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Retriever400 | [Children of immigration: effects of their presence on the demographic situation in selected employment countries].
The author examines the impact of migrant workers in Europe on such demographic developments as declining fertility, population decrease, and demographic aging. Official government and U.N. data are used to contrast age distributions of migrant and native populations in selected receiving countries in Europe. "In his analysis of the impact of second-generation migrants on demographic development in the principal European employment countries, the author shows that in all of these countries the foreign population improves the age distribution of the population as a whole by way of reinforcing the weight of the younger age groups in relation to the older groups. The ageing of the national populations...is thus countered by the presence of second-generation migrants." (summary in ENG) | No pos | No neg |
Retriever401 | Why two eyes are better than one: the two views of binocular vision.
Despite centuries of research on the topic, the answer to the question "'Are two eyes significantly better than one, independent of stereopsis?" is still uncertain. In this investigation, steps are taken toward answering the question in a behavioral context. Three sets of experiments are reported in which human binocular and monocular performance are compared in a variety of exteroceptive and visuomotor tasks. In all of the experiments, two eyes facilitated performance. The findings suggest that the binocular system is able to detect the matching information, that is, the concordance, in the monocular optic arrays and to use that information to increase visual efficiency. Furthermore, stereopsis was not found to be important in the performance of visuomotor skills in three dimensions when the subjects were free to move their heads. Thus, the results indicate that an important ecological benefit of binocular frontal vision is having binocular concordance, rather than having binocular disparity. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever402 | Syntenin is overexpressed and promotes cell migration in metastatic human breast and gastric cancer cell lines.
Two human breast cancer cell lines of differing invasive and metastatic potential, MDA-MB-435 and MCF7, were examined using subtractive suppression hybridization in a search for any genes associated with metastasis. Of the 17 cDNAs identified as being differentially expressed genes, it was determined that syntenin was overexpressed in metastatic MDA-MB-435 cells. Expression analysis showed that the expression level of syntenin was well correlated with invasive and metastatic potential in various human breast and gastric cancer cell lines. Moreover, gastric tumor tissues exhibited a much higher syntenin mRNA expression than their normal counterparts. Syntenin-transfected MCF7 cells migrated more actively, and showed an increased invasion rate relative to vector-transfectants or parental MCF7 in vitro, without evidencing any effect on the adhesion to fibronectin, type I collagen and laminin. Similarly, the forced expression of syntenin to human gastric cancer cell line Az521 increased its migratory and invasive potential in vitro. Syntenin-expressing MCF7 cells were associated with the appearance of numerous cell surface extensions and with pseudopodia formation on collagen I, suggesting that syntenin may be involved in the signaling cascade to actin-reorganization. Mutation study suggested that PDZ2 domain of syntenin could be an essential role in its stimulatory effect on the cell migration. This is the first demonstration that syntenin, a PDZ motif-containing protein, can be overexpressed during the metastatic progression of human breast and gastric cancer cells and that it can function as a metastasis-inducing gene. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever403 | Curing of yeast [URE3] prion by the Hsp40 cochaperone Ydj1p is mediated by Hsp70.
[URE3] is a prion of the yeast Ure2 protein. Hsp40 is a cochaperone that regulates Hsp70 chaperone activity. When overexpressed, the Hsp40 Ydj1p cures yeast of [URE3], but the Hsp40 Sis1p does not. On the basis of biochemical data Ydj1p has been proposed to cure [URE3] by binding soluble Ure2p and preventing it from joining prion aggregates. Here, we mutagenized Ydj1p and find that disrupting substrate binding, dimerization, membrane association, or ability to transfer substrate to Hsp70 had little or no effect on curing. J-domain point mutations that disrupt functional interactions of Ydj1p with Hsp70 abolished curing, and the J domain alone cured [URE3]. Consistent with heterologous J domains possessing similar Hsp70 regulatory activity, the Sis1p J domain also cured [URE3]. We further show that Ydj1p is not essential for [URE3] propagation and that depletion of Ure2p is lethal in cells lacking Ydj1p. Our data imply that curing of [URE3] by overproduced Ydj1p does not involve direct interaction of Ydj1p with Ure2p but rather works through regulation of Hsp70 through a specific J-protein/Hsp70 interaction. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever404 | MicroRNA in HCV infection and liver cancer.
In the more than two-decades since hepatitis C virus (HCV) was identified, there has been considerable improvement in our understanding of virus life cycle due largely to the development of in vitro culture systems for virus replication. Still challenges remain: HCV infection is a major risk factor for chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide; yet mechanistic details of HCV infection-associated hepatocarcinogenesis remain incompletely understood. A protective vaccine is not yet available, and current therapeutic options result in sustained virus clearance only in a subset of patients. Recent interest has focused on small non-protein coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), the dependence of virus replication on miRNAs, and miRNA-regulated genes in liver cancer. Functional analysis of the miRNA-targeted genes in liver cancer has advanced our understanding of the "oncomiRs" and their role in hepatocarcinogenesis. This review focuses on the dependence of HCV replication on miRNA and role of miRNA-targeted tumor suppressor genes as molecular markers of and possible targets for developing oncomiR-targeted therapy of chronic hepatitis and HCC. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: MicroRNAs in viral gene regulation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever405 | Hypodipsia in geriatric patients.
Hypernatremia in elderly patients is most often due to the patients mental incapacity or physical inability to obtain water despite intact thirst sensation. Hypodipsia leading to hypernatremia is not often considered in alert, elderly subjects since hypodipsia is not a recognized consequence of nonaphasia-producing cerebrovascular accidents. Described herein are six elderly patients who had such cerebrovascular accidents and who had recurrent hospitalizations for dehydration and hypernatremia. Hypernatremia in this group was due to hypodipsia and could only be prevented by prescribing daily fluid intake as a medication order. Hypodipsia should be considered as a cause of hypernatremia in elderly subjects even when they seem fully capable of requesting and obtaining water. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever406 | [Cardiac troponin I and CK-MB mass after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass].
Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assay is used in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction after cardiac surgery. Variations in the cut-off value have been reported even with the same assay method. The aim of this work is to investigate the release profile of cTnI and CK-MB mass after cardiac surgery and to determine the cut-off value of cTnI and CK-MB mass allowing the diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction. In patients without postoperative cardiac complication, the cTnI peak was observed 24 hours after surgery both in coronary artery bypass grafting and in valve replacement. Moreover, the amount of cTnI released within the three hours after surgery is 2.5 fold higher in valve replacement than in coronary artery bypass grafting. The CK-MB peak was observed 3 hours after surgery in the two surgical procedures. In these patients, cTnI and CK-MB concentrations increased with the cross clamp time duration. In patients with postoperative myocardial infarction, the cTnI and CK-MB peaks were observed 24 hours after surgery. Diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction can be performed with a sensitivity of 100% at 24 hours with cut-off values of 32 and 7 microg/L for CK-MB and cTnI, respectively, both with Stratus (Dade Behring) and Immulite (DPC) analysers. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever407 | The prevalence of dyspareunia.
A questionnaire regarding sexual experience and dyspareunia was sent to 428 women, of whom 324 (75.7%) responded. Ten refused to participate and one had never had heterosexual intercourse, leaving 313 evaluable responders. One hundred twenty-two (39.0%) had never had dyspareunia and 86 (27.5%) had had dyspareunia at some point in their lives which resolved, either spontaneously or with specific treatment. One hundred five women (33.5%) still had dyspareunia at the time of the survey, 51 of whom had had dyspareunia for their entire active sexual lives. Twenty-two (21%) rarely had dyspareunia, 58 (55.2%) occasionally had discomfort, and 25 (23.8%) had dyspareunia frequently or virtually all the time. Frequency of intercourse was not different among any of the groups analyzed, although 49 (48.0%) of the women reported a decrease in sexual frequency and 35 (33.7%) reported an important adverse effect on their relationships as a result of dyspareunia. Most of the women had not discussed their dyspareunia with a health care professional and were unaware of the cause of their problem. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever408 | Application of chemical precipitation and membrane bioreactor hybrid process for piggery wastewater treatment.
This study was conducted to investigate the chemical precipitation (CP) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) hybrid process for the treatment of piggery wastewater. Average removal efficiencies for BOD, COD and turbidity in CP process were 64.3%, 77.3% and 96.4%, respectively. CP process had a moderate effect on NH(3)-N removal (40.4%) which improved up to 98.2% mainly due to nitrification and filtration processes in MBR. The average removal efficiencies of BOD, COD and turbidity in MBR were 99.5%, 99.4% and 99.8%, respectively. Monod equation was used to explain the microbial activities in terms of specific growth rate. The specific growth rate of bacteria in aeration tank (N-batch) and anoxic tank (D-batch) were 0.013 and 0.005d(-1) with a biomass yield of 0.78 and 0.43mg MLSS produced/mg COD utilized, respectively. Microorganisms from the N-batch and D-batch showed a low-level of nitrifying and moderate-level of denitrifying capabilities which were 1.08mg NH(3)-N/(g MLVSS.h) and 2.82mg NO(3)-N/(g MLVSS.h), respectively. Carbohydrates were the main component in extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) compounds that could be attached to the membrane surface easily and led to membrane biofouling. The increase of MLSS, EPS and sludge viscosity concentration, decrease of sludge floc size and incomplete chemical cleaning procedure resulted in the increase of membrane resistance. Total membrane resistance increased from 3.19x10(12)m(-1) to 5.43x10(14)m(-1). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever409 | Structure and expression of MdFBCP1, encoding an F-box-containing protein 1, during Fuji apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) fruit ripening.
From database comparisons of 1,117 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) generated from ripened Fuji apple fruits, we identified ten ubiquitin (Ub)-related genes. RNA gel-blot analysis suggests that these Ub-related genes are induced by at least four distinct signaling pathways in fruits. In this study, we analyzed structure and expression of MdFBCP1, encoding an F-box-containing protein 1, in Fuji apples. MdFBCP1 transcript was predominantly expressed in the fully ripened climacteric fruits, in which serge of ethylene production occurred. The MdFBCP1 gene was also activated effectively in response to exogenous ethylene treatment, with the induction pattern being comparable to those of ACC oxidase and beta-cyanoalanine synthase. Thus, it seems likely that the expression of MdFBCP1 is closely associated with a climacteric ethylene production and ACC oxidase activity and, hence, MdFBCP1 may play a role in the ripening process of Fuji apple fruits. Yeast two hybrid and in vitro pull-down assays revealed that MdFBCP1 physically interacted with MdSkp1 and N-terminal F-box motif was essential for this interaction. These results suggest that MdFBCP1 indeed functions as an F-box-containing protein and participates in the formation of SCF complex, which acts as E3 Ub ligase. Genomic Southern blot analysis showed that MdFBCP1 exhibited different pattern of restriction enzyme digestion in three cultivars (Tsugaru, Golden Delicious and Fuji) that produce different amount of ethylene, suggesting that the MdFBCP1 gene is organized in a cultivar specific manner. Collectively, our data suggest that Ub degradation pathway may play an important role in the ripening of Fuji apple fruits. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever410 | Use of a human simulator for undergraduate nurse education.
Use of a human patient simulator has been identified as an effective teaching strategy in many areas of the health care field. However, there is little information to help faculty learn the general principles of simulation. This article provides basic concepts to those anticipating simulator use. A guide for running a successful simulation is provided. A heart failure scenario is used as an example. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever411 | Expression of FOXC2 in adipose and muscle and its association with whole body insulin sensitivity.
FOXC2 is a winged helix/forkhead transcription factor involved in PKA signaling. Overexpression of FOXC2 in the adipose tissue of transgenic mice protected against diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. We examined the expression of FOXC2 in fat and muscle of nondiabetic humans with varying obesity and insulin sensitivity. There was no relation between body mass index (BMI) and FOXC2 mRNA in either adipose or muscle. There was a strong inverse relation between adipose FOXC2 mRNA and insulin sensitivity, using the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (r = -0.78, P < 0.001). However, there was no relationship between muscle FOXC2 and any measure of insulin sensitivity. To separate insulin resistance from obesity, we examined FOXC2 expression in pairs of subjects who were matched for BMI but who were discordant for insulin sensitivity. Compared with insulin-sensitive subjects, insulin-resistant subjects had threefold higher levels of adipose FOXC2 mRNA (P = 0.03). In contrast, muscle FOXC2 mRNA expression was no different between insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive subjects. There was no association of adipose or muscle FOXC2 mRNA with either circulating or adipose-secreted TNF-alpha, IL-6, leptin, adiponectin, or non-esterified fatty acids. Thus adipose FOXC2 is more highly expressed in insulin-resistant subjects, and this effect is independent of obesity. This association between FOXC2 and insulin resistance may be related to the role of FOXC2 in PKA signaling. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever412 | Characterization of human T-cell responses to Yersinia enterocolitica superantigen.
We reported that antigenic preparations from Yersinia enterocolitica stimulate murine T cells in a manner consistent with that of superantigens. As a consequence we examined whether Y. enterocolitica antigenic preparations stimulate human T-cell cultures. Human T cells, enriched from peripheral blood lymphocytes, were stimulated to proliferate in the presence of Y. enterocolitica cytoplasmic and membrane preparations. This activity has also been shown to be sensitive to protease treatment, indicating the presence of a protein, and when separated by ion-exchange chromatography a single peak of activity is resolved. Furthermore, this proliferation was inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, by the presence of antibodies directed against MHC class II antigens, indicating a requirement for these molecules. When these cells were stained with a panel of V beta-specific antibodies to determine if there was an enrichment of a particular V beta-bearing T-cell subset after stimulation, results indicate a significant enrichment of T cells bearing V beta 3, V beta 12, V beta 14, and V beta 17 over controls. Taken together, these data are consistent with a Y. enterocolitica product acting as a superantigen for human T cells. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever413 | Manipulation of fish germ cell: visualization, cryopreservation and transplantation.
Germ-cell transplantation has many applications in biology and animal husbandry, including investigating the complex processes of germ-cell development and differentiation, producing transgenic animals by genetically modifying germline cells, and creating broodstock systems in which a target species can be produced from a surrogate parent. The germ-cell transplantation technique was initially established in chickens using primordial germ cells (PGCs), and was subsequently extended to mice using spermatogonial stem cells. Recently, we developed the first germ-cell transplantation system in lower vertebrates using fish PGCs and spermatogonia. During mammalian germ-cell transplantation, donor spermatogonial stem cells are introduced into the seminiferous tubules of the recipient testes. By contrast, in the fish germ-cell transplantation system, donor cells are microinjected into the peritoneal cavities of newly hatched embryos; this allows the donor germ cells to migrate towards, and subsequently colonize, the recipient genital ridges. The recipient embryos have immature immune systems, so the donor germ cells can survive and even differentiate into mature gametes in their allogeneic gonads, ultimately leading to the production of normal offspring. In addition, implanted spermatogonia can successfully differentiate into sperm and eggs, respectively, in male and female recipients. The results of transplantation studies in fish are improving our understanding of the development of germ-cell systems during vertebrate evolution. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever414 | Image-guided surgery of head and neck carcinoma in rabbit models by intra-operatively defining tumour-infiltrated margins and metastatic lymph nodes.
BACKGROUND
The infiltrative nature and lymphatic metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are the main reasons leading to its poor prognosis.
METHODS
A multimodal surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) and magnetic resonance (MR) nanoprobe, in which paramagnetic chelators and heptamethine cyanine-based Raman reporter molecules were functionalized on a gold nanostar (AuS) surface was developed. Preoperative MRI and intraoperative SERRS-guided surgery were performed on rabbits bearing head and neck VX2 tumours to determine feasibility of the MR/SERRS probe in defining tumour marginal infiltration and lymph nodes metastasis.
FINDINGS
Preoperative T1-weighted MRI (T1W-MRI) unambiguously delineated the orthotopic head and neck VX2 tumour xenograft and detected the metastatic lymph nodes in rabbit models after intravenous administration of the probe. With the assistance of a hand-held Raman detector, the probe not only intra-operatively demarcated invasive tumour margins but also successfully distinguished metastatic lymph nodes via a remarkable attenuated Raman signal. Importantly, the group of rabbits subjected to the SERRS-guided surgery exhibited prolonged median survival time (78 days) compared with that of the control group without surgical intervention (29 days) or the group treated with conventional white-light-guided surgery (42 days) (P < 0.0001).
INTERPRETATION
we developed a novel AuS-based multimodal MR/SERRS probe. The capability of this probe to identify both a tumour xenograft and metastatic lymph nodes preoperatively by MRI and intra-operatively by SERRS not only avoids the need for unnecessary resection of neurological structures but also provides a new opportunity to improve the surgical prognosis of head and neck carcinoma of infiltrative nature. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever415 | Measured and modeled properties of mammalian skeletal muscle. II. The effects of stimulus frequency on force-length and force-velocity relationships.
Interactions between physiological stimulus frequencies, fascicle lengths and velocities were analyzed in feline caudofemoralis (CF), a hindlimb skeletal muscle composed exclusively of fast-twitch fibers. Split ventral roots were stimulated asynchronously to produce smooth contractions at sub-tetanic stimulus frequencies. As described previously, the peak of the sub-tetanic force-length relationship was found to shift to longer lengths with decreases in stimulus frequency, indicating a length dependence for activation that is independent of filament overlap. The sub-tetanic force-velocity (FV) relationship was affected strongly both by stimulus frequency and by length; decreases in either decreased the slope of the FV relationship around isometric. The shapes of the force transients following stretch or shortening revealed that these effects were not due to a change in the instantaneous FV relationship; the relative shape of the force transients following stretch or shortening was independent of stimulus frequency and hardly affected by length. The effects of stimulus frequency and length on the sub-tetanic FV relationship instead appear to be caused by a time delay in the length-dependent changes of activation. In contrast to feline soleus muscle, which is composed exclusively of slow-twitch fibers, CF did not yield at sub-tetanic stimulus frequencies for the range of stretch velocities tested (up to 2 L0/s). The data presented here were used to build a model of muscle that accounted well for all of the effects described. We extended our model to account for slow twitch muscle by comparing our fast-twitch model with previously published data and then changing the necessary parameters to fit the data. Our slow-twitch model accounts well for all previous findings including that of yielding. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever416 | Restarting Elective Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Under a Security Protocol During the COVID-19 Pandemic-a Prospective Observational Cohort Study.
BACKGROUND
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, in order to protect the patient and to save hospital beds, cancelation of elective surgeries has become a great challenge. Considering that obesity is a chronic disease and the possible effect imposed by quarantine on weight gain with worsening rates of obesity and metabolic comorbidities, the creation of a protocol for a safe return to bariatric surgery became essential.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of new-onset severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) symptoms in patients who underwent bariatric procedures during the declining curve period.
SETTING
Private practice METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted and included patients with indications for bariatric surgery during the decreasing curve period of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic who underwent surgery under a hospital security protocol. Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire and had a swab PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 detection. The primary outcome measure was the presence of 14-day and 30-day postoperative symptoms associated with COVID-19. Mortality was also analyzed.
RESULTS
Three hundred patients with negative RT-PCR were operated on from May to June 2020. Seventeen patients had their surgery postponed because of a positive RT-PCR test or close contact. None of the patients developed new-onset SARS-CoV-2 symptomatic infection after 30 days of observation. No deaths were reported. Eleven had complications not related to SARS-CoV-2.
CONCLUSIONS
Even though this population may have a poorer outcome when infected with SARS-CoV-2, this security protocol has shown that the procedure can be safely performed during the outbreak. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever417 | Bacterial biosynthesis of flavonoids: Overview, current biotechnology applications, challenges, and prospects.
Flavonoids are secondary metabolites present in plant organs and tissues. These natural metabolites are the most prevalent and display a wide range of beneficial physiological effects, making them usually intriguing in several scientific fields. Due to their safety for use and protective attributes, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial functions, flavonoids are broadly utilized in foods, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. However, conventional methods for producing flavonoids, such as plant extraction and chemical synthesis, entailed dangerous substances, and laborious procedures, with low product yield. Recent studies have documented the ability of microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, to synthesize adequate amounts of flavonoids. Bacterial biosynthesis of flavonoids from plant biomass is a viable and environmentally friendly technique for producing flavonoids on a larger scale and has recently received much attention. Still, only a few bacteria species, particularly Escherichia coli, have been extensively studied. The most recent developments in bacterial biosynthesis of flavonoids are reviewed and discussed in this article, including their various applications as natural food biocontrol agents. In addition, the challenges currently faced in bacterial flavonoid biosynthesis and possible solutions, including the application of modern biotechnology approaches for developing bacterial strains that could successfully produce flavonoids on an industrial scale, were elucidated. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever418 | Protocols for staining of bile canalicular and sinusoidal networks of human, mouse and pig livers, three-dimensional reconstruction and quantification of tissue microarchitecture by image processing and analysis.
Histological alterations often constitute a fingerprint of toxicity and diseases. The extent to which these alterations are cause or consequence of compromised organ function, and the underlying mechanisms involved is a matter of intensive research. In particular, liver disease is often associated with altered tissue microarchitecture, which in turn may compromise perfusion and functionality. Research in this field requires the development and orchestration of new techniques into standardized processing pipelines that can be used to reproducibly quantify tissue architecture. Major bottlenecks include the lack of robust staining, and adequate reconstruction and quantification techniques. To bridge this gap, we established protocols employing specific antibody combinations for immunostaining, confocal imaging, three-dimensional reconstruction of approximately 100-μm-thick tissue blocks and quantification of key architectural features. We describe a standard procedure termed 'liver architectural staining' for the simultaneous visualization of bile canaliculi, sinusoidal endothelial cells, glutamine synthetase (GS) for the identification of central veins, and DAPI as a nuclear marker. Additionally, we present a second standard procedure entitled 'S-phase staining', where S-phase-positive and S-phase-negative nuclei (stained with BrdU and DAPI, respectively), sinusoidal endothelial cells and GS are stained. The techniques include three-dimensional reconstruction of the sinusoidal and bile canalicular networks from the same tissue block, and robust capture of position, size and shape of individual hepatocytes, as well as entire lobules from the same tissue specimen. In addition to the protocols, we have also established image analysis software that allows relational and hierarchical quantifications of different liver substructures (e.g. cells and vascular branches) and events (e.g. cell proliferation and death). Typical results acquired for routinely quantified parameters in adult mice (C57Bl6/N) include the hepatocyte volume (5,128.3 ± 837.8 μm(3)) and the fraction of the hepatocyte surface in contact with the neighbouring hepatocytes (67.4 ± 6.7 %), sinusoids (22.1 ± 4.8 %) and bile canaliculi (9.9 ± 3.8 %). Parameters of the sinusoidal network that we also routinely quantify include the radius of the sinusoids (4.8 ± 2.25 μm), the branching angle (32.5 ± 11.2°), the length of intersection branches (23.93 ± 5.9 μm), the number of intersection nodes per mm(3) (120.3 × 103 ± 42.1 × 10(3)), the average length of sinusoidal vessel per mm(3) (5.4 × 10(3) ± 1.4 × 10(3)mm) and the percentage of vessel volume in relation to the whole liver volume (15.3 ± 3.9) (mean ± standard deviation). Moreover, the provided parameters of the bile canalicular network are: length of the first-order branches (7.5 ± 0.6 μm), length of the second-order branches (10.9 ± 1.8 μm), length of the dead-end branches (5.9 ± 0.7 μm), the number of intersection nodes per mm(3) (819.1 × 10(3) ± 180.7 × 10(3)), the number of dead-end branches per mm(3) (409.9 × 10(3) ± 95.6 × 10(3)), the length of the bile canalicular network per mm(3) (9.4 × 10(3) ± 0.7 × 10(3) mm) and the percentage of the bile canalicular volume with respect to the total liver volume (3.4 ± 0.005). A particular strength of our technique is that quantitative parameters of hepatocytes and bile canalicular as well as sinusoidal networks can be extracted from the same tissue block. Reconstructions and quantifications performed as described in the current protocols can be used for quantitative mathematical modelling of the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, protocols are presented for both human and pig livers. The technique is also applicable for both vibratome blocks and conventional paraffin slices. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever419 | Rhodomyrtone as a New Natural Antibiotic Isolated from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa Leaf Extract: A Clinical Application in the Management of Acne Vulgaris.
Rhodomyrtone, a plant-derived principal compound isolated from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Myrtaceae) leaf extract, was assessed as a potential natural alternative for the treatment of acne vulgaris. The clinical efficacy of a 1% liposomal encapsulated rhodomyrtone serum was compared with a marketed 1% clindamycin gel. In a randomized and double-blind controlled clinical trial, 60 volunteers with mild to moderate acne severity were assigned to two groups: rhodomyrtone serum and clindamycin gel. The volunteers were instructed to apply the samples to acne lesions on their faces twice daily. A significant reduction in the total numbers of acne lesions was demonstrated in both treatment groups between weeks 2 and 8 (p < 0.05). Significant differences in acne numbers compared with the baseline were evidenced at week 2 onwards (p < 0.05). At the end of the clinical trial, the total inflamed acne counts in the 1% rhodomyrtone serum group were significantly reduced by 36.36%, comparable to 34.70% in the clindamycin-treated group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a commercial prototype was developed, and a clinical assessment of 45 volunteers was performed. After application of the commercial prototype for 1 week, 68.89% and 28.89% of volunteers demonstrated complete and improved inflammatory acne, respectively. All of the subjects presented no signs of irritation or side effects during the treatment. Most of the volunteers (71.11%) indicated that they were very satisfied. Rhodomyrtone serum was demonstrated to be effective and safe for the treatment of inflammatory acne lesions. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever420 | An in vitro quantitative analysis of the alpha adrenoceptor partial agonist activity of dobutamine and its relevance to inotropic selectivity.
In rat anococcygeus muscle, dobutamine produced concentration-related submaximal contractions which were antagonized competitively by phentolamine (pKB = 8.3) and dobutamine antagonized norepinephrine-induced contractions in a competitive manner with an equilibrium dissociation constant for the alpha adrenoceptor of 20 nM (pKB = 7.7). Therefore, dobutamine satisfied criteria for a partial agonist of alpha adrenoceptors having an affinity for alpha adrenoceptors 25 times that of norepinephrine (pKA = 6.3) in this tissue. An estimate of the relative efficacy of dobutamine showed one-fortieth the the efficacy of norepinephrine at the alpha adrenoceptors. Dobutamine contracted rabbit aorta and produced concentration-related relaxations at 1000 times greater concentrations after alkylation of alpha adrenoceptors by phenoxybenzamine. In noncontracted canine saphenous vein, dobutamine had no visible agonist activity but did produce contractions after propranolol. In partially contracted saphenous vein, dobutamine produced a small contraction which was converted to a propranolol-sensitive relaxation of tone after phentolamine. Dobutamine was a full beta adrenoceptor agonist in guinea-pig trachea under spontaneous tone but a partial agonist after strong contraction by bethanechol. This allowed measurement of the pKB of dobutamine at beta adrenoceptors (pKB = 5.35) and estimation of efficacy at beta adrenoceptors relative to isoproterenol (eDob/eIso = 1/20). No evidence for beta adrenoceptor selectivity was found in studies of potency ratios and relative efficacy using isoproterenol for comparison. Dobutamine showed a slight (2-fold) selectivity for inotropy in vitro when compared to isoproterenol in guinea-pig right and left atria. This selectivity was removed by phentolamine suggesting a cardiac alpha-like adrenoceptor effect; this finding was confirmed in propranolol-treated guinea-pig left atria. These results are discussed in terms of the in vivo effects of dobutamine and its use as a tool for classification of beta adrenoceptors, particularly the putative presynaptic beta adrenoceptor. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever421 | Urinary concentrating defect in mice lacking Epac1 or Epac2.
cAMP is a universal second messenger regulating a plethora of processes in the kidney. Two downstream effectors of cAMP are PKA and exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac), which, unlike PKA, is often linked to elevation of [Ca2+]i. While both Epac isoforms (Epac1 and Epac2) are expressed along the nephron, their relevance in the kidney remains obscure. We combined ratiometric calcium imaging with quantitative immunoblotting, immunofluorescent confocal microscopy, and balance studies in mice lacking Epac1 or Epac2 to determine the role of Epac in renal water-solute handling. Epac1-/- and Epac2-/- mice developed polyuria despite elevated arginine vasopressin levels. We did not detect major deficiencies in arginine vasopressin [Ca2+]i signaling in split-opened collecting ducts or decreases in aquaporin water channel type 2 levels. Instead, sodium-hydrogen exchanger type 3 levels in the proximal tubule were dramatically reduced in Epac1-/- and Epac2-/- mice. Water deprivation revealed persisting polyuria, impaired urinary concentration ability, and augmented urinary excretion of Na+ and urea in both mutant mice. In summary, we report a nonredundant contribution of Epac isoforms to renal function. Deletion of Epac1 and Epac2 decreases sodium-hydrogen exchanger type 3 expression in the proximal tubule, leading to polyuria and osmotic diuresis.-Cherezova, A., Tomilin, V., Buncha, V., Zaika, O., Ortiz, P. A., Mei, F., Cheng, X., Mamenko, M., Pochynyuk, O. Urinary concentrating defect in mice lacking Epac1 or Epac2. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever422 | Recent advances in the histo-molecular pathology of human prion disease.
Prion diseases are progressive neurodegenerative disorders affecting humans and other mammalian species. The term prion, originally put forward to propose the concept that a protein could be infectious, refers to PrPSc , a misfolded isoform of the cellular prion protein (PrPC ) that represents the pathogenetic hallmark of these disorders. The discovery that other proteins characterized by misfolding and seeded aggregation can spread from cell to cell, similarly to PrPSc , has increased interest in prion diseases. Among neurodegenerative disorders, however, prion diseases distinguish themselves for the broader phenotypic spectrum, the fastest disease progression and the existence of infectious forms that can be transmitted through the exposure to diseased tissues via ingestion, injection or transplantation. The main clinicopathological phenotypes of human prion disease include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, by far the most common, fatal insomnia, variably protease-sensitive prionopathy, and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease. However, clinicopathological manifestations extend even beyond those predicted by this classification. Because of their transmissibility, the phenotypic diversity of prion diseases can also be propagated into syngenic hosts as prion strains with distinct characteristics, such as incubation period, pattern of PrPSc distribution and regional severity of histopathological changes in the brain. Increasing evidence indicates that different PrPSc conformers, forming distinct ordered aggregates, encipher the phenotypic variants related to prion strains. In this review, we summarize the most recent advances concerning the histo-molecular pathology of human prion disease focusing on the phenotypic spectrum of the disease including co-pathologies, the characterization of prion strains by experimental transmission and their correlation with the physicochemical properties of PrPSc aggregates. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever423 | Update on the genetics of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.
A number of lines of investigation suggest that, as is likely the case for other autoimmune diseases, the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) develop as a result of specific environmental exposures in genetically susceptible individuals. Current data imply that multiple genes are involved in the etiology of these complex disorders. Targeted gene studies and whole genome approaches have begun to identify several genetic risk factors for autoimmune diseases, but the rarity and heterogeneity of the IIM have limited our knowledge of their associated genes. Current findings suggest that human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes on chromosome 6, particularly HLA DRB1*0301 and the linked allele DQA1*0501, have the strongest associations with all clinical forms of IIM in white patients. Different HLA alleles, however, may confer risk or protection for myositis in distinct ethnic, serologic, and environmental exposure groups. Non-HLA genetic risk factors, which have been documented for other autoimmune diseases, are now being identified for the IIM. These include polymorphic genes encoding immunoglobulin heavy chains (defined by serologic markers known as Gm allotypes), cytokines and their receptors, and certain proteins that accumulate in the myocyte vacuoles of inclusion body myositis patients. Selected allelic polymorphisms of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist variable number tandem repeats and genes for tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 alpha also have recently been associated with IIM. The pathogenic bases for the differences among the many clinically, pathologically and immunologically defined syndromes known as the IIM will be elucidated through a better understanding of the multiple genes that define risks for their development, as well as through investigations of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever424 | Psychological effects of reading: the role of nostalgia in re-reading favorite books.
Nostalgia evoked through various experiences (e.g., scents, music) has been shown to enhance emotional well-being and reduce social pain. We propose that reading a familiar book similarly can elicit nostalgia, and provide emotional benefits through narrative transportation beyond that of reading a new book. We tested the relationship between reading new versus familiar books, nostalgia, narrative transportation, and indices of social connectedness. Participants were randomly assigned to re-read a favorite novel, read a new novel of interest, or read a set of newspaper articles. Re-reading elicited greater nostalgia and social connectedness than reading a new novel or newspaper. Narrative transportation and nostalgia fully mediated the effect of reading condition on social connectedness. We discuss implications for our understanding homeostatic nature of nostalgia and mental transportation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever425 | Accuracy and reliability of breath alcohol testing by handheld electrochemical analysers.
Usefulness of portable, handheld breath analysers equipped with electrochemical sensor was assessed. Breath- and blood-alcohol concentrations in drunken drivers were taken from 370 expert opinions elaborated at the Institute of Forensic Research between January 1st 2002 and February 28th 2007. The results of second and subsequent measurements were re-calculated using mean elimination rates. The readings of portable instruments were in very good agreement with the results of confirmatory analyses performed by stationary devices (r=0.978, p<0.001, y=0.969x-0.0002). The correlation with the results of blood analysis was weaker (r=0.940, p<0.001, y=1.722x+0.214), but comparable with the correlation between the readings of stationary devices and the results of blood analyses (r=0.936, p<0.001, y=1.790x+0.091). The readings of portable and stationary breath analysers were also compared by the Bland-Altman plots. The differences in results were independent of alcohol concentration (absolute difference (mg/L): r=0.054, p>0.1, y=0.011x+0.013; relative difference (%): r=0.020, p>0.1, y=0.90x+2.36). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever426 | Relationship between enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and diarrhea among children in Buenos Aires.
The incidence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) has been studied in 85 children with acute diarrhea in patients in the Hospital de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Buenos Aires, and in 38 healthy children. All of them were up to four years old and none had received antibiotic treatment within 7 days before sampling. ETEC was recovered in 9 out of 85 (10.6%) children with diarrhea. From these positive cases, 6 were associated with heat-stable (ST), 1 with heat-labile (LT) and 2 with both LT and ST enterotoxins. Only one case (2.6%) of LT-producing ETEC was detected in the control group. In 5 out of 9 ETEC diarrhea cases (55.5%) the isolated strains expressed human colonization factor antigens (CFA); four of them were CFA/I and one CFA/II. The characteristics of the CFA, biotype, serotype and antibiotic sensitivity pattern were studied in 23 E. coli isolates from 10 ETEC positive children. Of the 12 ST only strains, 5 (41.7%) expressed CFA/I and 2 (16.7%) CFA/II (CS2 + CS3). One out of 2 LT/ST strains expressed CFA/I. CFAs were not detected in the ETEC-LT nor in the toxin negative E. coli strains. From the ETEC isolated, 82.4% were resistant to 4 or more antibiotics, whereas only 50% of simultaneously isolated toxin-negative E. coli presented this sensitivity pattern. The different ETEC strains belonged to several different serotypes, some of them rarely observed in other countries. None of these serotypes correlated either with the toxin profile or with the sugar fermentation pattern.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | No pos | No neg |
Retriever427 | DermACELL Acellular Dermal Matrix in Oncologic Breast Reconstruction: A Cohort Study and Systematic Review.
Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are commonly used in tissue expander and direct-to-implant reconstruction following mastectomy. Few studies have reported outcomes of DermACELL use or compared DermACELL with AlloDerm ADM. This study sought to compare outcomes of DermACELL and AlloDerm in oncologic breast reconstruction and to review the literature reporting outcomes of patients undergoing reconstruction using DermACELL.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare outcomes between DermACELL and AlloDerm ADM, and a systematic review of the literature with a meta-analysis to evaluate clinical outcomes with DermACELL.
Results
Seventy-four patients (128 breasts) undergoing immediate reconstruction were evaluated retrospectively. Chi-square analysis revealed no significant difference in postoperative outcomes between the two groups. Our systematic review of the literature yielded 12 total studies reporting DermACELL use for breast reconstruction encompassing 518 patients and 608 total breasts. A pooled analysis of the published data did not reveal a significant change in the rate of explantation when either chemotherapy or radiation was used. Meta-analysis did not show a significant difference in the rate of any of the complications evaluated.
Conclusion
DermACELL is safe to use with a relatively consistent complication profile as compared with AlloDerm. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever428 | Peritoneal malignant mesothelioma metastatic to supraclavicular lymph nodes.
Distinguishing between malignant mesothelioma and reactive mesothelial hyperplasia is often inestimable, but may be a challenging gauntlet for pathologists. A 62-year-old man underwent appendectomy after the identification of a peritoneal mass and the histological examination showed mesothelial proliferation along the appendix surface with no clear images of infiltration. After a few months the patient developed mediastinal and supraclavicular lymphadenopathies, and a nodal biopsy showed mesothelial cell proliferation invading lymphatic sinuses, consistent with the cells seen in the abdominal cavity. Since overt morphologic criteria for malignancy were lacking and reactive mesothelial cell deposits have been documented in lymph nodes, a molecular investigation of the CDKN2A (henceforth simply p16) gene status via fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed, which showed homozygous deletion in 100% tumor cells. These data ruled out the hypothesis of reactive mesothelial cells inclusion in lymph nodes, thus confirming the diagnosis of epithelioid malignant mesothelioma. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever429 | Bone metabolism in very preterm infants receiving total parenteral nutrition: do intravenous fat emulsions have an impact?
Very preterm infants (<32 weeks' gestation) are at high risk for impaired skeletal development because of factors that limit the provision of extrauterine nutrients. Cumulative net deficiencies of calcium, phosphorus, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (ARA) are evident in these infants after prolonged administration of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). This is significant because minerals as well as metabolites of DHA and ARA are important modulators of bone cell differentiation, lengthening of bone, and bone matrix deposition. Furthermore, diets containing only precursors of DHA and ARA result in suboptimal skeletal growth. With the emergence of new intravenous lipid emulsions, it is important to understand the impact of fatty acids on bone metabolism in the third trimester in order to optimize the provision of TPN in very preterm infants. The purpose of this review is to evaluate current evidence regarding intravenous lipid emulsions and bone metabolism in very preterm infants receiving prolonged TPN and to identify areas of research needed. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever430 | Resistotyping, phenotyping and genotyping of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) among Gram-negative bacilli from Iranian patients.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) production among Gram-negative bacilli.
METHODOLOGY
Antibiogram-resistotyping and detection of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and comparative evaluation of the diagnostic performance of three phenotypic methods for NDM detection, with PCR considered as the gold standard, were performed. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibiotics against NDM-positive strains using E-tests and clonal relationship analysis using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR in these strains were determined.
RESULTS
The most effective antibiotics against strains of the species K. pneumoniae were Colistin, Chloramphenicol and Tigecycline; against P. aeruginosa were Fosfomycin and Polymyxins, and against A. baumannii were Polymyxins, Ampicillin/Sulbactam and Minocycline. Overall, 66, 31 and 40 different resistotypes were observed among K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa strains, respectively. The blaNDM-1 gene was detected in 28 (8.5 %) strains of the bacteria investigated. The sensitivities and specificities of the Meropenem-EDTA combined disk test, the meropenem-dipicolinic acid combined disk test and the modified Hodge test methods for NDM detection were 96.43, 55.15; 96.43, 54.85; and 89.29, 35.15, respectively. Additionally, in spite of the low positive predictive values of these tests, their negative predictive values were high. ERIC-PCR results revealed two main clusters in NDM-positive strains of each of the species P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii, and ten main clusters in K. pneumoniae. In all the NDM-positive strains maximum MIC rates (>256) were observed for all beta-lactam antibiotics.
CONCLUSION
There were high levels of antibiotic resistance and a high frequency of multi-drug resistance and extensive-drug resistance profiles, as well as highly prevalent blaNDM-1 genes in the bacteria investigated. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever431 | Proarrhythmic potential of dronedarone: emerging evidence from spontaneous adverse event reporting.
STUDY OBJECTIVE
To characterize the frequency and type of cardiac events, including torsade de pointes, associated with dronedarone and its structural analog, amiodarone, outside of the clinical trial setting.
DESIGN
Retrospective analysis.
DATA SOURCE
Spontaneous reports in the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) database generated between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2011.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
All reports of adverse events during the study period were reviewed to identify cardiac events associated with any approved drug in the United States. The type and number of cardiac events associated with dronedarone and amiodarone were determined. Active ingredients were identified using the Drugs@FDA database, and the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) was used to aggregate related adverse events. To avoid redundant reporting, all statistics were generated in reference to unique case identifiers. Dronedarone was associated with more adverse cardiovascular event reports than amiodarone (810 vs 493 reports) during the study period. Dronedarone was also associated with the most reports of torsade de pointes of any approved drug in the United States (37 reports), followed by amiodarone (29 reports). Reports of ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest (138 vs 113 reports) as well as heart failure (179 vs 126 reports) were more common with dronedarone than amiodarone.
CONCLUSION
Dronedarone was associated with reports of ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and torsade de pointes in clinical practice. Whether this observation accounts for the increased risk of fatal arrhythmia observed in a recent prospective trial requires further investigation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever432 | Application of the Povarov Reaction in Biaryls under Iron Catalysis for the General Synthesis of Dibenzo[a,c]Acridines.
A modified Povarov reaction involving 2'-alkynylbiaryl-2-carbaldehydes and aryl amines with tandem oxidation was performed using catalytic FeCl3. The outcome was an efficient general synthesis of dibenzo[a,c]acridines with moderate to high yields. This method offers simplicity in the preparation of substrates, diverse substrate scope, and high atom economy. The generality of the protocol was verified by synthesizing a tribenzo[a,c,h]acridine derivative. Photophysical properties of the synthesized compounds were also studied. The compounds absorb UV light typically in the range 230-330 nm and emit in the visible range of 400-420 nm. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever433 | Unclassifiable non-CML classical myeloproliferative diseases with microcytosis: findings indicating diagnosis of polycythemia vera masked by iron deficiency
Background/aim
Polycythemia Vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by overproduction of morphologically normal red blood cells (RBCs), granulocytes, and platelets, a phenotype that is caused by a mutation (V617F) in Janus kinase 2 (JAK2). However, JAK2 V617F is also found in approximately 50% of patients with essential thrombocytosis and primary myelofibrosis, rendering its presence nonspecific as a diagnostic test. An increased red cell mass is a major criterion for the diagnosis of PV according to World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 criteria. High hemoglobin (Hgb) or Hematocrit (Hct) are universally used as indicators of an increased red cell mass for the diagnosis of PV. However, conditions such as iron deficiency (ID) with decreased mean cell volume may mask the diagnosis due to nonelevated Hct level. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of the patients with unclassifiable non-CML classical myeloproliferative disease with microcytosis (MPD/M) and nonelevated Hgb and Hct levels at diagnosis and to determine if some of these cases could be real PV cases masked due to ID-related microcytosis.
Materials and methods
There were 23 MPD/M cases among 208 non-CML classical MPD cases (11%). Among 22 patients who had adequate test results related to the cause of microcytosis, ID and beta-thalassemia trait (TT) were the apparent causes of microcytosis in 15 and 1 cases, respectively.
Results
Clinicopathological correlations revealed consistently positive JAK2 V617F mutation status (20/20, 100%), frequently elevated RBC count (17/23, 73.9%), and PV-compatible bone marrow findings (10/12, 83.3%). These findings are compatible with PV instead of essential thrombocytopenia or primary myelofibrosis. In spite of frequent cytoreductive treatment, 3 patients developed increased Hgb/Htc levels during median 58.2 (279–63) months’ follow-up.
Conclusion
These data show that the majority of MPD/M cases are PV patients masked due to ID-related microcytosis. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever434 | Metabolic syndrome in the acute care setting.
The metabolic syndrome is a clinical condition that is a powerful predictor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Hypertension, abdominal obesity, high blood glucose levels, and abnormal blood lipid levels characterize metabolic syndrome. Therapeutic treatment of the metabolic syndrome confers a significant risk reduction for both type 2 diabetes and premature cardiovascular events. In the hospital setting, the management of hyperglycemia, one of the clinical components of the metabolic syndrome, has been secondary in importance to the condition that prompted admission. Hyperglycemia in the hospitalized patient has been associated with increased lengths of stay, higher rates of hospital-acquired infections, and increased mortality. Early recognition and treatment of hyperglycemia and the associated metabolic components that comprise the metabolic syndrome may reduce morbidity and mortality in the hospital setting. More aggressive interventions will aid in reducing costs while simultaneously improving patient care and safety. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever435 | Inhibition cAMP-phosphodiesterase in the rat heart by pentoxifylline--a new xanthine derivative.
Pentoxifylline, a new xanthine derivative with properties favorably affecting the rheological profile of blood, was administered to male rats weighing 200--300 g in doses of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg of body weight for five days. Up to 27% of the intracellular cAMP-phosphodiesterase (cAMP-PDE) of the myocardium was dose-dependently inhibited. A significant increase in the protein content of the heart (wet weight) was also recorded, but was unrelated to the dose of pentoxifylline and without evidence of cardiac hypertrophy. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever436 | Venom profile of the European carpenter bee Xylocopa violacea: Evolutionary and applied considerations on its toxin components.
Modern venomics is increasing its focus on hymenopterans such as honeybees, bumblebees, parasitoid wasps, ants and true wasps. However solitary bees remain understudied in comparison and the few available venom studies focus on short melittin-like sequences and antimicrobial peptides. Herein we describe the first comprehensive venom profile of a solitary bee, the violet carpenter bee Xylocopa violacea, by using proteo-transcriptomics. We reveal a diverse and complex venom profile with 43 different protein families identified from dissected venom gland extracts of which 32 are also detected in the defensively injected venom. Melittin and apamin are the most highly secreted components, followed by Phospholipase A2, Icarapin, Secapin and three novel components. Other components, including eight novel protein families, are rather lowly expressed. We further identify multiple forms of apamin-like peptides. The melittin-like sequences of solitary bees separate into two clades, one comprised most sequences from solitary bees including xylopin (the variant in Xylocopa), while sequences from Lasioglossa appear closer related to melittin-like peptides from Bombus (Bombolittins). Our study suggests that more proteo-transcriptomic data from other solitary bees should be complemented with corresponding genome data to fully understand the evolution and complexity of bee venom proteins, and is of a particular need to disentangle the ambiguous phylogenetic relations of short peptides. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever437 | Analysis of the efficiency of the rabbit whey acidic protein gene 5' flanking region in controlling the expression of homologous and heterologous linked genes.
For 10 years, the regulatory regions of the mouse and rabbit whey acidic protein gene have been used to express heterologous proteins in the milk of transgenic mice, as well as to produce pharmaceutical proteins, on a large scale, in the milk of transgenic livestock. To date, a broad range of expression levels have been detected, and elucidation of the structure-function relationship in these regulatory regions might help to achieve high levels of expression, reproducibly. An extended 5' regulatory region (17.6 kb v. 6.3 kb) of the rabbit whey acidic promoter resulted in an increased frequency of rabbit whey acidic protein expression in transgenic mice. However, the expression levels were low compared with the high expression levels achieved in both transgenic mice and rabbits using the heterologous kappa-casein in the 6.3 kb rabbit whey acidic protein 5' regulatory region. These results underline the importance of the 3' downstream regulatory regions, which still need to be better characterized in the whey acidic protein gene. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever438 | Study on the effect of COVID - 19 pandemic on the savings and investment pattern of the manufacturing sector.
As a consequence of Corona Virus unroll; humans faced uncertainty in income and changes in lifestyle. Due to lockdown, the spending attitude changed, as there was no way to have outings, expensive purchases like gold, real estate, car, etc. Most of the decisions are based on the circumstances faced. The circumstances are like walls, putting a limit around us. Behavioural Finance shows the financial activity of an individual based on his or her mental stability. In this paper, the savings and investment decisions before and after the COVID - 19 pandemic of the people related to the manufacturing sector in Tamil Nadu are observed by a survey. A study was made on circumstances created by COVID - 19 pandemic which brought change in savings behaviour and investment behaviour of individuals in manufacturing sector. An analysis was made based on the survey conducted to know the impression of the pandemic on manufacturing sector peoples' financial attitudes in Tamil Nadu (TN). The participants belonged to the working community of manufacturing sector. The association between the circumstances formed by corona virus and change in savings and investment options of the people related to the manufacturing sector in Tamil Nadu was studied. There is association between the actions undertaken by the Government (like lockdown and travel restrictions) and person's earnings, directly impacted savings and investment pattern of the individuals in manufacturing sector. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever439 | Enhancement of S9 activation by S105 cytosolic fraction.
The addition of supplementary cytosolic fraction greatly enhances the activation of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) by uninduced 9,000 x g supernatant fractions (S9) in the Ames test. Uninduced S9 is poor at activating AAF in the Ames test (although it is effective in the liquid based fluctuation test) probably because cytosolic material diffuses into the bottom agar. An enhancing effect of cytosol supplementation was also observed with 2-aminoanthracene (AA) and 2-aminofluorene (AF) with uninduced S9. Using Aroclor-induced preparations, supplementation with cytosol enhanced the activation of benzo[a]pyrene and ethidium bromide. With AAF and Aroclor-induced preparations, supplementation with cytosol produces a slight but significant increase in activation, but interpretation is complicated by the fact that Aroclor 105,000 x g supernatant fraction (S105) alone efficiently activates AAF, AF and AA. Norharman potentiated the enhancing effect of Aroclor S105 on Aroclor-S9 activation of AAF but inhibited the activation of AAF by S105 fraction alone. The enhancing effect of S105 fraction may explain some, but not all, of the differences between liquid-based and agar overlay based activation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever440 | Immunophenotypic characterization of plasma cells from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance patients. Implications for the differential diagnosis between MGUS and multiple myeloma.
Although the immunophenotype of plasma cells (PCs) from multiple myeloma (MM) patients has been extensively explored, information on the phenotypic characteristics of PCs in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) patients is scanty and frequently controversial. Thus, the question of whether or not PCs are phenotypically different in the two disorders and whether this criteria could be useful for the differential diagnosis between MGUS and MM remains to be explored. In the present study, the immunophenotypic profile of bone marrow PCs (BMPCs) from a group of 76 MGUS patients has been analyzed by flow cytometry and compared with that of BMPCs present in both MM patients (n = 65) and control subjects (n = 10). For that purpose, a large panel of monoclonal antibodies against PC-related antigens was used together with a sensitive methodology in which a minimum of 10(3) PCs were studied. In all MGUS cases studied, two clearly defined and distinct PC subpopulations could be identified. One PC subpopulation, population A (33 +/- 31% of total PCs), constantly displayed a high CD38 expression with low forward light scatter (FSC)/side light scatter (SSC) and was positive for CD19 and negative for CD56 (only a small proportion of these PCs were weakly positive for CD56). The other PC subpopulation, population B (67 +/- 31% of total PCs), showed the opposite pattern; the antigen CD56 was strongly positive and CD19 was constantly negative, and it showed a lower CD38 expression and higher FSC/SSC values than population A. Clonality studies (cytoplasmic light chain restriction, DNA content studies, and polymerase chain reaction assessment) confirmed the clonal nature of PCs from population B and the polyclonal origin of PCs from population A. Moreover, the polyclonal PCs from MGUS displayed a phenotypic profile identical to that found in PCs from healthy individuals. By contrast, clonal PCs from all MGUS patients displayed a similar antigenic profile to myelomatous PCs, with clear phenotypic differences with respect to normal PCs: lower intensity of CD38 expression and a variable reactivity for markers that were not expressed in normal PCs, such as CD28, CD117, and sIg. Although the presence of residual polyclonal PCs was a constant finding in MGUS patients, it was a rare event in MM and, when present (only 22% of MM cases), its frequency was significantly lower than that observed in MGUS (0.25% versus 32.9%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Only 1.5% of patients with MM had more than 3% of normal PCs, whereas 98% of patients with MGUS had more than 3%. Moreover, as shown by multivariate analysis, the number of residual polyclonal PCs was the most powerful single parameter for the discrimination between MGUS and MM patients at diagnosis, even when only stage I MM cases were considered. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever441 | The course of chronic subdural hematomas after burr-hole craniostomy and closed-system drainage.
A consecutive series of 32 adult patients with chronic subdural hematoma was studied in respect to postoperative cerebral reexpansion (reduction in diameter of the subdural space) after burr-hole craniostomy and closed-system drainage. Patients with high subdural pressure showed the most rapid brain expansion and clinical improvement during the first 2 days. Nevertheless, a computerized tomography (CT) scan performed on the 10th day after surgery demonstrated persisting subdural fluid in 78% of cases. After 40 days, the CT scan was normal in 27 of the 32 patients. There was no mortality and no significant morbidity. Our study suggests that well developed subdural neomembranes are the crucial factors for cerebral reexpansion, a phenomenon that takes at least 10 to 20 days. However, blood vessel dysfunction and impairment of cerebral blood flow may participate in delay of brain reexpansion. It may be argued that additional surgical procedures, such as repeated tapping of the subdural fluid, craniotomy, and membranectomy or even craniectomy, should not be evaluated earlier than 20 days after the initial surgical procedure unless the patient has deteriorated markedly. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever442 | Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on reflux esophagitis therapy: a multi-center randomized control study.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) frequently colonizes the stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common and costly disease. But the relationship of H. pylori and GERD is still unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of H. pylori and its eradication on reflux esophagitis therapy.
METHODS
Patients diagnosed with reflux esophagitis by endoscopy were enrolled; based on rapid urease test and Warth-Starry stain, they were divided into H. pylori positive and negative groups. H. pylori positive patients were randomly given H. pylori eradication treatment for 10 days, then esomeprazole 20 mg bid for 46 days. The other patients received esomeprazole 20 mg bid therapy for 8 weeks. After treatment, three patient groups were obtained: H. pylori positive eradicated, H. pylori positive uneradicated, and H. pylori negative. Before and after therapy, reflux symptoms were scored and compared. Healing rates were compared among groups. The χ2 test and t-test were used, respectively, for enumeration and measurement data.
RESULTS
There were 176 H. pylori positive (with 92 eradication cases) and 180 negative cases. Healing rates in the H. pylori positive eradicated and H. pylori positive uneradicated groups reached 80.4% and 79.8% (P = 0.911), with reflux symptom scores of 0.22 and 0.14 (P = 0.588). Healing rates of esophagitis in the H. pylori positive uneradicated and H. pylori negative groups were, respectively, 79.8% and 82.2% (P = 0.848); reflux symptom scores were 0.14 and 0.21 (P = 0.546).
CONCLUSIONS
Based on esomeprazole therapy, H. pylori infection and eradication have no significant effect on reflux esophagitis therapy. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever443 | Intraoral repair of metal ceramic restorations.
The porcelain-fused-to-metal restoration is and will remain one of the most common restorations in dentistry. However, with the many variables that exist in fabrication and function of these restorations, there also is a potential for failure. This failure usually involves the porcelain portion of the restoration. A simple and predictable technique is extremely advantageous in prolonging the longevity of these restorations. A combination of metal preparation along with specific porcelain treatment will result in such a repair. The specific porcelain treatment involves a combination of hydrofluoric acid etching and a saline bonding agent. The technique has been used for numerous repairs with excellent success. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever444 | Pregnancy outcomes in Lebanese women with multiple sclerosis (the LeMS study): a prospective multicentre study.
OBJECTIVE
The Lebanese Multiple Sclerosis (LeMS) study aims to assess the influence of pregnancy and delivery on the clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Lebanese women.
SETTING
This prospective multicentre study took place in three MS referral university medical centres in Lebanon.
PARTICIPANTS
Included were 29 women over 18 years who had been diagnosed with MS according to the McDonald criteria, and became pregnant between 1995 and 2015. Participating women should have stopped treatment 3 months before conception and become pregnant after the onset of MS. Women were followed up from 1 year preconceptionally and for 4 years postpartum.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The annualised relapse rates per participant during each 3-month period during pregnancy and each year postpartum were compared with the relapse rate during the year before pregnancy using the paired two-tailed t test. p Values <0.05 were considered statistically significant for all analyses (95% CI).
RESULTS
64 full-term pregnancies were recorded. All pregnancies (100%) resulted in live births, with no complications or other diseases. In comparison with the prepregnancy year, in which the mean relapse rate±SE was 0.17±0.07, there was a significant reduction in the relapse rate during pregnancy and in the first year postpartum (p=0.02), but an increase in the rate in the second year postpartum (0.21±0.08). Thereafter, from the third year postpartum through the following fourth year, the annualised relapse rate fell slightly but did not differ from the annualised relapse rate recorded in the prepregnancy year (0.17±0.07).
CONCLUSIONS
Pregnancy in Lebanese women with MS does not seem to increase the risk of complications. No relapses were observed during pregnancy and in the first year postpartum; however, relapses rebounded in the second year postpartum, and over the long term, returned to the levels that preceded pregnancy. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever445 | Family members' lived experiences of everyday life after intensive care treatment of a loved one: a phenomenological hermeneutical study.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To illuminate relatives' experiences of everyday life after a loved one's stay in an intensive care unit.
BACKGROUND
Relatives of intensive care patients experience considerable stress that can have a long-lasting effect on their everyday lives. Relatives frequently report anxiety, depression and complicated grief as a result of their experiences in the intensive care unit.
DESIGN
A qualitative design was chosen.
METHODS
Thirteen relatives were interviewed 3 months to 1 year after the discharge or death of an intensive care unit patient. A phenomenological hermeneutical method was used to explore family members' lived experiences upon returning home after their loved ones' stay in the intensive care unit.
RESULTS
Two themes emerged from the analysis of the data: (1) changes in everyday life and emotional reactions, and (2) managing changes and need of support and follow-up from the ICU.
CONCLUSIONS
Family members experience changes in emotions, roles and responsibilities after returning home. They must maintain control of themselves and adapt to the changes to face the future. They cope by using their personal resources and support from others. Some are in further need of follow-up from the intensive care unit staff.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
Nursing education could focus increasingly more on the significance of communication and personal support, which helps family members cope during patients' stay and experience a sense of personal strength when returning home. Further research should address how to identify and support those with special needs after the intensive care unit stay. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever446 | Metabolic and monocyte-suppressing actions of fenofibrate in patients with mixed dyslipidemia and early glucose metabolism disturbances.
The aim of this study was to compare the action of fenofibrate on monocyte cytokine release between patients with isolated mixed dyslipidemia and dyslipidemia coexisting with prediabetic states in relationship with its metabolic actions.We compared 96 primary mixed dyslipidemic patients and 29 age-, sex- and weight-matched control subjects with normal lipid profile. Depending on glucose metabolism, dyslipidemic patients were allocated into one of three treatment groups: isolated dyslipidemia, dyslipidemia coexisting with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and dyslipidemia coexisting with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Lipid profile, fasting and 2-h post-glucose load plasma glucose levels, HOMA and monocyte release of interleukin-1beta and MCP-1 were assessed at baseline and after 30 and 90 days of micronized fenofibrate treatment (267 mg/daily). Compared to monocytes from control subjects, monocytes of dyslipidemic patients released a greater amounts of interleukin-1beta and MCP-1. MCP-1 release was higher in the IFG group than in the remaining groups of dyslipidemic patients. In all groups of dyslipidemic patients, micronized fenofibrate reduced monocyte release of interleukin-1beta and MCP-1, and this effect was stronger in prediabetic subjects. Fenofibrate treatment also decreased HOMA in IFG and IGT patients, fasting plasma glucose in IFG subjects and 2-h post-glucose load plasma glucose in IGT patients. The observed differences between the studied groups regarding fenofibrate action on glucose homeostasis and cytokine release suggest that fibrate therapy may bring particular benefits to persons with metabolic syndrome. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever447 | Towards decarbonisation targets by changing setpoint temperature to avoid building overcooling and implementing district cooling in (sub)tropical high-density cities - A case study of Hong Kong.
Climate warming, rapid economic development, and urbanisation in (sub)tropical regions lead to increasing electricity demand for building air-conditioning that could jeopardise the efforts of decarbonisation required to meet the climate change mitigation goals. This study investigates two strategies to reduce building energy consumption due to air-conditioning: 1) the bottom-up adoption of an Adaptive Thermal Comfort (ATC)-based cooling setpoint temperature and 2) the top-down implementation of efficient District Cooling Systems (DCS). The subtropical high-density city of Hong Kong is chosen for case study since detailed data on the city's current and realistic future urban form and function are available. Numerical simulations representing the feedback between urban climate and building energy consumption are conducted by employing a mesoscale atmospheric model coupled to an urban climate and building energy model for a scenario of future (mid-21st century) Hong Kong. A prolonged high temperature event representative of future extreme conditions is simulated, during which the ATC and DCS strategies reduce building cooling energy consumption by 9.7% and 5.9%, respectively. The ATC has almost no effect on the local meteorological conditions, whereas the DCS reduces daytime sensible heat flux by up to 600 W/m2 and near-surface air temperature by almost 1 °C in the districts where it is adopted. The DCS thus also contributes to lowering outdoor heat stress in these areas. The cost-free ATC strategy is easily applicable in residential buildings worldwide and can break the vicious cycle in overcooled buildings, where occupants are acclimatised to lower indoor temperature and thus require more air-conditioning than necessary. Apart from reducing energy consumption and near-surface air temperature, the DCS brings additional benefits in building space utilisation and rooftop design. Future policy orientations should therefore encourage a societal change towards the ATC lifestyle and incorporate DCS in the planning of new development areas. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever448 | Current problems in treating tuberculosis in Italian HIV-infected patients.
31 Italian HIV-infected patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB) were reviewed to verify the effectiveness of the most common antituberculosis drugs. The patients were mostly intravenous drug addicts (90%), and 14 (45%) had recently been in prison. 5 patients (16%) had pulmonary TB, 15 (48%) had both pulmonary and extrapulmonary involvement, and 11 (30%) had extrapulmonary disease alone. 6 patients received the association of HRZ, and a 4-drug association including ethambutol was given to an additional 7 patients. The remaining 18 patients were administered the association of HRE. Response to therapy was good in 13 patients (42%), and lacking or delayed in 18 patients (58%). Treatment failure was partly related to the increased occurrence in our area of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. These observations, along with the need of a faster response to therapy than that currently obtained for TB in AIDS and in view of epidemiological effects, should prompt the definition of alternative therapeutic and prophylactic regimens. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever449 | Prospects of raising Sahiwal cow calves for veal production under tropical environment.
The objective of present study was to evaluate the growth potential of Sahiwal calves for veal production on whole milk or whole milk and milk replacer combined in a ratio of 50:50 (MMR). For this purpose, 48 Sahiwal calves (both male and female) were assigned to four dietary treatments having 12 animals/treatment. Calves in the treatments A and B were offered whole milk at 15 or 20% of their body weight (BW), respectively, up to day 84 adjusted on weekly basis. The calves in treatments C and D received the same amount of milk as in treatments A and B until day 21, respectively, after which 50% of the milk offered was replaced with a blend of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) flour and vegetable (corn) oil mixed in water (MR) until day 84. The constituted MR had 3.1, 2.8, and 14.3%, CP, EE, and DM, respectively. The growth and intake data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis, with MIXED Procedures of SAS in a 2 × 2 factorial design. The two factors were feeding level and feeding source. Calves offered whole milk grew faster (P<0.05) and had greater weaning weights (P<0.05) than those offered MMR (606.4 ± 18.1 vs 331.3 ± 18.1 g/day and 70.4 ± 1.5 vs 47.8 ± 1.5 kg, respectively). Greatest daily BW gain (656 ± 26 g/day) and weaning weight (74.6 ± 2.1 kg) were observed in calves given treatment B while the lowest production cost/kg of BW gain (≈US$3.6 ± 0.2) was observed in calves given treatment A. The daily BW gain of calves fed milk ad libitum was 716 ± 40 and 836 ± 40 g/day, during 5-8 and 9-12 weeks, respectively. The number of days calves exhibited scours was higher in calves offered MMR than those offered whole milk. Replacement of 50% milk with a blend of chickpea flour and vegetable oil, as an alternative to milk replacer, did not support growth equivalent to whole milk and was not effective in reducing feeding cost during the weaning period. Sahiwal calves may have promise for being raised for veal production under tropical environments. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever450 | The natural history of liver regeneration in rats: description of an animal model for liver regeneration studies.
BACKGROUND
Rodent models have been used to evaluate aspects of liver regeneration. The aim of the present study was to investigate the natural history of liver regeneration in healthy rats.
METHODS
A 70% partial hepatectomy was performed in 64 rats. The animals were randomised into 8 groups and evaluated on postoperative days one to eight. Hepatocyte proliferation was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using unbiased stereological principles.
RESULTS
The mean rat body weight was 238 g (211-287). The mean weight of the resected liver was 6.3 g (5.2-7.3) and the estimated mean total liver weight was 8.9 g (7.4-10.4). Both liver weight analysis and regeneration rate showed an ascending curve, with a maximum slope on postoperative days 1-4, reaching a steady state on days 5-8. Hepatocyte proliferation (positive Ki-67 cell profiles pr. mm(2)) was high (250 cell profiles/mm(2)) on postoperative days 1-3 and tapered off on day 5.
CONCLUSION
Seventy percent partial hepatectomy in healthy rats induces a rapid regenerative response and PODs 2, 4 and 8 seems optimal for assessing hepatic growth in future studies. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever451 | Purification and characterization of human colony-stimulating factor 1 from human pancreatic carcinoma (MIA PaCa-2) cells.
Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) was purified from the serum-free conditioned medium of a human pancreatic carcinoma cell line (MIA PaCa-2) by a combination of conventional chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The purity of human CSF-1 was demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with a diffuse single band of Mr 42,000-50,000 and by N-terminal amino acid analysis of glutamate residue. The CSF-1 was stable at 50 degrees C for 30 min. It is sensitive to treatment with trypsin, chymotrypsin, and subtilisin but less sensitive to papain digestion. Treatment of CSF-1 with different glycosidases did not affect the biological activity. Sulfhydryl reagents such as dithiothreitol (DTT), iodoacetic acid, and N-ethylmaleimide did not affect the biological activity at the concentration of 1 mM. However, CSF-1 activity was inhibited totally by the combination of 10 mM DTT and 1 mM SDS. Under denaturing and reducing conditions, CSF-1 appeared on SDS-PAGE as a single protein band of Mr 21,000-25,000 and concurrently lost its activity, indicating that human CSF-1 possibly consists of two similar subunits and that the intact quaternary structure is essential for the biological activity. When treated with neuraminidase and endo-beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase D, the molecular weight of CSF-1 was reduced to 36,000-40,000, and to 18,000-20,000 in the presence of mercaptoethanol. Because of the specificity of endo-beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase D, it is suggested that the carbohydrate moieties are Asn-linked "complex-type" units. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever452 | Protective Impact of Edaravone Against ZnO NPs-induced Oxidative Stress in the Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cell Line.
Extensive applications of ZnO NPs (zinc oxide nanoparticles) in daily life have created concern about their biotoxicity. Zinc oxide nanoparticles induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in neurons. Edaravone applies antioxidant agent and anti-inflammatory impacts in the different cells, as evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo experimental models. This study is designed to explore, how edaravone would avert mitochondrial impairment in human neuronal cells against ZnO NPs-induced toxicity. Accordingly, we analyzed here whether a pretreatment (for 24 h) with edaravone (10-100 μM) would enhance mitochondrial protection in the human neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y against ZnO NPs-induced toxicity. We found that edaravone at 25 μM averted the ZnO NPs-induced decrease in the amounts of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), just as on the activity of the complexes I and V. Also, edaravone induced an antioxidant activity by diminishing the levels of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and protein nitration in the mitochondrial membranes. Edaravone blocked the ZnO NPs-induced transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) upregulation. The inhibition of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) enzyme by zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP IX, 10 μM) smothered the preventive impacts brought about by edaravone with respect to mitochondrial function and inflammation. After this examination, it can be concluded that edaravone caused cytoprotective impacts in an HO-1-dependent manner in SH-SY5Y cells against ZnO NPs-induced toxicity. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever453 | Fatigue and recovery in children and adults during sustained contractions at 2 different submaximal intensities.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of submaximal sustained contractions on fatigue and recovery properties in untrained prepubescent boys (n = 14) and men (n = 14). All participants performed, in random order, an isometric plantar flexion at 20% and 60% of their maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) until exhaustion (20%fatigue and 60%fatigue, respectively). During both fatigue protocols, surface electromyogram (sEMG) of the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles was recorded. Before and after the fatigue protocol, MVCs and blood lactate concentration were obtained. During 20%fatigue and 60%fatigue, agonist and antagonist sEMG increased gradually to a similar extent in both groups. Immediately after fatigue, MVC torque decreased in both groups, compared with prefatigue values, and boys recovered faster than men in both fatigue protocols. The reduction in agonist sEMG during MVC after fatigue was not significantly different between men and boys (p < 0.05), independent of the fatigue protocol. sEMG of boys recovered to baseline values 3 min after the 20%fatigue and 60%fatigue protocols, whereas men did not recover. Lactate concentration increased immediately after the end of the fatigue protocols, compared with the prefatigue values (p < 0.05). This increase was higher for the 60%fatigue than for 20%fatigue protocol, and did not differ between boys and men. It is concluded that low- and middle-intensity submaximal sustained isometric fatigue protocols induce similar fatigue effects in boys and men. Furthermore, it was shown that boys can recover faster than men, independent of the contraction intensity that induces fatigue. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever454 | Trends in delirium coding rates in older hospital inpatients in England and Scotland: full population data comprising 7.7M patients per year show substantial increases between 2012 and 2020.
Background
Little information is available on change in delirium coding rates over time in major healthcare systems. We examined trends in delirium discharge coding rates in older patients in hospital admissions to the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Scotland between 2012 and 2020.
Methods
Hospital administrative coding data were sourced from NHS Digital England and Public Health Scotland. We examined rates of delirium (F05 from ICD-10) in patients aged ≥70 years in 5 year and ≥90 age bands.
Results
There were approximately 7,000,000 discharges/year in England and 700,000/year in Scotland. Substantially increased delirium coding was observed for all age bands between 2012/2013 and 2019/2020 (p<0.001, Mann Kendall's tau). In the ≥90 age band, there was a 4-fold increase between 2012 and 2020.
Conclusion
Delirium coding rates have shown large increases in the NHS in England and Scotland, likely reflecting several factors including policy initiatives, detection tool implementation and education. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever455 | Different stages of disease detection in squash plant based on machine learning.
To increase agriculture production, accurate and fast detection of plant disease is required. Expert advice is needed to detect disease in plants, nutrition deficiencies or any other abnormalities caused by extreme weather conditions. But this process is very tedious, costly, and takes more time. In this paper, hyperspectral imaging and machine learning were used to detect different stages (early, middle, and critical stage) of the powderly mildew disease (PMD) in squash plants. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to collect the data from the field and Locality Preserving Discriminative Broad Learning (LPDBL) was used to distinguish the diseased and healthy plants. In addition, the ability to detect the diseased plant by the proposed method was evaluated using 10 different spectral vegetation indices (VIs). The results show the proposed method detected the disease accurately in the early, middle, and critical stages of the squash plant. The proposed method's performance is compared with six different PMDs under indoor laboratory test and UAV-based field test conditions. The comparison's results show that the LPDBL provides better accuracy in detecting disease in the squash plant. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever456 | An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of antibodies to different parts of the gram-negative lipopolysaccharide core region.
Bovine serum albumin was complexed with the core antigens of either Escherichia coli J5 LPS, Salmonella minnesota R595 LPS or E. coli lipid A. These core-BSA complexes were used for solid-phase coating in ELISAs for anti-core antibodies. Antibodies, binding to various parts of the core region were easily quantified in a single experimental set-up, which was hitherto not possible. The ELISA has only 3 incubation steps and is not costly as only moderate amounts of the core antigens (i.e., 1 microgram per test) were needed for coating. The sensitivity proved to be excellent and the complexes were biologically fully active (compared to native, smooth LPS), which make them suitable for the screening (after fusion) of monoclonal anti-core antibodies. Another possible application is the large-scale screening of blood-bank sera in order to find samples with a high anti-core antibody content. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever457 | Nasolabial symmetry and aesthetics in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between nasolabial symmetry and aesthetics in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (CUCLP). Frontal and basal photographs of 60 consecutively treated children with CUCLP (cleft group: 41 boys and 19 girls, mean (SD) age 11 (2) years) and 44 children without clefts (control group: 16 boys and 28 girls, mean (SD) age 11(2) years), were used for evaluation of nasolabial symmetry and aesthetics. Nasal and labial measurements were made to calculate the coefficient of asymmetry (CA). The 5-grade aesthetic index described by Asher-McDade et al. was used to evaluate nasolabial appearance. Correlation and regression analysis were used to identify an association between aesthetics and CA, sex, and the presence of CUCLP. Ten measurements in the cleft, and 2 in the control, group differed significantly between the cleft and non-cleft (or right and left) sides, respectively. The significantly higher values of 9 of 11 CA in the children with CUCLP indicated that they had more asymmetrical nasolabial areas than children without clefts. However, the regression analyses showed that only a few CA were associated with nasolabial aesthetics. In conclusion, nasolabial aesthetics and nasolabial symmetry seem to be only weakly associated in patients with CUCLP. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever458 | Analysis of differentially expressed genes in nitric oxide-exposed human monocytic cells.
In this study we examined the gene expression pattern of *NO-dependent genes in U937 and Mono Mac 6 monocytes exposed to the synthetic NO-donor DPTA-NO using microarray technology. cDNA microarray data were validated by Northern blot analysis and quantitative real-time PCR. This approach allowed the identification of 17 *NO-sensitive genes that showed at least a twofold difference in expression, in both U937 cells and Mono Mac 6 cells exposed to 500 microM DPTA-NO for 4 h. NO-stimulated genes belong to various functional groups, including transcription factors, signaling molecules, and cytokines. Among the selected genes, 11 (ATF-4, c-maf, SGK-1, PBEF, ATPase 8, NADH dehydrogenase 4, STK6, TRAF4-associated factor 1, molybdopterin synthase, CKS1, and CIDE-B) have not been previously reported to be sensitive to *NO. Because several *NO-stimulated genes are transcription factors, we analyzed the mRNA expression profile in U937 cells exposed to DPTA-NO for 14 h. We found that long-term *NO treatment influenced transcription rates of a rather limited set of genes, including CIDE-B, BNIP3, p21/Cip1, molybdopterin synthase, and TRAF4-associated factor 1. To accelerate formation of nitrosating species, U937 cells were exposed to DPTA-NO along with suboptimal concentrations of 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazole-1-oxyl 3-oxide (PTIO). PTIO-mediated increase in nitrosating species remarkably enhanced *NO-dependent induction of IL-8, p21/Cip1, and MKP-1 and built a specific gene expression profile. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever459 | The Effect of Midcarpal Versus Total Wrist Fusion on the Hand's Load Distribution During Gripping.
PURPOSE
To analyze the total grip force and load distribution of the hand with midcarpal fusion (MCF) and total wrist fusion (TWF).
METHODS
Twelve patients with unilateral TWF and 12 patients with unilateral MCF were assessed at an average 64 months (range, 19-100 months) postoperatively. The total grip force and load distribution of both hands were measured by the Manugraphy system using 3 cylinder sizes. The load applied to 7 anatomical areas of the hand during cylinder grip was analyzed, comparing the operated and the nonsurgical hands.
RESULTS
For the 100 mm and 150 mm cylinders, a significantly lower total grip force was found in hands operated with either TWF or MCF. For the 200 mm cylinder, there was a significant difference between nonsurgical hands and those with MCF but not between nonsurgical hands and those with TWF. For the 100 mm cylinder, the difference between nonsurgical and operated hands was greater in hands with TWF than those with MCF. For the load distribution of the hand, no differences between the operated and the nonsurgical hand were found for either MCF or TWF.
CONCLUSIONS
MFC and TWF resulted in a reduced cylinder grip force. With respect to the load distribution, neither procedure influenced the relative contribution that each area of the hand produced during cylinder grip.
TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Therapeutic III. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever460 | Providing mental health services to adult offenders in Victoria, Australia: overcoming barriers.
PURPOSE
To illustrate the development of the interface between general and forensic mental health services in Victoria, Australia.
METHOD
Developing effective cooperation between the general and forensic mental health services requires overcoming a number of barriers. The attitude of general services that antisocial behaviour was none of their business was tackled through ongoing workshops and education days over several years. The resistance to providing care to those disabled by severe personality disorders or substance abuse was reduced by presenting and promoting models of care developed in forensic community and inpatient services which prioritised these areas. The reluctance of general services to accept offenders was reduced by involving general services in court liaison clinics and in prisoner release plans. Cooperation was enhanced by the provision of risk assessments, the sharing of responsibility for troublesome patients, and a problem behaviours clinic to support general services in coping with stalkers, sex offenders and threateners.
CONCLUSIONS
Active engagement with general services was promoted at the level of providing education, specialised assessments and a referral source for difficult patients. This generated a positive interface between forensic and general mental health services, which improved the quality of care delivered to mentally abnormal offenders. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever461 | Generation of rat "supersonic" congenic/conplastic strains using superovulation and embryo transfer.
Congenic strains are routinely used for positional mapping of quantitative trait loci; while conplastic strains, derived by substitution of different mitochondrial genomes on the same nuclear genetic background of inbred rodent strains, provide a way to unambiguously isolate effects of the mitochondrial genome on complex traits. Derivation of congenic or conplastic strains using a traditional backcross breeding strategy (10 backcrosses) takes more than 3 years. There are two principal strategies to speed up this process: (1) marker-assisted derivation of "speed" congenic/conplastic strains and (2) derivation of "supersonic" congenic/conplastic strains using in each backcross generation embryos obtained from 4-week-old superovulated females; thus, each backcross generation takes only 7 weeks. Both strategies could also be combined. In the current chapter, a method for derivation of "supersonic" congenic/conplastic rat strains is described. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever462 | Beating mitral valve replacement for a patient with porcelain aorta.
Beating mitral valve replacement was performed for mitral valve stenosis in a patient with a porcelain aorta after aortic valve replacement. The 77-year-old patient had developed heart failure several times. A chest computed tomographic scan revealed severe calcification on the ascending aorta and aortic arch. A cardiopulmonary bypass was established by bicaval drainage and aortic return after epiaortic echographic evaluation of the ascending aorta. The mitral valve was successfully replaced under a beating heart. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever463 | PCS-I--a point counting stereology program for cell biology.
PCS-I is a versatile BASIC program designed to collect and process stereological point counting data from electron micrographs of cells. The program can accept the point counts from three sources: (i) a set of user-definable keys programmed as counters; (ii) a numeric pad that enters counts line by line; and (iii) a data tape cartridge. The program calls for all the information needed to solve stereological equations and then helps the user to interpret the suitability of the sample size by drawing error curves. The coefficients of the stereological equations and the output headings can be readily modified to accommodate a new set of experimental parameters, which gives a substantial amount of flexibility to the program. PCS-I is easy to use and offers a practical solution to the problem of data management for biological stereology. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever464 | Respiratory aspiration of stomach contents.
The aspiration of stomach contents is a common clinical problem of concern to all physicians. Its consequences are varied, depending on the amount and distribution of the aspirate, its pH, and the presence or absence of food, particulate matter, and bacteria. Because multiple factors are involved, aspiration of stomach contents can lead to several distinct syndromes of pulmonary injury, all of which unfortunately have been labeled "aspiration pneumonitis." We review the pathophysiology of each of these syndromes and discuss important diagnostic and therapeutic consequences. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever465 | Extracytoplasmic diaphorase activity of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2).
Metabolism and utilization of plant-derived aromatic substances are fundamental to the saprophytic growth of Streptomyces. Here, we studied an enzyme activity reducing 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and nitroblue tetrazolium in the culture supernatant of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). N-terminal amino acid sequencing of a nitroblue tetrazolium-reducing enzyme revealed that the enzyme corresponds to the SCO2180 product. The protein exhibited a marked similarity with dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase, the E3 subunit of 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complex. A recombinant SCO2180 protein formed a homodimer and exhibited a diaphorase activity catalyzing NADH-dependent reduction of various quinonic substrates. Similar nitroblue tetrazolium-reducing activities were observed for other Streptomyces strains isolated from soil, implying that the diaphorase-catalyzed reduction of quinonic substances widely occurs in the extracytoplasmic space of Streptomyces. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever466 | Platelet storage media.
Present platelet storage media often designated platelet additive solutions (PAS) basically contain acetate, citrate and phosphate and recently also potassium and magnesium. However, there seems to be an increasing interest in developing PASs that can be used also after further reduction of residual plasma content below 15-20% plasma. Inclusion of glucose but also calcium and bicarbonate in such solutions have been suggested to improve platelet (PLT) storage, especially when plasma content is reduced to very low levels. Results from a limited number of studies using novel PAS alternatives have been presented during the last years, such as InterSol-G, PAS-5, M-sol, PAS-G and SAS. Most of them are experimental solutions. The combined results presented in those studies suggest that presence of glucose may be necessary during PLT storage, primarily to maintain ATP at acceptable levels. At plasma inclusion below 15-20%, the content of glucose will generally be too low to support PLT metabolism for more than a few days making glucose addition in PAS necessary. Significant effects associated with presence of calcium was observed in PLTs stored in PAS with 5% inclusion but not with 20-35% plasma inclusion, suggesting that the content of plasma could be of importance. Bicarbonate only seems to be of importance for pH regulation, primarily when plasma inclusion is reduced to about 5%. Reduction in rate of glycolysis was observed in some PAS alternatives containing potassium and magnesium but not in others. Differences in pH or in concentrations of the various compounds included in PAS may be possible explanations. Additionally, novel PAS containing glucose, calcium and bicarbonate does not seem to be associated with improved in vitro results as compared to SSP+ or CompoSol when PLTs are stored with 35% plasma inclusion. The results would then also suggest that excess of glucose in novel PAS environment may not be associated with additional positive effects on PLT metabolism. This review is based on the few publications on novel PAS available, and additional studies would be needed in the future. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever467 | Evaluation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay of the outer membrane protein P2 gene for the detection of Haemophilus parasuis in clinical samples.
A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay of the outer membrane protein (OMP) P2 gene was developed and used to test 97 putative Haemophilus parasuis pure cultures and 175 clinical tissue samples. With standard culture isolation as the gold standard, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the PCR assay were determined to be 83% and 80%, respectively. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever468 | New monoclonal antibodies that recognize an unglycosylated, conserved, extracellular region of CD44 in vitro and in vivo, and can block tumorigenesis.
CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that binds to hyaluronic acid, plays roles in a number of cellular processes and is expressed in a variety of cell types. It is up-regulated in stem cells and cancer. Anti-CD44 monoclonal antibodies affect cell motility and aggregation, and repress tumorigenesis and metastasis. Here we describe four new anti-CD44 monoclonal antibodies originating from B cells of a mouse injected with a plasmid expressing CD44 isoform 12. The four monoclonal antibodies bind to the terminal, extracellular, conserved domain of CD44 isoforms. Based on differences in western blot patterns of cancer cell lysates, the four anti-CD44 mAbs separated into three distinct categories that include P4G9, P3D2, and P3A7, and P3G4. Spot assay analysis with peptides generated in Escherichia coli support the conclusion that the monoclonal antibodies recognize unglycosylated sequences in the N-terminal conserved region between amino acid 21-220, and analyses with a peptide generated in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, demonstrate that these monoclonal antibodies bind to these peptides only after deglycosylation. Western blots with lysates from three cancer cell lines demonstrate that several CD44 isoforms are unglycosylated in the anti-CD44 target regions. The potential utility of the monoclonal antibodies in blocking tumorigenesis was tested by co-injection of cells of the breast cancer-derived tumorigenic cell line MDA-MB-231 with the anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody P3D2 into the mammary fat pads of mice. All five control mice injected with MDA-MB-231 cells plus anti-IgG formed palpable tumors, while only one of the six test mice injected with MDA-MB-231 cells plus P3D2 formed a tiny tumor, while the remaining five were tumor-free, indicating that the four anti-CD44 mAbs may be useful therapeutically. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever469 | Computational Models of the Gastrointestinal Environment. 1. The Effect of Digestion on the Phase Behavior of Intestinal Fluids.
Improved models of the gastrointestinal environment have great potential to assist the complex process of drug formulation. Molecular dynamics (MD) is a powerful method for investigating phase behavior at a molecular level. In this study we use multiple MD simulations to calculate phase diagrams for bile before and after digestion. In these computational models, undigested bile is represented by mixtures of palmitoyl-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), sodium glycodeoxycholate (GDX), and water. Digested bile is modeled using a 1:1 mixture of oleic acid and palmitoylphosphatidylcholine (lysophosphatidylcholine, LPC), GDX, and water. The computational phase diagrams of undigested and digested bile are compared, and we describe the typical intermolecular interactions that occur between phospholipids and bile salts. The diffusion coefficients measured from MD simulation are compared to experimental diffusion data measured by DOSY-NMR, where we observe good qualitative agreement. In an additional set of simulations, the effect of different ionization states of oleic acid on micelle formation is investigated. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever470 | Quality index of radiological devices: results of one year of use.
PURPOSE
The physical quality index (QI) of radiological devices summarises in a single numerical value between 0 and 1 the results of constancy tests. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the results of the use of such an index on all public radiological devices in the Livorno province over one year.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The quality index was calculated for 82 radiological devices of a wide range of types by implementing its algorithm in a spreadsheet-based software for the automatic handling of quality control data.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The distribution of quality index values was computed together with the associated statistical quantities. This distribution is strongly asymmetrical, with a sharp peak near the highest QI values. The mean quality index values for the different types of device show some inhomogeneity: in particular, mammography and panoramic dental radiography devices show far lower quality than other devices. In addition, our analysis has identified the parameters that most frequently do not pass the quality tests for each type of device. Finally, we sought some correlation between quality and age of the device, but this was poorly significant.
CONCLUSIONS
The quality index proved to be a useful tool providing an overview of the physical conditions of radiological devices. By selecting adequate QI threshold values for, it also helps to decide whether a given device should be upgraded or replaced. The identification of critical parameters for each type of device may be used to improve the definition of the QI by attributing greater weights to critical parameters, so as to better address the maintenance of radiological devices. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever471 | Luminol functionalized gold nanoparticles as colorimetric and chemiluminescent probes for visual, label free, highly sensitive and selective detection of minocycline.
In this work, luminol functionalized gold nanoparticles (LuAuNPs) were used as colorimetric and chemiluminescent probes for visual, label free, sensitive and selective detection of minocycline (MC). The LuAuNPs were prepared by simple one-pot reduction of HAuCl₄ with luminol, which exhibited a good chemiluminescence (CL) activity owing to the presence of luminol molecules on their surface and surface plasmon resonance absorption. In the absence of MC, the color of LuAuNPs was wine red and their size was relatively small (∼25 nm), which could react with silver nitrate, producing a strong CL emission. Upon the addition of MC at acidic buffer solutions, the electrostatic interaction between positively charged MC and negatively charged LuAuNPs caused the aggregation of LuAuNPs, generating a purple or blue color. Simultaneously, the aggregated LuAuNPs did not effectively react with silver nitrate, producing a weak CL emission. The signal change was linearly dependent on the logarithm of MC concentration in the range from 30 ng to 1.0 μg for colorimetric detection and from 10 ng to 1.0 μg for CL detection. With colorimetry, a detection limit of 22 ng was achieved, while the detection limit for CL detection modality was 9.7 ng. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever472 | Gaussian modeling of the P-wave morphology time course applied to anticipate paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
This paper introduces a new algorithm to quantify the P-wave morphology time course with the aim of anticipating as much as possible the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The method is based on modeling each P-wave with a single Gaussian function and analyzing the extracted parameters variability over time. The selected Gaussian approaches are associated with the amplitude, peak timing, and width of the P-wave. In order to validate the algorithm, electrocardiogram segments 2 h preceding the onset of PAF episodes from 46 different patients were assessed. According to the expected intermittently disturbed atrial conduction before the onset of PAF, all the analyzed Gaussian metrics showed an increasing variability trend as the PAF onset approximated. Moreover, the Gaussian P-wave width reported a diagnostic accuracy around 80% to discern between healthy subjects, patients far from PAF, and patients less than 1 h close to a PAF episode. This discriminant power was similar to those provided by the most classical time-domain approach, i.e., the P-wave duration. However, this newly proposed parameter presents the advantage of being less sensitive to a precise delineation of the P-wave boundaries. Furthermore, the linear combination of both metrics improved the diagnostic accuracy up to 86.69%. In conclusion, morphological P-wave characterization provides additional information to the metrics based on P-wave timing. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever473 | Safe minimization of cardiopulmonary bypass circuit volume for complex cardiac surgery in a 3.7 kg neonate.
Over recent years, increasing awareness has been aroused to the hazards of the utilization of donor blood products. Particularly in neonate cardiac surgery employing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the relative high priming volume of the CPB system and its adjunctive components, such as hemofilters, causes severe hemodilution and, therefore, particularly during extended perfusions, customarily requires priming of the system with autologous blood components. We report on our efforts to minimize the CPB system and adjust the perfusion strategy to the goal of transfusion-free CPB in a 3.7 kg neonate scheduled for repair of transposition of the great arteries. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever474 | Chemosensitivity in vitro to 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine in previously unexposed cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
The chemosensitivity of leukemia cells, obtained from the peripheral blood of 35 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, was determined by a leucine-incorporation assay in vitro. There was good correlation between the sensitivities to two purine analogs, 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine among previously untreated patients when tested at the 80% inhibition level. Previous exposure to chlorambucil did not affect the sensitivity to these compounds. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever475 | [Investigation of activity of daily living performance in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy].
The purpose of this study was to reach a better understanding the deficits of activity of daily living (ADL) skills in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and their influencing factors. Our samples consisted of 35 male DMD patients, aged 3-24 years. The Barthel index was used to assess daily living abilities. Besides ten different motor abilities, muscle strengths of both upper and lower extremities and joint contractures were also included in each patient's evaluation. The results of degree of severity in ADL performance showed that 21.1% of patients were classified as totally dependent, 48.5% were severely dependent, 12.1% moderately dependent, 9.1% mildly dependent and 9.1% totally independent. Among the ADL skills, the bathing needed most assistance whereas feeding required the least. Two of the sixteen factors influencing ADL performance was calculated to be significant after stepwise multiple regression analysis. They were hip contracture and static sitting balance. In conclusion, we find that DMD patients are highly dependent in carrying out ADL tasks. Therefore, it is very important to avoid contracture, to increase static sitting balance and to use appropriate devices to improve their daily living abilities. Finally, the Barthel index proved acceptable in evaluating Taiwanese children over six years of age. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever476 | Severe asthma in children: Evaluation and management.
Severe asthma in children is associated with significant morbidity. Children with severe asthma are at increased risk for adverse outcomes including medication-related side effects, life-threatening exacerbations, and impaired quality of life. It is important to differentiate between severe therapy resistant asthma and difficult-to-treat asthma due to comorbidities. The most common problems that need to be excluded before a diagnosis of severe asthma can be made are poor medication adherence, poor medication technique or incorrect diagnosis of asthma. Difficult to treat asthma is a much more common reason for persistent symptoms and exacerbations and can be managed if comorbidities are clearly addressed. Children with persistent symptoms and exacerbations despite correct inhaler technique and good medical adherence to standard Step 4 asthma therapies according to the guidelines1,2, should be referred to an asthma specialist with expertise in severe asthma. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever477 | Comparison of nebulized and intravenous terbutaline during exacerbations of pulmonary infection in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Twenty three patients completed a double-blind study, comparing intravenous and nebulized terbutaline, during the first four days of a pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis (CF), with follow-up to day 10. Routine treatment with chest physiotherapy and appropriate intravenous antibiotics was given to all patients. The best peak flow rate (PF), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), in the past year and at entry to the study, revealed no significant difference between the groups. However, on day 10, PF, FEV1 and FVC, of the nebulizer group remained significantly reduced compared to best values in the previous year, whereas the PF and FEV1 in the intravenous group were not significantly reduced compared to the best values in the previous year. Comparison of regression lines showing the overall rate of improvement of PF, FEV1 and FVC between the two groups showed that the rate of improvement of each parameter was more rapid in the group receiving intravenous terbutaline. This was statistically significant for PF. It is possible that during acute exacerbations of infection, sputum retention makes it more difficult for the inhaled bronchodilators to reach the airways and intravenous therapy is, therefore, more beneficial. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever478 | Analysis of reasons for decline of bioleaching efficiency of spent Zn-Mn batteries at high pulp densities and exploration measure for improving performance.
The reasons for decline of bioleaching efficiency of Zn and Mn from spent batteries at high pulp densities were analyzed; the measures for improving bioleaching efficiency were investigated. The results showed that extraction efficiency of Zn dropped from 100% at 1% of pulp density to 29.9% at 8% of pulp density, with Mn from 94% to only 2.5%. It was almost the linear reduction of the activity of the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria with increase of pulp density that witnessed declined bioleaching efficiency of Zn; it was the complete inactivation of the iron-oxidizing bacteria at 2% of pulp density or higher that witnessed declined bioleaching dose of Mn. By means of reducing initial pH value of leaching media, increasing concentration of energy matters and exogenous acid adjustment of media during bioleaching, the maximum extraction efficiency of almost 100% for Zn and 89% for Mn at 4% of pulp density was attained, respectively. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever479 | Polyox and carrageenan based composite film dressing containing anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory drugs for effective wound healing.
Polyethylene oxide (Polyox) and carrageenan based solvent cast films have been formulated as dressings for drug delivery to wounds. Films plasticised with glycerol were loaded with streptomycin (30%, w/w) and diclofenac (10%, w/w) for enhanced healing effects in chronic wounds. Blank and drug loaded films were characterised by texture analysis (for mechanical and mucoadhesive properties), scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, swelling, in vitro drug release and antibacterial studies were conducted to further characterise the films. Both blank and drug loaded films showed a smooth, homogeneous surface morphology, excellent transparency, high elasticity and acceptable tensile (mechanical) properties. The drug loaded films showed a high capacity to absorb simulated wound fluid and significant mucoadhesion force which is expected to allow effective adherence to and protection of the wound. The films showed controlled release of both streptomycin and diclofenac for 72 h. These drug loaded films produced higher zones of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli compared to the individual drugs zones of inhibition. Incorporation of streptomycin can prevent and treat chronic wound infections whereas diclofenac can target the inflammatory phase of wound healing to relieve pain and swelling. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever480 | Backscattering linear depolarization ratio measurements of mineral, sea-salt, and ammonium sulfate particles simulated in a laboratory chamber.
The backscattering linear depolarization ratios of major types of tropospheric aerosol particles (Asian and Saharan mineral dust, sea salt, and ammonium sulfate) were measured using a laboratory chamber for interpreting the polarization lidar measurement of tropospheric aerosols. The values obtained from Asian and Saharan mineral particles were 0.39 +/- 0.04 to 0.05 (mean +/- standard deviation) for a high number of concentrations in the supermicrometer range and 0.17 +/- 0.03 to 0.14 +/- 0.03 in the submicrometer range. The values were 0.08 +/- 0.01 for sea-salt crystals, 0.04 +/- 0.003 for ammonium sulfate crystals, and 0.01 +/- < or = 0.001 for both liquid droplets in the submicrometer range. These values can serve as a reference for estimating aerosol type using lidar measurement. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever481 | Gene-expression profiling discriminates between cerebral malaria (CM)-susceptible mice and CM-resistant mice.
The development of cerebral malaria (CM) in mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection is under genetic control. Brain gene-expression patterns were investigated in well-defined genetically CM-resistant (CM-R; BALB/c and DBA/2) and CM-susceptible (CM-S; C57BL/6 and CBA/J) mice by use of cDNA microarrays. By combining transcriptional profiling with rigorous statistical methods and cluster analysis, we identified a set of 69 genes that perfectly discriminated between mouse strains and between CM-R and CM-S mice. The analysis of gene ontological terms revealed that the genes that clustered and were related to susceptibility to CM preferentially belonged to some biological process classes, such as those pertaining to immune responses. Using a false discovery rate of 5% and the Welch t test, we identified 31 genes with consistent differential expression between CM-R and CM-S mice. These data indicate that microarray analysis may be useful for identification of candidate genes that are potentially responsible for resistance or susceptibility to mouse CM and suggest that candidate genes identified in mice could be specifically tested in humans for an association with disease severity. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever482 | The Impact of Housing Temperature-Induced Chronic Stress on Preclinical Mouse Tumor Models and Therapeutic Responses: An Important Role for the Nervous System.
In the last 10-15 years, there has been a recognition that the catecholamines (norepinephrine, NE, and epinephrine, Epi) released by the sympathetic nervous system under stressful conditions promote tumor growth through a variety of mechanisms. Tumors recruit autonomic nerves during their development and NE is then released locally in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Acting through adrenergic receptors present on a variety of cells in the TME, NE and Epi induce proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, metastasis of tumor cells, angiogenesis, and inflammation in the TME. These pre-clinical studies have been conducted in mouse models whose care and housing parameters are outlined in "The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals [1]. In particular, the Guide mandates that mice be housed at standardized sub-thermoneutral temperatures; however, this causes a state of chronic cold-stress and elevated levels of NE. Although mice are able to maintain a normal body temperature when kept at these cool temperatures, it is becoming clear that this cold-stress is sufficient to activate physiological changes which affect experimental outcomes. We find that when mice are housed under standard, sub-thermoneutral temperatures (~22 °C, ST), tumor growth is significantly greater than when mice are housed at thermoneutrality (~30 °C TT). We also find that the anti-tumor immune response is suppressed at ST and this immunosuppression can be reversed by housing mice at TT or by administration of propranolol (a β-adrenergic receptor antagonist) to mice housed at ST. Furthermore, at ST tumors are more resistant to therapy and can also be sensitized to cytotoxic therapies by housing mice at TT or by treating mice with propranolol. The implications of these observations are particularly relevant to the way in which experiments conducted in preclinical models are interpreted and the findings implemented in the clinic. It may be that the disappointing failure of many new therapies to fulfill their promise in the clinic is related to an incomplete preclinical assessment in mouse models. Further, an expanded understanding of the efficacy of a therapy alone or in combination obtained by testing under a wider range of conditions would better predict how patients, who are under various levels of stress, might respond in a clinical setting. This may be particularly important to consider since we now appreciate that long term outcome of many therapies depends on eliciting an immune response.It is clear that the outcome of metabolic experiments, immunological investigations and therapeutic efficacy testing in tumors of mice housed at ST is restricted and expanding these experiments to include results obtained at TT may provide us with valuable information that would otherwise be overlooked. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever483 | Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of DNA condensation by block copolymer and formation of core-corona structures.
Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the condensation of single polyanion chains with block copolymers composed of cationic and neutral blocks. The simulations are an effort to model complexes formed with DNA and cationic copolymers such as polyethylenimine-g-polyethylene glycol which have been used in gene delivery. The simulations reveal that increases in the cationic block length of the copolymer result in greater condensation of the polyanion. The ability of the complexes to form core-corona structures, with the neutral blocks of the copolymers forming a corona around a dense core formed from the charged beads, is investigated. The core-corona structure is shown to be dependent on both condensation of the polyanion chain and the length of the neutral block of the copolymer. Increasing the length of the cationic and neutral blocks of the copolymer both result in improvement in the core-corona structure. The internal structure of the complex core is shown to be a function of the architecture of the copolymer. Complexes formed from linear diblock copolymers have homogeneous cores with similarly arranged cationic and anionic beads; however, complexes formed with star-shaped copolymers have a layered core structure, with anionic beads found in the center of the cores. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever484 | Perception of training needs and opportunities in advanced airway skills: a survey of British and Irish trainees.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
We surveyed delegates at the Group of Anaesthetists in Training (UK) meeting to investigate evidence of a training-gap (number of fibreoptic intubations believed to bestow competence vs. number actually performed).
METHODS
Questionnaires were distributed to and collected from delegates in person. Questions covered six areas, including experience of fibreoptic intubation and cricothyrotomy, fibreoptic intubation as a specialist skill and ethical issues.
RESULTS
We received 221 replies (76%). All trainees believed competence to be achievable with 10 intubations (interquartile range (IQR) 10-20); the median number performed was 2 (IQR 0-4). This was statistically significant for the groups' senior house officers, 1st and 2nd year registrars and 3rd and 4th year registrars; P < 0.0001. Many final year trainees (12/20, 60%) also failed to achieve their competency target. Few trainees had seen or performed any cricothyrotomies (medians 0, IQRs 0-1 and 0-0). Most (195/208, 94%) believed that fibreoptic intubation was a core skill and 199/212 (94%) believed that all should be competent by completion of training. Ten percent (n = 208) felt it unethical to perform an awake training intubation with full consent and 10% believed it acceptable without explanation. Most (82.7%) would fibreoptically intubate an asleep patient (requiring intubation) without consent.
CONCLUSION
Trainees reported a gap between their perception of competence and achievement in awake fibreoptic intubation. Simple and complex simulations and structured training programmes may help. Anaesthetists must address the ethics of clinical training in advanced airway management. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever485 | Hand test characteristics of dual diagnosed mentally retarded older adults.
The projective Hand Test (Wagner, 1962/1983) was administered to 17 older adults with a dual diagnosis (mental retardation existing concurrently with some form of mental illness) residing in a Midwestern institution for the mentally retarded. Each of these individuals was matched with another resident in the same institution with a single diagnosis of mental retardation on the variables of age, sex, and level of mental retardation to determine differences between the groups on the Hand Test. The dual diagnosis group gave significantly more bizarre (BIZ) responses, whereas the single diagnosis group gave more descriptive (DES) responses. It was contended that these two variables accurately reflect the essential difference between dual and single diagnosed mentally retarded individuals. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever486 | Tobacco smoking model containing snuffing class.
In recent years, the world has faced many destructive diseases that have taken many lives across the globe. To resist these diseases, humankind needs medicine to control, cure, and predict the behaviour of such problems. Recently, the Corona virus, which primarily affects the lungs, has threatened the globe. Similarly, tobacco-related illnesses impair the immune system, and this reduces the ability to fight against Covid-19. This tobacco-smoking version is vital for the researchers to reap the solution by using the q-homotopy analysis transform method with the useful resource of the Atangana-Baleanu-Caputo impression. Hence, the graphical illustrations have been discussed to achieve a solution for this mathematical model. This work applies the q-homotopy analysis transform method to the preeminent fractional operator Atangana-Baleanu-Caputo to better comprehend the infectious model of tobacco snuffing and smoking. Figures and tables are used to display the outcomes. The paper also aids in the analysis of the practical theory by predicting how it would behave when compared to the rules when considering the replica. It offers accurate grid point outcomes and fixes. The system's accuracy in the convergent zone is shown by the curves. The smoking model has been illustrated using graphical findings and fractional derivatives for easier comprehension. It's feasible that applications in the real world will make use of fractional derivatives. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever487 | Examining suicide: imaging's contributions.
For many people, the death of hope leads inexorably to the conclusion that the only viable solution, the only way to put an end to unendurable pain, is suicide. What leads a person to commit this final, desperate act, and how might we predict, intervene, and prevent suicide? Health care workers, including radiologic technologists, can play an important role in detecting warning signs in patients and in better understanding what factors may lead to suicide. Although certain forms of suicide such as suicide bombings and assisted suicide are beyond its scope, this article explores medical imaging's contributions to the study of this phenomenon. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever488 | Can patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and low postoperative thyroglobulin in the presence of clinically apparent lymph node metastases (cN1) be spared from radioiodine?
BACKGROUND
The study evaluated the recurrence rate in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and clinically apparent lymph node metastases (LNM) (cN1) who had low thyroglobulin (Tg) after total thyroidectomy and who were not submitted to adjuvant therapy with 131I.
METHODS
This was a prospective study. It included 82 cN1 patients (≤3 LNM ≤1.5 cm without macroscopic extracapsular extension) with tumors ≤4 cm without macroscopic extrathyroid invasion (T1-2) and who after thyroidectomy had unstimulated Tg (u-Tg) < 0.3 ng/ml, negative antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb), and neck ultrasonography (US) showing no anomalies. The patients were not submitted to therapy with 131I.
RESULTS
The time of follow-up ranged from 24 to 156 months (median 84 months). Seventy-nine patients (96.3%) continued to have u-Tg < 0.3 ng/ml and negative US. Three patients (3.6%) exhibited an increase in Tg and structural recurrence was detected in two. After treatment, these patients achieved u-Tg < 1 ng/ml and the imaging methods revealed no apparent tumor.
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that even cN1 patients, given the absence of extensive LNM or other adverse findings, who have low Tg and neck US showing no anomalies after thyroidectomy do not require radioiodine. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever489 | Toward an Understanding of the Role of the Environment in the Development of Early Callous Behavior.
Key to understanding the long-term impact of social inequalities is identifying early behaviors that may signal higher risk for later poor psychosocial outcomes, such as psychopathology. A set of early-emerging characteristics that may signal risk for later externalizing psychopathology is callous-unemotional (CU) behavior. CU behavior predicts severe and chronic trajectories of externalizing behaviors in youth. However, much research on CU behavior has focused on late childhood and adolescence, with little attention paid to early childhood when preventative interventions may be most effective. In this article, we summarize our recent work showing that (a) CU behavior can be identified in early childhood using items from common behavior checklists, (b) CU behavior predicts worse outcomes across early childhood, (c) CU behavior exhibits a nomological network distinct from other early externalizing behaviors, and (d) malleable environmental factors, particularly parenting, may play a role in the development of early CU behaviors. We discuss the challenges of studying contextual contributors to the development of CU behavior in terms of gene-environment correlations and present initial results from work examining CU behavior in an adoption study in which gene-environment correlations are examined in early childhood. We find that parenting is a predictor of early CU behavior even in a sample in which parents are not genetically related to the children. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever490 | Screening for hand osteoarthritis (OA) using a postal survey.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of screening for hand osteoarthritis (OA) using a postal survey.
METHODS
Men and women aged 40-79, selected at random from a general practice in Nottingham, were sent a postal survey concerning arm pain. Subjects were asked to identify presence of any nodes, based on a diagrammatic example, and to document specific distal (DIP) and proximal (PIP) nodes. One hundred and thirty-nine subjects were subsequently assessed by a nurse metrologist, blinded to the subjects assessment. Subject-observer agreement was measured by calculating unweighted kappa (kappa). In addition, sensitivity and specificity were calculated, taking observer-identified nodes as the 'gold standard'. Intraobserver reproducibility was assessed on 10 subjects with nodes.
RESULTS
Intraobserver reproducibility was reasonable at all sites (kappa>/=0.59). Of the 56 subjects with observer-identified 'any nodes', 40 subjects had correctly identified them (sensitivity 71.4%); with three subjects incorrectly identifying nodes (specificity 96.4%). Corresponding kappa was 0.70. Subject-observer agreement was higher for presence/absence of any DIP nodes than PIP nodes (kappa=0.67 and 0.36 respectively). As with nodes overall, specificity was high (100% and 96.6% respectively). Agreement was generally poor for specific joint involvement.
CONCLUSION
A postal survey is a useful screening tool for identifying subjects with nodes. Although sensitivity may not be sufficient to permit assessment of prevalence of hand OA in the community, it has potential applications in terms of identifying and defining cases for further study. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever491 | [The effect of hypocapnia and hypercapnia on myocardial oxygen tension in hemorrhaged dogs].
To investigate the effect of carbon dioxide on the myocardial oxygenation during hemorrhagic shock, myocardial oxygen tension and coronary flow were measured during normocapnia, hypocapnia and hypercapnia. Eight adult mongrel dogs were anesthetized with pentobarbital, intubated and ventilated mechanically with 100% oxygen to maintain normocapnia. Then their chest was opened. An electromagnetic blood flow probe was applied on the left anterior descending artery. Two pairs of combined polarographic needle electrodes were carefully inserted, one pair in the epicardial layer, and the other in the endocardial layer of the heart. The animals were progressively bled in increments of 35-40ml.kg-1 (body weight). Hypocapnia was produced by increasing respiratory rate, and then normocapnia and hypercapnia were induced by adding the exogenous carbon dioxide. Hypocapnia decreased the coronary flow, and myocardial oxygen tension in outer and inner layer. On the contrary, hypercapnia increased them. It is possible that hypocapnia may compromise the oxygenation of the myocardium during hemorrhagic shock. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever492 | Two patients with extremely elevated tumor markers: where is the malignancy?
Serum tumor markers are useful to evaluate a cancer's response to treatment, for early detection of cancer relapse, and, in some cases, to diagnose malignancy. In this paper, we present two patients with significantly elevated serum tumor markers without evidence of malignant disease. An 18-year-old patient suffering from autoimmune hepatitis had markedly increased alpha-fetoprotein (aFP) levels (2,002 μg/L; normal <10 ug/L). Extensive imaging showed no signs of hepatocellular carcinoma or other cancer, and treatment with Prednisone led to rapid normalization of both liver enzymes and aFP. The second patient, a 60-year-old female with painless jaundice due to biliary stone disease, had very high serum levels of CA19-9 (18,000 kU/L, normal <27 kU/L). Liver biochemistry and serum CA19-9 concentration decreased to almost normal values (45 kU/L) after biliary stenting. These cases demonstrate that serum tumor markers can be elevated in benign disease and are therefore not appropriate to diagnose cancer. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever493 | Targeting TRIM37-driven centrosome dysfunction in 17q23-amplified breast cancer.
Genomic instability is a hallmark of cancer, and has a central role in the initiation and development of breast cancer1,2. The success of poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancers that are deficient in homologous recombination exemplifies the utility of synthetically lethal genetic interactions in the treatment of breast cancers that are driven by genomic instability3. Given that defects in homologous recombination are present in only a subset of breast cancers, there is a need to identify additional driver mechanisms for genomic instability and targeted strategies to exploit these defects in the treatment of cancer. Here we show that centrosome depletion induces synthetic lethality in cancer cells that contain the 17q23 amplicon, a recurrent copy number aberration that defines about 9% of all primary breast cancer tumours and is associated with high levels of genomic instability4-6. Specifically, inhibition of polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) using small molecules leads to centrosome depletion, which triggers mitotic catastrophe in cells that exhibit amplicon-directed overexpression of TRIM37. To explain this effect, we identify TRIM37 as a negative regulator of centrosomal pericentriolar material. In 17q23-amplified cells that lack centrosomes, increased levels of TRIM37 block the formation of foci that comprise pericentriolar material-these foci are structures with a microtubule-nucleating capacity that are required for successful cell division in the absence of centrosomes. Finally, we find that the overexpression of TRIM37 causes genomic instability by delaying centrosome maturation and separation at mitotic entry, and thereby increases the frequency of mitotic errors. Collectively, these findings highlight TRIM37-dependent genomic instability as a putative driver event in 17q23-amplified breast cancer and provide a rationale for the use of centrosome-targeting therapeutic agents in treating these cancers. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever494 | The relationship of anger expression to health problems among black Americans in a national survey.
This study examined the relationship between anger expression, other psychosocial measures, and health problems in a nationally representative, cross-sectional sample of 1277 black adults. Subjects indicating a high level of outwardly expressed anger during a period in which they experienced a severe personal problem had a significantly higher number of health problems than their counterparts who expressed low and moderate levels of anger. Anger expression also significantly interacted with a measure of life strain (employment status) to predict health problems. Blacks who were unemployed were more likely to have a higher number of health problems if anger was expressed outwardly at a high level. The relationship was found to be independent of age, gender, urbanicity, smoking, and drinking problems. The overall pattern of the findings suggests that blacks who are at increased risk for health problems may be identified by how often anger is experienced and expressed during periods of emotional distress. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever495 | Direct characterization of graphene doping state by in situ photoemission spectroscopy with Ar gas cluster ion beam sputtering.
On the basis of an in situ photoemission spectroscopy (PES) system, we propose a novel, direct diagnosis method for the characterization of graphene (Gr) doping states at organic semiconductor (OSC)/electrode interfaces. Our in situ PES system enables ultraviolet/X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS/XPS) measurements during the OSC growth or removal process. We directly deposit C60 films on three different p-type dopants-gold chloride (AuCl3), (trifluoromethyl-sulfonyl)imide (TFSI), and nitric acid (HNO3). We periodically characterize the chemical/electronic state changes of the C60/Gr structures during their aging processes under ambient conditions. Depositing the OSC on the p-type doped Gr also prevents severe degradation of the electrical properties, with almost negligible transition over one month, while the p-type doped Gr without an OSC changes a lot following one month of aging. Our results indicate that the chemical/electronic structures of the Gr layer are completely reflected in the energy level alignments at the C60/Gr interfaces. Therefore, we strongly believe that the variation of energy level alignments at the OSC/graphene interface is a key standard for determining the doping state of graphene after a certain period of aging. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever496 | Kinetics of adsorption of colicin CA42-E2 and reversal of its bactericidal activity.
The kinetics of killing of Escherichia coli K-12 by colicin CA42-E2 have been studied, and the data were used to estimate the adsorption constant of this colicin under various environmental conditions. Evidence was obtained suggesting that the adsorption of colicin occurred in two stages; the earlier stage was reversible and did not lead to the death of the cell, the latter stage was irreversible and bactericidal. Cells which had adsorbed a lethal quantity of colicin could be rescued for a short time by inactivating the adsorbed colicin with trypsin. However, when the metabolic activity of the cells was totally arrested the lethal effect of adsorbed colicin was subject to trypsin reversal over long periods of time. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever497 | Spatiotemporal spread of perturbations in a driven dissipative Duffing chain: An out-of-time-ordered correlator approach.
Out-of-time-ordered correlators (OTOCs) have been extensively used as a major tool for exploring quantum chaos, and recently there has been a classical analog. Studies have been limited to closed systems. In this work, we probe an open classical many-body system, more specifically, a spatially extended driven dissipative chain of coupled Duffing oscillators using the classical OTOC to investigate the spread and growth (decay) of an initially localized perturbation in the chain. Correspondingly, we find three distinct types of dynamical behavior: the sustained chaos, transient chaos, and nonchaotic region, as clearly exhibited by different geometrical shapes in the OTOC heat map. To quantify such differences, we look at instantaneous speed (IS), finite-time Lyapunov exponents (FTLEs), and velocity-dependent Lyapunov exponents (VDLEs) extracted from OTOCs. Introduction of these quantities turns out to be instrumental in diagnosing and demarcating different regimes of dynamical behavior. To gain control over open nonlinear systems, it is important to look at the variation of these quantities with respect to parameters. As we tune drive, dissipation, and coupling, FTLEs and IS exhibit transition between sustained chaos and nonchaotic regimes with intermediate transient chaos regimes and highly intermittent sustained chaos points. In the limit of zero nonlinearity, we present exact analytical results for the driven dissipative harmonic system, and we find that our analytical results can very well describe the nonchaotic regime as well as the late-time behavior in the transient regime of the Duffing chain. We believe that this analysis is an important step forward towards understanding nonlinear dynamics, chaos, and spatiotemporal spread of perturbations in many-particle open systems. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever498 | High dose nicotinamide fails to prevent diabetes in BB rats.
Nicotinamide which is an inhibitor of poly (ADPR) synthetase and precursor of NAD has been observed to prevent diabetes in some experimental models possibly by protecting beta cells. To determine whether nicotinamide could cure or prevent type 1 diabetes, we administered large doses (0.5 g/Kg/d) to BB rats. When used in the 45 days following diagnosis nicotinamide failed to bring remission. As a preventive treatment, nicotinamide administered between the 40th and 90th day of age, alone or in association with desferrioxamine did not significantly lower the incidence of diabetes (23% and 30.8% respectively vs. 56.6%). When used earlier, immediately after weaning, nicotinamide did not affect the incidence of diabetes in this model (62.5%). The degree of protection was not comparable with that obtained with cyclosporin A (15% of diabetic animals). Histology study of the pancreas from the animals killed either immediately or 1 year after treatment revealed no endocrine tumor. These findings suggest that in BB rats nicotinamide has little or no effect on the course of autoimmune diabetes mellitus thus dampening the high hopes for this drug in the treatment of human diabetes. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever499 | Parietal epilepsy with evoked and spontaneous spikes: report on siblings with possible genetic transmission.
The group of benign infantile epilepsies "with evoked spikes" is not unusually genetically transmitted. Only 2 out of 31 cases of parietal epilepsy "with evoked spikes" are siblings. In this study, we present the clinical and EEG characteristics of a brother and sister who suffer from this rare form of epilepsy, and those of their younger sister, not epileptic, who shows "podalic" evoked spikes. An older sister has spontaneous spikes but no seizures. These phenomena are not found in their parents. The two siblings show a very similar clinical and EEG evolution; in fact, both suffered initially from parietal epilepsy "with evoked spikes" and, after two years of this form, they developed temporo-central (or rolandic) epilepsy "with evoked spikes" that still persists. Their intellectual development is normal, but their scholastic performance is rather poor. The youngest sister, who presents only evoked "podalic" spikes, has a normal intellectual development. One of the most accepted hypotheses as to the nature of evoked spikes is that in a particular period of childhood an area of cortical functional deafferentation occurs, which disappears with further maturation of the central nervous system. | No pos | No neg |
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