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Retriever6200 | Treatment of primary hyperhidrosis with tap water iontophoresis in paediatric patients: a retrospective analysis.
OBJECTIVES
Primary hyperhidrosis is an under-recognized condition in children and adolescents. Iontophoresis is the second line of treatment for palmoplantar hyperhidrosis following topical treatment. The studies evaluating the efficacy of iontophoresis in children are limited. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and reliability of tap water iontophoresis in children with primary hyperhidrosis.
METHODS
Twenty-one patients aged under 18 years, who received iontophoresis for primary palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, were included in the study. In our clinic, tap water iontophoresis was administered at regular intervals, starting with five times per week and decreased to once a week on fifth week. Then maintenance sessions once a week for 6 weeks are recommended. The presence of excessive sweating was scored by visual analogue scale (VAS): "0" as continuation of excessive sweating and "10" as the absence of excessive sweating. The demographic and clinical data were collected from files. Also, patients fulfilled a questionnaire for efficacy on follow-up visit.
RESULTS
Nineteen patients completed the whole 21 sessions. The mean VAS score was 5.89 ± 1.49 at the end of the 15th session and 6.36 ± 2.06 at the end of the treatment. Side effects were well tolerated. Only seven patients were still free of excessive sweating on third months after treatment. The mean satisfaction score was 4.95 ± 2.38, as measured by VAS where 0 indicated dissatisfaction and 10 indicated high satisfaction.
CONCLUSION
Tap water iontophoresis is an effective method of treatment for primary palmoplantar and axillary hyperhidrosis in paediatric patients. But there are still unanswered questions about the mechanism of action, ideal session intervals and protocols for maximum efficacy. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6201 | Pro-oxidant effects of Mebendazole in albino rats experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis.
Trichinellosis treated with Mebendazole often leads to complications in the course of the disease in humans and animals as a result of intoxication and hyper-sensitization of an organism due to the massive destruction of parasites. This study was conducted to research Mebendazole incidence on lipid peroxidation processes (LPP) in rats' blood in Trichinella spiralis-infected and parasite-free albino rats. The research was conducted to evaluate erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malonic dialdehyde (MDA) concentration in blood serum. The parameters of the SOD-MDA system in infected albino rats, which were treated or untreated with Mebendazole were analyzed. It was concluded that Mebendazole amplifies the LPP in the blood of both infected and parasite-free animals: in a dose of 150 mg/kg anthelmintic causes disturbances of biochemical homeostasis in the SOD-MDA system, thus working as a pro-oxidant. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6202 | Effects of in utero and lactational exposure to flutamide in SD rats: comparison of the effects of administration periods.
Pregnant CD(SD) IGS rats were given flutamide (FLUT) orally at doses of 0.4, 2, or 10 mg/kg/day from gestational day 6 to postnatal day (PND) 20, and the effects of FLUT exposure on male offspring were examined 10 weeks after birth, and compared to the effects in offspring treated after weaning and in offspring untreated after weaning. Although the body weight of the dams treated with FLUT remained normal, two dams in the 10 mg/kg/day group were killed because of abnormal parturition periods and loss of all the pups. The number of stillborns and dead newborns at birth was significantly higher in the 10 mg/kg/day group than in the control groups. No abnormalities in the reproductive parameters of the other dams treated with FLUT were detected. The body weights of the male offspring in each group remained normal from birth until the end of the study. The ano-genital distance was significantly shortened in 2 and 10 mg/kg/day groups. Changes in the organ weights and gross findings were detected in the 2 and/or 10 mg/kg/day groups with or without the continuous administration of FLUT after weaning; these changes were more appreciable in groups treated with FLUT after weaning than in groups untreated after weaning. The prolongation of preputial separation was observed in the 0.4 and 2 mg/kg/day groups treated with FLUT after weaning, but this change was not detected in the same dose groups untreated after weaning. The testosterone levels were higher in the 10 mg/kg/day group treated with FLUT after weaning. The present data demonstrated that the endocrine-mediated effects on rats were more appreciable in offspring treated with FLUT after weaning than in offspring untreated after weaning. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6203 | Efficient synthesis of the anticancer β-elemene and other bioactive elemanes from sustainable germacrone.
Highly efficient preparations of anticancer β-elemene and other bioactive elemanes were carried out using the natural product germacrone as a renewable starting material. The syntheses were achieved in only 3-5 steps with excellent overall yields (43-54%). An enantioselective approach to these molecules is also described. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6204 | Cerebrovascular Complications Associated With Iatrogenic Fungal Meningitis Following Surgical Procedures in Mexico.
BACKGROUND
The current fungal meningitis outbreak caused by contaminated epidural anesthesia with Fusarium solani among patients who underwent surgical procedures in Matamoros, Mexico remains a cause of concern. Its association with an increased susceptibility for cerebrovascular complications (CVC) has not been reported. This single-center study describes 3 patients with a unique pattern of CVC attributed to fungal meningitis.
METHODS
A retrospective case series of patients diagnosed with fungal meningitis following surgical procedures under contaminated epidural anesthesia who developed a unique pattern of CVC during their hospitalization.
RESULTS
Three female patients (mean age, 35 years) with CVC due to iatrogenic fungal meningitis were included. Positive Fungitell β-D-glucan assay in cerebrospinal fluid was documented in all cases, and F. solani was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction in case 3. All cases were complicated by severe vertebrobasilar circulation vasculopathy and arterial dissections with resultant subarachnoid hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage, ultimately leading to patients' death.
CONCLUSIONS
The death toll from the ongoing fungal meningitis outbreak keeps rising, underscoring the need for early recognition and aggressive treatment. We highlight the risk for vertebrobasilar circulation CVC among these patients. The angioinvasive nature of F. solani is yet to be clarified; however, a clear pattern has been observed. Public health awareness should be raised and a strong response should be pursued. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6205 | Grape skin flour obtained from wine processing as an antioxidant in beef burgers.
The objective of this study was to determine the best level of wine making by-product meal (WBM) as a natural antioxidant to replace butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) in beef burger stored at -20 °C for up to 120 days. The treatments consisted of control (basic formulation - BF, without antioxidant); BF with BHT; and BF with WBM0.5, WBM1.0, WBM1.5, and WBM2.0, with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g WBM/100 g BF, respectively. Up to 60 days of storage, the lipid oxidation value between BHT and WBM0.5 treatments did not differ and were lower than the values presented by the other treatments. On day 90 and 120, the lipid oxidation values of treatments BHT, WBM0.5, and WBM1.0 did not differ and were lower than the values presented by WBM1.5 and WBM2.0 treatments. Burgers from all treatments with WBM inclusion had crude fiber values above 3 g/100 g. WBM1.5 and WBM2.0 treatments had the worst scores for appearance, aroma, juiciness and tenderness, in addition to the highest cooking losses. WBM can be used at up to 1 g/100 g to replace BHT in frozen beef burgers. Higher levels of WBM inclusion increased lipid oxidation and negatively affected the sensory quality of burgers. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6206 | Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocity Predicts Improvement of Hand Function with Nerve Gliding Exercise Following Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery.
This study aims to investigate the effects of nerve gliding exercise following carpal tunnel release surgery (NGE-CTRS) and the probing factors affecting the effect of NGE-CTRS on hand function. A total of 86 patients after CTRS participated. Grip strength (grip-s), pinch strength (pinch-s), Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test (SWMT), two-point discrimination (2PD), numbness, pain, and Phalen test (Phalen) were measured and compared between pre- and post-NGE-CTRS. The results showed that the combination of surgery and NGE significantly improved the postoperative grip-s, pinch-s, SWMT, 2PD, numbness, and Phalen; however, no improvement was observed in pain. Background factors that influenced the improved grip-s and pinch-s included gender and preoperative sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV). Additionally, numbness and Phalen were not affected by age, gender, fault side, bilateral, trigger finger, dialysis, thenar eminence atrophy, motor nerve conduction velocity, SCV, the start of treatment, and occupational therapy intervention. In conclusion, the combination of surgical procedures and NGE showed a high improvement. SCV and time-to-start treatment of intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome may be useful in predicting the function after the intervention. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6207 | Flow-dependent porosity and other biomechanical properties of mysticete baleen.
Despite its vital function in a highly dynamic environment, baleen is typically assumed to be a static material. Its biomechanical and material properties have not previously been explored. Thus I tested sections of baleen from bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, and humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, alone or in groups representing miniature 'racks', in a flow tank through which water and buoyant particles circulated with variable flow velocity. Kinematic sequences were recorded through an endoscopic camera or viewing window. One set of experiments investigated particle capture; another series analyzed biomechanical behavior, including fringe spacing, movement and interaction. Baleen fringe porosity directly correlates, in a mostly linear fashion, with velocity of incident water flow. However, undulation and interaction of fringes (especially of bowheads) at higher flow velocities can decrease porosity. Fringe porosity depends on distance from the baleen plate. Porosity also varies, with fringe length, by position along the length of an individual plate. Plate orientation, which varied from 0 to 90 deg relative to water flow, is crucial in fringe spacing and particle capture. At all flow velocities, porosity is lowest with plates aligned parallel to water flow. Turbulence introduced when plates rotate perpendicular to flow (as in cross-flow filtration) increases fringe interaction, so that particles more easily strike fringes yet more readily dislodge. Baleen of bowhead whales, which feed by continuous ram filtration, differs biomechanically from that of humpbacks, which use intermittent lunge filtration. The longer, finer fringes of bowhead baleen readily form a mesh-like mat, especially at higher flow velocities, to trap tiny particles. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6208 | The responses of visual neurons in the frontal eye field are biased for saccades.
Previous research suggests that visually responsive neurons in the frontal eye field (FEF) respond to visual targets even when they are not the goal of a saccadic eye movement. These results raise the possibility that these neurons respond to visual targets independent of the effector that is to be used to acquire the target locations. In the present study, we examined whether a plan to execute a saccade or a reach to a visual target influenced the response to and the representation of targets in the FEF. We recorded single unit responses to the onset of the target, during the delay period, and around the time of the movement, on interleaved saccade and reach trials of a delayed-response task. We found that the responses of approximately equal percentages of visual, visuomovement, and movement neurons (50%, 58%, and 58%, respectively) were greater on saccade trials than on reach trials in at least one interval of the delayed-response task. Converse biases, in favor of reaches, were much less frequent (13%, 10%, and 19%, in visual, visuomovement, and movement neurons respectively). Thus, although visual neurons may not be directly involved in triggering saccadic eye movements, they are nonetheless highly saccade-biased, with percentages comparable to neurons that are directly involved in triggering saccadic eye movements. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6209 | Lethal factor of Bacillus anthracis cleaves the N-terminus of MAPKKs: analysis of the intracellular consequences in macrophages.
The lethal toxin of Bacillus anthracis consists of two proteins, PA and LF, which together induce lethal effects in some animal species and cause macrophage lysis. LF is a zinc-binding protein with metalloprotease activity. With a two-hybrid system approach we identified MAP kinase kinases (MAPKKs) Mekl and Mek2 as proteins interacting with LF. LF was shown to cleave Mek1 and Mek2 and an additional MAPKK family member MKK3, within their N-terminal region. We examined macrophage cell lines and primary peritoneal cells with different sensitivities to LF but did not find a direct correlation between MAPKKs cleavage and cell death. On the other hand, sublytic doses of LF cleave MAPKKs and cause a reduction in the LPS/IFNgamma-induced production of proinflammatory mediators. These findings are discussed with respect to the possible role of LF in the initial phase of infection. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6210 | Expression of Pax-6 mRNA in the retinal degeneration (rd) mouse.
The homeobox gene Pax-6 is expressed during eye development in both the retina and lens, and Pax-6 mutations cause ocular abnormalities including retinal defects. We investigated the pattern of Pax-6 gene expression in the rd/rd mouse model of inherited retinal degeneration in comparison with nondegenerative controls, using Northern blot, reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR and in situ hybridization analysis. We observed an increased level of Pax-6 mRNA expression in the degenerative state, which appeared to affect equally the major Pax-6 exon 5a transcriptional splice variants as detected by RT-PCR. By in situ hybridization, Pax-6 mRNA was localized to the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers of nondegenerative retina, but showed a more diffuse signal pattern in the rd/rd retina. This modulation of Pax-6 mRNA levels and localization is suggestive of activation of expression in retinal glial cells and may reflect reorganization of cellular interactions in response to the degenerative processes. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6211 | Maternal deprivation affects behaviour from youth to senescence: amplification of individual differences in spatial learning and memory in senescent Brown Norway rats.
Previous studies have shown that deprivation of the infant rat from maternal care has pronounced effects on the stress system during ontogeny. Here we test the hypothesis that 24 h of maternal deprivation at postnatal day 3 will cause persistent changes in behaviour. Spatial learning and memory of male Brown Norway rats deprived as infants were observed in the Morris water maze at 3, 12, 24 and 30-32 months of age (young, adult, aged, senescent). Their nondeprived mother-reared littermates served as controls. (i) With increasing age, water maze performance declined in deprived and nondeprived groups. However, once the task was learned the animals maintained their good performance during retest at later ages. (ii) Maternal deprivation delayed acquisition until adulthood and caused at every age a higher degree of persistent behaviour as judged from the performance of deprived rats' free swim trials and reversal trials. (iii) At senescence the mean performance in the water maze did not differ between the groups. Instead, the individual performance was strikingly different within each group. Senescent deprived rats were either nonimpaired or impaired with only a few animals showing an intermediate performance. Thus, a large group of animals ( approximately 40%) ages successfully as they are resistant to the effect of maternal deprivation. In contrast, the majority of the control animals displayed intermediate performance. Taken together, maternal deprivation has life-long consequences for behaviour and culminates at senescence in amplification of individual differences in learning ability rather than in a generalized deterioration of cognitive functions. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6212 | Epidemiology of blood-borne viruses: a study of healthy blood donors in Southern Pakistan.
There are only a few published reports regarding the prevalence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus in Pakistani blood donors. The true extent of the prevalence of these viral infections in healthy adults in unclear. We examined blood donors attending the Aga Khan University Hospital and blood donation camps in the cities of Karachi and Hyderabad, Pakistan for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV). Relationship of anti HCV to the surrogate marker alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was also examined. Prevalence of HBsAg was found to be 2.28% (1,173/51,257), anti HCV was 1.18%(198/16,705) and that of anti HIV to be 0.02% (10/51,257). Higher rate of prevalence of HBsAg and anti HCV was observed in the younger age group of 21 to 30 years. Male to female ratio for HBsAg was 2.5:1 and for anti HCV 1:1. Seropositivity for HBsAg was significantly greater than anti HCV (p < 0.0001). No clear relationship was found between high ALT (>55 U/l) and anti HCV positivity. Further examination of seropositive samples for HIV revealed only one donor to be positive by Western blot also. Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in the adult blood donor population in Southern Pakistan is higher than western countries but is similar to regional countries. This study also suggested that high ALT is not a useful surrogate marker for hepatitis C virus. Prevalence of HIV in this donor population is very low and is comparable to the western countries. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6213 | A Dielectric Elastomer Actuator-Driven Vibro-Impact Crawling Robot.
Over the last decade, many bio-inspired crawling robots have been proposed by adopting the principle of two-anchor crawling or anisotropic friction-based vibrational crawling. However, these robots are complicated in structure and vulnerable to contamination, which seriously limits their practical application. Therefore, a novel vibro-impact crawling robot driven by a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) is proposed in this paper, which attempts to address the limitations of the existing crawling robots. The novelty of the proposed vibro-impact robot lies in the elimination of anchoring mechanisms or tilted bristles in conventional crawling robots, hence reducing the complexity of manufacturing and improving adaptability. A comprehensive experimental approach was adopted to characterize the performance of the robot. First, the dynamic response of the DEA-impact constraint system was characterized in experiments. Second, the performance of the robot was extensively studied and the fundamental mechanisms of the vibro-impact crawling locomotion were analyzed. In addition, effects of several key parameters on the robot's velocity were investigated. It is demonstrated that our robot can realize bidirectional motion (both forward and backward) by simple tuning of the key control parameters. The robot demonstrates a maximum forward velocity of 21.4 mm/s (equivalent to 0.71 body-length/s), a backward velocity of 16.9 mm/s, and a load carrying capacity of 9.5 g (equivalent to its own weight). The outcomes of this paper can offer guidelines for high-performance crawling robot designs, and have potential applications in industrial pipeline inspections, capsule endoscopes, and disaster rescues. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6214 | Light chain cardiomyopathy. Structural analysis of the light chain tissue deposits.
Cardiomyopathy due to monoclonal light chain deposits is a complication of plasma cell disorders. The deposits may be either fibrillar as in light chain amyloid or nonfibrillar as in light chain deposition disease. The reasons for these structural differences are still unknown. We characterized the myocardial deposits by immunohistochemical examination of sections and extraction and biochemical analysis of the tissue deposits in a patient (MCM) who died of myeloma and systemic light chain deposition disease. Amino acid sequence analysis of the extracted nonfibrillar MCM kappa-light chain reveals that it belongs to the L12a germline subset of the kappa(I) protein and contains five distinctive amino acid substitutions (three in the framework region III and two in the complementarity-determining region III) that have not been reported previously in the same positions in other kappa(I) light chains. The theoretically determined isoelectric point (pI 8.21) of the MCM light chain is high compared with the low isoelectric point of other Bence Jones proteins from subjects without light chain deposition disease. The diffuse binding to basement membranes and the high isoelectric point of the MCM kappa-light chain suggest electrostatic interaction as a possible mechanism of tissue deposition. The spatial locations of the five distinctive residues and a sixth rare substitution of the MCM protein modeled on the backbone structure of REI, a kappa(I)-soluble Bence Jones light chain of known three-dimensional structure, may be responsible for protein destabilization, partial unfolding, and aggregation leading to tissue deposition. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6215 | Linking family planning market census data with consumer experiences in three countries: the Consumer's Market for Family Planning study protocol and data.
Background: The Consumer's Market for Family Planning (CM4FP) project was designed to address limitations of existing family planning (FP) data sources that prevent a full understanding of the total FP market. CM4FP data provide a picture of the complete supply environment and how consumers experience it. Study objectives were to 1) test a ring-fenced census approach consisting of an outlet census in a defined geographical area and a household survey in a smaller inner ring, to comprehensively map the total FP market in a local geography; 2) explore FP supply market dynamism through longitudinal data collection from contraceptive outlets; and 3) test a methodology for directly linking household and outlet data to measure the relationship between contraceptive demand and supply. Methods: Data were collected from study sites in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda from 2019 to 2020. Longitudinal outlet census data and repeated cross-sectional household survey data from women ages 18-49 were collected at three quarterly time points. Outlets were located in an outer ring geography to encompass locations likely visited by women sampled from a smaller inner ring. Data from women who received a contraceptive method in the past 12 months were linked to data for the outlet from which they received the method. Results: Datasets include product audits for 22,380 individual FP products, collected from a total of 1,836 outlets across 12 study sites. The datasets also contain data from 11,536 female respondents, of whom 1,975 were successfully matched to the outlet where they most recently obtained their method. Conclusions: CM4FP data are available at www.cm4fp.org. This unique dataset enables in-depth exploration of the family planning supply market in addition to interactions between the market and consumer perspectives and behaviors within each study site. The data can also be used to explore novel methodologies to inform future study designs. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6216 | Non-puerperal mastitis masking pre-existing breast malignancy: importance of follow-up imaging.
Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast with common symptoms of pain, swelling, erythema, warmth, and fever. Diagnosis of mastitis is easily made on the basis of typical symptoms and ultrasonographic findings, such as diffusely increased echogenicity of the parenchyma and subcutaneous fat, or skin thickening. However, when it occurs in women middle-aged or older, associated malignancy should be considered. In our cases, we detected irregular hypoechoic malignant masses after the disappearance of inflammatory changes. Therefore, when non-puerperal women have inflammatory signs on their breast, follow-up imaging should be performed. In particular, in the case of persistent or growing palpability after the recovery of breast inflammation, percutaneous core biopsy and short-term follow-up with ultrasonography should be considered to exclude the associated malignancy. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6217 | Effect of L-arginine on calcium in hepatic mitochondrion in rats with obstructive jaundice.
BACKGROUND
There is much debate over the regulation of mitochondrial calcium overload and reducing the impairment of energy metabolism in hepatic cells. It has not been reported whether L-arginine (L-Arg) can affect hepatic mitochondrial calcium overload. This study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of L-Arg on Ca2+ handling of hepatic mitochondrion in rats with obstructive jaundice and to clarify its possible mechanism.
METHODS
Seventy-two male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation+normal saline group (SO group), common bile duct ligation+normal saline group (BDL group), and common bile duct ligation+ L-Arg group (L-Arg group). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Ca2+ in rat hepatic mitochondrion were examined at the 7th, 14th and 21st day after operation.
RESULTS
The Ca2+ and MDA levels of hepatic mitochondrion increased significantly but their SOD content decreased markedly at each time point in the BDL group. Except at the 21st day, the Ca2+ and MDA, contents of hepatic mitochondrion were significantly lower, and SOD concentrations were higher in the L-Arg group than those in the BDL group at the 7th and 14th day (P<0.01).
CONCLUSION
L-Arg has a protective effect on mitochondrion in the early and mid stages of obstructive jaundice. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6218 | Crafting new methods of systems integration.
A handful of pioneering organizations are using intranets in their systems integration efforts. They have concluded that intranets, when used in combination with interface engines, can "virtually integrate" data. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6219 | 3D chromatin structure in chondrocytes identifies putative osteoarthritis risk genes.
Genome-wide association studies have identified over 100 loci associated with osteoarthritis risk, but the majority of osteoarthritis risk variants are noncoding, making it difficult to identify the impacted genes for further study and therapeutic development. To address this need, we used a multiomic approach and genome editing to identify and functionally characterize potential osteoarthritis risk genes. Computational analysis of genome-wide association studies and ChIP-seq data revealed that chondrocyte regulatory loci are enriched for osteoarthritis risk variants. We constructed a chondrocyte-specific regulatory network by mapping 3D chromatin structure and active enhancers in human chondrocytes. We then intersected these data with our previously collected RNA-seq dataset of chondrocytes responding to fibronectin fragment, a known osteoarthritis trigger. Integration of the 3 genomic datasets with recently reported osteoarthritis genome-wide association study variants revealed a refined set of putative causal osteoarthritis variants and their potential target genes. One of the putative target genes identified was SOCS2, which was connected to a putative causal variant by a 170-kb loop and is differentially regulated in response to fibronectin fragment. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated deletion of SOCS2 in primary human chondrocytes from 3 independent donors led to heightened expression of inflammatory markers after fibronectin fragment treatment. These data suggest that SOCS2 plays a role in resolving inflammation in response to cartilage matrix damage and provides a possible mechanistic explanation for its influence on osteoarthritis risk. In total, we identified 56 unique putative osteoarthritis risk genes for further research and potential therapeutic development. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6220 | Longitudinal changes of circadian leptin, insulin and cortisol plasma levels and their correlation during refeeding in patients with anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
To study the longitudinal changes in plasma levels of leptin, insulin and cortisol during the transition from the state of starvation to the state of refeeding focussing on diurnal secretion characteristics and their temporal relationships.
DESIGN
Leptin, insulin and cortisol were measured every 2h for 24h during acute starvation (T1). Sampling was repeated after reaching half the target-body mass index (BMI) (T2) and again at target-BMI (17. 5kg/m(2); T3). The temporal relationships between the diurnal secretion patterns were assessed by cross-correlation analysis.
RESULTS
Although BMIs at T1 were uniformly low, leptin levels varied widely within a range clearly below normal levels (0.03-1. 7microg/l). With increasing body fat during the course of refeeding, mean leptin levels increased from 0.64microg/l (range: 0.27-1. 73microg/l) (T1) to 1.61microg/l (range: 0.36-4.2microg/l) (T2) and to 3.67microg/l (range: 0.7-9.8microg/l) (T3). Circadian leptin secretion patterns showed maximal values uniformly around 0200h and minimal values around 0800h at all stages of the study. At all three weight levels, plasma leptin levels were highest between midnight and the early morning hours and lowest around the late morning hours. Refeeding neither profoundly changed secretion patterns of leptin nor did it change the positive, time-delayed relationship between leptin and insulin with increments in insulin secretion preceding those of leptin by 6h. A temporal relationship between leptin and cortisol could not be demonstrated in the state of semistarvation but emerged after a substantial weight gain; at that time, leptin increases preceded cortisol increases by 8h.
CONCLUSIONS
Absolute leptin, insulin and cortisol levels are profoundly changed during starvation in anorectic patients, while refeeding, paralleled by a BMI gain, reverses these changes. During refeeding the relationship between leptin and cortisol changed profoundly, showing no significant correlation in the state of starvation, whereas at T3 after refeeding a strong inverse relationship could be observed. Leptin and insulin did not correlate significantly at any of the three stages studied. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6221 | Contralateral retrodiscal transforaminal approach for percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis: A technical description and retrospective comparative study.
OBJECTIVES
Retrodiscal transforaminal (RdTF) epidural steroid injection (ESI) is clinically comparable to conventional transforaminal ESI and can avoid catastrophic complications. However, it poses a risk of inadvertent intradiscal, intravascular, and intrathecal injections. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis (PEA) using the contralateral (Contra)-RdTF approach.
METHODS
The electronic medical records of 332 patients with unilateral lumbar radiculopathy due to foraminal disk pathology were reviewed. Patients were categorized into two groups: Group A (ESI using the RdTF approach) and Group B (PEA using the Contra-RdTF approach). Effective pain relief (EPR; ≥50% pain relief from baseline) in patients was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) at 4 and 12 weeks after the procedure. The presence of unintended fluoroscopic findings and complications was recorded.
RESULTS
A total of 119 patients were enrolled in the final analysis: 81 in Group A and 38 in Group B. Both groups showed lesser VAS scores after 4 and 12 weeks than at baseline (p < 0.05). However, the proportion of patients with EPR was significantly greater in Group B after 12 weeks (p = 0.015). No complications, including intrathecal injection, infectious discitis, and neurologic deterioration, were reported. However, inadvertent intradiscal and intravascular injections were reported to be significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (14.8% and 0%, respectively; p = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS
Although applications of this study are limited by its retrospective design, the results suggest that PEA using the Contra-RdTF approach is feasible because it can achieve EPR and avoid unintended fluoroscopic findings. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6222 | Editorial: One Good Thing (Sometimes) Leads to Another: Demonstrating Mechanistic Connections Between Parent and Child Outcomes in a Community Implementation Autism Trial.
This is an important study for several reasons and shows a positive way forward for the design, execution, and analysis of intervention trials in the autism field. Brookman-Frazee et al.1 present a novel analysis demonstrating that their community training program, An Individualized Mental Health Intervention (AIM HI), which has been shown to improve behaviors that challenge in young children with autism,2 also leads to improvements in parental sense of competence (but not caregiver strain). This is in line with a limited number of other recent studies that have addressed the same issue.3,4 The present report adds to our knowledge in at least 2 important ways; both investigating the mechanisms of how these outcomes might come about. First, the study demonstrates that implementation of the training during the period of intervention, specifically, continuity across treatment sessions and the effectiveness with which a therapist pursued teaching a caregiver skill, mediated improvements in parental sense of competence at the end of treatment. Of note, these process or fidelity implementation ratings were blind coded by naïve raters trained to reliability on video-recorded sessions, an example of the high-quality methodology valued by expert trialists. Second, the authors not only show that changes in parental sense of competence during the intervention are associated with reductions in child behaviors that challenge at the end of the treatment period, they also conducted a formal mediation analysis that further demonstrates that changes in parental sense of competence during the treatment period are related to improvements in child outcomes at 12 and 18 months, long after the intervention period itself. There have long been calls highlighting the value of such mechanistic analysis to get "maximum value" from the precious resource of intervention trials,5 but these have only rarely been taken up in the autism intervention field.6. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6223 | Genetic and environmental influences on antisocial behavior: a meta-analysis of twin and adoption studies.
A meta-analysis of 51 twin and adoption studies was conducted to estimate the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences on antisocial behavior. The best fitting model included moderate proportions of variance due to additive genetic influences (.32), nonadditive genetic influences (.09), shared environmental influences (.16), and nonshared environmental influences (.43). The magnitude of familial influences (i.e., both genetic and shared environmental influences) was lower in parent-offspring adoption studies than in both twin studies and sibling adoption studies. Operationalization, assessment method, zygosity determination method, and age were significant moderators of the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences on antisocial behavior, but there were no significant differences in the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences for males and females. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6224 | Effects of Vitex agnus and Flaxseed on cyclic mastalgia: A randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVES
Evidence on the effect of Vitex agnus and Flaxseed on cyclical mastalgia is not enough. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of V. agnus and Flaxseed on cyclical mastalgia.
DESIGN AND SETTING
This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 159 women referred to health centers of Tabriz, Iran. Subjects were allocated into three groups (n=53 per group) using block randomization.
INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Group I received 25g daily Flaxseed powder and placebo of V. agnus; group II received daily 3.2-4.8mg V. agnus tablet and placebo of Flaxseed and control group received both placebo. Nominal day breast pain was applied at baseline, first, and second month after the intervention. Data was analyzed using general linear model.
RESULTS
There was no statistical significant difference between the three groups in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and baseline values. The breast pain improved significantly in both intervention groups during the first and second month after intervention. Mean NDBP score was significantly lower than that in the control group at the first month after the intervention in the Flaxseed [adjusted mean difference: -3.1 (95% CI: -4.2 to -2.0)] and V. agnus groups [-3.3 (-4.3 to -2.2)] and the second month after the intervention in Flaxseed [-7.0 (-8.1 to -5.9)] and V. agnus groups [-6.4 (-7.5 to -5.3)].
CONCLUSION
Flaxseed and V. agnus are effective in short-term period in decreasing cyclical mastalgia. However, further studies are needed to examine the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of the effects after stopping the treatment in order to decide whether these alternative treatments are suitable to treat mastalgia or not. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6225 | The effects of locally applied PAF in inner ear morphology.
The effect of a PAF-containing artificial perilymph (10(-7) M PAF) on the ultrastructure of the stria vascularis was investigated in acute perilymphatic perfusion experiments in guinea-pigs. We have shown previously that locally applied PAF at this concentration reversibly changes the endolymphatic potential (EP) (Ernst et al., 1989a) which suggests an interference with ion transport. Controls which were perfused with artificial perilymph as well as experimental animals were decapitated at 10, 30 and 60 min after starting the perfusion. Subsequently, the cochleae were removed and evaluated by electron microscopy. The histological findings do not correspond to those obtained with different substances modifying ion transport in the stria vascularis, e.g., ouabain, loop diuretics. There are only minor strial changes in our study. The relevance of PAF in cochlear physiology is discussed. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6226 | Depleted uranium induces human carcinogenesis involving the immune and chaperoning systems: Realities and working hypotheses.
Cancer is caused by a combination of factors, genetic, epigenetics and environmental. Among the latter, environmental pollutants absorbed by contact, inhalation, or ingestion are major proven or suspected culprits. Depleted uranium (DU) is one of them directly pertinent to the military and civilians working in militarized areas. It is considered a weak carcinogen but its implication in cancer development in exposed individuals is supported by various data. Since not all subjects exposed to DU develop cancer, it is likely that DU-dependent carcinogenesis requires cofactors, such as genetic predisposition and deficiencies of the chaperoning and immune systems. It is of the essence to adopt every possible protective measure as well as performing careful screening for early diagnosis to protect the military that work in war areas in which weapons with DU are, or have been, used. These topics are discussed here, along with a proposed working hypothesis for investigating the pathophysiology of DU-related carcinogenesis, including the possible role of the chaperoning system. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6227 | The Influence of a Sudden Increase in Playing Time on Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Complaints in High-Level Amateur Musicians in a Longitudinal Cohort Study.
BACKGROUND
Several studies in the domain of professional musicians describe the relation between playing time and the occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints in professional musicians. To date, no longitudinal cohort study into this relationship has been performed and no amateur musicians were studied. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the causal relationship between a sudden increase in playing time among amateur musicians on the occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints in a prospective cohort study.
METHODS
All members of two national Dutch Students Orchestras were asked to participate in the study. These project-based orchestras, consisting of high-level amateurs, followed a nine-hour rehearsing schedule for ten consecutive days. On the first day (t0) and after one week (t1) the subjects were asked to complete a paper-based questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, music-related questions, questions regarding playing-related musculoskeletal complaints and the music module of the disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand questionnaire.
RESULTS
The NSO consisted of 85 and the NESKO of 41 members during the study period. 59 subjects completed the questionnaire at both timepoints (response rate 47%). 9 subjects were excluded for being a music academy student, leaving 50 subjects (mean age 22.1, 72% female) suitable for analysis. During the rehearsal week, the prevalence of at least one playing-related musculoskeletal complaint increased from 28% to 80%. The most frequently affected areas were the neck, upper and lower back, hand/and or wrists and shoulders. The DASH music module score increased from 14 at t0 to 23 at t1.
CONCLUSION
A point prevalence of 28% at the start of the study that increased remarkably to 80% within a one-week period. Future research should evaluate other risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints in amateur musicians. These risk factors should be the base for the development of preventive measures. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6228 | Conformational difference in HMGB1 proteins of human neutrophils and lymphocytes revealed by epitope mapping of a monoclonal antibody.
HMGB1 and HMGB2 are abundant nonhistone chromosomal proteins in eukaryotic organisms. Their respective primary sequences are highly conserved. Our previous studies showed that these proteins are novel autoantigens of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in sera from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), rheumatic disease and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). In the present paper, we showed that anti-HMGB1 and HMGB2 antibodies in sera of patients with UC do not recognize HMGB1 in neutrophils while they recognize the protein in lymphocytes. Anti-HMGB2 monoclonal antibody FBH7, recognizing HMGB1 in lymphocytes, showed a similar profile to the antibodies in the patients' sera. In order to elucidate the difference in immunoreactivity to HMGB1 between neutrophils and lymphocytes, we mapped the epitope for FBH7 by means of several methods. The results showed that FBH7 recognizes the intact conformation composed of 52-56 residues of HMGB1 in lymphocytes. This suggested that HMGB1 in neutrophils is conformationally changed in the epitope or the peripheral structure of the epitope from the protein in lymphocytes. The apparent conformational change of HMGB1 between neutrophils and lymphocytes will be important for understanding the functional difference of HMGB1 in these cells. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6229 | Attenuation of high sucrose diet-induced insulin resistance in tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase deficient Drosophila melanogaster vermilion mutants.
Exposure to high sugar diet (HSD) serves as an experimental model of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in mammals and insects. Peripheral IR induced by HSD delays emergence of pupae from larvae and decreases body weight of Drosophila imago. Understanding of mechanisms of IR/T2D is essential for refining T2D prevention and treatment strategies. Dysregulation of tryptophan (TRP) - kynurenine (KYN) pathway was suggested as one of the mechanisms of IR development. Rate-limiting enzyme of TRP - KYN pathway in Drosophila is TRP 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO), an evolutionary conserved ortholog of human TDO. In insects TDO is encoded by vermilion gene. TDO is not active in vermilion mutants. In order to evaluate the possible impact of deficient formation of KYN from TRP on the inducement of IR by HSD, we compared the effect of HSD in wild type (Oregon) and vermilion mutants of Drosophila melanogaster by assessing the time of white pupae emergence from larva and body weight of imago. Delay of emergence of pupae from larvae induced by high sucrose diet was less pronounced in vermilion (1.4 days) than in Oregon flies (3.3 days) in comparison with flies maintained on standard diet. Exposure to high sucrose diet decreased body weight of Oregon (but not vermilion) imago. Attenuation of high sucrose diet-induced IR/T2D in vermilion flies might depend on deficiency of TRP - KYN pathway. Besides IR/T2D, HSD induces obesity in Drosophila. Future studies of HSD-induced obesity and IR/T2D in TDO deficient vermilion mutants of Drosophila might help to understand the mechanisms of high association between IR/T2D and obesity. Modulation of TRP - KYN metabolism might be utilized for prevention and treatment of IR/T2D. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6230 | Prevalence of Cancer in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Epidemiological Study Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multi-system autoimmune disease with significant morbidity and healthcare burden. It is an inflammatory condition and has been associated with lymphomas, with or without the presence of immunosuppressive therapy. However, the association of rheumatoid arthritis with other malignancies has been inconsistent. We used the data from a population-based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for epidemiological study to evaluate the association between RA and the incidence of cancer. Using the data collected between 2011 and 2014, we were able to determine the incidence of cancer in 11,262 patients. Incidence of cancer was increased in patients with RA with an odds ratio of 1.632 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.239-2.151; p=0.0005). Breast cancer (CA) and prostate CA were the most common types of cancer (each diagnosed in 16.22% individuals) and lung CA and lymphomas found in 1.35% of individuals. It is also important to be aware of increased risk and adequately screen patients for malignancies during the course of treatment and follow up of rheumatoid arthritis. Further large prospective studies are required to determine the association of the RA or its treatment and the risk of malignancies. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6231 | A comprehensive, case-based review of groove pancreatitis.
Groove pancreatitis is an uncommon form of focal chronic pancreatitis that involves the duodenal wall or "groove" area (between the pancreas, common bile duct, and duodenum). It remains largely an unfamiliar entity to most physicians and is often misdiagnosed as pancreatic malignancy or autoimmune pancreatitis because of its "pseudotumor" formation. In this case series, we present 4 cases of groove pancreatitis which highlight important clinical aspects of this disease entity. We then provide a review of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition. We hope to clarify the salient aspects of this disease process and make groove pancreatitis a more recognized entity to the clinician. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6232 | Association of the DNA repair gene XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism with p53 gene mutations in tobacco-related non-small cell lung cancer.
Lung cancer, a disease related mostly to tobacco smoke exposure and a leading cause of cancer-related death in industrialized countries, is frequently associated with mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Genetic differences resulting in inter-individual variation in DNA repair capacity may in part account for susceptibility of a cell to genotoxic agents leading to somatic mutations, including p53 mutations, and eventual transformation of a normal cell into a malignant phenotype. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between the polymorphisms of two DNA repair genes, the nucleotide excision repair xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene (codons 312 and 751) and the base excision repair X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) gene (codon 399), and p53 mutations among lung cancer patients. Lung tumors from 204 smokers with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were analyzed for mutations in exons 5-8 of the p53 gene and genotypes of XPD and XRCC1. p53 mutations were found in 20% (40/204) of the patients. Patients with the XPD codon 312 Asn allele were less likely to have p53 mutations (13.8%) than XPD 312 Asp/Asp (27.3%) [odds ratio (OR) 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.89, P = 0.023]. No association was found between p53 mutations and either XPD Lys751Gln or XRCC1 Arg399Gln. However, the p53 mutation frequency increased with the increased number of the combined genotypes among XPD 312WT (Asp/Asp), XPD 751VT (Lys/Gln or Gln/Gln) or XRCC1 399VT (Arg/Gln or Gln/Gln) (P = 0.01, trend test). These results suggest that individuals who smoke and have the XPD codon 312 Asp/Asp genotype may be at a greater risk of p53 mutations, especially if combined with other polymorphisms that may result in deficient DNA repair. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6233 | Epidemiological characteristics, management, and outcomes of atrial fibrillation in TUNISIA: Results from the National Tunisian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (NATURE-AF).
BACKGROUND
Contemporary registries on atrial fibrillation (AF) are scare in North African countries.
HYPOTHESIS
In the context of the epidemiological transition, prevalence of valvular AF in Tunisia has decreased and the quality of management is still suboptimal.
METHODS
NATURE-AF is a prospective Tunisian registry, involving consecutive patients with AF from March 1, 2017 to May 31, 2017, with a one-year follow-up period. All the patients with an Electrocardiogram-documented AF, confirmed in the year prior to enrolment were eligible. The epidemiological characteristics and outcomes were described.
RESULTS
A total of 915 patients were included in this study, with a mean age of 64.3 ± 22 years and a male/female sex ratio of 0.93. Valvular AF was identified in 22.4% of the patients. The mean CHA2 DS2 VASC score in nonvalvular AF was 2.4 ± 1.6. Monotherapy with antiplatelet agents was prescribed for 13.8% of the patients. However, 21.7% of the subjects did not receive any antithrombotic agent. Oral anticoagulants were prescribed for half of the patients with a low embolic risk score. In 341 patients, the mean time in therapeutic range was 48.87 ± 28.69%. Amiodarone was the most common antiarrhythmic agent used (52.6%). During a 12-month follow-up period, 15 patients (1.64%) had thromboembolism, 53 patients (5.8%) had major hemorrhage, and 52 patients (5.7%) died.
CONCLUSIONS
NATURE-AF has provided systematic collection of contemporary data regarding the epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as the management of AF by cardiologists in Tunisia. Valvular AF is still prevalent and the quality of anticoagulation was suboptimal. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6234 | Twin-Fano resonator with widely tunable slope for ultra-high-resolution wavelength monitor.
A twin-Fano resonator based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is demonstrated on a silicon-on-insulator platform. A dual-microring resonator replaces one of the couplers of the MZI to achieve twin-Fano resonance, which originates from the interference and coupling of modes in a dual-microring resonator. The slope can be tuned in a wide range from -84.2 dB/nm to 91.0 dB/nm by metal heaters integrated on one arm of the MZI, and the resonant wavelength remains fixed when the slope changes. The "X-type" spectrum is shown by self-alignment, which means manual alignment to form the X-type line is unnecessary after tuning dual-microrings because the X-type line can be produced easily by the difference in two correlated spectra rather than two independent spectra. The measurement shows high wavelength resolution of 1 pm in the region of the slope of 127.4 dB/nm, which can be applied to wavelength monitoring with ultra-high resolution. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6235 | Hypoxemic reperfusion after 120 mins of intestinal ischemia attenuates the histopathologic and inflammatory response.
OBJECTIVE
It has been suggested that reactive oxygen species play a pivotal role in the initial organ-tissue injury during reperfusion, eliciting inflammatory reaction and multiple organ failure. It was investigated if hypoxemic reperfusion attenuates tissue injury and inflammatory response.
DESIGN
Randomized animal study.
SETTING
Medical school laboratory.
SUBJECTS
Twenty-five male pigs weighing 25-28 kg.
INTERVENTIONS
Pigs were subjected to 120 mins of intestinal ischemia by clamping the superior mesenteric artery. Upon declamping, the animals were randomly assigned to receive either hypoxemic reperfusion (HR group, n = 9) reperfused with a Pao2 = 30-35 or normoxemic reperfusion (control group, n = 16) reperfused with a Pao2 = 100 mm Hg for 120 mins. Fluids without inotropes were given to combat circulatory shock during reperfusion.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
Portal blood and intestinal and lung biopsies were collected at baseline, end of ischemia, and end of reperfusion. Histopathologic changes were scored, and interleukin-1beta, qualitative Limulus amebocyte, lysate test, and Pao2/Fio2 were measured. Eight of 16 animals of the control group and seven of nine of the HR group survived (p = .22). At the end of reperfusion, the intestinal (p = .004) and lung (p = .028) pathologic scores were lower in the HR group compared with controls. The only significant difference in concentration of interleukin-1beta in the portal blood between the two animal groups occurred 120 mins after reperfusion (p = .006). The number of HR animals with a positive Limulus test was significantly smaller compared with controls at 60 (p = .041) and 120 (p = .07) mins of reperfusion. During the period of ischemia, the Pao2/Fio2 decreased similarly in the control and HR group, whereas after 120 mins of reperfusion the rate was significantly higher in the HR group.
CONCLUSIONS
Hypoxemic reperfusion represents an intervention that may attenuate the triggering of multifactorial cascade and organ tissue injury. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6236 | GABA immunoreactivity in processes presynaptic to the locust wing stretch receptor neuron.
Studies on the locust Locusta migratoria (Leitch et al. [1998] Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 624.10) suggest that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons, activated via muscarinic receptors, may be involved in modulation of transmitter release at synapses between the forewing stretch receptor (fSR) and wing depressor motoneurons. To help elucidate the role GABAergic interneurons may play in modulation of transmitter release from fSR terminals, the proportion and distribution of GABA-immunoreactive (GABA-IR) inputs to the fSR were analysed using double-labelling (horseradish peroxidase and GABA immunocytochemistry) and electron microscopy. Forty-three percent of synaptic inputs to the fSR were from GABA-IR profiles, the majority of which were located on lateral branches. The highest proportion (57%) of inputs to the fSR, however, were from non-IR processes containing either clear spherical vesicles or mixed clear and dense-cored vesicles. Outputs from the fSR to GABA-IR profiles were also found, although their number was relatively low (7%). Networks were identified in which both the fSR and its non-IR postsynaptic partner received input from the same GABA-IR neuron. Such an arrangement would allow both pre- and postsynaptic inhibition of fSR afferent outputs, for example at fSR/motoneuron synapses. These observations demonstrate that the fSR does receive presynaptic inputs from GABA-IR neurons, thus providing morphological support for pharmacological and electrophysiological findings that GABAergic neurons are involved in the presynaptic modulation of the fSR. Nevertheless, modulation at this synapse may be more intricate and involve other, as yet unidentified, neurotransmitters released from non GABA-IR presynaptic processes and also muscarinic receptors located on the fSR itself. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6237 | E1A sensitizes cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through enhancement of caspase activation.
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has been shown to induce apoptosis of cancer cells. Sensitization of cancer cells to TRAIL, particularly TRAIL-resistant cancer cells, could improve the effectiveness of TRAIL as an anticancer agent. The adenovirus type 5 E1A that associates with anticancer activities including sensitization to apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor is currently being tested in clinical trials. In this study, we investigated the sensitivity to TRAIL in the E1A transfectants ip1-E1A2 and 231-E1A cells and the parental TRAIL-resistant human ovarian cancer SKOV3.ip1 and TRAIL-sensitive human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. The results indicated that the percentage of TRAIL-induced apoptotic cells was significantly higher in the E1A transfectants of both cell lines than it was in the parental cell lines. To further investigate the cellular mechanism of this effect, we found that E1A enhances TRAIL-induced activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3. Inhibition of caspase-3 activity by a specific inhibitor, Z-DEVD-fmk, abolished TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In addition, E1A enhanced TRAIL expression in ip1-E1A2 cells, but not in 231-E1A cells, and the anti-TRAIL neutralizing antibody N2B2 blocked the E1A-mediated bystander effect in vitro. Taken together, these results suggest that E1A sensitizes both TRAIL-sensitive and TRAIL-resistant cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, which occurs through the enhancement of caspase activation; activation of caspase-3 is required for TRAIL-induced apoptosis; and E1A-induced TRAIL expression is involved in the E1A-mediated bystander effect. Combination of E1A and TRAIL could be an effective treatment for cancer. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6238 | Cancer incidence and mortality and risk factors in member countries of the " Belt and Road " initiative.
BACKGROUND
At present, "Belt and Road" ("B&R") member states (accounting for about 61.78% of the world's population) face different types of cancer threats to varying degrees. We analyzed the incidence and mortality and risk factors of cancer in the member countries of the "B&R" to explore the basis of health and medical cooperation between countries and provide a foundation for formulating cancer prevention and control policies for building a healthy "B&R."
METHODS
Data were derived from the Global Cancer Observatory and Cancer Country Profiles in 2020. Incidence and mortality were age-standardized rates (ASRs). Population attributable fractions (PAFs) was applied to measure risk factors of cancers in the "B&R" countries. The mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) was calculated by dividing the mortality rate by the incidence rate.
RESULTS
A total of 26 cancers were included in the study. Lung, breast, colorectal, stomach, liver, prostate, cervical, esophageal, thyroid, and uterine cancers were the most common and highest in age-standardized mortality in the "B&R" countries. For men, Hungary had the highest cancer age-standardized incidence and mortality (ASR, 289.3 per 100,000 and ASR, 235.7 per 100,000, respectively), followed by Latvia (ASR, 288.6 per 100,000 and ASR, 196.5 per 100,000, respectively). In females, the highest incidence rates were estimated in Greece (ASR, 238.7 per 100,000), and the highest mortality rate was Brunei (ASR, 192.3 per 100,000). All countries were in the middle or high HDI range, with about half (46.88%) of countries achieving high HDI, mostly in Central and Eastern Europe (13 countries) and West Asia (10 countries). The United Arab Emirates had the highest MIR in male and female (1.59 vs 2.19). Tobacco products, infectious factors, and ultraviolet rays were the three main cancer risk factors in the "B&R" countries.
CONCLUSION
The overall burden of cancer in the countries along the "B&R" remains substantial, while the corresponding cancer prevention and control policies need to be improved. Strengthening health cooperation among member countries will contribute to a joint response to the risks and challenges posed by cancer. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6239 | [Magnetic resonance Imaging in the diagnosis of hemophilic lesions of joints].
A complex clinical, X-ray, and magnetic resonance tomographic study of 327 joints was made in 114 patients with different forms of hemophilic arthropathy. The diagnostic potentialities of MRI were defined and the MRI symptoms of hemophilic arthropathy, including degeneration of the articular cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, proliferation of the synovial membrane, fibrosis, blood accumulation, and hemosiderosis were revealed. Comparative analysis of the X-ray and MRI imaging findings of the joints at different stages of hemophilic arthropathy has shown that MRI has advantages in diagnosing acute and chronic hemarthrosis, moderate hemophilic osteoarthrosis as it can reveal abnormal processes in the X-ray negative structures of joints. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6240 | Na(2/7)Gd(4/7)MoO4: a modulated scheelite-type structure and conductivity properties.
Scheelite-type compounds with the general formula (A1,A2)(n)[(B1,B2)O(4)](m) (2/3 ≤ n/m ≤ 3/2) are the subject of large interest owing to their stability, relatively simple preparation, and optical properties. The creation of cation vacancies (□) in the scheelite-type framework and the ordering of A cations and vacancies can be a new factor in controlling the scheelite-type structure and properties. For a long time, cation-deficient Nd(3+):M(2/7)Gd(4/7)□(1/7)MoO(4) (M = Li, Na) compounds were considered as potential lasers with diode pumping. They have a defect scheelite-type 3D structure (space group I4(1)/a) with a random distribution of Li(+)(Na(+)), Gd(3+), and vacancies in the crystal. A Na(2/7)Gd(4/7)MoO(4) single crystal with scheelite-type structure has been grown by the Czochralski method. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that Na(2/7)Gd(4/7)MoO(4) has a (3 + 2)D incommensurately modulated structure. The (3 + 2)D incommensurately modulated scheelite-type cation-deficient structure of Na(2/7)Gd(4/7)MoO(4) [super space group I4 (α-β0,βα0)00] has been solved from single-crystal diffraction data. The solution of the (3 + 2)D incommensurately modulated structure revealed the partially disordered distribution of vacancies and Na and Gd cations. High-temperature conductivity measurements performed along the [100] and [001] orientation of the single crystal revealed that the conductivity of Na(2/7)Gd(4/7)MoO(4) at T = 973 K equals σ = 1.13 × 10(-5) Ω(-1) cm(-1). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6241 | Improved Photo-Detection Using Zigzag TiO2 Nanostructures as an Active Medium.
Zigzag TiO2 nanostructures were fabricated using oblique angle deposition technique. The field emission gun-scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) image shows that the TiO2 zigzag nanostructures were ~500 nm in length. Averagely two times enhanced UV-Vis absorption was recorded for zigzag structure compared to perpendicular TiO2 nanowires. The main band transition was observed at ~3.4 eV. The zigzag TiO2 exhibited high turn on voltage (+11 V) than that of nanowire (+2 V) detector under dark which were reduced to +0.2 V and +1.0 V under white light illumination, respectively. A maximum ~6 fold photo-responsivity was observed for the zigzag TiO2 compared with nanowire device at + 1.0 V applied potential. The maximum photo-responsivity of 0.36 A/W at 370 nm was measured for the zigzag TiO2 detector. The TiO2 zigzag detector showed slow response with rise time of 10.2 s and fall time of 10.3 s respectively. The UV (370 nm) to visible (450 nm) wavelength rejection ratio of photo-responsivity was recorded ~4 times for the detector. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6242 | Neurologic complications of acute and chronic renal disease.
There is an increasing incidence and prevalence of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Western industrialized countries and currently is estimated at approximately 10% of adults aged over 20 years. Renal failure causes an excessively increased risk of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular complications. Moreover, renal failure leads to a number of the neurologic symptoms neurologists are often confronted with. This chapter gives an overview of possible neurologic complications of acute renal failure and CKD. Complications of the central nervous system (e.g., uremic encephalopathy, disequilibrium syndrome, and drug induced disorders) are reviewed. It has long been known that uremia leads to peripheral nerve injury. Frequent neurological diseases such as uremic polyneuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, and a range of mononeuropathies are discussed. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6243 | ESR1 promoter hypermethylation does not predict atypia in RPFNA nor persistent atypia after 12 months tamoxifen chemoprevention.
PURPOSE
Currently, we lack biomarkers to predict whether high-risk women with mammary atypia will respond to tamoxifen chemoprevention.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Thirty-four women with cytologic mammary atypia from the Duke University High-Risk clinic were offered tamoxifen chemoprevention. We tested whether ESR1 promoter hypermethylation and/or estrogen receptor (ER) protein expression by immunohistochemistry predicted persistent atypia in 18 women who were treated with tamoxifen for 12 months and in 16 untreated controls.
RESULTS
We observed a statistically significant decrease in the Masood score of women on tamoxifen chemoprevention for 12 months compared with control women. This was a significant interaction effect of time (0, 6, and 12 months) and treatment group (tamoxifen versus control) P = 0.0007. However, neither ESR1 promoter hypermethylation nor low ER expression predicted persistent atypia in Random Periareolar Fine Needle Aspiration after 12 months tamoxifen prevention.
CONCLUSIONS
Results from this single institution pilot study provide evidence that, unlike for invasive breast cancer, ESR1 promoter hypermethylation and/or low ER expression is not a reliable marker of tamoxifen-resistant atypia. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6244 | An In Vitro Study of Osteoblast Response on Fused-Filament Fabrication 3D Printed PEEK for Dental and Cranio-Maxillofacial Implants.
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a prime candidate to replace metallic implants and prostheses in orthopedic, spine and cranio-maxillofacial surgeries. Fused-filament fabrication (FFF) is an economical and efficient three-dimensional (3D) printing method to fabricate PEEK implants. However, studies pertaining to the bioactivity of FFF 3D printed PEEK are still lacking. In this study, FFF 3D printed PEEK samples were fabricated and modified with polishing and grit-blasting (three alumina sizes: 50, 120, and 250 µm) to achieve varying levels of surface roughness. In vitro cellular response of a human osteosarcoma cell line (SAOS-2 osteoblasts, cell adhesion, metabolic activity, and proliferation) on different sample surfaces of untreated, polished, and grit-blasted PEEK were evaluated. The results revealed that the initial cell adhesion on different sample surfaces was similar. However, after 5 days the untreated FFF 3D printed PEEK surfaces exhibited a significant increase in cell metabolic activity and proliferation with a higher density of osteoblasts compared with the polished and grit-blasted groups (p < 0.05). Therefore, untreated FFF 3D printed PEEK with high surface roughness and optimal printing structures might have great potential as an appropriate alloplastic biomaterial for reconstructive cranio-maxillofacial surgeries. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6245 | Urethral syndrome or urinary tract infection?
Urodynamic studies of 25 women between eleven and forty-five years of age whose history included frequent urinary tract infections disclosed urethral activity different from that of women with pure stress incontinence. Often the former had associated symptoms of urge, although the latter did not. Not all symptoms of infections were documented by culture, hence could have been related to tension in the pelvic floor rather than to bacteriuria. Urodynamic studies showed spasticity of the urethral musculature. The women with frequent urinary tract infections uniformly had hyperactive urethral striated muscle, those with the most severe form of urge showing varying resting tension in the urethral sphincter. In all cases, discomfort or urge was proportional to the elevation in urethral sphincter pressure and dramatically diminished with drop in closure tonus. In many cases relief of urge occurred only with voiding-when relaxation of the pelvic floor musculature could be induced by the patient. Urethral symptoms result from physiologic imbalance in urethral activity and may predispose to urinary tract infection. Thus, physicians treating urge complaints in young women should be aware that both entities have to be treated. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6246 | Mitochondrial-genome-encoded RNAs: differential regulation by corticotropin in bovine adrenocortical cells.
Differential screening of an adrenal cortex cDNA library for corticotropin (ACTH)-inducible genes led to the isolation of a group of cDNAs representing mitochondrial genes that encode subunits of cytochrome oxidase, ATPase, and NADH dehydrogenase. Northern blot analysis of RNA from cells stimulated by ACTH confirmed the induction of these genes by ACTH yet revealed major differences in the relative responses of the respective mRNAs. The levels of mRNAs for cytochrome oxidase subunit I and ATPase increased 2- to 4-fold and for NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 increased 20-fold, whereas the levels of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA showed no change within 6 h of ACTH stimulation. These effects of ACTH on mitochondrial mRNA levels probably result from both activation of the H2 transcription unit that encodes mitochondrial mRNAs and alteration of mRNA stability. ACTH also increased the activity of cytochrome oxidase after 12 h of stimulation. Examination of the tissue specificity of expression of five mitochondrial genes showed a wide range of RNA levels among 11 tissues but high correlations between individual RNA levels, consistent with a coordinated expression of the mitochondrial genes, although at different levels in each cell type. Proportionately high levels of mitochondrial mRNAs were found in adrenal cortex, probably reflecting a stimulatory effect of ACTH in vivo. Overall, the results indicate that ACTH enhances the energy-producing capacity of adrenocortical cells. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6247 | Kinetics and mechanisms of the oxidation of myoglobin by Fe(III) and Cu(II) complexes.
Two distinct mechanisms by which sperm whale myoglobin reduces, respectively, complexes of Fe(III) and Cu(II) and, in turn, is oxidized to metmyoglobin have been characterized. For both mechanisms, deoxymyoglobin is the active reductant. An outer sphere electron transfer, probably at the edge of the heme, is involved for Fe(III)NTA (NTA is nitrilotriacetic acid). This pathway does not involve ionic binding of the Fe(III) complex to the protein. The most reactive species of Fe(III)NTA is uncharged. No inhibition is observed with Ni(II) or Zn(II). An outer sphere site specific electron transfer is operative for reduction of Cu(II) complexes. The site has been characterized using NMR spectroscopy and involves one or more histidines. There is an initial binding of the Cu(II) chelate. The ternary complex of chelator-Cu(II)-deoxymyoglobin is a mandatory intermediate. Ni(II) and Zn(II) compete with Cu(II) for the binding site. A scheme for the participation of either or both of these mechanisms in reduction reactions of heme proteins is proposed. Both the overall redox potential, delta E0, and the stability constant for the ternary complex, K, govern the pathway and the reaction rate. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6248 | Hounsfield units from unenhanced 18F-FDG-PET/CT are useful in evaluating supradiaphragmatic lymph nodes in children and adolescents with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
The precise identification of the primarily-affected nodal regions in Hodgkin's lymphoma(HL) is essential in determining the stage of the disease and the intensity of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to use the degree of X-ray attenuation (XRA) in Hounsfield units(HU) and the lymph node-to-muscle attenuation ratio (LN/M) in computed tomography (CT) unenhancedimaging, routinely performed with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET),to distinguish HL-affected supradiaphragmatic lymph nodes.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study included 52 patients with classical HL treated according to the EuroNet-PHL-C1 protocol. Patients received 2 chemotherapy cycles after 18F-FDG-PET/CT testing, followedby re-examination. The lymph nodes were evaluated according to the Society for Pediatric Oncology andHematology's GPOH-HD-2002 study and Lugano criteria as not-involved (NI-LN) and involved (I-LN).
RESULTS
A significant difference (p < 0.001) was found in the XRA and LN/M values between NI-LN andI-LN before treatment and after the 2 chemotherapy cycles. The optimal cut-off point for XRA (44.7 HU) andLN/M (0.79) values distinguishing I-LN from NI-LN nodes was determined by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis. After 2 cycles of chemotherapy, higher XRA (p = 0.002) and LN/M (p = 0.001) values in thegroup with inadequate early CTx response were found.
CONCLUSIONS
The use of XRA in HU and LN/M, together with the existing standard, can improve the qualificationof supradiaphragmatic lymph nodes in HL. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6249 | Improved monitoring of cytomegalovirus infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by an ultrasensitive plasma DNA PCR assay.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA amplification assays in plasma have shown limited sensitivity compared to the detection of pp65 antigen in leukocytes. Our goal was to increase the sensitivity of a commercial CMV DNA PCR quantitative assay. After modification, the new assay was able to reproducibly detect 20 CMV DNA copies/ml of plasma. We compared this new ultrasensitive PCR assay with the standard PCR and the pp65 test for CMV detection and quantification in 22 consecutive allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell recipients. CMV infection or reactivation was detected in 84 of 319 (26%) samples by the ultrasensitive PCR assay compared to 38 of 319 (12%) samples by the pp65 assay (P < 0.01). All samples positive by the pp65 assay were positive by the ultrasensitive PCR, and CMV episodes were detected on average 4 days earlier and 7 days later than the first and the last pp65-positive test, respectively. In addition, during CMV episodes, the ultrasensitive assay identified positive samples that were inconsistently detected by the pp65 assay. The ultrasensitive assay was also much more sensitive than the standard PCR, with 26 versus 12% of CMV DNA-positive samples (P < 0.01). This assay improved the monitoring of CMV infection or reactivation in hematopoietic allogeneic stem cell recipients. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6250 | Placental histology of acute versus continuous meconium exposure - Association with obstetric and neonatal outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to compare obstetric and neonatal outcomes of deliveries complicated by meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF), according to placental histology of continuous vs. acute meconium associated changes.
METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton deliveries complicated by MSAF at a single university-affiliated medical center during 2008-2018. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared between cases with placental acute vs. continuous meconium exposure associated changes (columnar epithelial changes and meconium-laden macrophages, respectively). Regression analysis was used to identify independent associations with adverse neonatal outcomes.
RESULTS
The medical records of 294 deliveries at our institution were reviewed, along with medical records of the neonates and the histopathological reports of their placentas. Ninety-two cases were classified as an acute placental reaction to meconium (acute exposure group) and 200 as continuous placental exposure (continuous exposure group). Patient demographics did not differ between groups. Placentas from the continuous exposure to meconium were associated with a higher rate of placental weight <10th percentile (p = 0.03) while the acute exposure group was associated with a shorter time between rupture of membranes and delivery (p = 0.02). and higher rates of non-reassuring fetal heart rate in labor (p = 0.003), and of adverse neonatal outcome (p = 0.02). In multivariable analysis adverse neonatal outcome was associated with acute histologic exposure to meconium independent of background confounders (aOR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.12-3.67).
CONCLUSIONS
Acute histological changes of MSAF were independently associated with adverse neonatal outcomes as compared to continuous histologic MSAF. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6251 | Sarcopenia, frailty circle and treatment with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors.
The paper provides the issues regarding the body composition change by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6252 | Case of olmesartan-associated enteropathy and transient positive antitissue transglutaminase serology.
Olmesartan-associated enteropathy (OAE) is increasingly being recognised as a major differential diagnosis in patients with villous atrophy and negative coeliac disease (CD) serology. OAE and positive coeliac markers have rarely been reported. We report a case of diarrhoea and small bowel villous blunting associated with a transient elevation of antitissue transglutaminase antibody (ATTG). On discontinuation of olmesartan, symptoms improved, repeat biopsies were normal and levels of ATTG also returned normal. We discuss a possible explanation for the transient elevation in ATTG and the significance of considering OAE/CD overlap. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6253 | Structural and functional dissection of an MHC class I antigen-binding adenovirus glycoprotein.
The early transmembrane glycoprotein E19 of adenovirus-2 binds to class I antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The association is initiated in the endoplasmic reticulum of infected cells and abrogates the intracellular transport of the class I molecules. To examine which parts of the E19 molecule are responsible for the association with the class I antigens and which parts confine the protein to the endoplasmic reticulum we have constructed a series of mutated E19 genes, which have been expressed in an improved mammalian expression vector. By various manipulations the membrane anchoring and the cytoplasmic domains were removed from the protein. The biosynthesis of the mutant protein was examined. All mutant proteins were secreted from the cells suggesting that the transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic portions of the E19 molecule are responsible for its confinement to the endoplasmic reticulum. The ability to associate with class I antigens was retained by the lumenal domain of the E19 protein. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6254 | Severe late-onset recurrent epithelial erosion with diffuse lamellar keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis.
A 39-year-old woman had laser in situ keratomileusis that was complicated by intraoperative epithelial erosion in both eyes. Seven months after surgery, the patient returned, complaining of pain and blurred vision in the left eye. Slitlamp examination revealed corneal epithelial erosion with severe diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK). Reepithelialization was complete in several days. However, severe inflammation remained until systemic steroids were administered. Recurrent erosions can lead to a serious inflammatory reaction such as DLK because of the presence of the flap-stroma interface. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6255 | STAT3-induced upregulation of lncRNA ABHD11-AS1 promotes tumour progression in papillary thyroid carcinoma by regulating miR-1301-3p/STAT3 axis and PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.
OBJECTIVES
Emerging evidences indicated the importance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the tumorigenesis and deterioration of malignant tumours. To our knowledge, the study about lncRNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is still inadequate. ABHD11-AS1 was highly expressed in the PTC samples of The Cancer Genome Atlas database. This study focused on the biological function and mechanism of lncRNA ABHD11-AS1 in PTC.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
qRT-PCR analysis was used to examine the expression of ABHD11-AS1 in PTC tissues and cell lines. The prognostic significance of ABHD11-AS1 for the patients with PTC was analysed with Kaplan-Meier analysis. The effects of ABHD11-AS1 knockdown on the cell proliferation and metastasis were evaluated by in vitro functional assays and in vivo experiments. The molecular mechanism which contributed to the oncogenic role of ABHD11-AS1 in PTC was explored by conducting mechanism experiments. Rescue assays were carried out for final demonstration.
RESULTS
High expression of ABHD11-AS1 predicted poor prognosis for patients with PTC and promoted cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. ABHD11-AS1 was activated by the transcription factor STAT3. ABHD11-AS1 positively regulated PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. ABHD11-AS1 acted as a competitive endogenous (ce) RNA to upregulate STAT3 by sponging miR-1301-3p.
CONCLUSIONS
STAT3-induced lncRNA ABHD11-AS1 promoted PTC progression by regulating PI3K/AKT signalling pathway and miR-1301-3p/STAT3 axis. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6256 | Unilateral pulmonary vein atresia presenting with recurrent haemoptysis in a child: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Haemoptysis is an uncommon presenting symptom in children and is usually caused by acute lower respiratory tract infection or foreign body aspiration. We report a rare case of right unilateral pulmonary vein atresia (PVA) as the underlying aetiology of recurrent haemoptysis in a child.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 4 years old girl presented with history of recurrent haemoptysis. Bronchoscopic evaluation excluded a foreign body aspiration but revealed right bronchial mucosal hyperaemia and varices. Diagnosis of right unilateral PVA was suspected on transthoracic echocardiography which demonstrated hypoplastic right pulmonary artery and non-visualization of right pulmonary veins. Final diagnosis was confirmed on cardiac CT angiography. A conservative treatment approach was opted with consideration for pneumonectomy in future when she is older.
CONCLUSION
Rarer causes should be considered when investigating for recurrent haemoptysis in children. Bronchoscopy and cardiac imaging are useful tools to establish the diagnosis of unilateral PVA in our case. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6257 | Disease Progression in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer Disease: The Contribution of Staging Scales.
INTRODUCTION
There is a shortage of validated instruments to estimate disease progression in frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the ability of the FTD Rating Scale (FTD-FRS) to detect functional and behavioral changes in patients diagnosed with the behavioral variant of FTD (bvFTD), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), and Alzheimer disease (AD) after 12 months of the initial evaluation, compared to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale-frontotemporal lobar degeneration (CDR-FTLD) and the original Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR).
METHODS
The sample consisted of 70 individuals, aged 40+ years, with at least 2 years of schooling, 31 with the diagnosis of bvFTD, 12 with PPA (8 with semantic variant and 4 with non-fluent variant), and 27 with AD. The FTD-FRS, the CDR, and the 2 additional CDR-FTLD items were completed by a clinician, based on the information provided by the caregiver with frequent contact with the patient. The Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination-Revised was completed by patients. After 12 months, the same protocol was applied.
RESULTS
The FTD-FRS, CDR-FTLD, and CDR detected significant decline after 12 months in the 3 clinical groups (exception: FTD-FRS for PPA). The CDR was less sensitive to severe disease stages.
CONCLUSIONS
The FTD-FRS and the CDR-FTLD are especially useful tools for dementia staging in AD and in the FTD spectrum. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6258 | Fetal subcutaneous tissue thickness (SCTT) in healthy and gestational diabetic pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To determine reference values of fetal subcutaneous tissue thickness (SCTT) throughout gestation in a healthy population and to compare them with those from a population of pregnant women with gestational diabetes under standard therapy.
METHODS
Three hundred and three women recruited from a high-risk pregnancy clinic were classified as being healthy (n = 218) or as having gestational diabetes (n = 85) on the basis of a negative or positive oral glucose tolerance test, respectively. They were enrolled into the cross-sectional study at 20 weeks' gestation. Ultrasound examinations were performed approximately every 3 weeks until delivery at term. The mid-arm fat mass and lean mass (MAFM, MALM), the mid-thigh fat mass and lean mass (MTFM, MTLM), the abdominal fat mass (AFM) and the subscapular fat mass (SSFM) were evaluated. Time-specific reference ranges were constructed from the 218 healthy women and a conventional Student's t-test was performed to compare SCTT values between the two study groups throughout gestation.
RESULTS
Normal ranges, including 5th, 50th and 95th centiles of the distribution, were generated for each SCTT parameter obtained in each of the two groups of women. Significant differences were found between the two study groups at 37-40 weeks' gestation for MTFM, at 20-22 and 26-28 weeks for MTLM, at 31-34 and 35-37 weeks for MAFM, at 26-28 and 38-40 weeks for SSFM, and at 39-40 weeks for AFM, the mean residual values always being greater in gestational diabetic women than they were in the group of healthy pregnant women.
CONCLUSIONS
We provide gestational age-specific reference values for fetal SCTT. Fetal fat mass values, particularly in late gestation, are greater in women with gestational diabetes compared with healthy women. The reference values may have a role in assessing the influence of maternal metabolic control on fetal state. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6259 | Sequence-specific and phosphorylation-dependent proline isomerization: a potential mitotic regulatory mechanism.
Pin1 is an essential and conserved mitotic peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PPIase) that is distinct from members of two other families of conventional PPIases, cyclophilins and FKBPs (FK-506 binding proteins). In response to their phosphorylation during mitosis, Pin1 binds and regulates members of a highly conserved set of proteins that overlaps with antigens recognized by the mitosis-specific monoclonal antibody MPM-2. Pin1 is here shown to be a phosphorylation-dependent PPIase that specifically recognizes the phosphoserine-proline or phosphothreonine-proline bonds present in mitotic phosphoproteins. Both Pin1 and MPM-2 selected similar phosphorylated serine-proline-containing peptides, providing the basis for the specific interaction between Pin1 and MPM-2 antigens. Pin1 preferentially isomerized proline residues preceded by phosphorylated serine or threonine with up to 1300-fold selectivity compared with unphosphorylated peptides. Pin1 may thus regulate mitotic progression by catalyzing sequence-specific and phosphorylation-dependent proline isomerization. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6260 | Animal Models for HIV Cure Research.
The HIV-1/AIDS pandemic continues to spread unabated worldwide, and no vaccine exists within our grasp. Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been developed, but ART cannot clear the virus from the infected patient. A cure for HIV-1 is badly needed to stop both the spread of the virus in human populations and disease progression in infected individuals. A safe and effective cure strategy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection will require multiple tools, and appropriate animal models are tools that are central to cure research. An ideal animal model should recapitulate the essential aspects of HIV pathogenesis and associated immune responses, while permitting invasive studies, thus allowing a thorough evaluation of strategies aimed at reducing the size of the reservoir (functional cure) or eliminating the reservoir altogether (sterilizing cure). Since there is no perfect animal model for cure research, multiple models have been tailored and tested to address specific quintessential questions of virus persistence and eradication. The development of new non-human primate and mouse models, along with a certain interest in the feline model, has the potential to fuel cure research. In this review, we highlight the major animal models currently utilized for cure research and the contributions of each model to this goal. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6261 | Utility of Lung Clearance Index Testing as a Noninvasive Marker of Deployment-related Lung Disease.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine utility and sensitivity of lung clearance index (LCI) testing as a marker of lung injury in symptomatic military deployers compared with healthy controls.
METHODS
We tested 24 healthy controls and 28 deployers with respiratory symptoms (17 of 28 with definite and 11 of 28 with probable deployment-related lung disease). We compared mean LCI scores between deployers and controls using t tests; adjusted tests were derived from multiple regression models.
RESULTS
Mean LCI scores were significantly higher (P = 0.001) in deployers [7.76, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 7.34 to 8.17] than controls (6.95, 95% CI 6.73 to 7.17). Adjusting for body mass index (BMI), smoking, and age, there were no significant differences (P = 0.10) between mean LCI scores in deployers (7.42, 95% CI 7.13 to 7.71) and controls (7.06, 95% CI 6.74 to 7.39).
CONCLUSIONS
The trend toward higher LCI scores in symptomatic deployers may be linked to underlying lung disease and/or BMI but requires further investigation in a larger population. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6262 | Monosaccharide sequence of protein-bound glycans of Uukuniemi virus.
Uukuniemi virus, a member of the Bunyaviridae family, was grown in BHK-21 cells in the presence of [(3)H]mannose. The purified virions were disrupted with sodium dodecyl sulfate and digested with pronase. The [(3)H]mannose-labeled glycopeptides of the mixture of the two envelope glycoproteins G1 and G2 were characterized by degrading the glycans with specific exo-and endoglycosidases, by chemical methods, and by analyzing the products with lectin affinity and gel chromatography. The glycopeptides of Uukuniemi virus fell into three categories: complex, high-mannose type, and intermediate. The complex glycopeptides probably contained mainly two NeuNAc-Gal-GlcNAc branches attached to a core (Man)(3)(GlcNAc)(2) peptide. The high-mannose-type glycans were estimated to contain at least five mannose units attached to two N-acetylglucosamine residues. Both glycan species appeared to be similar to the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides found in many soluble and membrane glycoproteins. The results suggested that the intermediate glycopeptides contained a mannosyl core. In about half of the molecules, one branch appeared to be terminated in mannose, and one appeared to be terminated in N-acetylglucosamine. Such glycans are a novel finding in viral membrane proteins. They may represent intermediate species in the biosynthetic pathway from high-mannose-type to complex glycans. Their accumulation could be connected with the site of maturation of the members of the Bunyaviridae family. Electron microscopic data suggest that the virions bud into smooth-surfaced cisternae in the Golgi region. The relative amounts of [(3)H]mannose in the complex, high-mannose-type, and intermediate glycans were 25, 62, and 13%, respectively, which corresponded to the approximate relative number of oligosaccharide chains of 2:2.8:1, respectively, in the roughly equimolar mixture of G1 and G2. Endoglycosidase H digestion of isolated [(35)S]methionine-labeled G1 and G2 proteins suggested that most of the complex and intermediate chains were attached to G1 and that most of the high-mannose-type chains were attached to G2. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6263 | Photochemistry of 2,2-dichloroethanol: kinetics and mechanism of the reaction with Cl atoms and OH radicals.
Smog chamber/FTIR techniques were used to investigate the kinetics and mechanism of the Cl atom and OH radical initiated oxidation of 2,2-dichloroethanol at (296 ± 1) K. Relative rate methods were used to measure k(Cl + CHCl2CH2OH) = (5.87 ± 0.96) × 10-12 and k(OH + CHCl2CH2OH) = (5.54 ± 1.94) × 10-13 cm3 molecule-1 s-1. Chlorine atom initiated oxidation of CHCl2CH2OH in one atmosphere of air gives HCOCl, CHCl2CHO, and COCl2 in yields of (62 ± 5)%, (39 ± 10)%, and (8 ± 2)%, respectively. The rate constant k(Cl + CHCl2CHO) = (8.3 ± 16) × 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 was determined and the IR spectra of CHCl2CHO is reported for the first time. The atmospheric lifetime for CHCl2CH2OH is estimated as 21 days. The experimental results are discussed in the context of the atmospheric chemistry of chlorinated alcohols. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6264 | Changes in obstetric practice in our time.
In the years since 1939 there has been a marked change in the nature and results of obstetric practice at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne. The noteworthy changes have been a reduction in the number of maternal deaths (from 12.2 per 1,000 in the 1940's to 0.2 per 1,000 in the 1980's), especially those due to septic abortion, and an increase in the Caesarean section rate (from 2% to 14%). The increase in the operative delivery rate has been matched by a decrease in mortality in patients thus delivered, the maternal and perinatal mortality rates changing from 5.5 and 88.9 per 1,000 to 0 and 7.6 per 1,000 respectively in the case of forceps delivery and from 24.7 and 162.5 per 1,000 to 0.15 and 10.6 per 1,000 respectively in the case of Caesarean delivery. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6265 | Four-year follow-up of imprisoned male heroin users and methadone treatment: mortality, re-incarceration and hepatitis C infection.
AIMS
To examine the long-term impact of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) on mortality, re-incarceration and hepatitis C seroconversion in imprisoned male heroin users.
DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS
The study cohort comprised 382 imprisoned male heroin users who had participated in a randomized controlled trial of prison-based MMT in 1997/98. Subjects were followed-up between 1998 and 2002 either in the general community or in prison.
MEASUREMENTS
All-cause mortality, re-incarceration, hepatitis C and HIV serostatus and MMT retention.
FINDINGS
There were no deaths recorded while subjects were enrolled in MMT. Seventeen subjects died while out of MMT, representing an untreated mortality rate of 2.0 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 1.2-3.2). Re-incarceration risk was lowest during MMT episodes of 8 months or longer (adjusted hazard ratio 0.3 (95% CI, 0.2-0.5; P < 0.001), although MMT periods 2 months or less were associated with greatest risk of re-incarceration (P < 0.001). Increased risk of hepatitis C seroconversion was significantly associated with prison sentences of less than 2 months [adjusted hazard ratio 20 (95% CI, 5-76; < P = 0.001)] and MMT episodes less than 5 months [adjusted hazard ratio 4.2 (95% CI, 1.4-12.6; P = 0.01)]. Subjects were at greatest risk of MMT dropout during short prison sentences of 1 month or less (adjusted hazard ratio 10.4 (95% CI, 7.0-15.7; P < 0.001). HIV incidence was 0.3 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 0.03-0.99).
CONCLUSIONS
Retention in MMT was associated with reduced mortality, re-incarceration rates and hepatitis C infection. Prison-based MMT programmes are integral to the continuity of treatment needed to ensure optimal outcomes for individual and public health. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6266 | Comparison of bovine platelet and teat alpha 2-adrenoceptor characteristics by [3H]rauwolscine binding.
Alpha 2-adrenoceptors on platelet membranes, isolated from "slaughterhouse cows," were characterized by [3H]-rauwolscine binding. There were 30 +/- 3 [3H]rauwolscine sites per platelet, corresponding to 194 +/- 18 fmol/mg protein. These had an equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 5.25 +/- 0.56 nM, a Hill coefficient of 1.00 +/- 0.01 (n = 9), and were competed for by adrenergic compounds stereoselectively. The rank order of catecholamines coincided with that expected for alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Ki-values for inhibition of specific [3H]rauwolscine binding by 7 agonists and 6 antagonists were in the same range as previously observed in teat tissue. It is therefore concluded that quite similar [3H]rauwolscine binding sites were identified and characterized in both bovine teats and platelets. Direct comparison of binding characteristics between alpha 2-adrenoceptors from teat tissue and platelets of the same "primiparous cows," revealed no difference in binding affinity, although a significant higher platelet receptor number was noted in the platelets (platelets: 353 fmol/mg protein; teat tissue: 91 fmol/mg protein; n = 10). | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6267 | Reaction-Diffusion Systems: Self-Balancing Diffusion and the Use of the Extent of Reaction as a Descriptor of Reaction Kinetics.
Self-balancing diffusion is a theoretical concept that restricts the introduction of extents of reactions. This concept is analyzed in detail for general mass- and molar-based balances of reaction-diffusion mixtures, in relation to non-self-balancing cases, and with respect to its practical consequences. Self-balancing is a mathematical restriction on the divergences of diffusion fluxes. Fulfilling this condition enables the proper introduction of the extents of (independent) reactions that reduce the number of independent variables in thermodynamic descriptions. A note on a recent generalization of the concept of reaction and diffusion extents is also included. Even in the case of self-balancing diffusion, such extents do not directly replace reaction rates. Concentration changes caused by reactions (not by diffusion) are properly described by rates of independent reactions, which are instantaneous descriptors. If an overall descriptor is needed, the traditional extents of reactions can be used, bearing in mind that they include diffusion-caused changes. On the other hand, rates of independent reactions integrated with respect to time provide another overall, but reaction-only-related descriptor. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6268 | Distinct disruptions of resting-state functional brain networks in familial and sporadic schizophrenia.
Clinical and brain structural differences have been reported between patients with familial and sporadic schizophrenia; however, little is known about the brain functional differences between the two subtypes of schizophrenia. Twenty-six patients with familial schizophrenia (PFS), 26 patients with sporadic schizophrenia (PSS) and 26 healthy controls (HC) underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The whole-brain functional network was constructed and analyzed using graph theoretical approaches. Topological properties (including global, nodal and edge measures) were compared among the three groups. We found that PFS, PSS and HC exhibited common small-world architecture of the functional brain networks. However, at a global level, only PFS showed significantly lower normalized clustering coefficient, small-worldness, and local efficiency, indicating a randomization shift of their brain networks. At a regional level, PFS and PSS disrupted different neural circuits, consisting of abnormal nodes (increased or decreased nodal centrality) and edges (decreased functional connectivity strength), which were widely distributed throughout the entire brain. Furthermore, some of these altered network measures were significantly correlated with severity of psychotic symptoms. These results suggest that familial and sporadic schizophrenia had segregated disruptions in the topological organization of the intrinsic functional brain network, which may be due to different etiological contributions. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6269 | Health Equity and Disparities in ROP Care: A Need for Systematic Evaluation.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative retinal disorder that can have devastating visual sequelae if not managed appropriately. From an ophthalmology standpoint, ROP care is complex, since it spans multiple care settings and providers, including those in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), step down nurseries, and the outpatient clinic setting. This requires coordination and communication between providers, ancillary staff, and most importantly, effective communication with the patient's family members and caregivers. Often, factors related to the social determinants of health play a significant role in effective communication and care coordination with the family, and it is important for ophthalmologists to recognize these risk factors. The aim of this article is to (1) review the literature related to disparities in preterm birth outcomes and infants at risk for ROP; (2) identify barriers to ROP care and appropriate follow up, and (3) describe patient-oriented solutions and future directions for improving ROP care through a health equity lens. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6270 | The BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine Elicits Robust Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses in People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Previous studies have shown that certain vaccines induce suboptimal responses in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PLWH). However, responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines have not been fully characterized in these patients. Here we show that the BNT162b2 vaccine induces robust immune responses comparable to responses in healthy donors. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6271 | Terrien's marginal degeneration accompanied by latticed stromal opacities.
PURPOSE
We report a case of Terrien's marginal degeneration (TMD) with a unilaterally typical narrow band of peripheral corneal stroma thinning, accompanied by the presence of an unusual network of opacities diffusing throughout the anterior stroma layers.
CASE REPORT
A 43-year-old woman presented with superior nasal peripheral corneal thinning and an unusual network of polygonal stromal opacities in the anterior corneal stroma of the right eye. Latticed corneal changes were unusually extensive and distributed diffusely in the stroma. No abnormalities were found in the corneal epithelium and in the basal epithelial cells. No noticeable changes were found in the left eye. Because of a progressively worse ocular irritation of the right eye, a diagnosis of TMD was made for this patient.
CONCLUSIONS
This case of TMD accompanied by keratopathy was unusual. The branching stromal lattice pattern of the corneal opacities was difficult to distinguish from lattice corneal dystrophy. In this case, the polygonal stromal opacities were located in the anterior corneal stroma and therefore were distinguished from a similar manifestation in posterior crocodile shagreen. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6272 | Significance of catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism in fibromyalgia syndrome.
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is associated with a neuroendocrinal disorder characterized by abnormal function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, including hyperactive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release and adrenal hyporesponsiveness. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme inactivates catecholamines and catecholamine-containing drugs. Polymorphism in the gene encodes for the COMT enzyme. For this study, the significance of COMT polymorphism was assessed in FS. There were three polymorphisms of the COMT gene: LL, LH, and HH. The analysis of COMT polymorphism was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sixty-one patients with FS and 61 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Although no significant difference was found between LL and LH separately, the LL and LH genotypes together were more highly represented in patients than controls ( P=0.024). In addition, HH genotypes in patients were significantly lower than in the control groups ( P=0.04). There was no significant difference between COMT polymorphism and psychiatric status of the patients as assessed by several psychiatric tests ( P>0.05). In conclusion, COMT polymorphism is of potential pharmacological importance regarding individual differences in the metabolism of catechol drugs and may also be involved in the pathogenesis and treatment of FS through adrenergic mechanisms as well as genetic predisposition to FS. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6273 | Gastric duplication cyst in an adult with autoimmune hemolytic anemia: a case report and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Gastric duplication cysts are uncommon congenital anomalies found primarily in children and rarely seen in the adult population. Accurate diagnosis of cysts before resection is difficult even using the most advanced imaging techniques.
CASE PRESENTATION
In this report, we describe a 28-year-old Moroccan patient with a history of autoimmune hemolytic anemia who presented with an asymptomatic abdominal cystic mass detected during abdominal computed tomography performed before splenectomy. Magnetic resonance imaging performed for accurate characterization showed a high-signal-intensity cystic mass on T2-weighted images, located between the patient's stomach and spleen. The patient underwent a complete cyst resection during exploratory laparotomy. The histological examination showed a cyst lined by three different epithelia with bundles of smooth muscle, which suggested a gastric duplication cyst.
CONCLUSIONS
We report a case of gastric cyst duplication in an adult with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and we discuss this rare association, radiological findings, and the unique histological findings of this case. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6274 | New global error bound for extended linear complementarity problems.
For the extended linear complementarity problem (ELCP), by virtue of a new residual function, we establish a new type of global error bound under weaker conditions. Based on this, we respectively obtain new global error bounds for the vertical linear complementarity problem and the mixed linear complementarity problem. The obtained results presented in this paper supplement some recent corresponding results in the sense that they can provide some error bounds for a more general ELCP. Their feasibility is verified by some numerical experiments. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6275 | An Integrin-αvβ6/α5β1-Bitargeted Probe for the SPECT Imaging of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma in Preclinical and Primary Clinical Studies.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) is one of the deadliest human malignancies. However, early detection, prediction of surgical resectability, and prognosis of PA are challenging with current conventional imaging technologies in the clinic. Molecular imaging technologies combined with novel imaging probes could be useful for early detection and accurate staging of PA. Integrin αvβ6 and α5β1 are found to be overexpressed in PA. In this study, integrin αvβ6/α5β1-bitargeted probes 99mTc-HYNIC-isoDGR (99mTc-isoDGR) and 99mTc-HYNIC-PEG4-PisoDGR2 (99mTc-3PisoDGR2) were prepared and evaluated in the BxPC-3 human pancreatic tumor model. Both subcutaneous and in situ BxPC-3 tumors could be clearly visualized by 99mTc-isoDGR nanoScan SPECT/CT imaging with a high ratio of tumor to background. The blocking study with excess nonradioactive peptide showed a significantly reduced tumor uptake, which confirmed the specificity of 99mTc-isoDGR. Biodistribution results confirmed the imaging results. The dimer tracer 99mTc-3PisoDGR2 significantly enhanced tumor uptake compared with 99mTc-isoDGR, and the spontaneous PA lesion in the mouse model could be clearly visualized by 99mTc-3PisoDGR2. The primary clinical study also verified the ability of 99mTc-3PisoDGR2 for detection of PA. Therefore, SPECT/CT imaging using the integrin αvβ6/α5β1-bitargeted 99mTc-3PisoDGR2 provided a potential approach for the noninvasive detection of PA. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6276 | Nitrous oxide emissions of a mesh separated single stage deammonification reactor.
It is widely accepted that partial nitrification by ANAMMOX has the potential to become one of the key processes in wastewater treatment. However, large greenhouse gas emissions have been panobserved in many cases. A novel mesh separated reactor, developed to allow continuous operation of deammonification at smaller scale without external biomass selection, was compared to a conventional single-chamber deammonification sequencing batch reactor (SBR), where both were equally-sized pilot-scale reactors. The mesh reactor consisted of an aerated and an anoxic zone separated by a mesh. The resulting differences in the structure of the microbial community were detected by next-generation sequencing. When both systems were operated in a sequencing batch mode, both systems had comparable nitrous oxide emission factors in the range of 4% to 5% of the influent nitrogen load. A significant decrease was observed after switching from sequencing batch mode to continuous operation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6277 | Glucocorticoids: binding affinity and lipophilicity.
The relative binding affinity of 35 steroids for the glucocorticoid receptor was determined in experiments in which the competition of various unlabeled steroids with either [6,7-3H]dexamethasone or [1,2-3H]hydrocortisone for the cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor of cultured human keratinocytes was measured. The data obtained were correlated with steroid lipophilicity, measured as the partition coefficient of the steroid between 1-octanol and pH 7.4 aqueous buffer. The introduction of various substituents on the steroid molecule induced changes in the binding affinity and was associated in some cases with concomitant changes in steroid lipophilicity. The substitution by a 17 alpha-OH or 21-OH group leads in all cases to a decrease in steroid lipophilicity and to an increase in affinity. In contrast, 17 alpha-OAc and especially 21-OAc substitution on hydrocortisone and betamethasone causes a decrease in the steroid affinity for the receptor and an increase in steroid lipophilicity. The elongation of the ester chain from acetate to valerate in both position C-17 and C-21 leads to the increase in both the binding affinity for the receptor and the lipophilicity of steroids. However, all 21-esters showed lower binding affinity than the parent alcohol. The binding affinity of the highly lipophilic 17 alpha, 21-diester was found to be lower than that of the 17 alpha-ester but higher than that of the 21-ester or of the parent alcohol. Only in the series of 17 alpha- and 21-esters is there a correlation between the binding affinity of steroids for the glucocorticoid receptor and their lipophilicity. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6278 | Using Graphene Sulfonate Nanosheets to Improve the Properties of Siliceous Sacrificial Materials: An Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Study.
The fabrication of high-performance cement-based materials has benefited greatly from the extensive use of graphene and its derivatives. This paper studies the effects of graphene sulfonate nanosheets (GSNSs) on sacrificial cement paste and mortar (the tested materials) and other siliceous sacrificial materials, especially their ablation behaviors and mechanical properties. Decomposition temperatures and differential scanning calorimetry were used to examine how different contents of GSNSs determines the corresponding decomposition enthalpy of the tested materials and their ablation behaviors. Molecular dynamics was also used to clarify the mechanism how the GSNSs work in the CSH (calcium silicate hydrated)/GSNSs composite to increase the resistance to high temperature. The experimental results show that: (1) the contents of GSNSs at 0.03 wt.%, 0.1 wt.%, and 0.3 wt.% brought an increase of 10.97%, 22.21%, and 17.56%, respectively, in the flexural strength of siliceous sacrificial mortar, and an increase of 1.92%, 9.16%, and 6.70% in its compressive strength; (2) the porosity of siliceous sacrificial mortar was decreased by 5.04%, 9.91%, and 7.13%, respectively, and the threshold pore diameter of siliceous sacrificial mortar was decreased by 13.06%, 35.39%, and 24.02%, when the contents of GSNSs were 0.03 wt.%, 0.1 wt.%, and 0.3 wt.%, respectively; (3) a decline of 11.16%, 28.50%, and 61.01% was found in the ablation velocity of siliceous sacrificial mortar, when the contents of GSNSs were 0.03 wt.%, 0.1 wt.%, and 0.3 wt.%, respectively; (4) when considering the ablation velocities and mechanical properties of siliceous sacrificial materials, 0.1 wt.% GSNSs was considered to be the optimal amount; (5) the GSNSs contribute to the reinforced effect of GSNSs on CSH gel through the grab of dissociated calcium and water molecules, and the chemical reaction with silicate tetrahedron to produce S-O-Si bonds. These results are expected to promoting the development of new kinds of siliceous sacrificial materials that contain GSNSs. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6279 | Cost-effectiveness analysis of EGFR mutation testing in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with gefitinib or carboplatin-paclitaxel.
OBJECTIVE
Assess the cost-effectiveness of an EGFR-mutation testing strategy for advanced NSCLC in first-line therapy with either gefitinib or carboplatin-paclitaxel in Mexican institutions.
METHODS
Cost-effectiveness analysis using a discrete event simulation (DES) model to simulate two therapeutic strategies in patients with advanced NSCLC. Strategy one included patients tested for EGFR-mutation and therapy given accordingly. Strategy two included chemotherapy for all patients without testing. All results are presented in 2014 US dollars. The analysis was made with data from the Mexican frequency of EGFR-mutation. A univariate sensitivity analysis was conducted on EGFR prevalence. Progression-free survival (PFS) transition probabilities were estimated on data from the IPASS and simulated with a Weibull distribution, run with parallel trials to calculate a probabilistic sensitivity analysis.
RESULTS
PFS of patients in the testing strategy was 6.76 months (95 % CI 6.10-7.44) vs 5.85 months (95 % CI 5.43-6.29) in the non-testing group. The one-way sensitivity analysis showed that PFS has a direct relationship with EGFR-mutation prevalence, while the ICER and testing cost have an inverse relationship with EGFR-mutation prevalence. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that all iterations had incremental costs and incremental PFS for strategy 1 in comparison with strategy 2.
CONCLUSION
There is a direct relationship between the ICER and the cost of EGFR testing, with an inverse relationship with the prevalence of EGFR-mutation. When prevalence is >10 % ICER remains constant. This study could impact Mexican and Latin American health policies regarding mutation detection testing and treatment for advanced NSCLC. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6280 | Community-engaged scholarship: is faculty work in communities a true academic enterprise?
Since Ernest Boyer's landmark 1990 report, Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate, leaders in higher education, including academic medicine, have advocated that faculty members apply their expertise in new and creative ways in partnership with communities. Such community engagement can take many forms, including community-based teaching, research, clinical care, and service. There continues to be a gap, however, between the rhetoric of this idea and the reality of how promotion and tenure actually work in health professions schools. The Commission on Community-Engaged Scholarship in the Health Professions was established in October 2003 with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to take a leadership role in creating a more supportive culture and reward system for community-engaged faculty in the nation's health professions schools. The authors prepared this article to inform the commission's deliberations and to stimulate discussion among educators in the health professions. The authors define the work that faculty engage in with communities, consider whether all work by faculty in community-based settings is actually scholarship, and propose a framework for documenting and assessing community-engaged scholarship for promotion and tenure decisions. They conclude with recommendations for change in academic health centers and health professions schools. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6281 | Fluorescent Probes for Sugar Detection.
Herein, a new class of polymerizable boronic acid (BA) monomers are presented, which are used to generate soft hydrogels capable of accurate determination of saccharide concentration. By exploiting the interaction of these cationic BAs with an anionic fluorophore, 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt (pyranine), a two-component sugar-sensing system was realized. In the presence of such cationic BAs ( o-BA, m-BA, and p-BA), the fluorescence of pyranine becomes quenched because of the formation of a nonfluorescent BA-fluorophore complex. Upon addition of saccharides, formation of a cyclic boronate ester results in dissociation of the nonfluorescent complex and recovery of the pyranine fluorescence. The response of this system was examined in solution with common monosaccharides, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose. Subsequent polymerization of the BA monomers yielded cross-linked hydrogels which showed similar reversible recovery of fluorescence in the presence of glucose. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6282 | The impact of khat use on East African communities in Melbourne: a preliminary investigation.
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS
Catha Edulis Forsk (khat) is a plant-reported to have a stimulant effect similar to that of amphetamines-grown and used by eastern African communities worldwide. Khat can be legally consumed in many parts of the world, including Victoria, Australia. Recent concerns have been raised about the social and economic impacts of khat consumption among Victoria's East African community members. This study explores khat use and the social impact it has on East African families and communities in Melbourne, Australia.
DESIGN AND METHODS
Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted in 2009 with 29 members of Melbourne's East African community recruited via community leaders and snowball sampling. Fifty-five per cent of the sample reported khat use and the remainder reported only having experience of other people's use of the drug.
RESULTS
Participants who did not report chewing khat were mainly concerned with the negative social impacts of its use, such as the extended time men spent away from their families while consuming the drug. These participants (mainly women) expressed their hope that khat would be prohibited in Victoria. Participants who reported the use of khat (mainly men) reported that any social problems existed independently of khat consumption.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
This study found only limited evidence that khat use has been impacting directly on people's health and well-being. Any moves to prohibit khat use may further marginalise already vulnerable groups of people. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6283 | [Clinical experiences with polyethylene glycol-bound E. coli L-asparaginase in patients with multiple recurrences of acute lymphoblastic leukemia].
The efficiency and toxicity of E. coli-L-Asparaginase coupled to polyethyleneglycol (PEG-ASP) was investigated in 5 patients with second relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PEG-ASP was administered at a dose of 2000 U/m2 as infusion over 2 hrs. every 2 weeks. Following an initial single agent phase, PEG-ASP was combined with prednisone, vincristine, adriamycin and methotrexate i.t. Following induction, all 5 patients were in third remission. The remissions lasted from 3 to 9 months, median 4 months. The toxicity was transient and mild. Also in patients sensitized against native L-Asparaginase no anaphylactic reactions were observed. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6284 | Real-world outcomes of allied health professional-led clinic model for assessing and monitoring ocular melanocytic lesions.
BACKGROUND
Naevomelanocytic lesions comprise an increasing workload in ophthalmic secondary care and, although largely benign, carry high risk of mortality in case of malignant transformation. Previous studies highlight the theoretical strength of virtual models in monitoring such lesions and the role of allied health professionals (AHPs). We aim to describe and validate a "real-world" functional clinical model utilising these particular resources.
METHODS
New and existing follow-up patients from November 2016 to June 2019 with melanocytic lesions of the uveal tract and conjunctiva were directed into an optometrist-led, consultant-supported, clinic. Diagnostic tests included colour photography, autofluorescence, enhanced-depth imaging and ultrasound biomicroscopy. New patients were examined face-to-face initially, then virtually on subsequent visits. Suspicious lesions were referred to the consultant, with tertiary oncology referrals made as necessary. Clinical concordance between optometrist and consultant, patient satisfaction and outcomes of second opinion requests were audited.
RESULTS
Eight hundred and twenty-five patient episodes were encountered: 419 new and 406 follow-up. Between July 1st and August 31st 2018, 72 cases were audited. There was 98.6% concordance between AHP and consultant for diagnosis and management. Referral for consultant second opinion was requested in 18(2%) clinical encounters, with 4(0.5%) referred on to the oncology centre, of which 3 received treatment. Of 65 patients responding to a patient satisfaction survey, 100% were satisfied with their experience and 95% were happy to continue monitoring by the AHP.
CONCLUSION
With robust training and assessment, AHP-led service models are a highly efficient in busy units, without compromising patient safety. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6285 | Drug therapy in mental handicap.
Definitions of mental handicap are imprecise in practice, and a wide spectrum of patients are provided for under this heading. There can be no question of specific treatment for 'mental handicap' as such. Many situations arising in institutions for the mentally handicapped derive from the nature of the institution and the regime. Drugs may be used 'faute de mieux' when environmental manipulation would be more appropriate. There is much over-prescribing, and the choice of drugs is not always logical; monitoring of dose is seldom employed. A major source of behaviour disturbance in the mentally handicapped is lack of suitable occupation. Apart from a few specific indications, use of sedatives and tranquillizers for the mentally handicapped should be seen as a holding device, to enable a different system of management to be adopted or to disrupt an undesirable behaviour pattern. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6286 | Brief review: Can modulating DNA methylation state help the clinical application of oligodendrocyte precursor cells as a source of stem cell therapy?
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are one of the major cell types in cerebral white matter, which are generated from neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and give rise to mature oligodendrocytes. Although past studies have extensively examined how OPCs are generated from NPCs and how OPCs differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes, the underlying mechanisms remain unelucidated. In particular, the roles of DNA methylation and the related enzymes DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in oligodendrocyte lineage cells are still mostly unknown, although DNA methylation plays a critical role in cell fate decision in multiple cell types. Recently, OPCs were proposed as a promising source of cell-based therapy for patients with oligodendrocyte/myelin damage. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying the involvement of DNMTs in OPCs would help to develop an approach for the efficient preparation of OPCs for cell-based therapy. As a part of the special issue for "Stem Cell Therapy" in Brain Research, this mini-review article first overviews the potential for clinical application of OPCs for cell-based therapy, and then summarizes the key findings of DNMT roles in OPCs, focusing on OPC generation and differentiation. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6287 | Successful treatment of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults with traditional Chinese medicine: a case report.
INTRODUCTION
Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is regarded as one of the Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus that progress slowly. It gradually became understood since 1970s. The onset usually appears in adulthood, the islet autoantibodies are positive and the function of beta cell is declined rapidly.The treatment is insulin injection.
CASE PRESENTATION
The case reported followed is a 37-year-old male patient who was newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He abandoned oral hypoglycemic agents since they caused stomach indisposed. Before visiting, his islet autoantibodies were detected positive and he had never injected insulin before. We treated him with traditional Chinese herbals under the guidance of Traditional Chinese Medicine and differentiation, and achieved fine efficacy.
CONCLUSION
Because the initial presentation of LADA is similar to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and examination is not in common use, misdiagnosis is not rare. Once LADA is diagnosed, the therapy must be adjusted. This case report indicated that Traditional Chinese Medicine might be an alternative treatment for LADA. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6288 | Pharmacological profiles of exemestane and formestane, steroidal aromatase inhibitors used for treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer.
Steroidal aromatase inhibitors like formestane and exemestane are useful drugs for endocrine treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer. In addition, these drugs should be considered valuable probes to explore the biology of breast cancer with particular emphasis on possible relations between the degree of estrogen suppression and clinical efficacy and the possible role of intratumor estrogen synthesis. The fact that steroidal and non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors bind to different parts of the aromatase enzyme suggests these drugs may act in concert aggravating plasma estrogen suppression. Thus, use of a steroidal and a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors in concert may be one way to improve breast cancer treatment and may also provide important information to a better understanding of the dose-response relationship between estrogen suppression and clinical effects. Further, the finding that patients progressing on non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors may respond to formestane as well as exemestane suggests these drugs may have differential effects, probably on the aromatization in the tumor tissue. Further studies are warranted to explore the influence of steroidal and non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors on intratumor aromatase activity and intratumor estrogen concentrations and to correlate these findings to intratumor drug concentrations. The findings that steroidal aromatase inhibitors may have clinical effects in patients progressing on treatment with the non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor aminoglutethimide is challenging, and suggest further studies to evaluate possible benefits of using different novel aromatase inhibitors in concert or sequence. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6289 | Conservative and Operative Treatment in Extension Teardrop Fractures of the Axis.
STUDY DESIGN
A retrospective case series describing teardrop fracture of the axis.
OBJECT
The purpose of the study was to clarify the clinical features, the mechanism of injury, and the potential instability of extension teardrop fractures of the axis, so as to emphasize the importance of recognizing this injury as a separate entity.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA
Teardrop fractures of the axis are rare spinal fractures, comprising only a small percentage of all injuries of the cervical spine. The stability of this fracture pattern has been a matter of debate leading to controversy regarding treatment strategies and the need for stabilization.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed data collected from 16 patients to document the mechanism of injury, neurological deficit, treatment and clinical outcome, and imaging findings.
RESULTS
Extension teardrop fractures accounted for approximately 8.9% of the upper cervical spinal injuries and 12.7% of axis fractures at the authors' institution over the same period. Six patients (4 males and 2 females) underwent surgery (4 by an anterior approach, 2 by a posterior approach). Ten cases underwent Halo-vest immobilization for a period between 6 and 12 weeks. At final follow-up, 14 cases achieved excellent results, whereas 2 patients complained of mild residual neck pain. Maximum cranial-caudal dimensions of the fragments were between 5 and 24 mm (average, 12.9 mm), and the transverse dimensions were between 5 and 22 mm (average, 11.1 mm). Fragment displacement ranged from 1 to 9 mm (average, 3.5 mm), whereas fragment rotation ranged from 10 to 52 degrees (average, 24.4 degrees) in the sagittal plane.
CONCLUSIONS
Most patients with an extension teardrop fracture of the axis can be treated conservatively. On the basis of this case series, the authors suggest that large fragment size, displacement or angulation, intervertebral disk injury, neurologic deficit, or signs of instability are reasonable indications for surgical treatment. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6290 | Cat-scratch disease.
PURPOSE
To discuss the systemic and ocular manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of Bartonella infection.
METHOD
Review of the literature.
RESULTS
Bartonella are facultative intracellular Gram-negative rods that infect the erythrocytes or endothelial cells and are related to cat scratch disease (CSD). Bartonella henselae infection has localized or systemic features; the ocular diseases related to Bartonella affect 5--10% of patients with CSD. The diagnosis is based on clinical findings and laboratory tests. The indication of antibiotic therapy depends on the manifestation of the Bartonella infection, the host immunity and the patient's age.
CONCLUSION
Physicians should look for Bartonella henselae in cases of follicular conjuntivitis and regional limphadenopathy, neuroretinitis or retinal infiltrates; currently, serological tests can confirm the clinical suspicion of this infection. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6291 | Increased interleukin-6/C-reactive protein levels are associated with the upregulation of the adenosine pathway and serve as potential markers of therapeutic resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Systemic immune activation, hallmarked by C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), can modulate antitumor immune responses. In this study, we evaluated the role of IL-6 and CRP in the stratification of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We also interrogated the underlying immunosuppressive mechanisms driven by the IL-6/CRP axis.
METHODS
In cohort A (n=308), we estimated the association of baseline CRP with objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in patients with NSCLC treated with ICIs alone or with chemo-immunotherapy (Chemo-ICI). Baseline tumor bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs) treated with pembrolizumab (cohort B, n=59) was used to evaluate differential expression of purine metabolism, as well as correlate IL-6 expression with PFS. CODEFACS approach was applied to deconvolve cohort B to characterize the tumor microenvironment by reconstructing the cell-type-specific transcriptome from bulk expression. Using the LUAD cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) we explored the correlation between IL-6 expression and adenosine gene signatures. In a third cohort (cohort C, n=18), plasma concentrations of CRP, adenosine 2a receptor (A2aR), and IL-6 were measured using ELISA.
RESULTS
In cohort A, 67.2% of patients had a baseline CRP≥10 mg/L (CRP-H). Patients with CRP-H achieved shorter OS (8.6 vs 14.8 months; p=0.006), shorter PFS (3.3 vs 6.6 months; p=0.013), and lower ORR (24.7% vs 46.3%; p=0.015). After adjusting for relevant clinical variables, CRP-H was confirmed as an independent predictor of increased risk of death (HR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.09 to 2.11) and lower probability of achieving disease response (OR 0.34, 95% CI: 0.13 to 0.89). In cohort B, RNA-seq analysis demonstrated higher IL-6 expression on tumor cells of non-responders, along with a shorter PFS (p<0.05) and enrichment of the purinergic pathway. Within the TCGA LUAD cohort, tumor IL-6 expression strongly correlated with the adenosine signature (R=0.65; p<2.2e-16). Plasma analysis in cohort C demonstrated that CRP-H patients had a greater median baseline level of A2aR (6.0 ng/mL vs 1.3 ng/mL; p=0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates CRP as a readily available blood-based prognostic biomarker in ICI-treated NSCLC. Additionally, we elucidate a potential link of the CRP/IL-6 axis with the immunosuppressive adenosine signature pathway that could drive inferior outcomes to ICIs in NSCLC and also offer novel therapeutic avenues. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6292 | Orderly aligned manganese-based nanotube arrays with controllable secondary structures.
By combining a hard template with a dynamic negative template, orderly aligned micrometer-length manganese nanotubes (Mn-NTs) decorated with nanopores on their walls as the secondary structure are successfully grown by electrodeposition in aqueous solution. These nanopores were characterized and analyzed statistically. It is found that these nanopores evolve along the growth direction of the Mn-NTs and their morphology is well controlled by the deposition potential. In addition, the morphology evolution of the nanopores exhibits distinguished size distribution compared with that found in conventional nanoporous foam grown solely by the dynamic template approach, which is attributed to the nanoconfinement of the hard template. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6293 | Advanced preclinical and clinical trials of natural products and related compounds from marine sources.
The marine environment has proven to be a very rich source of extremely potent compounds that have demonstrated significant activities in anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesia, immuno-modulation, allergy and anti-viral assays. Although the case can and has been made that the nucleosides such as Ara-A and Ara-C are derived from knowledge gained from investigations of bioactive marine nucleosides, no drug directly from marine sources (whether isolated or by total synthesis) has yet made it to the commercial sector in any human disease. However, as shown in this review, there are now significant numbers of very interesting molecules that have come from marine sources, or have been synthesized as a result of knowledge gained from a prototypical compound, that are either in or approaching Phase III clinical trials in cancer, analgesia and allergy, with a very substantial number of other, quite different potential agents following in their wake, in these and in other diseases. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6294 | Research roundup.
Synopses of a selection of recently published research articles of relevance to palliative care. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6295 | Gluten-Free Diet and Migraine.
Migraine is common in celiac disease (CD) and usually improves on a gluten-free diet (GFD). The benefit for people impacted by migraine without CD is poorly evidenced. A GFD may have adverse health consequences and is expensive. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6296 | Antinociceptive activity of the chloroform fraction of Dioclea virgata (Rich.) Amshoff (Fabaceae) in mice.
Acute treatment with the chloroform fraction of Dioclea virgata (Rich.) Amshoff (CFDv) in mice produced decreased ambulation and sedation in the behavioral pharmacological screening. Doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg CFDv decreased latency of sleep onset in the test of sleeping time potentiation. In the open field, animals treated with CFDv reduced ambulation and rearing (250 mg/kg), as well as defecation (125; 250 mg/kg). Regarding the antinociceptive activity, CFDv (125, 250, 500 mg/kg) increased latency to first writhing and decreased the number of writhings induced by acetic acid. In the formalin test, CFDv (250 mg/kg) decreased paw licking time in the first and second phases indicating antinociceptive activity that can be mediated both peripherally and at the central level. CFDv did not affect motor coordination until 120 minutes after treatment. CFDv shows psychopharmacological effects suggestive of CNS-depressant drugs with promising antinociceptive activity. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6297 | Effectiveness of caudal septal extension graft application in endonasal septoplasty.
INTRODUCTION
Septal deviation is a common disease seen in daily otorhinolaryngology practice and septoplasty is a commonly performed surgical procedure. Caudal septum deviation is also a challenging pathology for ear, nose, and throat specialists. Many techniques are defined for caudal septal deviation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of caudal septal extension graft (CSEG) application in patients who underwent endonasal septoplasty for a short and deviated nasal septum.
METHODS
Forty patients with nasal septal deviation, short nasal septum, and weak nasal tip support who underwent endonasal septoplasty with or without CSEG placement between August 2012 and June 2013 were enrolled in this study. Twenty patients underwent endonasal septoplasty with CSEG placement. The rest of the group, who rejected auricular or costal cartilage harvest for CSEG placement, underwent only endonasal septoplasty without any additional intervention. Using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) and Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) questionnaires, pre- and post-operative acoustic rhinometer measurements were evaluated to assess the effect of CESG placement on nasal obstruction.
RESULTS
In the control group, preoperative and postoperative minimal cross-sectional areas (MCA1) were 0.44±0.10cm2 and 0.60±0.11cm2, respectively (p<0.001). In the study group, pre- and postoperative MCA1 values were 0.45±0.16cm2 and 0.67±0.16cm2, respectively (p<0.01). In the control group, the nasal cavity volume (VOL1) value was 1.71±0.21mL preoperatively and 1.94±0.17mL postoperatively (p<0.001). In the study group, pre- and postoperative VOL1s were 1.72±0.15mL and 1.97±0.12mL, respectively (p<0.001). Statistical analysis of postoperative MCA1 and VOL1 values in the study and the control groups could not detect any significant intergroup difference (p=0.093 and 0.432, respectively). In the study group, mean nasolabial angles were 78.15±4.26° and 90.70±2.38°, respectively (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Endonasal septoplasty with CESG placement is an effective surgical procedure with minimal complication rate for subjects who have a deviated, short nasal septum and weak nasal tip support. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6298 | [Implanted medical device-related infections: pathophysiology and prevention].
Medical progress led to an increase in the number of indications for indwelling devices. However, colonization of implanted devices by pathogenic microorganisms also increases risks of formation of microbial communities surrounded by an extracellular matrix called biofilms. Biofilms are able to survive in the presence of high concentrations of antimicrobials, therefore leading to treatment difficulties and exposing patients to the risk of infection recurrence. Because of these features, preventive measures reducing the risk of microbial contamination are cornerstone for the management of any patient carrying an indwelling device. | No pos | No neg |
Retriever6299 | Reporting source bias in estimating prevalence of cognitive impairment.
Reporting source bias was examined using cognitive data from a probability sample of adult day health care (ADHC) clients. Data were obtained from four sources: client, family, staff, and chart. These data suggest that prevalence estimates are influenced by the reporting source and method of assessment, with chart diagnoses yielding the least convergent estimates. Examination of agreement summary statistics and bias indices show that both staff and family underreport prevalence of cognitive impairment, but that more bias is associated with staff than is with family sources. Such bias should be considered in studies of prevalence estimation of cognitive impairment. | No pos | No neg |
Subsets and Splits