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Retriever5800 | Structural and magnetization crossover in electrodeposited FeAl2O4 - effect of in situ oxidation.
Amongst other spinels, iron aluminium oxide (FeAl2O4) exhibits exceptional chemical and physical properties. However, magnetic properties of FeAl2O4 still need further investigation. DC electrodeposition is used to deposit intermetallic Fe3Al thin films. Oxidation time is varied from 0 to 20 min with a constant metallic layer deposition time of 10 min. Electrodeposited iron aluminium oxide thin films are annealed in the presence of 500 Oe applied magnetic field (MF) at 300 °C in a vacuum. Mixed structural phases, i.e. FeAl2O4 & χ-Al2O3, are observed at 5 min, 10 min and 15 min oxidation time. Whereas phase pure FeAl2O4 is observed at 20 min oxidation time. Magnetization loops show ferromagnetic behavior of iron aluminum oxide thin films with anisotropic nature for in-plane and out-plane configurations. The law of approach to saturation magnetization (LAS) is used to calculate magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Phase purity at 20 min oxidation time results in high saturation magnetization of 29.5 emu cm-3 with a low value anistopy constant of 1.28 × 108 erg cm-3. Easy axis of magnetization is shifted from perpendicular to parallel at an oxidation time of 20 min. Results show that in situ oxidation of thin films for 20 min leads to structural and magnetization crossover from impure to phase pure FeAl2O4 thin films with a high value of magnetization. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5801 | Incidence of testicular germ-cell malignancies in England and Wales: trends in children compared with adults.
The incidence of testicular cancer has been increasing markedly in most industrialised countries. This rise is known to have affected young adults, but it is less clear whether it has affected other age groups, particularly children. We used data from the National Cancer Registry file at the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and the National Registry of Childhood Tumours to examine trends in testicular germ-cell malignancies overall in England and Wales from 1962 to 1990 and in children from 1962 to 1995. The incidence of testicular cancer at all ages rose by 3.4% (95% CI 3.3-3.6%) per annum from 1962 to 1990. A similar rise in the incidence of germ-cell malignancies occurred during the years for which histological information was available in the ONS files, 1971-1989 (3.4%; 3.1-3.6%), to which both seminomas and non-seminomas contributed equally. The incidence of non-seminomas in adults rose in men under age 55 years and declined in older men, whereas there were increases in the incidence of seminomas in both young and older men. Cohort analysis at young ages showed a marked rise in the risk of germ-cell malignancies up to the cohort born in 1955-1959 but no further rise for those born subsequently. The rise in the incidence of these tumours in young adults was paralleled by a similar trend, although less marked, in children aged under 15 years (1.3% per annum; 0.2-2.5%). The increase in risk for children in this very large data set alongside the rise in young adults is compatible with the hypothesis that childhood and adult testicular germ-cell malignancies may have some common risk factors, presumably pre-natal. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5802 | Endosonographic staging of gastric cancer: a review of literature results.
This article provides an overview of the articles published on locoregional staging of stomach cancer by endoscopic ultrasonography. For an analysis of the clinical value of EUS in the diagnosis and treatment, the reader is referred to the review books, articles, and consensus statements that are cited. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5803 | Improvement of metabolic competence of isolated nerve terminals by extracellular pyruvate.
Neuronal activity is tightly coupled with brain energy metabolism. Numerous studies have proved that glucose is not a sole energy substrate for neurons; metabolic monocarboxylate intermediates derived from glucose (pyruvate and lactate) released by astrocytes are shown to be taken up and oxidized by neurons, and, moreover, could serve as neuroprotective agents. Herein, we presented the data that extracellular pyruvate (4 mM) in the presence of glucose caused the increase in synaptosomal ATP content from 3.48+/-0.30 to 4.38+/-0.23 nmol/mg of protein. This correlates with the enhanced accumulation of fluorescent dye acridine orange in the available and the recycling synaptic vesicles within the synaptosomes reflecting the improved generation of proton gradient through the synaptic vesicle membrane. We have also demonstrated the effect of extracellular pyruvate on distribution of [3H]GABA between synaptic vesicles and cytoplasm in loaded synaptosomes. To estimate [3H]GABA accumulation into the synaptic vesicles, Ca 2+-dependent 4-aminopyridine-triggered exocytotic neurotransmitter release was studied. Evaluation of cytosolic 1H]GABA pool was performed by measuring the Ca2+-independent transporter-mediated neurotransmitter release evoked by nipecotic acid or high K+. The presence of pyruvate resulted in doubled exocytotic release of [3H]GABA, and significantly attenuated Ca2+-independent release of cytosolic [3H]GABA. Together, these observations provide insight into the important role of glucose metabolic intermediate, pyruvate, in sustaining activity of vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter and so normal inhibitory transmission. We propose to use pyruvate for keeping up synaptosomal preparations in state of metabolic stability. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5804 | An innovative COPD early detection programme in general practice: evaluating barriers to implementation.
In the Netherlands an innovative programme for early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary care among patients aged 40-70 years has been evaluated in both an effect study and a pilot implementation study. Health-care providers identified four obstacles for successful implementation of a COPD early detection programme. This Brief Communication describes the most important results of a qualitative study using in-depth interviews. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5805 | Abnormal brain scans: Contribution of blood radioactivity to image.
Images obtained with 99m-Tc-labeled red blood cells were compared with 99m-Tc-pertechnetate scans in 26 patients with primary and secondary brain tumors, intracerebral infcts, and hemorrhage. The results indicated that the contribution of blood pool radioactivity to a positive brain scan was minor. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5806 | [Re-osseointegration of peri-implantitis bone defects: an experimental study in dogs].
PURPOSE
To investigate the treatment methods of experimentally induced peri-implantitis bone defects, and evaluate bone regeneration and re-osseointegration around implants histologically.
METHODS
30 Brinemark standard implants were placed in 5 Beagle dogs' mandibles to establish peri-implantitis bone defect model, then bone defects were randomly treated with: (1) debridement alone; (2) debridement plus guided bone regeneration using non-absorbable membrane; (3) debridement plus non-absorbable membrane associated with bone graft; (4) debridement plus non-absorbable membrane associated with biological activity glass. Peri-implant bone augmentation was observed and detected by radiography, fluorescence light micrography, un-decalcified bones ground section and direct measurement on operation. SPSS 12.0 software package was used for ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whiteney test.
RESULTS
There were significant differences between four groups in peri-implant bone augmentation, bone contact level and bone mineralization apposition rate, P < 0.05. The group using debridement plus non-absorbable membrane associated with bone graft resulted in a greater amount of regeneration than the other treatments.
CONCLUSION
Inflammation induced peri-implant bone defects can regenerate by appropriate treatment. Supported by Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Enhancement Award (Grant No.024119072). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5807 | Effect on the longitudinal coherence properties of a pseudothermal light source as a function of source size and temporal coherence.
In the present Letter, a synthesized pseudothermal light source having high temporal coherence (TC) and low spatial coherence (SC) properties is used. The longitudinal coherence (LC) properties of the spatially extended monochromatic light source are systematically studied. The pseudothermal light source is generated from two different monochromatic laser sources: He-Ne (at 632 nm) and DPSS (at 532 nm). It was found that the LC length of such a light source becomes independent of the parent laser's TC length for a large source size. For the chosen lasers, the LC length becomes constant to about 30 μm for a laser source size of ≥3.3 mm. Thus, by appropriately choosing the source size, any monochromatic laser light source depending on the biological window can be utilized to obtain high axial resolution in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system irrespective of its TC length. The axial resolution of 650 nm was obtained using a 1.2 numerical aperture objective lens at a 632 nm wavelength. These findings pave the path for widespread penetration of pseudothermal light into existing OCT systems with enhanced performance. A pseudothermal light source with high TC and low SC properties could be an attractive alternative light source for achieving high axial resolution without needing dispersion compensation as compared to a broadband light source. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5808 | Electrophysiologic analysis of regional cortical maturation.
Some issues in the study of human neurobehavioral development are briefly set forth. Attention is called to the limitations of strictly structural and behavioral approaches. The value of correlative morphophysiological and psychophysiological investigations is emphasized. By averaging brain activity with respect to stimuli and motor responses, event-related cortical potentials (ERP) can be reliably detected in the scalp EEG. Longitudinal topographic studies of ERP permit the definition of a sequence of regional cortical maturation during infancy and childhood. We have found that evoked potentials in the three major sensory modalities arise from both primary and secondary projection areas by 30 weeks of conceptional age. Frontocentral responses appear shortly thereafter. Thus, cortical mechanisms show a precocious development of electrogenesis which indicates the possibility for an early environmental impact on brain maturation. In contrast to the evoked potentials, association cortex potentials (ACP) do not seem to appear until early childhood. The behavioral significance of these neuroelectric phenomena is being sought in studies employing techniques which permit the concurrent recording of brain activity and behavioral responses in the waking infant and child. Some of the problems confronting the application of these methods to studies of infants are outlined. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5809 | [Role of biogenic amines in the pathogenesis of intellectual disorders in children with minimal psychoorganic syndromes].
Memory, attention and emotional reactivity in comparison to indices of catecholamine and serotonin metabolism were studied in 25 children from 7 to 10 years with the minimal psychoorganic syndrome during aminalon treatment. According to the excretion indices the activity equilibrium of catecholamines and serotonin were changed and were accompanied by disturbances of memory, attention and emotional reactivity. An improvement of these indices during treatment corresponded to a normalization of the activity in these systems. Questions concerning the signficance of disturbed metabolism of biogenic amines in the pathogenesis of the psychoorganic syndrome are discussed. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5810 | Natural killer cells have an activated profile in early Parkinson's disease.
Immune dysregulation is heavily implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD) but the role of Natural Killer (NK) cells has not been well characterised. Accumulating evidence indicates the immune response peaks early in the disease, hence this study focused on characterising NK cells in recently diagnosed PD. PBMCs were obtained from PD cases (< 2 years duration) and age-matched controls and immunophenotyped using flow cytometry. We found an increased proportion and number of NK cells (CD3-CD56+), mature cytotoxic NK cells (CD3-CD16 + CD56dim), and NK cells expressing the activation marker, NKG2D. This implies NK cells are activated in the earliest stages of PD. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5811 | Knowledge, attitudes and decision-making in Czech women with atypical results of prenatal screening tests for the most common chromosomal and morphological congenital defects in the fetus: selected questionnaire results.
AIMS
The primary aim was to investigate variables affecting compliance in pregnant women recommended for genetic consultation for abnormal screening test results, family predisposition or medical history. Our main focus was on a women's knowledge of particular screening tests, their initial feelings and changes in these feeling with time, as well as variables relevant to further decision making.
METHODS
We used an anonymous questionnaire based on previous qualitative research. The questions were formulated by a medical geneticist, and the questionnaires were distributed prior to prenatal screening tests performed by doctors or trained nurses. The research cohort consisted of 271 women aged 16-42 years. Six hypotheses were tested using the statistical programme STATISTICA; significance levels were set to P<0.05.
RESULTS
The questionnaire results showed insufficient knowledge. The women were confused about invasive, screening and ultrasound tests. Genetic test recommendation was largely associated with stress in these patients. Between recommendation and consultation, the women mostly looked for support from their partners. There was a surprisingly low percentage of women who looked for help from their medical specialists and a surprisingly high percentage of those who did not seek any help at all.
CONCLUSION
Women's distress can be reduced if the information about recommended genetic consultation is conveyed correctly and this can also help them make the right informed decision about their future course of action. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5812 | Structural revision of oleoacteoside and oleoechinacoside.
The structures of previously reported oleoacteoside and oleoechinacoside, both being caffeoyl phenylethanoid glycosides (acteoside, echinacoside) esterified with an oleoside 11-methyl ester, were revised by 2D-NMR spectral analysis. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5813 | Analysis of 14 drugs in dried blood microsamples in a single workflow using whole blood and serum calibrators.
Aim: Multiplexed, high-throughput analysis facilitates therapeutic drug monitoring. 14 drugs with various physico-chemical properties were quantitated in dried blood microsamples. Methods: Analytes were extracted employing eight solvent compositions and seven extraction methods. The applicability of liquid serum, dried serum and dried whole blood calibrators was investigated. Results: High recoveries were attained. Calibration using dried serum yielded lowest total error. Reducing sample hematocrit caused outstanding elevations in recovery of analytes with high polarity or affinity to erythrocytes. 9-day analyte stability was demonstrated. Conclusion: Based on the analysis of spiked samples, multiplexed testing of drugs in dried blood microsamples seems feasible, but with analyte-dependent method performance. Dried serum calibration allows the adaptation of serum-based workflows. Further evaluation using real-life specimens is needed. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5814 | The gene for human carbonic anhydrase VI(CA6) is on the tip of the short arm of chromosome 1.
The gene encoding the human secreted carbonic anhydrase isozyme CAVI(CA6) maps to chromosome 1 by Southern analysis of a somatic cell hybrid panel and to 1p36.22----p36.33 by in situ hybridization. CA6 is therefore not linked to the cytoplasmic carbonic anhydrase genes on chromosome 8 or to CA7 on chromosome 16. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5815 | Easy access to uranium nucleophilic carbene complexes.
Metathesis reactions of UCl(4) with Li(2)C(Ph(2)PS)(2) in Et(2)O only afforded the tris-carbene complex [{Li(OEt(2))}(2)U{=C(Ph(2)PS)(2)}(3)] (1), while the bis- and mono-carbene compounds [U{=C(Ph(2)PS)(2)}(2)(THF)(2)] (2) and [{Li(THF)(2)}(2)U{=C(Ph(2)PS)(2)}Cl(4)] (3) were obtained by treatment of UCl(4) with Li(2)C(Ph(2)PS)(2) in a mixture of THF and toluene. The bis-carbene complex 2 was also obtained either from the comproportionation reaction of 1 and UCl(4) or protonolysis reaction of U(NEt(2))(4) with H(2)C(Ph(2)PS)(2) and was transformed into the mono-carbene complex [U{=C(Ph(2)PS)(2)}Cl(2)(THF)(2)] (4) by further reaction with UCl(4). The utility of these complexes as precursors is illustrated by the synthesis of the biscyclopentadienyl derivative [Cp(2)U{=C(Ph(2)PS)(2)}] (5) by treatment of 3 with TlCp. The crystal structures of [U{=C(Ph(2)PS)(2)}(2)(py)(2)].1.5py.0.5THF and 5.toluene are reported. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5816 | Smoke screen? The globalization of production, transnational lobbying and the international political economy of plain tobacco packaging.
In 2012 Australia became the first country in the world to introduce plain tobacco packaging in an effort to reduce tobacco consumption. This move was vehemently opposed by the tobacco industry, which challenged it on several levels: nationally, bilaterally and multilaterally at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The political behavior of the tobacco companies in this case is puzzling both in terms of scale, operating at multiple levels at the same time and in terms of the countries mobilized in their defence. WTO litigation is typically the result of Multi National Enterprises (MNEs) lobbying their own government, but here third countries were mobilized. Lobbying in third country contexts, with the objective of accessing multilateral dispute settlement systems, has been little studied. We thus know very little about the driving factors behind such activities, how target governments are selected and what lobbying strategies are used. This paper draws on emerging research on transnational lobbying and a case study of the PP case to explore these issues in detail and, by doing so, aims to further our theoretical understanding of the political economy of international trade in the context of increasing regime complexity and globalization of production. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5817 | Fibrinolytic enzyme from Arthrospira platensis cultivated in medium culture supplemented with corn steep liquor.
Artrhospira (Spirulina) platensis produced fibrinolytic enzyme under mixotrophic conditions using corn steep liquor (CSL). The enzyme was extracted, purified by combination of two chromatographic techniques and biochemically characterized. Maximum fibrinolytic production (268.14 U mg-1) was obtained using liquid medium culture composed by 0.2% CLS after 10th day of cultivation. Fibrinolytic activity was higher when extracted by homogenization methods and was purified 32.72-fold with specific activity of 7988 U mg-1. Fibrin zymography showed an active band, indicated acts as a plasmin-like protein with molecular weight of 72 kDa. Fibrinolytic enzyme have optimum pH of 6.0, stable in the range of 6.0 to 10.0 during 24 h and optimum temperature at 40 °C with a stability below 50 °C. Fibrinolytic enzyme is a serine metalloprotease by to be enhanced by Fe2+ and inhibited by PMSF. The enzyme has higher enzymatic activity than most other fibrinolytic enzymes and is stable at temperature and pH human physiological. Overall, the fibrinolytic enzyme from A. platensis has attractive biochemical properties to potential applications in the treatment of thrombosis. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5818 | Three-dimensional arterial spin labeling imaging with a DANTE preparation pulse.
On arterial spin-labeled (ASL) images, areas of bright intravascular signal will appear when the post labeling delay time is shorter than arterial transit time. Vascular suppression (VS) schemes reduce artefactual bright signal by dephasing intravascular labeled spins. However, existing VS methods, such as Motion-Sensitized Driven-Equilibrium (MSDE), decrease the uniformity of the signal intensity distribution and extend the echo time. The purpose of this study is to compare VS using a Delays Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation (DANTE) preparation pulse, with MSDE for ASL imaging on a flow phantom and volunteer data. In the phantom study, the signal decay pattern of moving water was similar for both methods. In the volunteer study, the bright intravascular signal artifact was decreased by both methods. However right-left differences in signal intensity were smaller using DANTE-prepared ASL. The proposed DANTE-prepared ASL sequence has a vessel suppression effect while maintaining a uniform signal intensity distribution. This study indicates that DANTE is a potentially useful method for vessel suppression in ASL imaging. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5819 | Establishment of a novel method for cryopreservation and thawing of the mouse ovary.
During cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, the conditions of freezing and thawing are big factors controlling the survival rate of oocytes obtained. However, the conditions and procedures as they pertain to ovarian follicles and oocytes have not been established. Thus, we tried to determine the appropriate freeze-thaw times using the vitrification method with ethylene glycol and DMSO as cryoprotective agents and dd Y female mouse ovaries. The maturity rate from GV to the metaphase-II (MII) stage was 62.8% with ethylene glycol and 69.3% using DMSO, while the controls (GV oocytes obtained from a fresh ovary) showed a maturation rate of 83.6% (46/55). MII oocytes obtained by culturing GV oocytes in vitro showed a 64.3% (18/28) fertility rate via in vitro fertilization and a developmental rate into a 2 cell stage embryo of 35.7% (10/28) and into a 4-cell stage, 7.1% (2/28). However, development beyond the 8 cell stage embryo was not observed. A significant difference was not recognized between control (fresh) and ovarian tissues that had been frozen/thawed with respect to their ability to produce hormones. It is concluded that the vitrification method was effective for both freezing ovarian tissues and preserving its functional ability (maturation and capacitation). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5820 | [Prevention and treatment of cytomegalovirus infections after graft of allogenic bone marrow].
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most frequent cause of lethal infection after bone marrow transplantation. Viremia occurs in 50% of patients seropositive for CMV before transplantation. Interstitial pneumonitis due to CMV occurs in 10% to 20% of patients with 85% mortality. It is known that CMV infection is due to host reactivation of latent CMV infection or to the transmission of the virus by the marrow donor or by blood transfusions. Treatment of CMV infection has been disappointing in the past. All attempts to treat CMV pneumonia with available agents have failed. Recent studies have indicated the usefulness of prophylactic measures and the early treatment of CMV infections. The use of hyperimmune gammaglobulins has given contradictory results. The selection of seronegative marrow donors or blood donors is useful only if the recipient is seronegative. New antiviral drugs have been used recently in preliminary clinical trials. In preliminary studies a guanosine analogue similar to Acyclovir (DHPG Synthex or BWB 759 U Wellcome) has given reasonable hope of disease cure if it is used early before the occurrence of pneumonia. Phosphonoformate (Foscarnet) has also been shown to be active against CMV infection. Both drugs have good antiviral and clinical action in immunosuppressed patients but the results have been disappointing in cases of pneumonia. Relapse occurs frequently after cessation of the treatment and attempts are being made to use maintenance therapy. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5821 | Effects of truncation of the peptide chain on the secondary structure and bioactivities of palmitoylated anoplin.
Anoplin (GLLKRIKTLL-NH2) is of current interest due to its short sequence and specificity towards bacteria. Recent studies on anoplin have shown that truncation and acylation compromises its antimicrobial activity and specificity, respectively. In this study, truncated analogues (pal-ano-9 to pal-ano-5) of palmitoylated anoplin (pal-anoplin) were synthesized to determine the effects of C-truncation on its bioactivities. Moreover, secondary structure of each analogue using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was determined to correlate with bioactivities. Interestingly, pal-anoplin, pal-ano-9 and pal-ano-6 were helical in water, unlike anoplin. In contrast, pal-ano-8, pal-ano-7 and pal-ano-5, with polar amino acid residues at the C-terminus, were random coil in water. Nevertheless, all the peptides folded into helical structures in 30% trifluoroethanol/water (TFE/H2O) except for the shortest analogue pal-ano-5. Hydrophobicity played a significant role in the enhancement of activity against bacteria E. coli and S. aureus as all lipopeptides including the random coil pal-ano-5 were more active than the parent anoplin. Meanwhile, the greatest improvement in activity against the fungus C. albicans was observed for pal-anoplin analogues (pal-ano-9 and pal-ano-6) that were helical in water. Although, hydrophobicity is a major factor in the secondary structure and antimicrobial activity, it appears that the nature of amino acids at the C-terminus also influence folding of lipopeptides in water and its antifungal activity. Moreover, the hemolytic activity of the analogues was found to correlate with hydrophobicity, except for the least hemolytic, pal-ano-5. Since most of the analogues are more potent and shorter than anoplin, they are promising drug candidates for further development. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5822 | EEG correlates of acquisition and extinction of expectancy.
The work to be described was begun in 1958 at the Montreal Neurological Institute in order to verify some of the prevailing neurophysiological notions concerning the mechanisms of habituation and attention. The results dealing with the EEG correlates of habituation and acquisition of expectancy were presented at the annual meetings of the American Psychological Association (Mahut 1959). Beginning in 1960 other authors started questioning the validity of the claims regarding mechanisms of attention that had been previously reported in the physiological literature. I hesitated, therefore, to publish my data. Professor Konorski, however, kindly urged me to do so, particularly the results concerned with the EEG of extinction and the effects of arousal on cortical electrophysiology. It is to his memory that this report is dedicated. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5823 | Comparison of phosphate materials for immobilizing cadmium in soil.
A study was conducted to compare the effects of phosphate (P) materials in reducing cadmium extractability. Seven P materials (commercial P fertilizers--fused phosphate (FP), 'fused and superphosphate' [FSP], and rock phosphate [RP]; P chemicals--Ca[H(2)PO(4)](2).H(2)O, [NH(4)](2)HPO(4), KH(2)PO(4), and K(2)HPO(4)) were selected for the test. The selected P source was mixed with Cd-contaminated soil at the rate of 0, 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 mg P kg(-1) under controlled moisture conditions at 70% of water holding capacity, then incubated for 8 weeks. FP, Ca(H(2)PO(4))(2) H(2)O, KH(2)PO(4), and K(2)HPO(4) significantly decreased NH(4)OAc-extractable Cd (plant-available form) concentrations with increasing application rates. Compared to other phosphate materials used, K(2)HPO(4) was found to be the most effective in reducing the plant-available Cd concentration in soil, mainly due to the negative charge increase caused by soil pH and phosphate adsorption. Contrary to the general information, FSP and (NH(4))(2)HPO(4) increased Cd extractability at low levels of P application (<400 mg kg(-1)), and thereafter Cd extractability decreased significantly with increasing application rate. RP scarcely had an effect on reducing Cd extractability. Ion activity products of CdHPO(4), Cd(OH)(2), and CdCO(3) analyzed by the MINTEQ program were significantly increased by K(2)HPO(4) addition, but the effect of Cd-P compound formation on reducing Cd extractability was negligible. Conclusively, the P-induced alleviation of Cd extractability can be attributed primarily to Cd immobilization due to the increase in soil pH and negative charge rather than Cd-P precipitation, and therefore, alkaline P materials such as K(2)HPO(4) are effective for immobilizing soil Cd. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5824 | Brain metabolite concentration and dementia severity in Alzheimer's disease: a (1)H MRS study.
OBJECTIVE
(1)H-MRS studies have shown abnormalities in brain levels of myo-inositol (mI) and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) in AD, but the relation of these abnormalities with dementia severity was not examined. The authors sought to determine whether altered brain levels of mI and other metabolites occur in mild AD and whether they change as dementia severity worsens.
METHODS
The authors used (1)H-MRS with external standards to measure absolute brain concentrations of mI, NAA, total creatine (Cr), and choline (Cho)-containing compounds in 21 subjects with AD and 17 age- and sex-matched controls in occipital and left and right parietal regions.
RESULTS
Concentrations of NAA were significantly decreased, whereas mI and Cr concentrations were significantly increased in all three brain regions in subjects with AD compared with controls. Higher concentrations of mI and Cr occurred even in mild AD. A discriminant analysis of the (1)H-MRS data combined with CSF volume measurements distinguished subjects with AD, ranging from mild to severe dementia, from controls with 100% correct classification. NAA concentration, though not other metabolites, was positively correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination score.
CONCLUSION
The measurements with (1)H-MRS of absolute metabolite concentrations in the neocortex showed abnormal concentrations of brain metabolites in AD; these metabolite concentrations do not necessarily correlate with disease severity. Although changes in myo-inositol and creatine occur in the early stages of AD, abnormalities of N-acetyl aspartate do not occur in mild AD but progressively change with dementia severity. Further, subjects with mild AD can be differentiated from controls with (1)H-MRS. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5825 | Differential GNSS and Vision-Based Tracking to Improve Navigation Performance in Cooperative Multi-UAV Systems.
Autonomous navigation of micro-UAVs is typically based on the integration of low cost Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based inertial and magnetic sensors to stabilize and control the flight. The resulting navigation performance in terms of position and attitude accuracy may not suffice for other mission needs, such as the ones relevant to fine sensor pointing. In this framework, this paper presents a cooperative UAV navigation algorithm that allows a chief vehicle, equipped with inertial and magnetic sensors, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and a vision system, to improve its navigation performance (in real time or in the post processing phase) exploiting formation flying deputy vehicles equipped with GPS receivers. The focus is set on outdoor environments and the key concept is to exploit differential GPS among vehicles and vision-based tracking (DGPS/Vision) to build a virtual additional navigation sensor whose information is then integrated in a sensor fusion algorithm based on an Extended Kalman Filter. The developed concept and processing architecture are described, with a focus on DGPS/Vision attitude determination algorithm. Performance assessment is carried out on the basis of both numerical simulations and flight tests. In the latter ones, navigation estimates derived from the DGPS/Vision approach are compared with those provided by the onboard autopilot system of a customized quadrotor. The analysis shows the potential of the developed approach, mainly deriving from the possibility to exploit magnetic- and inertial-independent accurate attitude information. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5826 | Power spectral analysis of finger plethysmographic waveform in patients with coronary artery disease and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical significance of spectral analysis of plethysmographic waveform in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
METHODS AND RESULTS
The study group comprised 26 healthy subjects, 15 CAD patients, and 24 CAD patients after CABG. Finger plethysmographic waveforms from both right and left index fingers were recorded and analyzed using power spectral analysis. The total power of the right pulse was found to be higher than that of left pulse in the 3 groups of subjects. In CABG patients, the total power of both pulses was increased, the right-to-left ratio of bilateral total power was decreased, and the power of the harmonics of the right pulse shifted from high-frequency to low-frequency. The normalized power of the 4th harmonic of the left pulse and of the 3rd and 4th harmonics of right pulse decreased, whereas that of the 1st harmonic of right pulse increased in CABG patients. Several harmonics correlated significantly to some heart rate variability measures in both controls and CAD patients, but not in CABG patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The increase in the total power of both pulses, the shift of the normalized power of harmonics of the right pulse from high- to low-frequency, and the decrease in the right-to-left ratio of the total power of both pulses are the 3 significant changes in the power spectra of the pulses in CAD patients after CABG. The plethysmographic waveform of normal controls and CAD patients may be modulated by the autonomic nervous system, and in CAD patients the CABG surgery may have diminished the effect of autonomic nervous modulation on the pulse waveforms. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5827 | The incidence and prevalence of type-1 diabetes mellitus.
AIM
To determine the incidence, prevalence of type-1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and the presence of islet-cell antibodies (ICAs) in people of African ancestry in the Bahamas.
METHOD
Hospital records of type-1 DM were reviewed. Seventeen consecutive patients had postmeal C-peptide and ICA determined.
RESULTS
The incidence and prevalence of type-1 DM in the Bahamas were: incidence--10.1/100,000, age 0-14 years; and prevalence--31/100,000 age 0-24 years. Only two out of 17 (11.8%) patients had ICAs.
CONCLUSION
Type-1 DM is common in children of African ancestry in the Bahamas. ICAs were absent in the majority of the patients. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5828 | Olanzapine-induced early cardiovascular effects are mediated by the biological clock and prevented by melatonin.
Second generation antipsychotics (SGA) are associated with adverse cardiometabolic side effects contributing to premature mortality in patients. While mechanisms mediating these cardiometabolic side effects remain poorly understood, three independent studies recently demonstrated that melatonin was protective against cardiometabolic risk in SGA-treated patients. As one of the main target areas of circulating melatonin in the brain is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), we hypothesized that the SCN is involved in SGA-induced early cardiovascular effects in Wistar rats. We evaluated the acute effects of olanzapine and melatonin in the biological clock, paraventricular nucleus and autonomic nervous system using immunohistochemistry, invasive cardiovascular measurements, and Western blot. Olanzapine induced c-Fos immunoreactivity in the SCN followed by the paraventricular nucleus and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus indicating a potent induction of parasympathetic tone. The involvement of a SCN-parasympathetic neuronal pathway after olanzapine administration was further documented using cholera toxin-B retrograde tracing and vasoactive intestinal peptide immunohistochemistry. Olanzapine-induced decrease in blood pressure and heart rate confirmed this. Melatonin abolished olanzapine-induced SCN c-Fos immunoreactivity, including the parasympathetic pathway and cardiovascular effects while brain areas associated with olanzapine beneficial effects including the striatum, ventral tegmental area, and nucleus accumbens remained activated. In the SCN, olanzapine phosphorylated the GSK-3β, a regulator of clock activity, which melatonin prevented. Bilateral lesions of the SCN prevented the effects of olanzapine on parasympathetic activity. Collectively, results demonstrate the SCN as a key region mediating the early effects of olanzapine on cardiovascular function and show melatonin has opposing and potentially protective effects warranting additional investigation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5829 | Karyotype and COI gene sequences of Chironomusmelanotus Keyl, 1961 from the Yaroslavl region, Russia, and the difficulties with its identification using GenBank and BOLD systems.
Karyotype and COI gene sequences of Chironomusmelanotus Keyl, 1961 from the Yaroslavl region (Russia) were analyzed. A low level of chromosomal polymorphism has been confirmed, eventually eight banding sequences were found: melA1, melB1, melC1, melD1, melE1, melF1, and melG1; only melD2 was found in two larvae from the Sunoga river. Analysis of phylogenetic tree and estimated genetic distances has shown not all COI gene sequences of Ch.melanotus in GenBank and BOLD to belong to this species. The lower distance of 0.4% was observed between two sequences from the Yaroslavl region and Finland, apparently these are true Ch.melanotus sequences. The distances between true Ch.melanotus and other sequences from Finland were 9.5% and 12.4%, and from Sweden it was 11%. The average genetic distance between studied sequences of 9.1% is out of the range of the 3% threshold previously determined for chironomids. According to our estimates, there are two sequences with a distance of 2.9% that may belong to Ch.annularius Meigen, 1818, and one sequence with a genetic distance of 2.1%, may belonging to Ch.cingulatus Meigen, 1830, which has been confirmed karyologically. Another two sequences form a separate cluster. We suggest that they either belong to a known species, but are not present in the databases, or belong to a distinct, undescribed species. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5830 | A novel mutant-enriched liquidchip technology for the qualitative detection of somatic mutations in KRAS gene from both serum and tissue samples.
BACKGROUND
Somatic mutations in the KRAS gene have been reported to confer drug resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors and some monoclonal antibodies. However, current DNA mutation detection technologies are primarily DNA sequencing-based and not high throughput, nor sensitive enough to meet clinical needs.
METHODS
A mutant-enriched PCR method was designed by introducing a unique restriction enzyme site to the PCR product. This allowed the wild-type KRAS sequence to be selectively removed by restriction enzyme digestion before application to the Luminex liquidchip system.
RESULTS
A total of 100 copies of mutant KRAS DNA fragment mixed with 1x10(5) copies of the wild-type KRAS DNA could be detected to achieve a sensitivity of 0.1%. This technology is currently used for clinical testing of KRAS somatic mutations for the purpose of pharmacogenomic evaluation. Serum samples from 109 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were tested and 34 mutations were detected (34/109). The formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples from 60 patients with colorectal cancer were tested and 19 mutations were detected (19/60).
CONCLUSIONS
A novel, qualitative, sensitive, reliable and high throughput liquidchip technology has been developed for detecting KRAS mutations using clinical serum and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5831 | Ibogaine and addiction in the animal model, a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring substance which has been increasingly used in the lay-scene to reduce craving and relapse in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). Although human clinical trials on the safety and efficacy of ibogaine are lacking, animal studies do support the efficacy of ibogaine. In this systematic review and meta-analysis (MA), we summarise these animal findings, addressing three questions: (1) does ibogaine reduce addictive behaviour in animal models of SUDs?; (2) what are the toxic effects of ibogaine on motor functioning, cerebellum and heart rhythm?; (3) what are neuropharmacological working mechanisms of ibogaine treatment in animal models of SUDs? MA of 27 studies showed that ibogaine reduced drug self-administration, particularly during the first 24 h after administration. Ibogaine had no effect on drug-induced conditioned place preference. Ibogaine administration resulted in motor impairment in the first 24 h after supplementation, and cerebral cell loss even weeks after administration. Data on ibogaines effect on cardiac rhythm, as well as on its neuropharmacological working mechanisms are limited. Our results warrant further studies into the clinical efficacy of ibogaine in SUD patients in reducing craving and substance use, but close monitoring of the patients is recommended because of the possible toxic effects. In addition, more work is needed to unravel the neuropharmacological working mechanisms of ibogaine and to investigate its effects on heart rhythm. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5832 | Clinical Trial to Compare Success Rate of Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy and External Dacryocystorhinostomy for Treatment of Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction.
The purpose of this study is to compare the success rates of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) and external DCR (EX-DCR) for the treatment of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANLDO). Prospective randomized comparative study. Study was conducted for 2 years duration in a teaching hospital with 300 cases of endoscopic and 300 cases of external DCR with a follow-up of minimum 6 months. Data regarding surgical outcome and complications were analyzed and compared using χ2 test. In our study, the overall success rate of DCR for PANLDO was 92.6%, there was difference in terms of anatomical or functional success rate between EN-DCR (93.6%) and EX-DCR (91.6%). The incidence rate of post operative complication in our study was lower in Endonasal DCR (27.33%) as compared to External DCR (48%). Patients who underwent EN-DCR had shorter recovery time, less complications and higher satisfaction due to lack of external incision, although final surgical outcomes were comparable between two groups. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5833 | What Is the Future for Zoos and Aquariums?
Animal welfare concerns have plagued the professional zoo and aquarium field for decades. Societal differences remain concerning the well-being of animals, but it appears a shift is emerging. Scientific studies of animal welfare have dramatically increased, establishing that many previous concerns were not misguided public empathy or anthropomorphism. As a result, both zoo and aquarium animal welfare policy and science are now at the center of attention within the world's professional zoos and aquariums. It is now possible to view a future that embraces the well-being of individual captive exotic animals, as well as that of their species, and one in which professional zoos and aquariums are dedicated equally to advancing both. Though the ethics of keeping exotic animals and animals from the wild in captivity are still a contentious subject both outside and even within the profession, this study argues. We argue that this path forward will substantially improve most zoo and aquarium animals' welfare and could significantly reduce societal concerns. If animal welfare science and policy are strongly rooted in compassion and embedded in robust accreditation systems, the basic zoo/aquarium paradigm will move toward a more thoughtful approach to the interface between visitors and animals. It starts with a fundamental commitment to the welfare of individual animals. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5834 | Rpl30 and Hmgb1 are required for neurulation in golden hamster.
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of severe congenital malformations resulting from the failure of neurulation. Genes influencing neurulation have been investigated for their contribution to NTDs. Ribosomal protein (Rp) is an abundant and belongs to a high conservative gene family, which has the complex task of coordinating protein biosynthesis in order to maintain cell homeostasis and survival. However, the mechanisms of Rp in the NTDs are unknown. Understanding the mechanisms will lead to new insights into NTDs. In this report, we constructed a cDNA library from neural tube of golden hamster and screened the cDNA library by a subsection screening method (SSS). Our results demonstrate a possible essential role of the RPL30 cDNA gene during neurulation and in the risk of NTDs. Our study also suggests that another gene, HMGB1, may be significantly associated with neurulation and the risk of NTDs. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5835 | Outcomes after Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm without Definite Radiological Neurovascular Compression at the Root Exit Zone.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcome of microvascular decompression (MVD) in patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) who have no definite radiological neurovascular compression (NVC). Sixteen HFS patients without radiological NVC on preoperative MRI underwent MVD surgery. The symptoms were left-sided in fourteen (87.5%) and right-sided in two patients (12.5%). Intraoperatively, the most common vessel compressing the facial nerve was the AICA (8, 44.4%), followed by arterioles (5, 27.8%), veins (4, 22.2%), and the PICA (1, 5.6%). The most common compression site was the cisternal portion (13, 76.5%) of the facial nerve, followed by the REZ (4, 23.5%). One patient (6.3%) was found to have multiple NVC sites. Arachnoid type (7, 50%) was the most common compressive pattern, followed by perforator type (4, 28.6%), sandwich type (2, 14.3%), and loop type (1, 7.1%). A pure venous compression was seen in two patients, while a combined venous-arterial "sandwich" compression was detected in two patients. Symptom improvement was observed in all of the patients. Only one patient experienced recurrence after improvement. Based on our experience, MVD surgery can be effective for primary HFS patients with no definite radiological NVC. MVD can be considered if the patient shows typical HFS features, although NVC is not evident on MRI. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5836 | Distribution, sources, and potential risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils from an industrial district in Shanxi, China.
Concentration, composition profile, orientation distribution, sources, and potential risks of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in 76 surface (0-25 cm) soil samples collected from the Changzhi industrial district in July 2014 using a gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS QP2010 Ultra) system. The composition patterns of the PAHs were dominated by the presence of four-ring PAHs (average 42.9%), followed by three-ring (average 25.9%), five-ring PAHs (average 25.6%), two-ring PAHs (average 5.03%), and lastly, six-ring PAHs (average 0.641%). Source apportionment of the soil PAHs was also performed by the diagnostic ratios, principal component analysis (PCA), and coefficient of divergence (CD) analysis indicated signatures of PAHs sources (including incineration, coal/wood combustion, and vehicular exhaust emission). The total concentration of 16 PAHs (∑16PAHs) found in the roadsides soils (RS) ranged from 2197 to 25,041 μg kg-1, with an arithmetic mean value of 12,245 μg kg-1; followed by the village soils (VS), which ranged from 2059 to 21,240 μg kg-1, with a mean of 8976 μg kg-1; and lastly, the agricultural soils (AS), which ranged from 794 to 16,858 μg kg-1, with a mean of 3456 μg kg-1. According to the numerical effect-based soils quality guidelines of Maliszewska-Kordybach, the levels of PAHs in the sampled industrial areas range from high to heavy contamination. The values of total benzo[a]pyrene toxicity equivalent values (∑Bapeq16PAHs) in the sample areas ranged from 0.087 to 3611 μg kg-1 with an average of 969 μg kg-1. According to the soil quality guidelines of Canada, values found in the highest range (100 μg kg-1), which are equal to those of ∑Bapeq16PAHs found in the industrial area samples, will exert adverse biological effects. The results of this research could potentially be useful for local governments to control toxicity exposure, promote actions to alleviate PAHs contamination, and to manage human health at both work and industrial areas. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5837 | The Association of Inflammatory Markers with Maternal-Neonatal Outcome After Cervical Cerclage.
Objective
Cervical cerclage is effective in prolonging the number of weeks gestation in patients with cervical insufficiency(CI). However, valuable predictors with successful cervical cerclage remain limited. It aimed to evaluate the value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) to predict the outcomes of cervical cerclage.
Methods
This study analyzed 374 participants. Inflammatory markers were calculated using maternal peripheral blood. The association of inflammatory markers and the outcome of cervical cerclage were analyzed. And the optimal cut-off values of inflammatory markers were calculated. Also, the Chi-square test and logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate inflammatory markers with the maternal outcome and neonatal outcomes.
Results
374 pregnancies were included in this study. Finally, 268 (71.7%) participants suffered successful cervical cerclage. This study demonstrated that the baseline BMI (cm2/kg), the bulging membrane, cervical dilation (≥2cm), the amniotic sac herniation, the neutrophils counts, the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) were significant difference between the successful and unsuccessful groups (all P<0.05). Additionally, maternal blood inflammatory markers, such as WBC, lymphocyte, neutrophils, monocyte, platelet counts, SII, and SIRI, were significantly associated with maternal-neonatal outcomes. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the SII level had the highest OR (OR=4.626; 95% CI (2.500-8.560)), as well as the following: SIRI level (OR = 3.795; 95% CI (1.989-7.242)), cervical dilation (≥2cm) (OR =3.477; 95% CI (1.458-10.844)), and amniotic sac herniation (OR = 1.796; 95% (0.473-4.975)).
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that the baseline SII level and SIRI level are important biochemical markers for predicting the outcome of cervical cerclage and maternal-neonatal outcomes with non-invasive procedures. They can help to provide personalized treatment before surgery and enhance postoperative surveillance. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5838 | Response Guided Interferon Therapy for Genotype 3 of Chronic Hepatitis C: Compliance and Outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine compliance and improvement in sustained viral response (SVR) by following response guided therapy (RGT) plan of interferon and ribavirin, for genotype 3 in chronic hepatitis C.
METHODS
Patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3, who were eligible for interferon-ribavirin therapy and consented for RGT, were included. Those with no rapid viral response (RVR), having coarse echotexture of liver or undergoing re-treatment, were advised 48 week treatment whereas, rest had 24 week standard therapy. PCR for HCV RNA checked 6 months after discontinuing treatment, was the primary end point of study.
RESULTS
Of 154 patients, included in the study with mean age of 39.9 (±10.84) and male to female ratio 1.4/1 (94/60), majority of patients, 136 (88.4%) were treatment naïve whereas, 18 (11.6%) were being retreated. On ultrasound, 63 (40.9%) patients had coarse liver and 33 (21.4%) had splenomegaly. RVR was achieved in 99 (64.3%) patients. Overall 66(42.8%) patients merited extended duration of therapy as per RGT plan but only 22 (33%) were compliant. Treatment related side effects were the dominant reason for declining RGT in 33 (75%) patients. SVR was noted in 111 (72.1%) patients. Those patients with extended therapy (RGT), had SVR 90.9% (20/22), although, better but statistically not significant than those who stopped therapy at 6 months 77.2% (34/44) (p value 0.11).
CONCLUSION
Response guided therapy plan did not improve SVR to pegylatedinterferon and ribavirin therapy in patients with genotype 3 and it has low patient compliance due to treatment related side effects. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5839 | [Cellular interactions of IgE: towards a new function for IgE].
The anaphylactic function of IgE has been intensively investigated. The Fc epsilon receptor on mast cells or basophils combines with the last two constant domains of the epsilon heavy chain. The Fc epsilon receptor is apparently a glycoprotein, monovalent and free in the plasma membrane. The interaction between the antigen (allergen) and the corresponding IgE antibody combined with the Fc epsilon receptor results in the aggregation of the receptors. Receptor dimerization suffices to trigger the cell. Compartments can be described in mast cells or basophils, the activity of which depends upon the number of formed receptor dimers on the corresponding membrane area. Beyond a threshold number of dimerized receptors, the cell compartment is triggered, which in the presence of Ca++ leads to the discharge of mast cell mediators, an increasing function of the dimer number. Excess receptor aggregation or the absence of aggregation (i.e. IgE-Ag2 complexes) deactivates the cell, which occurs more often in the absence of Ca++. Thus, IgE molecules play a passive role only in allowing the aggregation of the receptors which delivers the activating signal. But through the composition of IgE-antigen complexes bound to the receptors, IgE also modulates the cell function according two antagonistic reactions in permanent balance, i.e. activation or deactivation. IgE molecules are also involved in immediate type reactions in inducing the release of lysosomal enzymes from mononuclear phagocytes. But IgE antibody can also, when complexed with the antigen, trigger macrophage cytotoxicity for the corresponding target, which indicates a new function of IgE in the effector mechanisms of immunity of particular importance in immunity to schistosomes. A receptor for aggregated IgE has been characterized on the membrane of macrophages. The binding of IgE to its macrophage receptor triggers the cell, as shown by the resulting increase in cyclic GMP, calcium uptake and accelerated turn-over of lysosomal enzymes. A receptor for IgE has also been described on lymphoid cells, B cells, null cells and recently T cells, and the appearance of the receptor is modulated by IgE molecules themselves, suggesting a homeostatic role of IgE molecules. IgE appears thus to play various functions, the most dramatic being the triggering of anaphylactic reactions. But the role of IgE in activating mononuclear phagocytes or lymphoid cells might also prove to be of importance in immunity. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5840 | Does statins promote vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease?
BACKGROUND
In end-stage renal disease (ESRD), coronary artery calcification (CAC) and inflammation contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Statins do not improve survival in patients with ESRD, and their effect on vascular calcification is unclear. We explored associations between CAC, inflammatory biomarkers, statins and mortality in ESRD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In 240 patients with ESRD (63% males; median age 56 years) from cohorts including 86 recipients of living donor kidney transplant (LD-Rtx), 96 incident dialysis patients and 58 prevalent peritoneal dialysis patients, associations of CAC score (Agatston Units, AUs), interleukin-6 (IL-6) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumour necrosis factor (TNF), use of statins and all-cause mortality were analysed. Cardiac CT was repeated in 35 patients after 1·5 years of renal replacement therapy. In vitro, human vascular smooth muscle cells (hVSMCs) were used to measure vitamin K metabolism.
RESULTS
Among 240 patients, 129 (53%) had a CAC score > 100 AUs. Multivariate analysis revealed that independent predictors of 1-SD higher CAC score were age, male gender, diabetes and use of statins. The association between CAC score and mortality remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, diabetes, CVD, use of statins, protein-energy wasting and inflammation. Repeated CAC imaging in 35 patients showed that statin therapy was associated with greater progression of CAC. In vitro synthesis of menaquinone-4 by hVSMCs was significantly impaired by statins.
CONCLUSION
Elevated CAC score is a mortality risk factor in ESRD independent of inflammation. Future studies should resolve if statins promote vascular calcification and inhibition of vitamin K synthesis in the uremic milieu. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5841 | Effect of para-sulfonato-calix[n]arenes on the solubility, chemical stability, and bioavailability of a water insoluble drug nifedipine.
This study reports the use of para-sulphonato calix[8]arene to produce stable complexes with improved bioavailability for nifedipine, a calcium-channel blocker that is practically insoluble in water. Thermal analysis and electrospray ionisation mass spectroscopy confirmed that nifedipine formed complexes with the calixarenes in a size dependent way. The most stable, soluble complexes was formed with para-sulphonato calix[8]arene. Complexation was weakest with the calix[4]arene while complexation with the calix[6]arene was intermediate. However, the calix[4 and 6]arenes changed the chemical stability of the drug in solution because significant amounts of the nitroso-pyridine derivative was produced, proposing an interaction between the nifedipine bearing a H substituent at the N-1 position and the calixarenes. This oxidative degradation of the drug was greatest when combined with the calix[6]arene. Simultaneous oral ingestion of the calix[6 or 8]arenes significantly increased the bioavailability of the drug after oral administration in male Sprague-Dawley rats while not influencing CYP3A activities in the liver. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the nifedipine: para-sulfonato calix[8]arene complexes showed it was bioequivalent to a nifedipine PEG-solution. The absolute bioavailability for both formulations was ca. 60 %. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5842 | Circulating BMP9 Protects the Pulmonary Endothelium during Inflammation-induced Lung Injury in Mice.
Rationale: Pulmonary endothelial permeability contributes to the high-permeability pulmonary edema that characterizes acute respiratory distress syndrome. Circulating BMP9 (bone morphogenetic protein 9) is emerging as an important regulator of pulmonary vascular homeostasis. Objectives:To determine whether endogenous BMP9 plays a role in preserving pulmonary endothelial integrity and whether loss of endogenous BMP9 occurs during LPS challenge. Methods: A BMP9-neutralizing antibody was administrated to healthy adult mice, and lung vasculature was examined. Potential mechanisms were delineated by transcript analysis in human lung endothelial cells. The impact of BMP9 administration was evaluated in a murine acute lung injury model induced by inhaled LPS. Levels of BMP9 were measured in plasma from patients with sepsis and from endotoxemic mice. Measurements and Main Results: Subacute neutralization of endogenous BMP9 in mice (N = 12) resulted in increased lung vascular permeability (P = 0.022), interstitial edema (P = 0.0047), and neutrophil extravasation (P = 0.029) compared with IgG control treatment (N = 6). In pulmonary endothelial cells, BMP9 regulated transcriptome pathways implicated in vascular permeability and cell-membrane integrity. Augmentation of BMP9 signaling in mice (N = 8) prevented inhaled LPS-induced lung injury (P = 0.0027) and edema (P < 0.0001). In endotoxemic mice (N = 12), endogenous circulating BMP9 concentrations were markedly reduced, the causes of which include a transient reduction in hepatic BMP9 mRNA expression and increased elastase activity in plasma. In human patients with sepsis (N = 10), circulating concentratons of BMP9 were also markedly reduced (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Endogenous circulating BMP9 is a pulmonary endothelial-protective factor, downregulated during inflammation. Exogenous BMP9 offers a potential therapy to prevent increased pulmonary endothelial permeability in lung injury. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5843 | Prognostic factors influencing outcome in adult liver transplantation using hypernatremic organ donation after brain death.
BACKGROUND
Hypernatremic donors was regarded as the expanded criteria donors in liver transplantation. The study was to investigate the effects of donor hypernatremia on the outcomes of liver transplantation and identify the prognostic factors possibly contributing to the poor outcomes.
METHODS
Donor serum sodium levels before procurement were categorized as normal sodium (< 155 mmol/L), moderate high sodium (155-170 mmol/L), and severe high sodium (≥ 170 mmol/L). Furthermore, we subdivided the 142 hypernatremic donors (≥ 155 mmol/L) into two subgroups: subgroup A, the exposure time of liver grafts from hypernatremia to reperfusion was < 36 h; and subgroup B, the exposure time was ≥ 36 h. The outcomes included initial graft function, survival rates of grafts and recipients, graft loss and early events within the first year following liver transplantation.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the 1-year survival rates of grafts and recipients, 1-year graft loss rates and early events among the normal, moderate high and severe high sodium groups. However, the overall survival rates of grafts and recipients in subgroup A were significantly higher than those in subgroup B. Cox model showed that the exposure time (HR = 1.117; 95% CI: 1.053-1.186; P < 0.001), cold ischemia time (HR = 1.015; 95% CI: 1.006-1.024; P = 0.001) and MELD (HR = 1.061; 95% CI: 1.003-1.121; P = 0.037) were the important prognostic factors contributing to the poor outcomes of recipients with hypernatremic donors.
CONCLUSIONS
The level of donor sodium immediately before organ procurement does not have negative effects on the early outcomes following adult liver transplantation. For hypernatremia liver donors, minimization of the exposure time from hypernatremia to reperfusion is critical to prevent graft loss. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5844 | But they are not thresholds: a critical analysis of the documentation of Threshold Limit Values.
Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) represent conditions under which the TLV Committee of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) believes that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed without adverse effect. A detailed research was made of the references in the 1976 Documentation to data on "industrial experience" and "experimental human studies." The references, sorted for those including both the incidence of adverse effects and the corresponding exposure, yielded 158 paired sets of data. Upon analysis it was found that, where the exposure was at or below the TLV, only a minority of studies showed no adverse effects (11 instances) and the remainder indicated that up to 100% of those exposed had been affected (8 instances of 100%). Although, the TLVs were poorly correlated with the incidence of adverse effects, a surprisingly strong correlation was found between the TLVs and the exposures reported in the corresponding studies cited in the Documentation. Upon repeating the search of references to human experience, at or below the TLVs, listed in the more recent, 1986 edition of the Documentation, a very similar picture has emerged from the 72 sets of clear data which were found. Again, only a minority of studies showed no adverse effects and TLVs were poorly correlated with the incidence of adverse effect and well correlated with the measured exposure. Finally, a careful analysis revealed that authors' conclusions in the references (cited in the 1976 Documentation) regarding exposure-response relationships at or below the TLVs were generally found to be at odds with the conclusions of the TLV Committee. These findings suggest that those TLVs which are justified on the basis of "industrial experience" are not based purely upon health considerations. Rather, those TLVs appear to reflect the levels of exposure which were perceived at the time to be achievable in industry. Thus, ACGIH TLVs may represent guides of levels which have been achieved, but they are certainly not thresholds. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5845 | The role of root exudates in aluminium resistance and silicon-induced amelioration of aluminium toxicity in three varieties of maize (Zea mays L.).
Aluminium (Al) toxicity is widely considered to be the most important growth-limiting factor for plants in strongly acid soils (pH<5.0). The inhibition of root elongation in three varieties of maize (Zea mays L. vars Clavito, HS701b and Sikuani) was followed over the first 48 h of Al treatment, and during the initial 10 h elongation was determined on an hourly basis. The silicon (Si)-induced amelioration of Al toxicity was investigated by pre-treating seedlings for 72 h in nutrient solutions with 1000 microM Si before transfer into solutions with 0, 20 or 50 microM Al (without Si). Plants were either grown in complete low ionic strength nutrient solutions (CNS) or in low salt solutions of 0.4 mM CaCl2 (LSS). In addition, the role of root exudation of organic compounds as a mechanism of Si-induced alleviation of Al toxicity was investigated. Aluminium-induced inhibition of root elongation in the maize var. HS701b was observed within 1 h of Al exposure. After a lag time of at least 8 h, Si-induced alleviation of Al toxicity was observed in this variety when grown in LSS. In the Al-resistant var. Sikuani, Al-resistance was only observed after exposure to 50 microM Al, and not after exposure to 20 microM Al, suggesting that there exists a threshold Al concentration before the mechanisms of Al resistance are activated. Aluminium stimulated root exudation of oxalic acid in all three varieties, but exudate concentrations did not increase with either Al resistance or with Si pretreatment. Aluminium and Si triggered release of catechol and of the flavonoid-type phenolics: catechin, and quercetin. In the Al-resistant variety, Sikuani, Al-exposed plants pretreated with Si exuded up to 15 times more phenolics than those plants not pretreated with Si. The flavonoid-type phenolics, to date unconsidered, appear to play a role in the mechanism(s) of Si-induced amelioration of Al toxicity. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5846 | Effects of chronic mitral regurgitation on diastolic function in isolated cardiocytes.
We have previously shown that chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) increases the rate of left ventricular early diastolic filling. These changes in chamber diastolic function were felt to be secondary to alterations in left ventricular loading conditions. Therefore, cellular diastolic function measured in cardiac muscle cells (cardiocytes) isolated from animals with chronic MR (absent alterations in loading conditions) was expected to be normal. However, chronic MR caused a decrease in sarcomere lengthening rate. The purpose of the current study was to define the mechanisms causing this decreased sarcomere lengthening rate in chronic MR cardiocytes and to explain the apparent dichotomy between chamber and cellular diastolic properties. Accordingly, sarcomere motion was measured using laser diffraction techniques in enzymatically isolated cardiocytes from seven control dogs and 11 dogs with chronic MR (produced by closed-chest transection of the mitral chordae). In the MR cardiocytes, there were abnormalities in cellular systolic function (decreased extent and velocity of shortening) and in cellular diastolic function (decreased velocity of sarcomere lengthening). Because studies in papillary muscles have shown that there is a direct relation between abnormal diastolic function (decreased velocity of muscle lengthening) and abnormal systolic function (decreased extent of muscle shortening), it was unclear whether the changes in cellular relaxation rate observed in chronic MR merely reflected a concomitant decrease in the extent of shortening or instead reflected an impairment in intrinsic relaxation properties. To make this distinction, the relation between relaxation velocity (measured as peak sarcomere lengthening rate) and sarcomere shortening extent was examined in MR cardiocytes and compared with that in control cardiocytes. There was a direct relation between sarcomere relaxation velocity and sarcomere shortening extent in both control and MR cardiocytes. Over a wide range of shortening extent, the slopes and y intercepts of this relation were similar in control and MR cardiocytes (slope, 27.7 sec-1 in control cells versus 28.1 sec-1 in MR cells; y intercept, -1.1 microns/sec in control cells versus -1.7 microns/sec in MR cells; p = NS). At any common shortening extent, relaxation velocity was the same in control and MR cardiocytes. To prove that this relation could detect abnormalities in the intrinsic myocardial relaxation process, interventions known to produce primary alterations in the intrinsic myocardial relaxation process were examined: the effects of hypothermia (30 degrees C) and isoproterenol (10(-6) M) on the relaxation velocity-shortening extent relation were studied in normal and MR cardiocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5847 | Enabling sexual expression in people with dementia.
Dementia remains a significant health and social care concern in the UK. Cases of dementia are expected to increase exponentially because more people are living longer. In response, the government has issued a set of policies and guidance to better meet the needs of those living with dementia. However, one important relational aspect is notably absent from most policy documents: sexuality. This can be a complicated issue in relationships affected by dementia. This article analyses the literature and uses case studies to provide practical guidance to nurses in relation to sexual expression in people with dementia. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5848 | Pyoderma gangrenosum postlaparoscopy: a rare complication.
Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, chronic, often destructive, inflammatory skin disease in which a painful nodule or pustule breaks down to form a progressively enlarging ulcer. There are only 4 reported cases of postlaparoscopic PG and the purpose of this case report is to describe a patient found to have the disease after elective laparoscopy. Although rare, the occurrence of PG after surgery, even where incisions are small such as in laparoscopic surgery, is a diagnosis that cannot be neglected, especially due to the high morbidity, which increases if the diagnosis is not made and the patient is subjected to debridement. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5849 | [Reconstruction of dynamic positron emission tomographic images by exploiting low rank and sparse penalty].
OBJECTIVE
To propose a new method for dynamic positron emission tomographic (PET) image reconstruction using low rank and sparse penalty (L&S).
METHODS
The L&S reconstruction model was established and the split Bregman method was used to solve the optimal cost function. The one-tissue compartment model was used to simulate a set of PET 82Rb myocardial perfusion image. The L&S reconstruction method was compared with maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) method, low-rank penalty method and sparse penalty method.
RESULTS
The L&S reconstruction method had the smallest MSE and well maintained the feature information. The polar map created by L&S method was the most similar with the reference actual polar map.
CONCLUSION
L&S reconstruction method is better than the other three methods in both visual and quantitative analysis of the PET images. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5850 | Genetic patterning of the posterior neuropore region of curly tail mouse embryos: deficiency of Wnt5a expression.
The mouse mutant curly tail (ct) develops tail flexion defects and spina bifida as the result of delayed or failed closure of the posterior neuropore (PNP). With the aim of identifying genes involved in the chain of events resulting in defective neurulation, which can be detected at day 10.5 of development, we examined the expression patterns of a number of genes implicated in patterning of axial structures, mesoderm and neuroepithelium. The genes analyzed were Shh, HNF3alpha, HNF3beta, Brachyury, Hoxb1, Evx1, Fgf8, Wnt5a and Wnt5b. No differences could be detected between non-mutant embryos and ct/ct embryos with normal PNP size for any of these genes. Comparisons between ct/ct embryos with enlarged PNP and phenotypically normal ct/ct or nonmutant embryos showed differences only for Wnt5a. Expression of this gene was greatly reduced in the ventral caudal mesoderm and hindgut endoderm. Analysis of younger embryos revealed that prior to the stage at which embryos at risk of developing neural tube defects can be detected, the same proportion of ct/ct embryos shows reduced Wnt5a expression. The proportion of embryos showing reduced expression and almost undetectable expression of Wnt5a reflects the proportions of tail defects and spina bifida seen at later stages. We suggest that deficiency of Wnt5a signaling in the ventral caudal region tissues is an important component of the mechanism of development of the defects in affected curly tail mutant mice, and that it is causally related to decreased cell proliferation within the ventral caudal region. A possible relationship between decreased Wnt5a expression and reduced levels of heparan sulphate proteoglycan is discussed. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5851 | Finding the right hazard function for time-to-event modeling: A tutorial and Shiny application.
Parametric time-to-event analysis is an important pharmacometric method to predict the probability of an event up until a certain time as a function of covariates and/or drug exposure. Modeling is performed at the level of the hazard function describing the instantaneous rate of an event occurring at that timepoint. We give an overview of the parametric time-to-event analysis starting with graphical exploration by Kaplan-Meier plotting for the event data including censoring and nonparametric hazard estimators such as the kernel-based visual hazard comparison for the underlying hazard. The most common hazard functions including the exponential, Gompertz, Weibull, log-normal, log-logistic, and circadian functions are described in detail. A Shiny application was developed to graphically guide the modeler which of the most common hazard functions presents a similar shape compared to the data in order to guide which hazard functions to test in the parametric time-to-event analysis. For the chosen hazard function(s), the Shiny application can additionally be used to explore corresponding parameter values to inform on suitable initial estimates for parametric modeling as well as on possible covariate or treatment relationships to certain parameters. Moreover, it can be used for the dissemination of results as well as communication, training, and workshops on time-to-event analysis. By guiding the modeler on which functions and what parameter values to test and compare as well as to assist in dissemination, the Shiny application developed here greatly supports the modeler in complicated parametric time-to-event modeling. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5852 | Exceptionally Strong Electron-Donating Ability of Bora-Ylide Substituent vis-à-vis Silylene and Silylium Ion.
Electropositive boron-based substituent (phosphonium bora-ylide) with an exceptionally strong π- and σ-electron donating character dramatically increases the stability of a new type of N-heterocyclic silylene 2 featuring amino- and bora-ylide-substituents. Moreover, the related silylium ion 4 and transition-metal-silylene complexes, with trigonal-planar geometries around the silicon center, are also well stabilized. Therefore, the N,B-heterocyclic silylene 2 can be used as a strongly electron-donating innocent ligand in coordination chemistry similarly to N-heterocyclic carbenes. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5853 | New pulse oximetry detection based on the light absorbance ratio as determined from amplitude modulation indexes in the time and frequency domains.
The Pandemic COVID-19 situation, a pulse Oximetry is significant to detect a varying blood oxygen saturation of a patient who needed the device to operate with continuous, rapid, high accuracy, and immune of moving artifacts. In this article, three main schemes for low-complexity pulse oximetry detection are proposed. In the first scheme, the light absorbance ratio ( ) is obtained by separating the red and infrared photoplethysmography (PPG) amplitude modulation (AM) signals from the frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) signal with two different bandpass filters (BPFs), determining the ratio of modulation index of red and infrared PPG AM signals. In the second scheme, the output PPG AM signals for the red and infrared light wavelengths from the BPFs are transformed into the frequency domain such that the AC components of both PPG AM signals are the magnitudes of the highest peaks in their respective sidebands, while the DC components are the magnitude of their carrier frequencies; then, the ratio of the red PPG AM signal is divided by the ratio of the infrared PPG AM signal is . In the last scheme, the FDM signal is transformed into the frequency domain without being passed through any BPF, and is obtained in the same way as in the same second scheme. Experimental results obtained by using the first scheme have an average error of about 0.7138%, for the second and the last scheme have an average error of about 1%, and all the methods agree with the corresponding mathematical model. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5854 | Non-cholinergic mechanisms underlying the acute lethal effects of P = S type organophosphorus insecticides in rats.
Intravenous administration of the lethal dose of diazinon or fenthion, P = S type organophosphates, to urethan anesthetized rats induced bradycardia and transient apnea followed by a decline of blood pressure, and death. We investigated the mechanisms of the lethal action of these organophosphates in rats through measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory pattern. We compared their cardiorespiratory effects in the five different conditions under anesthesia; 1) normal (without treatment), 2) artificially ventilated, 3) vagotomized, 4) atropinized, 5) pithed, vagotomized and atropinized. It was found that the administration of 200 mg/kg of fenthion and 100 mg/kg of diazinon, caused sudden bradycardia, transient apnea and gradual decline of blood pressure in the anesthetized normal rat, and the rat died. The rats in other conditions also died except the artificially ventilated rats, in which 400 mg/kg of fenthion was administered to cause hypotension and subsequent death. Hypotension was observed consistently even after the cardiac effect such as bradycardia was eliminated by atropine treatment. In the pithed rats which were further vagotomized and atropinized, these organophosphates also caused hypotension. These results may indicate that hypotension is the main cause of death which resulted from intravenous administration of the P = S types. Hypotension may be caused by peripheral cardiovascular effect of the P = S types, which is unrelated to cholinergic mechanisms. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5855 | Rapid identification of goblet cells in unstained colon thin sections by means of quantum cascade laser-based infrared microspectroscopy.
Changes in the volume covered by mucin-secreting goblet cell regions within colon thin sections may serve as a means to differentiate between ulcerative colitis and infectious colitis. Here we show that rapid, quantum cascade laser-based mid-infrared microspectroscopy might be able to contribute to the differential diagnosis of colitis ulcerosa, an inflammatory bowel disease. Infrared hyperspectral images of mouse colon thin sections were obtained within 7.5 minutes per section with a pixel size of 3.65 × 3.65 μm(2) and a field of view of 2.8 × 3.1 mm(2). The spectra were processed by training a random decision forest classifier on the basis of k-means clustering on one thin section. The trained algorithm was then applied to 5 further thin sections for a blinded validation and it was able to identify goblet cells in all sections. The rapid identification of goblet cells within these unstained, paraffinized thin sections of colon tissue was enabled by the high content of glycopeptides within the goblet cells as revealed by the pronounced spectral signatures in the 7.6 μm-8.6 μm and the 9.2 μm-9.7 μm wavelength ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. More so, the simple calculation of the ratio between the absorbance values at 9.29 μm and 8.47 μm provides the potential to further shorten the time for measurement and analysis of a thin section down to well below 1 minute. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5856 | Neurokinin receptors and their implications in various autoimmune diseases.
Neurokinin receptors belong to the GPCRs family and are ubiquitously expressed throughout the nervous and immune systems. Neurokinin receptors in coordination with neurokinins playing an important role in many physiological processes, including smooth muscle contraction, secretion, proliferation, and nociception. They also contribute to various disease conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and cancer. Neurokinin receptors antagonist are potent and highly selective and showing success in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. In this review, discuss the various neurokinin receptor expression on immune cells and their importance in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and their therapeutic importance. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5857 | The effectiveness of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) on intercultural competence development in higher education.
In this study we measured the effect of COIL on intercultural competence development using a quasi-experimental design. Our sample consisted of 108 undergraduate students from two universities, one located in the Netherlands (NL) and one in the United States (US). Students' self-reported intercultural competence was measured using a pre-post survey which included the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) and Multicultural Personality Questionnaire (MPQ). Qualitative data were collected to complement our quantitative findings and to give a deeper insight into the student experience. The data showed a significantly bigger increase in intercultural competence for the US experimental group compared to the US control group, supporting our hypothesis that COIL develops intercultural competence. This difference was not observed for the NL students, possibly due to the NL control group being exposed to other international input during the course.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41239-022-00373-3. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5858 | Muscarinic receptor binding activity of polyoxygenated flavones from Melicope subunifoliolata.
The bark extract of Melicope subunifoliolata (Stapf) T.G. Hartley showed competitive muscarinic receptor binding activity. Six polymethoxyflavones [melibentin (1); melisimplexin (3); 3,3',4',5,7-pentamethoxyflavone (4); meliternatin (5); 3,5,8-trimethoxy-3',4',6,7-bismethylenedioxyflavone (6); and isokanugin (7)] and one furanocoumarin [5-methoxy-8-geranyloxypsoralen (2)] were isolated from the bark extract. Compounds 2 and 6 were isolated for the first time from M. subunifoliolata. The methoxyflavones (compounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) show moderate inhibition in a muscarinic receptor binding assay, while the furanocoumarin (compound 2) is inactive. The potency of the methoxyflavones to inhibit [(3)H]NMS-muscarinic receptor binding is influenced by the position and number of methoxy substitution. The results suggest these compounds are probably muscarinic modulators, agonists or partial agonists/antagonists. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5859 | Molecular phylogeny of Indian horse breeds with special reference to Manipuri pony based on mitochondrial D-loop.
Manipuri pony is the geographically distant breed of horse from the five recognized horse breeds found in the Indian subcontinent. The phylogenetic relationship of Manipuri pony with the other breeds is unknown. The diversity in the mitochondrial (mt) DNA D-loop region is employed as an important tool to understand the origin and genetic diversification of domestic horses and to examine genetic relationships among breeds around the world. This study was carried out to understand the maternal lineages of Manipuri pony using the 247 bp region of the mtDNA D-loop. The dataset comprised of eleven numbers of self developed sequences of Manipuri pony, 59 and 35 number of retrieved sequences of Indian horse breeds and other worldwide breeds respectively. A total of 35 haplotypes was identified with a high level of genetic diversity in the Indian breeds. A total of seven major mtDNA haplogroups (A-G) was identified in the Indian horse breeds that indicated the abundance of mtDNA diversity and multiple origins of maternal lineages in them. The majority of the studied sequences of Indian breeds (33.3 %) were grouped into haplogroup D and least (3.9 %) in haplogroup E. The Manipuri breed showed the least FST distance (0.03866) with the most diverged Indian breeds and with Thoroughbred horse among the worldwide. This study indicated a close association between Manipuri pony and Thoroughbred. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5860 | [Microcirculatory bed of the small intestine in different phases of its motor activity].
Experiments were conducted on guinea pigs, rabbits and rats with a simultaneous recording of the motor activity of the small intestine and the state on its microcirculatory bed, it was shown that the diameter of parietal vessels of the small intestine depended on the contractile activity of the muscles of this intestine. Proceeding from these data the authors explained the mechanism of derangement of the secretory and absorptive function of the small intestine after its neuro-reflex isolation and transplantation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5861 | Molecular characterization of four innate immune genes in Tor putitora and their comparative transcriptional abundance during wild- and captive-bred ontogenetic developmental stages.
The current study was designed to characterize immune genes and compare their expression during ontogenetic developmental stages in progenies of wild-collected and captive-matured T. putitora. The full-length cDNA sequences of Tptlr2, Tpmyd88, Tpcd36, and Tpil8 were 2814, 1545, 1807, and 653 bp in length, with ORFs of 2379 bp, 855 bp, 1410 bp, and 297 bp, encoding for putative peptides of 793, 284, 469 and 98 amino acids, respectively. The predicted peptide sequences of the genes had high sequence homology and structural conservation with other teleost fishes, especially cyprinids. The expression of Tptlr2 was relatively low in both wild- and captive-bred offsprings during the early embryonic stages, but significantly increased later in development. The mRNA abundance of the Tpmyd88 gene was significantly low until the blastula stage, then increased notably from the gastrula stage to the advanced fry stage. The Tpcd36 expression elevated during later developmental stages, peaking at advanced fry stage in both. On the other hand, expression of Tpil8 was relatively low until the blastula stage and showed a moderate increase from the organogenesis stage onwards in wild-bred offsprings, whereas a significant upregulation was seen in the captive-bred offsprings from the organogenesis stage until the advanced fry stage, with its maximum expression at the pre-metamorphosis stage. Overall, the findings suggest the crucial role of Tpmyd88, Tptlr2, Tpcd36, and Tpil8 in inducing innate immunity in embryonic and larval stages of T. putitora. Further, the considerably higher expression of the immune genes in the embryonic and larval stages of captive-bred offsprings may indicate a stronger immune system. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5862 | Predictors of Ischemic Complication in Anterior Choroidal Artery Aneurysm Repair.
BACKGROUND
Treatment of anterior choroidal artery (AchoA) aneurysms is challenging because of the risk of artery injury. The objective of the study was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of AchoA infarction in patients who underwent surgical or endovascular procedure.
METHODS
We included 123 patients with AchoA aneurysms treated by surgical clipping (n = 62; 50.4%) or endovascular coiling, including flow diverter placement (n = 61; 49.6%). The clinical and radiological data were retrospectively analyzed. AchoA infarction was defined as the presence of a hyperintense signal on diffusion-weighted imaging in the area of AchoA, including the posterior limb of the internal capsule.
RESULTS
AchoA infarction was detected in 8 cases (6.5%), with similar incidence in both groups (6.5% [4/62] vs. 6.6% [4/61]). It occurred in ruptured aneurysms more frequently than in unruptured aneurysms (14.3% [6/42] vs. 2.5% [2/81], P = 0.019). In the surgical group, all 4 affected patients had a non-proximal type AchoA, whereas in the non-infarction group, 9 patients (15.5%) had a non-proximal type AchoA (P = 0.001). In the endovascular group, the incidence was higher in patients with ruptured aneurysms (17.3% [4/23] vs. 0% [0/38], P = 0.017) and lower in patients with pre-admission antiplatelet therapy (0% [0/39] vs. 18.8% [4/22], P = 0.014).
CONCLUSIONS
Repair of an AchoA aneurysm is associated with the risk of incurring post-procedural AchoA infarction. Surgical clipping and endovascular coiling have similar complication rates, but risk factors specific to each intervention exist. Careful surgical planning to avoid these risk factors in each therapeutic modality may improve patient outcomes. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5863 | Pharmacological targeting of cGAS/STING-YAP axis suppresses pathological angiogenesis and ameliorates organ fibrosis.
Organ fibrosis is accompanied by pathological angiogenesis. Discovering new ways to ameliorate pathological angiogenesis may bypass organ fibrosis. The cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP)-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway has been implicated in organ injuries and its activation inhibits endothelial proliferation. Currently, a controversy exists as to whether cGAS/STING activation exacerbates inflammation and tissue injury or mitigates damage, and whether one of these effects predominates under specific context. This study unveiled a new antifibrotic cGAS/STING signaling pathway that suppresses pathological angiogenesis in liver and kidney fibrosis. We showed that cGAS expression was induced in fibrotic liver and kidney, but suppressed in endothelial cells. cGAS genetic deletion promoted liver and kidney fibrosis and pathological angiogenesis, including occurrence of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Meanwhile, cGAS deletion upregulated profibrotic Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling in endothelial cells, which was evidenced by the attenuation of organ fibrosis in mice specifically lacking endothelial YAP. Pharmacological targeting of cGAS/STING-YAP signaling by both a small-molecule STING agonist, SR-717, and a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-based antagonist that blocks the profibrotic activity of endothelial YAP, attenuated liver and kidney fibrosis. Together, our data support that activation of cGAS/STING signaling mitigates organ fibrosis and suppresses pathological angiogenesis. Further, pharmacological targeting of cGAS/STING-YAP axis exhibits the potential to alleviate liver and kidney fibrosis. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5864 | Gross Hematuria in an Adolescent Secondary to a Rare Bladder Tumor: A Case Report and Review of Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumors of the Urinary Bladder.
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a tumor of unknown neoplastic potential that rarely arises in the genitourinary tract. We present the case of an otherwise healthy 16-year old boy with gross hematuria who underwent cystoscopy and transurethral resection of the bladder tumor without complication. Biopsy and immunohistochemistry were consistent with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive IMT. In addition to presenting this case of IMT, we review presentations, management and prognosis of bladder IMT. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5865 | Additivity in adaptation to optical tilt.
Tests of proprioceptive adaptation (head-hand), visual adaptation (eye-head), and both components (eye-hand) were made during 15-min exposure to 20 degrees tilt in two experiments. In both experiments, subjects alternated exposures in which they explored hallways (hall) or viewed their active hand (hand), but in Experiment 2 subjects received two exposures to each condition, while in Experiment 1 only one exposure was given. Hall exposure produced greater visual change, and hand exposure produced greater proprioceptive change; but in both conditions, when order of conditions was controlled, the sum of performance on visual and proprioceptive tests was not statistically different from performance on the common test. In Experiment 2, adaptive components appeared to be inversely related, both within and between exposure conditions, thus providing some evidence of a reciprocal relationship, but a reliable negative correlation between components was not found. Finally, adaptation increased over alternation-repetition of exposure tasks in the second experiment, even though adaptation appeared limited within any given exposure. Results are interpreted in terms of the linear model, and the possible role of attentional factors in processing sensory inconsistencies is discussed. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5866 | Diversity of connections of the temporal neocortex with amygdaloid nuclei in the dog (Canis familiaris).
Reciprocal connections of amygdaloid nuclei with the temporal neocortex in the dog were investigated. Injections of fluorescent tracers and BDA into particular temporal areas were made in eleven dogs. The topographical arrangement of connections and variations in their density differentiate the temporal neocortex in the dog into a few regions. Among them, the cortex involving the anterior part of the ectosylvian gyrus did not send any amygdalopetal projection. The middle ectosylvian, dorsal zone of the posterior ectosylvian and the anterior part of the Sylvian gyrus were weakly connected with the amygdala. The cortical region involving the ventral zone of the posterior ectosylvian and composite posterior areas, as well as posterior Sylvian gyrus, was characterized by profuse connections with the amygdaloid complex. Cortico-amygdaloid connections originate in the wide cortical area of the auditory cortex of the middle and dorsal part of the posterior ectosylvian gyrus as well as in the auditory association cortex located in the ventral ectosylvian, composite posterior and posterior Sylvian gyri. The connections showed a dorso-ventral gradient of increasing density, in the direction of association fields. The most substantial projection taking rise from the ectosylvian posterior and posterior composite gyri terminated preferentially in the pericapsular sector of the lateral amygdaloid nucleus and, to a lesser degree, in its medial sector. Terminals of connections originating in the Sylvian gyrus occupied preferentially the intermediate part of the lateral nucleus, slightly more medially than that from the ectosylvian and posterior composite areas. Additionally, axonal terminals derived from the composite posterior and Sylvian posterior areas were observed in the basal parvocellular and magnocellular nuclei. Neocortical projections were reciprocated by amygdalofugal connections with two exceptions: the basal magnocellular nucleus was distinguished by a substantial amygdalofugal projection to the temporal neocortex focused on the dorsal Sylvian gyrus, and the central nucleus of the amygdala, in contrast, received an exclusively corticofugal projection. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5867 | The hERG K+ channel: target and antitarget strategies in drug development.
The human ether-à-go-go related gene (hERG) K+ channel is of great interest for both basic researchers and clinicians because its blockade by drugs can lead to QT prolongation, which is a risk factor for torsades de pointes, a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia. A growing list of agents with "QT liability" have been withdrawn from the market or restricted in their use, whereas others did not even receive regulatory approval for this reason. Thus, hERG K+ channels have become a primary antitarget (i.e. an unwanted target) in drug development because their blockade causes potentially serious side effects. On the other hand, the recent identification and functional characterization of hERG K+ channels not only in the heart, but also in several other tissues (e.g. neurons, smooth muscle and cancer cells) may have far reaching implications for drug development for a possible exploitation of hERG as a target, especially in oncology and cardiology. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5868 | Inspection of Aircraft Wing Panels Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
In large civil aircraft manufacturing, a time-consuming post-production process is the non-destructive inspection of wing panels. This work aims to address this challenge and improve the defects' detection by performing automated aerial inspection using a small off-the-shelf multirotor. The UAV is equipped with a wide field-of-view camera and an ultraviolet torch for implementing non-invasive imaging inspection. In particular, the UAV is programmed to perform the complete mission and stream video, in real-time, to the ground control station where the defects' detection algorithm is executed. The proposed platform was mathematically modelled in MATLAB/SIMULINK in order to assess the behaviour of the system using a path following method during the aircraft wing inspection. In addition, two defect detection algorithms were implemented and tested on a dataset containing images obtained during inspection at Airbus facilities. The results show that for the current dataset the proposed methods can identify all the images containing defects. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5869 | [Morphology and pathogenesis of chronic bronchitis].
Histologic and ultrastructural features of the chronic catarrhal bronchitis are presented and its pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed. An important role in the development of bronchitis of the mucociliary transport system damage, retention of the mucus and bacterial contamination of the respiratory tract is analysed. Current hypothesis of the chronic bronchitis development based on the disturbance of the protease-antiprotease and oxidative-antioxidative balance is presented. The data on the role of the specific and non-specific local immune mechanisms of the lung defence in the development of the exacerbations are given. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5870 | Diversity of Bacterial Community in the Oxygen Minimum Zones of Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal as Deduced by Illumina Sequencing.
The Indian Ocean harbors oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, with dissolved oxygen < 20 μM, located at the mid-depths of the water column. Till date, high-throughput sequence-data on depth-wise distribution of prokaryotic communities have rarely been reported from these OMZs. The present study aimed to characterize the prokaryotic diversity inhabiting Arabian Sea Time Series (ASTS) and India's Idea 2 (II2) in the Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal Time Series (BoBTS) in the Bay of Bengal OMZs based on amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene regions, along six sampled depths in the water column. High prokaryotic richness was observed in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal samples. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the range of 1249-3298 were identified, wherein, less prokaryotic diversity was observed at surface and within oxygen minimum depths. At phylum level, most OTUs were affiliated to Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Marinimicrobia, Planctomycetes, and Proteobacteria. Prokaryotic community differed between ASTS, II2 and BoBTS locations along varying physicochemical conditions. Predictive functional profiling of the bacterial communities suggested the involvement of abundant microbes in nitrogen and sulfur metabolism pathways. Bacterial isolates belonging to genera from the clades, δ-Proteobacteria and γ-Proteobacteria, described previously for their participation in biogeochemical cycling of N-and-S in the OMZs were reported from deoxygenated waters of both the basins. Bacteria involved in anammox such as Candidatus Scalindua were found to be relatively high at ASTS and II2 locations in the Arabian Sea. Further studies are required to ascertain the role of abundant bacteria along the dynamic oceanographic processes in the OMZs. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5871 | Snail suppresses cellular senescence and promotes fibroblast-led cancer cell invasion.
Snail, a zinc finger transcription factor, induces an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various cancer and epithelial cells. We investigated the function of Snail (SNAI1) by downregulating its expression with short interfering RNA (siRNA). Suppression of Snail expression induced cellular senescence in several cancer cells and in normal fibroblast IMR90 cells. Cancer progression is facilitated by fibroblasts, so-called fibroblast-led cancer cell invasion. Snail-silenced cancer cells exhibited reduced motility, which was further decreased by cocultivation with Snail-silenced IMR90 cells. Our data suggest that cell motility and cellular senescence, which are regulated by Snail in cancer cells and fibroblasts, modulate fibroblast-led cancer cell invasion. Therefore, we propose that local suppression of Snail in cancer and the cancer microenvironment represents a potent therapeutic strategy. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5872 | Calreticulin: conserved protein and diverse functions in plants.
Calreticulin (CRT) is a key Ca2+-binding protein mainly resident in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which is highly conserved and extensively expressed in all eukaryotic organisms investigated. The protein plays important roles in a variety of cellular processes including Ca2+ signaling and protein folding. Although calreticulin has been well characterized in mammalian systems, increased investigations have demonstrated that plant CRTs have a number of specific properties different from their animal counterparts. Recent developments on plant CRTs have highlighted the significance of CRTs in plants growth and development as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses. There are at least two distinct groups of calreticulin isoforms in higher plants. Glycosylation of CRT was uniquely observed in plants. In this article, we will describe our current understanding of plant calreticulin gene family, protein structure, cellular localization, and diverse functions in plants. We also discuss the prospects of using this information for genetic improvements of crop plants. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5873 | Cassava (Manihot esculenta) leaf and tuber concentrate in diets for broiler chickens.
Experiment 1 was conducted to determine the nutritive quality of cassava tuber leaf concentrate prepared either by mixing cassava tubers and leaves together before grinding or grinding them separately before mixing. Three mixing proportions of 50:50, 60:40 and 80:20 were used. Samples were subjected to either sundrying or oven drying. Physical examination of samples, proximate analysis and cyanide content of each of the samples were determined. In experiment 2 the sample of highest nutritive value was selected for inclusion in four diets at levels of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% respectively. A total of 120 day-old broilers were divided into four groups and each group further into three subgroups. The four experimental diets were fed to each of the groups for a period of 9 weeks. Growth parameters, carcass characteristics and haematological parameters were also determined. Results showed that in experiment 1 the grinding together of cassava tubers and leaves in the proportion of 50:50 before sun-drying gave the best texture, highest CP content with low HCN content. Inclusion of 10% cassava concentrate gave good performance in terms of growth and feed conversion, with no detrimental effects on haematological parameters and carcass characteristics. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5874 | The antidiarrhoeal activity of Alchornea cordifolia leaf extract.
Diarrhoea is a public health problem in developing countries. It is therefore important and useful to identify plants with antidiarrhoeal activity. Alchornea cordifolia is quoted by many traditional healers as a plant with this activity. The antidiarrhoeal activity of its leaf extract was investigated against castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice, using morphine as the standard reference drug. A significant (p < 0.01) dose related (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg) antidiarrhoeal activity of A. cordifolia leaf ethanol extract was observed with 800 mg/kg extract being the most effective. It delayed mouse intestinal transit accelerated by castor oil, inhibited the production of diarrhoeal faeces and modified the fluid and electrolyte transport across the colonic mucosa when administered intraluminally. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins and flavonoids which may account for the increased colonic water and electrolyte reabsorption, a mechanism suggested for the antidiarrhoeal activity of A. cordifolia. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5875 | Renal involvement in leptospirosis at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo and Persahabatan Hospitals.
AIM
To describe clinical pattern of ARF caused by leptospirosis and its related factors.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study using medical record data of all leptospirosis cases admitted to Cipto Mangunkusumo and Persahabatan General Hospitals between January 1993 and December 1996. Patient identification included age, sex, and occupation. Clinical symptoms were described in details and followed by laboratory testing i.e. peripheral blood count, urinalysis, blood urea and creatinine, liver function test, and pancreatic enzymes assay.
RESULTS
Seventy-five percent were men and the mean age was 38.3 years old. Sixty out of 68 (88.2%) patients had ARF as defined by an increase of plasma creatinine level of >1.5 mg/mL. The most common presenting symptoms in patients with ARF were fever (100%), nausea and vomiting (95.0%), muscle pain (88.1%) and jaundice (71.3%). The mean duration of fever 7.2 days. The most frequent laboratory abnormalities were increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (100%), leukocytosis (90%) and increase total bilirubin level (87.5%). Only leukocytosis showed a significant difference between ARF and non-ARF patients (p=0,014). Leptospira bataviae was found in 95.6% of patients and 96.7% of ARF patients. Penicillin was given to 80.9% of patients with only 2 (2.9%) deaths.
CONCLUSION
Although significant correlation cannot be established, we concluded that nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, jaundice, increased ESR and total bilirubin level should alert the physician about the possibility of renal involvement in leptospirosis patients with prolonged fever. Leptospira bataviae was an important virulent pathogen. Treatment with penicillin may significantly improve organ failure and was considered the drug of choice in managing leptospiral infection. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5876 | [Quantitative evaluation of radiotherapy plan in precise external beam radiotherapy process management for cervical cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the problems in clinical radiotherapy planning for cervical cancer through quantitative evaluation of the radiotherapy plans to improve the quality of the plans and the radiotherapy process.
METHODS
We selected the clinically approved and administered radiotherapy plans for 227 cervical cancer patients undergoing external radiotherapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from May, 2019 to January, 2022. These plans were transferred from the treatment planning system to the Plan IQTM workstation. The plan quality metrics were determined based on the guidelines of ICRU83 report, the GEC-ESTRO Working Group, and the clinical requirements of our center and were approved by a senior clinician. The problems in the radiotherapy plans were summarized and documented, and those with low scores were re-planned and the differences were analyzed.
RESULTS
We identified several problems in the 277 plans by quantitative evaluation. Inappropriate target volume selection (with scores < 60) in terms of GTV, PGTV (CI) and PGTV (V66 Gy) was found in 10.6%, 65.2%, and 1% of the plans, respectively; and the PGTV (CI), GTV, and PCTV (D98%, HI) had a score of 0 in 0.4%, 10.1%, 0.4%, 0.4% of the plans, respectively. The problems in the organs at risk (OARs) involved mainly the intestines (the rectum, small intestine, and colon), found in 20.7% of the plans, and in occasional cases, the rectum, small intestine, colon, kidney, and the femoral head had a score of 0. Senior planners showed significantly better performance than junior planners in PGTV (V60 Gy, D98%), PCTV (CI), and CTV (D98%) (P≤0.046) especially in terms of spinal cord and small intestine protection (P≤0.034). The bowel (the rectum, small intestine and colon) dose was significantly lower in the prone plans than supine plans (P < 0.05), and targets coverage all met clinical requirements. Twenty radiotherapy plans with low scores were selected for re-planning. The re-planned plans had significantly higher GTV (Dmin) and PTV (V45 Gy, D98%) (P < 0.05) with significantly reduced doses of the small intestines (V40 Gy vs V30 Gy), the colon (V40 Gy vs V30 Gy), and the bladder (D35%) (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Quantitative evaluation of the radiotherapy plans can not only improve the quality of radiotherapy plan, but also facilitate risk management of the radiotherapy process. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5877 | Intraoperative rotational kinematics and its influence on postoperative clinical outcomes differ according to age in Unicompartmental knee Arthroplasty.
BACKGROUND
Although Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is used in patients of wide age ranges, there is no clear information regarding the age differences in terms of intraoperative femorotibial rotational kinematics and its influence on clinical outcomes. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the age differences in terms of intraoperative rotational kinematics and postoperative clinical outcomes and to analyze their relationship with classification according to the age group.
METHODS
We investigated 111 knees of patients who underwent Oxford UKA using a navigation system and divided them into two groups: elderly (aged ≥75 years; 48 knees) and nonelderly (aged < 75 years; 63 knees). Intraoperative tibial internal rotational angles relative to the femur during passive knee flexion were measured using a navigation system, and clinical outcomes were evaluated using knee range of motion, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the Knee Society Functional Score at 2 years postoperatively. The relationships between intraoperative tibiofemoral rotational angles and clinical outcomes were also evaluated in the two groups.
RESULTS
The intraoperative tibial internal rotational angle relative to the femur during knee flexion was significantly larger in the nonelderly group (13.5°) than in the elderly group (9.0°). The intraoperative tibial internal rotational angle showed a positive correlation with the pain subscale of KOOS only in the nonelderly group.
CONCLUSION
Intraoperative rotational kinematics and its influence on clinical outcomes were different between elderly and nonelderly patients, and the tibial internal rotational angle could be a more important factor for successful UKA in nonelderly patients. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5878 | A Synthetic Cell-Penetrating Heparin-Binding Peptide Derived from BMP4 with Anti-Inflammatory and Chondrogenic Functions for the Treatment of Arthritis.
We report dual therapeutic effects of a synthetic heparin-binding peptide (HBP) corresponding to residues 15-24 of the heparin binding site in BMP4 in a collagen-induced rheumatic arthritis model (CIA) for the first time. The cell penetrating capacity of HBP led to improved cartilage recovery and anti-inflammatory effects via down-regulation of the iNOS-IFNγ-IL6 signaling pathway in inflamed RAW264.7 cells. Both arthritis and paw swelling scores were significantly improved following HBP injection into CIA model mice. Anti-rheumatic effects were accelerated upon combined treatment with Enbrel® and HBP. Serum IFNγ and IL6 concentrations were markedly reduced following intraperitoneal HBP injection in CIA mice. The anti-rheumatic effects of HBP in mice were similar to those of Enbrel®. Furthermore, the combination of Enbrel® and HBP induced similar anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory effects as Enbrel®. We further investigated the effect of HBP on damaged chondrocytes in CIA mice. Regenerative capacity of HBP was confirmed based on increased expression of chondrocyte biomarker genes, including aggrecan, collagen type II and TNFα, in adult human knee chondrocytes. These findings collectively support the utility of our cell-permeable bifunctional HBP with anti-inflammatory and chondrogenic properties as a potential source of therapeutic agents for degenerative inflammatory diseases. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5879 | Evidence of causal effects of blood pressure on back pain and back pain on type II diabetes provided by a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.
BACKGROUND CONTEXT
Cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type II diabetes) have been proposed as risk factors for back pain. However, few longitudinal studies have found significant associations between cardiovascular risk factors and back pain, and these may be explained by confounding or reverse causation.
PURPOSE
To examine potential causal effects of cardiovascular risk factors on back pain, and vice versa.
STUDY DESIGN
Bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study.
PATIENT SAMPLES
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with sample sizes between 173,082 and 1,028,947 participants.
OUTCOME MEASURES
Outcomes included (1) back pain associated with health care use (BP-HC) in the forward MR; and (2) seven cardiovascular phenotypes in the reverse MR, including 2 measurements used for the evaluation of hypertension (diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure), 4 phenotypes related to dyslipidemia (LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides), and type II diabetes.
METHODS
We used summary statistics from large, publicly available GWAS for BP-HC and the 7 cardiovascular phenotypes to obtain genetic instrumental variables. We examined MR evidence for causal associations using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) analysis, Causal Analysis Using Summary Effect (CAUSE), and sensitivity analyses.
RESULTS
In forward MR analyses of seven cardiovascular phenotypes, diastolic blood pressure was associated with BP-HC across all analyses (IVW estimate: OR = 1.10 per 10.5 mmHg increase [1.04-1.17], p-value = 0.001), and significant associations of systolic blood pressure with BP-HC were also found (IVW estimate: OR = 1.09 per 19.3 mmHg increase [1.04-1.15], p-value = 0.0006). In reverse MR analyses, only type II diabetes was associated with BP-HC across all analyses (IVW estimate: OR = 1.40 [1.13-1.73], p-value = 0.002).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings from analyses of large, population-based samples indicate that higher blood pressure increases the risk of BP-HC, and BP-HC itself increases the risk of type II diabetes. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5880 | Assessment of Safe Donor Zone of Scalp and Beard for Follicular Unit Extraction in Indian Men: A Study of 580 Cases.
CONTEXT
Hair restoration surgery for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) essentially involves various forms of hair transplantation. There is paucity of studies assessing donor area in Indian men and also no simplified guidelines are available for the safe donor area for follicular unit extraction (FUE). Our study is an attempt to study the donor area in Indian men.
AIMS
To assess the density of follicular units (FUs) in the donor area, that is, both scalp and beard in Indian men, and to propose simplified guidelines for FUE.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study design was cross-sectional and was carried out for 2 years. All the consenting male patients with male pattern hair loss Hamilton Norwood grading III or more who consulted for a hair restoration surgery were recruited. FU density was assessed in the donor area of scalp by drawing a rectangle with its lower border being a straight line joining two points, which are 27-28mm from the line drawn perpendicular to tragus, passing through external occipital protuberance. Three squares of area 1cm2 were drawn within the rectangle. Average of the FUs and follicles in the three squares was calculated to obtain mean density in the donor area of the scalp. Total number of FU was assessed, considering 25% extraction, total average number of extractable follicles was assessed. Total donor area was divided into three areas (areas 1, 2, and 3) and average number of extractable FU was assessed in each. Donor area in the beard, below the jawline, was divided into a triangle and rectangle. Average number of FU, total number of extractable FU was calculated similarly.
RESULTS
A total of 580 male patients were recruited in the study. Mean FU density in the scalp and beard was 78.2/cm2 and 49.7/cm2, respectively. The total available number of FUs for extraction in the areas 1, 2, and 3 and beard considering 25% extraction was 2064, 3097, 3612, and 824, respectively. We propose three types of donor areas in the scalp, namely, limited, standard, and extended donor area. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5881 | Update on the management of connective tissue malignancies.
Approximately 11,000 new cases of connective tissue malignancies are anticipated in 2004. These diseases can be divided into soft-tissue sarcomas, sarcomas of bone, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Optimal management of these diseases requires a multidisciplinary team with expertise in surgery, pathology, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Over half of patients with stage III soft tissue and bone sarcomas are cured, as are some patients with metastatic disease. Imatinib mesylate has been an important advance in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5882 | Effects of anti-swine zona serum on swine and murine in vitro fertilization.
No investigations have been reported concerning the action of anti-swine zona (anti-SZ) antibodies in a swine in vitro fertilization (IVF) system. We examined the effects of anti-SZ on homologous swine IVF and heterologous murine IVF. Swine IVF and sperm-zona binding were inhibited after treating swine ova with 2(2) and 2(1) dilutions of antiserum, producing fertility rates of 25.9% and 1.6% respectively, which are significantly lower than the control group fertility rate of about 70%. However, the murine ova could accept the capacitated homologous sperm, even after treatment with the antiserum-derived IgG, which had an antibody titer twice that of the starting antiserum. The antiserum-reacted swine ova exhibited a zona precipitate and a concentration-dependent resistance to pronase and required about 17 minutes to disappear after reacting with the starting antiserum, whereas the antiserum-reacted murine ova, which did not exhibit a zona precipitate, and the control ova disappeared within three minutes. These results indicate that antibody deposition on the zona greatly affects the degree of fertilization inhibition. The immunogens used were characterized zona constituent glycoproteins, and the antiserum raised against them was previously proven to be highly specific. Therefore, we believe that a basis has been established for analyzing the fertilization phenomena that take place at the zona using swine systems. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5883 | Genetic analysis of bovine viral diarrhea virus in pre-weaned native Korean calves.
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a prominent viral pathogen worldwide, causes substantial economic losses in the cattle industry. BVDV comprises two recognized species, BVDV-1 and BVDV-2, and at least 21 subtypes (1a-1u) for BVDV-1 and four subtypes (2a-2d) for BVDV-2 based on its 5'-untranslated region. This study aimed at investigating the prevalence and genetic analysis of BVDV in calf feces in the Republic of Korea (ROK). We collected fecal samples from 635 pre-weaned native Korean calves aged 1-60 days, regardless of diarrhea, and subjected them to RT-PCR and phylogenetic analysis. Thirty-five (5.5%) of the 635 samples were positive for BVDV infection. BVDV was detected in 20, 10, and 5 calves aged 1-20 days, 21-40 days, and 41-60 days, respectively. BVDV was the most frequent in 17 normal feces, followed by 16 diarrheic feces, and 2 hemorrhagic feces. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 25 samples belonged to BVDV-1b; 1 sample, BVDV-1c; and 9 samples, BVDV-2a. Moreover, the BVDV-1b and BVDV-2a isolates showed genetic variations. BVDV-1b was detected in diarrheic, hemorrhagic, and normal fecal samples. Thus, BVDV-1b is the most prevalent in calves and causes enteric disease with differing severity. BVDV-1c was newly identified in diarrheic calves. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the pathogenesis of BVDV-1c infection and its clinical manifestations. Our results indicate that effective vaccines and control programs against BVDV are required in the ROK. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5884 | Disappearance of HCV after cessation of immunosuppression in a patient with ulcerative colitis and renal transplantation.
We report a patient, a 45-year-old Japanese woman, who underwent living-related donor renal transplantation in 1986 and 1988, with the second procedure being successful. Ulcerative colitis (UC) was diagnosed in 1987 while she was receiving immunosuppressive therapy after the renal transplantation. She became positive for serum anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) in November 1990, although her serum aminotransferase levels were normal. In June 2001, she had frequent episodes of melena with abdominal pain, as control of her UC deteriorated. In July 2001, she was admitted to the Department of Surgery at our hospital, and her daily dose of prednisolone was increased from 40 mg to 80 mg. After 2 weeks of high-dose prednisolone therapy, there was a significant increase of serum aminotransferases, and serum HCV-RNA rose above 850 KIU/ml (by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]). Control of UC was still poor, so cyclosporine A (CyA) was added at a dose that maintained a high serum concentration. The daily dose of prednisolone was tapered and leukapheresis was performed three times weekly. As result, serum aminotransferases decreased to the normal range. However, total colectomy and colostomy were required because the UC could not be controlled by these therapies. Serum aminotransferase levels increased transiently 2 months after the cessation of immunosuppressive therapy (prednisolone, azathioprine [AZP], and CyA). Subsequently, serum aminotransferases rapidly declined below normal, and the serum level of HCV-RNA (by RT-PCR) fell from 480 KIU/ml to less than 0.5 KIU/ml. She was discharged on April 25, 2002. During follow-up as an outpatient, serum HCV-RNA became negative and remained negative for 7 months. To confirm clearance of HCV, liver biopsy was performed, and no HCV-RNA was detected in the liver tissue by RT-PCR. These findings suggested that HCV was cleared by the cessation of immunosuppressive therapy, as a rebound effect. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5885 | A physiologically based model of 1-nitropyrene metabolism after inhalation or ingestion.
The nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 1-nitropyrene (NP), a bacterial mutagen and mammalian carcinogen, is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. A physiologically based toxicokinetic model was developed describing the disposition of NP after oral administration (ingestion) or after inhalation. The model incorporated the following compartments: blood, upper respiratory tract, lung, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and a general tissue compartment. First-order rate constants for absorption of NP from the GI tract (2 h-1), metabolism by the liver (30 h-1), excretion of metabolites in bile and urine (2 and 4 h-1, respectively), and covalent binding of NP metabolites to tissue macromolecules (0.05, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.001 h-1 for lung, liver, kidney, and general tissue compartment, respectively) determined from model simulations were used to describe absorption, biotransformation, and excretion of NP. Physiological parameters such as alveolar ventilation, cardiac output, blood flow to organs volume, and tissue/blood partition coefficients described movement of NP and metabolites among compartments. Model predictions for concentrations of NP and metabolites in tissues were compared to experimentally determined data obtained in rats after inhalation of NP. Model predictions for concentrations of NP metabolites covalently bound to tissue macromolecules agreed with experimentally determined data in rats. Levels of bound material in lung and liver were about one-tenth that found in kidney. Results indicated that NP movement among tissue compartments could be described to a large extent by blood flow and organ volume alone (e.g., tissue/blood partition coefficients = 1). The use of physiologically realistic parameters will enable scaling of the model developed using animal studies to predict disposition of NP in humans. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5886 | Dynamic regulation of erythropoiesis: a computer model of general applicability.
A mathematical model for the control of erythropoiesis has been developed based on the balance between oxygen supply and demand at a renal oxygen detector which in turn controls erythropoietin release and red cell production. Tissue oxygen tension is regulated by adjustments of hemoglobin levels resulting from the output of a renal-bone marrow controller. Special consideration given to the determinants of tissue oxygenation included evaluation of the influence of blood flow, capillary diffusion, oxygen uptake, and oxygen-hemoglobin affinity. A theoretical analysis of the overall control system is presented including: a) dynamic and steady-state responses, b) sensitivity analysis to determine the relative importance of parameters and their influence on model behavior, c) properties of the model as a proportional controller, d) analysis of steady-state errors, and e) effectiveness of feedback regulation. Computer simulations of altitude hypoxia, descent from altitude, red cell infusion, and hemolytic anemia demonstrate the validity of the model for general human application. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5887 | Observations that suggest a contribution of altered dermal papilla mitochondrial function to androgenetic alopecia.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a prevalent hair loss condition in males that develops due to the influence of androgens and genetic predisposition. With the aim of elucidating genes involved in AGA pathogenesis, we modelled AGA with three-dimensional culture of keratinocyte-surrounded dermal papilla (DP) cells. We co-cultured immortalised balding and non-balding human DP cells (DPCs) derived from male AGA patients with epidermal keratinocyte (NHEK) using multi-interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation technique. We observed up-regulated mitochondria-related gene expression in balding compared with non-balding DP aggregates which indicated altered mitochondria metabolism. Further observation of significantly reduced electron transport chain complex activity (complexes I, IV and V), ATP levels and ability to uptake metabolites for ATP generation demonstrated compromised mitochondria function in balding DPC. Balding DP was also found to be under significantly higher oxidative stress than non-balding DP. Our experiments suggest that application of antioxidants lowers oxidative stress levels and improves metabolite uptake in balding DPC. We postulate that the observed up-regulation of mitochondria-related genes in balding DP aggregates resulted from an over-compensatory effort to rescue decreased mitochondrial function in balding DP through the attempted production of new functional mitochondria. In all, our three-dimensional co-culturing revealed mitochondrial dysfunction in balding DPC, suggesting a metabolic component in the aetiology of AGA. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5888 | How to straighten out that which bends up.
Chikungunya virus requires host granzyme A to drive joint inflammation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5889 | Anti-complement immunofluorescence test for antibodies to human cytomegalovirus.
An anti-complement immunofluorescence (ACIF) test that detects human cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen in the nuclei of infected cells was used for assay of CMV antibodies in human sera. Various factors influencing the sensitivity and specificity of the ACIF test system were investigated, and results were applied to the development of a procedure which could be completed in a relatively short length of time and gave reproducible results. Results obtained in the ACIF test were compared with those obtained in complement fixation, indirect hemagglutination, and neutralization tests, and the ACIF test was shown to be suitable for detection of significant antibody titer rises and stationary levels of CMV antibody. Heterotypic antibody responses were not seen with sera from other human herpesvirus infections. The nonspecific cytoplasmic staining that occurs in indirect immunofluorescence tests for CMV did not occur in the ACIF system, and sera that were anti-complementary in complement fixation tests could be examined satisfactorily by ACIF. Thus, the test is a valuable supplemental or back-up procedure for the serodiagnosis of CMV infection. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5890 | Endothelial dysfunction in post-myocardial infarction patients with various expressions of risk factors.
It has not been established yet whether patients who suffer myocardial infaction (MI) in the absence of classic risk factors also have endothelial dysfunction (ED), as has been shown for patients with risk factors, and if so, to what extent it is manifested. Young male patients in the stable phase after MI were included in the study. At the time of MI, 20 patients had high and 21 patients low expression of risk factors. The control group consisted of 35 healthy age-matched males. ED was estimated by ultrasound measurement of the endothelium-dependent dilation of the brachial artery, induced by the reactive hyperemia test. Compared to the control group, the level of endothelium-dependent vasodilation was significantly reduced in both groups of patients (controls: 9.1% +/- 5.6%; patients with high risk: 5.5% +/- 5.1%; patients with low risk: 5.6 +/- 3.5 %; ANOVA, p<.01). There was no difference between both groups of patients. These results showed that ED is not associated or due only to classic risk factors. It appears that ED may occur and precede development of atherosclerosis in the absence of classic risk factors. These novel findings can have important clinical implications. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5891 | A biocultural framework for examining maternal cravings and aversions among pastoral women in east Africa.
Food preferences during pregnancy result from a complex set of biocultural interactions with important implications for maternal and child health. This article explores the social context of maternal food choice in marginal environments of East Africa. Biocultural data collected among Turkana and Datoga women living in Kenya and Tanzania indicate there is a significant social context to food choice that influences the types of food that women report craving and the food that is consumed. Our framework argues for a deeper understanding of how culture shapes food preferences and how marginalization can constrain access to favored and healthy foods. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5892 | Evaluation of increased preoperative serum high sensitive C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels on grade and stage of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the relationship between preoperative high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels with the two important prognostic factors, tumor stage and tumor grade, in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
METHODS
We evaluated 116 clear cell RCC patients who had undergone either radical or partial nephrectomy at Ankara University, Department of Urology between November 2011 and June 2014. Comparison of hs-CRP and PCT levels between the subgroups of pathological stage and nuclear grade were evaluated. The cut off value for hs-CRP and PCT was determined by receiver- operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.
RESULTS
Median levels of hs-CRP and PCT levels of the patients were 0.818 mg/L and 0.0825 ng/mL, respectively. Hs-CRP levels of pT1 stage patients was found to be lower compared to the pT3-4 group (p = 0.016). Median hs-CRP levels of the grade 1 - 2 group was found to be significantly lower compared to the grade 3 - 4 group (p = 0.0001). The difference of median PCT levels between stage pT1 vs. pT2 (p = 0.003) and stage pT1 vs. pT3-4 (p = 0.0001) were statistically significant. Regarding Fuhrman grade, median PCT levels of Fuhrman grade 1 - 2 patients were significantly lower compared to grade 3 - 4 patients (p = 0.001). To predict higher Fuhrman grade of the tumor (grade 3 - 4), ROC analysis was performed and cut off values of 0.645 mg/L and 0.087 ng/mL were detected for hs-CRP and PCT, respectively.
CONCLUSION
High preoperative serum hs-CRP and PCT values may play a role in the prognostic stratification of localized clear cell RCC patients. Further prospective validation is required prior to recommendation regarding suitability as biomarkers for RCC clinical prediction. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5893 | [Trigger properties of gonadotropic hormones and oocyte factors in connection with the germinal epithelium of the rat testis].
In order to reveal possible stimulation of growth of the germinal epithelium of the rat's injured testicle the animals were injected follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones and their mixture as well as homogenate of fertilized egg-cells during two weeks. Changes of neurosecretion in large-cell nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus, cellular set in the adenohypophysis and the condition of the germinal epithelium in the gonad under study were investigated. Identical phenomena of reduction (having quantitative distinctions) took place due to effects of exogeneous honadotropins in neurosecretory nuclei and the adenohypophysis. In testicular tubules there occurred pronounced proliferation of the germinal epithelium, but spermatogenesis was absent. Egg-cell homogenate failed to cause changes in neurosecretion and adenohypophysis but resulted in completing the developmental cycle of the germinal epithelium with mature spermatozoa. The effect of gonadotropins upon the system hypothalamus-hypophysis is explained by feed-back mechanism, and the absence of spermatogenesis--by the lack of androgens. The rsults of egg-cell homogenate effects should be associated with local stimulating effects of DNA of the dividing egg-cell. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5894 | Antiangiogenic therapy reverses the immunosuppressive breast cancer microenvironment.
Tumor angiogenesis induces local hypoxia and recruits immunosuppressive cells, whereas hypoxia subsequently promotes tumor angiogenesis. Immunotherapy efficacy depends on the accumulation and activity of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs). Antangiogenic therapy could improve local perfusion, relieve tumor microenvironment (TME) hypoxia, and reverse the immunosuppressive state. Combining antiangiogenic therapy with immunotherapy might represent a promising option for the treatment of breast cancer. This article discusses the immunosuppressive characteristics of the breast cancer TME and outlines the interaction between the tumor vasculature and the immune system. Combining antiangiogenic therapy with immunotherapy could interrupt abnormal tumor vasculature-immunosuppression crosstalk, increase effector immune cell infiltration, improve immunotherapy effectiveness, and reduce the risk of immune-related adverse events. In addition, we summarize the preclinical research and ongoing clinical research related to the combination of antiangiogenic therapy with immunotherapy, discuss the underlying mechanisms, and provide a view for future developments. The combination of antiangiogenic therapy and immunotherapy could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treatment of breast cancer to promote tumor vasculature normalization and increase the efficiency of immunotherapy. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5895 | (E)-4-Meth-oxy-2-[3-(trifluoro-meth-yl)phenyl-imino-meth-yl]phenol.
The title compound, C(15)H(12)F(3)NO(2), adopts the phenol-imine tautomeric form, with the H atom attached to oxygen rather than to nitro-gen. There are two independent mol-ecules aligned nearly parallel in the asymmetric unit with their trifloramethyl groups pointing in opposite directions. The dihedral angles between the aromatic rings are 40.43 (1)° in the first mol-ecule and 36.12 (1)° in the second. Strong intra-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bonding generates S(6) ring motifs. Weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the independent mol-ecules separately into sheets normal to [010]. In addition, C-H⋯π inter-actions are also observed. The F atoms of the trifluoro-methyl groups are disordered over two sets of sites with refined site occupancies of 0.59 (2)/0.41 (2) and 0.62 (3)/0.38 (3), respectively. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5896 | Natural history of ulnar entrapment at elbow.
OBJECTIVE
No clinical-neurophysiological data on natural history of ulnar neuropathy at elbow (UNE) are reported. The aim of the current study is to assess the course of untreated UNE.
METHODS
We performed a follow-up at 1 year of 30 neurophysiologically positive UNE, 24 were untreated and 6 were operated on. The evaluation was based on a phone interview and sometimes on neurophysiological investigation. With regard to management of UNE, at initial evaluation we explained to the patients what UNE is and how to avoid posture that can worsen nerve compression.
RESULTS
Around half of the untreated patients reported improvement of symptoms at follow-up. Comparison between baseline and follow-up neurophysiological measurements showed a significant spontaneous improvement. Most patients reported changing of arm posture after UNE diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Some UNE cases improve spontaneously without surgical treatment. A part of the improvements could be due to the changing of arm postures. We hypothesize that a good diagnosis that includes an explanation of the anatomical condition of the nerve during postures and movements represents the first therapy for the entrapments. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5897 | [Methylophaga murata sp. nov.: a haloalkaliphilic aerobic methylotroph from deteriorating marble].
The haloalkaliphilic methylotrophic bacterium (strain Kr3) isolated from material scraped off the deteriorating marble of the Moscow Kremlin masonry has been found to be able to utilize methanol, methylamine, trimethylamine, and fructose as carbon and energy sources. Its cells are gram-negative motile rods multiplying by binary fission. Spores are not produced. The isolate is strictly aerobic and requires vitamin B12 and Na+ ions for growth. It is oxidase- and catalase-positive and reduces nitrates to nitrites. Growth occurs at temperatures between 0 and 42 degrees C (with the optimum temperatures being 20-32 degrees C), pH values between 6 and 11 (with the optimum at 8-9), and NaCl concentrations between 0.05 and 3 M (with the optimum at 0.5-1.5 M). The dominant cellular phospholipids are phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cardiolipin. The major cellular fatty acids are palmitic (C16:0), palmitoleic (C16:1), and octadecenoic (C18:1) acids. The major ubiquinone is Q8. The isolate accumulates ectoine and glutamate, as well as a certain amount of sucrose, to function as osmoprotectants and synthesizes an exopolysaccharide composed of carbohydrate and protein components. It is resistant to heating at 70 degrees C, freezing, and drying; utilizes methanol, with the resulting production of formic acid, which is responsible for the marble-degrading activity of the isolate; and implements the 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate variant of the ribulose monophosphate pathway. The G+C content of its DNA is 44.6 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and DNA-DNA homology levels (23-41%) with neutrophilic and alkaliphilic methylobacteria from the genus Methylophaga, the isolate has been identified as a new species, Methylophaga murata (VKM B-2303T = NCIMB 13993T). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5898 | Nonlinear acoustics in higher-order approximation: Comment.
Some useful expressions for the second- and third-order equations for harmonic generation of infinite plane acoustic waves in a nonlinear non-viscous fluid are corrected. The concern addressed in the present comment is to point out some typographical errors in the first-order velocity and pressure expressions intervening in the calculation of the secondorder nonlinear equations, as well as a miscalculation of the axial component of the third-order Lighthill tensor term and the resulting third-order velocity and pressure equations presented in that paper. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5899 | Rate variation of protein and mitochondrial DNA evolution as revealed by sea urchins separated by the isthmus of Panama.
Acceptance of the rough constancy of rates of molecular evolution, averaged over tens of millions of years, is widely used to date the splitting between taxa. However, for the study of speciation a hypothesis of rough constancy over tens of millions of years is of little use. In order to date the splitting of congeneric species within defined ranges of uncertainty, we need to know the variation of evolutionary rates over shorter periods of time. Such estimates of uncertainty are particularly useful if they apply to techniques of molecular comparisons that lend themselves to the assessment of intraspecific variation. We have measured protein divergence by electrophoresis and mitochondrial DNA differentiation by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in three pairs of sea urchin species believed to have resulted from the simultaneous fragmentation of ranges of marine species by the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama, about 3 million years ago. Transisthmian isozyme divergence in these pairs varies by an order of magnitude; mitochondrial DNA divergence, on the other hand, is equivalent in all pairs, suggesting that this molecule, assayed by endonucleases, can provide fairly accurate estimates of times since separation in the 3-million-year range. | No pos | No neg |
Subsets and Splits