. It also serves as a reminder to look out for the complications of these common procedures, and to be able to react appropriately when they arise. | pubmed_1078_2940 |
others_16_14286 | : Since prolongation of survival by chemotherapy has been questioned, palliation balanced with an acceptable quality of life is the primary aim in treating patients with metastatic breast cancer. Patients and Methods: 224 patients from 11 centers were randomized to treatment with 40 mg/m2 of Adriamycin or with 40 mg/m2 of epirubicin or with 12 mg/m2 of mitoxantrone each in combination with 600 mg/m2 of cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks. A special monitoring system including follow-up until death guaranteed valid information on response criteria, survival and quality of life. Results: Treatment outcome was not statistically different between the three groups in terms of best response rate, response duration, time to progression or survival. There were, however, statistically significant differences between the three treatment groups in terms of toxicity and quality of life. Most important, treatment outcome was influenced by the following negative prognostic factors: disease-free interval less than 18 months; metastases at more than one organ site; performance status according to WHO <1; prior adjuvant chemotherapy; age less than 40 years. Conclusions: This meticulously monitored prospectively randomized study shows that prognostic factors are more important than the chosen treatments for the outcome in metastatic breast cancer patients. © 1993 S. Karger GmbH, Fr | 10.1159/000218287 |
pubmed_600_23669 | Critical stress intensity factor (KIc) has been an approximation for fracture toughness using only load-cell measurements. However, artificial man-made cracks several orders of magnitude longer and wider than natural flaws have required a correction factor term (Y) that can be up to about 3 times the recorded experimental value [1-3]. In fact, over 30 years ago a National Academy of Sciences advisory board stated that empirical KIc testing was of serious concern and further requested that an accurate bulk fracture toughness method be found [4]. Now that fracture toughness can be calculated accurately by numerical integration from the load/deflection curve as resilience, work of fracture (WOF) and strain energy release (SIc) [5, 6], KIc appears to be unnecessary. However, the large body of previous KIc experimental test results found in the literature offer the opportunity for continued meta analysis with other more practical and accurate fracture toughness results using energy methods and numerical integration. Therefore, KIc is derived from the classical Griffith Crack Theory [6] to include SIc as a more accurate term for strain energy release rate (𝒢Ic), along with crack surface energy (γ), crack length (a), modulus (E), applied stress (σ), Y, crack-tip plastic zone defect region (rp) and yield strength (σys) that can all be determined from load and deflection data. Polymer matrix discontinuous quartz fiber-reinforced composites to accentuate toughness differences were prepared for flexural mechanical testing comprising of 3 mm fibers at different volume percentages from 0-54.0 vol% and at 28.2 vol% with different fiber lengths from 0.0-6.0 mm. Results provided a new correction factor and regression analyses between several numerical integration fracture toughness test methods to support KIc results. Further, bulk KIc accurate experimental values are compared with empirical test results found in literature. Also, several fracture toughness mechanisms are discussed especially for fiber-reinforced composites. | pubmed_600_23669 |
pubmed_417_2354 | Models provide a way of envisioning effective action within a process. This paper discusses the application of the Boswell-Hensley Strategic Planning Model in the development of a community-based nursing service program. While the concepts, processes, and examples represented in this model are aimed specifically at community-based nursing service, the model can be applied to other health care services. The Boswell-Hensley model works on the assumption that humans with kindred motivations can agree on mutual goals and form rewarding partnerships that in the long term will advance the collective interest. | pubmed_417_2354 |
pubmed_520_24116 | To explore and compare the clinical control of three atomized inhalation budesonide (BUD) regimens for Chinese preschool children with recurrent wheezing using Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control (TRACK) scores. A total of 474 preschool children with positive Modified Asthma Predictive Index (mAPI) were randomly assigned to a daily group (initially given inhaled BUD 1 mg once a day and assessed every 4 weeks; if symptom were well controlled for 12 weeks, the dose was reduced to 25-50% of the previous dose until afinal dose of 0.25 mg once a day, maintained until 52 weeks), an intermittent high-dose group (1 mg twice daily for 7 days starting early during a predefined respiratory tract illness) and an intermittent medium-dose group (0.5 mg twice daily as soon as they contacted allergens or experienced nasal congestion, a runny nose, cough or other suspicious respiratory symptoms and continuing until symptoms were reduced or risk factors were absent for 3 days) for 52 weeks of treatment. The TRACK questionnaire was administered every 4 weeks. When TRACK scores were ≥ 80, symptoms were considered to be controlled. The average TRACK scores of the three groups after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the average TRACK scores and control rate after treatment at every 4 weeks in the three groups (P > 0.05). Te number of systemic glucocorticoid courses, urgent care visits for wheezing, and wheezing episodes before and after treatment were significantly different within each of the three groups (P < 0.001), but not among the three groups (P > 0.05). In clinical treatment of children, one of the three treatment options can be selected according to the specific situation case of mAPI- positive recurrent wheezing children. | 10.1038/s41598-022-21505-9 |
pubmed_939_8572 | The effect of GLP-1R agonists on DNA methylation levels of NF-κB and SOD2 genes in human aortic endothelial cells exposed to high glucose and in diabetic patients treated and not with incretin-based drugs, was evaluated. Methylation levels, mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB and SOD2 genes were measured in human endothelial cells exposed to high glucose for 7 days and treated with GLP-1R agonists. Methylation status of NF-κB and SOD2 promoter was also analyzed in 128 diabetics and 116 nondiabetics and correlated with intima media thickness (ITM), an early marker of atherosclerotic process. Cells exposed to high glucose showed lower NF-κB and SOD2 methylation levels, increased NF-κB and reduced SOD2 expression compared to normal glucose cells. Co-treatment with GLP-1 agonists prevented methylation and genes expression changes induced by high glucose. Both high glucose and incretins exposure increased DNA methyltransferases and demethylases levels. In diabetics, incretin treatment resulted a significant predictor of NF-κB DNA methylation, independently of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), glucose and plasma lipid levels. NF-κB DNA methylation inversely correlated with IMT after adjusting for multiple covariates. Our results firstly provide new evidences of an additional mechanism by which incretin drugs could prevent vascular diabetic complications. | 10.1096/fj.202000860RR |
pubmed_851_21195 | BACKGROUND
The incidence of tertiary syphilis involvement in the spinal column with destructive bone lesions is very rare. It is difficult to establish the correct diagnosis from radiographs and histological examination alone. Limited data are available on surgical treatment to tertiary syphilitic spinal lesions. In this article, we report a case of tertiary syphilis in the lumbar spine with osteolytic lesions causing cauda equina compression.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 44-year-old man who suffered with low back pain for 6 months and progressive radiating pain at lower extremity for 1 week. Radiologic findings showed osteolytic lesion and new bone formation in the parts of the bodies of L4 and L5. Serum treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) test was positive. A surgery of posterior debridement, interbody and posterolateral allograft bone fusion with instrumentation from L3 to S1 was performed. The low back pain and numbness abated after operation. But the follow-up radiographs showed absorption of the bone grafts and failure of instrumentation. A Charcot's arthropathy was formed between L4 and L5.
CONCLUSION
It is challenging to diagnose the tertiary syphilis in the spine. Surgery is a reasonable auxiliary method to antibiotic therapy for patients who suffered with neuropathy. Charcot's arthropathy should be considered as an operative complication. | 10.1186/s12879-017-2620-5 |
pubmed_289_14400 | BACKGROUND
Recent research using mobile phone interventions to address public health issues such as smoking, obesity, depression, and diabetes provides a basis for trialing a similar approach toward reducing the negative consequences of risky drinking.
OBJECTIVE
This feasibility study aims to recruit drinkers between 18-34 years to a website where they will design and enter their own personal messages (repeating or one-off) to be sent to their mobile phones when they are drinking to remind them of their pre-drinking safety intentions.
METHODS/DESIGN
Participants in the treatment group will have access to the messaging function for 3 months and will be compared to a control group who will have 3 months access to a web chat site only. Data collection will occur at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The primary outcome is a change in unintended negative consequences from drinking at 3 months. Secondary outcomes include the acceptability of the intervention to this population, recruitment rate, participant retention, reduction in alcohol consumption, and the self-motivation discourse in participant messages.
DISCUSSION
Existing alcohol interventions in New Zealand attempt to reduce alcohol consumption in the population, but with little effect. This study aims to target unintended negative consequences resulting from drinking by empowering the drinkers themselves to deliver safety messages during the drinking session. If proven effective, this strategy could provide a cost-effective means of reducing the public health burden associated with risky drinking.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ACTRN12611000242921. | 10.2196/resprot.1970 |
pubmed_969_11474 | Methotrexate (MTX), 6-thioguanine (6-TG) and cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) inhibited the replication of adenovirus (viral capacity) more in drug-sensitive than in resistant human melanoma cell lines. By comparison, inhibition of cellular DNA and RNA synthesis after short treatment periods (less than 48 hr) was not a good predictor of cellular sensitivity. MTX, an inhibitor of de novo nucleotide synthesis, was most effective when added to cells just before infection with virus and inhibited viral capacity at doses 10-1000-fold lower than those required to affect cell survival. The MTX-sensitive cell lines, members of a DNA repair deficient group sensitive also to killing by methylating agents (the Mer- phenotype), were not deficient in dihydrofolate reductase but exhibited DNA fragmentation after treatment with MTX for 48 hr. 6-TG and ara-C, inhibitors of purine and pyrimidine salvage, were most inhibitory to viral capacity when added greater than 36 hr before virus infection and were less effective than MTX (doses 5-7-fold and 4-24-fold higher than for cell survival respectively). No correlation was found between MTX sensitivity and sensitivity to 6-TG or ara-C. These results indicate that (i) inhibition of viral capacity is a more comprehensive test of antimetabolite cytotoxicity than inhibition of cellular DNA or RNA synthesis; (ii) the viral capacity assay correctly predicts cellular sensitivity to MTX, 6-TG and ara-C and therefore has potential for application to primary cultures of human tumours; and (iii) MTX-sensitive cell lines and adenovirus replication rely heavily on de novo nucleotide synthesis, which in Mer- cells appears to be linked to a DNA repair defect as yet undefined. | 10.1016/0006-2952(90)90139-c |
pubmed_1098_23208 | The present study introduces a novel electrode for rapid, highly sensitive, and selective electrochemical sensor for cadmium(II) using 5% N1-hydroxy-N1,N2-diphenylbenzamidine (HDPBA) modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) (HDPBA‒CPE). Surface characterizations and structural analysis of the proposed HDPBA‒CPE were performed using several analytical techniques. The voltammetric measurements of Cd(II) were conducted by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Several experimental conditions such as composition and pH of buffer solutions, HDPBA composition, accumulation potential and time, and other voltammetric conditions were optimized. Cd(II) was preconcentrated on the modified electrode surface for 270 s using Britton Robinson (B-R) buffer (0.1 M, pH 4) at -1.0 V versus Ag/AgCl, followed by electrochemical oxidation of the accumulated Cd(II) in the positive scan of SWASV after a quiet time of 10 s. Under optimized parameters, the proposed method showed a linear range of 0.3-100 nM Cd(II) with a detection limit of 0.032 nM. The fabricated HDPBA-modified carbon paste electrode exhibited excellent sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and reproducibility (with RSD of 3.8%). The developed HDPBA‒CPE was used for the quantification of Cd(II) in tobacco and environmental water samples, and it was found to be applicable for the determination of different types of real samples. | 10.1155/2022/3426575 |
pubmed_125_6053 | Colistin is one of the most effective antibiotics against multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria. However, the recent emergence of plasmid-borne mobilized colistin resistance (mcr) genes is considered a serious antimicrobial resistance challenge worldwide. In this study, we report detection of an mcr-1 carrying Escherichia coli isolate (named ATAVET mcr-1 Turkey) from retail raw chicken meat in Turkey. Of the 11 (from 500 total tested) phenotypically colistin-resistant isolates, 1 was shown to carry the mcr-1 gene by PCR. Whole-genome sequencing indicated that mcr-1 was located on a ∼13 kb-long contig that was almost identical to the corresponding part in pZJ1635, an IncI2 plasmid encoding mcr-1 in the same genetic context in another E. coli strain. In addition, ATAVET mcr-1 Turkey harbored blaCTX-M-8, qnrB19, mdf(A), tet(A), sul2, aph(3″)-Ib, aph(6)-Id, and floR resistance genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole genome and multilocus sequence typing indicated that ATAVET mcr-1 Turkey was more closely related to mcr-1 carrying E. coli isolates from food and human clinical samples previously reported from different parts of the world than to those from Turkey. These findings further emphasize the worldwide emergence and spread of mcr meditated colistin resistance in bacteria with zoonotic potential within animals and the food chain. | 10.1089/mdr.2020.0209 |
pubmed_558_2826 | Humans can discriminate whether a change in the direction of gravito-inertial force (GIF) is caused by body tilt or by linear translation. This ability, attributed to vestibular sensory fusion, is often examined by asking subjects to adjust an indicator to match their subjective earth-fixed vertical (SV). We used two different modalities, visual and haptic, to examine continuous adjustment during different combinations of roll rotation and linear translation on a hexapod motion device. We conclude that, in conditions of combined translational and rotational motion, the modality of indication plays a major role for the perception of verticality of the indicator. | 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.03849.x |
pubmed_845_26017 | BACKGROUND
A lack of ability to inhibit prepotent responses, or more generally a lack of impulse control, is associated with several disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia as well as general damage to the prefrontal cortex. A stop-signal task (SST) is a reliable and established measure of response inhibition. However, using the SST as an objective assessment in diagnostic or research-focused settings places significant stress on participants as the task itself requires concentration and cognitive effort and is not particularly engaging. This can lead to decreased motivation to follow task instructions and poor data quality, which can affect assessment efficacy and might increase drop-out rates. Gamification-the application of game-based elements in nongame settings-has shown to improve engaged attention to a cognitive task, thus increasing participant motivation and data quality.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to design a gamified SST that improves participants' engagement and validate this gamified SST against a standard SST.
METHODS
We described the design of our gamified SST and reported on 2 separate studies that aim to validate the gamified SST relative to a standard SST. In study 1, a within-subject design was used to compare the performance of the SST and a stop-signal game (SSG). In study 2, we added eye tracking to the procedure to determine if overt attention was affected and aimed to replicate the findings from study 1 in a between-subjects design. Furthermore, in both studies, flow and motivational experiences were measured.
RESULTS
In contrast, the behavioral performance was comparable between the tasks (P<.87; BF01=2.87), and the experience of flow and intrinsic motivation were rated higher in the SSG group, although this difference was not significant.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, our findings provide evidence that the gamification of SST is possible and that the SSG is enjoyed more. Thus, when participant engagement is critical, we recommend using the SSG instead of the SST. | 10.2196/17810 |
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