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UMBC SciFy Team 9

{ "contexts": [ "Many Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) dogs are affected by an autosomal recessive dysplasia of platelets resulting in fewer but larger platelets. The IDEXX Vet Autoread (QBC) hematology analyzer directly measures the relative volume of platelets in a blood sample (plateletcrit). We hypothesized that CKCS both with and without hereditary macrothrombocytosis would have a normal plateletcrit and that the QBC results would better identify the total circulating volume of platelets in CKSC than methods directly enumerating platelet numbers.", "The major purpose of this study was to compare the QBC platelet results with platelet counts from other automated and manual methods for evaluating platelet status in CKCS dogs.", "Platelet counts were determined in fresh EDTA blood from 27 adult CKCS dogs using the QBC, Sysmex XT-2000iV (optical and impedance), CELL-DYN 3500, blood smear estimate, and manual methods. Sysmex optical platelet counts were reanalyzed following gating to determine the number and percentage of normal- and large-sized platelets in each blood sample.", "None of the 27 CKCS dogs had thrombocytopenia (defined as <164 x 10(9) platelets/L) based on the QBC platelet count. Fourteen (52%) to 18 (66%) of the dogs had thrombocytopenia with other methods. The percentage of large platelets, as determined by regating the Sysmex optical platelet counts, ranged from 1% to 75%, in a gradual continuum." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Blood Platelet Disorders", "Diagnostic Tests, Routine", "Dog Diseases", "Dogs", "Platelet Count", "Predictive Value of Tests" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Lignans in plant foods are metabolized by gut bacteria to the enterolignans, enterodiol (END) and enterolactone (ENL). Enterolignans have biologic activities important to the prevention of cancer and chronic diseases. We examined the composition of the gut microbial community (GMC) as a contributor to human enterolignan exposure.", "We evaluated the association between the GMC in stool, urinary enterolignan excretion, and diet from a 3-day food record in 115 premenopausal (ages 40-45 years) women in the United States. Urinary enterolignans were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The GMC was evaluated using 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Sequences were aligned in SILVA (www.arb-silva.de). Operational taxonomic units were identified at 97% sequence similarity. Taxonomic classification was performed and alpha and beta diversity in relationship to ENL production were assessed. Multivariate analysis and regression were used to model the association between enterolignan excretion and the GMC. Bacteria associated with ENL production were identified using univariate analysis and ridge regression.", "After adjusting for dietary fiber intake and adiposity, we found a significant positive association between ENL excretion and either the GMC (P = 0.0007), or the diversity of the GMC (P = 0.01). The GMC associated with high ENL production was distinct (UNIFRAC, P < 0.003, MRPP) and enriched in Moryella spp., Acetanaerobacterium spp., Fastidiosipila spp., and Streptobacillus spp." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "4-Butyrolactone", "Adult", "Diet Records", "Female", "Gastrointestinal Tract", "Humans", "Lignans", "Microbiota", "Middle Aged", "Phenotype", "Premenopause", "United States" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Bacterial cowshed isolates are allergy protective in mice; however, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. We examined the ability of Lactococcus lactis G121 to prevent allergic inflammatory reactions.", "We sought to identify the ligands and pattern recognition receptors through which L lactis G121 confers allergy protection.", "L lactis G121-induced cytokine release and surface expression of costimulatory molecules by untreated or inhibitor-treated (bafilomycin and cytochalasin D) human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs), bone marrow-derived mouse dendritic cells (BMDCs), and moDC/naive CD4", "L lactis G121-treated murine BMDCs and human moDCs released T" ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Antigens, Bacterial", "Cattle", "Cells, Cultured", "Cytokines", "Dendritic Cells", "Disease Models, Animal", "Endosomes", "Female", "Humans", "Lactococcus lactis", "Lung", "Mice", "Mice, Inbred BALB C", "Mice, Inbred C57BL", "Mice, Knockout", "Milk Hypersensitivity", "Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein", "RNA, Bacterial", "Th1 Cells", "Toll-Like Receptor 8", "Toll-Like Receptors" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Recent evidence suggests that muscarinic receptors induce mitogenesis in cells capable of undergoing cell proliferation. Human prostate gland is innervated by the autonomic nervous system and muscarinic receptors have been localized in the prostate gland.", "Effects of carbachol (a stable analog of acetyl choline) on DNA synthesis of LNCaP cells (a human prostate cancer cell line) and primary prostate cells was examined. The DNA synthesis in the cultured cells was assessed using techniques of 3H-thymidine incorporation and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation immunocytochemistry.", "Carbachol induced a significant increase in BrdU- and 3H-thymidine incorporation of LNCaP cells. The effect of carbachol was completely reversed by atropine, a selective muscarinic antagonist. Subtypes of muscarinic receptors mediating carbachol-induced DNA synthesis were identified using selective receptor subtype antagonists. Pirenzepamine and gallamine did not affect carbachol action on LNCaP cells but diphenylpyralamine, an M3 receptor antagonist, completely blocked carbachol-induced DNA synthesis. Carbachol also stimulated DNA synthesis in primary prostate cells. Prostate carcinoma (PC)-derived primary prostate cells displayed a dramatically greater response to carbachol (a ten-fold increase in DNA synthesis) as compared to benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH)-derived cells (a two-fold increase in DNA synthesis)." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Bromodeoxyuridine", "Carbachol", "DNA, Neoplasm", "Humans", "Immunohistochemistry", "Male", "Prostatic Neoplasms", "Receptors, Muscarinic", "Thymidine", "Tumor Cells, Cultured", "Up-Regulation" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Vitamin D has been reported to be reversely associated with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome and is involved in modulation of lipid metabolism. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2) D(3) ) has a protective effect on high fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis in rats and to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms.", "Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed with normal fat diet, HFD or HFD with intraperitoneal injection of 1, 2.5 and 5 μg/kg 1,25(OH)(2) D(3) , respectively, each 2 days for 8 weeks. Serum lipid profile and liver triglyceride were determined. Hepatic histology was examined by haematoxylin/eosin (H&E) and Oil Red O stainings. Hepatic gene expression involved in lipogenesis and lipid oxidation was analysed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).", "The administration of 1,25(OH)(2) D(3) prevented HFD-induced body weight gain and reduced liver weight. 1,25(OH)(2) D(3) attenuated hepatic steatosis in a dose-dependent manner along with improved serum lipid profile. Furthermore, 1,25(OH)(2) D(3) downregulated mRNA expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and its target genes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) involved in lipogenesis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and its target gene carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) involved in hepatic fatty acid (FA) oxidation were upregulated by 1,25(OH)(2) D(3) ." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase", "Animals", "Calcitriol", "Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase", "Diet, High-Fat", "Fatty Acid Synthases", "Fatty Liver", "Gene Expression", "Lipid Metabolism", "Liver", "Male", "Organ Size", "PPAR alpha", "RNA, Messenger", "Rats", "Rats, Sprague-Dawley", "Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1", "Triglycerides" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To study the role of two possible prognostic factors, p53 and tumor bulk, and their interaction with other tumor and treatment variables in early-stage laryngeal cancer patients treated with curative radiotherapy.", "One hundred two patients with T1N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx treated with definitive radiotherapy were analyzed. p53 status in pretreatment biopsy specimens was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using mouse monoclonal antibody DO-7. Tumors were classified as small surface lesions or bulky tumors. All tumor-related and treatment-related variables which might influence the outcome were analyzed. Local control after definitive radiotherapy was the end point of the study.", "The local control at 5 years for the entire group of patients was 78% (80/102) and 91% (93/102) after surgical salvage. p53 overexpression by IHC was seen in 37% (38/102) of patients. Tumors were classified as small volume in 69 (68%) and bulky in 33 (32%) patients. Five-year local control was 48% for p53-positive patients as compared to 94% for p53-negative patients (p = 0.0001). Tumor bulk was the other important prognostic factor, with 5-year local control of 91% for small tumors and 48% for bulky tumors (p = 0.0001). Patients who had both p53 positivity and bulky tumors did worse, with a 5-year local control of 23% as compared to 92% for all other groups combined (p = 0.0001). Among other variables, only the length of radiation time was of borderline significance." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Aged", "Carcinoma, Squamous Cell", "Female", "Glottis", "Humans", "Immunohistochemistry", "Laryngeal Neoplasms", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Neoplasm Recurrence, Local", "Neoplasm Staging", "Prognosis", "Risk Factors", "Survival Analysis", "Tumor Suppressor Protein p53" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Although numerous studies have demonstrated a positive association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) with the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), little information exists regarding this issue in Japanese.", "The association between CRP and the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was investigated in 2,523 middle-aged Japanese men without a medical history of CHD. CRP was significantly associated with this score obtained from all FRS factors. After dividing subjects into 4 categories of relative risk estimate for CHD, the geometric mean of CRP (mg/L) increased gradually with the CHD risk (below average: 0.39 [95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.41], average: 0.58 [0.50-0.67], moderately above average: 0.70 [0.57-0.86], high: 0.79 [0.58-1.09], trend p<0.001). However, it should be noted that the mean CRP concentration of the high-risk group was only 0.79 mg/L and a greater proportion (63.8%) of the high-risk subjects was in the low-risk range of CRP (<1 mg/L)." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Aged", "Asian Continental Ancestry Group", "C-Reactive Protein", "Coronary Disease", "Cross-Sectional Studies", "Humans", "Japan", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Predictive Value of Tests", "Risk Assessment", "Risk Factors" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To assess whether prednisone (PDN) produces anxiety and/or cerebral glial changes in rats.", "Male Wistar rats were studied and 3 groups were formed (8 rats per group). The moderate-dose group received 5 mg/kg/day PDN released from a subcutaneous implant. In the high-dose group, implants containing PDN equivalent to 60 mg/kg/day were applied. In the control group implants contained no PDN. Anxiety was assessed using an open field and elevated plus-maze devices. The number of cells and cytoplasmic transformation of astrocytes and microglia cells were assessed by immunohistochemical analyses.", "Anxiety was documented in both groups of PDN treated rats compared with controls. The magnitude of transformation of the microglia assessed by the number of intersections was significantly higher in the PDN groups than in controls in the prefrontal cortex (moderate-dose, 24.1; high-dose, 23.6; controls 18.7; p < 0.01) and striatum (moderate-dose 25.6; high-dose 26.3; controls 18.9; p < 0.01), but not in hippocampus. The number of stained microglia cells was significantly higher in the PDN treated groups in the prefrontal cortex than in controls (moderate-dose, 29.1; high-dose, 28.4; control, 17.7 cells per field; p < 0.01). Stained microglia cells were significantly more numerous striatum and hippocampus in the high-dose group compared to controls." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Anxiety", "Astrocytes", "Cerebral Cortex", "Corpus Striatum", "Exploratory Behavior", "Glucocorticoids", "Hippocampus", "Immunoenzyme Techniques", "Male", "Neuroglia", "Prednisone", "Prefrontal Cortex", "Rats", "Rats, Wistar" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "We modified the paradigm used in the report of Cowan et al. [J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 19 (1993) 909] to investigate how the silent intervals influence the memory trace underlying mismatch negativity (MMN) generation in schizophrenic patients.", "Experiment 1 was designed to explore how long an inter-train interval would be needed for the memory to become dormant. Experiment 2 was designed to elucidate how many standard stimuli would be needed to reinstate the memory.", "In Experiment 1, schizophrenic patients showed a significant reduction in MMN amplitude after the longer inter-train intervals compared to the shorter ones, although little difference was observed in controls. Specifically, the memory trace underlying the MMN system in the schizophrenic patients easily became dormant after the extended silent intervals. In Experiment 2, we could not conclude that schizophrenic patients needed more reminders than did controls in order to reinstate the memory once the memory trace became dormant. The patients might be little impaired with respect to forming the memory trace." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Acoustic Stimulation", "Adult", "Analysis of Variance", "Brain Mapping", "Case-Control Studies", "Contingent Negative Variation", "Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation", "Electroencephalography", "Electrooculography", "Evoked Potentials, Auditory", "Female", "Humans", "Male", "Memory", "Memory Disorders", "Schizophrenia", "Time Factors" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To investigate whether psychological factors predict outcome after emergency treatment for obstructive pulmonary disease.", "Emergency department at a university hospital.", "Forty-three patients presenting with exacerbation of asthma or COPD.", "The patients received emergency treatment and were followed up for 4 weeks.", "Spirometry, blood sampling, pulse oximetry, breathing rate, pulse rate, and dyspnea score was measured before and during emergency treatment. The psychological status was assessed using the hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale questionnaire at the end of the follow-up period.", "Anxiety and/or depression was found in 17 patients (40%). Of these patients, nine patients (53%) were admitted to hospital or had a relapse within 1 month, compared with five patients (19%) in the group without anxiety and/or depression (p < 0.05). Among patients who relapsed within 1 month (n = 14), the HAD total score was 12.4 +/- 5.9 compared with 8.6 +/- 5.1 (mean +/- SD) among the patients without a relapse (p < 0.05). After making adjustments for age, gender, atopic status, treatment, and pack-years, the significant association between treatment failure and anxiety and/or depression still remained." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "METHODS", "METHODS", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Acute Disease", "Adult", "Aged", "Aged, 80 and over", "Anxiety", "Depression", "Emergency Treatment", "Female", "Humans", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive", "Recurrence", "Risk Factors", "Surveys and Questionnaires", "Treatment Outcome" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To propose a methodology for characterizing proficiency in sputum smear microscopy for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and to determine the number of microscopies necessary to establish this proficiency, as well as the quality of the transcription of results, the causes of the discrepancies in the readings (rater or microscope used), and the criterion for classification of microscopy results that poses the most difficulty in characterizing proficiency.", "Four hundred sputum smear microscopies for the diagnosis of tuberculosis were analyzed through double-blind readings by six professionals who usually read/supervise microscopies performed in public health care facilities. The sample was stratified to obtain, at least, a reliability of 90% in the double-blind readings, an alpha error of 5%, and a precision of 3%. The results were analyzed using observed reliability and the kappa index.", "Thirteen errors (0.27%) were found in the transcription of results. Reliability increased when the three distinct categories of positive results (AFB+, AFB++, and AFB+++) were grouped or when inconclusive results were excluded from the analysis. The quantification of the bacterial load was the classification criterion that posed the most difficulty in establishing proficiency. Using higher quality microscopes increased reliability. Reliability values stabilized only from the reading of 75 microscopies onward." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Bacteriological Techniques", "Clinical Laboratory Techniques", "Double-Blind Method", "False Negative Reactions", "False Positive Reactions", "Female", "Humans", "Male", "Quality Control", "Reproducibility of Results", "Specimen Handling", "Sputum", "Tuberculosis, Pulmonary" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Orientation and positioning of the cell division plane are essential for generation of invariant cleavage patterns and for unequal cell divisions during development. Precise control of the division plane is important for appropriate partitioning of localized factors, spatial arrangement of cells for proper intercellular interactions, and size control of daughter cells. Ascidian embryos show complex but invariant cleavage patterns mainly due to three rounds of unequal cleavage at the posterior pole.", "The ascidian embryo is an emerging model for studies of developmental and cellular processes. The maternal Posterior End Mark (PEM) mRNA is localized within the egg and embryo to the posterior region. PEM is a novel protein that has no known domain. Immunostaining showed that the protein is also present in the posterior cortex and the in centrosome-attracting body (CAB) and that the localization is extraction-resistant. Here we show that PEM of Halocynthia roretzi is required for correct orientation of early-cleavage planes and subsequent unequal cell divisions because it repeatedly pulls a centrosome toward the posterior cortex and the CAB, respectively, where PEM mRNA and protein are localized. When PEM activity is suppressed, formation of the microtubule bundle linking the centrosome and the posterior cortex did not occur. PEM possibly plays a role in anchoring microtubule ends to the cortex. In our model of orientation of the early-cleavage planes, we also amend the allocation of the conventional animal-vegetal axis in ascidian embryos, and discuss how the newly proposed A-V axis provides the rationale for various developmental events and the fate map of this animal." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Cell Division", "Cell Polarity", "Centrosome", "Cleavage Stage, Ovum", "Egg Proteins", "Embryo, Nonmammalian", "Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental", "Mitosis", "Nuclear Proteins", "RNA, Messenger, Stored", "Urochordata" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Cerebral arteriolar dilation to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) is drastically reduced by anoxic stress. The effects of anoxic stress on cerebrovascular dilation to activation of other types of glutamate receptors are unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ischemia on cerebral arteriolar responses to kainate in anesthetized piglets.", "Arteriolar responses to 5 x 10(-5) mol/L and 10(-4) mol/L kainate were evaluated before and 10 minutes after total, global ischemia. Ischemia was induced by increasing intracranial pressure. We measured pial arteriolar diameters (approximately 100 microns) using a cranial window and intravital microscopy.", "Before ischemia, kainate dilated arterioles by 16 +/- 2% at 5 x 10% mol/L and 30 +/- 2% at 10(-4) mol/L (mean +/- SEM; n = 6). After ischemia, the diameter of arterioles increased by 17 +/- 3% and 26 +/- 3% to 5 x 10% and 10(-4) mol/L kainate, respectively (P > .05). We also investigated the mechanisms involved in mediating arteriolar dilation to kainate. Intravenous administration of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (15 mg/kg) (n = 7) or indomethacin (10 mg/kg) (n = 6) individually reduced arteriolar dilation to kainate by approximately one half. Coadministration of L-NAME and indomethacin almost completely eliminated arteriolar dilation to kainate (n = 10). Administration of theophylline (20 mg/kg IV) did not affect dilator responses to kainate (n = 7). Blockade of NMDA receptors by MK801 had minimal effects on arteriolar dilation to kainate (n = 6)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Animals, Newborn", "Arterioles", "Brain Ischemia", "Cerebral Arteries", "Dizocilpine Maleate", "Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists", "Female", "Indomethacin", "Kainic Acid", "Male", "NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester", "Nitric Oxide", "Prostaglandins", "Reperfusion Injury", "Swine", "Theophylline", "Vasodilator Agents" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "  Problems of undernutrition are common in hospital in-patients. Multiple morbidity increases with age and may contribute to nutritional risks. This research aimed to determine whether increased burden of long-term conditions is associated with patients' difficulties gaining access to food in hospital.", "  A survey was implemented in 29 wards at four hospitals using a questionnaire measure of patients' experiences of food access and the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) to evaluate the burden of long-term illness in each patient. Experiences of food access were evaluated in relation to CIRS score category using random effects logistic regression to adjust for age group, sex and clustering by ward.", "  Data were analysed for 764/1154 (66%) eligible participants, including 384 women. The median age was 60 years (range 18-96 years). CIRS scores were analysed using the categories 0 (104 patients), 1-3 (197), 4-6 (285), 7-9 (144) and ≥10 (34). When the CIRS was zero, 10% of patients experienced physical problems with food access, whereas, when the CIRS was ≥10, 41% experienced physical barriers to food access, adjusted odds ratio 3.65 (1.14-11.7, P = 0.029). Problems with food quality were experienced by 13% with CIRS = 0 and 32% with CIRS ≥ 10 (adjusted odds ratio 3.97, 1.35-11.6, P = 0.012). Participants with greater morbidity were more likely to report that depression, breathing difficulties or chewing and swallowing difficulties affected the amount of food that they ate at mealtimes." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adolescent", "Adult", "Aged", "Aged, 80 and over", "Appetite", "Cross-Sectional Studies", "Deglutition Disorders", "Depression", "Eating", "Female", "Food", "Food Service, Hospital", "Hospitalization", "Humans", "Male", "Malnutrition", "Middle Aged", "Morbidity", "Respiration Disorders", "Severity of Illness Index", "Surveys and Questionnaires" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Clinical detection of ascites is a sign of decompensation and correlates with shorter survival in patients with cirrhosis. However, the prognostic relevance of sole detection of ascites by ultrasound (subclinical ascites) is not investigated so far. The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic relevance of subclinical ascites detected by ultrasound in comparison to absent or clinically detectable ascites in patients with cirrhosis.", "Between 11/1995 and 11/2004 a total of 729 patients with cirrhosis underwent sonographic and hemodynamic (including measurement of HVPG) evaluation. The mean follow up time was 47 months (range: 0.13 - 131). Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariate analysis were used to investigate differences.", "443 patients were included in the final investigation - 153 patients without ascites, 38 with subclinical ascites and 252 patients with clinical ascites. Kaplan Meier survival curves were significantly different between the three groups (p < 0.001). Interestingly, patients with subclinical ascites had similar values compared to patients with clinical ascites regarding parameters of portal hypertension (HVPG) and liver dysfunction (INR), while parameters of systemic and renal dysfunction (heart beat, creatinin, serum sodium) were similar to patients without ascites. MELD, Child-Pugh score and ascites were independent predictors of mortality in the entire group, while Child-Pugh score and HVPG were independent factors in the subclinical ascites group." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Ascites", "Causality", "Cohort Studies", "Comorbidity", "Female", "Germany", "Humans", "Liver Cirrhosis", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Prevalence", "Risk Assessment", "Risk Factors", "Survival Analysis", "Survival Rate", "Ultrasonography" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Exercise capacity, heart rate recovery and T-wave alternans are independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality. We tested whether these parameters contain supplementary prognostic information.", "A total of 3609 consecutive patients (2157 men) referred for a routine, clinically indicated bicycle exercise test were enrolled in the Finnish Cardiovascular Study (FINCAVAS). Exercise capacity was measured in metabolic equivalents, heart rate recovery as the decrease in heart rate from maximum to one minute post-exercise, and T-wave alternans by time-domain Modified Moving Average method.", "During 57-month median follow-up (interquartile range 35-78 months), 96 patients died of cardiovascular causes (primary endpoint) and 233 from any cause. All three parameters were independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality when analysed as continuous variables. Adding metabolic equivalents (p < 0.001), heart rate recovery (p = 0.002) or T-wave alternans (p = 0.01) to the linear model improved its predictive power for cardiovascular mortality. The combination of low exercise capacity (<6 metabolic equivalents), reduced heart rate recovery (≤12 beats/min) and elevated T-wave alternans (≥60 μV) yielded the highest hazard ratio for cardiovascular mortality of 16.5 (95% confidence interval 4.0-67.7, p < 0.001). Harrell's C index was 0.719 (confidence interval 0.665-0.772) for cardiovascular mortality with previously defined cutpoints (<8 units for metabolic equivalents, ≤18 beats/min for heart rate recovery and ≥60 μV for T-wave alternans)." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Action Potentials", "Adult", "Aged", "Cardiovascular Diseases", "Cause of Death", "Chi-Square Distribution", "Electrocardiography", "Exercise Test", "Exercise Tolerance", "Female", "Finland", "Heart Conduction System", "Heart Rate", "Humans", "Linear Models", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Predictive Value of Tests", "Prognosis", "Proportional Hazards Models", "Recovery of Function", "Risk Assessment", "Risk Factors", "Time Factors" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Coeliac disease (CD) is characterised by the presence of autoantibodies against tissue transglutaminase (tTG), the endomysial autoantigen. This study was performed to determine the effect of purified autoantibodies on the enzymatic activity of tTG.", "Total IgA and IgG class antibodies and purified anti-tTG autoantibodies were isolated from sera of untreated patients with CD and controls. The inhibitory capacity of the antibodies on tTG activity was checked by a fluorometric assay based on the incorporation of monodansyl cadaverine into casein and by tTG-catalysed cross linking of biotinylated cadaverine to gliadin.", "The enriched IgA and IgG fractions of five patients with CD and three controls resulted in no significantly different inhibition of enzymatic activity. In contrast, the use of affinity purified anti-tTG autoantibodies of 12 patients with CD led to a dose dependent reduction of tTG activity, compared to control immunoglobulins (n=6). However, the remaining activity was sufficient for cross linking of cadaverine into gliadin, and enzymatic tTG activity was only blocked completely by high concentrations of a monoclonal antibody, which is directed to the active centre of tTG." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Antibodies, Monoclonal", "Antibody Affinity", "Autoantibodies", "Autoantigens", "Cadaverine", "Celiac Disease", "Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic", "Fluorometry", "Gliadin", "Humans", "Immunoglobulin A", "Immunoglobulin G", "Mice", "Transglutaminases" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Although tyrosine kinases (TKs) are important for cardiac function, their relevant downstream targets in the adult heart are unknown. The ShcA docking protein binds specific phosphotyrosine (pTyr) sites on activated TKs through its N-terminal pTyr-binding (PTB) and C-terminal SH2 domains and stimulates downstream pathways through motifs such as pTyr sites in its central CH1 region. Therefore, ShcA could be a potential hub for downstream TK signaling in the myocardium.", "To define the role of ShcA, a TK scaffold, in the adult heart using a myocardial-specific knockout of murine ShcA (ShcA CKO) and domain knock-in models.", "ShcA CKO mice developed a dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype involving impaired systolic function with enhanced cardiomyocyte contractility. This uncoupling of global heart and intrinsic myocyte functions was associated with altered collagen and extracellular matrix compliance properties, suggesting disruption of mechanical coupling. In vivo dissection of ShcA signaling properties revealed that selective inactivation of the PTB domain in the myocardium had effects resembling those seen in ShcA CKO mice, whereas disruption of the SH2 domain caused a less severe cardiac phenotype. Downstream signaling through the CH1 pTyr sites was dispensable for baseline cardiac function but necessary to prevent adverse remodeling after hemodynamic overload." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Biomechanical Phenomena", "Cardiomyopathy, Dilated", "Collagen", "Disease Models, Animal", "Extracellular Matrix Proteins", "Heart", "Mice", "Mice, Knockout", "Myocardial Contraction", "Myocytes, Cardiac", "Phosphotyrosine", "Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins", "Signal Transduction", "Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing, Transforming Protein 1" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "The cholinergic hypothesis of affective disorders predicts that mania is a hypocholinergic state relative to monoaminergic activity. Treatments that increase cholinergic sensitivity are expected to improve manic symptoms. Valproic acid is an effective treatment for mania. Little, however, is known about the cholinergic effects of this agent.", "Ten male hypomanic or manic patients were treated with valproic acid (1500-2000 mg) for 2 weeks. Cholinergic sensitivity was assessed before, and after treatment using graded concentrations of pilocarpine eyedrops (0.03-2.0%). Pupil size changes were quantified using an infrared pupillometer and ED50 values were referenced to maximal dilation with 0.5% tropicamide.", "Valproate treatment decreased Bech mania ratings and ED50 values (p < .0001). Improvements in mania after treatment were closely correlated with decreases in ED50 (r = .76; p < .01). This relationship was indistinguishable from one previously observed after lithium treatment." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Bipolar Disorder", "Cholinergic Agonists", "Humans", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Muscarinic Agonists", "Pilocarpine", "Receptors, Muscarinic", "Reflex, Pupillary", "Treatment Outcome", "Valproic Acid" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Salvianolic Acid B (Sal B) is a water-soluble component from Danshen (a traditional Chinese herb widely used for chronic renal diseases) with anti-oxidative and cell protective properties. Sal B also has potential protective effects on renal diseases. Tubular epithelial cells can undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) and is mainly regulated by TGF-beta1/Smads pathway. The aims of the study are to investigate the effect of Sal B on tubular EMT in vivo and in vitro, and to elucidate its underlying mechanism against EMT related to TGF-beta1/Smads pathway.", "For in vivo experiments, RIF was induced in rats by oral administration of HgCl2 and prophylaxised with Sal B and vitamin E. The protein expression of E-cadherin was down-regulated, while the expression of alpha-SMA, TGF-beta1, TbetaR-I, p-Smad2/3 and the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were up-regulated in kidneys of model rats when compared with those of normal rats. In contrast, Sal B and vitamin E significantly attenuated the expression of alpha-SMA, TGF-beta1, TbetaR-I, p-Smad2/3, and MMP-2 activity, but increased E-cadherin expression. For in vitro experiments, HK-2 cells were incubated with TGF-beta1 to induce EMT, and the cells were co-cultured with 1 and 10 microM Sal B or SB-431542 (a specific inhibitor of TbetaR-I kinase). TGF-beta1 induced a typical EMT in HK-2 cells, while it was blocked by Sal B and SB-431542, as evidenced by blocking morphologic transformation, restoring E-cadherin and CK-18 expression, inhibiting alpha-SMA expression and F-actin reorganization, and down-regulating MMP-2/9 activities in TGF-beta1 mediated HK-2 cells. Furthermore, Sal B and SB-431542 profoundly down-regulated the expressions of TbetaR-I and p-Smad2/3 but prevented the decreased expression of Smad7 in TGF-beta1 stimulated HK-2 cells." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Actins", "Animals", "Benzofurans", "Cell Differentiation", "Cell Line", "Drugs, Chinese Herbal", "Epithelial Cells", "Fibrosis", "Humans", "Kidney", "Mesoderm", "Phosphorylation", "Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases", "Rats", "Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I", "Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta", "Signal Transduction", "Smad7 Protein", "Transforming Growth Factor beta1", "Up-Regulation" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Repair of an avascular meniscus is challenging because of its low capacity for healing. Several reports have shown that simvastatin stimulates the anabolic activity of intervertebral fibrochondrocytes, suggesting that simvastatin may be used for the treatment of meniscal defects.", "To test whether the local administration of simvastatin stimulates healing of an avascular meniscus in rabbits.", "Controlled laboratory study.", "In 30 Japanese White rabbits, a cylindrical defect (1.5-mm diameter) was introduced into the avascular zone of the anterior part of the medial meniscus in bilateral knees. Either a gelatin hydrogel (control group) or simvastatin-conjugated gelatin hydrogel (simvastatin group) was implanted into the defect. Histological assessments were performed using qualitative scoring systems, and immunohistochemical analysis was performed at 12 weeks after surgery. The occupation ratio (OR) and safranin O staining occupation ratio (SOR) were evaluated quantitatively at each time point. Stiffness of the regenerated tissue was analyzed biomechanically at 12 weeks after surgery. Rabbit meniscal cells were cultured in the presence or absence of 0.5 μM simvastatin, and then real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate gene expression.", "The qualitative score was significantly higher in the simvastatin group after 8 and 12 weeks (P = .031 and .035, respectively). The mean OR and SOR were also significantly higher in the simvastatin group (OR at 8 weeks: 0.396 ± 0.019 [control] vs 0.564 ± 0.123 [simvastatin], P = .008; OR at 12 weeks: 0.451 ± 0.864 [control] vs 0.864 ± 0.035 [simvastatin], P = .001; SOR at 8 weeks: 0.071 ± 0.211 [control] vs 0.487 ± 0.430 [simvastatin], P = .009; SOR at 12 weeks: 0.093 ± 0.088 [control] vs 0.821 ± 0.051 [simvastatin], P = .006). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that at 12 weeks, the reparative tissue was more strongly positive for type I collagen (COL1), type II collagen (COL2), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), and BMP-7 in the simvastatin group than in the control group. Biomechanical analysis showed significantly higher stiffness in the simvastatin group (2.417 ± 1.593 N/ms [control] vs 5.172 ± 1.078 N/ms [simvastatin]; P = .005). In rabbit meniscal cells, BMP-2 and BMP-7 were upregulated after 4 and 8 hours and after 7 and 14 days, whereas COL1A1 and COL2A1 were significantly upregulated by simvastatin after 7 and 14 days." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Administration, Topical", "Animals", "Rabbits", "Regeneration", "Simvastatin", "Tibial Meniscus Injuries", "Wound Healing" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "We examined the effect of breast milk on plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total peroxide (TP), and oxidative stress index (OSI), which are biomarkers of oxidative status.", "Fifty-four healthy term infants 3 to 6 mo of age were fed breast milk or a cow's milk modified formula. Plasma TAC, vitamin C, albumin, bilirubin, and uric acid levels were measured as indexes of antioxidative markers. Plasma TP levels were measured as an oxidative stress marker. The OSI was calculated to assess oxidative status.", "No significant differences were observed between groups with respect to growth or anthropometric measurements. Plasma uric acid, total protein, and albumin concentrations were slightly higher in the breast-fed group than in the formula-fed group. There was a positive correlation between infant's age and serum albumin levels; between TAC and plasma uric acid, albumin, and total bilirubin; and between plasma iron and TP levels in both groups (r > 0.256, P < 0.05). In addition, there was a negative correlation between plasma iron and TAC (r = -0.267, P = 0.01). Plasma TAC and vitamin C levels were significantly higher in the breast-fed group than in the formula-fed group (P < 0.05). Plasma TP levels and the OSI were higher in the formula-fed group than those in the breast-fed group (P < 0.05)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Antioxidants", "Ascorbic Acid", "Biomarkers", "Female", "Humans", "Infant", "Infant Formula", "Male", "Milk, Human", "Oxidation-Reduction", "Oxidative Stress", "Peroxides" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Recent evidence implicates the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway in development of Ewing sarcoma, a highly malignant bone and soft-tissue tumor that primarily affects children and young adults. Despite promising results from preclinical studies of therapies that target this pathway, early-phase clinical trials have shown that a significant fraction of patients do not benefit, suggesting that cellular factors determine tumor sensitivity. Using FAIRE-seq, a chromosomal deletion of the PTEN locus in a Ewing sarcoma cell line was identified. In primary tumors, PTEN deficiency was observed in a large subset of cases, although not mediated by large chromosomal deletions. PTEN loss resulted in hyperactivation of the AKT signaling pathway. PTEN rescue led to decreased proliferation, inhibition of colony formation, and increased apoptosis. Strikingly, PTEN loss decreased sensitivity to IGF1R inhibitors but increased responsiveness to temsirolimus, a potent mTOR inhibitor, as marked by induction of autophagy. These results suggest that PTEN is lost in a significant fraction of primary tumors, and this deficiency may have therapeutic consequences by concurrently attenuating responsiveness to IGF1R inhibition while increasing activity of mTOR inhibitors. The identification of PTEN status in the tumors of patients with recurrent disease could help guide the selection of therapies." ], "labels": [ "UNLABELLED" ], "meshes": [ "Autophagy", "Cell Line, Tumor", "Gene Deletion", "Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells", "Humans", "Insulin-Like Growth Factor I", "PTEN Phosphohydrolase", "Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt", "Receptor, IGF Type 1", "Sarcoma, Ewing", "Signal Transduction", "Sirolimus", "TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is frequently associated with coronary artery disease, but data on the impact of MetS on long-term outcome of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of MetS on mortality and morbidity late after coronary artery bypass grafting.", "A total of 1,726 consecutive patients who had elective coronary artery bypass grafting were retrospectively reviewed and clinical follow-up was completed (mean follow-up time, 34.4 months; range, 6 to 79 months). The MetS was diagnosed using the modified Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, and to eliminate covariate differences, a propensity score adjustment was used. Major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular events were investigated, and C-reactive protein levels were assessed both preoperatively, postoperatively, and at follow-up.", "A total of 798 of 1,726 patients (46.2%) met the diagnostic criteria for MetS. At follow-up, all-cause mortality (7% versus 4.6%; p=0.04), cardiac arrhythmias (35.3% versus 25.2%; p<0.0001), renal failure (12% versus 8.7%; p=0.03), and major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular events (52.4% versus 39.5%; p<0.0001) showed a significantly higher incidence in MetS patients. Variables correlated with late mortality at propensity-adjusted Cox proportional-hazards regression were age (p=0.0008), preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.001), preoperative renal failure (p=0.001), and MetS (p=0.006). Higher C-reactive protein levels were found preoperatively (8.6±2.3 versus 5.14±3.1 mg/L; p<0.0001) and both early (71.2±9 versus 49.6±8.7 mg/L; p<0.0001) and late (7.4±2.7 versus 4.8±2.5 mg/L; p<0.0001) after surgery." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Aged", "Arrhythmias, Cardiac", "Blood Glucose", "C-Reactive Protein", "Cause of Death", "Coronary Artery Bypass", "Diabetes Complications", "Female", "Follow-Up Studies", "Heart Diseases", "Humans", "Inflammation", "Kaplan-Meier Estimate", "Kidney Failure, Chronic", "Lipids", "Male", "Metabolic Syndrome", "Middle Aged", "Postoperative Complications", "Proportional Hazards Models", "Retrospective Studies", "Risk Factors", "Stroke", "Treatment Outcome" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Increases in plasma low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apo-B) are well known in primary hypothyroidism, but it is uncertain whether thyroid dysfunction is associated with elevated levels of the atherogenic lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)).", "The effect of short-term hypothyroidism on plasma Lp(a) was studied in 14 patients who had undergone a total thyroidectomy because of a well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. They were studied 2 weeks after withdrawal of triiodothyronine (T3) therapy and 7 (5-9) weeks after resumption of T3 treatment (75-100 micrograms T3 daily). Fourteen euthyroid subjects served as controls.", "In the hypothyroid phase the athyreotic patients had higher levels of Lp(a) (105 [12-536] vs. 42 [1-321] mg/l, p < 0.05), apo-B (p < 0.001) and LDL cholesterol (p < 0.001) as compared with the euthyroid control subjects. T3 therapy lowered Lp(a) by 29% to 50 (12-535) mg/l, p < 0.01. Apo B and LDL cholesterol fell by 42% (p < 0.001) and by 53% (p < 0.001), respectively. After resumption of T3 therapy the levels of Lp(a), apo-B and LDL cholesterol were not different from those of the control subjects. The mean percentual decreases in Lp(a) and in apo-B were similar, although the individual changes in Lp(a) were more variable." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Apolipoproteins B", "Cholesterol, LDL", "Female", "Humans", "Hypothyroidism", "Lipoprotein(a)", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Thyroidectomy", "Triiodothyronine" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Currently there are few tools available for clinicians to predict outcomes in cardiac arrest survivors. Our objective was to determine if the combination of simple clinical parameters (initial blood lactate and vasopressor use) can predict outcome in post-cardiac arrest patients.", "The design was a retrospective medical record review. The study was carried on in two urban, tertiary-care, university teaching hospitals. As for patients, inclusion criteria were: 1) age ≥18 years; 2) non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with return of spontaneous circulation; 3) lactic acid measured within one hour of return of circulation. No interventions was performed.", "Patients were divided into groups based on two variables: 1) vasopressor status (receipt of vasopressors vs. no vasopressors); and 2) initial blood lactate (categories defined as lactate <5 mmol/L, lactate 5 to 10 mmol/L, lactate ≥10 mmol/L); 128 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients met study inclusion criteria. Overall mortality was 71% (95%CI 63-79%). Patients who received vasopressors had significantly higher mortality rates compared to patients who did not receive vasopressors (80% vs. 52%; P=0.002). A stepwise increase in mortality is associated with increasing lactate levels (39% lactate <5 mmol/L, 67% lactate 5 mmol/L to10 mmol/L, and 92% lactate ≥10 mmol/L; P<0.001). The AUC for our model was 0.82." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Aged", "Area Under Curve", "Calibration", "Cohort Studies", "Female", "Heart Arrest", "Humans", "Lactic Acid", "Logistic Models", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest", "Predictive Value of Tests", "Prognosis", "Retrospective Studies", "Survival Analysis", "Survivors", "Treatment Outcome", "Vasoconstrictor Agents" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "TRAIL/Apo2L is a pro-apoptotic ligand of the TNF family that engages the apoptotic machinery through two pro-apoptotic receptors, TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2. This cell death program is tightly controlled by two antagonistic receptors, TRAIL-R3 and TRAIL-R4, both devoid of a functional death domain, an intracellular region of the receptor, required for the recruitment and the activation of initiator caspases. Upon TRAIL-binding, TRAIL-R4 forms a heteromeric complex with the agonistic receptor TRAIL-R2 leading to reduced caspase-8 activation and apoptosis.", "We provide evidence that TRAIL-R4 can also exhibit, in a ligand independent manner, signaling properties in the cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa, through Akt. Ectopic expression of TRAIL-R4 in HeLa cells induced morphological changes, with cell rounding, loss of adherence and markedly enhanced cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Disruption of the PI3K/Akt pathway using the pharmacological inhibitor LY294002, siRNA targeting the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, or by PTEN over-expression, partially restored TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in these cells. Moreover, the Akt inhibitor, LY294002, restituted normal cell proliferation index in HeLa cells expressing TRAIL-R4." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Apoptosis", "Blotting, Western", "Cell Membrane", "Cell Proliferation", "Chromones", "Enzyme Inhibitors", "Female", "HeLa Cells", "Humans", "Mice", "Mice, Nude", "Morpholines", "Neoplasms, Experimental", "PTEN Phosphohydrolase", "Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases", "Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt", "Signal Transduction", "TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand", "Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease leading to joint destruction. Although many studies have addressed factors potentially correlated with the speed of joint destruction, less attention has been paid to the distribution of joint destruction in patients with RA. In this study, destruction of the hand bones in patients with RA was classified into 2 anatomic subgroups, the fingers and the non-fingers, with the aim of analyzing which factors are associated with destruction of the finger joints.", "A total of 1,215 Japanese patients with RA were recruited from 2 different populations. The degree of joint destruction was assessed using the total modified Sharp/van der Heijde score (SHS) of radiographic joint damage. The SHS score of joint damage in the finger joints was used as the dependent variable, and the SHS score in the non-finger joints was used as a covariate. Age, sex, disease duration, smoking, C-reactive protein level, treatment for RA, and positivity for and levels of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies and rheumatoid factor (RF) were evaluated as candidate correlates. Overall effect sizes were assessed in a meta-analysis. In addition, associations observed in the Japanese patients were compared to those in a cohort of 157 Dutch RA patients in the BeSt study (a randomized, controlled trial involving 4 different strictly specified treatment strategies for early RA).", "Not surprisingly, disease duration in Japanese patients with RA was associated with the finger SHS score (P ≤ 0.00037). Both positivity for and levels of RF showed significant associations with the finger SHS score after adjustment for covariates (P = 0.0022 and P = 8.1 × 10(-7) , respectively). These associations were also true in relation to the time-averaged finger SHS score. An association between RF positivity and the finger SHS score was also observed in Dutch patients with RA in the BeSt study (P = 0.049)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Aged", "Antirheumatic Agents", "Arthritis, Rheumatoid", "Asian Continental Ancestry Group", "Autoantibodies", "Cohort Studies", "Disease Progression", "European Continental Ancestry Group", "Female", "Finger Joint", "Foot Joints", "HLA-DRB1 Chains", "Hand Joints", "Humans", "Japan", "Linear Models", "Male", "Methotrexate", "Middle Aged", "Netherlands", "Peptides, Cyclic", "Radiography", "Rheumatoid Factor", "Severity of Illness Index" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Although combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) including tenofovir (TDF)+lamivudine (3TC) or emtricitabine (FTC) is recommended for treatment of HIV/HBV coinfected patients, TDF is unavailable in some resource-limited areas. Some data suggest that 3TC monotherapy-based cART may be effective in patients with low pretreatment HBV DNA.", "Prospective study of 151 Chinese HIV/HBV coinfected subjects of whom 60 received 3TC-based cART and 91 received TDF+3TC-based cART. Factors associated with HBV DNA suppression at 24 and 48 weeks, including anti-HBV drugs, baseline HBV DNA, and baseline CD4 cell count, were evaluated overall and stratified by baseline HBV DNA using Poisson regression with a robust error variance.", "Baseline HBV DNA ≥20,000 IU/mL was present in 48.3% and 44.0% of subjects in the 3TC and TDF groups, respectively (P = 0.60). After 48 weeks of treatment, HBV DNA suppression rates were similar between these 2 groups (96.8% vs. 98.0% for 3TC and TDF+3TC, P > 0.999) in subjects with baseline HBV DNA <20,000 IU/mL; whereas in those with baseline HBV DNA ≥20,000 IU/mL, TDF+3TC was associated with higher suppression rates (34.5% vs. 72.5% in 3TC and TDF+3TC groups, respectively, P = 0.002). In stratified multivariate regression, TDF use (RR 1.98, P = 0.010) and baseline HBV DNA (per 1 log increase in International Units Per Milliliter, RR 0.74, P < 0.001) were associated with HBV DNA suppression only when baseline HBV DNA ≥20,000 IU/mL." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Anti-HIV Agents", "Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active", "CD4 Lymphocyte Count", "China", "Cohort Studies", "Coinfection", "DNA, Viral", "Drug Therapy, Combination", "Emtricitabine", "Female", "HIV Infections", "HIV-1", "Hepatitis B", "Hepatitis B Surface Antigens", "Hepatitis B e Antigens", "Hepatitis B virus", "Humans", "Lamivudine", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Prospective Studies", "Tenofovir" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "The incidence of shivering in cardiac arrest survivors who undergo therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is varied. Its occurrence is dependent on the integrity of multiple peripheral and central neurologic pathways. We hypothesized that cardiac arrest survivors who develop shivering while undergoing TH are more likely to have intact central neurologic pathways and thus have better neurologic outcome as compared to those who do not develop shivering during TH.", "Prospectively collected data on consecutive adult patients admitted to a tertiary center from 1/1/2007 to 11/1/2010 that survived a cardiac arrest and underwent TH were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who developed shivering during the cooling phase of TH formed the \"shivering\" group and those that did not formed the \"non-shivering\" group. The primary end-point: Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scale; good (CPC 1-2) or poor (CPC 3-5) neurological outcome prior to discharge from hospital.", "Of the 129 cardiac arrest survivors who underwent TH, 34/94 (36%) patients in the \"non-shivering\" group as compared to 21/35 (60%) patients in the \"shivering\" group had good neurologic outcome (P=0.02). After adjusting for confounders using binary logistic regression, occurrence of shivering (OR: 2.71, 95% CI 1.099-7.41, P=0.04), time to return of spontaneous circulation (OR: 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.98, P=0.004) and initial presenting rhythm (OR: 4.0, 95% CI 1.63-10.0, P=0.002) were independent predictors of neurologic outcome." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Aged", "Female", "Heart Arrest", "Humans", "Hypothermia, Induced", "Logistic Models", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Neurologic Examination", "Retrospective Studies", "Shivering", "Survival Analysis", "Survivors", "Treatment Outcome" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To assess the impact of an audiovisual (AV) biofeedback on intra- and interfraction tumor motion for lung cancer patients.", "Lung tumor motion was investigated in 9 lung cancer patients who underwent a breathing training session with AV biofeedback before 2 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sessions. The breathing training session was performed to allow patients to become familiar with AV biofeedback, which uses a guiding wave customized for each patient according to a reference breathing pattern. In the first MRI session (pretreatment), 2-dimensional cine-MR images with (1) free breathing (FB) and (2) AV biofeedback were obtained, and the second MRI session was repeated within 3-6 weeks (mid-treatment). Lung tumors were directly measured from cine-MR images using an auto-segmentation technique; the centroid and outlier motions of the lung tumors were measured from the segmented tumors. Free breathing and AV biofeedback were compared using several metrics: intra- and interfraction tumor motion consistency in displacement and period, and the outlier motion ratio.", "Compared with FB, AV biofeedback improved intrafraction tumor motion consistency by 34% in displacement (P=.019) and by 73% in period (P<.001). Compared with FB, AV biofeedback improved interfraction tumor motion consistency by 42% in displacement (P<.046) and by 74% in period (P=.005). Compared with FB, AV biofeedback reduced the outlier motion ratio by 21% (P<.001)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Feedback, Sensory", "Humans", "Lung Neoplasms", "Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine", "Movement", "Respiration" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Attenuation of endothelium-dependent relaxing factor (EDRF) release may contribute to adverse sequelae commonly seen after reperfusion of an acutely ischemic extremity. The purpose of this study was to identify the compound responsible for the EDRF activity in the extremity and to evaluate its modulation by ischemia and reperfusion.", "Isolated rat hindlimbs were perfused at constant pressure with an albumin-enriched crystalloid buffer. Increasing log dose infusions of acetylcholine and nitroprusside were used to measure endothelium-dependent (EDRF-mediated) and endothelium-independent vasoreactivity, respectively.", "Graded reductions in total vascular resistance were seen in response to both agonists in the control group (n = 11). In the postischemic group (n = 7), 60 minutes of normothermic ischemia and 10 minutes of reperfusion reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation to acetylcholine by approximately 40% (p < 0.01). Endothelium-independent vasodilation to nitroprusside was unaffected. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide release, attenuated vasodilation to acetylcholine (p < 0.01) but not nitroprusside in both control and postischemic groups." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Acetylcholine", "Animals", "Arginine", "Extremities", "Ischemia", "Male", "Nitric Oxide", "Nitroprusside", "Rats", "Rats, Sprague-Dawley", "Reperfusion", "Vascular Resistance", "Vasodilation", "omega-N-Methylarginine" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To study the controversial role of transmembrane glycoprotein CD44 as a moderator of tumour spread and as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer.", "The expression of all CD44 forms and that with exon v3 was assessed in 198 stage I-IV gastric adenocarcinomas using immunohistochemistry. CD44 expression was found in 72% and CD44v3 in 55% of the cases. The intensity of CD44 expression was associated with the level of invasion and with hyaluronan expression, while the frequency of CD44 positive cells was not significantly related to any of the clinical or histological features of the tumours. CD44v3 expression failed to show any association with the clinical or histological variables examined. Neither total CD44 nor CD44v3 expression affected survival. The most important prognostic factors in this cohort were the level of invasion, lymph node status, tumour size and vascular or perineural invasion." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adenocarcinoma", "Aged", "Female", "Humans", "Hyaluronan Receptors", "Hyaluronic Acid", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Neoplasm Staging", "Prognosis", "Stomach Neoplasms" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Leukemia is the leading cause of disease-related death in children, despite significant improvement in survival and modern risk stratification. The prognostic significance of absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) was evaluated in young patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).", "In all, 171 consecutive de novo cases of AML and ALL, age <or=21 years, were analyzed. Age, initial white blood cell count, cytogenetics, and bone marrow response were compared with lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts at weekly intervals during induction chemotherapy.", "ALC is a significant independent predictor of relapse and survival. For example, in patients with AML an ALC on Day 28 of induction (ALC-28) <350 cells/microL predicts very poor survival, with a 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) of only 10% (hazard ratio [HR] 3.7, P= .003). In contrast, an ALC-15 >350 cells/microL carries an excellent prognosis, with a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 85% (HR 0.2, P= .012). Similarly in ALL, an ALC-15 <350 cells/microL predicts poor survival, with a 6-year RFS of 43% (HR 4.5, P= .002), whereas an ALC-15 >350 cells/microL predicts excellent outcome, with a 6-year OS of 87% (HR 0.2, P= .018). Importantly, ALC remains a strong predictor in multivariate analysis with known prognostic factors." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adolescent", "Adult", "Child", "Child, Preschool", "Humans", "Infant", "Killer Cells, Natural", "Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute", "Lymphocyte Count", "Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma", "Prognosis", "Survival Rate" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "During general anesthesia, nitrous oxide (N2O) diffuses rapidly into the air-filled laryngeal mask airway (LMA) cuff, increasing intracuff pressure. There is no clear correlation between LMA intracuff pressure and pressure on the pharynx. We have studied the effects of high LMA intracuff pressures secondary to N2O on the pharyngeal mucosa of dogs.", "Sixteen mongrel dogs were randomly allocated to two groups: G1 (intracuff volume, 30 mL; n=8) breathed a mixture of O2 (l L x min(-1)) and air (l L x min(-1)) and G2 (intracuff volume, 30 mL; n=8) a mixture of O2 (l L x min(-1)) and N2O (l L x min(-1)). Anesthesia was induced and maintained with pentobarbitone. LMA cuff pressure was measured at zero (control), 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after #4 LMA insertion. The dogs were sacrificed, and biopsy specimens from seven predetermined areas of the pharynx in contact with the LMA cuff were collected for light (LM) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examination by a blinded observer.", "LMA intracuff pressure decreased with time in G1 (P <0.001) and increased in G2 (P <0.001). There was a significant difference between the groups (P <0.001). In both groups, the LM study showed a normal epithelium covering the pharyngeal mucosa and mild congestion in the subepithelial layer. There were no differences between the groups (P >0.10) or among the areas sampled (P >0.05). In both groups, the SEM study showed a normal pharyngeal mucosa with mild superficial desquamation. Few specimens in G1 and G2 showed more intense epithelial desquamation." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Anesthetics, Inhalation", "Animals", "Dogs", "Female", "Laryngeal Masks", "Male", "Microscopy, Electron, Scanning", "Mucous Membrane", "Nitrous Oxide", "Pharynx", "Pressure" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Illumina Infinium whole genome genotyping (WGG) arrays are increasingly being applied in cancer genomics to study gene copy number alterations and allele-specific aberrations such as loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH). Methods developed for normalization of WGG arrays have mostly focused on diploid, normal samples. However, for cancer samples genomic aberrations may confound normalization and data interpretation. Therefore, we examined the effects of the conventionally used normalization method for Illumina Infinium arrays when applied to cancer samples.", "We demonstrate an asymmetry in the detection of the two alleles for each SNP, which deleteriously influences both allelic proportions and copy number estimates. The asymmetry is caused by a remaining bias between the two dyes used in the Infinium II assay after using the normalization method in Illumina's proprietary software (BeadStudio). We propose a quantile normalization strategy for correction of this dye bias. We tested the normalization strategy using 535 individual hybridizations from 10 data sets from the analysis of cancer genomes and normal blood samples generated on Illumina Infinium II 300 k version 1 and 2, 370 k and 550 k BeadChips. We show that the proposed normalization strategy successfully removes asymmetry in estimates of both allelic proportions and copy numbers. Additionally, the normalization strategy reduces the technical variation for copy number estimates while retaining the response to copy number alterations." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Allelic Imbalance", "Artifacts", "DNA, Neoplasm", "Gene Dosage", "Gene Expression Profiling", "Genome, Human", "Genomics", "Humans", "Neoplasms", "Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis", "Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide", "Reference Standards", "Research Design", "Subtraction Technique" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "The demand for new therapeutic approaches to treat bone defects and fractures is increasing in trauma surgery and orthopaedics because the number of patients with degenerative diseases is continuously growing. \"Tissue Engineering\" offers promising new technologies that combine the three components - cells, growth factors and matrix. Efforts are targeted at improving and accelerating recovery, especially for long bone fractures, and reducing the risk of delayed bone healing or pseudoarthrosis. Adult human adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) can differentiate into osteoblasts in an osteogenic surrounding. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) accelerates and initiates this differentiation. Fibrin, a matrix that promotes wound healing, is a promising carrier for ASCs and BMP-2.", "In this study, a 2mm transcortical drill hole in the femur of male rats served as a small non-critical size defect model for fracture simulation. In vivo bone healing was investigated upon administration of the growth factor BMP-2 embedded with ASCs in a locally applied fibrin matrix. Groups with the components alone were also investigated. After 2 and 4 weeks, μCT and histology were performed to determine the bone and callus volume." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS" ], "meshes": [ "Adipose Tissue", "Animals", "Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2", "Bone Regeneration", "Bony Callus", "Cells, Cultured", "Femur", "Fibrin", "Fracture Healing", "Male", "Rats", "Rats, Sprague-Dawley", "Stem Cell Transplantation", "Stem Cells" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Although ankle injuries occur frequently in high school football players, no prospective studies have been performed to determine if wearing lace-up ankle braces will reduce the incidence and severity of ankle and other lower extremity injuries in these athletes.", "This study was conducted to determine if lace-up ankle braces reduce the incidence and severity of lower extremity injuries sustained by high school football players.", "Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.", "A total of 2081 players from 50 high schools were randomly assigned to a braced or control group. Braced group players wore lace-up ankle braces during the 2010 football season. Athletic trainers recorded brace compliance, athlete-exposures, and injuries. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to compare injury rates between groups. Injury severity (days lost) was tested with Wilcoxon rank sum.", "The rate of acute ankle injury (per 1000 exposures) was 0.48 in the braced group compared with 1.12 in the control group (Cox hazard ratio [HR] = 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.65; P < .001). The severity (median days lost) of acute ankle injuries was the same (5 days) in both groups (P = .985). The rate of acute knee injury was 0.70 in the braced group compared with 0.69 in the control group (HR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.57-1.47; P = .721). There was no difference (P = .242) in the severity of knee injuries between the groups (controls = 11.5 days, braced = 17 days). The rate of other lower extremity injuries was 0.95 in the braced group and 1.32 in the control group (HR = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.48-1.09; P = .117), while the severity was similar in both groups (6 days vs 7 days; P = .295)." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adolescent", "Ankle Injuries", "Athletic Injuries", "Body Mass Index", "Braces", "Football", "Humans", "Incidence", "Injury Severity Score", "Male", "Poisson Distribution", "Proportional Hazards Models", "Prospective Studies", "Prosthesis Design", "Shoes", "Surveys and Questionnaires", "Wisconsin" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Fundoplication hastens gastric emptying in pediatric patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, among adult GERD patients with impaired gastric emptying, the degree of improvement offered by fundoplication and the value of pyloroplasty are less well defined. Therefore, we compared outcomes in GERD patients with delayed gastric emptying after fundoplication alone or fundoplication with pyloroplasty.", "Of 616 consecutive GERD patients who submitted to primary fundoplication (601 laparoscopic) between October 1991 and October 1997, 82 underwent preoperative solid-phase nuclear gastric emptying analysis. Of these, 25 had delayed gastric emptying (half-time >100 min). Of 12 patients with emptying half-times between 100 and 150 min, one underwent pyloroplasty at the time of Nissen fundoplication. Of 13 patients with emptying half-times >150 min, 11 had pyloroplasty at the time of Nissen fundoplication. Patients were asked to use a 0 (\"none\") to 4 (\"incapacitating\") scale to describe the severity of their symptoms of heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia, bloating and diarrhea preoperatively and at 6 weeks and 1 year postoperatively. Eight patients consented to a postoperative analysis of gastric emptying.", "One year after fundoplication, patients with delayed gastric emptying and controls reported a similar improvement in heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia, with no increase in undesirable side effects such as bloating and diarrhea. Among the patients with delayed gastric emptying who consented to undergo a repeat gastric emptying study after their operation, fundoplication alone provided a 38% improvement (p < 0.05) in gastric emptying, whereas fundoplication with pyloroplasty resulted in a 70% improvement in gastric emptying (p < 0.05)." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adolescent", "Adult", "Age Factors", "Aged", "Female", "Fundoplication", "Gastric Emptying", "Gastroesophageal Reflux", "Health Status", "Humans", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Pylorus", "Severity of Illness Index", "Treatment Outcome" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "The motor cortex may be subject to tonic inhibitory drive. One inhibitory mechanism is supported by activity at benzodiazepine (BZP) receptors. In this study we investigate whether or not the BZP antagonist, flumazenil, increases cortical motor excitability in humans.", "Eight healthy subjects received a 1 mg intravenous (i.v.) loading dose of flumazenil followed by a 0.5 mg i.v. infusion over the next 30 min. Before, during, and 1 h after flumazenil infusion, we measured cortical motor excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This included resting motor threshold (rMT), paired-pulse measurements of intracortical inhibition and facilitation (ICI and ICF), recruitment curve (RC), and silent period (SP). We also measured F response and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) with peripheral nerve stimulation. The study was carried out using a randomized, double-blind crossover design controlled with a saline infusion.", "None of the measures of cortical or peripheral excitability were significantly affected by drug administration." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Action Potentials", "Adolescent", "Adult", "Cross-Over Studies", "Differential Threshold", "Double-Blind Method", "Electric Stimulation", "Evoked Potentials, Motor", "Female", "Flumazenil", "GABA Modulators", "Humans", "Male", "Motor Cortex", "Muscles", "Neural Inhibition", "Peripheral Nerves", "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and resultant fractures increase with age in both sexes. Participation in resistance or high-impact sports is a known contributor to bone health in young athletes; however, little is known about the effect of participation in impact sports on bone density as people age.", "To test the hypothesis that high-impact sport participation will predict BMD in senior athletes, this study evaluated 560 athletes during the 2005 National Senior Games (the Senior Olympics).", "Cross-sectional methods. The athletes completed a detailed health history questionnaire and underwent calcaneal quantitative ultrasound to measure BMD. Athletes were classified as participating in high impact sports (basketball, road race [running], track and field, triathalon, and volleyball) or non-high-impact sports. Stepwise linear regression was used to determine the influence of high-impact sports on BMD.", "On average, participants were 65.9 years old (range, 50 to 93). There were 298 women (53.2%) and 289 men (51.6%) who participated in high-impact sports. Average body mass index was 25.6 ± 3.9. The quantitative ultrasound-generated T scores, a quantitative measure of BMD, averaged 0.4 ± 1.3 and -0.1 ± 1.4 for the high-impact and non-high-impact groups, respectively. After age, sex, obesity, and use of osteoporosis medication were controlled, participation in high-impact sports was a significant predictor of BMD (R(2) change 3.2%, P < .001)." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [] }

{ "contexts": [ "To identify the risk factors that would aid in the identification of patients at the greatest risk of developing postoperative paralytic ileus (POI). POI is a common complication after radical cystectomy and can result in a prolonged hospital stay and delayed recovery.", "A retrospective cohort study design was used to analyze data from consecutive patients presenting to our institution for radical cystectomy with pelvic nodal dissection. POI was declared if patients were without evidence of bowel function beyond the anticipated discharge goal of 6 days. The association between several clinical features and the occurrence of POI was examined.", "Of 283 patients, 43 (15.2%) developed POI. Of the 43 patients, 38 (88.4%) were given total parenteral nutrition for nutritional supplementation. No difference in the incidence of POI was observed between the sexes, previous abdominal operations, estimated blood loss, transfusion requirement, operative time, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or previous radiotherapy. POI was observed in 11.3% of normal and overweight patients (body mass index [BMI] <30.0 kg/m(2)) compared with 25.6% of obese patients (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m(2); P = .005). On multivariate analysis adjusted for the influence of competing variables, increasing age (hazard ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.16, P = .008) and BMI (hazard ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.17, P = .007) were significantly associated with the presence of POI." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Age Factors", "Aged", "Body Mass Index", "Cohort Studies", "Cystectomy", "Female", "Humans", "Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction", "Lymph Node Excision", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Obesity", "Parenteral Nutrition, Total", "Postoperative Complications", "Retrospective Studies", "Risk Factors", "Urinary Bladder Neoplasms", "Urinary Diversion" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Regular consumption of moderate amounts of Chinese yellow wine is associated with a reduced risk of coronary disease. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that participate in extracellular matrix degradation have been involved in atherosclerotic plaque growth and instability. The present research aimed to study the effects of Chinese yellow wine on the production of homocysteine (Hcy)-induced extracellular MMP-2 in cultured rats vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).", "We examined the effects of different Hcy levels (0-1000 micromol/l) on MMP-2 production, and the effects of Chinese yellow wine with low alcohol concentrations (12-19%) on Hcy-induced MMP-2 in cultured rat (VSMCs) using gelatin zymography and western blotting. We further compared the changes of MMP-2 under various treatments for 12, 24 and 48 h.", "Hcy (50-1000 micromol/l) increased the production of MMP-2 significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Increased production of MMP-2 induced by Hcy was reduced by extracellularly added Chinese yellow wine. Production of MMP-2 under various treatments for 48 h increased more than 12 and 24 h." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Blotting, Western", "Cells, Cultured", "Dose-Response Relationship, Drug", "Homocysteine", "Humans", "Male", "Matrix Metalloproteinase 2", "Muscle, Smooth, Vascular", "Rats", "Rats, Sprague-Dawley", "Time Factors", "Wine" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "In 2010 the Norwegian Cruciate Ligament Registry (NCLR) achieved status as a national medical quality registry. The study aimed at evaluating completeness of reporting on anterior cruciate ligament surgery to NCLF as compared to the Surgical Logbooks-Electronic Patient Journal (SL-EPJ) and the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR).", "Data were obtained electronically, by telephone or by manual counting from NCLR, SL-EPJ and NPR for 14 randomly selected hospitals in Norway for the period 01.10.05-28.02.06. SL-EPJ in hospitals were used as the gold standard.", "According SL-EPJ, 202 operations were recorded in the study period. Among these operations seven were missing in NCLR and 21 in NPR. One private hospital only reported to NCLR and not to NPR in the study period, and according to SL-EPJ this hospital performed 19 of the 21 operations missing in NPR. Exclusion of this hospital leads to a high degree of completeness in both NCLR (97 %) and NPR (99 %) as compared to the gold standard." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Anterior Cruciate Ligament", "Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries", "Data Collection", "Electronic Health Records", "Hospitals, Private", "Hospitals, Public", "Humans", "Norway", "Outcome Assessment (Health Care)", "Quality Assurance, Health Care", "Reconstructive Surgical Procedures", "Registries" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a potent immuno-modulatory, angiogenic and tissue remodeling factor, is markedly expressed in ectopic endometrial implants and may play key role in the capability of this tissue to grow and develop into the host tissue. The objective of this study was to determine whether macrophage-derived cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1, which is overproduced by endometriosis women's peritoneal macrophages and found in elevated concentration in their peritoneal fluid, may play a role in MIF synthesis and secretion by ectopic endometrial cells.", "Primary cultures of endometriotic cells exposed to IL-1beta and evaluation of MIF protein by immunocytofluorescence and ELISA, and mRNA by quantitative real-time PCR and nuclear transcription assays (run-on).", "Interleukin-1beta acts rapidly on endometriotic cells and stimulated MIF secretion and mRNA steady-state levels in a dose and time-dependent manner. IL-1beta treatment had no significant effect on MIF mRNA half-life and stability, but acted predominantly by up-regulating MIF gene transcription as assessed by run-on." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Cells, Cultured", "Endometriosis", "Endometrium", "Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay", "Female", "Fluorescent Antibody Technique", "Gene Expression", "Humans", "Interleukin-1beta", "Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors", "RNA, Messenger", "Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To determine if the serum testosterone (T) concentration influences the ability of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to predict prostate cancer volume and stage.", "One hundred consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy were examined prospectively. Each patient was evaluated preoperatively with a serum PSA, total T, free T, and percent free T. All surgical specimens were evaluated using the whole mount, step section technique for Gleason score, tumor volume, and extraprostatic disease.", "Serum total T, free T, and percent free T did not correlate with the serum PSA level (r = .03, .08, and .07, respectively), tumor volume (r = .11, .08, and .11, respectively), prostate weight (r = .00, -.08, and .11, respectively), or Gleason score (r = .11, .08, and .11, respectively). Serum PSA correlated with tumor volume (r = .51, P < 0.0001). Extraprostatic disease was significantly associated with a higher percent free T value (r = .26, P = 0.02) but not with either the total or the free T level. Linear regression analysis showed that neither the total nor the free T concentration was a significant predictor of extraprostatic disease in the presence of PSA (P = 0.30 and 0.24, respectively); percent free T contributed only slightly to PSA in the prediction of extraprostatic disease (P = 0.05). However, neither total T, free T, nor percent free T was a significant predictor of tumor volume; in essence, the association between PSA and tumor volume was independent of the serum T concentration (P = 0.30, 0.24, and 0.60, respectively)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Aged", "Humans", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Neoplasm Staging", "Predictive Value of Tests", "Prospective Studies", "Prostate-Specific Antigen", "Prostatectomy", "Prostatic Neoplasms", "Regression Analysis", "Testosterone" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Low heart rate variability (HRV) is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in the general population. We aimed to determine the factors associated with HRV and evaluate the association between low HRV and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).", "A 10-second electrocardiogram was obtained at baseline in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. HRV was measured by the standard deviation of all R-R intervals (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive differences between R-R intervals (RMSSD).", "In 3,245 CRIC participants with available baseline SDNN and RMSSD, lower HRV was associated with older age, lack of exercise, heart failure, elevated phosphorus and hemoglobin A1c, and low estimated glomerular filtration rate. After a median follow-up of 4.2 years, in fully adjusted models, lower HRV was not associated with renal [SDNN: hazard rate, HR = 0.96 (95% confidence interval, CI 0.88-1.05); RMSSD: HR = 0.97 (95% CI 0.88-1.07)] or cardiovascular outcomes [SDNN: HR = 1.02 (95% CI 0.92-1.13); RMSSD: HR = 1.00 (95% CI 0.90-1.10)]. There was a nonlinear relationship between RMSSD and all-cause mortality with increased risk with both low and high RMSSD (p = 0.04)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Aged", "Cardiovascular Diseases", "Cohort Studies", "Disease-Free Survival", "Electrocardiography", "Exercise", "Female", "Glomerular Filtration Rate", "Heart Failure", "Heart Rate", "Hemoglobins", "Humans", "Linear Models", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Phosphorus", "Renal Insufficiency", "Renal Insufficiency, Chronic", "Risk Factors", "Treatment Outcome", "Young Adult" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Tafazzin (TAZ), a transmembrane protein contributes in mitochondrial structural and functional modifications through cardiolipin remodeling. TAZ mutations are associated with several diseases, but studies on the role of TAZ protein in carcinogenesis and radiotherapy (RT) response is lacking. Therefore we investigated the TAZ expression in rectal cancer, and its correlation with RT, clinicopathological and biological variables in the patients participating in a clinical trial of preoperative RT.", "140 rectal cancer patients were included in this study, of which 65 received RT before surgery and the rest underwent surgery alone. TAZ expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in primary cancer, distant, adjacent normal mucosa and lymph node metastasis. In-silico protein-protein interaction analysis was performed to study the predictive functional interaction of TAZ with other oncoproteins.", "TAZ showed stronger expression in primary cancer and lymph node metastasis compared to distant or adjacent normal mucosa in both non-RT and RT patients. Strong TAZ expression was significantly higher in stages I-III and non-mucinious cancer of non-RT patients. In RT patients, strong TAZ expression in biopsy was related to distant recurrence, independent of gender, age, stages and grade (p = 0.043, HR, 6.160, 95% CI, 1.063-35.704). In silico protein-protein interaction study demonstrated that TAZ was positively related to oncoproteins, Livin, MAC30 and FXYD-3." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing", "Adult", "Aged", "Biomarkers, Tumor", "Female", "Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic", "Humans", "Immunohistochemistry", "Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins", "Lymphatic Metastasis", "Male", "Membrane Proteins", "Middle Aged", "Neoplasm Proteins", "Neoplasm Staging", "Rectal Neoplasms", "Transcription Factors" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "We aimed to provide empirical evidence of how spectrum effects can affect the sensitivity of histological assessment of Helicobacter pylori infection, which may contribute to explain the heterogeneity in prevalence estimates across populations with expectedly similar prevalence.", "Cross-sectional evaluation of dyspeptic subjects undergoing upper digestive endoscopy, including collection of biopsy specimens from the greater curvature of the antrum for assessment of H. pylori infection by histopathological study and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), from Portugal (n = 106) and Mozambique (n = 102) following the same standardized protocol.", "In the Portuguese sample the prevalence of infection was 95.3% by histological assessment and 98.1% by PCR. In the Mozambican sample the prevalence was 63.7% and 93.1%, respectively. Among those classified as infected by PCR, the sensitivity of histological assessment was 96.2% among the Portuguese and 66.3% among the Mozambican. Among those testing positive by both methods, 5.0% of the Portuguese and 20.6% of the Mozambican had mild density of colonization." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Biopsy", "Cross-Sectional Studies", "Diagnostic Tests, Routine", "Dyspepsia", "Female", "Helicobacter Infections", "Helicobacter pylori", "Humans", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Mozambique", "Portugal", "Prevalence", "Pyloric Antrum", "Sensitivity and Specificity" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To describe step-by-step an original urethrovesical anastomosis technique (urethral fixation) in patients undergoing retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), to compare their early urinary continence recovery with those in a control group receiving a standard anastomosis technique and to identify the predictors of early urinary continence recovery.", "We compared 70 patients who underwent RRP with the urethral-fixation technique with a contemporary control group of 51 patients who received RRP with a standard urethrovesical anastomosis. In the urethral-fixation group, the urethrovesical anastomosis was made using eight single sutures. Specifically, to avoid retraction and/or deviations, we fixed the urethral stump laterally to the medial portion of levator ani muscle. Also, to maintain the normal position in the context of the pelvic floor, we fixed the urethral sphincter deeper to the medial dorsal raphe using a 3-0 polydioxanone suture at the 6 o'clock position before completing the incision of the urethral wall. Urinary continence recovery was evaluated at 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after catheter removal. Patients self-reporting no urine leak were considered continent. Uni- and multivariable analyses were used to identify predictors of urinary incontinence at the different follow-up time-points.", "The evaluated groups had comparable preoperative variables. At 1 week after catheter removal, 32 (45.7%) patients in the urethral-fixation group and 10 (19.6%) in the control group were continent (P = 0.01). At 4 weeks after catheter removal, 46 (65.7%) patients in the urethral-fixation group and 16 (31.4%) in the control group were continent (P = 0.001). At 8 weeks after catheter removal, 59 (84.3%) patients in the urethral-fixation group and 21 (41.2%) in the control group were continent (P < 0.001). Finally, at 12 weeks after catheter removal, 63 (90%) patients in the urethral-fixation group and 32 (62.7%) in the control group were continent (P = 0.001). The urethral-fixation technique was an independent predictor of urinary continence recovery at 1 week [odds ratio (OR) 4.305; P = 0.002); 4 weeks (OR 4.784; P < 0.001); 8 weeks (OR 7.678; P < 0.001) and 12 weeks (OR 5.152; P = 0.001) after catheter removal." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Aged", "Anastomosis, Surgical", "Device Removal", "Humans", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Postoperative Complications", "Prospective Studies", "Prostatectomy", "Prostatic Neoplasms", "Recovery of Function", "Time Factors", "Urethra", "Urinary Bladder", "Urinary Incontinence", "Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "T helper 17 (Th17) cells from patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) induce a proinflammatory feedback loop upon RA synovial fibroblast (RASF) interaction, including autocrine interleukin (IL)-17A production. A major challenge in medicine is how to control the pathogenic Th17 cell activity in human inflammatory autoimmune diseases. The objective of this study was to examine whether tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockade and/or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) controls Th17-mediated synovial inflammation.", "Peripheral CD4+CD45RO+CCR6+ Th17 cells of patients with early RA, Th17-RASF cocultures and synovial biopsy specimens were cultured with or without 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and/or TNFα blockade. Intracellular cytokine expression was detected by flow cytometry. Cytokine and matrix metalloprotease (MMP) production was determined by ELISA.", "The authors show that the 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), but not TNFα blockade, significantly suppressed autocrine IL-17A production in Th17-RASF and synovial biopsy cultures. Combining 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and TNFα blockade had a significant additive effect compared with single treatment in controlling synovial inflammation, indicated by a further reduction in IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1 and MMP-3 in Th17-RASF cocultures and IL-6 and IL-8 expression in cultures of RA synovial tissue." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Antirheumatic Agents", "Arthritis, Rheumatoid", "Autocrine Communication", "Biopsy", "Calcitriol", "Cells, Cultured", "Coculture Techniques", "Cytokines", "Drug Combinations", "Etanercept", "Female", "Humans", "Immunoglobulin G", "Immunologic Memory", "Inflammation Mediators", "Interleukin-17", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Receptors, CCR6", "Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor", "Synovial Membrane", "Synovitis", "Th17 Cells", "Tissue Culture Techniques", "Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of an initial dose of ribavirin administered before a 48-week course of treatment with peg-IFN + ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients and in patients after previous failure of CHC treatment.", "A total of 103 patients with chronic hepatitis C infected with genotype 1 HCV were qualified to the study. Study patients were randomised to receive one of two treatments: A- RBV for 4 weeks followed by combined therapy with peg-IFN alpha-2a +RBV for 48 weeks (n = 73), or B- combined therapy with peg-IFN alpha-2a +RBV for 48 weeks (n = 30).", "SVR 24 was observed in 44% patients in group A and in group 40% patients in group B (40%), p > 0.05. Comparing subgroups of the naive patients, it was found that the SVR24 value was higher in group A than group B (57% vs. 47%, p > 0.05). In the re-therapy subgroups, higher treatment response rates in patients not responding earlier was found in group A than group B (39% vs. 16%, p > 0.05)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Antiviral Agents", "Drug Therapy, Combination", "Female", "Hepatitis C, Chronic", "Humans", "Interferon-alpha", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Polyethylene Glycols", "Premedication", "Recombinant Proteins", "Ribavirin", "Treatment Outcome", "Young Adult" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "This study was sought to investigate whether peripheral blood levels of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are affected in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).", "Synthesis of MMPs has been reported in coronary atherosclerotic lesions in patients with unstable angina (UA), suggesting a pathogenic role of MMPs in the development of ACS.", "Using sandwich enzyme immunoassay, serum MMP-2 and plasma MMP-9 were measured in 33 patients with ACS (22 with acute myocardial infarction [AMI], 11 with UA), 17 with stable effort angina (EA) and 17 normal control subjects.", "Serum MMP-2 in patients with UA and AMI on day 0 was two times greater than that in control subjects, and patients with EA showed higher MMP-2 levels than those in control subjects. Plasma MMP-9 in patients with UA and AMI on day 0 was elevated by threefold and twofold versus that in control subjects, respectively. In patients with UA and AMI who underwent medical treatment (n = 11 and 13, respectively), MMP-2 elevation was sustained until day 7. In patients with UA, MMP-9 elevation on day 0 was followed by a gradual decrease toward the control range up to day 7. Some patients with AMI showed a transient MMP-9 elevation with a peak on day 3, whereas in others, MMP-9 levels were significantly elevated on day 0 and remained higher than those in control subjects up to day 3." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "BACKGROUND", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Angina Pectoris", "Angina, Unstable", "Collagenases", "Coronary Artery Disease", "Coronary Disease", "Female", "Follow-Up Studies", "Gelatinases", "Humans", "Immunoenzyme Techniques", "Male", "Matrix Metalloproteinase 2", "Matrix Metalloproteinase 9", "Metalloendopeptidases", "Middle Aged", "Myocardial Infarction", "Myocardial Ischemia", "Syndrome" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "The development of nervous systems involves reciprocal interactions between neurons and glia. In the Drosophila olfactory system, peripheral glial cells arise from sensory lineages specified by the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, Atonal. These glia wrap around the developing olfactory axons early during development and pattern the three distinct fascicles as they exit the antenna. In the moth Manduca sexta, an additional set of central glia migrate to the base of the antennal nerve where axons sort to their glomerular targets. In this work, we have investigated whether similar types of cells exist in the Drosophila antenna.", "We have used different P(Gal4) lines to drive Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in distinct populations of cells within the Drosophila antenna. Mz317::GFP, a marker for cell body and perineural glia, labels the majority of peripheral glia. An additional approximately 30 glial cells detected by GH146::GFP do not derive from any of the sensory lineages and appear to migrate into the antenna from the brain. Their appearance in the third antennal segment is regulated by normal function of the Epidermal Growth Factor receptor and small GTPases. We denote these distinct populations of cells as Mz317-glia and GH146-glia respectively. In the adult, processes of GH146-glial cells ensheath the olfactory receptor neurons directly, while those of the Mz317-glia form a peripheral layer. Ablation of GH146-glia does not result in any significant effects on the patterning of the olfactory receptor axons." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Brain", "Cell Movement", "Drosophila", "ErbB Receptors", "Neuroglia", "Olfactory Pathways", "Olfactory Receptor Neurons", "Signal Transduction" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "This study aimed to explore retrospective childhood ADHD symptomatology, psychiatric comorbidity, rates of substance-use disorders (SUD), as well as their association with high-risk health behaviors in prison and adverse health outcomes.", "A randomly selected representative sample of inmates in the Puerto Rico correctional system (N = 1,179) was assessed with the Spanish-language Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS); the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) modules for lifetime/current major depression disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and SUD; the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS; posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]); and self-reports of in-site high-risk behaviors.", "Wald χ(2) tests revealed significant associations of ADHD with MDD and PTSD, as well as increased risk for overdosing and intravenous drug use in prison. A logistic regression model adjusted for mood and anxiety comorbidity predicted lifetime SUD diagnosis (odds ratio = 2.38; 95% confidence interval = [1.15, 4.94])." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adolescent", "Adult", "Anxiety", "Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity", "Comorbidity", "Depressive Disorder, Major", "Female", "Health Behavior", "Hispanic Americans", "Humans", "Middle Aged", "Neuropsychological Tests", "Prevalence", "Prisoners", "Psychiatric Status Rating Scales", "Puerto Rico", "Retrospective Studies", "Risk-Taking", "Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic", "Substance-Related Disorders", "Young Adult" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Netrin-1, a laminin-related axon guidance molecule, is highly induced and excreted in the urine after acute kidney injury (AKI) in animals. Here, we determined the utility of urinary netrin-1 levels to predict AKI in humans undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).", "Serial urine samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for netrin-1 in 26 patients who developed AKI (defined as a 50% or greater increase in serum creatinine after CPB) and 34 controls (patients who did not develop AKI after CPB).", "Using serum creatinine, AKI was detected on average only 48 hours after CPB. In contrast, urine netrin-1 increased at 2 hours after CPB, peaked at 6 hours (2462 +/- 370 pg/mg creatinine), and remained elevated up to 48 hours after CPB. The predictive power of netrin-1 as demonstrated by area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve for diagnosis of AKI at 2, 6, and 12 hours after CPB was 0.74, 0.86, and 0.89, respectively. The 6-hour urine netrin-1 measurement strongly correlated with duration and severity of AKI, as well as length of hospital stay (all P < 0.05). Adjusting for CPB time, the 6-hour netrin-1 remained a powerful independent predictor of AKI, with an odds ratio of 1.20 (95% confidence interval: 1.08 to 1.41; P = 0.006)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Acute Disease", "Biomarkers", "Cardiac Surgical Procedures", "Cardiopulmonary Bypass", "Case-Control Studies", "Chi-Square Distribution", "Child", "Child, Preschool", "Creatinine", "Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay", "Female", "Heart Defects, Congenital", "Humans", "Infant", "Infant, Newborn", "Kidney Diseases", "Length of Stay", "Logistic Models", "Male", "Nerve Growth Factors", "Netrin-1", "Odds Ratio", "Pilot Projects", "Predictive Value of Tests", "Prospective Studies", "ROC Curve", "Risk Assessment", "Risk Factors", "Severity of Illness Index", "Time Factors", "Tumor Suppressor Proteins", "Up-Regulation" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To evaluate the omeprazole maintenance therapy in patients with recurrent ulcer bleeding after surgery for duodenal ulcer.", "We studied 15 consecutive patients with recurrent ulcer bleeding after surgery for duodenal ulcer. Omeprazole (20 mg/d) maintenance therapy was given after ulcer healing. In addition to clinical follow-up, ambulatory 24-h gastric pH assay was performed before and during omeprazole therapy in those patients and controls with previous duodenal ulcer surgery but no ulcer recurrence.", "All the 15 ulcers were healed after being treated with omeprazole (40 mg/d) for 2 mo. Eleven patients with two (1-9) episodes of recurrent ulcer bleeding completed the follow-up (43, 12-72 mo). None of them had a bleeding episode while on omeprazole. One patient discontinued the therapy and had recurrent bleeding. The median 24-h fraction time of gastric pH<4 in patients was 80, 46-95%, and was reduced to 32, 13-70% by omeprazole (P=0.002)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Aged", "Anti-Ulcer Agents", "Duodenal Ulcer", "Gastric Juice", "Humans", "Hydrogen-Ion Concentration", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Omeprazole", "Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage", "Prospective Studies", "Recurrence" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Male infertility is affected by several factors. Lead is one of the heavy metals more bioavailable than usually modifies the sperm quality in humans.", "The aim of this study was to establish the role of lead in semen quality in environmentally exposed men.", "Semen and blood samples were obtained from two groups: the exposed group (EG=20) and the non-exposed group (NEG=27). Two semen aliquots were used, one to evaluate spermatic quality and the other for lead determination. Blood (PbB) and semen lead (PbS) determination was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.", "The PbB concentration was significantly greater in the EG, 10.10±0.97 µgdL-1 than in the NEG, 6.42±0.38 µgdL-1 (p<0.01), as well as the PbS concentration, with 3.28±0.35 and 1.76±0.14µgdL-1 in the EG and NEG respectively (p=0.043). A significant correlation between PbS and PbB concentration in the EG was found (r=0.573, p=0.038). Overall, the spermatic quality was lower in the EG than in the NEG. Specifically, there were significant differences in the spermatic concentration [EG=43.98±6.26 and NEG=68.78±8.51X10(6) cellmL-1 (p<0.01)], motility [EG=49±7 and NEG=67±4% (p=0.029)], viability [EG=36.32±3.59 and NEG=72.12±1.91% (p<0.01)] and abnormal morphology [EG=67±18 and NEG=32±12% (p<0.01)]. In the immature germ cells (IGC) concentration differences were found only for A cells (EG=8.1±1.1x100 and NEG=3.2±1.9X100 spermatozoa) (p<0.01) and for Sab cells (EG=3.4±2.2x100 and NEG=1.1±1.0X100 spermatozoa) (p=0.041)." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [] }

{ "contexts": [ "The dual function of beta-catenin (e.g., as an intermediate protein between adherence junctions and the microfilaments, and as a mediator of the Wnt signaling pathway) is currently known. Stabilization of beta-catenin and subsequent activation of the Wnt signaling pathway are involved in the development of some malignancies. We analyzed the immunohistochemical localization of beta-catenin and the somatic mutation of exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene in the malignant phenotype of the uterine cervix.", "Immunohistochemical localization of beta-catenin and mutation of exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene were analyzed in 38 precancerous lesions and 43 cancerous lesions.", "In normal cervix, beta-catenin was observed around the plasma membrane of the cells in the basal and parabasal layers of the epithelium. The frequency of cytoplasmic/nuclear beta-catenin expression correlated with a high histological grade of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Among invasive carcinomas, 11 (73%) of 15 samples showed cytoplasmic/nuclear localization to variable extents. A mutational analysis showed that mutation occurred in 7 of 68 specimens. Six cases with mutations revealed cytoplasmic/nuclear beta-catenin expression, though 32 (84%) of the 38 samples showing cytoplasmic/nuclear beta-catenin expression were not associated with the mutation." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Aged", "Carcinoma in Situ", "Carcinoma, Squamous Cell", "Cell Nucleus", "Cytoplasm", "Cytoskeletal Proteins", "Exons", "Female", "Humans", "Immunohistochemistry", "Middle Aged", "Mutation", "Polymerase Chain Reaction", "Precancerous Conditions", "Trans-Activators", "Uterine Cervical Neoplasms", "beta Catenin" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To evaluate the antiemetic effect of iv dexamethasone for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in women with and without a history of motion sickness.", "This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was carried out in 168 female patients with (n = 84) and without (n = 84) a history of motion sickness undergoing gynecological laparoscopy. Patients received 8 mg dexamethasone or saline immediately before induction of anesthesia. Postoperatively patients were assessed for 24 hr for nausea, vomiting, and complete response (no vomiting, no need for rescue antiemetics).", "The complete response for patients with a history of motion sickness was 80.5% and 37.5% for recipients of dexamethasone and saline, respectively [P < 0.001; number needed-to-treat (NNT) = 2.3]; with corresponding incidences of 83.3% and 53.7% when there was no such history (P = 0.009; NNT = 3.4). Calculation of the efficacy of dexamethasone for the different subgroups shows that dexamethasone was 45.3% more effective in patients with motion sickness than in those without it." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Antiemetics", "Dexamethasone", "Double-Blind Method", "Female", "Humans", "Middle Aged", "Motion Sickness", "Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting", "Serotonin Antagonists" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To assess whether chronic glycemic control and stress-induced hyperglycemia, determined by the gap between admission glucose levels and A1C-derived average glucose (ADAG) levels adversely affects outcomes in diabetic patients with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA).", "Clinical, laboratory, and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) findings of 329 PLA patients (2004-2010) were retrospectively reviewed. HbA1C levels were used to determine long-term glycemic control status, which were then converted to estimated average glucose values. For the gap between admission glucose levels and ADAG levels, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to determine the optimal cut-off values predicting adverse outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify predictors of adverse outcomes.", "Diabetic PLA patients with poorer glycemic control had significantly higher Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) infection rates, lower albumin levels, and longer hospital stays than those with suboptimal and good glycemic control. The ROC curve showed that a glycemic gap of 72 mg/dL was the optimal cut-off value for predicting adverse outcomes and showed a 22.3% relative increase in adverse outcomes compared with a glycemic gap<72 mg/dL. Multivariate analysis revealed that an elevated glycemic gap≥72 mg/dL was important predictor of adverse outcomes." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Aged", "Blood Glucose", "Demography", "Diabetes Complications", "Female", "Glycated Hemoglobin A", "Hospitalization", "Humans", "Liver Abscess, Pyogenic", "Logistic Models", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Multidetector Computed Tomography", "Multivariate Analysis", "ROC Curve", "Risk Factors", "Treatment Outcome" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "There is evidence that various meditation practices reduce distress, but little is known about the mechanisms of frequently repeating a mantram-a spiritual word or phrase-on distress reduction. Mantram repetition is the portable practice of focusing attention frequently on a mantram throughout the day without a specific time, place, or posture.", "We examined the hypothesis of whether increases in positive reappraisal coping or distancing coping mediated the sustained decreases in anger found following a group-based mantram intervention that was designed to train attention and promote awareness of internal experiences.", "A secondary analysis was performed on data collected from a randomized controlled trial that compared a group-based mantram intervention (n = 46) to an attention-matched control (n = 47) in a community sample of human immunodeficiency virus-positive adults. Positive reappraisal and distancing coping were explored as potential mediators of anger reduction.", "Participants in the mantram intervention reported significant increases in positive reappraisal coping over the 5-week intervention period, whereas the control group reported decreases. Increases in positive reappraisal coping during the 5-week intervention period appear to mediate the effect of mantram on decreased anger at 22-week follow-up." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adaptation, Psychological", "Adolescent", "Adult", "Anger", "Female", "Follow-Up Studies", "HIV Seropositivity", "Homosexuality, Female", "Homosexuality, Male", "Humans", "Male", "Meditation", "Middle Aged", "Personality Inventory", "Psychotherapy, Group", "Sick Role", "Spirituality", "Treatment Outcome", "Young Adult" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "While many studies show a correlation between chronological age and physiological indicators, the nature of this correlation is not fully understood.", "To perform a comprehensive analysis of the correlation between chronological age and age-related physiological indicators.", "Physiological aging scores were deduced using principal component analysis from a large dataset of 1,227 variables measured in a cohort of 4,796 human subjects, and the correlation between the physiological aging scores and chronological age was assessed.", "Physiological age does not progress linearly or exponentially with chronological age: a more rapid physiological change is observed around the age of 55 years, followed by a mild decline until around the age of 70 years." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Age Factors", "Aged", "Aged, 80 and over", "Aging", "Cohort Studies", "Exercise", "Female", "Health Status", "Humans", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Osteoarthritis", "Principal Component Analysis", "Sex Factors" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Early identification of women at risk of developing early-onset severe preeclampsia (sPE) is a key objective in obstetrics. An elevated ratio of serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) to placenta-like growth factor (PlGF) (sFlt-1/PlGF ratio) precedes overt hypertension. The longitudinal relationship between this biomarker, maternal hemodynamics, and maternal serum uric acid during the pre-clinical phase is unknown.", "We followed 20 normotensive women at high risk of developing sPE from 20 weeks until delivery or 34 weeks' gestation. Non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring using bioreactance technology was performed at 20 to 22, 24 to 26, 28 to 30, and 32 to 34 weeks' gestation. Serum uric acid, sFlt-1, and PlGF were measured simultaneously.", "Six of 20 women (30%) delivered before 33 weeks with sPE and had significantly higher mean total peripheral resistance (TPR), higher serum uric acid, and higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratios at 24 weeks' gestation than unaffected individuals. The area under the curve, cut-off values, and sensitivity and specificity to predict sPE at 24 weeks were as follows: TPR 0.84, 1250 dyne.s.cm-5, 80%, 93%; sFlt-1/PlGF ratio 0.94, 55, 100%, 93%; and serum uric acid 0.99, 255 μmol/L, 100%, 93%. TPR and sFlt-1 were positively correlated in the sPE group before antihypertensive treatment (r = 0.65, P = 0.01). Serum uric acid correlated with both sFlt-1 (r = 0.65, P = 0.003) and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (r = 0.54, P = 0.02)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Biomarkers", "Cohort Studies", "Female", "Hemodynamics", "Humans", "Hyperuricemia", "Placenta Growth Factor", "Pre-Eclampsia", "Pregnancy", "Pregnancy Proteins", "Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Dietary rice bran consists of many bioactive components with disease fighting properties; including the capacity to modulate the gut microbiota. Studies point to the important roles of the gut microbiota and the mucosal epithelium in the establishment of protection against enteric pathogens, such as Salmonella. The ability of rice bran to reduce the susceptibility of mice to a Salmonella infection has not been previously investigated. Therefore, we hypothesized that the incorporation of rice bran into the diet would inhibit the colonization of Salmonella in mice through the induction of protective mucosal responses.", "Mice were fed diets containing 0%, 10% and 20% rice bran for one week prior to being orally infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We found that mice consuming the 10 and 20% rice bran diets exhibited a reduction in Salmonella fecal shedding for up to nine days post-infection as compared to control diet fed animals (p < 0.05). In addition, we observed decreased concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-12 (p < 0.05) as well as increased colonization of native Lactobacillus spp. in rice bran fed mice (p < 0.05). Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed the ability of rice bran extracts to reduce Salmonella entry into mouse small intestinal epithelial cells." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Animals", "Bacterial Load", "Bacterial Shedding", "Cytokines", "Diet", "Dietary Fiber", "Feces", "Female", "Lactobacillus", "Mice", "Oryza", "Salmonella Infections, Animal", "Salmonella typhimurium" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "To determine the association between thiazide use and lower extremity fractures in patients who are men with a spinal cord injury (SCI).", "Cohort study from fiscal years 2002 to 2007.", "Medical centers.", "Men (N=6969) with an SCI from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Spinal Cord Dysfunction (SCD) Registry, including 1433 users of thiazides and 5536 nonusers of thiazides.", "Thiazide use versus nonuse.", "Incident lower extremity fractures.", "Among the men, 21% in the VA SCD Registry (fiscal years 2002-2007) included in these analyses used thiazide diuretics. There were 832 incident lower extremity fractures over the time period of this study: 110 fractures (7.7%) in 1433 thiazide users and 722 fractures (13%) in 5536 nonusers of thiazides. In unadjusted and adjusted models alike, thiazide use was associated with at least a one-quarter risk reduction in lower extremity fracture at any given point in time (unadjusted: hazard ratio (HR)=.75; 95% confidence interval (CI), .59-.94; adjusted: HR=.74; 95% CI, .58-.95)." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "METHODS", "METHODS", "METHODS", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Age Factors", "Aged", "Analysis of Variance", "Causality", "Cohort Studies", "Comorbidity", "Confidence Intervals", "Follow-Up Studies", "Fractures, Bone", "Hospitals, Veterans", "Humans", "Incidence", "Injury Severity Score", "Lower Extremity", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Multivariate Analysis", "Registries", "Retrospective Studies", "Risk Assessment", "Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors", "Spinal Cord Injuries" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Prolonged exercise can induce cardiac fatigue, which is characterized by biomarker release and impaired myocardial function. The impact on ventricular electrophysiology is largely unknown.", "The objective of this study was to examine changes in ventricular repolarization after a 30-km cross-country race in runners aged >or=55 years.", "Fifteen healthy participants (62 +/- 5 years) were assessed using biomarkers (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP], troponin T [TnT]), tissue Doppler echocardiography, and vectorcardiography at baseline, within 1 hour postrace and on days 1 and 6 postrace.", "During the race, NT-proBNP increased from 42 ng/L (interquartile range 25-117) to 187 ng/L (113-464), and TnT increased from undetectable levels to 0.03 microg/L (0.015-0.05). Global strain (19.1% +/- 2.2%) decreased on day 1 (17.2% +/- 1.8%) and day 6 (17.9% +/- 1.5%; P <.01). QT(c) increased from 431 +/- 15 ms prerace to 445 +/- 22 ms postrace and 445 +/- 15 ms on day 1 (P <.05), mainly because of an increased T(peak-end) interval (prerace 108 +/- 13 ms, postrace 127 +/- 43 ms, day 1 127 +/- 43 ms; P <.05). Postrace, T(area) (baseline 75 +/- 26 microVs) peaked on day 1 (105 +/- 42 microVs) and remained high on day 6 (89 +/- 37 microVs; P <.05). Runners with higher baseline NT-proBNP developed greater impairment of myocardial velocities (rho = -0.68 to -0.54; P <.05) and a larger increase in T(area) (rho = 0.73; P <.01)." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Analysis of Variance", "Biomarkers", "Echocardiography, Doppler", "Electrocardiography", "Fatigue", "Heart Ventricles", "Humans", "Male", "Middle Aged", "Natriuretic Peptide, Brain", "Peptide Fragments", "Physical Endurance", "Running", "Statistics, Nonparametric", "Troponin T", "Vectorcardiography" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Sensory neuropathy is a common problem in HIV-infected patients and is the dose-limiting toxicity of stavudine. Affordable methods of predicting neuropathy risk are needed to guide prescribing in countries where some use of stavudine remains an economic necessity. We therefore aimed to identify factors predictive of neuropathy risk before antiretroviral use.", "A total of 294 patients attending clinics in Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta were enrolled in a cross-sectional neuropathy screening program in 2006. Neuropathy was defined by the presence of symptoms and signs on the AIDS Clinical Trials Group Brief Peripheral Neuropathy Screen. Demographic, laboratory, and treatment details were considered as possible risk factors for neuropathy. The role of patient demographics in predicting stavudine neuropathy were then assessed in 181 patients who reported that they were free of neuropathy symptoms when first prescribed this drug.", "The prevalence of neuropathy was 42% in Melbourne (n = 100), 19% in Kuala Lumpur (n = 98), and 34% in Jakarta (n = 96). In addition to treatment exposures, increasing age (p = 0.002) and height (p = 0.001) were independently associated with neuropathy. Age and height cutoffs of > or=170 cm or > or =40 years predicted neuropathy. Among 181 patients who were asymptomatic before stavudine exposure, the risk of neuropathy following stavudine was 20% in younger, shorter patients, compared with 66% in older, taller individuals." ], "labels": [ "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adolescent", "Adult", "Age Factors", "Aged", "Aging", "Anthropometry", "Anti-HIV Agents", "Body Height", "Causality", "Developing Countries", "Female", "HIV Infections", "Humans", "Male", "Mass Screening", "Middle Aged", "Peripheral Nervous System Diseases", "Predictive Value of Tests", "Prescriptions", "Risk Assessment", "Risk Factors", "Stavudine", "Young Adult" ] }

{ "contexts": [ "Positive patch test reactions to p-phenylenediamine (PPD) are common. PPD is used in oxidative hair dyes and is also present in dark henna temporary 'tattoos'. Cross-sensitization to other contact allergens may occur. Because subjects sensitized to PPD are at risk of clinically severe reactions upon hair dyeing, there is a need for 'current' prevalence data on PPD sensitization.", "To compare PPD patch test results from dermatitis patients tested between 2003 and 2007 in 10 European patch test centres and to analyse the causes and determine relevance of positive PPD patch test reactions.", "Patch testing was performed using PPD (1% free base in petrolatum from Trolab (Almirall Hermal GmbH, Reinbeck, Germany) or Chemotechnique (Malmö, Sweden), equivalent to 0.090 mg/cm(2) in the TRUE test from MEKOS Laboratories AS). Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test.", "The weighted average prevalence was 4.6% among 21 515 patients. PPD sensitization occurred more often in centres located in Central and Southern Europe than in Scandinavian centres (odds ratio = 2.40; 95% confidence interval = 2.07-2.78). The overall proportion of positive patch test reactions to PPD that were registered as being of either current or 'past' relevance was high (weighted average 53.6% and 20.3%, respectively). Consumer hair dyeing was the most prominent cause of PPD sensitization (weighted average 41.8%). Furthermore, occupational hair dye exposure (10.6%) and cross-sensitization to textile dyes (12.6%) were frequently reported." ], "labels": [ "BACKGROUND", "OBJECTIVE", "METHODS", "RESULTS" ], "meshes": [ "Adult", "Allergens", "Coloring Agents", "Dermatitis, Allergic Contact", "Dermatitis, Occupational", "Europe", "Female", "Hair Dyes", "Humans", "Male", "Patch Tests", "Phenylenediamines", "Prevalence", "Scandinavian and Nordic Countries" ] }