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pubmed_920_12796 | Kerr beam cleaning in graded-index multimode fiber has been investigated in experiments with sub-nanosecond pulses and in experiments with femtosecond pulses at wavelengths where the dispersion is normal. We report a theoretical and experimental study of this effect with femtosecond pulses and anomalous dispersion. In this regime, only weak beam cleaning is observed experimentally, along with strong temporal evolution of the pulse. Numerical simulations exhibit the qualitative trends of the experiments. | 10.1364/OL.430926 |
pubmed_396_6522 | We argue that studies estimating the treatment cost of diabetes and other economic issues have progressed dramatically over recent years. This has undoubtedly improved our understanding of diabetes. However, attention needs to now shift to more detailed studies that require prospective bespoke data collection from epidemiologists as well as economists. This is not to say that investigation of costs using routine data is of no value--such work will continue to provide new data and methods to those evaluating new interventions, as well as by helping to identify important research areas. However, it may be time for a new paradigm to help in our understanding of this challenging disease. Such an approach must be capable of supporting the complex evaluation of new technologies, and subsequently, can not rely solely on routine data. | 10.1046/j.1464-5491.2000.00391.x |
pubmed_288_15614 | A framework of operating models for interdisciplinary research programs in clinical service organizations is presented, consisting of a "clinician-researcher" skill development model, a program evaluation model, a researcher-led knowledge generation model, and a knowledge conduit model. Together, these models comprise a tailored, collaborative approach to enhancing research-informed practice in community-based clinical service organizations. The models place different degrees of emphasis on the development of research-related skills in practitioners, the generation of knowledge tailored to clinical practice, and knowledge sharing. The nature, philosophical basis, roles of research staff members, outputs and impacts, and strengths and limitations of each model are described, in the context of a long-standing, interdisciplinary research program in a children's rehabilitation service organization. The use of the model framework as a tool for the design of interdisciplinary, community-based research programs is discussed. | 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2008.01.003 |
pubmed_922_25630 | The simultaneous wet removal performance of NO and SO2 was studied using the oxidant absorbent NaClO2/CaO2. The factors were studied including NaClO2 and CaO2 concentrations, reaction temperature, and gaseous components, such as SO2, NO, O2, and CO2. The products in liquid and solid phases were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ion chromatography to determine the mechanism of simultaneous desulfurization and denitration by NaClO2/CaO2. The results indicated that the removal efficiency of SO2 was in the range of 98-99.9%, and the removal efficiencies of NO and NOx were 99.4% and 95.0%, respectively. The removal efficiencies of NO and NOx increased with the increase of NaClO2 and CaO2 concentration and reaction temperature. The gaseous components had a stronger effect on NOx removal efficiency, followed by NO removal efficiency, and SO2 removal efficiency. As SO2 concentration increased, the generation of sulfite species promoted the removal of NO and NOx. Competition for NO2 and SO2 absorption by absorbent inhibited the removal efficiencies of SO2 and NOx. The presence of O2 was beneficial for removing SO2, NO, and NOx, while the presence of CO2 was not. The main products in the liquid and solid phases were NO3-, NO2-, SO42-, and CaSO4. The reaction mechanism for simultaneous wet removal of SO2 and NO by NaClO2/CaO2 is proposed and discussed. | 10.1007/s11356-019-06157-z |
pubmed_581_13454 | Background: In a recent paper, a novel W-test for pairwise epistasis testing was proposed that appeared, in computer simulations, to have higher power than competing alternatives. Application to genome-wide bipolar data detected significant epistasis between SNPs in genes of relevant biological function. Network analysis indicated that the implicated genes formed two separate interaction networks, each containing genes highly related to autism and neurodegenerative disorders. Methods: Here we investigate further the properties and performance of the W-test via theoretical evaluation, computer simulations and application to real data. Results: We demonstrate that, for common variants, the W-test is closely related to several existing tests of association allowing for interaction, including logistic regression on 8 degrees of freedom, although logistic regression can show inflated type I error for low minor allele frequencies, whereas the W-test shows good/conservative type I error control. Although in some situations the W-test can show higher power, logistic regression is not limited to tests on 8 degrees of freedom but can instead be tailored to impose greater structure on the assumed alternative hypothesis, offering a power advantage when the imposed structure matches the true structure. Conclusions: The W-test is a potentially useful method for testing for association - without necessarily implying interaction - between genetic variants disease, particularly when one or more of the genetic variants are rare. For common variants, the advantages of the W-test are less clear, and, indeed, there are situations where existing methods perform better. In our investigations, we further uncover a number of problems with the practical implementation and application of the W-test (to bipolar disorder) previously described, apparently due to inadequate use of standard data quality-control procedures. This observation leads us to urge caution in interpretation of the previously-presented results, most of which we consider are highly likely to be artefacts. | 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.11926.1 |
pubmed_550_2447 | Studies of brain areas supporting deductive reasoning show inconsistent results, possibly because of the variety of tasks and baselines used. In two event-related functional magnetic imaging studies we employed a cognitive load paradigm to isolate the neural correlates of deductive reasoning and address the role (if any) of language in deduction. Healthy participants evaluated the logical status of arguments varying in deductive complexity but matched in linguistic complexity. Arguments also varied in lexical content, involving blocks and pseudo-words in Experiment I and faces and houses in Experiment II. For each experiment, subtraction of simple from complex arguments (collapsing across contents) revealed a network of activations disjoint from regions traditionally associated with linguistic processing and also disjoint from regions recruited by mere reading. We speculate that this network is divided into "core" and "support" regions. The latter include left frontal (BA 6, 47) and parietal (BA 7, 40) cortices, which maintain the formal structure of arguments. Core regions, in the left rostral (BA 10p) and bilateral medial (BA 8) prefrontal cortex, perform deductive operations. Finally, restricting the complex-simple subtraction to each lexical content uncovered additional activations which may reflect the binding of logical variables to lexical items. | 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.04.069 |
pubmed_1048_15107 | BACKGROUND
Perioperative seizure prophylaxis with antiepileptic drugs (AED) has been advocated in patients undergoing supratentorial craniotomy. The practice remains controversial. The reasoning presupposes that the possibility of an adverse drug reaction from the AED is lower than the probability of harm from a seizure. Even short periods of hypotension during the operation can lead to acute kidney and myocardial injury. We retrospectively evaluated cardiovascular effects and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) alone, LEV and lacosamid (LCM) as compared to phenytoin (PHT).
METHODS
After IRB approval, the charts of individuals who underwent craniotomy from April 2007 to September 2011 were reviewed. Those receiving PHT were compared to those receiving LEV alone and LEV/LCM. The patient data included demographic, indication and procedure related data. The cumulative dose of norepinephrine (NET), atropine (ATR) and the change in systolic blood pressure during and after the administration of the AED were analyzed.
RESULTS
Five hundred thirty-eight patients were screened of which 122 were included for analysis. 40 patients with primary or secondary supratentorial brain tumors received LEV (19 female, 21 male; mean age 56 years), 41 patients received LEV/ LCM (16 female, 25 male; mean age 56 years) and 41 patients received PHT (15 female, 26 male; mean age 50 years). The commonest indications for craniotomy were glioblastoma (N.=14 vs. N.=12 vs. N.=15), meningiomas (N.=9 vs. N.=7 vs. N.=10), low-grade gliomas (N.=6 vs. N.=13 vs. N.=6) and brain metastases (N.=5 vs. N.=4 vs. N.=5). 1 LEV/LCM patient (2%) and 4 PHT patients (4.5%) had a seizure despite prophylaxis. Possible side effects were observed in 2 patients associated with PHT. During anesthesia there was a significant drop in systolic blood pressure in the PHT group after administration of the AED perioperatively when compared to LEV (P=0.001) and LEV/LCM (P≤0.0001) respectively. The mean cumulative doses of NET and ATR over the course of the operation did not differ significantly.
CONCLUSIONS
LEV alone and in combination with LCM for patients without and with symptomatic epilepsy as seizure prophylaxis provides a safe and feasible alternative to PHT. PHT was associated with an unfavorable drop in blood pressure during anesthesia and more adverse reactions. | 10.23736/S0390-5616.16.03826-1 |
pubmed_536_1714 | A novel trimacrocyclic arylamine was found to be accessible to the different spin-states by consecutive electrochemical or chemical oxidation. | 10.1039/b816311a |
pubmed_670_21030 | Self-esteem/self-concept and aesthetics were measured in three groups. One group prior to orthodontic treatment, one group following completion of active orthodontic treatment and an untreated group. Improvement in dental and/or facial aesthetics does not necessarily lead to an increase in self esteem. | 10.1179/bjo.18.2.111 |
pubmed_724_24007 | Eggs high in n-6 PUFA, predominant in Western markets, were found to increase blood LDL oxidation, suggesting a new health concern beyond raising cholesterol. Protective composition was explored by increasing egg antioxidants and MUFA and reducing n-6 PUFA. Lag times to plasma LDL oxidation were significantly shortened with two eggs/day of high-PUFA compositions compared to a low-egg (2-4/week) regime, by 28.8% following "HPUFA-regular" ( p < 0.01) and by 27.2% following antioxidant-fortified "HPUFA-HAOX" ( p < 0.01). However, two "HMUFA-HAOX" eggs/day with reduced egg n-6 PUFA FA% (LA by 30.7%) and PUFA:MUFA ratio (LA:OA by 45.8%) plus increased antioxidants (vitamin E 500%, carotenoids 260%), resulting in increased plasma OA 33.3%, vitamin E 22.4%, and carotenoids 55.0% ( p < 0.01), were associated with lag-time only 6.6% shorter than low-egg (NS). Among health-oriented egg modifications, here for the first time they reduced associated LDL oxidization, consistent with anti-inflammation and antioxidant paradigms, warranting further research on functional advantages of antioxidative egg composition. | 10.1021/jf073549r |
pubmed_536_24153 | BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE
To show the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of sildenafil in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) associated with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) and to assess its effects on quality of life (QoL) using the Life-Satisfaction Check List.
METHODS
This was a placebo-controlled, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, flexible-dose, 2-way crossover study with a 2-week washout period between each phase. Patients with ED attributable to SCI (Sexual Health Inventory-Male score < or =21) received 50 to 100 mg sildenafil (n = 24) or placebo (n = 26).
RESULTS
Compared with placebo, sildenafil produced higher levels of successful sexual stimulation, intercourse success, satisfaction with sexual life and sexual relationship, erectile function, overall sexual satisfaction, and an improved Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction score, with no clinically relevant effects on vital signs. Sildenafil seemed more effective in patients with incomplete SCI than in those with complete SCI, producing significant improvements, compared with placebo, in a number of measures only in patients with incomplete SCI. All patients who expressed a preference selected sildenafil over placebo, although the drug had no effect on patient QoL. Sildenafil was well tolerated, with a profile comparable to that of placebo.
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with placebo, treatment with oral sildenafil safely and effectively improved erectile function in patients with ED attributable to SCI, especially in those with incomplete injury, and was the agent of choice in those who expressed a preference. | 10.1080/10790268.2008.11753647 |
pubmed_325_13504 | BACKGROUND
Few neurologic diseases have captured the nation's attention more completely than chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which has been discovered in the autopsies of professional athletes, most notably professional football players. The tragic case of Junior Seau, a Hall of Fame, National Football League linebacker, has been the most high-profile confirmed case of CTE. Here we describe Seau's case, which concludes an autopsy conducted at the National Institutes of Health that confirmed the diagnosis.
CASE DESCRIPTION
Since 1990, Junior Seau had a highly distinguished 20-year career playing for the National Football League as a linebacker, from which he sustained multiple concussions. He committed suicide on May 2, 2012, at age 43, after which an autopsy confirmed a diagnosis of CTE. His clinical history was significant for a series of behavioral disturbances. Seau's history and neuropathologic findings were used to better understand the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and possible risk factors for CTE.
CONCLUSIONS
This high-profile case reflects an increasing awareness of CTE as a long-term consequence of multiple traumatic brain injuries. The previously unforeseen neurologic risks of American football have begun to cast doubt on the safety of the sport. | pubmed_325_13504 |
pubmed_24_10875 | AIM
To evaluate the desensitizing effect of a Bulgarian-made dentifrice containing 5% potassium nitrate in a double-blind experiment.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study included 40 clinically healthy individuals aged 23 to 60 years, who complained of increased sensitivity to thermal, chemical and mechanical stimuli in 462 teeth. The recruited patients were allocated into two groups: 20 patients were treated with the Sensi I dentifrice, and the other 20--the Sensi II dentifrice. The outcome of treatment was evaluated by any alteration in pain sensitiveness in response to different stimuli and changes in the threshold of electrical excitability.
RESULTS
The Sensi I toothpaste (containing 5% potassium nitrate) was found to have a better desensitizing effect than the Sensi II placebo toothpaste (P < 0.01). The Sensi I dentifrice caused a rise in the threshold of electrical excitability of sensitive teeth with clinically intact enamel (P < 0.01), teeth with erosions (P < 0.05) and teeth with exposed root surfaces (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
The Sensi toothpaste, containing 5% potassium nitrate, demonstrated a pronounced anesthetizing effect; it can be used successfully for treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity of teeth with clinically intact enamel, erosions and exposed root surfaces due to gingival recessions. | pubmed_24_10875 |
pubmed_695_3623 | DNA methylation plays critical roles in vascular pathology of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The underlying mechanism, however, remains undetermined. Here, we demonstrate that global DNA methylation was elevated in the lungs of PH rat models after monocrotaline administration or hypobaric hypoxia exposure. We showed that DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) was up-regulated in both PH patients and rodent models. Furthermore, Dnmt3b -/- rats exhibited more severe pulmonary vascular remodeling. Consistently, inhibition of DNMT3B promoted proliferation/migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in response to platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). In contrast, overexpressing DNMT3B in PASMCs attenuated PDGF-BB-induced proliferation/migration and ameliorated hypoxia-mediated PH and right ventricular hypertrophy in mice. We also showed that DNMT3B transcriptionally regulated inflammatory pathways. Our results reveal that DNMT3B is a previously undefined mediator in the pathogenesis of PH, which couples epigenetic regulations with vascular remodeling and represents a therapeutic target to tackle PH. | 10.1126/sciadv.aba2470 |
pubmed_202_21033 | Report of a patient diagnosed with having a pelvian mass which histologically was a melanoma. Discussion of the possible causes of retrovesical mass and treatment of the melanoma. | pubmed_202_21033 |
pubmed_875_5331 | This study investigates the feasibility of exploiting the Čerenkov radiation (CR) present during external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for significant therapeutic gain, using titanium dioxide (titania) nanoparticles (NPs) delivered via newly designed radiotherapy biomaterials. Using Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations, we calculated the total CR yield inside a tumor volume during EBRT compared to that of the radionuclides. We also considered a novel approach for intratumoral titania delivery using radiotherapy biomaterials (e.g. fiducials) loaded with NPs. The intratumoral distribution/diffusion of titania released from the fiducials was calculated. To confirm the CR induced enhancement in EBRT experimentally, we used 6MV radiation to irradiate human lung cancer cells with or without titania NPs and performed clonogenic assays. For a radiotherapy biomaterial loaded with 20μg/g of 2-nm titania NPs, at least 1μg/g could be delivered throughout a tumor sub-volume of 2-cm diameter after 14days. This concentration level could inflict substantial damage to cancer cells during EBRT. The Monte Carlo results showed the CR yield by 6MV radiation was higher than by the radionuclides of interest and hence greater damage might be obtained during EBRT. In vitro study showed significant enhancement with 6MV radiation and titania NPs. These preliminary findings demonstrate a potential new approach that can be used to take advantage of the CR present during megavoltage EBRT to boost damage to cancer cells. The results provide significant impetus for further experimental studies towards the development of nanoparticle-aided EBRT powered by the Čerenkov effect. | pubmed_875_5331 |
pubmed_600_8653 | Previous research has consistently found sexual prejudice to be a predictor of antigay aggression and has also revealed specific correlates and antecedents of sexual prejudice. However, extant literature reveals mixed findings about potential racial group differences in sexual prejudice, and few studies have examined racial differences in the correlates of sexual prejudice. The aims of this descriptive study were to determine whether there are (a) racial group differences in reports of sexual prejudice and (b) racial group differences in previously identified correlates of sexual prejudice. Participants were 195 heterosexual males, ages 18 to 30 (98 Blacks and 97 Whites), recruited from a large metropolitan city in the southeastern United States. Based on cultural differences in the influence of religion and in attitudes about male sexuality, it was hypothesized that Black participants would report higher sexual prejudice than White participants. Additionally, based on cultural differences in racial views on masculinity and in sociocultural experiences of male gender roles, it was hypothesized that Blacks would report greater endorsement of religious fundamentalism and the traditional male role norm of status than Whites. Results confirmed all of the hypothesized racial differences and revealed additional differences, including a differential effect of the traditional male role norm of status on sexual prejudice, which explains, at least in part, the racial differences found in sexual prejudice. These findings may reflect underlying cultural differences between Black and White males and may aid in the development of future efforts to reduce sexual prejudice and consequently antigay aggression toward sexual minorities. | 10.1037/a0038444 |
pubmed_579_11738 | From drop-down computer menus to department-store aisles, people in everyday life often choose from simultaneous displays of products or options. Studies of position effects in such choices show seemingly inconsistent results. For example, in restaurant choice, items enjoy an advantage when placed at the beginning or end of the menu listings, but in multiple-choice tests, answers are more popular when placed in the middle of the offered list. When reaching for a bottle on a supermarket shelf, bottles in the middle of the display are more popular. But on voting ballots, first is the most advantageous position. Some of the effects are quite sensible, whereas others are harder to justify and can aptly be regarded as biases. This article attempts to put position effects into a unified and coherent framework and to account for them simply by using a small number of familiar psychological principles. | 10.1177/1745691615588092 |
pubmed_6_22496 | RNA has coevolved with numerous posttranscriptional modifications to sculpt interactions with proteins and other molecules. One of these modifications is 5-methylcytosine (m5C) and mapping the position and quantifying the level in different types of cellular RNAs and tissues is an important objective in the field of epitranscriptomics. Both in plants and animals bisulfite conversion has long been the gold standard for detection of m5C in DNA but it can also be applied to RNA. Here, we detail methods for highly reproducible bisulfite treatment of RNA, efficient locus-specific PCR amplification, detection of candidate sites by sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform, and bioinformatic calling of non-converted sites. | 10.1007/978-1-0716-1374-0_9 |
pubmed_904_17652 | Oxaliplatin induced peripheral neurotoxicity is characterized by an acute cold-induced syndrome characterized by cramps, paresthesias/dysesthesias in the distal limbs and perioral region, that develops rapidly and lasts up to one week affecting nearly all the patients as well as by long-lasting symptoms. It has been previously shown that pharmacological or genetic ablation of TRPA1 responses reduces oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity in mouse models. In the present report, we show that treatment with concentrations of oxaliplatin similar to those found in plasma of treated patients leads to an acidification of the cytosol of mouse dorsal root ganglia neurons in culture and this in turn is responsible for sensitization of TRPA1 channels, thereby providing a mechanistic explanation to toxicity of oxaliplatin. Reversal of the acidification indeed leads to a significantly reduced activity of TRPA1 channels. Last, acidification occurs also in vivo after a single injection of therapeutically-relevant doses of oxaliplatin. | 10.1038/s41598-018-33508-6 |
others_286_11147 | ne of the most striking features of the human brain is that it has an amazing spatio temporal dynamics. Due to the excessive and irregular electrical action flowing in the human brain, the seizure activity happens. Because of epileptic seizures, it gives rise to unusual and strange sensations thereby affecting the behaviour and quality of life of the person. The electrical activities of the human brain can be easily measured with the help of Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. In this paper, the hybrid model of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithms is implemented to get a first level optimization in the epilepsy risk level of the EEG signals. Further Minimum Relative Entropy (MRE) is used as a second level post classifier to optimize it further for the perfect classification of epilepsy risk levels from EEG signals. The results show that an average post classification accuracy with MRE classifier is 97.90% along with an average time delay of 2.06 s. © 2018, Springer International Publishing AG | 10.1007/978-3-319-71767-8_51 |
pubmed_448_17178 | Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2), an emerging zoonotic pathogen, may induce severe infections and symptoms manifested as septicemia, meningitis and even death both in human and pigs. The aim of this article was to develop a new methodology as real-time recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) assay targeting cps2J gene for the detection of SS2 (or SS1/2). The sensitivity and reproducibility of RT-RPA results were evaluated and compared with a real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The established RT-RPA reaction could be completed in 20 minutes with distinguishable specificity against the predominant S. suis infection serotypes of 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 14, and 31. Lower detection limit for RT-RPA was 102 genomic DNA copies per reaction. The specimen performance of RT-RPA was tested in nasopharyngeal swab samples with the sensitivity and specificity as 97.5% and 100%, respectively. Thus, this RT-RPA method is a rapid and potential molecular diagnostic tool for SS2 detection. | 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2021.115594 |
pubmed_264_612 | Five pediatric patients who were known to be previously healthy acutely developed lymphopenia during various viral or mycoplasma infections. In one case, fatal generalized varicella occurred and in another, severe toxic epidermal necrolysis ensued. To further investigate this phenomenon, a study was done to determine the incidence of and elucidate the pathogenesis of lymphopenia occurring during the acute phase of viral or mycoplasma infections. Acute and convalescent sera from patients with viral or mycoplasma infection and children immunized with live measles virus were screened for lymphocytotoxic activity against normal lymphocytes by the microcytotoxicity method of Terasaki and McClelland (1). Sera with lymphocytotoxic activity were found in 15 of 48 cases of viral infections, 4 of 22 mycoplasma infections, and 1 of 11 measles virus immunized persons. All those who had sera which were cytotoxic to lymphocytes in vitro had lymphopenia. The lymphocytotoxic activity resided in 19S fractions in 8 of 11 positive sera while the remaining 3 had activity both in 19S and 7S fractions and could be completely removed by absorption with antilight chain antiserum. The cytotoxic activities were all complement-dependent and were greater at 37 degrees C than at 4 degrees C. The significance of acute acquired immunologic deficiency due to the development of antibody-associated lymphotoxin (AbAL) during acute infections is discussed and five cases having more severe clinical manifestations are presented (Appendix). | 10.1172/JCI107268 |
pubmed_1108_17136 | We studied the possibility of modification of hematotropic effects of granulocytic CSF and hyaluronidase. It was found that hyaluronidase in a dose of 20 U/mouse potentiates the specific effect of granulocytic CSF on granulocytopoiesis, while granulocytic CSF potentiates the stimulating effect of the enzyme on the erythroid stem. Functional activity of hemopoiesis precursors, secretion of humoral factors by adherent myelokaryocytes, and serum content of hemopoietins increased under these conditions. Hyaluronidase (100 U/mouse) against the background of treatment with granulocytic CSF leads to uncoupling of proliferation and differentiation of hemopoietic cells and abolishes the mutually activating hematotropic effect of preparations. | 10.1007/s10517-008-0177-4 |
pubmed_527_7330 | We developed a Michelson-type cavity to achieve coherent combining of two quantum-cascade lasers, emitting at around 4.5microm. We report a cw combining efficiency of 85% (up to 91% near threshold) with good beam quality (M(2)<1.4). Despite the interferometric nature of the coupling mechanism, this type of cavity can withstand disturbance from the laboratory environment without significant power fluctuations. Finally, the spectral behavior and the output power dependence on current are explored. | 10.1364/OL.35.001917 |
pubmed_944_16464 | OBJECTIVES
To begin to determine the significance of various dog welfare issues as perceived by veterinary practitioners.
METHODS
Using an online questionnaire, respondents were asked how frequently they were made aware of 12 welfare issues and how important they felt each one was for each dog affected. Respondents were also asked how much they agreed with statements that the veterinary practitioners in their area, and the veterinary profession, should do more about each issue.
RESULTS
Responses were received from 59 practitioners. The most frequently noted problems were "obesity", "chronic pain/poor mobility" and "breed-related conditions". The most important issues for each dog affected were "lack of treatment for suffering", "abuse or active cruelty" and "malnutrition". "Breed-related conditions", "obesity" and "behavioural problems" were the issues for which there was greatest agreement that veterinary practitioners should do more, both in their area and as a profession.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
This pilot study suggests that the veterinary profession believes that obesity, breed-related conditions and behavioural problems are important concerns, and that more should be done about them. Although these results cannot be taken as definitive from a study of this size, it does provide a background for such further work involving companion dog welfare and the veterinary profession. | 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2011.01095.x |
pubmed_351_644 | A total of 1,442 schoolchildren in the Matsumoto City area were investigated for the prevalence of hepatitis virus-related serum markers, including antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and an abnormal serum transaminase level. Despite the large number of children tested, none was positive for anti-HCV antibodies or had been diagnosed as having viral hepatitis. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in children and adult blood donors in the same area increased significantly with age from 0% in the 6-15-year-old group to 1.14% in the 50-65-year-old group (P less than 0.001). Our results indicate that even if only the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results confirmed by the recombinant immunoblot assay are considered positive, the prevalence in children is significantly lower than that in blood donors (P less than 0.05). Six children were healthy carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV); all had been born to carrier mothers. These results indicate that apparently healthy schoolchildren in Japan have a low exposure to HCV infection. | 10.4269/ajtmh.1992.46.460 |
pubmed_780_1350 | Although cognitive impairments are well recognized in patients with schizophrenia, it is unclear which impairments are due to a genetic predisposition and which are caused by secondary disease effects or phenotype. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible relationship between genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia and cognitive functioning. Three groups of subjects were compared: 14 patients with schizophrenia, 15 healthy siblings and 32 healthy control subjects. All subjects were tested neuropsychologically. The raw test data were rescaled to standard equivalents (z-scores). Subjects' z scores on tests assessing the same cognitive domain were clustered and analyzed. Differences in cognitive functioning were found in the domains of abstraction, attention, executive functioning, spatial memory, and sensory-motor functioning. The schizophrenic probands were impaired on all these five domains whereas the healthy probands showed impairments on executive functioning and partially on sensory-motor functioning. Furthermore, for spatial memory the significant finding could mainly be attributed to impaired functioning in the patients, but not healthy siblings or control subjects, whereas for executive functioning patients and healthy siblings seemed equally impaired as compared to control subjects. The planning time of the Tower of London (TOL) and the initiation time of the Motor Planning Task (MPT) were used for measures of executive functioning, while the 'time to move of the Motor Planning Task' was used as measures of sensory motor functioning. These results suggest that the cognitive abnormalities in schizophrenia that may be related to genotype are represented in the domain of executive functioning and to some extent in the domain of sensory-motor functioning. | 10.1016/s0165-1781(00)00172-4 |
others_314_189427 | Mosquito saliva was shown to play a key role in arbovirus transmission and pathogenesis. In this study, we explored the presence of microbiota in mosquito saliva and their potential effect on mosquito-borne virus infection in vitro. Culturable fungal and bacterial colonies were isolated and identified from saliva harvested from Aedes aegypti (lab strain) and Culex pipiens (field-collected mosquitoes). For the first time, the fungal species Penicillium crustosum was identified in mosquitoes. Culturable bacteria detected in mosquito saliva included Serratia marcescens, Serratia nematodiphila, Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp., which were previously identified as mosquito or insect endosymbionts in the midgut or other organs. Oral treatment of adult mosquitoes with antibiotics or an antifungal drug resulted in a significant reduction of bacteria or fungi in saliva. Saliva depleted from fungi or bacteria significantly decreased Semliki Forest virus infection in human skin fibroblasts compared to non-treated saliva when the virus was preincubated with saliva or when virus and saliva were added to the cells at the same time. These results suggest that the salivary microbiota may play an essential role in mosquito-borne viral replication in human skin cells. Nevertheless, the potential effect of salivary microbiota warrants further investigation in | 10.1101/2023.03.31.534949 |
pubmed_434_8282 | Here, we describe a colorimetric sensor for detecting Hg(2+) in aqueous media, which is simply constructed by the self-assembly of thymine acetamidoethanethiol (T-SH) on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Based on the specific interaction of Hg(2+) with two thymines (T), the T-SH modified AuNPs can be induced to aggregate through the formation of a stable T-Hg-T complex in the presence of Hg(2+), resulting in a color change from red to blue-gray. As low as 0.5 µM of Hg(2+) can be easily monitored by the naked eye using this sensor. Other metal ions, including Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Pb(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Co(2+), Mn(2+), Ba(2+), Fe(2+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Al(3+), and Fe(3+), could not cause any response, even at concentrations 100-fold higher than Hg(2+). The high selectivity, high stability and easy operation enable this sensor suitable for the rapid on-site detection of Hg(2+) pollution. | 10.2116/analsci.26.1169 |
pubmed_244_9063 | Drug quantity purchase in China has reshaped the pattern of drug market with lower price of generic drugs and relatively higher price of original brand-name drugs. However, most Chinese people do not trust the safety and efficacy of the generic drugs that sold at a very low price. Ultra-low price of generic agents may weaken patients' drug recognition and compliance, and affect the implementation of drug quantity purchase policy. | 10.5582/ddt.2020.01011 |
pubmed_517_18685 | BACKGROUND
There is increasing evidence for phenomenological, biological and genetic overlap between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, bringing into question the traditional dichotomy between them. Neurobiological models linked to dimensional clinical data may provide a better foundation to represent diagnostic variation in neuropsychiatric disorders.
METHOD
To capture the interaction between psychosis and affective symptoms dimensionally, we devised a brief descriptive scale based on the type and relative proportions of psychotic and affective symptoms over the illness course. The scale was administered to a series of 762 patients with psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective and psychotic bipolar disorder assessed as part of the Bipolar-Schizophrenia Network for Intermediate Phenotypes (B-SNIP) study.
RESULTS
The resulting Schizo-Bipolar Scale scores across these disorders showed neither a clear dichotomy nor a simple continuous distribution. While the majority of cases had ratings close to prototypic schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, a large group (45% of cases) fell on the continuum between these two prototypes.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest a hybrid conceptualization model with a representation of cases with prototypic schizophrenia or bipolar disorder at the extremes, but a large group of patients on the continuum between them that traditionally would be considered schizoaffective. A dimensional approach, using the Schizo-Bipolar Scale, characterized patients across a spectrum of psychopathology. This scale may provide a valuable means to examine the relationships between schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar disorder. | 10.1016/j.schres.2011.09.005 |
pubmed_541_23742 | OBJECTIVE
To describe our experience in providing a program of structured interdisciplinary care for the families of fetuses prenatally diagnosed with a lethal congenital anomaly.
STUDY DESIGN
We developed a comprehensive "perinatal hospice" program for the supportive care of families with fetuses known to have a lethal condition. Upon prenatal diagnosis of a lethal fetal condition, parents were presented with the option of elective pregnancy termination versus a multi-disciplinary program of ongoing supportive care until the time of spontaneous labor or until delivery was required for obstetric indications. We evaluated patient use of this new service and the natural history of pregnancies managed in this fashion.
RESULTS
The population consisted of 33 patients carrying a fetus with a clearly delineated lethal anomaly. Twenty-eight (85%) chose to participate in the perinatal hospice program. Of these, 11/28 (39%) had an intrauterine fetal death and 17/28 (61%) delivered a live-born infant. Among the live-born infants were 12 vaginal deliveries, 4 preterm and 8 at term. Obstetric indications or maternal request resulted in cesarean delivery for 5/28 (18%), 4 preterm and 1 at term, all live born. All live-born infants died within 20 minutes to 2 months. There were no maternal complications.
CONCLUSION
The availability of a structured program providing ongoing, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, supportive perinatal care offers a tangible and safe alternative to early elective pregnancy termination for patients carrying a fetus with a lethal congenital condition. | pubmed_541_23742 |
pubmed_655_12466 | OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of currently recognised inherited prothrombotic states in a population of children with arterial stroke.
METHODS
Children with arterial stroke presenting to a tertiary level paediatric neurology centre between 1990 and 1996 were investigated for inherited prothrombotic states.
RESULTS
Sixty seven children with arterial stroke were investigated. Abnormalities were initially identified in 16 patients; however, only eight children (12%) had an inherited prothrombotic state. This was type 1 protein S deficiency in one patient, the factor V Leiden mutation in six, and activated protein C resistance (without the factor V Leiden mutation) in one. The prevalence of the factor V Leiden mutation was not significantly higher in children with arterial stroke (12%) than in a control population of children without thrombosis attending the same institution (5.2%; Fisher's exact test, p=0.19; difference in prevalence between patients and controls (95% confidence interval)=6.8% (-2.78% to 16.8%)).
CONCLUSIONS
Currently recognised inherited prothrombotic tendencies were rarely associated with stroke in this group of children, although larger numbers of patients would be needed to confirm this. Age appropriate normal values should be used when interpreting the results of a prothrombotic screen. Prothrombotic abnormalities seen acutely are as often transient as inherited. Longitudinal assessment and family studies are required before low concentrations of an anticoagulant protein found acutely can be attributed to an inherited abnormality. | 10.1136/jnnp.65.4.508 |
pubmed_35_23821 | AIM
To study incidence of gastroduodenal ulcer (GDU) in bronchial asthma and clinicomorphological features of ulcer disease in BA in long-term use of systemic corticosteroids (SCS) and without SCS.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The trial covered 297 BA patients. They have undergone clinicoendoscopic examination of the gastroduodenal zone (GDZ) for duodenal ulcer with assessment of clinical gastroenterological symptoms and morphological analysis of biopsies of gastric and duodenal mucosa using histological, histochemical and morphometric methods.
RESULTS
BA patients were found to have high incidence of duodenal ulcer (21.9%). Morphologically, they had active immune inflammation with hyperergic component. The results of the study did not confirm the opinion about a key role of SCS in development of GDU in BA. Small doses of SCS in patients with BA and GDU do not deteriorate ulcerogenesis.
CONCLUSION
One of the factors determining combination of ulcer disease with BA may be chronic hyperergic inflammation of GDZ mucosa stimulating realization of predisposition to ulcer and its chronic recurrent course. | pubmed_35_23821 |
pubmed_1142_6634 | In a changing environment, small RNAs (sRNAs) play an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and can vary in abundance depending on the conditions experienced by an individual (phenotypic plasticity) and its parents (non-genetic inheritance). Many sRNAs are unusual in that they can be produced in two ways, either using genomic DNA as the template (primary sRNAs) or existing sRNAs as the template (secondary sRNAs). Thus, organisms can evolve rapid plastic responses to their current environment by adjusting the amplification rate of sRNA templates. sRNA levels can also be transmitted transgenerationally by the direct transfer of either sRNAs or the proteins involved in amplification. Theory is needed to describe the selective forces acting on sRNA levels, accounting for the dual nature of sRNAs as regulatory elements and templates for amplification and for the potential to transmit sRNAs and their amplification agents to offspring. Here, we develop a model to study the dynamics of sRNA production and inheritance in a fluctuating environment. We tested the selective advantage of mutants capable of sRNA-mediated phenotypic plasticity within resident populations with fixed levels of sRNA transcription. Even when the resident was allowed to evolve an optimal constant rate of sRNA production, plastic amplification rates capable of responding to environmental conditions were favored. Mechanisms allowing sRNA transcripts or amplification agents to be inherited were favored primarily when parents and offspring face similar environments and when selection acts before the optimal level of sRNA can be reached within the organism. Our study provides a clear set of testable predictions for the evolution of sRNA-related mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity and transgenerational inheritance. | 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009581 |
pubmed_10_11164 | A red-near-IR dual-emissive nanocluster with the composition [Au10 Ag2 (2-py-C≡C)3 (dppy)6 ](BF4 )5 (1; 2-py-C≡C is 2-pyridylethynyl, dppy=2-pyridyldiphenylphosphine) has been synthesized. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis reveals that 1 has a trigonal bipyramidal Au10 Ag2 core that contains a planar Au4 (2-py-C≡C)3 unit sandwiched by two Au3 Ag(dppy)3 motifs. Cluster 1 shows intense red-NIR dual emission in solution. The visible emission originates from metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) from silver atoms to phosphine ligands in the Au3 Ag(dppy)3 motifs, and the intense NIR emission is associated with the participation of 2-pyridylethynyl in the frontier orbitals of the cluster, which is confirmed by a time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculation. | 10.1002/chem.201602403 |
pubmed_715_13978 | Modulation of tinnitus by a variety of somatosensory stimuli and alteration of gaze has been described. We present two cases of tinnitus induced by speech (voice). The tinnitus was troublesome in both patients, and both had hearing loss and ischemic changes in the central nervous system documented by magnetic resonance imaging. We discuss cross-modal plasticity and how it may explain the tinnitus in these two patients. | pubmed_715_13978 |
others_417_43 | Infections in critically-ill patients caused by extensively-drug-resistant (XDR)-Pseudomonas aeruginosa are challenging to manage due to paucity of effective treatment options. Cefepime/zidebactam, which is currently in global Phase 3 clinical development (Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT04979806, registered on July 28, 2021) is a novel mechanism of action based β-lactam/ β-lactam-enhancer combination with a promising activity against a broad-range of Gram-negative pathogens including XDR P. aeruginosa. We present a case report of an intra-abdominal infection-induced sepsis patient infected with XDR P. aeruginosa and successfully treated with cefepime/zidebactam under compassionate use. The 50 year old female patient with past-history of bariatric surgery and recent elective abdominoplasty and liposuction developed secondary pneumonia and failed a prolonged course of polymyxins. The organism repeatedly isolated from the patient was a New-Delhi metallo β-lactamase-producing XDR P. aeruginosa resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam, imipenem/relebactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam, susceptible only to cefepime/zidebactam. As polymyxins failed to rescue the patient, cefepime/zidebactam was administered under compassionate grounds leading to discharge of patient in stable condition. The present case highlights the prevailing precarious scenario of antimicrobial resistance and the need for novel antibiotics to tackle infections caused by XDR phenotype pathogens. © 2023, The Author(s) | 10.1186/s12941-023-00606-x |
pubmed_43_25090 | With the passage of time, the continued burning of fossil fuels is proving to be one of the world's most serious issues. In response, the current research aims to assess the critical linkage between carbon emissions and renewable energy, trade openness, and economic growth in Sweden utilizing a dataset from 1965 to 2019. The study applied the novel quantile-on-quantile regression (QQ) approach to assess this relationship. The main objectives are to address the following questions: (i) What are the effects of trade openness on CO2 emissions in each quantile? (ii) Does renewable energy consumption mitigates CO2 emissions in each quantile? What is the impact of economic growth on CO2 emissions in each quantile? The outcomes from the QQ approach revealed that at low and medium quantiles (0.1-0.6), the effect of trade openness on CO2 emissions is negative. Furthermore, at lower and higher quantiles (0.1-0.90) of combination of renewable energy consumption and CO2 emissions, the effect of renewable energy consumption on CO2 emissions is negative. Finally, at majority of the quantiles, the effect of economic growth on CO2 emissions is negative. Moreover, the present study applied the quantile regression (QR) approach as a robustness check. The findings of the QR validate the findings of the QQR approach. The study proposes that policy-makers in Sweden should place greater emphasis on raising public awareness regarding the issues of renewable energy since it mitigates environmental degradation. | 10.1007/s11356-021-15706-4 |
pubmed_859_13314 | OBJECTIVES
The adolescent population comprises a large volume of emergency department visits each year. A recent study showed that 20% of the ambulatory care visits of adolescent patients aged 15 to 25 years were made to the emergency department. This specific population often has poor access to health care and often is a vulnerable population, causing medical care to be a challenge. The purpose of this article was to review the standard practice and the specific laws regarding confidentiality and consent when treating an adolescent patient to provide the best possible care and treatment.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was done to examine key aspects of adolescent confidentiality and informed consent in an emergency setting. The literature was then compiled into a review article.
RESULTS
The article outlines the specific laws for emergency providers to be aware of regarding patient confidentiality and consent. The adolescent patient can consent to medical care without parental consent, when involving emergency care, contraceptive services, sexually transmitted infections, prenatal care, drug or alcohol related care, mental health services, and sexual assault services. Also, emancipated minors and mature minors are both situations in which a minor has the legal authority to refuse care and make decisions regarding their health care.
CONCLUSIONS
Patient confidentiality and informed consent are complex and complicated topics when dealing with the pediatric patient. Although some laws may vary state to state, there are specific details regarding adolescent confidentiality and informed consent that every provider should be aware of. The adolescent population is more likely to seek emergency care if the visit is confidential and the patient feels a sense of trust. Although it is important for providers to respect patient confidentiality when treating adolescents, it is also important for providers to encourage adolescents to confide in their parents regarding health issues. | 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002880 |
pubmed_977_14697 | Colleges and universities are in an important position to train builders and successors of the socialist cause whilst promoting quality education. Mental health education is an important foundation and condition for comprehensively improving students' overall quality. This research explores adjustment methods for college students' mental health based on virtual reality under the background of positive psychology. It discusses the importance of system requirements analysis in the software development process, analyzes the system's functional requirements, safety requirements, and software and hardware requirements, and uses the Apriori algorithm to explore the influencing factors of college students' mental health. Based on the system engineering method and using the data mining clustering method undertake detailed analysis and research on the mental health of college students, it then designs an anomaly mining algorithm based on clustering to quickly find anomalous data health problems. The interface design of the system is concise and the operation is simple. Users can conveniently input, query, and count information according to the various controls on the interface, which fully embodies human-oriented characteristics. Exploration of the characteristics of students' frequent Internet access ensures the efficiency, accuracy, and comprehensiveness of the evaluation and consultation work, facilitating psychological counseling for teachers and students, and saving paper. By establishing a data mining model, mining the database, and learning about different student groups and their respective characteristics, we discuss our research on student psychology and summarize the mental health status and gender, adaptation and anxiety, introversion, emotionality, and calmness of college students. We also consider the relationship between sex, negative, and courage. Using positive psychology theory, we examine the positive experiences of students and interconnected qualities, to build a mental health practice system. In the experiment, the happiness index evaluation of the virtual reality treatment system group was significant, P = 0.002 < 0.05. Mental health education plays an important role in cultivating the healthy psychology of college students, developing their psychological potential, enhancing their adaptability, and improving their personality. This analysis based on actual data provides a reliable basis for psychological educators to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of school psychological counseling and to facilitate schools in establishing new methods of early prevention and intervention for psychological disorders, enabling institutions to create a healthy atmosphere for college students. | 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.921621 |
pubmed_786_15125 | The search for human oval cells or bi-potential stem cells in the human liver is the subject of intensive investigation. Fetal hepatocytes (hepatoblasts) have some proliferative and bipotential capacity, but access to sufficient numbers of cells remains limiting. Candidate stem cells in the adult normal and diseased human liver have been identified using markers such as OV6, CD34, c-kit and NCAM. Lack of stem cell marker specificity however, remains a problem and further, more specific markers are required. The molecular signaling molecules and transcription factors that control proliferation and cell differentiation pathways into hepatocyte or biliary phenotype are beginning to emerge. However, whether any of the current liver stem cell approaches will be converted into effective clinical cell transplantation or gene therapy treatments has yet to be proven. | 10.1055/s-2004-815563 |
pubmed_288_10372 | OBJECTIVE
To study the related factors of contralateral lymph node metastasis in pyriform sinus carcinoma.
METHOD
Fifty-three patients with pyriform sinus carcinoma underwent simultaneous neck dissection from Oct. 1993 to Oct. 1999 were collected. Transparent lymph node selection and continuous slicing method were used on the postoperative specimens to observe the status of cervical lymph node metastasis. The relationship between contralateral lymph node metastasis and clinico-pathological factors, ipsilateral neck metastatic status were analyzed by the follow-up data.
RESULT
Cervical lymph node metastatic rate was 79.2% in 53 patients with pyriform sinus carcinoma. Contralateral cervical lymph node metastatic rate was 35.8%. Contralateral neck metastasis was closely related with clinical N stage, cell differentiation, fused metastasis and extracapsular spread of ipsilateral neck.
CONCLUSION
Contralateral neck dissection should be undertaken in patients with N2,3, moderate and low cell differentiation, or fused fused metastasis and extracapsular spread of ipsilateral neck. | pubmed_288_10372 |
pubmed_932_20029 | Calcareous sponges (Phylum Porifera, Class Calcarea) are known to be taxonomically difficult. Previous molecular studies have revealed many discrepancies between classically recognized taxa and the observed relationships at the order, family and genus levels; these inconsistencies question underlying hypotheses regarding the evolution of certain morphological characters. Therefore, we extended the available taxa and character set by sequencing the complete small subunit (SSU) rDNA and the almost complete large subunit (LSU) rDNA of additional key species and complemented this dataset by substantially increasing the length of available LSU sequences. Phylogenetic analyses provided new hypotheses about the relationships of Calcarea and about the evolution of certain morphological characters. We tested our phylogeny against competing phylogenetic hypotheses presented by previous classification systems. Our data reject the current order-level classification by again finding non-monophyletic Leucosolenida, Clathrinida and Murrayonida. In the subclass Calcinea, we recovered a clade that includes all species with a cortex, which is largely consistent with the previously proposed order Leucettida. Other orders that had been rejected in the current system were not found, but could not be rejected in our tests either. We found several additional families and genera polyphyletic: the families Leucascidae and Leucaltidae and the genus Leucetta in Calcinea, and in Calcaronea the family Amphoriscidae and the genus Ute. Our phylogeny also provided support for the vaguely suspected close relationship of several members of Grantiidae with giantortical diactines to members of Heteropiidae. Similarly, our analyses revealed several unexpected affinities, such as a sister group relationship between Leucettusa (Leucaltidae) and Leucettidae and between Leucascandra (Jenkinidae) and Sycon carteri (Sycettidae). According to our results, the taxonomy of Calcarea is in desperate need of a thorough revision, which cannot be achieved by considering morphology alone or relying on a taxon sampling based on the current classification below the subclass level. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0033417 |
pubmed_912_4575 | Cardiovascular disease is originated in the vascular endothelium, which controls the homeostasis and the filtration and diffusion of molecules from blood to the tissues. The classical cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) act directly on the endothelium through an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species, promoting an endothelial activation mediated by the expression of adhesion and proinflammatory molecules, which lead to endothelial dysfunction, the progression of the atherosclerotic plaque, and the onset of cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to analyze the association of superoxide dismutase, catalase, gluthatione peroxidase, and lipoperoxidation with fibrinogen, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 in subjects with cardiovascular risk (CVR) and CRF. This was a cross-sectional study of 114 individuals; oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, catalase, gluthatione peroxidase, and lipoperoxidation) and inflammatory (fibrinogen, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and VCAM-1) biomarkers were measured; a CVR score (Framingham) and its CRF were taken into consideration to classify the participants. Twenty-nine subjects out of a total of 114 had high CVR. Smokers and subjects with diabetes (43 subjects) were excluded from the low CVR group. Significant decreases in lipoperoxidation, IL-6, and VCAM-1 and an increase in SOD were found in the high CVR group (P ≤ 0.05). Individual analysis of each CRF in the 114 subjects revealed a different pattern in the biomarkers' statistical differences. Concluding that the biomarkers show statistical differences in each CRF, especially IL-6, VCAM-1, and SOD; therefore, these are highly recommended to be used as biomarkers of the oxidative stress and inflammatory status in CVR. | 10.1097/MJT.0b013e318235f32f |
pubmed_948_13492 | Intracellular recordings were made from antidromically identified motoneurons in neonate (12-22 days) rat transverse spinal cord slices and the transmitters and receptors probably involved in initiating the excitatory (EPSP) and inhibitory (IPSP) postsynaptic potentials were investigated. Stimulation of dorsal roots elicited in motoneurons an EPSP, an IPSP, or an EPSP followed by an IPSP. EPSPs in 70% of motoneurons had a short latency (less than or equal to 1 ms) and in the remaining cells a latency longer than 1 ms. The IPSPs had a long latency (greater than or equal to 1 ms). Short- and long-latency EPSPs were enhanced by the acidic amino acid uptake inhibitor L-aspartic acid-beta-hydroxamate (AAH) and depressed by the non-selective glutamate receptor antagonists gamma-D-glutamylglycine (DGG) and kynurenic acid. Short-latency EPSPs were suppressed by the quisqualate/kainate (QA/KA) receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) but not by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists D-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) and ketamine. Long-latency EPSPs were reduced by DNQX as well as by APV and ketamine. Superfusion of the slices with a Mg-free solution increased the EPSPs and unmasked a late, APV-sensitive component. The IPSP was reduced by the glycine antagonist strychnine as well as by APV and ketamine but resistant to DNQX. The results indicate that stimulation of dorsal roots elicited in motoneurons a monosynaptic EPSP mediated by glutamate/aspartate acting predominantly on the QA/KA subtype of glutamate receptors; an NMDA component can be unveiled in Mg-free solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | 10.1016/0006-8993(90)91829-6 |
pubmed_537_7621 | Growth hormone (GH) is a crucial factor in the build-up and in the maintenance of peak bone mass. Children with GH deficiency have osteopenia and a concomitant reduction in bone turnover. On the other hand, GH therapy improves bone mineral density and stimulates bone turnover. These data suggest that GH treatment may have a beneficial effect on peak bone mass. In children with GH deficiency, the values of some biochemical markers of bone turnover may be closely related to growth response during GH therapy. However, further studies are needed to define the usefulness of bone markers in order to optimize the treatment and to predict the growth outcome in GH-treated children. | 10.1159/000184835 |
pubmed_794_5211 | Biodiversity conservation areas include National Parks which are integral parts of protected areas. In parks, the dynamics of land and vegetation covers are significantly affected by anthropogenic activities and natural factors. These resources are exposed to challenges due to unwise practices. Assessing and monitoring the status of park's natural resources enables us to understand the extent of land and vegetation resources. Few studies have been conducted in Maze National Park (MzNP) but none of them quantified the land and vegetation cover dynamics. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to quantify the extents spatiotemporal dynamics of land and vegetation cover of MzNP using GIS and RS technology considering three decades Landsat images acquired from USGS. GPS and GCPs were collected for the analysis of land cover classification and accuracy assessment, respectively. The trend analysis result revealed that scattered tree and grass land cover area have increased from 19.8% in 1987 to 51.6% in 2019. The area of sparse vegetation cover increased from 19.7% in 2000 to 78.4% in 2019. Highly dense and dense vegetation cover decreased remarkably. Accuracy assessment was 98% and computed Kappa coefficient was 0.97. The results suggested that the extent of MzNP's vegetation cover change was basically due to anthropogenic pressure. This study could be used to alarm responsible bodies to restructure and implement better environmental protection strategies for restoration of the rapidly deteriorating vegetation resource of MzNP. | 10.1007/s10661-022-10039-2 |
pubmed_1070_21538 | UNLABELLED
BACKGROUND Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) is a well known non-surgical technique for treating patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS). There are very few studies that have compared the 3 techniques together for their safety and efficacy.
METHODS
To compare the three different techniques for percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) using Inoue balloon (IB), metallic commissurotome (PMMC), or multi-track double balloon (MTDB) in patients with MS.
RESULTS
A total of 486 patients were subjected to PMV using any of the 3 techniques, IB, PMMC or MTDB. The overall success rate was 97.3% (n = 473); 95.7% for IB, 97.6% for PMMC, and 98.3% for MTDB. Overall, the transmitral gradient decreased from 20.7 +/- 7.2 mmHg to 6.5 +/- 3.7 mmHg (p < 0.001) and mitral valve area (MVA) increased from 0.87 +/- 0.2 cm(2) to 1.9 +/- 0.4 cm(2) (p < 0.001). Left atrial pressure decreased from 29.3 +/- 8.4 mmHg to 16.1 +/- 11.5 mmHg (p < 0.001) and pulmonary arterial pressure decreased from 76.9 +/- 41.8 mmHg to 45.2 +/- 17.6 mmHg (p < 0.001). Thirteen patients (2.7%) required mitral valve replacement (MVR) for severe mitral regurgitation (MR) while one patient (0.2%) developed cardiac tamponade requiring urgent pericardiocentesis followed by surgical repair of the tear and open mitral valvotomy. There was no statistical difference among the 3 techniques used.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty is an effective procedure for MS with any of the three above techniques. | pubmed_1070_21538 |
pubmed_256_7110 | Alcoholic ingestion is one of the major factors for increasing serum uric acid levels. Genotypes of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2, E.C.1.2.1.3), which regulates the sensitivity of an individual to ethanol, were determined in Japanese patients with gout and control subjects by allele specific oligonucleotide hybridization using PCR amplified gene. The most common allele ALDH2*1 codes for normal ALDH2 activity, while the less common allele ALDH2*2 codes for a lower enzyme activity. The frequency of homozygotes of ALDH2*2 was significantly lower in patients with gout than those with rheumatoid arthritis or a normal population. Plasma and urinary hypoxanthine levels were strikingly increased after ethanol drinking in homozygotes for ALDH2*1 but not in heterozygotes for ALDH2*1/ALDH2*2, indicated extensive purine nucleotide degradation in homozygote for ALDH2*1. These data indicated that alcohol ingestion may not be the requisite factor but is deeply involved in the pathogenesis of gout and hyperuricemia. | 10.1007/978-1-4615-2584-4_13 |
pubmed_163_17523 | BACKGROUND
Long-term glucocorticoids (HairGC) measured in scalp hair have been associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-hip-ratio (WHR) in several cross-sectional studies. We aimed to investigate the magnitude, strength, and clinical relevance of these relations across all ages.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration CRD42020205187) searching for articles relating HairGC to measures of obesity. Main outcomes were bivariate correlation coefficients and unadjusted simple linear regression coefficients relating hair cortisol (HairF) and hair cortisone (HairE) to BMI, WC, and WHR.
RESULTS
We included k = 146 cohorts (n = 34,342 individuals). HairGC were positively related to all anthropometric measurements. The strongest correlation and largest effect size were seen for HairE-WC: pooled correlation 0.18 (95%CI 0.11-0.24; k = 7; n = 3,158; I2 = 45.7%) and pooled regression coefficient 11.0 cm increase in WC per point increase in 10-log-transformed HairE (pg/mg) on liquid-chromatography-(tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-MS) (95%CI 10.1-11.9 cm; k = 6; n = 3,102). Pooled correlation for HairF-BMI was 0.10 (95%CI 0.08-0.13; k = 122; n = 26,527; I2 = 51.2%) and pooled regression coefficient 0.049 kg/m2 per point increase in 10-log-transformed HairF (pg/mg) on LC-MS (95%CI 0.045-0.054 kg/m2 ; k = 26; n = 11,635).
DISCUSSION
There is a consistent positive association between HairGC and BMI, WC, and WHR, most prominently and clinically relevant for HairE-WC. These findings overall suggest an altered setpoint of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with increasing central adiposity. | 10.1111/obr.13376 |
pubmed_912_748 | INTRODUCTION
Despite the abundant data on outcomes after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), no study has compared outcomes between an anterior vs a posterior approach. We postulated that a posterior approach may facilitate dissection and lead to improved outcomes in patients with larger prostate glands.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
After Institutional Review Board approval, 404 patients underwent RARP between 2007 and 2011 by two surgeons at our institution. Of these, 187 patients underwent RARP using a posterior surgical approach while 217 patients were approached anteriorly. Retrospective review of preoperative, intraoperative, and perioperative characteristics and outcomes were compared between the two cohorts using two sample t tests and two proportion z tests to calculate statistical significance.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences in age, body mass index, prostate volume, or prostate-specific antigen of the two cohorts. Pathology was similar, although there was a significantly increased proportion of Gleason 9 disease in the anterior approach group. Intraoperative and perioperative outcomes including console time, transfusion rate, positive margins, and complication rates were compared. There was no difference observed in outcomes or console time between the two approaches. When console time was stratified for prostate volume, however, a shorter operative time was seen in the two highest quartiles for prostate volume with the posterior approach (163.8 vs 145.9 min and 183.8 vs 166.2 min, P=0.02, P=0.04).
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the widespread application of RARP, there is no literature that addresses which surgical approach is most advantageous. Our data suggest that the posterior approach offers shorter operative times in patients with large prostate glands while overall outcomes remain the same between the two approaches. | 10.1089/end.2012.0596 |
pubmed_373_8698 | Although disorders of iron metabolism are prevalent, iron transport remains poorly understood. To address this problem, we undertook a positional cloning strategy to identify the causative mutation in mice with microcytic anaemia (mk). Homozygous mk/mk mice have microcytic, hypochromic anaemia due to severe defects in intestinal iron absorption and erythroid iron utilization. We report the identification of a strong candidate gene for mk, and suggest that the phenotype is a consequence of a missense mutation in Nramp2 (ref. 5), a previously identified gene of unknown function. Nramp2 is homologous to Nramp1, a gene activa in host defense. If Nramp2 is mk, as the cumulative evidence suggests, our findings have broad implications for the understanding of iron transport and resistance to intracellular pathogens. | 10.1038/ng0897-383 |
pubmed_828_19531 | Aurorally enhanced IR emissions in the 2.9-microm region have been measured from a jet aircraft with a zenith looking radiometer. Overtone chemiluminescent emission from chemically produced NO is the postulated source. | 10.1364/AO.18.003394 |
pubmed_827_8766 | OBJECTIVE
Since the findings from the Women's Health Initiative became available in July 2002, millions of women have discontinued postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT). The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between HT cessation and hip fracture risk.
METHODS
Women who participated in the National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment and completed the 12-month follow-up survey were studied. All participants were aged at least 50 years, were postmenopausal, and had no previous diagnosis of osteoporosis. Baseline and 12-month follow-up questionnaires assessed use of HT and incident fractures. Of the 140,584 women in this study, 269 reported an incident hip fracture. A logistic regression model was used to assess association between HT use and incident hip fracture, controlling for potential confounders.
RESULTS
Consistent with the Women's Health Initiative, women in National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment who were currently on HT had a 40% lower incidence of hip fractures compared with those who never used HT. Women who stopped using HT more than 5 years earlier had similar hip fracture risk to never users, as expected. However, surprisingly, women who had discontinued HT within the previous 5 years had an increased hip fracture odds ratio of 1.65 (95% confidence interval 1.05, 2.59) relative to never users of HT.
CONCLUSION
Postmenopausal women who have discontinued HT within the past 5 years have a risk for hip fracture that is at least as high as that in women who have never used HT.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
II-2 | 10.1097/01.AOG.0000114986.14806.37 |
pubmed_626_22729 | Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) is demonstrated in volume-distributed feedback (DFB) structures, formed by colloidal CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals and ZrO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in a polymer matrix. Periodic redistribution of the NPs in an organic matrix was carried out by holographic photopolymerization in a specially developed light-sensitive nanocomposite. The composite consists of two acrylate monomers and two types of inorganic NPs. The NPs provide for the formation of two co-phased gratings-a refractive index grating and an optical gain (losses) grating. The core-shell CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals are used as a gain medium, while ZrO2 NPs create the refractive index grating and enhance the distributed feedback. The period of the volume structure provides the feedback for lasing at the wavelength lambda(las) of about 575 nm in the second diffraction order. In contrast to known laser systems based on volume DFB cavities, in which the different components of the formulation provide optical gain and feedback, in our case the inorganic NPs serve as an emitting material and can provide simultaneously for feedback. By pumping of DFB structures by a titanium-sapphire laser (lambda(pump) = 400 nm, pulse duration of 120 fs) normal to the sample plane, the appearance of a sharp stimulated emission along the grating-vector direction is observed. Output intensity of ASE as a function of the pump energy shows a threshold behavior and full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the ASE spectral band decreases from 33 to 12 nm. | 10.1088/0957-4484/20/24/245707 |
pubmed_715_16591 | Fast-track cardiac anesthesia (FTCA) incorporates early tracheal extubation, decreased length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and (ideally) should avoid or reduce complications to safely achieve cost-savings. A growing body of evidence from randomized trials has identified many anesthetic interventions that can improve outcome after cardiac surgery. These include new short-acting hypnotic, opioid, and neuromuscular blocking drugs. An effective FTCA program requires the appropriate selection of suitable patients, a low-dose opioid anesthetic technique, early tracheal extubation, a short stay in the ICU, and coordinated perioperative care. It is also dependent on the avoidance of postoperative complications such as excessive bleeding, myocardial ischemia, low cardiac output state, arrhythmias, sepsis, and renal failure. These complications will have a much greater adverse effect on hospital length of stay and healthcare costs. A number of clinical trials have identified interventions that can reduce some of these complications. The adoption of effective treatments into clinical practice should improve the effectiveness of FTCA. | 10.1177/108925320500900102 |
pubmed_28_20207 | Postinhibitory facilitation (PIF) of neural firing presents a paradoxical phenomenon that the inhibitory effect induces enhancement instead of reduction of the firing activity, which plays important roles in sound location of the auditory nervous system, awaited theoretical explanations. In the present paper, excitability and threshold mechanism for the PIF phenomenon is presented in the Morris-Lecar model with type I, II, and III excitabilities. Firstly, compared with the purely excitatory stimulations applied to the steady state, the inhibitory preceding excitatory stimulation to form pairs induces the firing rate increased for type II and III excitabilities instead of type I excitability, when the interval between the inhibitory and excitatory stimulation within each pair is suitable. Secondly, the threshold mechanism for the PIF phenomenon is acquired. For type II and III excitabilities, the inhibitory stimulation induces subthreshold oscillations around the steady state. During the middle and ending phase of the ascending part and the beginning phase of the descending part within a period of the subthreshold oscillations, the threshold to evoke an action potential by an excitatory stimulation becomes weaker, which is the cause for the PIF phenomenon. Last, a theoretical estimation for the range of the interval between the inhibitory and excitatory stimulation for the PIF phenomenon is acquired, which approximates half of the intrinsic period of the subthreshold oscillations for the relatively strong stimulations and becomes narrower for the relatively weak stimulations. The interval for the PIF phenomenon is much shorter for type III excitability, which is closer to the experiment observation, due to the shorter period of the subthreshold oscillations. The results present the excitability and threshold mechanism for the PIF phenomenon, which provide comprehensive and deep explanations to the PIF phenomenon. | 10.1155/2021/6692411 |
pubmed_569_5018 | This study analyzed the carapace distribution of Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Pb, Sb, U, V and Zn by GF-AAS and ICP-AES in one specimen of Caretta caretta from Mediterranean Sea. Calcium, Mg, Mn, Pb, U, Zn were mainly distributed in the central area while Cd, Cr, Cu, Sb, V in lateral areas. Cadmium, Cr, Mg, Mn, Sb, U and V were different between lateral areas. The different distribution may be related to several exposures during lifetime and/or the shell ossification during growth. Carapace may be a suitable matrix for metal biomonitoring, however, further studies are required to confirm these findings. | pubmed_569_5018 |
pubmed_203_1639 | An unusual central venous catheter (CVC)-related infection caused by Candida membranaefaciens in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is described. Clinical signs and microbiological results observed in this case may support the hypothesis of an emerging CVC-related fungaemia, because of new azole-resistant yeast, successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B. To date C. membranaefaciens (the teleomorph of Pichia membranaefaciens) has traditionally been considered non-pathogenic and this report seems to be the first case of systemic fungal infection. We believe that another fungus can be added to the list of opportunistic strains. | 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2005.01133.x |
pubmed_698_4254 | Two cases of spinal cord infarction with clinical paraplegia are discussed in patients undergoing elective and uncomplicated cardiac procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass. In both cases, the primary etiology was likely peripheral embolization. Other possible etiologies are reviewed, previously reported cases are discussed, and possible solutions to avoid this devastating problem are addressed. | 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2001.tb01170.x |
others_314_118931 | The application of thermodynamics to microbial growth has a long tradition that originated in the middle of the 20th century. This approach reflects the view that self-replication is a thermodynamic process that is not fundamentally different from mechanical thermodynamics. The key distinction is that a free energy gradient is not converted into mechanical (or any other form of) energy, but rather into new biomass. As such, microbes can be viewed as energy converters that convert a part of the energy contained in environmental nutrients into chemical energy that drives self-replication. Before the advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies, only the most central metabolic pathways were known. However, precise measurement techniques allowed for the quantification of exchanged extracellular nutrients and heat of growing microbes with their environment. These data, together with the absence of knowledge of metabolic details, drove the development of so-called black box models, which only consider the observable interactions of a cell with its environment and neglect all details of how exactly inputs are converted into outputs. Now, genome sequencing and genome-scale metabolic models provide us with unprecedented detail about metabolic processes inside the cell. However, the derived modelling approaches make surprisingly little use of thermodynamic concepts. Here, we review classical black box models and modern approaches that integrate thermodynamics into genome-scale metabolic models. We also illustrate how the description of microbial growth as an energy converter can help to understand and quantify the trade-off between microbial growth rate and yield.
PerspectiveO_LIMicrobial growth is the foundation of many biotechnological applications. The key to optimizing microbial growth lies in thermodynamics, similar to how classical thermodynamics helped optimize steam engines in the 19th century.
C_LIO_LIGenome-scale metabolic models have become widely available, and are used to predict microbial growth. These predictions often fail because these models do not distinguish between growth rate and yield.
C_LIO_LIClassical black box models present a sound thermodynamic theory, by viewing microbes as energy converters. Incorporating such concepts into genome-scale metabolic models has the promise to advance our fundamental understanding of microbial growth, and thus to improve the predictive power of these models.
C_LI | 10.1101/2021.04.16.440103 |
pubmed_550_2639 | The rotational excitation spectrum, including the vibrational shift of the rotational band, of several CO isotopomers solvated in He clusters has been calculated. Reptation quantum Monte Carlo simulations are used in conjunction with an accurate He-CO potential energy surface, which quantitatively describes the rovibrational spectrum of the binary complex. Our simulations, when compared with number-selective infrared spectra taken for different isotopomers, help discriminate among the alternative assignments proposed for cluster sizes around 15 He atoms. The origin of the vibrational band has a red shift that is nearly linear with the cluster size within the first solvation shell and is almost constant up to the largest cluster studied, well beyond completion of the second solvation shell. A blue upturn at even larger sizes would be needed to attain the nanodroplet limit, as recently estimated from the isotopic dependence of the measured R(0) transitions. | 10.1021/jp071740y |
pubmed_36_8540 | Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) monitoring represents a powerful tool for checking the arousal of pathological fetal conditions during pregnancy. This paper proposes a multivariate approach for the discrimination of Normal and Intra Uterine Growth Restricted (IUGR) fetuses based on a small set of parameters computed on the FHR signal. We collected FHR recordings in a population of 120 fetuses (60 normals and 60 IUGRs) at approximately the same gestational week through a standard CTG non-stress test. A set of 8 linear and non-linear indices were selected and computed on each recording, on the basis of their "stand-alone" discriminative properties, demonstrated in previous studies. By using the Orange® data mining suite we checked various multivariate discrimination models. The results show that a Logistic Regression performed on a limited set of only 4 parameters can reach 92.5% accuracy in the correct identification of fetuses, with 93% sensitivity and 91.5% specificity. | 10.1109/EMBC.2014.6943974 |
pubmed_807_15841 | The experience of conduction of simultant operations in 103 patients, treated for postoperative abdominal hernia and obesity, was summarized. The necessity of the simultant operation conduction in such patients is based on the determined fact of impact of associated diseases on pathogenetic mechanisms of the hernia development and possibility of postoperative complications occurrence. The simultant operations application in patients, suffering postoperative abdominal hernia, are not associated with increase of postoperative complications occurrence or duration of treatment, they constitute a progressive trend in surgery, securing also the hernia recurrence prophylaxis. | pubmed_807_15841 |
pubmed_160_961 | An interactive fortran program (incor) performs the Paul (1989) procedure for testing the null hypothesis that more than two independent population correlations are equivalent. The program also performs subsequent range tests for comparing all possible pairwise correlations. | 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02107.x |
others_314_149286 | ofilm formation is the most successful survival strategy for bacterial communities. In the biofilm lifestyle, bacteria embed themselves in a self-secreted matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which acts as a shield against mechanical and chemical insults. When ambient flow is present, this viscoelastic scaffold can take a streamlined shape, forming biofilm filaments suspended in flow, called streamers. Streamers significantly disrupt the fluid flow by causing rapid clogging and affect transport in aquatic environments. Despite their relevance, the structural and rheological characterization of biofilm streamers is still at an early stage. In this work, we present a microfluidic platform that allows the reproducible growth of biofilm streamers in controlled physico-chemical conditions and the characterization of their biochemical composition, morphology, and rheology in situ. We employed isolated micropillars as nucleation sites for the growth of single biofilm streamers under the continuous flow of a diluted bacterial suspension. By combining fluorescent staining of the EPS components and epifluorescence microscopy, we were able to characterize the biochemical composition and morphology of the streamers. Additionally, we optimized a protocol to perform hydrodynamic stress tests in situ, by inducing controlled variations of the fluid shear stress exerted on the streamers by the flow. Thus, the reproducibility of the formation process and the testing protocol make it possible to perform several consistent experimental replicates that provide statistically significant information. By allowing the systematic investigation of the role of biochemical composition on the structure and rheology of streamers, this platform will advance our understanding of biofilm forma | 10.1101/2022.02.22.481486 |
pubmed_596_7441 | Electromembrane extraction was used for simultaneous sample cleanup and preconcentration of lithium from untreated human body fluids. The sample of a body fluid was diluted 100 times with 0.5 mM Tris solution and lithium was extracted by electromigration through a supported liquid membrane composed of 1-octanol into 100 mM acetic acid acceptor solution. Matrix compounds, such as proteins, red blood cells, and other high-molecular-weight compounds were efficiently retained on the supported liquid membrane. The liquid membrane was anchored in pores of a short segment of a polypropylene hollow fiber, which represented a low cost, single use, disposable extraction unit and was discarded after each use. Acceptor solutions were analyzed using capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CE-C(4) D) and baseline separation of lithium was achieved in a background electrolyte solution consisting of 18 mM L-histidine and 40 mM acetic acid at pH 4.6. Repeatability of the electromembrane extraction-CE-C(4) D method was evaluated for the determination of lithium in standard solutions and real samples and was better than 0.6 and 8.2% for migration times and peak areas, respectively. The concentration limit of detection of 9 nM was achieved. The developed method was applied to the determination of lithium in urine, blood serum, blood plasma, and whole blood at both endogenous and therapeutic concentration levels. | 10.1002/elps.201000620 |
pubmed_650_6398 | Locomotor activity in response to the D2/D3 agonist quinpirole was studied in male rats treated chronically (25-40 days) with imipramine, amitriptyline or mianserin (5 mg/kg/day). All three antidepressants potentiated the response to quinpirole. Repeated administration of quinpirole at 3-day intervals also caused a marked increase in the locomotor response to quinpirole. Imipramine-treated animals were more active than vehicle-treated animals on all quinpirole trials. Animals tested in the locomotor activity apparatus for the first time following their fifth quinpirole injection showed sensitization, but to a lesser extent than animals tested repeatedly under quinpirole. This context-independent sensitization was potentiated by all three antidepressants. We discuss the potential clinical relevance of these results. | 10.1016/0924-977x(92)90021-y |
pubmed_406_1974 | Bilateral pedial lymphography is a technique which has already been long employed and which had aroused great hopes in the detection of metastatic node involvement. The method has nevertheless failed to form an invariable part of the pretherapeutic assessment of cervico-uterine carcinomas. This attitude may be easily explained by the difficulties encountered in the interpretation of lymphographies as indicated in the first publications. New data nevertheless have made it possible to refine the method. Whilst false negatives remain inevitable in almost half the cases with histological evidence of involvement, false positives may be reduced to a minimum by very strict criteria of interpretation. Lymphography, a harmless technique, can then provide valuable information which enables the surgeon to confirm the success of his lymph node dissection and the radiotherapist to define areas requiring treatment. It is of major prognostic value. It may be used to guide transparietal lymph node biopsies and secondary detect lumbo-aortic nodes. | pubmed_406_1974 |
pubmed_416_8977 | Salmonella enterica serovars, viz., S. Weltevreden, S. Typhimurium, S. Gallinarum and S. Bareilly were treated with cephotaxime to release of intracellular proteins. The cephotaxime extract (CE) was salt precipitated with ammonium sulphate (45-70%) and dialyzed, and denoted as precipitated dialyzed proteins (PDP). Further, both CE and PDP of Salmonella Weltevreden and PDP of rest of the serovars were subjected to gel filtration using Sephacryl S-200HR. Different fractions along with CE and PDP were studied for their cytotoxicity using chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF). All the CE and PDP exerted cytotoxic effects, characterized by rounding, detachment, shrinkage and clumping of cells with syncytia formation. Also, the fractions eluted in the 2nd and 3rd peaks through Sephacryl S-200HR column invariably had cytotoxic activity. It was concluded that in place of Vero cell line, CEF cells could also be used to test cytotoxicity. | pubmed_416_8977 |
pubmed_867_3450 | Fundamental and clinical studies on cefuzonam (CZON, L-105) were carried out and the results obtained are summarized below: MICs against 451 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were determined. Antibacterial activity of CZON on S. aureus was similar to that of cefazolin, inferior to that of cloxacillin, and superior to those of benzylpenicillin and cefotaxime. With one-shot intravenous injection of CZON, peak serum concentrations were 40.0 micrograms/ml and 97.5-145 micrograms/ml with a dose of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively. Half-lives of the drug in serum were 34.2-47.9 minutes. Urinary excretion rates were 46.8-67.3% in 4 hours after injection. In all of 13 cases of pediatric infections tested, the clinical efficacy was excellent or good. Side effects observed were diarrhea in 4 patients, and elevated GOT and thrombocytosis in 1 patient each. From the above results, we have concluded that CZON is useful and safe antibiotic for treating various bacterial infections in children. | pubmed_867_3450 |
pubmed_14_424 | Frequent allelic imbalances, including loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI), have been found on the long arm of chromosome 21 (21q) in several types of human cancer. This study was designed to identify the tumor suppressor locus (or loci) associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on 21q. In order to understand the details of genetic alterations on chromosome 21, we performed polymerase chain reaction analysis of microsatellite polymorphisms corresponding to ten loci on this chromosome. We examined forty primary tumor tissues, forty corresponding normal tissues, and seven lymph node metastatic tissues. We identified novel tumor suppressor loci in this region in primary oral SCCs. To further determine the role of 21q deletions in oral cavity carcinogenesis, forty oral SCCs were examined for allelic imbalances (LOH or MSI) at 21q using ten microsatellite markers. Among these forty patients, twenty-six (65%) showed LOH at one or more loci. Deletion mapping of these tumors revealed four discrete, commonly deleted regions on the chromosome arm. Furthermore, we detected MSI in seventeen of those tested cases (42.5%). We compared our results with the clinicopathologic features. A number of sites displaying LOH at 21q could be detected in early stage lesions, and the frequencies of LOH tended to be higher in later clinical stages, but no statistical correlation was observed. Our results strongly suggest that allelic imbalances on 21q are involved in the development of oral SCC and that at least four different putative tumor suppressor genes contributing to the pathogenesis of this disease are present on 21q. Furthermore, allelic loss on 21q appears to be a useful indicator for evaluating the malignancy and prognosis of oral SCC, because the LOH of recurrent cases was more frequent than that of non-recurrent ones. | 10.2209/tdcpublication.42.211 |
pubmed_447_12385 | Whole blood and plasma viscosity, red cell aggregability and deformability, and plasma fibrinogen have been compared between 16 children aged between 6 and 18 years with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and 16 controls individually matched for age and sex. Mean (SD) plasma cholesterol was 7.19 (1.23) mmol/l in the patients and 4.31 (0.84) mmol/l in the controls. This was due to a similar difference in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, while triglycerides and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were similar between groups. No differences were seen in any of the rheological parameters between the two groups. This suggests that the rheological abnormalities seen in adults with FH are not a direct consequence of their hyperlipidaemia, and may instead be a reflection of their more extensive atherosclerosis. | 10.1016/0021-9150(91)90193-7 |
pubmed_540_2936 | Spontaneous and photo-induced decay processes of HfF5 - and WF5 - molecular anions were investigated in the Double ElectroStatic Ion Ring ExpEriment (DESIREE). The observation of these reactions over long time scales (several tens of ms) was possible due to the cryogenic temperatures (13 K) and the extremely low residual gas pressure (∼10-14 mbar) of DESIREE. For photo-induced reactions, laser wavelengths in the range 240 to 450 nm were employed. Both anion species were found to undergo spontaneous decay via electron detachment or fragmentation. After some ms, radiative cooling processes were observed to lower the probability for further decay through these processes. Photo-induced reactions indicate the existence of an energy threshold for WF5 - anions at about 3.5 eV, above which the neutralization yield increases strongly. By contrast, HfF5 - ions exhibit essentially no enhanced production of neutrals upon photon interaction, even for the highest photon energy used in this experiment (∼5.2 eV). This suppression will be highly beneficial for the efficient detection, in accelerator mass spectrometry, of the extremely rare isotope 182Hf using the 182HfF5 - anion while effectively reducing the interfering stable isobar 182W in the analyte ion 182WF5 -. The radionuclide 182Hf is of great relevance in astrophysical environments as it constitutes a potential candidate to study the events of nucleosynthesis that may have taken place in the vicinity of the solar system several million years ago. | 10.1063/5.0097896 |
pubmed_828_4703 | Thin film photosystems based on copper doped lead iodide are presented. A photodecomposable Fabry-Perot type interference filter is described and also a cerment system in which copper and lead iodide are evaporated simultaneously. These systems do not require any development, and additional information can be added subsequent to the first exposure. The proposed systems are generalizable to several metals and dielectrics. | 10.1364/AO.17.000736 |
pubmed_839_5054 | During infection, viruses cause global disruption to nuclear architecture in their attempt to take over the cell. In turn, the host responds with various defenses, which include chromatin-mediated silencing of the viral genome and activation of DNA damage signaling pathways. Dynamic exchanges at chromatin, and specific post-translational modifications on histones have recently emerged as master controllers of DNA damage signaling and repair. Studying viral control of chromatin modifications is identifying histones as important players in the battle between host and virus for control of cell cycle and gene expression. These studies are revealing new complexities of the virus-host interaction, uncovering the potential of chromatin as an anti-viral defense mechanism, and also providing unique insights into the role of chromatin in DNA repair. | 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2009.06.007 |
pubmed_958_6490 | OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of changing from a medium (1.6 mg Cu/d) to a low (0.7 mg Cu/d) or a high (6.0 mg/d) Cu intake on biochemical indices of bone turnover in healthy adult males.
DESIGN
A longitudinal intervention trial.
SETTING
The study was conducted at the Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK.
SUBJECTS
Eleven healthy adult males aged 20-59 y were recruited from Norwich Research Park.
INTERVENTION
Subjects were given medium (1.6 mg/d), low (0.7 mg/d) and high (6.0 mg/d) intakes of Cu, in that order, over consecutive 8 week periods with a minimum of 4 week washout periods. On the last d of each dietary period fasting first void urine and blood were collected.
RESULTS
Serum caeruloplasmin or Cu (indices of Cu status), serum osteocalcin (biomarker of bone formation), urinary creatinine (Cr) were unaffected by dietary Cu intake. Urinary Pyr/Cr and Dpyr/Cr (biomarkers of bone resorption) were significantly increased (P < 0.05) (by 30% and 25%, respectively), when subjects were switched from the medium to the low Cu diet and were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) (by 30%) and 22% respectively), when subjects were switched from the low to the high Cu diet.
CONCLUSION
The findings of the present study could have implications for bone health in individuals with marginal Cu intakes. Thus, further studies are warranted to better define the relationship of marginal Cu intakes to bone health. | 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600763 |
pubmed_761_17167 | STUDY OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) after proximal tubal occlusion (PTO) or salpingectomy in patients with hydrosalpinx undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
DESIGN
Randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I).
SETTING
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
PATIENTS
A total of 165 patients were randomized and subsequently allocated to a PTO group (n = 83) or a salpingectomy group (n = 82).
INTERVENTIONS
PTO and salpingectomy.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
Following surgery, compared with the PTO group, the salpingectomy group showed significant decreases in the ovarian reserve parameters serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH; 3.7 ng/mL vs 2.6 ng/mL; p ˂ .001) and antral follicle count (AFC; 10.6 vs 8.6; p ˂ .001). The salpingectomy group also required a significantly higher dose of gonadotropins (3901 vs 3260; p ˂ .001) and more days of stimulation (11.3 vs 10.2; p ˂ .001) compared with the PTO group. The salpingectomy group had a significantly lower fertilization rate (0.74 vs 0.83; p ˂ .001) and a lower number of grade 1 embryos (4.1 vs 5.6; p = .02); however, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to rates of implantation (22.8% vs 23.7%; p = .87), clinical pregnancy (26.3% vs 33.7%, p = .25), live birth (27.5% vs 32.5%; p = .42), and miscarriage (4.7% vs 3.5%; p = .90) CONCLUSIONS: PTO is a superior to salpingectomy for the surgical management of patients with hydrosalpinx undergoing IVF-ET in terms of ovarian reserve. However, the 2 surgical techniques are associated with comparable pregnancy rates. | 10.1016/j.jmig.2018.10.013 |
others_314_66644 | Euglenoids, a family of aquatic unicellular organisms, present the ability to alter the shape of their bodies, a process referred to as metaboly [1-5]. Metaboly is usually used by phagotrophic cells to engulf their prey. However, Euglena gracilis is osmotrophic and photosynthetic. Though metaboly was discovered centuries ago, it remains unclear why E. gracilis undergo metaboly and what causes them to deform [1-5], and some consider metaboly to be a functionless ancestral vestige [5]. Here, we show that flagellum malfunctions trigger metaboly and metaboly is an escape strategy adopted by E. gracilis when the proper rotation and beating of the flagellum are hindered by restrictions including surface obstruction, sticking, resistance, or limited space. Metaboly facilitates escape in five ways: 1) detaching the body from the surface and decreasing the attaching area attached to the interface, which decreases the adhering force and is advantageous for escaping; 2) enlarging the space between flagellum and the restricting surface which restores beating and rotation of the flagellum; 3) decreasing the torque of viscous resistance for rotation of the body and changing the direction of the body to restore flagellar function; 4) decreasing the length of the body, which pulls the flagellum away from the restrictive situations; and 5) crawling backwards on a surface or swimming backwards in a bulk fluid if the flagellum completely malfunctions or has broken off. Taken together, our findings suggest that metaboly plays a key role in enabling E. gracilis to escape from harmful conditions when flagellar functions is impaired or absent. Our findings can inspire the bionic design of adaptive soft robots and facilitate the control of water blooms of euglena in freshwater aquiculture industry | 10.1101/863282 |
pubmed_905_22605 | Although pediatric doses for biotherapeutics are often based on patients' body weight (mg/kg) or body surface area (mg/m²), linear body size dose adjustment is highly empirical. Growth and maturity are also important factors that affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of biologics in pediatrics. The complexity of the factors involved in pediatric pharmacokinetics lends to the reconsideration of body size based dose adjustment. A proper dosing adjustment for pediatrics should also provide less intersubject variability in the pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics of the product compared with no dose adjustment. Biological proteins and peptides generally share the same pharmacokinetic principle with small molecules, but the underlying mechanism can be very different. Here, pediatric and adult pharmacokinetic parameters are compared and summarized for selected biotherapeutics. The effect of body size on the pediatric pharmacokinetics for these biological products is discussed in the current review. | 10.3390/pharmaceutics2040389 |
others_8_13669 | The pattern of population growth of the ectoparasitic mite, Psoroptes ovis (Acari: Psoroptidae), on its ovine host is considered through the development of a Leslie matrix-based, simulation model. The model is parameterised using experimental data in conjunction with reanalysis of published data. The model shows that on sheep P. ovis populations grow at a rate of approximately 11% per day and the population doubles every 6.3 days. Additional rates of adult mortality, in excess of 50% per day, need to be imposed to prevent population growth. The predictions of the model are tested by comparison of the expected numbers of mites with the numbers recorded in lesions either on naturally infested sheep where the date of infestation can be estimated or on one artificially infested animal, where the initial number of mites and date of infestation are known precisely. In both cases the observed number of mites in lesions relate closely to the numbers expected from the simulations. The model simulations do not support the concept of a 'lag' phase as distinct from the 'growth' phase in the changing pattern of mite abundance on an infested sheep and suggests that the observed pattern of growth is a natural function of an exponential increase in numbers. The development of such models and their use in explaining the demographic processes which drive mite population dynamics are discussed. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V | 10.1016/S0304-4017(99)00062-X |
pubmed_239_11216 | We investigate the formation of stable ecological networks where many species share the same resource. We show that such a stable ecosystem naturally occurs as a result of extinctions. We obtain an analytical relation for the number of coexisting species, and we find a relation describing how many species that may become extinct as a result of a sharp environmental change. We introduce a special parameter that is a combination of species traits and resource characteristics used in the model formulation. This parameter describes the pressure on the system to converge, by extinctions. When that stress parameter is large, we obtain that the species traits are concentrated at certain values. This stress parameter is thereby a parameter that determines the level of final biodiversity of the system. Moreover, we show that the dynamics of this limit system can be described by simple differential equations. | 10.1103/PhysRevE.95.032413 |
pubmed_894_12567 | Carocainide is a new benzofuran derivative showing antiarrhythmic properties in animal models. In isolated papillary muscles and Purkinje fibers it decreases the maximum rate of rise of the action potential and in Purkinje fibers it decreases the plateau amplitude and the duration of the action potential. Carocainide increases the ratio of the effective refractory period to the action potential duration at 90% of repolarization, shifts the membrane responsiveness curve towards more negative membrane potentials and slows down the recovery of the maximum rate of rise of the action potentials of the Purkinje fibers. Carocainide also increases the conduction time at the Purkinje papillary muscle junction. | pubmed_894_12567 |
pubmed_899_25357 | BACKGROUND
Cardiac biomarker release signifying myocardial injury post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is common, yet its clinical impact within a large TAVR cohort receiving differing types of valve and procedural approaches is unknown.
OBJECTIVES
This study sought to determine the incidence, clinical impact, and factors associated with cardiac biomarker elevation post TAVR.
METHODS
This multicenter study included 1,131 consecutive patients undergoing TAVR with balloon-expandable (58%) or self-expandable (42%) valves. Transfemoral and transapical (TA) approaches were selected in 73.1% and 20.3% of patients, respectively. Creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) measurements were obtained at baseline and at several time points within the initial 72 h post TAVR. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and at 6- to 12-month follow-up.
RESULTS
Overall, 66% of the TAVR population demonstrated some degree of myocardial injury as determined by a rise in CK-MB levels (peak value: 1.6-fold [interquartile range (IQR): 0.9 to 2.8-fold]). A TA approach and major procedural complications were independently associated with higher peak of CK-MB levels (p < 0.01 for all), which translated into impaired systolic left ventricular function at 6 to 12 months post TAVR (p < 0.01). A greater rise in CK-MB levels independently associated with an increased 30-day, late (median of 21 [IQR: 8 to 36] months) overall and cardiovascular mortality (p < 0.001 for all). Any increase in CK-MB levels was associated with poorer clinical outcomes, and there was a stepwise rise in late mortality according to the various degrees of CK-MB increase after TAVR (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Some degree of myocardial injury was detected in two-thirds of patients post TAVR, especially in those undergoing TA-TAVR or presenting with major procedural complications. A greater rise in CK-MB levels associated with greater acute and late mortality, imparting a negative impact on left ventricular function. | 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.881 |
pubmed_554_8189 | The genus Hypericum is one of the most popular genera in both traditional medicine and scientific platform. This study is designed to provide conceptual insights on the biological potential and chemical characterization of H. salsugineum, which is endemic to Turkey. The qualitative and quantitative phenolic content of the extracts was characterized by HPLC-ESI-MSn. Biological efficiency was investigated by enzyme inhibitory assays (cholinesterases, tyrosinase, amylase, and glucosidase) and anti-cancer efficacy tests (anti-proliferative activities with the iCELLigence technology, colony formation and wound healing scratch assays). Phenolic acids (3-O-caffeoylquinic, 5-O-caffeoylquinic, and 4-O-caffeoylquinic acids) were the predominant group in the studied extracts, although several flavonoids were also detected and quantified. The extracts exhibited good inhibitory effects on tyrosinase and glucosidase, while they had weak ability against cholinesterases and amylase. Computational studies were also performed to explain the interactions between the major phenolics and these enzymes. The extracts displayed significant anti-cancer effects on breast carcinoma cell lines. Our findings suggest that Hypericum salsugineum could be valued as a potential source of biologically-active compounds for designing novel products. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0197815 |
pubmed_529_14953 | Cu-catalyzed C-H/C-O cyclization of 2,2'-binaphthol, using air as an oxidant, was developed. C-H functionalization of binaphthols occurred at the 8,8'-position to form peri-xanthenoxanthenes that exhibit high charge-carrier mobility. The reaction can tolerate a wide variety of functional groups and afforded the corresponding peri-xanthenoxanthene derivatives via an efficient procedure. | 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b01060 |
pubmed_142_670 | PURPOSE
To compare parametric models for fitting published distributions of visual field progression rates (in dB/yr) for glaucoma.
METHOD
We fitted a modified Gaussian model, a modified Cauchy model and a modified hyperbolic secant model to previously published distributions of visual field progression rates from Canada, Sweden, and the United States. The modification allowed the shape of the model's distribution either side of the mode to be independently varied to allow for the asymmetric tails seen in visual field progression rate distributions.
RESULTS
Summing likelihoods across datasets, the modified hyperbolic secant was strongly favored (by 26.7 log units) compared with the next best-fitting model, the modified Cauchy. The modified hyperbolic secant was not the best fit for the Canadian dataset, however. Best-fitting modified hyperbolic secant parameters were broadly similarly between datasets, with parameter variances being less than those expected to negate the benefits of a previously described Bayesian method for improving individual visual field progression rate estimates in glaucoma.
CONCLUSIONS
Although the optimum model differed depending upon the particular dataset, a modified hyperbolic secant performed well for all distributions investigated and was strongly favored when evidence was summed across datasets.
TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE
Despite differences in the progression rate distributions between studies, the use of an "average" distribution may still be of benefit for improving individual visual field progression rate estimates in glaucoma using Bayesian methods. | 10.1167/tvst.4.4.2 |
pubmed_681_5953 | BACKGROUND
Stent thrombosis is an infrequent complication of intracoronary stenting that often has devastating clinical consequences. This study assesses the additional benefit of heparin coating with the BX VELOCITY Balloon-Expandable Stent with HEPACOAT, Carmeda end-point attached heparin (HEPACOAT) in patients with de novo or restenotic native coronary artery lesions treated with aspirin monotherapy after optimal stenting.
METHODS AND RESULTS
This was a multicenter, prospective, nonrandomized, pilot study. Two hundred patients (69% men; mean age, 64.1+/-11.2 years) meeting the eligibility criteria were treated with the HEPACOAT stent and aspirin alone after stenting. Any other antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy was not permitted. Procedural success was achieved in all patients. There were 3 postprocedural non-Q-wave myocardial infarctions. The primary end point of stent thrombosis at 30 days occurred in 2 of 200 patients (1%): in one after blunt chest trauma and in the other in the setting of essential thrombocytosis. Major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, and coronary artery bypass grafting) were observed at 30 days in 5 of 200 (2.5%) patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The BX VELOCITY stent with HEPACOAT and aspirin alone after the procedure was safe in select patients with de novo or restenotic lesions in native coronary arteries. Heparin coating provides additional protection against stent thrombosis. | 10.1161/01.CIR.0000086347.31341.F9 |
others_140_7232 | Resistance in blood vessels is directly related to the inner (luminal) diameter (ID). However, ID can be difficult to measure during physiological experiments because of poor transillumination of thick-walled or tightly constricted vessels. We investigated whether the wall crosssectional area (WCSA) in cannulated arteries is nearly constant, allowing IDs to be calculated from outer diameters (OD) using a single determination of WCSA. With the use of image analysis, OD and ID were directly measured using either transillumination or a fluorescent marker in the lumen. IDs from a variety of vessel types were calculated from WCSA at several reference pressures. Calculated IDs at all of the reference WCSA were within 5% (mean < 1%) of the corresponding measured IDs in all vessel types studied, including vessels from heterozygote elastin knockout animals. This was true over a wide range of transmural pressures, during treatment with agonists, and before and after treatment with KCN. In conclusion, WCSA remains virtually constant in cannulated vessels, allowing accurate determination of ID from OD measurement under a variety of experimental conditions | 10.1152/ajpheart.1999.277.5.h1745 |
pubmed_285_15468 | ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Centaurium erythraea Rafn (CE), Artemisia herba-alba Asso (AHA) and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (TFG) are traditionally used to treat type 2 diabetes in Algeria, previous studies have found that extracts of these plants were effective to treat or prevent experimental diabetes induced by high-fat diet (HFD).
AIM OF THE STUDY
Describe the additional effects of these extracts on lipid tissue deposition in HFD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with HFD to induce type 2 Diabetes. Groups of mice were given plant extracts orally at 2g/kg/bodyweight daily for 20 weeks during establishment of diabetes, or for 18 weeks after confirmation of diabetes at the 17th week. Liver and other tissue samples were stained with Oil Red O.
RESULTS
Liver steatosis was confirmed with HFD. CE, AHA and TFG extracts improved liver steatosis by the end of the preventive (20 weeks) and curative periods (35 weeks). This was most marked for CE extract (p<0.05), less so with TFG and AHA. No steatosis was found in other tissues.
CONCLUSION
CE extract had a clear hepatoprotective effect in this mouse model of diet-induced type 2 diabetes. AHA and TFG had a minimal or no significant effect on steatosis. Beyond its effect as an antidiabetic agent, CE may also be promising to prevent or treat non-alcoholic liver steatosis. | pubmed_285_15468 |
pubmed_975_14075 | An experiment using guinea pigs was performed to demonstrate the feasibility of repeated skin-graft harvesting as a model system in the study of diffuse alopecia. In response to four split-thickness skin harvests from the same site at 2-week intervals, the number of hairs observed and follicular area doubled, implying a transition of hair follicles from vellus to terminal, compared with ungrafted control skin from the alternate side of the same animals. The guinea pig may serve as a future model for the study of diffuse alopecia because its hair growth patterns are similar to those observed in humans. | 10.1097/00000637-199505000-00014 |
pubmed_301_13779 | Telomeres are associated with the nuclear matrix and are thought to be heterochromatic. We show here that in human cells the overexpression of green fluorescent protein-tagged heterochromatin protein 1 (GFP-HP1) or nontagged HP1 isoforms HP1(Hsalpha) or HP1(Hsbeta), but not HP1(Hsgamma), results in decreased association of a catalytic unit of telomerase (hTERT) with telomeres. However, reduction of the G overhangs and overall telomere sizes was found in cells overexpressing any of these three proteins. Cells overexpressing HP1(Hsalpha) or HP1(Hsbeta) also display a higher frequency of chromosome end-to-end associations and spontaneous chromosomal damage than the parental cells. None of these effects were observed in cells expressing mutants of GFP-DeltaHP1(Hsalpha), GFP-DeltaHP1(Hsbeta), or GFP-DeltaHP1(Hsgamma) that had their chromodomains deleted. An increase in the cell population doubling time and higher sensitivity to cell killing by ionizing radiation (IR) treatment was also observed for cells overexpressing HP1(Hsalpha) or HP1(Hsbeta). In contrast, cells expressing mutant GFP-DeltaHP1(Hsalpha) or GFP-DeltaHP1(Hsbeta) showed a decrease in population doubling time and decreased sensitivity to IR compared to the parental cells. The effects on cell doubling times were paralleled by effects on tumorigenicity in mice: overexpression of HP1(Hsalpha) or HP1(Hsbeta) suppressed tumorigenicity, whereas expression of mutant HP1(Hsalpha) or HP1(Hsbeta) did not. Collectively, the results show that human cells are exquisitely sensitive to the amount of HP1(Hsalpha) or HP1(Hsbeta) present, as their overexpression influences telomere stability, population doubling time, radioresistance, and tumorigenicity in a mouse xenograft model. In addition, the isoform-specific effects on telomeres reinforce the notion that telomeres are in a heterochromatinized state. | 10.1128/MCB.23.22.8363-8376.2003 |
pubmed_190_6421 | OBJECTIVE
To explore the safety and immediate efficacy of endovascular treatment for superior mesenteric artery embolism.
METHODS
From November 2007 to October 2012, 18 cases of superior mesenteric artery embolism were treated by thrombus extraction and/or catheter-directed thrombolysis. There were 13 males and 5 females with an age range of 44-91 years. The concurrent conditions included atrial fibrillation (n = 8) and rheumatic valve disease (n = 3). All diagnoses were made with abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination. Embolism was predominantly located at 3 to 10 cm away from opening. The procedures included thrombus extraction plus system thrombosis (n = 3), thrombus extraction and catheter-directed thrombolysis (n = 6), catheter-directed thrombolysis (n = 5) and thrombus extraction, catheter-directed thrombolysis and PTA (n = 2).
RESULTS
The technical success rate was 100%. Two cases had new embolism in popliteal artery. Another case with peritoneal irritation syndrome died after automatic discharge. The other 17 patients obtained satisfactory results and were followed up after 6 months by color Doppler ultrasound or abdominal enhanced CT. It showed that superior mesenteric arteries were unobstructed, but local stenosis occurred in 2 cases.
CONCLUSION
Endovascular interventional therapy is both safe and efficacious in the treatment of superior mesenteric artery embolization. And its immediate effect is satisfactory. | pubmed_190_6421 |
pubmed_341_24514 | BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors of hypoglycemic encephalopathy (HE) in patients with severe hypoglycemia.
METHODS
We retrospectively enrolled patients with severe hypoglycemia who were transported to the emergency department in an ambulance. We defined severe hypoglycemia as plasma glucose level < 60 mg/dL (or capillary levels < 50 mg/dL). HE was defined as severe hypoglycemia with altered level of consciousness (Glasgow coma scale < 12) and prolonged HE as coma or stupor lasting > 24 h after glucose administration. We compared several parameters between patients with and without HE and between prolonged and recovered patients.
RESULTS
Included were 173 patients with severe hypoglycemia; of them, 94 were diagnosed with HE, with 12 of them prolonged HE. Glucose level in HE patients was lower than that in those without HE (P < 0.001). Moreover, we noted a significant difference in glucose levels between the prolonged and recovered groups. Furthermore, body temperature was higher in prolonged versus recovered patients (P = 0.0017).
CONCLUSION
Blood glucose level may be correlated with severity of altered level of consciousness. In addition, body temperature may be related to coma or prolonged stupor. | 10.14740/jocmr3728 |
pubmed_353_8414 | OBJECTIVE
This study used Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) to assess the prevalence of abdominal aortic lesions that suggested abdominal aortitis at diagnosis of giant-cell or temporal arteritis (GCA). We also evaluated the contribution of these 2 techniques to diagnosis.
METHODS
This single-center study included patients admitted to the internal medicine department of the Nantes (France) University Hospital, between May 1999 and May 2002 at the time of their diagnosis with biopsy-proven GCA. In the 8 weeks after diagnosis, patients underwent a thorough workup, including the collection of clinical and laboratory data. Imaging tests for each patient included Doppler ultrasonography and a CTA scan of the abdominal aorta, looking for aneurysms, ectasia, and thickening of the aortic wall.
RESULTS
This study included 20 patients (17 women, mean age 73.9+/-7.2 years, mean CRP=116+/-75.9mg/L). Doppler ultrasonography suggested aortitis in 8 cases (40%): 7 patients (35%) had a hypoechoic halo, 3 (15%) a small aneurysm (diameter < 30mm), and 2 (10%) both. CTA scans of the aorta showed aortitis in 5 cases (25%), all with abnormal thickening of the aortic wall. CTA did not identify any aneurysms. Overall, abdominal aortitis was suspected in 10 patients (50%).
CONCLUSION
At the time of GCA diagnosis, both Doppler ultrasonography and CTA can detect morphological abnormalities of the abdominal aorta. Here they suggested asymptomatic abdominal aortitis in half the patients. Doppler ultrasonography appears more effective for detecting aortic aneurysms, while CTA seems helpful for the diagnosis of parietal thickening. The risk factors associated with abdominal aortitis in GCA remain to be identified. | 10.1016/j.lpm.2008.02.016 |
pubmed_695_18950 | Although numerous papyri from ancient Egypt have been collected and preserved over the centuries, the recipe used to prepare black inks was only reported in manuscripts from the late Greco-Roman period. Black inks were mostly obtained after mixing carbon black with a binder agent and water. In previous studies performed on black inks apposed on papyri from ancient Egypt, additional chemical elements such as lead, iron, or copper were also identified, and the resulting chemical contrast with the papyrus support was used to virtually decrypt highly degraded or rolled papyri. Combining a series of synchrotron-based techniques with Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we investigated 10 papyri fragments from J.-F. Champollion's private collection. For each fragment, the carbon-black pigment found in the ink is identified as flame carbon (lampblack or soot). Using X-ray diffraction computed tomography, we show that the diffraction signal of the carbon-based pigment itself can be isolated. As a result, a contrast with the papyrus support is obtained, even in the absence of a specific chemical element in the ink. This is opening up new opportunities to decipher words written millennia ago, as part of our Cultural Heritage. | 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04178 |
pubmed_854_23840 | This article introduces a new-type anti-rotation reduction internal fixator, which can be applied in various spine fractures and dislocations in order to shorten the operation time, to raise reduction effect, and to reduce the complications such as the loss of reduction, broken nail, broken rod etc. Biomechanical tests and clinical applications have proved that the internal fixator has the features of a short operation time, a definite fixation and few complications. | pubmed_854_23840 |
pubmed_995_10001 | Human ceruloplasmin (Cp) molecule is split into fragments by a contaminating protease upon storage of enzyme preparations. These fragments were separated by SDSPAAG electrophoresis and their Mr were estimated. Separate fragments were subjected to immunoelectrophoresis in agarose gel containing rabbit antibodies to human Cp. The immunoprecipitation peaks were then specifically stained to reveal the oxidase activity of the fragments towards o-dianisidine and L-cysteine. All the fragments were able to oxidize the latter, however, only the whole Cp molecule and the two of its largest fragments could oxidize the former. It seems likely that oxidation of L-cysteine does not require the presence of several copper ions constituting the catalytic centre of the blue oxidase (Cp.). contrarily, o-dianisidine seems to be oxidized by the multicopper active site of the enzyme rather than by the autonomously acting singular copper(s). Since o-dianisidine is oxidized by the fragments of Cp lacking the C-terminal polypeptide, which was thought to bind all the coppers of the active centre, it was assumed that some of the latter are bound by amino acids located in another part of the molecule. | pubmed_995_10001 |
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