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Retriever5900 | Bioprospecting of Less-Polar Fractions of Ericaria crinita and Ericaria amentacea: Developmental Toxicity and Antioxidant Activity.
Ericaria crinita and Ericaria amentacea from the Adriatic Sea (Croatia) were investigated with respect to the presence of less-polar compounds for the first time after fractionation by solid-phase extraction (SPE). The composition of less-polar fractions of freeze-dried E. crinita (FdEc) and E. amentacea (FdEa) were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (UHPLC-ESI-HRMS). The major identified compounds were: amides of higher aliphatic acids (palmitoleamide, linoleamide, palmitamide, oleamide and erucamide) and related compounds, carotenoid (fucoxanthin), chlorophyll derivatives (pheophytin a and b and their derivatives) and higher terpenes (loliolide, isoamijiol with its oxidation product), β-stigmasterol and (3β,6α)-14-methylergosta-8,24(28)-diene-3,6-diol). The toxic effects observed on the less-polar fractions obtained from Ericaria species on zebrafish Danio rerio embryos could be associated with the high abundance of all five detected amides. The antioxidant activity of the fractions was evaluated by means of five independent assays, including the reduction of the radical cation (ABTS), the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the Folin-Ciocalteu method. A higher antioxidant activity of E. amentacea in comparison to that of the E. crinita fractions was found with IC50 concentrations of 0.072 and 1.177 mg/mL, respectively. The correlation between the activity and the chemical composition revealed that the synergistic effect of different compounds impacted their antioxidant response. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5901 | [Activity of inflammatory-destructive changes in the process of formation of unstable atherosclerotic plaque].
We studied parameters of inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor a, antagonist of interleukin-1 receptor, interleukin-6 , interleukin-8, C-reactive protein) and destructive (matrix metalloproteinases type 3 and 9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase type 1) processes in dynamics of sequential stages of development of atherosclerotic foci in coronary arteries: unchanged intimal tissue --> lipid stain/streak --> stable young plaque --> unstable vulnerable plaque with inclination to ulceration of rupture --> stable plaque with fibrosis/calcinosis, and in various types of unstable plaques in men with coronary atherosclerosis. Characteristic for unstable plaques parameters of inflammatory activity were elevated levels of interleukins (IL) 6 and 8, C-reactive protein (CRP), of destructive activity -- elevated level of metalloproteinases-9. In inflammatory erosive type of unstable plaques (lowered level of antagonist of interleukin-1 receptor and elevated level of CRP) and in lipid type (elevated levels of IL-6, IL-8 and CRP) inflammatory activity was dominating compared with necrotic type in which dominated destructive activity (elevated level of tumor necrosis factor a and lowered level of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase type 1). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5902 | Multi-pathogens sequence containing plasmids as positive controls for universal detection of potential agents of bioterrorism.
BACKGROUND
The limited circulation of many of the agents that are likely to be used in a bioterrorism attack precludes the ready availability of positive controls. This means that only specialized laboratories can screen for the presence of these agents by nucleic amplification assays. Calibrated controls are also necessary for quantitative measurements. Primers and probes to be used in both conventional and real-time PCR assays were designed for the detection of agents likely to be used by a bioterrorist. Three plasmids, each of which contains 4 to 6 specific sequences from agents on the CDC Category A and B list (excluding RNA viruses) were constructed. Two plasmids incorporate the sequences of Category A and B agents, respectively. The third plasmid incorporates sequences from Variola major and organisms that cause rash-like illnesses that may be clinically confused with smallpox. An "exogenic sequence", introducing a NotI restriction site was incorporated in the native sequences of the bioterrorism agents inserted in plasmids. The designed molecular system for detection of bioterrorism agents was tested on each of these agents (except Monkeypox virus, Smallpox virus and 2 Burkholderia species for which no native DNA was available) and a collection of 50 isolates of C. burnetii using constructed plasmids as positive controls.
RESULTS
Designed primers and probes allowed molecular detection, in either single or multiplex assays, of agent-specific targets with analytical sensitivities of between 1 and 100 DNA copies. The plasmids could be used as positive controls. False-positive results due to contamination by the positive control were easily detected by sequencing and eliminated by digestion with NotI.
CONCLUSION
Plasmid A and B can be used as positive controls in molecular assays for the detection of bioterrorism agents in clinical specimens or environmental samples. Plasmid C can be used as a positive control in differentiation of vesicular rashes. It is also possible to avoid or to ensure immediate detection of false positive results due to contamination by positive controls using these plasmids. These plasmids and the corresponding primers and probes are immediately available for all clinical microbiology laboratories provided they have molecular amplification equipment. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5903 | Molecular detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) in highly fragmented DNA from cervical cancer biopsies using double-nested PCR.
Archived Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens can be a valuable source of human papillomavirus (HPV) nucleic acids for molecular biological analyses in retrospective studies. Although successful amplification with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is essential for analysis of HPV DNA extracted from cervical FFPE specimens, extensive DNA damage due to cross-linking and fragmentation results in poor yield. Therefore, techniques to improve the diagnostic rate and sensitivity from FFPE tissues through PCR is highly desired and of wider interest. To overcome this, a highly sensitive double-nested PCR methodology was designed and optimized for limited-resource laboratories coupled with an organic extraction of DNA. This method allows the detection of a broad range of HPV genotypes and also allowing the sequencing of the final amplicon. Validation of the new approach developed was done with an automated DNA extraction coupled with Real Time PCR. Results showed that the proposed method achieves 96.3% of HPV detection as compared to 100% Abbott m2000rt used as 'gold standard'. Moreover, the concordance rate between the two methods was equal for detecting HPV -16 or -18 genotypes. Nevertheless, the newly introduced assay has an advantage of: •Simultaneously identifying broad range of HPV genotypes besides HPV-16 and -18 from clinical samples.•It is an easy and cost-effective method that can be beneficial in resource-limited setting and can be employed for various molecular applications.•The method is indicated for highly degraded FFPE samples. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5904 | Dermatobia hominis: Potencial risk of resistance to macrocyclic lactones.
Dermatobia hominis is an ectoparasite that infests various species of mammals, including cattle, impairing the quality of cowhides and leather. After observing natural infestation with D. hominis larvae in cattle on two farms in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, we evaluated the efficacy of two macrocyclic lactones, ivermectin and moxidectin, against this parasite. The drugs were administered to 10 animals in each group, following the manufacturer's instructions. The groups were: Group 1-treated with ivermectin (0.2mg/kg of body weight (BW)); Group 2-treated with moxidectin (0.2mg/kg BW); and Group 3-control (untreated). On the farm in Pardinho, a total of 12 and 16 live larvae were found in 6 and in 8 animals 10 days after the treatment with ivermectin and moxidectin, respectively, while in the control group 4 bovines had a total of 7 live larvae. On the farm in Anhembi, 2, 4 and 6 live larvae were extracted from ivermectin, moxidectin and control groups, respectively, after the treatment. This is the first report of the presence of live D. hominis larvae after the treatment of cattle with ivermectin and moxidectin in Brazil. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5905 | Types of injuries by selected characteristics.
Estimates of the number of injuries, by type of injury, are presented by age, sex, race, geographic region, place of residence, class of accident, place of accident, and other socioeconomic and health variables. The numbers of days of restricted activity and bed disability due to injuries, by sex and type of injury, are also included. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5906 | Measurement of aortic compliance in abdominal aortic aneurysms before and after open and endoluminal repair: preliminary results.
PURPOSE
To assess aortic wall compliance as a portent of rupture risk in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.
METHODS
In this pilot study, 38 patients (32 men; median age 78 years, range 63-95) underwent an ultrasound scan: 20 pre-repair and 24 post-repair (18 endovascular [EVR] and 6 open). Six patients from the pre-repair group were included in a post repair study after EVR. Cine loop images were analyzed offsite using wall tracking software, which measured aortic diameter changes during cardiac cycles. Brachial blood pressure was measured, and elastic modulus (Ep) and stiffness (beta) were calculated. Preop Ep and beta were determined at the neck, inflection points (IP), and mid sac levels. Postop Ep and beta were calculated in mid sac only for technical reasons.
RESULTS
Preoperative Ep and beta were significantly higher at IP compared with neck (median Ep 24.22 versus 12.95 N/cm(2), p<0.003; median beta 16.27 versus 8.65, p<0.003). At the mid sac, Ep and beta were also significantly higher compared with neck: Ep 26.41 versus 12.95 N/cm(2), p=0.001; beta 17.94 versus 8.65, p=0.001. The values for IP and mid sac were Ep 24.22 versus 26.41 N/cm(2), p=0.64; beta 16.27 versus 17.94, p=0.64. In the postop cases (n=24), Ep and beta in successful endovascular repair (n=12) were significantly higher than in open repair, respectively: median Ep 34.31 versus 12.33 N/cm(2), p<0.001; median beta 23.18 versus 8.24, p<0.001. Patients with endoleaks or endotension (n=6) had significantly elevated Ep and beta compared with those without endoleaks (n=12): median Ep 79.79 versus 34.31 N/ cm(2), p=0.002; median beta 51.52 versus 23.18, p<0.002. Six patients scanned before and after EVR showed a decrease of Ep and beta in 3, no change in 1, and an increase in 2. An increase greater than 2 fold was noted in a patient with a gross type II endoleak.
CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study shows that estimates of aortic wall compliance agree well with known values for wall stress distribution. EVR leaves patients with greater wall stiffness than those undergoing open repair, a situation accentuated by endoleaks. Wall compliance and stiffness measurement promises to be useful for the evaluation of success of endovascular repair. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5907 | Social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: A two-wave study of Danish students.
Societal lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed everyday life across the globe, including requirements of social distancing that might limit the social support people derive from social interaction. Social support has proven to be a vital resource for well-being (i.e., perceived stress and satisfaction with life) and coping during societal challenges. The present study examined how social support is associated with perceived stress and life satisfaction through self-efficacy and self-esteem among Danish students (N = 204). These psychological constructs were examined both during and after lockdown, assessing the possible aversive psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results did not yield any significant changes in either the mean scores of the constructs or the indirect effects model across the two time points. Moreover, the results indicate that social support derived from a significant person, family, and friends - but not student peers - is negatively linked with perceived stress and positively associated with life satisfaction through both self-efficacy and self-esteem. Although societal lockdown did not yield significant psychological impact, the results highlight the importance of social support among students, both during and after lockdown. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5908 | Effect of atrial fibrillation on plasma galectin-3 and soluble CD40 ligand levels in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To reveal the significance of plasma galectin-3 and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) levels in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) combined with atrial fibrillation.
METHODS
In this case-control study, the case group comprised 60 patients with ICM combined with atrial fibrillation and the control group comprised patients with ICM without atrial fibrillation. Plasma galectin-3 and sCD40L levels, left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular diameter (LVD) were compared.
RESULTS
The plasma galectin-3 and sCD40L levels, LAD, and LVD were higher and the LVEF was lower in the case than control group. In the case group, the plasma galectin-3 and sCD40L levels were positively correlated with the LAD and LVD but negatively correlated with the LVEF. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the plasma galectin-3 and sCD40L levels in the diagnosis of ICM combined with atrial fibrillation was 0.857 (95% confidence interval, 0.792-0.923) and 0.724 (95% confidence interval, 0.634-0.814), respectively.
CONCLUSION
The plasma galectin-3 and sCD40L levels are significantly elevated in patients with ICM combined with atrial fibrillation. Although both may have predictive value in the diagnosis of ICM combined with atrial fibrillation, galectin-3 may have the higher predictive value. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5909 | GABAA receptor subunit expression changes in the rat cerebellum and cerebral cortex during aging.
Significant aging-related decreased expression of various GABAAR subunit mRNAs (alpha 1, gamma 2, beta 2, beta 3 and sigma) was found in both cerebellum and cerebral cortex using quantitative dot blot and in situ hybridization techniques. Contrary to the other subunits, the alpha 6 mRNA expression was significantly increased in the aged cerebellum. Parallel age-related changes in protein expression for gamma 2 and beta 2/3 (decrease) and alpha 6 (increase) were revealed in cerebellum by quantitative immunocytochemistry. However, no significant changes in alpha 1 protein expression nor in the number or affinity of [3H]zolpidem binding sites were detected in cerebellum even though alpha 1 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the aged rat. Age-related increased expression of alpha 6 mRNA and protein in the cerebellum was accompanied by no significant changes in the number of diazepam-insensitive [3H]Ro15-4513 binding sites. In the cerebral cortex, no changes in the protein expression of the main GABAA receptor subunits (alpha 1, gamma 2 and beta 2/3) were observed which contrasted with the age-related decreased expression of the corresponding mRNAs. No significant changes in the number or affinity of [3H]zolpidem binding sites were observed in the cerebral cortex. Thus, age-related changes in the mRNA expression of a particular subunit does not necessarily lead to similar changes in protein or assembly into mature GABAA receptors. The results reveal the existence of complex regulatory mechanisms of GABAA receptor expression, at the transcriptional, translational and post-translational and/or assembly levels, which vary with the subunit and brain area. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5910 | High-fidelity simulation increases pharmacy resident perceived competence during medical emergencies.
INTRODUCTION
Our objective was to assess postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy resident perceived competence during medical emergencies before and after implementation of a longitudinal simulation training curriculum.
METHODS
At the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center, PGY1 pharmacy residents serve as primary code team responders for code blue, code sepsis, and code stroke, among other medical emergencies. In 2015, the UCSF Residency Training Program implemented a longitudinal simulation curriculum for PGY1 pharmacy residents. Throughout the residency year, residents participated in four simulation lab sessions that addressed various medical emergencies. To assess the impact that the simulation curriculum had on resident perceived competence during medical emergencies, a 19-question survey (13 clinical questions and six control questions) was distributed to the residents at the end of the residency year. Resident responses from the 2015 to 2016 and 2016 to 2017 surveys were compared to a control residency class from 2014 to 2015 who did not undergo the simulation curriculum.
RESULTS
Simulation-trained PGY1 pharmacy residents reported significantly greater perceived competence in five of the twelve medical emergency scenarios (acute coronary syndromes, symptomatic bradycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, and cardiac arrest) as compared to non-simulation-trained controls. In addition, the PGY1 pharmacy residents felt that their performance as a clinical pharmacist would significantly improve as a result of the simulation curriculum.
CONCLUSIONS
Incorporation of a longitudinal simulation curriculum into PGY1 pharmacy resident training can positively impact resident self-reported competence when performing essential pharmacist functions during medical emergencies. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5911 | The Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2 as a Target for Phytochemicals against Coronavirus.
In late December 2019, the first cases of COVID-19 emerged as an outbreak in Wuhan, China that later spread vastly around the world, evolving into a pandemic and one of the worst global health crises in modern history. The causative agent was identified as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although several vaccines were authorized for emergency use, constantly emerging new viral mutants and limited treatment options for COVID-19 drastically highlighted the need for developing an efficient treatment for this disease. One of the most important viral components to target for this purpose is the main protease of the coronavirus (Mpro). This enzyme is an excellent target for a potential drug, as it is essential for viral replication and has no closely related homologues in humans, making its inhibitors unlikely to be toxic. Our review describes a variety of approaches that could be applied in search of potential inhibitors among plant-derived compounds, including virtual in silico screening (a data-driven approach), which could be structure-based or fragment-guided, the classical approach of high-throughput screening, and antiviral activity cell-based assays. We will focus on several classes of compounds reported to be potential inhibitors of Mpro, including phenols and polyphenols, alkaloids, and terpenoids. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5912 | Pre-BCR signals and the control of Ig gene rearrangements.
Progenitor B lymphocytes that successfully assemble a heavy chain gene encoding an immunoglobulin capable of pairing with surrogate light chain proteins trigger their own further differentiation by signaling via the pre-BCR complex. The pre-BCR signals several rounds of proliferation and, in this expanded population, directs a complex, B cell-specific set of epigenetic changes resulting in allelic exclusion of the heavy chain locus and activation of the light chain loci for V(D)J recombination. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5913 | Energy-efficient Organization of Wireless Sensor Networks with Adaptive Forecasting.
Due to the wide potential applications of wireless sensor networks, this topic has attracted great attention. The strict energy constraints of sensor nodes result in great challenges for energy efficiency. This paper proposes an energy-efficient organization method. The organization of wireless sensor networks is formulated for target tracking. Target localization is achieved by collaborative sensing with multi-sensor fusion. The historical localization results are utilized for adaptive target trajectory forecasting. Combining autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model and radial basis function networks (RBFNs), robust target position forecasting is performed. Moreover, an energyefficient organization method is presented to enhance the energy efficiency of wireless sensor networks. The sensor nodes implement sensing tasks are awakened in a distributed manner. When the sensor nodes transfer their observations to achieve data fusion, the routing scheme is obtained by ant colony optimization. Thus, both the operation and communication energy consumption can be minimized. Experimental results verify that the combination of ARMA model and RBFN can estimate the target position efficiently and energy saving is achieved by the proposed organization method in wireless sensor networks. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5914 | Changes in human cultured cells exposed to a perfluorocarbon emulsion.
A perfluorocarbon emulsion (Fluosol-DA, 20%) produced persistent cytotoxic changes and growth inhibition in fibroblast-like human cells. After 18 hours of exposure to culture medium containing 4 percent of this perfluorochemical emulsion, normal embryonic lung fibroblasts (IMR 90 cells) and their SV40 virus-transformed counterparts (AG 2804 cells) ceased proliferation and showed degenerative changes, even if Fluosol was washed off the cell monolayer and replaced with normal medium. The morphological manifestations of Fluosol cytotoxicity included cytoplasmic vacuolation of varying but frequently marked degree. These findings raised concerns about the use of perfluorochemicals in patients until safe dose limits can be established. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5915 | Plasma concentrations of regulatory peptides in obesity following modified sham feeding (MSF) and a liquid test meal.
Plasma concentrations of regulatory peptides were monitored in groups of obese and normal-weight subjects following modified sham feeding and a liquid fatty meal. Following modified sham feeding a significant increase in immunoreactive cholecystokinin (CCK) in plasma was recorded in both groups. In the obese subjects, however, the concentrations following sham feeding were significantly lower than in normal-weight subjects, and the initial part of the response was negative. Basal and modified sham feeding stimulated immunoreactive pancreatic polypeptide (PP) concentrations in plasma did not differ between the groups. After the liquid fatty meal plasma CCK concentrations increased similarly in both groups. In contrast immunoreactive neurotensin and somatostatin concentrations following the meal were lower in the obese group, and a changed concentration-time pattern for somatostatin was observed in the obese group. Postprandial concentrations of PP and immunoreactive gastrin were not different in the groups. The results indicate that the plasma concentration patterns of CCK, somatostatin and NT are disarranged in obesity. The changes may promote rapid propulsion and absorption of ingested food, and facilitate deposition of fat in adipose tissue in obesity and thus may be of pathophysiological importance. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5916 | Preparation of peptide microspheres using tumor antigen-derived peptides.
Due to its distinct biological attributes, poly(D,L lactide-co glycolide) (PLGA) is one of the most preferred methods for DNA/protein/peptide encapsulation for therapeutics. Importantly, PLGA acts as an adjuvant for weakly immunogenic antigens and mimics booster responses after a single dose of administration, thereby serving as a single-shot vaccine delivery vehicle. Efficient delivery of antigens to antigen-presenting cells (APC) has been made possible by the use of a PLGA particle-based vaccine delivery system. Also, the plasma half-life of the PLGA-encapsulated vaccine increases as it is protected from degradation, prior to its further release. PLGAs are reported to be catabolized into individual nontoxic units once inside the host and further degraded via normal metabolic pathways. In this chapter, we have described the preparation and characterization of tumor peptide encapsulated PLGA microparticles as a model for controlled-release peptide delivery system. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5917 | CXC motif chemokine receptor 4 gene polymorphism and cancer risk.
BACKGROUND
Previous epidemiological studies have reported the relationship between CXC motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) synonymous polymorphism (rs2228014), and risk of cancer, but the results remained conflicting and controversial. Therefore, this study was devised to evaluate the genetic effects of the rs2228014 polymorphism on cancer risk in a large meta-analysis.
METHODS
The computer-based databases (EMBASE, Web of Science, and PubMed) were searched for all relevant studies evaluating rs2228014 and susceptibility to cancer. In the analysis, pooled odds ratios (ORs) with its corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in 5 genetic models to assess the genetic risk. Egger regression and Begg funnel plots test were conducted to appraise the publication bias.
RESULTS
Data on rs2228014 polymorphism and overall cancer risk were available for 3684 cancer patients and 5114 healthy controls participating in 11 studies. Overall, a significantly increased risk of cancer was associated with rs2228014 polymorphism in homozygote model (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.22-3.33) and in recessive model (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.23-3.16). When stratified by ethnicity, the results were positive only in Asian populations (heterozygote model: OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.13-1.65; homozygote model: OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.21-4.91; dominant model: OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.13-1.90; recessive model: OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.13-4.48; and allele model: OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.10-1.99). Besides, in the subgroup analysis by source of control, the result was significant only in population-based control (homozygote model: OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.06-5.40; recessive model: pooled OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.02-4.96).
CONCLUSION
In general, our results first indicated that the rs2228014 polymorphism in CXCR4 gene is correlated with an increased risk of cancer, especially among Asian ethnicity. Large, well-designed epidemiological studies are required to verify the current findings. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5918 | HIV-1 Tat mediates degradation of RON receptor tyrosine kinase, a regulator of inflammation.
HIV encodes several proteins, including Tat, that have been demonstrated to modulate the expression of receptors critical for innate immunity, including MHC class I, mannose receptor, and beta(2)-microglobulin. We demonstrate that Tat targets the receptor tyrosine kinase recepteur d'origine nantais (RON), which negatively regulates inflammation and HIV transcription, for proteosome degradation. Tat decreases cell surface RON expression in HIV-infected monocytic cells, and Tat-mediated degradation of RON protein is blocked by inhibitors of proteosome activity. Tat specifically induced down-regulation of RON and not other cell surface receptors, such as the transferrin receptor, the receptor tyrosine kinase TrkA, or monocytic markers CD14 and ICAM-1. The Tat trans activation domain is required for RON degradation, and this down-regulation is dependent on the integrity of the kinase domain of RON receptor. We propose that Tat mediates degradation of RON through a ubiquitin-proteosome pathway, and suggest that by targeting signals that modulate inflammation, Tat creates a microenvironment that is optimal for HIV replication and progression of AIDS-associated diseases. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5919 | Faltering lemming cycles reduce productivity and population size of a migratory Arctic goose species.
The huge changes in population sizes of Arctic-nesting geese offer a great opportunity to study population limitation in migratory animals. In geese, population limitation seems to have shifted from wintering to summering grounds. There, in the Arctic, climate is rapidly changing, and this may impact reproductive performance, and perhaps population size of geese, both directly (e.g. by changes in snow melt) or indirectly (e.g. by changes in trophic interactions). Dark-bellied brent geese (Branta bernicla bernicla L.) increased 20-fold since the 1950s. Its reproduction fluctuates strongly in concert with the 3-year lemming cycle. An earlier analysis, covering the growth period until 1988, did not find evidence for density dependence, but thereafter the population levelled off and even decreased. The question is whether this is caused by changes in lemming cycles, population density or other factors like carry-over effects. Breeding success was derived from proportions of juveniles. We used an information-theoretical approach to investigate which environmental factors best explained the variation in breeding success over nearly 50 years (1960-2008). We subsequently combined GLM predictions of breeding success with published survival estimates to project the population trajectory since 1991 (year of maximum population size). In this way, we separated the effects of lemming abundance and population density on population development. Breeding success was mainly dependent on lemming abundance, the onset of spring at the breeding grounds, and the population size of brent goose. No evidence was found for carry-over effects (i.e. effects of conditions at main spring staging site). Negative density dependence was operating at a population size above c. 200 000 individuals, but the levelling off of the population could be explained by faltering lemming cycles alone. Lemmings have long been known to affect population productivity of Arctic-nesting migratory birds and, more recently, possibly population dynamics of resident bird species, but this is the first evidence for effects of lemming abundance on population size of a migratory bird species. Why lemming cycles are faltering in the last two decades is unclear, but this may be associated with changes in winter climate at Taimyr Peninsula (Siberia). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5920 | DHA and EPA reverse cystic fibrosis-related FA abnormalities by suppressing FA desaturase expression and activity.
Patients and models of cystic fibrosis (CF) exhibit consistent abnormalities of polyunsaturated fatty acid composition, including decreased linoleate (LA) and docosahexaenoate (DHA) and variably increased arachidonate (AA), related in part to increased expression and activity of fatty acid desaturases. These abnormalities and the consequent CF-related pathologic manifestations can be reversed in CF mouse models by dietary supplementation with DHA. However, the mechanism is unknown. This study investigates this mechanism by measuring the effect of exogenous DHA and eicosapentaenoate (EPA) supplementation on fatty acid composition and metabolism, as well as on metabolic enzyme expression, in a cell culture model of CF. We found that both DHA and EPA suppress the expression and activity of Δ5- and Δ6-desaturases, leading to decreased flux through the n-3 and n-6 PUFA metabolic pathways and decreased production of AA. The findings also uncover other metabolic abnormalities, including increased fatty acid uptake and markedly increased retroconversion of DHA to EPA, in CF cells. These results indicate that the fatty acid abnormalities of CF are related to intrinsic alterations of PUFA metabolism and that they may be reversed by supplementation with DHA and EPA. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5921 | Saving the ischemic penumbra: potential role for statins and phosphodiesterase inhibitors.
Ischemic stroke is the third cause of death and the most common cause of neurological disability. A main target of treatment is the still salvageable tissue surrounding the core of infarction and called "ischemic penumbra". Up to now the only drug approved for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke is recombinant tissue plasminogen activator to achieve early arterial recanalization and hypoxic tissue reperfusion and improve neural function. However, thrombolytic therapy has to be administered soon after the event since its efficacy is time dependent. This intervention also carries an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation. In the rescue of poorly perfused cerebral regions an important role is played by collateral blood supply through the circle of Willis and through small pial vessels surrounding the lesion. The extent of collateralization is variable and at least in part regulated by the modulation of arteriolar nitric oxide (NO)-dependent endothelial function. Drugs that can improve endothelial function and cerebrovascular reactivity could have a role in collateral formation and infarct volume limitation. Statins affect endothelial NO production demonstrating their potential to influence endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and in treating stroke. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors improve functional recovery after stroke in rats enhancing neuro and synapto genesis and increasing guanosine 3,5-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). The aim of this review is to highlight the potential of these two classes of drugs in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke by analysing their pharmacological effects and involvement in the NO and cGMP pathways. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5922 | A second zone of compensation during atrial premature stimulation: evidence for decremental conduction in the sinoatrial junction.
125 consecutive patients with premature atrial stimulation were studied. Three demonstrated sinus node return cycles that were fully compensatory following premature atrial stimuli delivered early in diastole. This second zone of compensation was unaccompanied by significant alterations in the post-return cycle lengths or in P-wave morphology of the return cycle. To account for the occurrence of a complete compensatory pause following very early premature atrial depolarizations, we consider the possibility that retrograde conduction of the early atrial premature depolarization (APD) in the sinoatrial junction was delayed for a sufficient length of time to allow the sinus node to depolarize spontaneously on schedule. Collision between the APD and sinus beat would then occur despite the marked prematurity of the APD. Thus, the early APD had encountered the relative refractory period of the sinoatrial junction, suggesting that decremental conduction takes place within the sinoatrial region in man. These findings imply that there is the potential for reentry in the region of the human sinoatrial junction. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5923 | A molecular phylogeny of Hypnales (Bryophyta) inferred from ITS2 sequence-structure data.
BACKGROUND
Hypnales comprise over 50% of all pleurocarpous mosses. They provide a young radiation complicating phylogenetic analyses. To resolve the hypnalean phylogeny, it is necessary to use a phylogenetic marker providing highly variable features to resolve species on the one hand and conserved features enabling a backbone analysis on the other. Therefore we used highly variable internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences and conserved secondary structures, as deposited with the ITS2 Database, simultaneously.
FINDINGS
We built an accurate and in parts robustly resolved large scale phylogeny for 1,634 currently available hypnalean ITS2 sequence-structure pairs.
CONCLUSIONS
Profile Neighbor-Joining revealed a possible hypnalean backbone, indicating that most of the hypnalean taxa classified as different moss families are polyphyletic assemblages awaiting taxonomic changes. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5924 | Intrarenal distribution of the colonic H,K-ATPase mRNA in rabbit.
BACKGROUND
Evidence suggests that the colonic H,K-ATPase isoform is expressed in the kidney and that a mRNA species highly homologous to the rat and guinea pig HKalpha2 is expressed in the cortical collecting duct (CCD) of the rabbit. The goals of this study were to determine if this mRNA is the rabbit homologue of HKalpha2 or a novel isoform and to determine intrarenal distribution of the HKalpha2 mRNA in rabbit.
METHODS
5'-RACE and Dye Deoxy Terminator chemistry were used to determine the full-length sequence of the rabbit HKalpha2 mRNA. The intrarenal distribution of HKalpha2 mRNA was determined in microdissected nephron segments, connecting tubule (CNT), and CCD cells isolated by immunodissection, as well as in the three cell types of the CCD. Principal cells and alpha- and beta-intercalated cells were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. HKalpha2 mRNA levels were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or single-nephron RT-PCR (SN-RTPCR).
RESULTS
The full-length sequence of the rabbit kidney HKalpha2 mRNA was determined. This transcript is identical to the one expressed in rabbit distal colon. In microdissected nephron segments, strong HKalpha2 amplicons were present in the CNT, CCD, and outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD), whereas no signal was detected in the proximal tubule, distal convoluted tubule, think ascending limb, and inner medullary collecting duct. Roughly comparable levels of HKalpha2 mRNA were present in all three CCD cell types, and the highest levels were observed in a subpopulation most likely corresponding to CNT cells.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the HKalpha2 mRNA is expressed in rabbit collecting duct is identical in size and sequence to the one expressed in rabbit distal colon. HKalpha2 mRNA in the rabbit kidney is selectively expressed in the CNT, CCD, and OMCD, and all three collecting duct subtypes express its mRNA. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5925 | [Acute eye damage from ultraviolet radiation].
The eyes of rabbits were UV-irradiated in a range close to the natural spectrum at a dose of 23.2 kJ/m2 (biologically effective dose 1.3 kJ/m2). The condition of optic media was estimated, as well as the parameters of electroretinogram (ERG) induced by single light stimulus of varying intensity and paired light stimuli with different intervals between them. As a result a distinct photokeratoconjunctivitis developed, the amplitude of the ERG a-wave decreased by 30-50% and that of b-wave by 35%, while the latencies of the both waves and the critical frequency of flashes remained unchanged. The cornea transparency did not decrease markedly even during the period of maximum photokeratoconjunctivitis and the changes in the ERG parameters were mostly due to the retina damage by the indirect effect of UV irradiation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5926 | The cardiovascular response to birth asphyxia is altered by the surrounding environment.
BACKGROUND
A sustained bradycardia is used as a major indicator of severe perinatal asphyxia. However, lambs asphyxiated ex utero do not exhibit the same bradycardic response as lambs asphyxiated in utero. It is possible that the local in utero environment may influence the initial cardiovascular response to asphyxia. We assessed the effect of facial immersion in water on the cardiovascular response to birth asphyxia.
METHODS
Pregnant ewes (138±1 days gestation) were anaesthetised and fetuses were exteriorised and instrumented for measurement of cardiopulmonary haemodynamics. The lamb's head either remained in air (n=5) or was placed in water that was either warm (40±1°C; n=5) or at room temperature (21±1°C; n=5) before the umbilical cord was clamped to induce asphyxia.
RESULTS
Heart rate after bradycardia onset was reduced in lambs asphyxiated with their head in cool water (-34±2%) and warm water (-25±4%) compared with those in air (-11±5%; p<0.05). Similarly, the decrease in blood pressure was faster in lambs with water around the face compared with those in air. From 75 s after asphyxia onset, mean and end-diastolic carotid blood flow was higher in the group asphyxiated in air (25±4 mL/kg/min), compared with the groups in water (13±3 mL/kg/min, warm water; 16±2 mL/kg/min, cool water; p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The cardiovascular response to birth asphyxia is altered by the presence and temperature of water surrounding the head. The previous understanding of the vagally mediated bradycardia associated with birth asphyxia may include components of the diving reflex. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5927 | Avian eggshell coloration predicts shell-matrix protoporphyrin content.
Avian eggshell pigmentation may provide information about a female's physiological condition, in particular her state of oxidative balance. Previously we found that female house wrens (Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, 1809) with lighter, less-maculated, and redder ground-colored shells were older and produced heavier offspring than females laying darker, browner eggs. The strong pro-oxidant protoporphyrin is responsible for this species' eggshell pigmentation, so differences in pigmentary coloration may be related to eggshell protoporphyrin content and reflect female oxidative balance and condition during egg-formation. Therefore, we tested the assumption that egg-surface coloration is related to the amount of protoporphyrin in the shell matrix. We analyzed digital photographs of eggs to determine maculation coverage as a measure of the overall ground coloration of the egg and its red-, green-, and blue-channel pixel values. Pigments were then extracted from these same eggs and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. There was a strong, positive relationship between eggshell redness and protoporphyrin content of eggshells, but no relationship between percent maculation and protoporphyrin content. Thus, when older, larger females deposit more protoporphyrin in their eggshells, this may reflect a tolerance for high levels of circulating protoporphyrin or an effective mechanism for off-loading protoporphyrin into the eggshell matrix. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5928 | Transcranial color-coded real-time sonographic criteria for occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in acute ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Transcranial color-coded real-time sonography (TCCS) is a useful tool to evaluate disease of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). This study was undertaken to identify TCCS criteria for the diagnosis of MCA stem and MCA branch occlusions.
METHODS
TCCS and digital subtraction angiography were performed in 55 consecutive patients with acute stroke: 10 with MCA stem occlusion, the MO group; eight with MCA branch occlusion, the MB group; and 37 with nonocclusive lesions, the control group. We measured the end-diastolic velocity (EDV) of the bilateral MCA stems and calculated the end-diastolic ratio by dividing the EDV of the unaffected side by that of the affected side.
RESULTS
EDV was highest in the control group, and end-diastolic ratio was highest in the MO group. An EDV of >25 cm/s indicated a nonocclusive lesion in the MCA, with a positive predictive value of 98.4%, a negative predictive value of 81.0%, and an accuracy of 93.9%. An EDV of <or=25 cm/s with an end-diastolic ratio of <2.7 indicated an MCA branch occlusion with a positive predictive value of 85.7%, a negative predictive value of 97.2%, and an accuracy of 95.3%. An EDV of <or=25 cm/s with an end-diastolic ratio of >or=2.7 indicated MCA stem occlusion with a positive predictive value of 100%, a negative predictive value of 100%, and an accuracy of 100%.
CONCLUSION
We developed TCCS criteria for the diagnosis of MCA diseases. MCA flow velocity detected by means of TCCS can help identify MCA stem occlusion as well as MCA branch occlusion. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5929 | Porous graphitic carbon nanosheets derived from cornstalk biomass for advanced supercapacitors.
Porous graphitic carbon nanosheets (PGCS) are synthesized by an in situ self-generating template strategy based on the carburized effect of iron with cornstalks. Cornstalks firstly coordinate with [Fe(CN)(6)](4-) ions to form the cornstalk-[Fe(CN)(6)](4-) precursor. After carbonization and removal of the catalyst, PGCS are obtained. Series experiments indicate that PGCS can only be formed when using an iron-based catalyst that can generate a carburized phase during the pyrolytic process. The unique structures of PGCS exhibit excellent capacitive performance. The PGCS-1-1100 sample (synthesized from 0.1 M [Fe(CN)(6)](4-) with a carbonization temperature of 1100 °C), which shows excellent electrochemical capacitance (up to 213 F g(-1) at 1 A g(-1)), cycling stability, and rate performance in 6 M KOH electrolyte. In the two-electrode symmetric supercapacitors, the maximum energy densities that can be achieved are as high as 9.4 and 61.3 Wh kg(-1) in aqueous and organic electrolytes, respectively. Moreover, high energy densities of 8.3 and 40.6 Wh kg(-1) are achieved at the high power density of 10.5 kW kg(-1) in aqueous and organic electrolytes, respectively. This strategy holds great promise for preparing PGCS from natural resources, including cornstalks, as advanced electrodes in supercapacitors. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5930 | DC-SIGN reacts with TLR-4 and regulates inflammatory cytokine expression via NF-κB activation in renal tubular epithelial cells during acute renal injury.
In the pathological process of acute kidney injury (AKI), innate immune receptors are essential in inflammatory response modulation; however, the precise molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Our study sought to demonstrate the inflammatory response mechanisms in renal tubular epithelial cells via Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) and dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing non-integrin 1 (DC-SIGN) signalling. We found that DC-SIGN exhibited strong expression in renal tubular epithelial cells of human acute renal injury tissues. DC-SIGN protein expression was increased significantly when renal tubular epithelial cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for a short period. Furthermore, DC-SIGN was involved in the activation of p65 by TLR-4, which excluded p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK). Interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression was decreased after DC-SIGN knock-down, and LPS induced endogenous interactions and plasma membrane co-expression between TLR-4 and DC-SIGN. These results show that DC-SIGN and TLR-4 interactions regulate inflammatory responses in renal tubular epithelial cells and participate in AKI pathogenesis. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5931 | Impact of different leaf velocities and dose rates on the number of monitor units and the dose-volume-histograms using intensity modulated radiotherapy with sliding-window technique.
BACKGROUND
Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using sliding window technique utilises a leaf sequencing algorithm, which takes some control system limitations like dose rates (DR) and velocity of the leafs (LV) into account. The effect of altering these limitations on the number of monitor units and radiation dose to the organs at risk (OAR) were analysed.
METHODS
IMRT plans for different LVs from 1.0 cm/sec to 10.0 cm/sec and different DRs from 100 MU/min to 600 MU/min for two patients with prostate cancer and two patients with squamous cell cancer of the scalp (SCCscalp) were calculated using the same "optimal fluence map". For each field the number of monitor units, the dose volume histograms and the differences in the "actual fluence maps" of the fields were analysed.
RESULTS
With increase of the DR and decrease of the LV the number of monitor units increased and consequentially the radiation dose given to the OAR. In particular the serial OARs of patients with SCCscalp, which are located outside the end position of the leafs and inside the open field, received an additional dose of a higher DR and lower LV is used.
CONCLUSION
For best protection of organs at risk, a low DR and high LV should be applied. But the consequence of a low DR is both a long treatment time and also that a LV of higher than 3.0 cm/sec is mechanically not applicable. Our recommendation for an optimisation of the discussed parameters is a leaf velocity of 2.5 cm/sec and a dose rate of 300-400 MU/min (prostate cancer) and 100-200 MU/min (SCCscalp) for best protection of organs at risk, short treatment time and number of monitor units. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5932 | Comparison of the immunogenicity and safety of pentavalent vaccine Quinvaxem in a compact prefilled auto-disabled (cPAD) injection system versus single-dose vials in healthy infants: a phase 3, open-label, randomized, parallel-group, non-inferiority study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate non-inferiority of three doses of Quinvaxem in a compact prefilled auto-disabled (cPAD) injection system versus Quinvaxem in a single-dose vial administered with conventional syringe in terms of seroconversion/seroprotection rates for all antibodies (anti-hepatitis B (HB), anti-Haemophilus influenzae type b polyribosylribitol phosphate (Hib PRP), anti-diphtheria, anti-tetanus, anti-Bordetella pertussis) at 1 month after primary vaccination.
METHODS
Four hundred healthy infants aged 42-65 days were randomized (1:1) to receive Quinvaxem in cPAD or single-dose vial at 6, 10, and 12 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected before vaccination and at 1 month after the third dose to determine seroconversion/seroprotection rates. Safety was assessed from solicited and unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events (SAEs).
RESULTS
Of the 400 infants randomized, 395 (98.8%) received all three vaccine doses. In the cPAD vs. single-dose vial groups, seroprotection rates against Hib PRP (both 98.5%), HB (92.9% vs. 93.4%), diphtheria (100% vs. 99%), and tetanus toxoids (both 100%), and seroconversion against B. pertussis (95.4% vs. 97%) were ≥92% at 1 month after the third vaccination (lower limits of 95% confidence intervals simultaneously greater than -10%). Geometric mean concentrations exceeded seroprotection/seroconversion thresholds by large margins. The incidences of induration and erythema were comparable between the groups; tenderness was slightly higher in the cPAD group (85.5% vs. 76.5%). No vaccine-related SAEs occurred.
CONCLUSIONS
Quinvaxem in cPAD was non-inferior to single-dose vial with respect to seroprotection/seroconversion rates for all antibodies. Both presentations were well-tolerated. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5933 | Renal handling of calcium in the early newborn period.
Urinary calcium excretion was studied in two matched groups of 28 clinically-well preterm and fullterm infants between 24 and 48 hours of life. In the developmental period from 28 to 40 weeks gestation, urinary calcium excretion was positively correlated to the gestational age (r = 0.583, P less than 0.01), serum calcium levels (r = 0.512, P less than 0.01), the rate of glomerular filtration (r = 0.715, P less than 0.001), and urinary cyclic AMP excretion (r = 0.717, P less than 0.001). Urinary calcium excretion was independent of sodium and calcium intake, and urinary sodium and phosphate excretion. The mean fractional total calcium excretion and fractional ionized calcium excretion in babies less than or equal to 32 weeks was less than 1.0%, compared to greater than 2.5% for sodium. Serum calcium levels were positively correlated with gestational age (r = 0.803, P less than 0.001), and serum phosphate levels (r = 0.85, P less than 0.001). Whole blood ionized calcium levels were positively correlated to gestational age (r = 0.625, P less than 0.001), and serum total calcium levels (r = 0.440, P less than 0.05). The newborn kidney in babies less than or equal to 32 weeks gestation, did not have impaired conservation of calcium as for sodium; and neither sodium nor calcium intake appeared to affect urinary calcium excretion in the well newborn infant. Probably neither excess excretion of calcium nor serum phosphate levels contribute to early neonatal hypocalcemia. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5934 | The neurologic evaluation of patients with low-tension glaucoma.
One hypothesized cause of low-tension glaucoma is chronic or intermittent ischemia of the optic nerve. Since the optic nerve and brain are both parts of the central nervous system and share a common blood supply, the authors wondered if patients with low-tension glaucoma might also have clinical or radiographic evidence of cerebral atrophy. In this study, 27 patients with low-tension glaucoma were examined using neurobehavioral testing, electroencephalography, computerized tomographic scan, neurological history, and physical examination. In only a small number of patients were these tests abnormal. However, 12 of the 27 patients gave a history of common or classic migraine. This unexpected finding raises the possibility that migraine-related ischemia might be the pathogenic mechanism in some cases of low-tension glaucoma. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5935 | A general approach for the microrheology of cancer cells by atomic force microscopy.
The determination of the viscoelastic properties of cells by atomic force microscopy (AFM) is mainly realized by looking at the relaxation of the force when a constant position of the AFM head is maintained or at the evolution of the indentation when a constant force is maintained. In both cases the analysis rests on the hypothesis that the motion of the probe before the relaxation step is realized in a time which is much smaller than the characteristic relaxation time of the material. In this paper we carry out a more general analysis of the probe motion which contains both the indentation and relaxation steps, allowing a better determination of the rheological parameters. This analysis contains a correction of the Hertz model for large indentation and also the correction due to the finite thickness of the biological material; it can be applied to determine the parameters representing any kind of linear viscoelastic model. This approach is then used to model the rheological behavior of one kind of cancer cell called Hep-G2. For this kind of cell, a power law model does not well describe the low and high frequency modulus contrary to a generalized Maxwell model. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5936 | Reactive processes in gas phase Na(+)-iso-C3H7Cl collisions: experimental guided-ion-beam and ab initio studies of the reactions on the ground singlet potential surface of the system up to 12.00 eV.
Reactive processes, taking place when sodium ions collide with neutral iso-C(3)H(7)Cl molecules in the 0.02-12.00 eV range of energies in the center of mass frame, have been studied using an octopole radiofrequency guided-ion-beam apparatus developed in our laboratory. A dehydrohalogenation reaction channel leading to Na(C(3)H(6))(+) formation has been observed up to 1.00 eV while another process producing NaHCl(+) continues up to 4.00 eV. Furthermore, C(3)H(7)(+) formation resulting from decomposition of the reactants, ion-molecule adducts, has also been observed as well as its decomposition into C(2)H(3)(+) on increasing collision energy. Cross-section energy dependences for all these reactions have been obtained in absolute units. The ab initio electronic structure calculations have been done at the MP2 level for the colliding system ground singlet potential surface, giving information on the reactive surface main topological features. From the surface reactants side to the products' one, different potential wells and barriers have been characterized and their connectivity along the reaction evolution has been established using the intrinsic-reaction-coordinate method, thus interpreting the dynamical evolution of the reactants' collision complex to products. Experimental results demonstrate that NaHCl(+) can be produced via different channels. Reaction rate constants at 308.2 K for both dehydrohalogenation reactions have been calculated from measured excitation functions. It has been also confirmed that the reactants adduct decomposition giving C(3)H(7)(+) and NaCl takes place on the same potential surface. A qualitative interpretation of the experimental results in terms of ab initio calculations is also given. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5937 | Avian antigen binding cells: enrichment methods.
Data are presented comparing different methods for the fractionation and enrichment, respectively, of specific antigen binding lymphoid cells from immunized chickens. The bovine serum albumin (BSA) anti-BSA system was chosen as a model. To enrich avian antigen binding cells (ABC) from a mixture of chicken peripheral blood and spleen lymphocytes 3 different methods were used: (1) separation of cells forming rosettes with antigen-coated sheep red blood cells (SRBC) from non-rosetting cells by density centrifugation; (2) isolation of ABC by their specific adherence to antigen bound to immunoadsorptive surfaces (gelatin, plastics); (3) column affinity chromatography with antigen-coated agarose, cross-linked dextran for plastic beads. The most efficient method was column affinity chromatography with antigen-coated polyacrylamide beads which affords up to 12-fold enrichment of ABC. Both the other methods are also suitable for separation and enrichment of specific ABC but can only with difficulty be adapted for processing the large numbers of cells which would be necessary, e.g., for in vivo transfer studies. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5938 | Genome Sequence of the Sponge-Associated Ruegeria halocynthiae Strain MOLA R1/13b, a Marine Roseobacter with Two Quorum-Sensing-Based Communication Systems.
Ruegeria halocynthiae MOLA R1/13b is an alphaproteobacterium isolated from the Mediterranean sea sponge Crambe crambe. We report here the genome sequence and its annotation, revealing the presence of quorum-sensing genes. This is the first report of the full genome of a Ruegeria halocynthiae strain. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5939 | Inclusion kinetics of a nucleotide into a cyclodextrin cavity by means of ultrasonic relaxation.
To examine a dynamic interaction between nucleotide and cyclic oligosaccharide, ultrasonic absorption measurements were carried out in aqueous solution containing beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) in the frequency range of 0.8-95 MHz. A relaxational absorption was observed in the solution, although it was not found in the individual solution of beta-CD or AMP. From the concentration dependences of AMP on the relaxation time and the maximum absorption per wavelength, the cause of the relaxation was attributed to a perturbation of a chemical equilibrium associated with a complex formation between beta-CD (host) and AMP (guest). The rate constants for the formation and breakup processes of the complex were determined. Also, a standard volume change of the reaction was obtained. From comparisons of the obtained rate and thermodynamic parameters with those for beta-CD and various guests, it has been concluded that the adenine moiety is included in the beta-CD cavity and that the hydrogen bonds may play a role in the complex formation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5940 | Prospective association between dietary pesticide exposure profiles and type 2 diabetes risk in the NutriNet-Santé cohort.
BACKGROUND
Studies focusing on dietary pesticides in population-based samples are scarce and little is known about potential mixture effects. We aimed to assess associations between dietary pesticide exposure profiles and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) among NutriNet-Santé cohort participants.
METHODS
Participants completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire at baseline, assessing conventional and organic food consumption. Exposures to 25 active substances used in European Union pesticides were estimated using the Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Stuttgart residue database accounting for farming practices. T2D were identified through several sources. Exposure profiles were established using Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), adapted for sparse data. Cox models adjusted for known confounders were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI), for the associations between four NMF components, divided into quintiles (Q) and T2D risk.
RESULTS
The sample comprised 33,013 participants aged 53 years old on average, including 76% of women. During follow-up (median: 5.95 years), 340 incident T2D cases were diagnosed. Positive associations were detected between NMF component 1 (reflecting highest exposure to several synthetic pesticides) and T2D risk on the whole sample: HRQ5vsQ1 = 1.47, 95% CI (1.00, 2.18). NMF Component 3 (reflecting low exposure to several synthetic pesticides) was associated with a decrease in T2D risk, among those with high dietary quality only (high adherence to French dietary guidelines, including high plant foods consumption): HRQ5vsQ1 = 0.31, 95% CI (0.10, 0.94).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest a role of dietary pesticide exposure in T2D risk, with different effects depending on which types of pesticide mixture participants are exposed to. These associations need to be confirmed in other types of studies and settings, and could have important implications for developing prevention strategies (regulation, dietary guidelines).
TRIAL REGISTRATION
This study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03335644 ). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5941 | Electrocardiographic assessment for therapeutic proteins--scientific discussion.
Electrocardiographic monitoring is an integral component of the clinical assessment of cardiac safety of all compounds in development. The International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use E14 guideline recommends a dedicated study to evaluate drug-induced effects on cardiac repolarization ("thorough QT/QTc study"). There has been limited published information on QT interval changes secondary to therapeutic proteins; however, in theory, biologic therapies may affect cardiac electrical activity either directly or indirectly. This article summarizes scientific discussions of members of the Cardiac Safety Research Consortium and includes possible approaches to consider for the clinical evaluation of drug-induced QT prolongation in development programs of therapeutic proteins. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5942 | Psychiatric rehabilitation: a breath of fresh air in a turbulent health-care environment.
1. Some of the new factors influencing our practice are managed care, outcome measures, financial incentives, consumer empowerment, civil liberties, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 2. We must step forward to grasp these new concepts and make them our own, to maintain our role as effective leaders in the area of community-based psychiatric-mental health care. 3. Incorporating principles of psychiatric rehabilitation into nursing practice creates opportunities to strengthen relationships and create partnerships among consumers of mental health services and their families, nurses, and other providers. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5943 | Sleep-disordered breathing: radiofrequency thermal ablation is a promising new treatment possibility.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and morbidity of radiofrequency thermal ablation of the soft palate in subjects with sleep-disordered breathing.
STUDY DESIGN
Prospective, nonrandomized study. Outpatient treatment and an extended follow-up time of 12 months.
METHODS
Twenty-one healthy men who were 18 to 60 years of age (median age, 44 y) with sleep-disordered breathing were enrolled to the study. All the patients had habitual snoring for at least 1 year that was associated with excessive daytime sleepiness interfering with social or professional activities. Radiofrequency energy was delivered to the soft palate in two treatment sessions separated by 1 week at 460 +/- 1 kHz with an energy delivery of 600 and 300 J. Snoring Score, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and cephalometric analysis were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Certain inflammatory laboratory parameters and visual analogue scale scores of symptoms were measured related to the procedure.
RESULTS
The changes in Snoring Score and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores were statistically significant. The change in the length of the soft palate was statistically significant, whereas the change in palatal width was not. There were no notable changes in the laboratory parameters. The symptom visual analogue scores were low and transient, resolving within days.
CONCLUSIONS
The radiofrequency thermal ablation of the soft palate in patients with sleep-disordered breathing seems to be effective. It is safe and associated with only a low morbidity. The promising results must be confirmed in a placebo-controlled study with a larger sample size and a long-term follow-up. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5944 | Enabling hydrate-based methane storage under mild operating conditions by periodic mesoporous organosilica nanotubes.
Biomethane is a renewable natural gas substitute produced from biogas. Storage of this sustainable energy vector in confined clathrate hydrates, encapsulated in the pores of a host material, is a highly promising avenue to improve storage capacity and energy efficiency. Herein, a new type of periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) nanotubes, referred to as hollow ring PMO (HR-PMO), capable of promoting methane clathrate hydrate formation under mild working conditions (273 K, 3.5 MPa) and at high water loading (5.1 g water/g HR-PMO) is reported. Gravimetric uptake measurements reveal a steep single-stepped isotherm and a noticeably high methane storage capacity (0.55 g methane/g HR-PMO; 0.11 g methane/g water at 3.5 MPa). The large working capacity throughout consecutive pressure-induced clathrate hydrate formation-dissociation cycles demonstrates the material's excellent recyclability (97% preservation of capacity). Supported by ex situ cryo-electron tomography and x-ray diffraction, HR-PMO nanotubes are hypothesized to promote clathrate hydrate nucleation and growth by distribution and confinement of water in the mesopores of their outer wall, along the central channels of the nanotubes and on the external nanotube surface. These findings showcase the potential for application of organosilica materials with hierarchical and interconnected pore systems for pressure-based storage of biomethane in confined clathrate hydrates. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5945 | Combined resection of the pancreas and inferior vena cava for pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma.
Indications for pancreatic resections for metastatic disease have not yet been defined to date, and few guidelines exist for the management of these lesions. However, most authors recommend surgery as the treatment of choice for pancreatic metastasis (PM). Resection of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is rarely done during removal of peripancreatic cancer. This report presents the first case of metachronous PM from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with IVC involvement successfully treated by en-bloc resection in a 70-year-old asymptomatic woman. The abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a 4.0-cm mass in the tail and a 5.0-cm mass in the head of the pancreas with a suspected involvement of vena cava. An en-bloc total pancreatectomy was performed with excision of the involved portion of the cava vein. Histology confirmed the presence of two metastases from RCC with neoplastic infiltration of the IVC and without lymph node involvement. All surgical margins were tumor-free. At most recent follow-up 12 months after pancreatectomy, the patient has no evidence of disease. We believe that a multidisciplinary approach and careful evaluation and treatment of these patients is a mandatory component for patient selection. IVC resection should be performed only when a margin-negative resection is expected to be achieved. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5946 | Conformal field theory of the Flory model of polymer melting.
We study the scaling limit of a fully packed loop model in two dimensions, where the loops are endowed with a bending rigidity. The scaling limit is described by a three-parameter family of conformal field theories, which we characterize via its Coulomb-gas representation. One choice for two of the three parameters reproduces the critical line of the exactly solvable six-vertex model, while another corresponds to the Flory model of polymer melting. Exact central charge and critical exponents are calculated for polymer melting in two dimensions. Contrary to predictions from mean-field theory we show that polymer melting, as described by the Flory model, is continuous. We test our field theoretical results against numerical transfer matrix calculations. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5947 | The effect of walnut rolling training on hand function and corticospinal tract.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the effect of the walnut rolling training for two weeks on the hand function and corticospinal tract (CST) in normal subjects.
METHODS
Seventeen right-handed normal subjects performed walnut rolling training with their non-dominant (left) hand, with the right hand defined as the control side. The walnut rolling training was performed three times daily, for 30 minutes at a time, over two weeks. The Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT), tip pinch and grip strength (GS) were used evaluate the change of hand function, and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) evaluated change of the CST and transcallosal fibers for the hand motor somatotopy.
RESULTS
All of the clinical scores in terms of PPT, tip pinch and GS increased significantly in the post-training (PPT: 16.59±1.09, tip pinch: 5.03±2.18, GS: 40.61±10.99) in the left hand compared with pre-training (PPT: 14.94±1.36, tip pinch: 3.66±1.44, GS: 33.58±11.08) (P<0.05). By contrast, the clinical scores for the right hand did not differ significantly between pre- (PPT: 16.25±1.98, tip pinch: 5.75±2.26, GS: 37.58±14.61) and post-training (PPT: 16.97±1.67, tip pinch: 5.66±2.31, GS: 37.82±14.25). The fiber numbers (FN) of the right CST increased significantly in post-training DTT (2,123.05±529.07) compared with pre-training DTT (1,734.73±581.84) (P<0.05), whereas fractional anisotropy (FA) (pre-training: 0.50±0.02, post-training: 0.51±0.01) did not change significantly. Neither FA nor FN of the left CST and transcallosal fibers changed significantly from pre- (FA: 0.44±0.02, FN: 1,871.15±636.36) to post-training DTTs (FA: 0.45±0.03, FN: 1,823.84±701.14).
CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated improvement of hand function and facilitation of the contralateral CST by walnut rolling training in normal subjects. Our results suggest that walnut rolling training can be used for improvement of hand function and facilitation of the contralateral CST. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5948 | Influence of Temperature on Seed Germination of Five Wild-Growing Tulipa Species of Greece Associated with Their Ecological Profiles: Implications for Conservation and Cultivation.
Although tulips are famous worldwide as ornamental plants, the knowledge about the seed germination of wild-growing species remains limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of temperature on seed germination of the local, wild-growing Greek endemics Tulipa bakeri and T. goulimyi and the sub-Balkan endemic T. undulatifolia, which are threatened with extinction, as well as the Mediterranean T. australis and the Asiatic T. clusiana naturalized on Chios Island (Greece). The germination responses at five constant temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 °C) were assessed for all studied species in growth chambers under a 12:12 light-dark photoperiod. The ecological profile for each species was developed in R using open-source bioclimatic data; this was built to illustrate the abiotic environmental conditions of their wild habitats, to facilitate the examination of temperature effects on seed germination, and to facilitate their cultivation in artificial environments. The results indicated that the seed germination requirements of the studied species had a range-specific temperature dependence, reflecting their natural adaptation to local ecological conditions. Seed germination of T. bakeri, T. australis, and T. clusiana was observed only in a narrow range of very low temperatures (5-10 °C), whereas germination of T. undulatifolia and T. goulimyi occurred at temperatures between 5 and 15 °C. A temperature increase to 20 or 25 °C resulted in the absence of seed germination for all five Greek tulip species. The germinated seeds were planted in pots and bulblets were developed under greenhouse conditions. Seeds and bulblets constitute valuable genetic materials for the cultivation and ex situ conservation of these five Greek tulip species, three of which are threatened with extinction. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5949 | Peripheral blood admixture in bone marrow aspirates.
A simple method is described by which the degree to which a bone marrow aspirate is diluted with peripheral blood, the admixture of peripheral blood leukocytes in the aspirate, and the true cellularity of bone marrow at the aspiration site can be estimated quantitatively. A highly significant correlation is shown to exist between the true bone marrow cellularity and the number of hemopoietic cells in the bone marrow aspirate. This correlation can be described by an exponential regression equation (r = 0.6997; p less than or equal to 0.001). The degree of bone marrow dilution with peripheral blood does not depend on the initial bone marrow cellularity and is devoid of diagnostic value. It fluctuates over a wide range (1.2- to 6.3-fold). The admixture of peripheral blood leukocytes has been found to be small (0.05%-9.7%) in most cases studied and much higher in those cases where the cellularity is low while the dilution is high. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5950 | Bone marrow transplantation restores immune system function and prevents lymphoma in Atm-deficient mice.
Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a human autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). A-T is characterized by progressive cerebellar degeneration, variable immunodeficiency, and a high incidence of leukemia and lymphoma. Recurrent sino-pulmonary infections secondary to immunodeficiency and hematopoietic malignancies are major causes of morbidity and mortality in A-T patients. In mice, an introduced mutation in Atm leads to a phenotype that recapitulates many of the symptoms of A-T, including immune system abnormalities and susceptibility to malignancy. Here we show that the replacement of the bone marrow compartment in Atm knockout mice (Atm(-/-)) using a clinically relevant, nonmyeloablative host-conditioning regimen can be used to overcome the immune deficiencies and prevent the malignancies observed in these mice. Therefore, bone marrow transplantation may prove to be of therapeutic benefit in A-T patients. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5951 | Impact of denture usage patterns on dietary quality and food avoidance among older adults.
This study categorizes older adults living in rural areas by denture status, assesses the frequency of wearing dentures during meals, and determines whether denture status or use is associated with dietary quality or the number of foods avoided. A multi-ethnic population-based sample of adults ≥60 years (N = 635) in the rural United States was interviewed. Survey included denture use, removing dentures before eating, and foods avoided due to oral health problems. Dietary intakes were converted into Healthy Eating Index-2005 scores. Sixty percent wore removable dentures of some type; 55% never, 27% sometimes, and 18% always removed dentures when eating. More frequent removal was associated with lower dietary quality and more foods avoided. Those with severe tooth loss had the lowest dietary quality and avoided the most foods. Many rural older adults wear dentures. Learning how they adapt to denture use will offer insight into their nutritional self-management and help explain differences in dietary quality. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5952 | A metazoan-specific C-terminal motif in EXC-4/CLIC and Ga-Rho/Rac signaling regulate cell outgrowth during tubulogenesis in C. elegans.
Chloride intracellular channels (CLICs) are conserved proteins whose cellular and molecular functions remain mysterious. An important insight into CLIC function came from the discovery that C. elegans EXC-4/CLIC regulates morphogenesis of the excretory canal (ExCa) cell, a single-cell tube. Subsequent work showed that mammalian CLICs regulate vascular development and angiogenesis, and human CLIC1 can rescue exc-4 mutants, suggesting conserved function in biological tube formation (tubulogenesis) and maintenance. However, the cell behaviors and signaling pathways regulated by EXC-4/CLICs during tubulogenesis in vivo remain largely unknown. We report a new exc-4 mutation, affecting a C-terminal residue conserved in virtually all metazoan CLICs, that revealed a specific role for EXC-4/CLIC in ExCa outgrowth. Cell culture studies suggest a function for CLICs in heterotrimeric G-protein (Ga/b/g)-Rho/Rac signaling, and Rho-family GTPases are common regulators of cell outgrowth. Using our new exc-4 mutant we describe a previously unknown function for Ga-encoding genes (gpa-12/Ga12/13, gpa-7/Gai, egl-30/Gaq, and gsa-1/Gas), ced-10/Rac, and mig-2/RhoG in EXC-4-mediated ExCa outgrowth. Our results demonstrate that EXC-4/CLICs are primordial players in Ga-Rho/Rac-signaling-a pathway critical for tubulogenesis in C. elegans and in vascular development. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5953 | Assessment of forest cover and carbon stock changes in sub-tropical pine forest of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan using multi-temporal Landsat satellite data and field inventory.
This study aimed at estimating temporal (1989-2018) change in forest cover, carbon stock and trend in corresponding CO2 emissions/sequestration of a sub-tropical pine forest (STPF) in AJK, Pakistan. Our field inventory estimation shows an average above ground biomass (AAGB) accumulation of 0.145 Kt/ha with average carbon stock (ACS) value of 0.072 Kt/ha. Landsat TM, ETM+ and OLI images of 1989, 1993, 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2018 were used to extract vegetation fractions through Linear Spectral Mixture Analysis (LSMA) and forest area was calculated for respective years. Based on the forest area and estimated ACS value, the biomass carbon stock with corresponding CO2 emissions/sequestration was worked out for each time and change in forest carbon stock was determined for different time periods from 1989 to 2018. Our analysis shows net increase of 561 ha in forest cover and 40.39 Kt of ACS along with increase in corresponding CO2 sequestrations of 147.83 Kt over the study period. The results based on combination of remote sensing and field inventory provide valuable information and scientific basis to plan and ensure sustainable forest management (SFM) through reforestation, protection and conservation to enhance and maintain adequate forest cover and reduce CO2 emissions. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5954 | Continual Improvement of the Reliability of EML4-ALK Rearrangement Detection in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Long-Term Comparison of ALK Detection in China.
The results of EML4-ALK testing are critical to manage ALK tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor treatment. Thus, the accurate detection of ALK rearrangement is increasingly becoming a matter of serious concern. To address this issue, a long-term EML4-ALK proficiency testing (PT) scheme was launched in China in 2015, serving as an educational tool for assessing and improving the testing quality of EML4-ALK fusion detection. Responses across 20 different PT samples interrogating three different variants and wild-type samples were collected between 2015 and 2019. Performance was analyzed by evaluating the detection methods, kits, and pre-analytic practices used to further display the landscape of changing conditions of the reliability of EML4-ALK testing. During the 5 years, 3224 results reported from 988 laboratories were evaluated, with an overall error rate of 5.36%. Along with an increasing number of participating laboratories, the error rate within each of the different methods showed a significantly downward trend over the years. No obvious differences in the error rates were found regarding the testing methods or kit manufacturers. Moreover, the individual performance of the laboratories improved when they participated in more PT scheme rounds. The data demonstrated that the performance of individual Chinese laboratories for EML4-ALK testing continuously improved over time by participating PT schemes, regardless of their method. However, care must be taken in standardized operations and validations. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5955 | Zebrafish as a model system to study heritable skin diseases.
Heritable skin diseases represent a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations due to mutations in ∼500 different genes. A number of model systems have been developed to advance our understanding of the pathomechanisms of genodermatoses. Zebrafish (Danio rerio), a freshwater vertebrate, has a well-characterized genome, the expression of which can be easily manipulated. The larvae develop rapidly, with all major organs having largely developed by 5-6 days post-fertilization, including the skin which consists at that stage of the epidermis comprising two cell layers and separated from the dermal collagenous matrix by a basement membrane zone. Here, we describe the use of morpholino-based antisense oligonucleotides to knockdown the expression of specific genes in zebrafish and to examine the consequent knockdown efficiency and skin phenotypes. Zebrafish can provide a useful model system to study heritable skin diseases. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5956 | Mesquite pod (Prosopis juliflora) meal on meat quality of pasture-finishing lambs.
This study was carried out to validate the inclusion of up to 750 g/kg of mesquite pod (Prosopis juliflora) meal in the diet and evaluate the effects on carcass characteristics and meat quality for lambs finished in pasture. Forty male, non-castrated, crossbred Santa Inês lambs, with an initial body weight (24.2 ± 3.1 kg), and approximately 120 days old were used. The animals were kept in a total area of 4 ha, divided in four paddocks of 0.62 ha each (10 animals/paddocks), on pastures of Massai (Panicum maximum cv. Massai) with drinkers and feeders during the finishing phase. Dietary treatments based on mesquite pod meal inclusion levels (g/kg of dry matter): CON, without mesquite pod meal; MPM25, 250 g/kg of mesquite pod meal; MPM50, 500 g/kg of mesquite pod meal; and MPM75, 750 g/kg of mesquite pod meal. No treatment effect were detected (P > 0.05) for carcass measures, carcass characteristics, chemical composition of longissimus thoracis muscle, tissue composition, and lipid oxidation. Lamb meat color values, such as lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*), were not affected (P > 0.05) by mesquite pod meal inclusion on the diets, whereas for redness (a*), HUE-angle, and chroma were influenced (P < 0.05). Palmitic acid had a quadratic effect, while oleic acid, eicosatrienoic acid, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and PUFA:SFA had a linear course (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the mesquite pod meal can be used as an energy feed source up to 750 g/kg of dry matter in the diet, without changing the carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs finished in pasture. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5957 | Blockage of ultrafast and directional diffusion of Li atoms on phosphorene with intrinsic defects.
The diffusion of Li in electrode materials is a key factor for the charging/discharging rate capacity of a Li-ion battery (LIB). Recently, two-dimensional phosphorene has been proposed as a very promising electrode material due to its ultrafast and directional lithium diffusion, as well as large energy capacity. Herein, on the basis of density functional theory, we report that intrinsic point defects, including vacancy and stone-wales defects, will block the directional ultrafast diffusion of lithium in phosphorene. On the defect-free phosphorene, diffusion of Li along the zig-zag lattice direction is 1.6 billion times faster than along the armchair lattice direction, and 260 times faster than that in graphite. After introducing intrinsic vacancy and stone-wales defect, the diffusion energy barrier of Li along the zig-zag lattice direction increases sharply to the range of 0.17-0.49 eV, which blocks the ultrafast migration of lithium along the zig-zag lattice direction. Moreover, the open circuit voltage increases with the emergence of defects, which is not suitable for anode materials. In addition, the formation energies of the defects in phosphorene are considerably lower than those in graphene and silicene sheet; therefore, it is highly important to generate defect-free phosphorene for LIB applications. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5958 | The influence of fallopian tube length on fertility in the rabbit.
The correlation between the length of the oviduct and degree of fertility was studied in 16 New Zealand White rabbits subjected to microsurgical resection of differing lengths of fallopian tube involving the isthmus in each case. A highly significant (P less than 0.005) linear correlation was found, suggesting that more than 47% of an oviduct must remain distally before fertility can be anticipated. Absence of the isthmic segment of the fallopian tube was found to be associated with supracervical fetal implantations in the uterus. The importance of the assessment of tubal length as a prelude to reconstructive surgery, especially for reversal of sterilization, is emphasized. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5959 | Carbonaceous resin capsule for vapor-phase monitoring of volatile hydrocarbons in soil: partitioning and kinetic model verification.
The resin capsule system (RCS) was tested as a means of providing data on the presence and forms of volatile hydrocarbons. Results indicated that resin capsules provided data showing sensitivity to soil variables (texture and moisture content) and time. The objectives of this paper are to evaluate the RCS methodology and to determine whether carbonaceous resin capsules provide results that can be described by fundamental chemical partitioning and kinetic principles. Findings revealed a significant relationship between quantities of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene adsorbed on the capsule and quantities partitioned into the vapor phase. Kinetic evaluation indicated that the vapor adsorption by the resin capsule is regulated by diffusion processes. No verification of rate-limiting processes was possible due to limitations imposed by the experimental design, but it appears that during early stages, adsorption rate was limited by vapor diffusion through the soil. The resin capsule data also reflected differences that would be expected due to properties of the organic liquids present. These results provide further evidence that the RCS could be developed to suggest direct in situ monitoring to reveal quantities and nature of organic substances in soils. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5960 | Tuberous sclerosis: a Golgi study of cortical tuber.
The cytoarchitecture and fine structure of seven cortical tubera were studied by means of camera lucida drawings and Golgi sections in the coronal, sagittal, and tangential planes. Varied structural disorganization was observed in different tubera. Cytoarchitectural study revealed the absence of laminar and columnar cortical organization, whereas Golgi's method showed abnormal neuronal orientation and distribution. Pyramidal neurons manifested malrotation and orientation of the apical dendrites in aberrant directions. Large numbers of stellate cells in addition to medium-sized and small pyramids predominated in the intermediate and deep regions of the tubera. A generalized but focally accentuated disorder of cell migration and neuronal organization is postulated. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5961 | The association between urinary lgM excretion and diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients.
BACKGROUND
Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the most common causes of blindness among adults. Microvascular complications may have common origins. The objective of the present study is to analyze the correlation between urinary IgM excretion and diabetic retinopathy based on the type of diabetes.
METHODS
The present study is cross-sectional analytic and was carried out on 140 type2 diabetic patients (of which 70 patients diagnosed with retinopathy) and 76 type1 diabetic patients (of which 37 patients diagnosed with retinopathy). For every patient in each of the test groups, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, creatinin and HbA1c tests were done. The value of IgM, the albumin- to- creatinine ratio and the urine analysis test were also used to rule out the significant proteinuria of the patients. Then, IgM Index was measured using the following equation: Igm Index = Urine IgM/Urine Cr.
RESULTS
The level of IgM index in the diabetic patients (type1 and type2) had no significant correlation with retinopathy. Cut point = 1.49, sensitivity = 0.703 and specificity = 0.308 in type1 diabetes were used for screen retinopathy. In type1 diabetic patients, the duration of diabetes had a significant correlation with urinary protein while in type 2 diabetic patients, the diabetes duration and HbA1c were significantly correlated with retinopathy.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study demonstrate that the level of urinary IgM in diabetic patients has no difference in those who have or lack retinopathy, but the urinary IgM level of more than 1.49 mg/dl can be considered as a cut point in type1 diabetic patients to screen retinopathy. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5962 | Factors in the genetic background suppress the engrailed-1 cerebellar phenotype.
The mouse homeodomain protein, Engrailed-1, is generally viewed as an essential player in the early establishment and maintenance of the midbrain/hindbrain region that gives rise to the cerebellum and midbrain. In keeping with this, engineered null mutations at this locus have been reported to lead to perinatal lethality accompanied by near-total absence of cerebellar and caudal midbrain structures. We report here that these cerebellar phenotypes are nearly completely suppressed on a C57BL/6J genetic background. All cell types are present and arranged properly in both the cortex and the deep nuclei, and cell counts reveal no significant absence of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Folial patterns are nearly normal, although an apparent fusion of lobules IV and V is consistently noted. Significantly, no change in the Engrailed-2 mutant phenotype occurs after a similar background switch, and whole-mount in situ hybridization reveals identical En2 expression patterns in wild-type C57BL/6J and 129/Sv mice. One likely mechanism for the En1-/- phenotype suppression is a temporal and/or spatial change in the pattern of Engrailed-2 expression apparent only in the absence of Engrailed-1. In support of this, C57BL/6-En1-/- embryos that are also En2+/- lack a cerebellum and caudal midbrain: a phenotype identical to 129/Sv-En1-/- mice. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5963 | Far Lateral Approach for Resection of Transverse Ligament Cyst.
Objectives This study was aimed to describe a far lateral approach for microsurgical resection of a transverse ligament cyst, with emphasis on the microsurgical anatomy and technique. Design A far lateral craniotomy is performed in the lateral decubitus position. After opening the dura laterally, dural sutures are placed for retraction. A stitch placed through the dentate ligament is advantageous to rotate the spinal cord to allow access to the ventral cyst. The cyst is marsupirlized and mass effect on the spinal cord is relieved. Photographs of the region are borrowed from Dr Rhoton's laboratory to illustrate the microsurgical anatomy. Participants The first author performed the surgery and edited the video. Chart review and literature review were performed by the other authors. Outcome Measures Outcome was assessed with postoperative neurological function. Results The patient was discharged home after an uneventful hospital course. At short-term follow-up, the patient had a significant improvement in postoperative strength. Conclusion The far lateral approach provides an adequate corridor to the ventrolateral brainstem in combination with utilization of the dentate ligament to reach ventral cysts compressing the spinal cord. An adequate understanding of the relevant microsurgical anatomy is a key to safe surgery in this region. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/5MGVPO2Q2pI . | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5964 | Light interference from single atoms and their mirror images.
A single atom emitting single photons is a fundamental source of light. But the characteristics of this light depend strongly on the environment of the atom. For example, if an atom is placed between two mirrors, both the total rate and the spectral composition of the spontaneous emission can be modified. Such effects have been observed using various systems: molecules deposited on mirrors, dye molecules in an optical cavity, an atom beam traversing a two-mirror optical resonator, single atoms traversing a microwave cavity and a single trapped electron. A related and equally fundamental phenomenon is the optical interaction between two atoms of the same kind when their separation is comparable to their emission wavelength. In this situation, light emitted by one atom may be reabsorbed by the other, leading to cooperative processes in the emission. Here we observe these phenomena with high visibility by using one or two single atom(s), a collimating lens and a mirror, and by recording the individual photons scattered by the atom(s). Our experiments highlight the intimate connection between one-atom and two-atom effects, and allow their continuous observation using the same apparatus. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5965 | Impact of uterine closure on residual myometrial thickness after cesarean: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Incomplete healing of uterine scar after cesarean has been associated with adverse gynecological and obstetrical outcomes. Several studies reported that uterine closure at cesarean influences the healing of uterine scar and the risk of uterine rupture at subsequent pregnancies: the commonly used locked single-layer suture including the decidua being associated with a 4-fold increased risk of uterine rupture. However, data from randomized trials are lacking.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the impact of 3 techniques of uterine closure after cesarean delivery on uterine scar healing.
STUDY DESIGN
This was a 3-arm 1:1:1 randomized study in women with singleton pregnancies undergoing elective primary cesarean delivery at ≥38 weeks' gestation. Closure of the uterine scar was carried out by locked single layer including the decidua, double layer with locked first layer including the decidua, or double layer with unlocked first layer excluding the decidua. Primary outcome was residual myometrial thickness (RMT) at the site of the scar, measured by transvaginal ultrasound 6 months after delivery. Secondary outcome was the RMT as a percentage of the myometrial thickness above the scar (healing ratio). Intent-to-treat analyses using Student t test were performed to compare each double-layer technique to the single-layer closure, and P < .025 was considered significant.
RESULTS
Complete follow-up was obtained from 73 (90%) of the 81 participants. Compared to single-layer closure, double-layer closure with unlocked first layer was associated with thicker RMT (3.8 ± 1.6 mm vs 6.1 ± 2.2 mm; P < .001) and greater healing ratio (54 ± 20% vs 73 ± 23%; P = .004). In contrast, double-layer closure with locked first layer was not significantly different than single-layer closure in either RMT (4.8 ± 1.3; P = .032) or healing ratio (60 ± 21%; P = .287).
CONCLUSION
Double-layer closure with unlocked first layer is associated with better uterine scar healing than locked single layer. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5966 | Regulation of sugar metabolism in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings under arsenate toxicity and its improvement by phosphate.
The effect of arsenate with or without phosphate on the growth and sugar metabolism in rice seedlings cv. MTU 1010 was studied. Arsenate was found to be more toxic for root growth than shoot growth and water content of the seedlings gradually decreased with increasing concentrations. Arsenate exposure at 20 μM and 100 μM resulted in an increase in reducing sugar content and decrease in non-reducing sugar content. There was a small increase in starch content, the activity of starch phosphorylase was increased but α-amylase activity was found to be decreased. Arsenate toxicity also affected the activities of different carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes. The activities of sucrose degrading enzymes viz., acid invertase and sucrose synthase were increased whereas, the activity of sucrose synthesizing enzyme, viz. sucrose phosphate synthase declined. The combined application of arsenate with phosphate exhibited significant alterations of all the parameters tested under the purview of arsenate treatment alone which was congenial to better growth and efficient sugar metabolism in rice seedlings. Thus, the use of phosphorus enriched fertilizers may serve to ensure the production of healthy rice plants in arsenic contaminated soils. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5967 | Exploring the reactivity of manganese(III) complexes with diphenolate-diamino ligands in rac-lactide polymerization.
Manganese(III) complexes of tetradentate diphenolate-diamino (NNOO(2-)) ligands were prepared from aerobic reaction of MnCl2 with the respective ligands in basic methanolic solution. Methoxide complexes (NNOO)Mn(OMe)(MeOH)0-1 were obtained for three ligands, while others only provided the respective chloride complexes (NNOO)Mn(Cl)(MeOH). Complexes were analyzed by X-ray diffraction studies and octahedral complexes showed evidence of Jahn-Teller distortions. Magnetic moments determined in MeOD were indicative of high-spin Mn(III)-d(4) complexes (μeff = 4.2-4.6μB). Methoxide complexes were active in the coordination-insertion polymerization of rac-lactide (130 °C, 0.33-1.0 mol% catalyst loading) to yield atactic polylactic acid with moderate molecular weight control. Polymerization activity was reduced, but not suppressed by the presence of protic impurities. Chloride complexes showed less activity and only in the presence of external alcohol, indicative of an activated-monomer mechanism. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5968 | Surgical management of esophageal perforation: role of esophageal conservation in delayed perforation.
Definitive repair of esophageal perforation is considered the preferred treatment for patients presenting early (<24 hours). However, the optimal management of delayed presentation (>24 hours) has not been well defined. This study examined the management of esophageal perforation and compared the outcomes of early versus delayed presentation. Records of patients admitted with the diagnosis of esophageal perforation were reviewed. Contrast studies were used to confirm the diagnosis in all cases. Patient demographics and outcome were analyzed to determine differences between early and delayed presentation. A total of 22 cases of esophageal perforation were identified (eight early vs 14 delayed presentations). Operative interventions included primary repair (four), reinforced repair (14) either with intercostal muscle or pleural flap, and a complete esophageal resection (one). Debridement and drainage without repair were done in two patients and a proximal intramural tear was treated with antibiotics and observation. Two patients died during hospitalization. All surviving patients had near-normal restoration of esophageal function. Follow-up at 3 years has shown minimal gastrointestinal problems. One patient required repeat esophageal dilatations and two patients underwent antireflux therapy. Esophageal repair should be considered in all cases of nonmalignant esophageal perforation and should not be influenced by the time of presentation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5969 | Therapy of hypoventilation.
Hypoventilation can present as the primary manifestation or as a part of the clinical spectrum in a variety of diseases. It often goes unrecognized by clinicians and health care providers, especially if the presentation is subacute. If untreated, it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Some of the consequences of hypoventilation (e.g., cor pulmonale and pulmonary hypertension) may be irreversible. It becomes imperative that conditions commonly associated with hypoventilation (e.g., obesity hypoventilation syndrome, muscular dystrophy, and rigid chest wall diseases) be carefully evaluated and appropriate treatment implemented to prevent these complications. The ability to ventilate patients without invasive procedures is now available. These noninvasive therapies can be successfully implemented and are tolerated well by patients. The noninvasive positive pressure ventilation not only improves nocturnal hypoventilation during sleep but may improve muscle strength during the daytime. This review provides an overview of the treatment of hypoventilation in various diseases with emphasis on noninvasive positive pressure therapy. Treatment needs to be individualized to a given patient and the primary pathology. Success is impacted by the experience of the respiratory team caring for the patient. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5970 | Targeting triglycerides to lower residual cardiovascular risk.
INTRODUCTION
Dyslipidemia therapeutics have primarily focused on lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, many patients continue to experience cardiovascular events, despite effective lowering of LDL-C. This has prompted efforts to target additional risk factors to achieve more effective prevention of cardiovascular disease. Emerging evidence suggests that triglyceride rich lipoproteins play a causal role in atherosclerosis, highlighting the potential for specific therapeutic lowering.
AREAS COVERED
(1) Evidence to support the causal role of triglyceride rich lipoproteins in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. (2) Use of existing lipid modifying therapies to target triglyceride rich lipoproteins. (3) Development of novel therapeutic agents that target triglyceride rich lipoproteins and their potential impact on cardiovascular risk.
EXPERT OPINION/COMMENTARY
Evidence from preclinical, observational and genetic studies highlight the role of triglyceride rich lipoproteins in the causal pathway of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. A number of existing agents have the potential to reduce residual cardiovascular risk associated with hypertriglyceridemia. However, emerging agents have the potential to substantially and preferentially lower triglyceride levels beyond contemporary therapeutics. How they will modulate cardiovascular risk will ultimately be determined by large clinical outcomes trials. They do provide the opportunity to substantially influence the way we target dyslipidemia in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5971 | The SQV-1 UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase and the SQV-7 nucleotide-sugar transporter may act in the Golgi apparatus to affect Caenorhabditis elegans vulval morphogenesis and embryonic development.
Recent findings indicate that glycosaminoglycans can play important roles in animal development. The genes sqv-3, -7, and -8, which are necessary for vulval morphogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans, affect the biosynthesis of chondroitin and heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans. We cloned sqv-1 and showed that the SQV-1 protein is a type II transmembrane protein that functions as a UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase. SQV-1 localizes to punctate cytoplasmic compartments and colocalizes with the SQV-7 nucleotide-sugar transporter, which probably acts in the Golgi apparatus. SQV-1 and SQV-7 are both expressed in the vulva and in oocytes, where they likely act in vulval morphogenesis and embryonic development, respectively. Progeny of sqv-7 and sqv-1 null mutants fail to initiate cytokinesis, possibly because they are unable to separate the plasma membrane from the eggshell, a defect analogous to that of incomplete vulval invagination. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5972 | Fatal toxoplasmosis in a vinaceous Amazon parrot (Amazona vinacea).
Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in a vinaceous Amazon parrot based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The bird was prostrate on the bottom of the cage and died. Necropsy revealed edema and congestion of the lungs, cloudy air sacs, and mild hepatomegaly. Histopathology revealed severe pulmonary congestion and edema and interstitial mononuclear cell inflammation associated with many cysts containing bradyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii scattered throughout. The heart had mild multifocal lymphocytic myocarditis and free tachyzoites in the muscle fibers, and the kidneys had mild interstitial nephritis and a few cysts containing bradyzoites of T. gondii. Immunohistochemistry was negative for Sarcocystis falcatula and Neospora caninum and confirmed the protozoa as T. gondii. This is the first description of T. gondii in an endangered species ofa Brazilian psittacine. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5973 | Some facts about sleep relevant for Landau-Kleffner syndrome.
Our understanding of the neural mechanisms of non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) is steadily increasing. Given the intriguing activation of paroxysmal activity during NREM sleep in patients with Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS), a thorough characterization of commonalities and differences between the neural correlates of LKS paroxysms and normal sleep oscillations might provide useful information on the neural underpinning of this disorder. Especially, given the suspected role of sleep in brain plasticity, this type of information is needed to assess the link between cognitive deterioration and electroencephalography (EEG) paroxysms during sleep. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5974 | The Viability and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Hyaluronic Acid-Chitlac-Tracimolone Acetonide- β-Cyclodextrin Complex on Human Chondrocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of the complex triamcinolone acetonide-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (TA-CD) on in vitro inflamed primary human articular chondrocytes in the presence or absence of the mixture hyaluronic acid-Chitlac, a lactose-modified chitosan (HA-CTL).
DESIGN
Changes in cell viability and pro-inflammatory cytokines gene expression were analyzed in human chondrocytes using an in vitro model of macrophage-mediated inflammation. Human monocytes U937 were differentiated to macrophages by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The anti-inflammatory effects of the complex TA-CD and HA-CTL mixture were assessed on chondrocytes exposed for 24 hours to U937 conditioned medium (CM), by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis.
RESULTS
The TA-CD viability was enhanced by the presence of the HA-CTL mixture in chondrocyte cultures. The exposure of cells to CM significantly increased interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 gene expression, and when the complex TA-CD was added to the inflamed cells, gene transcription of cytokines was restored to near baseline values, both in the presence or in the absence of HA-CTL mixture.
CONCLUSION
The addition of HA-CTL mixture significantly attenuated cytotoxicity induced by TA and preserved the anti-inflammatory effects, thus confirming the chondroprotective role of the HA-CTL mixture. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5975 | Entrapped spinal nerve roots in a pseudomeningocoele as a complication of previous spinal surgery.
Pseudomeningocele is a rare but well recognised complication of lumbar surgery (microdiscectomy and laminectomy). Most of the patients tolerate the presence of the cyst well, however some present with back pain and spinal claudication, presumably due to neural compression. We report a case who presented following three operations (microdiscectomy, laminectomy and excision of a pseudomeningocele) with symptoms of spinal claudication and bilateral radicular pain. The cause of her pain was evident only at operation and was due to herniation of nerve roots through the dural defect. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5976 | Palliative Care in Heart Failure: The PAL-HF Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.
BACKGROUND
Advanced heart failure (HF) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. Conventional therapy may not sufficiently reduce patient suffering and maximize quality of life.
OBJECTIVES
The authors investigated whether an interdisciplinary palliative care intervention in addition to evidence-based HF care improves certain outcomes.
METHODS
The authors randomized 150 patients with advanced HF between August 15, 2012, and June 25, 2015, to usual care (UC) (n = 75) or UC plus a palliative care intervention (UC + PAL) (n = 75) at a single center. Primary endpoints were 2 quality-of-life measurements, the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) overall summary and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative Care scale (FACIT-Pal), assessed at 6 months. Secondary endpoints included assessments of depression and anxiety (measured via the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]), spiritual well-being (measured via the FACIT-Spiritual Well-Being scale [FACIT-Sp]), hospitalizations, and mortality.
RESULTS
Patients randomized to UC + PAL versus UC alone had clinically significant incremental improvement in KCCQ and FACIT-Pal scores from randomization to 6 months (KCCQ difference = 9.49 points, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.94 to 18.05, p = 0.030; FACIT-Pal difference = 11.77 points, 95% CI: 0.84 to 22.71, p = 0.035). Depression improved in UC + PAL patients (HADS-depression difference = -1.94 points; p = 0.020) versus UC-alone patients, with similar findings for anxiety (HADS-anxiety difference = -1.83 points; p = 0.048). Spiritual well-being was improved in UC + PAL versus UC-alone patients (FACIT-Sp difference = 3.98 points; p = 0.027). Randomization to UC + PAL did not affect rehospitalization or mortality.
CONCLUSIONS
An interdisciplinary palliative care intervention in advanced HF patients showed consistently greater benefits in quality of life, anxiety, depression, and spiritual well-being compared with UC alone. (Palliative Care in Heart Failure [PAL-HF]; NCT01589601). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5977 | Homozygous deletion of CDKN2A/2B is a hallmark of iron-induced high-grade rat mesothelioma.
In humans, mesothelioma has been linked to asbestos exposure, especially crocidolite and amosite asbestos, which contain high amounts of iron. Previously, we established a rat model of iron-induced peritoneal mesothelioma with repeated intraperitoneal injections of iron saccharate and an iron chelator, nitrilotriacetate. Here, we analyze these mesotheliomas using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and gene expression profiling by microarray. Mesotheliomas were classified into two distinct types after pathologic evaluation by immunohistochemistry. The major type, epithelioid mesothelioma (EM), originated in the vicinity of tunica vaginalis testis, expanded into the upper peritoneal cavity and exhibited papillary growth and intense podoplanin immunopositivity. The minor type, sarcomatoid mesothelioma (SM), originated from intraperitoneal organs and exhibited prominent invasiveness and lethality. Both mesothelioma types showed male preponderance. SMs revealed massive genomic alterations after aCGH analysis, including homozygous deletion of CDKN2A/2B and amplification of ERBB2 containing region, whereas EMs showed less genomic alterations. Uromodulin was highly expressed in most of the cases. After 4-week treatment, iron deposition in the mesothelia was observed with 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine formation. These results not only show two distinct molecular pathways for iron-induced peritoneal mesothelioma, but also support the hypothesis that oxidative stress by iron overload is a major cause of CDKN2A/2B homozygous deletion. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5978 | Comparative analysis of characteristics and outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients infected with different SARS-CoV-2 variants between January 2020 and April 2022 - A retrospective single-center cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the roll-out of vaccines and therapeutic agents, as well as the emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants, have shown significant effects on disease severity.
METHODS
Patients hospitalized at our center between January 2020 and April 2022 were attributed to subgroups depending on which SARS-CoV-2 variant was predominantly circulating in Germany: (i) Wild-type: January 1, 2020, to March 7, 2021, (ii) Alpha variant: August 3, 2021, to June 27, 2021, (iii) Delta variant: June 28, 2021, to December 26, 2021, and (iv) Omicron variant: December 27, 2021, to April 30, 2022.
RESULTS
Between January 2020 and April 2022, 1500 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections were admitted to the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. The rate of patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) decreased from 31.2% (n = 223) in the wild-type group, 28.5% (n = 72) in the Alpha variant group, 18.8% (n = 67) in the Delta variant group, and 13.4% (n = 135) in the Omicron variant group. Also, in-hospital mortality decreased from 20.6% (n = 111) in the wild-type group, 17.5% (n = 30) in the Alpha variant group, 16.8% (n = 33) in the Delta variant group, and 6.6% (n = 39) in the Omicron variant group. The median duration of hospitalization was similar in all subgroups and ranged between 11 and 15 days throughout the pandemic.
CONCLUSIONS
In-hospital mortality and rate of ICU admission among hospitalized COVID-19 patients steadily decreased throughout the pandemic. However, the practically unchanged duration of hospitalization demonstrates the persistent burden of COVID-19 on the healthcare system. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5979 | Properties of a thermoactive beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase (lichenase) from Clostridium thermocellum expressed in Escherichia coli.
A Clostridium thermocellum gene (licB) encoding a thermoactive 1,3-1,4-beta-glucanase (lichenase) with a molecular weight of about 35,000 was localized on a 1.5-kb DNA fragment by cloning and expression in E. coli. The enzyme acts on beta-glucans with alternating beta-1,3- and beta-1,4-linkages such as barley beta-glucan and lichenan, but not on beta-glucans containing only 1,3- or 1,4-glucosidic bonds. It is active over a broad pH range (pH 5-12) and has a temperature optimum around 80 degrees C. The C. thermocellum lichenase is unusually resistant against inactivation by heat, ethanol or ionic detergents. These properties make the enzyme highly suitable for industrial application in the mashing process of beer brewing. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5980 | Geometry of phage head construction.
The process of phage capsid assembly is reviewed, with particular attention to the probable role of curvature in helping to determine head size and shape. Both measures of curvature (mean curvature and Gaussian curvature, explained in Appendix I), should act best when the assembling shell is spherical, which could account for procapsids having this shape. Procapsids are also relatively thick, which should help head size determination by the mean curvature. The accessory role of inner and outer scaffolds in size determination and head nucleation is also reviewed. Nucleation failure generates various malformations, including non-closure, but the most common is the tube or polyhead, where the subunits' inherent curvature is expressed as a constant mean curvature. This induces lattice distortions that only partly understood. An extra tubular section in normal heads leads to the prolate shape, with a more complex and variable geometry. Newly assembled procapsids are both enlarged and toughened by the head transformation. In the procapsid the Gaussian curvature is uniformly distributed. But toughening tends to equalize bond lengths, so all the Gaussian curvature gets concentrated in the vertices, being zero elsewhere. This explains head angularization. Because of this change in Gaussian curvature, the regular subunit packing in the polyhedral head cannot be mapped onto the procapsid. This explains part of the hexon distortions found in this region. The implications of translocase-induced DNA twist, end rotation and the coiling of packaged DNA, are discussed. The symmetry mismatches between the head, connector and tail are discussed in relation to the possible alpha-helical structures of their DNA channels. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5981 | High efficacy of alectinib in a patient with advanced lung adenocarcinoma with 2 rare ALK fusion sites: a case report.
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusions have been identified in approximately 5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the standard first-line treatment for patients with ALK-positive (ALK+) advanced NSCLC. Along with widespread use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the molecular diagnosis of lung cancer, an increasing number of ALK fusion partners are being reported, with the majority being effective for ALK-TKIs. Here, we present the case of a 42-year-old female with no smoking history who was diagnosed with stage IVB lung adenocarcinoma. Two rare ALK fusions were detected simultaneously by NGS in this patient: latent transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 1 (LTBP1)-ALK and huntingtin-interacting protein 1 (HIP1)-ALK. HIP1-ALK fusion was also detected by further RNA sequencing, but LTBP1-ALK failed to give a positive signal. The patient received alectinib as first-line therapy and consequently achieved a good response. Progression-free survival (PFS) was more than 19 months, and the treatment with alectinib is ongoing currently. During treatment, clinical symptoms disappeared and no significant adverse events occurred. This is the first case report describing a patient with an NSCLC tumor harboring 2 rare ALK fusions who responded to alectinib. Our report enriches the knowledge of ALK fusion sites and provides an effective clinical basis for the screening of sensitive fusions. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5982 | Isolation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody, K1, reactive with ovarian cancers and normal mesothelium.
We have isolated a new monoclonal antibody (MAb), K1, that reacts with an epitope on the surface of human ovarian carcinoma cells. This antibody was generated by immunization of mice with periodate-treated human ovarian carcinoma (OVCAR-3) cells. These mice had been previously made tolerant with normal human kidney membranes. Spleen lymphocytes from these mice were selected prior to fusion using a panning purification method on living OVCAR-3 cells. Initial screening of surface-reactive clones was performed in a single day using immunofluorescence on living OVCAR-3 cells, and secondary screening was performed using immunoperoxidase histochemistry on cryostat sections of normal human tissues and human tumors. The K1 clone was subcloned and identified as an IgM isotype, but was subsequently isotype-switched to IgG1K using a panning selection method. When evaluated by immunohistochemistry, the antigen reactive with K1 was found in many ovarian non-mucinous tumors, as well as in squamous tumors of the esophagus, and cervical cancer. The only normal adult human tissues showing uniform reactivity with K1 were the mesothelia of the peritoneal, pleural and pericardial cavities. There was also limited reactivity with epithelia of the trachea, tonsil and Fallopian tube. A similar tissue reactivity for K1 was found in tissues from cynomolgus monkeys. K1 reacted with many of the same tissues and tumors as the previously identified antibody OC125, but several lines of evidence indicate that K1 reacts with a different epitope and probably a different molecule, when compared to OC125. This evidence included assays employing immunofluorescence competition, double-label immunofluorescence, and solid-phase and live-cell radioimmunoassays. Since our data indicate that the antigen reactive with the K1 antibody is a new molecular species, we have named the antigen CAK1. Unlike the shed antigen CA125, CAK1 was only cell-associated and was not found in the supernatant of cultured OVCAR-3 cells or in the blood of ovarian cancer patients. The K1 antibody may be useful as a targeting agent for therapy and in the diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma, as well as some other human cancers. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5983 | Applying Data Preprocessing Methods to Predict Premature Birth.
Data mining and pattern classification tools have{enabled prediction of several medical outcomes with high levels of accuracy. This is due to the capability of handling large datasets, even those with missing values. Preterm birth (PTB) can have damaging long-term effects for infants and rates have been increasing over the last two decades worldwide. The purpose of this work was to investigate whether preprocessing methods, when applied to two different prenatal datasets, can improve prediction accuracy of our software tool to predict PTB. The primary software used within this work was R. The software was used to deal with missing values and class imbalances found in these two datasets. The results show that in comparison to our past work, we have managed to increase the performance of the prediction tool using the metrics of sensitivity, specificity, and ROC values. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5984 | The role of the hippo pathway in melanocytes and melanoma.
The Hippo signaling pathway comprises a series of cytoplasmic tumor suppressor proteins including Merlin and the Lats1/2 and MST1/2 kinases, and is thought to play a critical role in determining the sizes of organs and tissues. The Hippo pathway is regulated upstream by extracellular mechanosensory signaling arising from cell shape and polarity, as well as by a variety of extracellular signaling molecules. When active, the pathway maintains the transcriptional activators Yes-associated protein (YAP) and TAZ in phosphorylated forms in the cytoplasm, preventing cell proliferation. When the Hippo pathway is inactivated, YAP and TAZ are translocated to the nucleus and induce the expression of a variety of proteins concerned with entry into the cell division cycle, such as cyclin D1 and Fox M1, as well as the inhibition of apoptosis. The failure of the Hippo pathway has been implicated in the development of many different types of cancer but there is limited information available as to its involvement in melanoma. We hypothesize here firstly that the Hippo pathway is involved in maintaining density of cutaneous melanocytes on the basement membrane at the junction of the epidermis and the dermis, and secondly, that its function is disturbed in melanoma. We have analyzed a series of 23 low passage human melanoma lines as well as cultured normal melanoma, and find that melanocytes, as well as all melanoma cell lines examined express TAZ. Melanocytes and most melanoma lines also express YAP. E-cadherin, an upstream regulator of the Hippo pathway, and Axl, a receptor tyrosine kinase regulated by the Hippo pathway, are expressed in melanocytes and in several melanoma cell lines. These observations, together with published evidence for the presence of Merlin, Lats1/2, and MST1/2 in melanocytes and melanoma cells, support the hypothesis that the Hippo pathway is an important component of melanocyte and melanoma behavior. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5985 | Transmural difference in myocardial damage assessed by layer-specific strain analysis in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction.
We performed layer-specific strain analysis with speckle-tracking echocardiography to investigate the transmural difference of myocardial damage as the predicting factor for the viability of damaged myocardium in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We analysed patients with acute STEMI who had undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention and echocardiography within 24 h from the intervention and 2 months after the event. Segmental strains of the left ventricular (LV) endocardium, myocardium, epicardium, and strain gradient (SG) between the endocardium and epicardium were evaluated. In 34 patients, 112 akinetic/dyskinetic and 94 hypokinetic segments were observed among 612 segments of the LV at baseline, and 65 akinetic/dyskinetic segments had viability. In our study, layer-specific strains were gradually deteriorated by their wall motion. SG was augmented in the hypokinetic segments where inhomogeneous wall motion impairment was progressed. SG in the akinetic/dyskinetic segments was different between the viable and non-viable myocardium and was maintained in viable segments. We therefore believe that significantly reduced SG is indicative of irreversible transmural damage in the acute stage of STEMI and can be suitably used as a parameter for predicting myocardial viability. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5986 | [Identification of deer's foetus and its mixed drugs and flase drugs].
In this paper, the traditional Chinese Materia Medicas--the foetuses of sika deer, red deer and the one of sheep and OX are compared and identified on characters and dissecting characteristices. The comparion and identification table about charaeters and commodity shape drawings is attached. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5987 | Camelina sativa cake for broiler chickens: effects of increasing dietary inclusion on clinical signs of toxicity, feed disappearance, and nutrient digestibility.
The effect of feeding diets with increasing dietary inclusions of Camelina sativa cake (CC; 22% ether extract, 34% crude protein) on safety, feed disappearance, and nutrient digestibility was evaluated in a 42-day (d) broiler study. Day-old male chicks (Ross 308; n = 744) were divided among 24 test cages in a randomized complete block design with six replicate cages per dietary regimen. Dietary regimens consisted of feeding test diets containing 0, 8, 16, or 24% CC over three growth phases of 2-week duration each. Diets fed from d 14-21 included an indigestible marker. Pen body weight, feed added, and leftover orts for each phase were measured on d 0, 14, 28, and 42 to calculate average daily feed disappearance, average daily weight gain, and gain-to-feed ratio. On d 14, 28, and 42, three broilers per test cage were euthanized by intravenous injection. A gross post mortem examination was conducted and select organs were weighed. Blood was drawn from broilers removed on d 42 to measure serum parameters. Excreta from d 19 to 21 and ileal digesta (10 birds per cage) on d 21 were collected to yield a single pooled sample of each per test cage. Dietary CC inclusion up to 24% did not affect broiler mortality or the incidence of abnormal gross findings. Differences (P < 0.05) in serum levels of P, uric acid, T3, and T4 are explained by differential digestible nutrient intake among broilers fed increasing CC inclusion levels. Organ weight as proportion of body weight was not affected by treatment, except for pancreas on d 28 and 42, which both linearly increased (P < 0.01) with increasing CC inclusion. Daily feed disappearance did not differ among CC inclusion levels for the overall 42-d study. Increasing dietary CC inclusion level linearly reduced nutrient digestibility of test diets (P < 0.01). In conclusion, CC is a safe feedstuff for broilers that can be fed at dietary inclusions up to and including 24% without adverse effects on broiler health. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5988 | Outer Membrane Protein-Coated Nanoparticles as Antibacterial Vaccine Candidates.
Nanoformulations are novel therapeutic strategies as compared to traditional treatments. The development of biomimetic nanoparticles by combining the natural cellular material with synthetic nanoparticles has inspired innovative vaccine strategies for modifying the antibacterial immunity. A lot of work has been done in which synthetic nanoparticles are coated with biomimetic cellular membranes for enhancement of biological functions and treatments. Outer membrane protein of bacteria not only act as adjuvant but also contain a large number of immunogenic antigens that play an important role in motivating the native immunity and stimulating the immune responses of the body. Outer membrane protein coating onto the surfaces of synthetic nanoparticles has synergistic effects to produce antibacterial responses. This article reviews the recent improvements related to the bacterial membrane-coated nanoparticles for antibacterial immunization. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5989 | Tei index is associated with survival in cirrhosis patients treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.
BACKGROUND
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is the method of choice for the treatment of portal hypertension. The Tei index is the most sensitive indicator of myocardial function.
DESIGN
This study enrolled 31 patients with cirrhosis who underwent TIPS and were followed up over a median period of 34 months (range 2-60 months). Baseline Meld score and the changes in the Tei index within 1 month after TIPS and their potential relationship with prognosis were evaluated. The primary endpoint was mortality.
RESULTS
Thirteen patients (42%) died during follow-up. Survival analysis showed that the pre-TIPS Tei index (RR = -7.660, 95% confidence interval 0.000-0.069, P < 0.05) and the baseline MELD score > 10 (RR = 0.305,95% CI:1.036-1.778, P < 0.05) were significantly associated with survival rate after TIPS.
CONCLUSION
The Tei index before TIPS is associated with the survival of patients with cirrhosis after TIPS, and is potentially a predictive factor of mortality. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5990 | [Congenital grouped pigmentation of the retina (author's transl)].
In this disease entity we usually encounter black, sharply demarcated pigmented patches, occurring in groups and increasing in size toward the periphery. In the majority of cases the anomaly is unilateral (84%). The pigmentation may be found in one single sector (59%), in several separate sectors (27%) or distributed over the entire fundus (11%). Histology reveals pigment epithelial cells with hypertrophy and distinct irregularity in size and shape being arranged in one or two layers. Hyperpigmentation also exists with pigment granules of various size and distribution. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5991 | Information-processing skill and speech-reading.
Two measures of verbal inference-making ability (a sentence-completion test; SCT, and a word-completion test; WCT) and one test of working memory capacity were examined in relation to speech-reading performance. The results demonstrated that the SCT proved to be the only variable that was substantially correlated with speech-reading performance. The contribution from working memory capacity and the WCT test to speech-reading is mainly via their contribution to the SCT. Skilled SCT-performance was particularly tied to speech-reading conditions with a low level of contextual information accompanying the speech-reading task. No general or specific difference was found between hearing-impaired and normally-hearing subjects in the speech-reading test, thus indicating that speech-reading performance cannot be predicted by factors related to the hearing-impairment. Rather, information-processing skills seem to be decisive. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5992 | Neural activation during anticipation of opposite-sex and same-sex faces in heterosexual men and women.
Psychobiological accounts of face processing predict that greater salience is attributed to faces matching a viewer's sexual preference than to faces that do not. However, behaviorally, this effect could only be demonstrated in tasks assessing reward 'wanting' (e.g. work-per-view-tasks) but not in tasks assessing 'liking' (e.g. facial attractiveness ratings), and has been found to be more pronounced in heterosexual men than women, especially with regard to very attractive faces. Here, we addressed the question if sex differences at the level of 'wanting' persist if participants are uninformed about the attractiveness of an anticipated male or female face. Seventeen heterosexual men and 13 heterosexual women (all single) participated in a social incentive delay task (SID). Participants were required to react on simple graphical cues in order to view a smiling face. Cues provided a priori information on the level of smile intensity (low/medium/high) as well as sex of the face (male/ female). A significant interaction of sex-of-face and sex-of-participant was observed in a priori defined regions of interest in the brain reward system (including ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens and ventromedial prefrontal cortex), reflecting enhanced activation to cues signaling opposite-sex faces relative to same-sex faces in both, men and women. Women additionally recruited the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) during processing of opposite- vs. same-sex cues, suggesting stronger incorporation of social cognition processes in women than men. The findings speak against a general male bias for opposite-sex faces. Instead they provide preliminary evidence that men and women recruit different brain circuits during reward value assessment of facial stimuli. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5993 | Statistical trends in family medicine journals.
BACKGROUND
This study proposed a desirable direction for the future development of the Korean Journal of Family Medicine (KJFM) by comparing with the overseas SCI journals, Family Medicine (FM) and The Journal of Family Practice (JFP) based on the statistical viewpoints.
METHODS
All of the original articles published in KJFM from January 1981 to June 2011, FM from January 1998 to June 2011, and JFP from January 1978 to June 2011, were reviewed and compared in terms of content, data size, research design, and statistical method.
RESULTS
Of 3,226 total original articles, KJFM published 1,549, FM 322, and JFP 1,355, respectively. Both JFP and KJFM mainly focused on biomedical topics (67.2% and 61.7%), while FM focused on education (55.9%). Most of the studies in three journals used the data size of between 100 to 300 cases. The most frequently used research design was cross-sectional, FM 66.8%, JFP 58.4%, and KJFM 72.4%, respectively. The statistical methods in KJFM were gradually diversified.
CONCLUSION
The quality of the original articles in KJFM has been improved over the years, but still has conducted based on the relatively weak research designs. Under the circumstances that the higher ranked SCI journals demand the prospective design and large size of data, and most researchers in Korea could not use the large scaled prospective data, we need to collaborate to accumulate the small sized data sets and try to make a registry. More refined statistical method such as a propensity score matching analysis for retrospective data could be an alternative. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5994 | [Criteria for adequate plasma substitution in intensive plasmapheresis].
The authors analyzed 2 plasmosubstituting solutions of entirely different quantitative composition used during intensive plasmapheresis (47 procedures in 24 patients). Indices of central hemodynamics and blood oxygen-transport function served as criteria of the adequacy of plasmosubstitution. Plasmosubstitution in the volume of 110-130% to the volume of plasma exfusion was shown to preserve a stable volume of the circulating blood. Plasmosubstituting solutions should be composed of not less that 70% of protein and colloidal agents. Their lesser content (not more than 40%) revealed the development of noticeable disorder of blood oxygen-transportation function and decompensation of the blood circulation. In adequate plasmosubstitution change of the eukinetic type of blood circulation by the hyperkinetic one is a compensatory reaction of blood circulation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5995 | The retrieval of thoracic organs: donor assessment and management.
The optimal management of the multi-organ donor is critical to the successful outcome of transplantation. It is a complex challenge demanding careful attention to detail, and requiring a shift in emphasis, since the pathophysiological processes have far reaching effects which many clinicians do not see on a day-to-day basis. The optimal management of haemodynamic and respiratory status is essential in order to maximise the yield of suitable thoracic donor organs, yet this process will also improve the condition of other organs at the time of procurement and thus enable prompt recovery of function following hepatic and renal transplantation. The process commences when a potential donor is identified, and is only complete after successful transplantation of all possible organs. In order to achieve this end, a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team is necessary, consisting not only of medical staff, but also support workers who organise logistics, and who play their own part in vital areas, such as transport of the donor team and organs. The co-ordinator's role is pivotal in bringing together, in harmony, teams from different centres. It is important to remember that the effort of every person involved in the management and procurement of donor organs is primarily directed towards maximisation of the donor pool, and that our main responsibility is to the recipients on our waiting lists. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5996 | Immunoperoxidase evaluation of pneumonic lesions induced by Pasteurella haemolytica in calves.
Calves inoculated with Pasteurella haemolytica serovar 1 developed lesions of coagulation necrosis in the lungs that were sharply demarcated by leukocytes. The P haemolytica antigen was detected in the area of coagulation necrosis in histologic sections, using an immunoperoxidase technique. In the central area of the necrotic tissue, the bacterial antigen was diffusely presented in the necrotic alveolar wall, fibrin, serous exudate, and degenerated leukocyte. The bacterial antigen also was found in some groups of degenerating leukocytes around the necrotic tissue. The bacterial colonies among these leukocytes had strong specific reactions against P haemolytica. The bacterial antigen was observed in the cytoplasm of macrophages in alveoli around the necrotic lesion. These findings confirmed that coagulation necrosis is an important lesion in calves with pneumonia caused by P haemolytica. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5997 | The mitochondrial proteomic changes of rat hippocampus induced by 28-day simulated microgravity.
A large number of aerospace practices have confirmed that the aerospace microgravity environment can lead to cognitive function decline. Mitochondria are the most important energy metabolism organelles, and some studies demonstrate that the areospace microgravity environment can cause mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the relationships between cognitive function decline and mitochondrial dysfunction in the microgravity environment have not been elucidated. In this study, we simulated the microgravity environment in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by -30° tail suspension for 28 days. We then investigated the changes of mitochondrial morphology and proteomics in the hippocampus. The electron microscopy results showed that the 28-day tail suspension increased the mitochondria number and size of rat hippocampal neuronal soma. Using TMT-based proteomics analysis, we identified 163 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between tail suspension and control samples, and among them, 128 proteins were upregulated and 35 proteins were downregulated. Functional and network analyses of the DEPs indicated that several of mitochondrial metabolic processes including the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle were altered by simulating microgravity (SM). We verified 3 upregulated proteins, aconitate hydratase (ACO2), dihydrolipoamide S-succinyltransferase (DLST), and citrate synthase (CS), in the TCA cycle process by western blotting and confirmed their differential expressions between tail suspension and control samples. Taken together, our results demonstrate that 28-day tail suspension can cause changes in the morphology and metabolic function of hippocampus mitochondria, which might represent a mechanism of cognitive disorder caused by aerospace microgravity. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5998 | What's in a Name? Introducing Movement Science Media: The JOSPT Community's Guide to Quality Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Content.
SYNOPSIS: The Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy was first published in the summer of 1979 by the Orthopaedic and Sports Sections of the American Physical Therapy Association. The journal's mission was to publish scientifically rigorous content and promote its application to movement-related health. In 1979, we were focused solely on 1 journal, and the publishing organization shared the journal's name. In the decades since, our organization has grown such that it now publishes 3 peer-reviewed journals and provides plenty of additional resources to help the musculoskeletal rehabilitation community translate quality research to quality practice. We are pleased to reintroduce ourselves as Movement Science Media. We aspire to deliver your one-stop shop for trustworthy content-helping you stay informed about the latest in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2023;53(9):1-3. doi:10.2519/jospt.2023.12209. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever5999 | Reoccurring Episcleritis and the Role of Antioxidants.
Episcleritis is an irritation of the episclera of our eyes. Episclera is a thin layer of tissue present between the conjunctiva and sclera. There are mainly four causes of episcleritis: an allergic response, autoimmune, vascular disease, or infections. The symptoms are redness, erythema, discomfort in the eyes, and clear discharge. It can sometimes be painful as well. In this case presentation, we will discuss the role of vitamin c in the prevention and reoccurrence of autoimmune episcleritis. | No pos | No neg |
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