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Retriever1600
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Natural Products for Pesticides Discovery: Structural Diversity Derivation and Biological Activities of Naphthoquinones Plumbagin and Juglone.
Plant diseases and insect pests seriously affect the yield and quality of crops and are difficult to control. Natural products are an important source for the discovery of new pesticides. In this work, naphthoquinones plumbagin and juglone were selected as parent structures, and a series of their derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their fungicidal activities, antiviral activities and insecticidal activities. We found that the naphthoquinones have broad-spectrum anti-fungal activities against 14 types of fungus for the first time. Some of the naphthoquinones showed higher fungicidal activities than pyrimethanil. Compounds I, I-1e and II-1a emerged as new anti-fungal lead compounds with excellent fungicidal activities (EC50 values: 11.35-17.70 µg/mL) against Cercospora, arachidicola Hori. Some compounds also displayed good to excellent antiviral activities against the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Compounds I-1f and II-1f showed similar level of anti-TMV activities with ribavirin, and could be used as new antiviral candidates. These compound also exhibited good to excellent insecticidal activities. Compounds II-1d and III-1c displayed a similar level of insecticidal activities with matrine, hexaflumuron and rotenone against Plutella xylostella. In current study, plumbagin and juglone were discovered as parent structures, which lays a foundation for their application in plant protection.
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Retriever1601
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Diagnostic performance of CT for the detection of transmural bowel necrosis in non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the diagnostic performance of CT for transmural necrosis (TN) in non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) according to the bowel segment involved.
METHODS
From January 2009 to December 2019, all patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and requiring laparotomy for NOMI were retrospectively studied. CT had to have been performed within 24 h prior to laparotomy and were reviewed by two abdominal radiologists, with a consensus reading in case of disagreement. A set of CT features of mesenteric ischemia were assessed, separating the stomach, jejunum, ileum, and right (RC) and left colon (LC). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify features associated with TN. Its influence on overall survival (OS) was assessed.
RESULTS
Among 145 patients, 95 (66%) had ≥ 1 bowel segment with TN, including 7 (5%), 31 (21%), 43 (29%), 45 (31%), and 52 (35%) in the stomach, jejunum, ileum, RC, and LC, respectively. Overall inter-reader agreement of CT features was significantly lower in the colon than in the small bowel (0.59 [0.52-0.65] vs 0.74 [0.70-0.77] respectively). The absence of bowel wall enhancement was the only CT feature associated with TN by multivariate analysis, whatever the bowel segment involved. Proximal TN was associated with poorer OS (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The absence of bowel wall enhancement remains the most consistent CT feature of transmural necrosis, whatever the bowel segment involved in NOMI. Inter-reader agreement of CT features is lower in the colon than in the small bowel. Proximal TN seems to be associated with poorer OS.
KEY POINTS
• The absence of bowel wall enhancement is the most consistent CT feature associated with transmural necrosis in NOMI, whatever is the bowel segment involved. • Inter-reader agreement is lower in the colon than in the small bowel in NOMI. • In NOMI, the more proximal the bowel necrosis, the worse the prognosis.
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Retriever1602
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Tunable Goos-Hänchen shift from graphene ribbon array.
The Goos-Hänchen (GH) shift of light beam incident on graphene ribbon array is investigated by Green's function method. Due to the resonance effects of leaky surface plasmons on ribbons, the zeroth-order reflection field shows both giant positive and negative GH shifts. By tuning the graphene Fermi level, we can control the shift conveniently. This effect is important to graphene-based metasurface and electro-optical devices.
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No pos
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Retriever1603
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Ovarian Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors: Reflections on a 40-Year Experience With a Fascinating Group of Tumors, Including Comments on the Seminal Observations of Robert E. Scully, MD.
CONTEXT.—
This year being the 60th anniversary of the publication of the excellent book Endocrine Pathology of the Ovary by John McLean Morris, MD, and Robert E. Scully, MD, the writer reflects on that work and in particular the remarkable contributions of its second author to our knowledge in this area.
OBJECTIVE.—
To review ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors.
DATA SOURCES.—
Literature and personal experience.
CONCLUSIONS.—
The essay begins with remarks on the oftentimes straightforward stromal tumors of the ovary because the commonest of them, the fibroma, dominates from the viewpoint of case numbers. Then, the sclerosing stromal tumor and the peculiar so-called luteinized thecomas of the type associated with sclerosing peritonitis are discussed in greater detail and their wide spectrum is illustrated. Brief mention is made of 2 rare neoplasms: the ovarian myxoma and signet-ring stromal tumor. Discussion then turns to the more recently recognized intriguing tumor tentatively designated microcystic stromal tumor and the commonest malignant tumor in this entire family, the so-called adult granulosa cell tumor, which despite its name may occasionally be seen in young individuals. The second variant of granulosa cell tumor-that which usually, but not always, occurs in the young-the so-called juvenile granulosa cell tumor, is then discussed. In the section of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors, particular attention is focused on unusual tumors with heterologous elements and the remarkable so-called retiform tumors, which have a predilection for the young, often have distinctive gross features, and exhibit slitlike spaces and papillae. The essay concludes with consideration of the sex cord tumor with annular tubules.
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Retriever1604
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Relationship Between Optimism and Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Angina Pectoris.
Greater optimism regarding recovery from chronic illness is associated with improved quality of life and clinical outcomes. We performed a post-hoc analysis on the association between optimism and outcomes in Ranolazine in Patients with Incomplete Revascularization after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (RIVER-PCI), a randomized trial in patients with chronic angina pectoris who had incomplete revascularization following percutaneous coronary intervention. At baseline, patients answered how much they agreed with the phrase, "I am optimistic about my future and returning to a normal lifestyle." We evaluated the association between baseline optimism and time to ischemia-driven hospitalization or revascularization using a Cox model, and the association between baseline optimism and change in frequency of angina pectoris using a mixed measures model. Of 2,389 patients, 782 (33.2%) were very optimistic ("strongly agree"), 1,000 (42.4%) were optimistic ("agree"), 451 (19.1%) were neutral ("undecided"), and 123 (5.2%) were not optimistic ("disagree" or "strongly disagree"). Very optimistic patients had a lower prevalence of co-morbidities and less severe angina at baseline than less optimistic patients. The rate of ischemia-driven revascularization or hospitalization was higher in neutral and not optimistic patients compared with very optimistic patients; this finding persisted after adjustment for co-morbidities and baseline angina frequency (hazard ratio 1.42, 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 1.77 for neutral vs very optimistic; hazard ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval 0.98 to 1.94 for not optimistic vs very optimistic). Neutral and not optimistic patients also had less improvement in angina than very optimistic patients. In conclusion, in patients with angina, those with more self-reported optimism had better health status outcomes. Whether structured interventions targeting optimism improve outcomes in these patients warrants further study.
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Retriever1605
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The calcium paradoxon of renin release: calcium suppresses renin exocytosis by inhibition of calcium-dependent adenylate cyclases AC5 and AC6.
An increase in the free intracellular calcium concentration promotes exocytosis in most secretory cells. In contrast, renin release from juxtaglomerular (JG) cells is suppressed by calcium. The further downstream signaling cascades of this so called "calcium paradoxon" of renin secretion have been incompletely defined. Because cAMP is the main intracellular stimulator of renin release, we hypothesized that calcium might exert its suppressive effects on renin secretion via the inhibition of the calcium-regulated adenylate cyclases AC5 and AC6. In primary cultures of JG cells, calcium-dependent inhibitors of renin release (angiotensin II, endothelin-1, thapsigargin) suppressed renin secretion, which was paralleled by decreases in intracellular cAMP levels [cAMP]. When [cAMP] was clamped by membrane permeable cAMP derivates, renin release was not suppressed by any of the calcium liberators. Additionally, both endothelin and thapsigargin suppressed cAMP levels and renin release in isoproterenol or forskolin-pretreated As4.1 cells, a renin-producing cell line that expresses AC5 and AC6. The calcium-dependent inhibition of intracellular cAMP levels and renin release was prevented by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of AC5 and/or AC6 expression, underlining the functional significance of these AC isoforms in renin-producing cells. Finally, in isolated perfused mouse kidneys, angiotensin II completely inhibited the stimulation of renin secretion induced by adenylate cyclase activation (isoproterenol) but not by membrane permeable cAMP analogs, supporting the conclusion that the suppressive effect of calcium liberators on renin release is mediated by inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity.
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No pos
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Retriever1606
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Structure-induced covalent bonding in Al-Li compounds.
Formation mechanism of a deep pseudogap in the electronic density of states of the Al-Li Bergman and Zintl compounds is discussed with an emphasis on the differences among isostructural Al-Mg compounds. Since Li scatters electrons very weakly in comparison with Al and Mg, the potential landscape for electrons in Al-Li compounds is not that of the entire close-packed structure but that of the Al sublattice, which is a rather porous network like the diamond lattice. The porous network structure realized by the chemical decoration of close-packed structures enhances the covalent nature of electronic structures, hence the deep pseudogap in the electronic density of states. A concept of structure-induced covalent bonding in a network realized by the chemical decoration of close-packed structures may provide a novel picture in the electronic structures of complex intermetallic compounds.
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No pos
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Retriever1607
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Observations on the ultrastructure and genesis of urinary calculi.
Conventional and scanning electron microscopy of calcigerous renal calculi discloses typical concentric laminations, radial striations and microspherules. Random axial distribution of oxalate crystals and their coating by electron-dense matrix fibers with a definite parallel orientation and cross-linkages are evident. The biochemical relationship of uromucoid to matrix substance A is described. It is suggested that renal sialidase may convert the urinary uromucoid to matrix substance A, whose apatite-covered fibers may be responsible for epitaxial nucleation of some crystal systems. Our studies indicate that the intimate apatite-matrix relationship occurs in the human nephron, probably as an intracellular phenomenon. Subsequent extrusion of these mineralized complexes into the lumen of the nephron (intranephronic calculosis) may, in some instances, represent the initial microanatomic stage of renal calculogenesis.
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Retriever1608
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Information for women: management of menopausal symptoms.
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To provide a written reference for women experiencing menopause-related symptoms.
DATA SOURCES
Professional and popular books and articles.
DATA SYNTHESIS
The process and symptoms of menopause are described in simple terms. Hormone replacement therapy is presented in terms of benefits and risks.
CONCLUSIONS
A booklet is an easy-to-produce, efficient strategy for addressing common patient concerns.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE
A written booklet can assist nurses in presenting the necessary information to women experiencing or at risk for experiencing symptoms of menopause and in counseling them about potential interventions.
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Retriever1609
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Corrigendum: Role of Hippocampal Lipocalin-2 in Experimental Diabetic Encephalopathy.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00025.].
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No pos
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Retriever1610
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Förster resonance energy transfer mediated enhancement of the fluorescence lifetime of organic fluorophores to the millisecond range by coupling to Mn-doped CdS/ZnS quantum dots.
Manganese-doped CdS/ZnS quantum dots have been used as energy donors in a Förster-like resonance energy transfer (FRET) process to enhance the effective lifetime of organic fluorophores. It was possible to tune the effective lifetime of the fluorophores by about six orders of magnitude from the nanosecond (ns) up to the millisecond (ms) region. Undoped and Mn-doped CdS/ZnS quantum dots functionalized with different dye molecules were selected as a model system for investigating the multiple energy transfer process and the specific interaction between Mn ions and the attached dye molecules. While the lifetime of the free dye molecules was about 5 ns, their linking to undoped CdS/ZnS quantum dots led to a long effective lifetime of about 150 ns, following a non-exponential transient. Manganese-doped core-shell quantum dots further enhanced the long-lasting decay time of the dye to several ms. This opens up a pathway to analyse different fluorophores in the time domain with equal spectral emissions. Such lifetime multiplexing would be an interesting alternative to the commonly used spectral multiplexing in fluorescence detection schemes.
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Retriever1611
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Pedigree-free estimates of heritability in the wild: promising prospects for selfing populations.
Estimating the genetic variance available for traits informs us about a population's ability to evolve in response to novel selective challenges. In selfing species, theory predicts a loss of genetic diversity that could lead to an evolutionary dead-end, but empirical support remains scarce. Genetic variability in a trait is estimated by correlating the phenotypic resemblance with the proportion of the genome that two relatives share identical by descent ('realized relatedness'). The latter is traditionally predicted from pedigrees (Φ A : expected value) but can also be estimated using molecular markers (average number of alleles shared). Nevertheless, evolutionary biologists, unlike animal breeders, remain cautious about using marker-based relatedness coefficients to study complex phenotypic traits in populations. In this paper, we review published results comparing five different pedigree-free methods and use simulations to test individual-based models (hereafter called animal models) using marker-based relatedness coefficients, with a special focus on the influence of mating systems. Our literature review confirms that Ritland's regression method is unreliable, but suggests that animal models with marker-based estimates of relatedness and genomic selection are promising and that more testing is required. Our simulations show that using molecular markers instead of pedigrees in animal models seriously worsens the estimation of heritability in outcrossing populations, unless a very large number of loci is available. In selfing populations the results are less biased. More generally, populations with high identity disequilibrium (consanguineous or bottlenecked populations) could be propitious for using marker-based animal models, but are also more likely to deviate from the standard assumptions of quantitative genetics models (non-additive variance).
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Retriever1612
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Does local anaesthetic affect the success rate of intravenous cannulation?
We aimed to assess whether subcutaneous lignocaine affects the success rate of intravenous cannulation using a randomized clinical trial. Pre-prepared cannulation packs, 50% containing local anaesthetic, were used to cannulate consecutive consenting patients presenting to the Emergency Department who required cannulation as part of their routine treatment. Doctors with less than four years postgraduate experience randomly selected a pack to perform cannulation and completed a data collection form after each cannulation. Eighty-seven patients received lignocaine with 73 (83.9%) successfully cannulated on the first attempt, 79 patients were cannulated without lignocaine with 64 (81%) successfully cannulated on the first attempt. Subcutaneous lignocaine did not significantly affect the success rate of intravenous cannulation on the first attempt (P = 0.5). Subcutaneous lignocaine has been shown to significantly reduce the pain of intravenous cannulation. This study supports the use of local anaesthesia for all routine venous cannulation.
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Retriever1613
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Failure to detect nucleic acid homology between some non-A, non-B viruses and hepatitis B virus DNA.
Some studies suggest that there is antigenic and nucleic acid homology of one type of non-A, non-B hepatitis virus with hepatitis B viral (HBV) proteins and DNA. Using molecular hybridization under high and low stringency conditions with high specific activity 32P-HBV DNA as a probe, serum and liver samples from patients and nonhuman primates infected with non-A, non-B hepatitis were examined. Our results provide no evidence of significant homology between the DNA extracted from serum and liver of patients and nonhuman primates infected with one type of non-A, non-B hepatitis and HBV DNA.
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Retriever1614
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The environmental condition of an estuarine ecosystem disturbed by pesticides.
Knowledge regarding the concentration levels resulting from the use of agricultural pesticides may indicate the nature of the controls necessary to reduce environmental and human health risks to an acceptable level. Therefore, the main goal of the present work was to assess the spatial and temporal occurrence of 35 pesticides in the River Sado estuary (Portugal) in 2017 and evaluate its environmental condition, as data for estuarine ecosystems is scarce. Since pesticides are very susceptible to matrix effects promoted by environmental samples, to attain the main goal, we developed a fast and almost solvent-free environmentally friendly method with a good performance for both estuarine surface water and sediment samples. Quantified residues were determined mostly during summer, in line with the pesticide application period. Five herbicides (alachlor, bentazon, metobromuron, metribuzin and triclopyr) were measured in the water before and after the production season, suggesting a long-term aquatic exposure. Sediment samples were less contaminated, since a lower number of quantified pesticides were found in the study area, in lower frequencies and lower concentrations. No potential high adverse effects of the use of agricultural pesticides were expected on the aquatic organisms of the Sado estuary, even considering the potential combination effect of pesticide mixtures.
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Retriever1615
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Birth signalling hormones and the developmental consequences of caesarean delivery.
Rates of delivery by caesarean section (CS) are increasing around the globe and, although several epidemiological associations have already been observed between CS and health outcomes in later life, more are sure to be discovered as this practice continues to gain popularity. The components of vaginal delivery that protect offspring from the negative consequences of CS delivery in later life are currently unknown, although much attention to date has focused on differences in microbial colonisation. Here, we present the case that differing hormonal experiences at birth may also contribute to the neurodevelopmental consequences of CS delivery. Levels of each of the 'birth signalling hormones' (oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and the glucocorticoids) are lower following CS compared to vaginal delivery, and there is substantial evidence for each that manipulations in early life results in long-term neurodevelopmental consequences. We draw from the research traditions of neuroendocrinology and developmental psychobiology to suggest that the perinatal period is a sensitive period, during which hormones achieve organisational effects. Furthermore, there is much to be learned from research on developmental programming by early-life stress that may inform research on CS, as a result of shared neuroendocrine mechanisms at work. We compare and contrast the effects of early-life stress with those of CS delivery and propose new avenues of research based on the links between the two bodies of literature. The research conducted to date suggests that the differences in hormone signalling seen in CS neonates may produce long-term neurodevelopmental consequences.
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Retriever1616
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Biochemical composition of fluids for amnioinfusion during fetoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate which of the commercially available solutions is best suited for amnioinfusion during fetoscopy, based on resemblance with the biochemical properties of amniotic fluid.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Amniotic fluid samples from 10 pregnancies were studied. Specimens were obtained from 5 pathologic pregnancies (of which 3 were complicated by polyhydramnios) and 5 uncomplicated pregnancies. The concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, calcium, glucose, osmolality, pH, total protein content and albumin were determined in each sample. A literature search (PubMed, Embase) was performed to identify commercially available fluids used for amnioinfusion in clinical practice. The composition of these infusion solutions was compared to the amniotic fluid samples mentioned above.
RESULTS
We identified two different electrolyte solutions used in clinical practice for amnioinfusion. We identified four additional commercially available solutions that could potentially be used for amnioinfusion. Most of these infusion solutions differ considerably from midtrimester amniotic fluid samples both in electrolyte composition and pH, with the most striking difference in the latter.
CONCLUSION
Lactated Ringer's solution approximates amniotic fluid the closest for both electrolyte composition and pH. This infusion solution seems to be the most suitable choice for amnioinfusion during fetoscopy.
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Retriever1617
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Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in patients with macular oedema due to branch retinal vein occlusion: a pilot study.
PURPOSE
To evaluate treatment of macular oedema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide.
METHODS
In a prospective case series, nine patients with macular oedema due to BRVO received an intravitreal injection of 4 mg triamcinolone acetonide. Examination included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for distance and reading, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, fluorescein angiography and high resolution imaging by optical coherence tomography, preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 and 6 months postoperatively.
RESULTS
Preoperative mean BCVAs were 1.3 +/- 0.8 for distance vision, and 1.1 +/- 0.3 for reading acuity, respectively. A significant improvement in reading acuity was observed until 1 month (0.7 +/- 0.4, p = 0.02). No significant reduction in mean macular thickness was observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide led to a significant improvement in mean VA in patients with macular oedema due to BRVO. However, the significant effect was not permanent and persisted for only 1 month.
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Retriever1618
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Researches on the biology of Himalayan populations.
This long term project is aimed to study the following points: 1. Evolutionary adaptation to high altitude. 2. Population genetics of high altitude populations and 3. Mechanisms of resistance to malaria in some of these. The study suggests that the Sherpa of Nepal and the Quechua of Peru, living at altitude about 4000m, may have adapted to low oxygen pressure. The results of biochemical marker studies show that the Himalayan populations may remain genetically separated even when sharing the same village. Studies relating to resistance to falciparum malaria indicate that the immunity, conferred on the Tharu against malaria, may not involve erythrocytes exclusively.
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No pos
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Retriever1619
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Molten salts and energy related materials.
Molten salts have been known for centuries and have been used for the extraction of aluminium for over one hundred years and as high temperature fluxes in metal processing. This and other molten salt routes have gradually become more energy efficient and less polluting, but there have been few major breakthroughs. This paper will explore some recent innovations that could lead to substantial reductions in the energy consumed in metal production and in carbon dioxide production. Another way that molten salts can contribute to an energy efficient world is by creating better high temperature fuel cells and novel high temperature batteries, or by acting as the medium that can create novel materials that can find applications in high energy batteries and other energy saving devices, such as capacitors. Carbonate melts can be used to absorb carbon dioxide, which can be converted into C, CO and carbon nanoparticles. Molten salts can also be used to create black silicon that can absorb more sunlight over a wider range of wavelengths. Overall, there are many opportunities to explore for molten salts to play in an efficient, low carbon world.
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Retriever1620
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Predictors of Cesarean Delivery in Pregnant Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
AIM
Pregnant women with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) are likelier to undergo Cesarean delivery than women without IBD. Active perianal disease is the only IBD-related indication for Cesarean delivery. We sought to identify clinical factors contributing to these high rates.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 369 pregnant women with IBD who delivered at our institution between 2006 and 2014. We used logistic regression to identify clinical predictors of Cesarean delivery.
RESULTS
The Cesarean delivery rate among women with CD and UC were 52% and 48%, respectively. Thirty of Cesarean deliveries (54%) in CD and UC patients were performed emergently, respectively. Among those with CD, the strongest predictors of Cesarean delivery were history of perianal disease (adjusted odds ratio [aOR), 13.6; 95% CI: 3.87-47.5) and prior Cesarean delivery (aOR, 22.2; 95% CI: 6.16-80.2). Among women who underwent Cesarean delivery because of perianal disease, only 42% had active perianal symptoms during pregnancy. In UC patients, history of colectomy was a predictor of Cesarean delivery (aOR, 5.08; 95% CI: 1.95-13.2). Cesarean delivery increased the postpartum length of stay by 1.1 days on average for both CD and UC patients, reflecting a 57% and 90% increase over vaginal delivery after adjusting for confounders.
CONCLUSIONS
The decision to perform Cesarean delivery for women with IBD is complex involving IBD-related and obstetric factors and is ideally made by a multidisciplinary team that includes input from a gastroenterologist and obstetrician.
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No pos
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Retriever1621
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Increasing generosity by disrupting prefrontal cortex.
Recent research suggests that prosocial outcomes in sharing games arise from prefrontal control of self-maximizing impulses. We used continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) to disrupt the functioning of two prefrontal areas, the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC). We used cTBS in the right MT/V5, as a control area. We then tested subjects' prosocial inclinations with an unsupervised Dictator Game in which they allocated real money anonymously between themselves and low and high socioeconomic status (SES) players. cTBS over the two prefrontal sites made subjects more generous compared to MT/V5. More specifically, cTBS over DLPFC increased offers to high-SES players, while cTBS over DMPFC caused increased offers to low-SES players. These data, the first to demonstrate an effect of disruptive neuromodulation on costly sharing, suggest that DLPFC and MPFC exert inhibitory control over prosocial inclinations during costly sharing, though they may do so in different ways. DLPFC may implement contextual control, while DMPFC may implement a tonic form of control. This study demonstrates that humans' prepotent inclination is toward prosocial outcomes when cognitive control is reduced, even when prosocial decisions carry no strategic benefit and concerns for reputation are minimized.
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Retriever1622
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Identification of RAD51-BRCA2 Inhibitors Using N-Acylhydrazone-Based Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry.
RAD51 is an ATP-dependent recombinase, recruited by BRCA2 to mediate DNA double-strand breaks repair through homologous recombination and represents an attractive cancer drug target. Herein, we applied for the first-time protein-templated dynamic combinatorial chemistry on RAD51 as a hit identification strategy. Upon design of N-acylhydrazone-based dynamic combinatorial libraries, RAD51 showed a clear templating effect, amplifying 19 N-acylhydrazones. Screening against the RAD51-BRCA2 protein-protein interaction via ELISA assay afforded 10 inhibitors in the micromolar range. Further 19F NMR experiments revealed that 7 could bind RAD51 and be displaced by BRC4, suggesting an interaction in the same binding pocket of BRCA2. These results proved not only that ptDCC could be successfully applied on full-length oligomeric RAD51, but also that it could address the need of alternative strategies toward the identification of small-molecule PPI inhibitors.
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Retriever1623
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Polariton nanophotonics using phase-change materials.
Polaritons formed by the coupling of light and material excitations enable light-matter interactions at the nanoscale beyond what is currently possible with conventional optics. However, novel techniques are required to control the propagation of polaritons at the nanoscale and to implement the first practical devices. Here we report the experimental realization of polariton refractive and meta-optics in the mid-infrared by exploiting the properties of low-loss phonon polaritons in isotopically pure hexagonal boron nitride interacting with the surrounding dielectric environment comprising the low-loss phase change material Ge3Sb2Te6. We demonstrate rewritable waveguides, refractive optical elements such as lenses, prisms, and metalenses, which allow for polariton wavefront engineering and sub-wavelength focusing. This method will enable the realization of programmable miniaturized integrated optoelectronic devices and on-demand biosensors based on high quality phonon resonators.
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Retriever1624
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Veterinary medicines update.
The following information has been produced for Veterinary Record by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to provide an update for veterinary surgeons on recent changes to marketing authorisations for veterinary medicines in the UK and on other relevant issues.
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Retriever1625
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The application of transbronchial cryobiopsy in interstitial lung disease: a prospective, multicenter, real-world study.
BACKGROUND
Transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBCB) has been widely used to diagnose interstitial lung disease (ILD). Existing reports on TBCB in ILD are mostly single-center prospective or retrospective studies but rarely multicenter prospective real-world studies. We explored the diagnostic efficiency and safety of TBCB in ILD in a real world setting.
METHODS
A prospective, multicenter, real-world study was conducted to analyze the data of patients with unclarified ILD who underwent TBCB in 20 hospitals in China from October 2018 to October 2019. The results of the pathological and multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) diagnosis and complications related to TBCB were then analyzed.
RESULTS
A total of 373 patients were enrolled in this study, including 194 males and 179 females, with an average age of 52.6±12.4 years. None of the patients had severe hemorrhaging, and the incidence of pneumothorax was 4.8%. The proportions of definitive, possible, and unclassified pathological diagnoses were 62.5%, 5.6%, and 31.9%, respectively. The overall diagnostic yield of MDD was 63.5%. There were 237 patients with a definitive diagnosis of MDD and 136 patients with an unclarified MDD diagnosis. The cooling gas pressure, freezing durations, number of specimens, maximum lengths of specimens, and specimen sizes varied significantly between the definitive and unclarified MDD diagnoses.
CONCLUSIONS
In China, the application of TBCB in ILD is generally safe, and its diagnostic efficiency is acceptable. Using a 1.9-mm cryoprobe to collect five samples would achieve a better positive diagnostic rate for TBCB in ILD, without a significant increase in complication risk.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov; date of registration: 09/25/2018; registration number: NCT03704233; URL: clinicaltrials.gov.
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Retriever1626
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[Disruptive behaviour problems in childhood: studies on phenotypic heterogeneity and neurobiology from the Generation R Study].
Disruptive behaviour problems in childhood are strongly predictive of physical and mental health problems and criminality. A better understanding of the development of children with disruptive behaviour problems will help improve our understanding of later severe mental illnesses.<br/> AIM: To gain insights into the neurodevelopment of children with disruptive behaviour problems. Here, we focused on their phenotypic heterogeneity and the underlying neurobiological substrates of disruptive behaviour problems.<br/> METHOD: All studies described in the discussed thesis were embedded in the Generation R Study, a prospective population-based birth cohort from Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Data were, amongst others, collected through multi-informant questionnaires and neuroimaging.<br/> RESULTS: Empirically obtained dimensions of disruptive behaviour problems included oppositional/disobedient behaviour, physical aggression, irritability, and delinquent behaviour. Less white matter microstructure was related to more delinquent behaviour, taking into account the multi-dimensionality of disruptive behaviour problems. Callous traits were characterised by widespread macro- and microstructural differences across the brain.<br/> CONCLUSION: These studies have shown that disruptive behaviour problems in childhood can be best conceptualized as a complex multi-dimensional phenotype. Taking into account this multi-dimensional heterogeneity has proven beneficial for the finding of underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Considering disruptive behaviour problems are predictive of later severe mental disorders, it is paramount to acknowledge the neurodevelopmental perspective on behaviour problems.
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No pos
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Retriever1627
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Delayed recovery of serum immunoglobulin G is a poor prognostic marker in patients with follicular lymphoma treated with rituximab maintenance.
Clinical trials involving various treatment schedules for rituximab maintenance have been conducted for patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) and have not confirmed their impact on serum immunoglobulin (sIg) levels until the completion of maintenance. However, the long-term use of rituximab is a concern because of circulating plasma cell-depletion risk, suggesting that the mechanism of change in sIg levels after RM has not been determined. Additionally, the relationship between host humoral immunity and the prognosis of patients with B cell malignancies has not been determined. We retrospectively investigated data from 213 patients with FL from a single institute who achieved at least a partial response with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone with or without doxorubicin. Of these, 166 patients underwent RM with a median period of 1.6 years. A significantly delayed recovery of sIgG levels was observed in the maintenance group until 3 years after RM in comparison to the observation group. A multivariate analysis showed that a sIgG level of < 718 mg/dl 1 year after RM was an independent predictor for poor progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio, 2.3; P = 0.04). Therefore, the sIgG levels scarcely recovered and were significantly delayed after RM, leading to shorter PFS in patients with FL.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1628
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Efficient Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Unsaturated Acids and Carbon Dioxide and their Application in the Synthesis of Biobased Polyurethanes.
Bio-derived furan- and diacid-derived cyclic carbonates have been synthesized in high yields from terminal epoxides and CO2 . Furthermore, four highly substituted terpene-derived cyclic carbonates were isolated in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivity in some cases. Eleven new cyclic carbonates derived from 10-undecenoic acid under mild reaction conditions were prepared, providing the corresponding carbonate products in excellent yields. The catalyst system also performed the conversion of an epoxidized fatty acid n-pentyl ester into a cyclic carbonate under relatively mild reaction conditions (80 °C, 20 bar, 24 h). This bis(cyclic carbonate) was obtained in high yields and with different cis/trans ratios depending on the co-catalyst used. An allyl alcohol by-product was only observed as a minor product when bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride was used as co-catalyst. Finally, two cyclic carbonates were used as building blocks for the preparation of non-isocyanate poly(hydroxy)urethanes by reaction with 1,4-diaminobutane.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1629
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First asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-antofine by using an enantioselective catalytic phase transfer alkylation.
[structure: see text] The first asymmetric total synthesis of a potential antitumor phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid, (-)-antofine, is described. An important feature of this synthesis is the creation of a stereogenic center by using enantioselective catalytic phase transfer alkylation, affording an unnatural alpha-amino acid derivative, together with a ring closing metathesis for pyrrolidine ring construction.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1630
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Evaluation of electrode-sample contact impedance under different curing humidity conditions during measurement of AC impedance of cement-based materials.
In this study, a simple method was proposed to calculate electrode-sample contact impedance in the cases of two-point and four-point measurements. The results indicated that when using the saturated calcium hydroxide solution (SCH) as conductive medium, the contact impedance in the four-point measurement is negligible for the impedance range of cement-based materials. The SCH can be used as a reference for correction of the contact impedance. A reasonable combination of curing humidity and different conductive media is recommended for the two-point measurement, which is suitable for testing the ACIS of cement-based materials. In a case of contact impedance not being precisely known, it is highly recommended that a four-point measurement with two different ratios of the length of the sample and the center spacing of the voltage electrodes (L/a) should be conducted to evaluate the effect of the contact impedance following the procedure proposed in this study.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1631
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Identification and Characterization of Fringilla coelebs Papillomavirus 1 (FcPV1) in Free-living and Captive Birds in Italy.
A papillomavirus (PV) was identified by negative-staining electron microscopy in skin lesions of two bird species (Fringillidae) in Italy. Genetic analyses revealed an FcPV1 with a low genetic variability in the E6, E7, E1, E2, and L1 genes and the long control region when compared to the FcPV1 reference strain.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1632
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Chlorinated Polyfluoroalkyl Ether Sulfonic Acids in Marine Organisms from Bohai Sea, China: Occurrence, Temporal Variations, and Trophic Transfer Behavior.
F-53B, the commercial product of chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acids (Cl-PFESAs), has been used in Chinese chrome plating industry for 30 years, and was recently identified in the environment, which caused great concerns. So far, limited investigations have been performed on their environmental occurrence, fate and impact. In this study, we demonstrated the wide occurrence of Cl-PFESAs and their trophic transfer behavior in marine organisms from Chinese Bohai Sea. 6:2 Cl-PFESA (<0.016-0.575 ng/g wet weight) was the dominant congener, and 8:2 Cl-PFESA (<0.022-0.040 ng/g) was occasionally detected. Compared to other perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) of concern, the levels of Cl-PFESAs were relatively lower in marine organisms. Based on the comparative analysis of Cl-PFESA contamination in mollusk samples collected in 2010-2014, both the concentrations and detection frequencies of Cl-PFESAs tended to increase in this region. And this kind of chemicals were more vulnerable to be accumulated in marine organisms at relatively higher trophic levels. Similar to perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and the long chain perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs), 6:2 Cl-PFESA could be magnified along the food chain. Accordingly, the potential threat might be posed to the wildlife and human beings due to unintended exposure to Cl-PFESAs.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1633
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Chinese herbal medicine for subfertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common reproductive endocrinology abnormalities, affecting 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age. Western medicines, such as oral contraceptives and insulin sensitizers, have been widely used to improve the symptoms and signs for PCOS. Recently, many studies have been published considering Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) as an alternative treatment for women with PCOS.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicinal herbs for subfertile women with PCOS.
SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched the following databases (from inception to March 2010): Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Specialised Register (MDSG), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine (AMED), PsycINFO, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, Wanfang. In addition, all reference lists of included trials were searched and experts in the field were contacted to locate trials.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomized controlled trials (RCT) considering the use of CHM for the treatment of subfertile women with PCOS.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently screened appropriate trials for inclusion, assessed methodological quality, and extracted data. We contacted primary authors for additional information. Meta-analysis was conducted. Odds ratio (OR) was used for reporting dichotomous data with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
MAIN RESULTS
Four RCTs involving 344 participants were included. The methodological risk of bias of included studies was poor. Different interventions were used in these four RCTs.There was evidence of statistically significant difference seen improving pregnancy rate (per woman) between CHM plus clomiphene and clomiphene (OR 2.97, 95%CI 1.71 to 5.17). However, there was no statistically significant difference seen in the other comparison groups for improving pregnancy rate (per woman).There was no evidence of statistically significant difference in improving ovulation rate (per woman) between CHM and clomiphene (OR 1.42, 95%CI 0.19 to 10.49), between CHM plus laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) and LOD (OR 2.43, 95%CI 0.39 to 15.08).There were not statistically significant difference between CHM plus follicle aspiration, ovulation induction and follicle aspiration plus ovulation induction for adverse events including LUFS, OHSS and multiple pregnancy.Live birth rate was not reported by any studies.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is limited evidence that the addition of CHM to clomiphene is associated with improved clinical pregnancy outcomes and no other evidence of any other effect. The methodology of RCTs was not adequately reported by primary studies.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1634
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Developing a Platform for Learning from Mistakes: changing the culture of patient safety amongst junior doctors.
Junior doctors commonly make mistakes which may compromise patient safety. Despite the recent push by the NHS to encourage a "no blame" culture, mistakes are still viewed as shameful, embarrassing and demoralising events. The current model for learning from mistakes means that junior doctors only learn from their own errors. A survey was designed by the author for all the Foundation Year 1 doctors (FY1s) at Yeovil District Hospital to understand better the culture surrounding mistakes, and the types of mistakes that were being made. Using the results of the survey and the support of senior staff, a "Near misses" session has been introduced for FY1s once a month at which mistakes that have been made are discussed, with a consultant present to facilitate the proceedings. The aims of these sessions are to promote a culture of no blame, feedback information to clinical governance, and share learning experiences. 100% of the FY1s had made a mistake that could compromise patient safety. 63% discussed their mistakes with colleagues, 44% with seniors, and only 13% with their educational supervisor. Barriers to discussing mistakes included shame, embarrassment, fear of judgement, and unapproachable seniors. 94% thought a "Near misses" session would be useful. After the third session 100% of the FY1s agreed that the sessions were useful; 53% had changed their practice as a result of something they learned at the sessions. After discussing errors as a group we have worked with the clinical governance department, enacting strategies to avoid repetition of mistakes. Feedback from the junior doctors has been overwhelmingly positive and we have found these sessions to be a simple, inexpensive, and popular solution to cultural change in our organisation.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1635
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Patients' Impression of Health Care Providers' Attire in the Emergency Department.
Background The level of patient satisfaction and, ultimately, the assessment of the quality of care are greatly influenced by physicians' capacity to leave a positive impression on patients during provider-patient interactions. The way doctors dress affects how people view their care. There have been few studies on the impact of doctors' attire on patient confidence and trust. The objective of this study is to assess patients' preferences concerning specific cultural attire and its influence on patients' trust, compliance, and perceptions of the quality of care in the emergency department. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed using the survey methodology for patients in emergency departments. Participants completed a written survey after reviewing doctors' portraits in different dress styles. Respondents were asked questions about the importance of the health service providers' attire in the emergency department on the patient's perception. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 (SPSS; IBM Inc., Armonk, New York) was used to perform the analysis after the data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2016 (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington). The categorical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared test to explore for relationships between the results and various variables. Result A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 395 patients; two responses were excluded for lack of completeness of the answers in it: 33.8%) were males (66.2%) were females (56.7%) were married (73.8%) completed university education (44.8%) were employed and (74.5%) with excellent health conditions. The questionnaire was devoted to the local setting, with pictures of the health care provider (male and female), in different types of doctor's attire included. Respondents overwhelmingly prefer male emergency physicians to dress in medical scrub (50%, p=.0001) and prefer female emergency physicians to dress in a medical scrub with a white coat (68.7%, p=.0001). Conclusion First impressions based on a physician's appearance serve as the foundation for assumptions about trust, confidence, and competency, particularly in circumstances when patients or family members do not already have a relationship with the provider.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1636
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Ethanol-induced steatosis involves impairment of lipophagy, associated with reduced Dynamin2 activity.
BACKGROUND
Lipid droplets (LDs), the organelles central to alcoholic steatosis, are broken down by lipophagy, a specialized form of autophagy. Here, we hypothesize that ethanol administration retards lipophagy by down-regulating Dynamin 2 (Dyn2), a protein that facilitates lysosome re-formation, contributing to hepatocellular steatosis.
METHODS
Primary hepatocytes were isolated from male Wistar rats fed Lieber-DeCarli control or EtOH liquid diets for 6-8 wk. Hepatocytes were incubated in complete medium (fed) or nutrient-free medium (fasting) with or without the Dyn2 inhibitor Dynasore or the Src inhibitor SU6656. Phosphorylated (active) forms of Src and Dyn2, and markers of autophagy were quantified by Western Blot. Co-localization of LDs-with autophagic machinery was determined by confocal microscopy.
RESULTS
In hepatocytes from pair-fed rats, LD breakdown was accelerated during fasting, as judged by smaller LDs and lower TG content when compared to hepatocytes in complete media. Fasting-induced TG loss in control hepatocytes was significantly blocked by either SU6656 or Dynasore. Compared to controls, hepatocytes from EtOH-fed rats had 66% and 40% lower content of pSrc and pDyn2, respectively, coupled with lower rate of fasting-induced TG loss. This slower rate of fasting-induced TG loss was blocked in cells co-incubated with Dynasore. Microscopic examination of EtOH-fed rat hepatocytes revealed increased co-localization of the autophagosome marker LC3 on LDs with a concomitant decrease in lysosome marker LAMP1. Whole livers and LD fractions of EtOH-fed rats exhibited simultaneous increase in LC3II and p62 over that of controls, indicating a block in lipophagy.
CONCLUSION
Chronic ethanol administration slowed the rate of hepatocyte lipophagy, owing in part to lower levels of phosphorylated Src kinase available to activate its substrate, Dyn2, thereby causing depletion of lysosomes for LD breakdown.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1637
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Transport to the cell surface of a peptide sequence attached to the truncated C terminus of an N-terminally anchored integral membrane protein.
Attempts to construct hybrid proteins that are transported to the plasma membrane are frequently unsuccessful because of perturbations in polypeptide folding. In seeking to minimize this problem, we have used the less common type of integral membrane protein, which has an uncleaved signal-anchor domain and an extracellular carboxyl portion, to transport a peptide sequence of interest to the cell surface. A set of plasmids was constructed that contained the gene encoding respiratory syncytial virus glycoprotein G (RSVG) interrupted immediately after one of several proline codons by a synthetic sequence containing unique restriction endonuclease sites and a stop codon. The shortened RSVG gene was flanked by vaccinia virus DNA to permit cloning and expression in a vaccinia virus vector. An open reading frame encoding four copies of the immunodominant repeating epitope of the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum was inserted into the tails of the truncated RSVG genes. Recombinant vaccinia viruses were isolated and shown to express hybrid proteins that reacted with a monoclonal antibody directed to the repeating circumsporozoite epitope. Moreover, immunofluorescence studies indicated that the peptide was on the external cell surface and available to react with antibodies. Expression of the hybrid protein also occurred in rabbits inoculated with the live recombinant vaccinia virus, as demonstrated by the generation of antibodies that bound to P. falciparum sporozoites in vitro.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1638
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Induction of delayed hypersensitivity reactions in cancer patients by cholesterol-hemisuccinate-treated autologous tumor cells.
Cholesterol-hemisuccinate (CHS) incorporated into tumor cells increases membrane lipid microviscosity and confers enhanced immunogenicity, which can be manifested by delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions. Skin testing was performed in 30 patients with various advanced malignant tumors. Patients were given intradermal injections of 10(6) autologous, irradiated, CHS-treated tumor cells. Control injections consisted of untreated irradiated tumor cells, CHS-treated autologous normal peripheral lymphocytes, or CHS-treated autologous normal tissues. For all patients tested, strongly positive skin reactions were observed when CHS-treated tumor cells were used. Untreated irradiated cells gave negative or very weakly positive reactions. In all cases, normal CHS-treated cells did not elicit any observable skin reactions. CHS-treated cells may have unmasked tumor-associated antigens to which patients may elicit immunologic responses.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1639
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Direct cell mediated lympholysis. A test of allograft-rejection in human kidney recipients.
In kidney transplanted patients a clear coincidence was observed between clinical signs of allograft rejection and the presence in the peripheral blood of killer cells able to lyse either PHA lymphoblasts from the actual donor or selected unrelated individuals. In recipients with non-immunological complications such as leakage on the graft ureter or primary anuria caused by renal ischaemia, no cellular cytotoxicity against specific or selected target cells was observed. The specificity of this Cell Mediated Lympholysis in two of the cases reported could not be explained by the serologically detectable HL-A antigens, indicating the existence of other determinants of importance for the killing capability of in vivo produced effector cells.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1640
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Prehospital Care (EMS) in Yemen: Brief Report.
OBJECTIVE
A well-organized emergency medical system with adequate prehospital care can save lives and prevent disability. In Yemen, there are no data available about its prehospital care system. This qualitative, cross-sectional study aims to assess the status of prehospital care or emergency medical services in Yemen.
METHODS
Data were collected from January to February 2019 through interviews and a questionnaire obtained from the Prehospital Trauma Care Systems Guideline published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Respondents were key representatives of the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP), Civil Defense/Police departments, and Yemeni Red Crescent Association (YRCA).
RESULTS
Overall, based on 153 responses, it was found that, despite the availability of some formal services, the prehospital care system in Yemen is uncoordinated, fragmented, and insufficient.
CONCLUSIONS
Given the importance of regulation, legislation, and funding support in the establishment of an effective prehospital care system, these areas merit the greatest attention and efforts. Future policies and strategies should also strive to improve communication and coordination between existing prehospital care providers, to establish a lead agency, and to increase accessibility to training.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1641
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Characterization of Human gamma-glutamyl hydrolase in solution demonstrates that the enzyme is a non-dissociating homodimer.
Human gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (hGH) is a key enzyme in the metabolism of folic acid and in the pharmacology of many antifolate drugs. hGH catalyzes removal of the poly-gamma-glutamate chains of intracellular folic acid and antifolates. hGH crystallized as a homodimer with two putative active sites. However, the quaternary structure and the number of species of the enzyme in solution have not been determined. hGH has now been characterized using analytical ultracentrifugation and dynamic light scattering. HisTag fusion proteins of wild-type hGH, rat GH, and hGH expressed as a glycosylated protein were studied. Analyses of HisTag wild-type hGH were conducted over a range of protein concentrations (1.4-200 microM), ionic strengths (0-1 M NaCl), and pH (4.5-8.5). A single species with a molecular mass consistent with a homodimer was observed. Glycosylated hGH and HisTag rat gamma-glutamyl hydrolase also formed very stable homodimers. The lack of dissociation of the dimer, the large monomer-monomer interface, and the presence of catalytically essential Tyr-36 in the homodimer interface sequences suggest that homodimer formation is required for the hGH monomer to fold into an active conformation. The conservation of hGH monomer-monomer interface sequences in other mammalian and plant gamma-glutamyl hydrolase molecules suggests that they also exist as stable homodimers.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1642
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Nitrogen transformations and retention in planted and artificially aerated constructed wetlands.
Nitrogen (N) processing in constructed wetlands (CWs) is often variable, and the contribution to N loss and retention by various pathways (nitrification/denitrification, plant uptake and sediment storage) remains unclear. We studied the seasonal variation of the effects of artificial aeration and three different macrophyte species (Phragmites australis, Typha angustifolia and Phalaris arundinacea) on N processing (removal rates, transformations and export) using experimental CW mesocosms. Removal of total nitrogen (TN) was higher in summer and in planted and aerated units, with the highest mean removal in units planted with T. angustifolia. Export of ammonium (NH(4)(+)), a proxy for nitrification limitation, was higher in winter, and in unplanted and non-aerated units. Planted and aerated units had the highest export of oxidized nitrogen (NO(y)), a proxy for reduced denitrification. Redox potential, evapotranspiration (ETP) rates and hydraulic retention times (HRT) were all predictors of TN, NH(4)(+) and NO(y) export, and significantly affected by plants. Denitrification was the main N sink in most treatments accounting for 47-62% of TN removal, while sediment storage was dominant in unplanted non-aerated units and units planted with P. arundinacea. Plant uptake accounted for less than 20% of the removal. Uncertainties about the long-term fate of the N stored in sediments suggest that the fraction attributed to denitrification losses could be underestimated in this study.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1643
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[Pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with oral cancer].
During an 11 year period, from 1976 to 1986, 33 (10.1%) out of 328 patients with oral cancer treated at our clinic had either a scarred pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) or active TB. Four of these 33 patients developed active TB. In two of these cases TB occurred before the therapy of oral cancer commenced and in the other two, after the operation for oral cancer. In one of the 4 cases, a recrudescence of the TB was suspected. Five cases that were suspected of having TB on analysis of their chest X-rays were administered prophylactic anti-tuberculous chemotherapy, after which no recrudescence or onset of TB.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1644
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A 55-Day-Old Female Infant Infected With 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease: Presenting With Pneumonia, Liver Injury, and Heart Damage.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies on the pneumonia outbreak caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were mainly based on information from adult populations. Limited data are available for children with COVID-19, especially for infected infants.
METHODS
We report a 55-day-old case with COVID-19 confirmed in China and describe the identification, diagnosis, clinical course, and treatment of the patient, including the disease progression from day 7 to day 11 of illness.
RESULTS
This case highlights that children with COVID-19 can also present with multiple organ damage and rapid disease changes.
CONCLUSIONS
When managing such infant patients with COVID-19, frequent and careful clinical monitoring is essential.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1645
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An effect of organization of medical care upon health: manpower distribution.
Data are presented from the Medical Care Group of Washington University and from several other organized medical care settings responsible for prepaid enrollees. As few as 8 per cent of visit may be made to specialists under systems which are organized to emphazide primary care. Further, the proportions of primary care and specialty visits vary inversely weith the "strictness" of this organization. Those groups which employ family physicians have a higher proportion of primary care physicians than do those which employ general intermists and pediatricans, or than exist in the medical care system at large. The data suggest strongly that the organization of medical care, as well as the training of personnel employed has a major influence upon the types of health manpower needed. Future research in this area is urgent, but even the currently available data have important implications for health manpower policy.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1646
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Generation of human PTH1R construct with FLAG epitope located internally: comparison of two-fragment assembly by using PCR overlap extension or ligase.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulates bone remodeling and calcium and phosphate homeostasis. PTH actions are mediated by type I PTH/PTH-related peptide receptor (PTH1R). There has been no commercially available, specific antibody to detect human PTH1R expression so far. Flag-tagged human PTH1R construct, converting the sequence DKEAPTGS (residues 94-101) in the exon E2 region of PTH1R to DYKDDDDK of Flag epitope, was generated by using PCR overlap extension or ligase enzyme for two-fragment assembly. We found that Flag-tagged PTH1R assembled by ligase was easy to be manipulated, but its efficiency was lower than that of PCR overlap extension. The PTH1R plasmids generated by both techniques were expressed successfully in vitro and in vivo and possessed the same physiological function as wild-type PTH1R. The Flag-tagged PTH1R construct will provide invaluable tools for study of PTH1R signaling and trafficking.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1647
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The urological referral process from primary health care. Reflections on referral criteria.
OBJECTIVES
The flow of patients between Primary Care (PC) and Specialized care (SC) is a common process. It carries many implications for the patient, physician and health system. In Urology, only benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has referral criteria. Urinary incontinence, prostate cancer (PCa), and urological ultrasound, are in the process. The aim of this paper is to communicate, with critical analysis, the characteristics of the information recorded in the referral visit (clinical reasons / rationale) and the effectiveness for urology consultation.
METHODS
Observational, descriptive and quantitative study of the referral visits made between PC/SC (Urology) in the health care area of our hospital (December 2010-September 2012). We studied: Referral Visit Database (RVD), consultation document, HORUS system, and specific referral visit survey questionnaire. RESULTS. Referral visits account for 67.89% (all first consultations), 14.79% of the total number of visits. 78% were male (mean age 53 y.o). 11.84% recorded reason for consultation (98% in referral document) with normal priority (94.67%). 34% of them were for BPH. HORUS is not exploited for the referral visit. 40% start the diagnostic process with insufficient exams. 18.1% are listed as closed process / completed. Patient satisfaction was evaluated (20%). Key points in the improvement are: improve referral visit reason for consultations, to know patient's expectations, and to develop protocols (guidelines, and/or referral criteria). CONCLUSIONS. The referral process is complex. The computer system does not include the referral reason for consultation. Institutional agreement between PC/SC Urology must be reached to ensure uniformity in the implementation and support.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1648
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Three-Dimensional Echocardiography As A Predictor Of Positive Response To Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy.
Objectives
To assess patients with three-dimensional echocardiography before cardiac resynchronisation therapy device implantation to predict the responders, and to determine the response 3 months post-intervention.
Method
The descriptive study was conducted at Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Egypt, from January 2020 to March 2022, and comprised patients of either gender who underwent cardiac resynchronisation therapy device implantation. The patients were assessed clinically and with three-dimensional echocardiography using 16-segment systolic dyssynchrony index asthe main parameter compared at baseline and 3 months after implantation. The patients were classified as non-responders, clinical responders, and clinical and echocardiographic responders. Data was analysed using SPSS 23.
RESULTS
Of the 40 patients, 23(57.5%) were males and 17(42.5%) were females. The overall mean age was 57.43±10.47 years, mean body weight was 81.30±11.33kg, mean height was 171.15±10.56cm), and mean body surface area was 1.93±0.17m2. Of the total, 14(35%) patients were hypertensive, 10(25%) diabetic, 15(37.5%) ischaemic and 2(5%) patients had atrial fibrillation. There were 8(20%) non-responders, 8(20%) clinical responders, and 24(60%) clinical and echocardiographic responders to therapy. Mean systolic dyssynchrony index at baseline was a positive highly significant predictor of post-therapy response (p<0.01). A positive highly significant correlation was also found between post-therapy response and end-systolic volume, three-dimensional ejection fraction, New York Heart Association class and QRS width (p<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional 16-segmentsystolic dyssynchrony index wasfound to be a significantly effective tool to predict response to cardiac resynchronisation therapy device implantation.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1649
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Gender differences in the association of alcohol intoxication and illicit drug abuse among persons arrested for violent and property offenses.
PURPOSE
To explore the associations between violent and other crimes, and alcohol intoxication and recent use of cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs among men and women arrestees and examine gender differences in these relationships.
METHODS
We conducted a secondary analysis of 1998 using Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) system data using a sample of 9242 male and 2594 women arrested for violent and property offenses in 35 cities. Logistic regression was used to predict arrest for a violent offense (rather than a property crime) from drug- and alcohol-related, and other variables.
RESULTS
Both gender and alcohol intoxication are significantly related to arrest for a violent offense. However, the intoxication effects (in the absence of cocaine) are more than three times as great for female (Exp(beta) = 5.59) as male arrestees (Exp(beta) = 1.74), while the combined effects of alcohol and cocaine predict a property offense for women but are insignificant for men.
IMPLICATIONS
To achieve further reductions in violent crime, intervention strategies need to focus on reducing alcohol intoxication as well as illicit drug use. Research on the role of alcohol on women's aggression and violence also is suggested.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1650
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Surgical treatment of rectourethral fistulae.
9 male patients with rectourethral fistula were treated. Fistulae were congenital in 1 case, iatrogenic in 6 cases and traumatic in 2 cases. In 8 cases we used an abdominoperineal approach with omentoplasty or peritoneal flap; in 1 case a perineal approach was made. In 2 cases it was also necessary to use a transpubic approach to the posterior urethra. Good results were obtained in all cases. The importance of a proper radiological investigation of the fistulous tract and the use of omentoplasty are both emphasized.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1651
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Antioxidant and hepatic protective effects of lotus root hot water extract with taurine supplementation in rats fed a high fat diet.
BACKGROUND
Nelumbo nucifera, known as sacred lotus, is a well-known medicinal plant and this lotus root is commonly used as food compared to different parts of this plant. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant and hepatic protective effects of lotus root hot water extract with taurine supplementation in high fat diet-induced obese rats.
METHODS
Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats (4-week-old) were randomly divided into four groups (n=8) for 6 weeks (normal diet, N group; high fat diet, HF group; high fat diet + lotus root hot water extract, HFR group; high fat diet + lotus root hot water extract + taurine, HFRT group). Lotus root hot water extract was orally administrated (400 mg/kg/day) to HFR and HFRT groups and the same amount of distilled water was orally administered to N and HF groups. Taurine was supplemented by dissolving in feed water (3% w/v).
RESULTS
The activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase in serum were lower in HFR and HFRT groups compared to HF group. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance contents in all groups fed a high fat diet were higher compared to N group. The activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes were higher in HFR and HFRT groups compared to HF group.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that lotus root hot water extract with taurine supplementation shows antioxidant and hepatic protective effects in high fat diet-induced obese rats.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1652
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Co-treatment of TGF-β3 and BMP7 is superior in stimulating chondrocyte redifferentiation in both hypoxia and normoxia compared to single treatments.
Signaling by members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, such as TGF-β3 and BMP7, and oxygen tension play a pivotal role in chondrocyte biology. The objective of this research was to investigate the endogenous BMP7 expression in human osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage and the effect of oxygen tension on the single or combined treatment with TGF-β3 and BMP7 on OA chondrocyte redifferentiation in three dimensional (3D) pellet cultures. The results showed the expression of BMP7 and its intracellular signaling target SMAD1/5/8 was decreased in early OA, while it was increased in later stages of OA. The combined treatment with TGF-β3 and BMP7, both in normoxia and hypoxia, was more effective than TGF-β3 or BMP7 alone in redifferentiating chondrocytes. This was reflected by Alcian blue/Safranin O staining and collagen type II protein expression, as well as by gene expression. Hypoxia elevated TGF-β3 and BMP7-induced matrix formation of OA chondrocytes and alleviated the catabolic gene expression. Interestingly, cells cultured under normoxia displayed mild signs of an inflammatory stress response, which was effectively counteracted by culturing the cells under low oxygen tension. Our data underscores the important modulatory role of oxygen tension on the chondrocyte's responsiveness to TGF-β3 and/or BMP7.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1653
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Association between long-term neuro-toxicities in testicular cancer survivors and polymorphisms in glutathione-s-transferase-P1 and -M1, a retrospective cross sectional study.
BACKGROUND
To assess the impact of polymorphisms in Glutathione S-transferase (GST) -P1, -M1, and -T1 on self-reported chemotherapy-induced long-term toxicities in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs).
METHODS
A total of 238 TCSs, who had received cisplatin-based chemotherapy at median twelve years earlier, had participated in a long-term follow-up survey which assessed the prevalence of self-reported paresthesias in fingers/toes, Raynaud-like phenomena in fingers/toes, tinnitus, and hearing impairment. From all TCSs lymphocyte-derived DNA was analyzed for the functional A-->G polymorphism at bp 304 in GSTP1, and deletions in GST-M1 and GST-T1. Evaluation of associations between GST polymorphisms and self-reported toxicities included adjustment for prior treatment.
RESULTS
All six evaluated toxicities were significantly associated with the cumulative dose of cisplatin and/or bleomycin. Compared to TCSs with either GSTP1-AG or GSTP1-AA, the 37 TCSs with the genotype GSTP1-GG, were significantly less bothered by paresthesias in fingers and toes (p = 0.039, OR 0.46 [0.22-0.96] and p = 0.023, OR 0.42 [0.20-0.88], respectively), and tinnitus (p = 0.008, OR 0.33 [0.14-0.74]). Furthermore, absence of functional GSTM1 protected against hearing impairment (p = 0.025, OR 1.81 [1.08-3.03]).
CONCLUSION
In TCSs long-term self-reported chemotherapy-induced toxicities are associated with functional polymorphisms in GSTP1 and GSTM1. Hypothetically, absence of GST-M1 leaves more glutathione as substrate for the co-expressed GST-P1. Also intracellular inactivation of pro-apoptotic mediators represents a possible explanation of our findings. Genotyping of these GSTs might be a welcomed step towards a more individualized treatment of patients with metastatic testicular cancer.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1654
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Enhanced Cd accumulation by Graphene oxide (GO) under Cd stress in duckweed.
Effective phytoremediation by aquatic plant such as duckweed could be applied to solve Cd pollution. In the present study, the impact of Graphene oxide (GO) on the accumulation of Cd in duckweed has been studied. The response of duckweed was also investigated, concluding growth, Cd2+ flux, and gene expression response. Results showed that GO promoted the accumulation of Cd in duckweed. After 6 h of Cd enrichment in duckweed, Cd content was about 1.4 times that of the control group at fronds and 1.25 times that of the control group at roots, meanwhile, Cd content in the water system was 0.67 times that of the control group. The Cd2+ influx increased significantly. 4471 genes were up-regulated and 3230 genes were down-regulated significantly as duckweed treated with GO under Cd treatment. Moreover, phagosome pathway was downregulated, some key proteins: Stx7, Rab7 and Tubastatin B (TUBB) were significantly downregulated with GO addition under Cd stress. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation showed that GO and Cd were attached on the cell surface of duckweed as white crystal. GO could be applied in phytoremediation by duckweed of Cd in aquatic system.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1655
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Extending the MODPATH Algorithm to Rectangular Unstructured Grids.
The recent release of MODFLOW-USG, which allows model grids to have irregular, unstructured connections, requires a modification of the particle-tracking algorithm used by MODPATH. This paper describes a modification of the semi-analytical particle-tracking algorithm used by MODPATH that allows it to be extended to rectangular-based unstructured grids by dividing grid cells with multi-cell face connections into sub-cells. The new method will be incorporated in the next version of MODPATH which is currently under development.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1656
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Targeting vasculogenic mimicry by phytochemicals: A potential opportunity for cancer therapy.
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is regarded as a process where very aggressive cancer cells generate vascular-like patterns without the presence of endothelial cells. It is considered as the main mark of malignant cancer and has pivotal role in cancer metastasis and progression in various types of cancers. On the other hand, resistance to the antiangiogenesis therapies leads to the cancer recurrence. Therefore, development of novel chemotherapies and their combinations is urgently needed for abolition of VM structures and also for better tumor therapy. Hence, identifying compounds that target VM structures might be superior therapeutic factors for cancers treatment and controlling the recurrence and metastasis. In recent times, naturally occurring compounds, especially phytochemicals have obtained great attention due to their safe properties. Phytochemicals are also capable of targeting VM structure and also their main signaling pathways. Consequently, in this review article, we illustrated key signaling pathways in VM, and the phytochemicals that affect these structures including curcumin, genistein, lycorine, luteolin, columbamine, triptolide, Paris polyphylla, dehydroeffusol, jatrorrhizine hydrochloride, grape seed proanthocyanidins, resveratrol, isoxanthohumol, dehydrocurvularine, galiellalactone, oxacyclododecindione, brucine, honokiol, ginsenoside Rg3, and norcantharidin. The recognition of these phytochemicals and their safety profile may lead to new therapeutic agents' development for VM elimination in different types of tumors.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1657
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Fluoride absorption: a comparative study of 1 and 2% fluoride gels.
The systemic fluoride absorption following topical fluoride gel application has been monitored in two groups of 6 healthy volunteers. Plasma F- levels and urinary fluoride excretion were measured after the use of a 1% and of a 2% gel preparation (commercial products). The resorption of these gels seems lower than reported previously for other preparations. Creatinine clearance remained unaffected after a single application of the gels in healthy subjects.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1658
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Brain waves.
At least one person in every 200 suffers from epilepsy, yet there is still widespread ignorance about this neurologic disorder of unknown cause.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1659
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Outcome of buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty: a detailed analysis of success, morbidity and quality of life in a contemporary patient cohort at a referral center.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate outcome of buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty (BMGU) for the treatment of urethral stricture disease, including a detailed analysis of success, morbidity and quality of life (QoL).
METHODS
Between 12/05/2008 and 07/21/2010, 187 patients with urethral stricture disease, who were treated with BMGU at our University Medical Center, received a standardized questionnaire, evaluating postoperative success, morbidity and QoL. The primary endpoint was the success, i.e., stricture recurrence-free survival plus patients' satisfaction with surgery. Secondary endpoints included erectile function, voiding symptoms, pain and health-related QoL, which were assessed with a modified Urethral Stricture Surgery Patient Reported Outcome Measure (USS PROM), including the Erectile Function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF), Incontinence Questionnaire Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Module (ICIQ-MLUTS) and EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ-5D).
RESULTS
In total, 83 patients (51.9%) completed the questionnaire. Bulbar, penile and panurethral strictures were found in 69 patients (83.1%), 13 patients (15.7%) and one patient (1.2%), respectively. The median length of the stricture was 5 cm (range: 1-16). At a median follow-up of 46 months (range: 36-54), 65 patients (78.3%) had no stricture recurrence and were satisfied with BMGU. Median scores for ICIQ-MLUTS, IIEF-EF and EQ-5D visual analogue scale were 6, 22 and 80, respectively. Based on USS PROM, postoperative improvement of QoL and satisfaction with BMGU was found in 67 patients (80.7%) and 68 patients (81.9%), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with urethral stricture disease, BMGU offers excellent success, morbidity and QoL.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1660
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The role of the Src Homology-2 domain containing protein B (SHB) in β cells.
This review will describe the SH2-domain signaling protein Src Homology-2 domain containing protein B (SHB) and its role in various physiological processes relating in particular to glucose homeostasis and β cell function. SHB operates downstream of several tyrosine kinase receptors and assembles signaling complexes in response to receptor activation by interacting with other signaling proteins via its other domains (proline-rich, phosphotyrosine-binding and tyrosine-phosphorylation sites). The subsequent responses are context-dependent. Absence of Shb in mice has been found to exert effects on hematopoiesis, angiogenesis and glucose metabolism. Specifically, first-phase insulin secretion in response to glucose was impaired and this effect was related to altered characteristics of focal adhesion kinase activation modulating signaling through Akt, ERK, β catenin and cAMP. It is believed that SHB plays a role in integrating adaptive responses to various stimuli by simultaneously modulating cellular responses in different cell-types, thus playing a role in maintaining physiological homeostasis.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1661
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Structural brain changes in hyperthyroid Graves' disease: protocol for an ongoing longitudinal, case-controlled study in Göteborg, Sweden-the CogThy project.
INTRODUCTION
Cognitive impairment and reduced well-being are common manifestations of Graves' disease (GD). These symptoms are not only prevalent during the active phase of the disease but also often prevail for a long time after hyperthyroidism is considered cured. The pathogenic mechanisms involved in these brain-derived symptoms are currently unknown. The overall aim of the CogThy study is to identify the mechanism behind cognitive impairment to be able to recognise GD patients at risk.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
The study is a longitudinal, single-centre, case-controlled study conducted in Göteborg, Sweden on premenopausal women with newly diagnosed GD. The subjects are examined: at referral, at inclusion and then every 3.25 months until 15 months. Examinations include: laboratory measurements; eye evaluation; neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological testing; structural MRI of the whole brain, orbits and medial temporal lobe structures; functional near-infrared spectroscopy of the cerebral prefrontal cortex and self-assessed quality of life questionnaires. The primary outcome measure is the change in medial temporal lobe structure volume. Secondary outcome measures include neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric, hormonal and autoantibody variables. The study opened for inclusion in September 2012 and close for inclusion in October 2019. It will provide novel information on the effect of GD on medial temporal lobe structures and cerebral cortex functionality as well as whether these changes are associated with cognitive and affective impairment, hormonal levels and/or autoantibody levels. It should lead to a broader understanding of the underlying pathogenesis and future treatment perspectives.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
The study has been reviewed and approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Göteborg, Sweden. The results will be actively disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, national and international conference presentations and among patient organisations after an appropriate embargo time.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
44321 at the public project database for research and development in Västra Götaland County, Sweden (https://www.researchweb.org/is/vgr/project/44321).
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1662
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CypD: The Key to the Death Door.
Numerous studies have deciphered the importance of Cyclophilin D (CypD/ peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase F) in the formation and regulation of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), implicated in the cell death mechanisms in various neurological diseases. Decrease in the ATP and increase in the calcium levels are the most common aftermath consequences that are observed in these diseases. Increased calcium level leads to the persistent opening of MPTP and cell death, which is mediated by CypD. However, the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the abnormal calcium homeostasis in different diseases remain elusive. In this review, we attempted to connect the disruption of mitochondrial bioenergetics with abnormal calcium levels and MPTP. Further, various proteins that interact with the CypD and the subsequent consequences have been described. All the cell death pathways in various neurological disorders merge at CypD, which acts as a key regulatory protein in cellular demise. Agents inhibiting CypD may have a therapeutic potential for treating neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and cerebral ischemia. Further, the knowledge regarding the pathophysiological processes involved in CypD-regulated MPTP and cell death would assist in battling with these diseases.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1663
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Ultrafast excitation transfer and charge stabilization in a newly assembled photosynthetic antenna-reaction center mimic composed of boron dipyrrin, zinc porphyrin and fullerene.
A self-assembled supramolecular triad as a model to mimic the light-induced events of the photosynthetic antenna-reaction center, that is, ultrafast excitation transfer followed by electron transfer ultimately generating a long-lived charge-separated state, has been accomplished. Boron dipyrrin (BDP), zinc porphyrin (ZnP) and fullerene (C(60)), respectively, constitute the energy donor, electron donor and electron acceptor segments of the antenna-reaction center imitation. Unlike in the previous models, the BDP entity was placed between the electron donor, ZnP and electron acceptor, C(60) entities. For the construction, benzo-18-crown-6 functionalized BDP was synthesized and subsequently reacted with 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl functionalized ZnP through the central boron atom to form the crown-BDP-ZnP dyad. Next, an alkyl ammonium functionalized fullerene was used to self-assemble the crown ether entity of the dyad via ion-dipole interactions. The newly formed supramolecular triad was fully characterized by spectroscopic, computational and electrochemical methods. Steady-state fluorescence and excitation studies revealed the occurrence of energy transfer upon selective excitation of the BDP in the dyad. Further studies involving the pump-probe technique revealed excitation transfer from the (1)BDP* to ZnP to occur in about 7 ps, much faster than that reported for other systems in this series of triads, as a consequence of shorter distance between the entities. Upon forming the supramolecular triad by self-assembling fullerene, the (1)ZnP(*) produced by direct excitation or by energy transfer mechanism resulted in an initial electron transfer to the BDP entity. The charge recombination resulted in the population of the triplet excited state of C(60), from where additional electron transfer occurred to produce C(60)(•-):crown-BDP-ZnP(•+) ion pair as the final charge-separated species. Nanosecond transient absorption studies revealed the lifetime of the charge-separated state to be ~100 μs, the longest ever reported for this type of antenna-reaction center mimics, indicating better charge stabilization as a result of the different disposition of the entities of the supramolecular triad.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1664
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Neighborhood Food Environment and Physical Activity Among U.S. Adolescents.
INTRODUCTION
Few U.S. adolescents meet physical activity guidelines. Although several neighborhood characteristics influence physical activity, the role of food-related features as potential drivers of adolescent physical activity remains understudied. Using representative U.S. data, authors examined the effect of the neighborhood food environment on adolescents' out-of-school physical activity.
METHODS
The Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study was conducted in 2014. Secondary data analysis occurred in 2018. Multinomial logistic regression models examined associations between neighborhood availability of (1) convenience store; (2) supermarket; (3) farmer's market; (4) fast food; (5) non-fast food restaurant and adolescent out-of-school physical activity (tertile-based, low as referent). An additional association between a total aggregate neighborhood food environment score was assessed.
RESULTS
Final analytic sample was 1,384 adolescents (mean age=14.5 years, SD=1.6). Controlling for free/reduced-price lunch, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and neighborhood physical activity and social environments, the aggregate food environment score was significantly associated with high physical activity (versus low tertile; OR=1.2, 95% CI=1.1, 1.3). Most individual categories of food retail outlets were significantly and directly associated with out-of-school moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity in the single food environment variable models. However, when fully adjusting for all food retail outlet categories plus confounders, they were no longer significant.
CONCLUSIONS
The availability of a diverse combination of retail food destinations within walking distance from home may provide opportunities for adolescents to achieve more physical activity, likely because of transport-based physical activity. Pending future research, these findings suggest that the role of the food environment on health extends beyond its influence on dietary behaviors to other health behaviors like physical activity.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1665
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Architecting FeNx on High Graphitization Carbon for High-Performance Oxygen Reduction by Regulating d-Band Center.
Fe single atoms and N co-doped carbon nanomaterials (Fe-N-C) are the most promising oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts to replace platinum group metals. However, high-activity Fe single-atom catalysts suffer from poor stability owing to the low graphitization degree. Here, an effective phase-transition strategy is reported to enhance the stability of Fe-N-C catalysts by inducing increased degree of graphitization and incorporation of Fe nanoparticles encapsulated by graphitic carbon layer without sacrificing activity. Remarkably, the resulted Fe@Fe-N-C catalysts achieved excellent ORR activity (E1/2 = 0.829 V) and stability (19 mV loss after 30K cycles) in acid media. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations agree with experimental phenomena that additional Fe nanoparticles not only favor to the activation of O2 by tailoring d-band center position but also inhibit the demetallization of Fe active center from FeN4 sites. This work provides a new insight into the rational design of highly efficient and durable Fe-N-C catalysts for ORR.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1666
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One-pot direct conversion of 2,3-epoxy alcohols into enantiomerically pure 4-hydroxy-4,5-dihydroisoxazole 2-oxides.
[structure: see text]. A new methodology for the one-pot direct conversion of 2,3-epoxy alcohols into enantiomerically pure 4-hydroxy-4,5-dihydroisoxazole 2-oxides 1 has been found. The reaction works at room temperature and can be run at the 5-10 g scale. The mixture of 4,5-cis and 4,5-trans isomers obtained can be separated as such or as the bis-TDS ethers. A preliminary example of reductive cleavage of 1 to the corresponding amino polyol is also reported.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1667
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Brucella suis infections in collared peccaries in Venezuela.
A bacteriologic and serologic study was conducted on two ranches in the states of Apure and Guarico, Venezuela for brucellosis in collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu). One hundred thirty-nine peccaries were necropsied and tissues were cultured. Forty-three isolations of Brucella suis biovar 1, were made from lymph nodes and spleens of 25 males and 18 females. Antibody to Brucella sp. was detected in sera from 122 animals by the rapid plate agglutination, standard tube agglutination, 2-mer-captoethanol, rivanol, complement fixation and card tests. Young animals had infection and reactor rates nearly as high as the older animals indicating most were infected at a relative early age. Results suggest that this species may transmit brucellosis when living with domestic animals. This is the first report of B. suis biovar 1 from collared peccaries in Venezuela.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1668
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3D Holographic Virtual Surgical Planning for a Single Right Ventricle Fontan Patient Needing Heartmate III Placement.
A 15 year old female with hypoplastic left heart syndrome status post Norwood with Sano modification, bidirectional Glenn and extracardiac conduit Fontan developed severe right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction. Due to symptomatic heart failure, she underwent assessment for ventricular assist device (VAD) placement as a bridge-to-cardiac transplantation strategy. To evaluate her atypical anatomy, a chest computed tomography (CT) was uploaded into an EchoPixel True3D (Santa Clara, CA) view portal along with an accurately scaled 3D surface model of the HeartMate III (HM3) device. The surgeon then manipulated the position of the HM3 to evaluate multiple potential device positions in relation to anatomic features such as the intraventricular septum, tricuspid valve annulus, and RV muscle bundles. The patient was taken to the operating room and the HM3 device was placed just anterior to the RV apex as virtually planned. She had an uneventful postoperative course, underwent cardiac transplantation on postoperative day (POD) 63 and is doing well now 19 months post-transplantation.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1669
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Novel image-guided management of a uterine arteriovenous malformation.
The investigators present a novel image-guided embolization, not previously described, of a uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) resistant to endovascular management. The uterus was exposed surgically, and Histoacryl (Braun, Fulda, Germany) was injected directly into the nidus using ultrasound guidance and fluoroscopy. The patient had a successful full-term pregnancy after this procedure. This technique may be a useful alternative management strategy in patients with uterine AVM who fail traditional endovascular embolization and who still desire fertility.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1670
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Proposed changes to the reimbursement of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in Poland and their impact on market access and the pharmaceutical industry.
In Poland, two proposed amendments to the reimbursement act are currently in preparation; these are likely to substantially change the pricing and reimbursement landscape for both drugs and medical devices. Proposed changes include: alignment of medical device reimbursement with that of pharmaceuticals; relaxing the strict reimbursement criteria for ultra-orphan drugs; establishment of an additional funding category for vaccines; introduction of compassionate use, and a simplified reimbursement pathway for well-established off-label indications; appreciation of manufacturers' innovation and research and development efforts by creating a dedicated innovation budget; introduction of a mechanism preventing excessive parallel import; prolonged duration of reimbursement decisions and reimbursement lists; and increased flexibility in defining drug programmes. Both amendments are still at a draft stage and many aspects of the new regulations remain unclear. Nonetheless, the overall direction of some of the changes is already evident and warrants discussion due to their high expected impact on pharmaceutical and device manufacturers. Here we evaluate the main changes proposed to the reimbursement of drugs, vaccines, and medical devices, and examine the impact they are likely to have on market access and pharmaceutical industry in Poland.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1671
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Aberrant autophagy in lysosomal storage disorders marked by a lysosomal SNARE protein shortage due to suppression of endocytosis.
Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are inherited metabolic diseases caused by genetic defects in lysosomal enzymes or related factors. LSDs are associated with excessive accumulation of natural substrates in lysosomes leading to central nervous system and peripheral tissue damage. Abnormal autophagy is also involved in pathogenesis, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We demonstrated that impairment of lysosome-autophagosome fusion is due to suppressed endocytosis in LSDs. The fusion was reduced in several LSD cells and the brains of LSD model mice, suggesting that the completion of autophagy is suppressed by the accumulation of substrates. In this brain, the expression of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins, VAMP8 and Syntaxin7, was decreased on the lysosomal surface but not intracellular. This aberrant autophagy preceded the development of pathological phenotypes in LSD-model mice. Furthermore, the enzyme deficiency leading to the substrate accumulation could suppress endocytosis, and the inhibited endocytosis decreased SNARE proteins localized on lysosomes. These findings suggest that the shortage of SNARE proteins on lysosomes is one of the reasons for the impairment of lysosome-autophagosome fusion in LSD cells. Defects in lysosomal enzyme activity suppress endocytosis and decrease the supply of intracellular SNARE proteins recruited to lysosomes. This shortage of lysosomal SNARE proteins impairs lysosome-autophagosome fusion in lysosomal storage disorders.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1672
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Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with uninterrupted vitamin K antagonists.
BACKGROUND
Bridging of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) with heparin is usually not promoted during interventional or surgical procedures related to increased risk of bleeding and thrombotic events but this strategy has not been evaluated during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of major bleeding and vascular complications after TAVI performed in patients with uninterrupted VKA.
METHODS
From January 2016 to October 2017, consecutive patients who underwent TAVI with uninterrupted VKA (International Normalized Ratio [INR] between 1.5 and 3.5) were prospectively included in a monocentric registry. TAVI was performed according to current guidelines and a 50 U/kg bolus of heparin was injected at the beginning of the procedure for all patients. Vascular and bleeding complications were assessed using the Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 (VARC3) and the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) definitions at a 30-day follow-up.
RESULTS
A total of 88 patients were included with a median age of 84 years (81.8-87.0), 42% being female. The median society of thoracic surgeons score was 5.1 (4.1-7.5), the median CHADS2-VASc was 5.5 (5-6) and 60.2% had a chronic kidney failure. Median INR at the time of implantation was 2.1 (1.8-2.6). The main VKA indication was atrial fibrillation. Transfemoral access was used in 88.6% of the patients. Major bleeding (BARC ≥ 3b) occurred in five patients (5.7%) and major vascular complications occurred in seven patients (8.0%). At 1 month follow-up, major bleeding (BARC ≥ 3) or vascular complications occurred in 10 patients (11.4%). In patients with major bleeding peripheral arterial disease (RR = 10.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.63-73.75; p = 0.014) and carotid access (RR = 8.56; 95% CI 1.19-1.51; p = 0.033) were more common. INR > 2.5 was significantly associated with vascular complications (RR = 7.14; 95% CI 1.29-39.63; p = 0.025). At 30 days, mortality and stroke rates were 2.3% and 4.5%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
TAVI with uninterrupted VKA treatment seems feasible and safe with a low risk of major bleeding and vascular complications in this first single-center experience. Particular caution is advocated in high body mass index patients and to keep INR < 2.5.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1673
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LncRNA MALAT1 Regulates the Progression and Cisplatin Resistance of Ovarian Cancer Cells via Modulating miR-1271-5p/E2F5 Axis.
BACKGROUND
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) were reported to be related to the development of ovarian cancer (OC). In this study, the functional mechanisms of lncRNA metastasis associated with lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and microRNA-1271-5p (miR-1271-5p) were explored in OC.
METHODS
The level of MALAT1, miR-1271-5p, or E2F transcription factor 5 (E2F5) was detected by qRT-PCR. MTT assay, flow cytometry analysis and transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to determine cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, respectively. E2F5 protein expression was detected by Western blot. The interaction between miR-1271-5p and MALAT1 or E2F transcription factor 5 (E2F5) was confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay.
RESULTS
MALAT1 and E2F5 level were increased, while miR-1271-5p level was decreased in cisplatin (DDP)-resistant OC tissues and cells. MALAT1 knockdown or miR-1271-5p upregulation decreased IC50 of cisplatin, and inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and facilitated cell apoptosis in DDP-resistant OC cells. Moreover, MALAT1 sponged miR-1271-5p to upregulate E2F5 expression. Besides, MALAT1 knockdown decreased DDP resistance, inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis by sponging miR-1271-5p to downregulate E2F5 expression in DDP-resistant OC cell.
CONCLUSION
We demonstrated that MALAT1 mediated DDP-resistant OC development through miR-1271-5p/E2F5 axis, providing the theoretical basis for OC therapy.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1674
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Neuroprotection in glaucoma: a model for neuroprotection in optic neuropathies.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Efforts to discover modalities and pathophysiologies that might afford successful neurorescue, neurorestoration, and neuroprotection of cells of the central nervous system have focused on processes that affect the central nervous system proper, that is, the brain. Often overlooked in the search for neural protection is the fact that the mammalian optic nerve behaves in many ways as an integral part of the central nervous system. As such, the eye--the optic nerve and retina--affords an ideal clinical model for neuroprotection and neuroprotective agents. Glaucomatous optic neuropathy is the most prevalent of all adult optic neuropathies, and offers an ideal primate and lower mammalian animal model for investigations of neuroprotection.
RECENT FINDINGS
This is especially compelling because while recent studies in glaucoma have shown reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) to be an effective modality in the treatment of glaucomatous optic neuropathy, not all patients respond to or can achieve meaningful IOP reductions. Therefore much attention has now been focused on neuroprotection as a strategy in therapies for glaucomatous optic neuropathy as a means of preserving retinal ganglion cells and their axonal projections.
SUMMARY
This review discusses the latest studies on various mechanisms of neuroprotection in the treatment of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
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No neg
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Retriever1675
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N6-Methyladenosine-Related lncRNAs Are Potential Prognostic Biomarkers and Correlated With Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Osteosarcoma.
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play vital roles in the prognostic value and immune microenvironment of malignant tumors. Here, we constructed a m6A-related lncRNA signature in osteosarcoma samples from TCGA dataset and analyzed the association of the signature with tumor immune microenvironment. m6A-related lncRNAs were identified by performing Pearson's correlation analysis and were used to construct a novel m6A-related lncRNA signature in osteosarcoma. Validation in testing and entire cohorts confirmed the satisfactory accuracy of the risk signature. Principal-component analysis verifies the grouping ability of the risk signature. Functional enrichment analyses connected immune with the risk signature based on the six m6A-related lncRNAs. When patients were separated into high- and low-risk group based on their risk scores, we found that patients in the high-risk group had lower stromal scores, immune scores, and ESTIMATE scores, while the tumor purity was higher in the high-risk group than that in the low-risk group. As for immune cell infiltration, the proportion of monocytes was significantly higher in the low-risk group than that in the high-risk group. Of the six lncRNAs, AC004812.2 was a protective factor in osteosarcoma and low expression of AC004812.2 predicted worse overall survival. Overexpression of AC004812.2 inhibited 143B cell proliferation and increased the expression levels of IGF2BP1 and YTHDF1. In all, our m6A-related lncRNA signature was a potential prognostic biomarker and correlated with tumor immune microenvironment and immune cell infiltration, and AC004812.2 might be an important regulator of m6A modification and a promising therapeutic target in osteosarcoma.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1676
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Combined pharmacological induction of Hsp70 suppresses prion protein neurotoxicity in Drosophila.
Prion diseases are rare and aggressive neurodegenerative disorders caused by the accumulation of misfolded, toxic conformations of the prion protein (PrP). Therapeutic strategies directed at reducing the levels of PrP offer the best chance of delaying or halting disease progression. The challenge, though, is to define pharmacologic targets that result in reduced PrP levels. We previously reported that expression of wild type hamster PrP in flies induces progressive locomotor dysfunction and accumulation of pathogenic PrP conformations, while co-expression of human Hsp70 delayed these changes. To validate the therapeutic potential of Hsp70, we treated flies with drugs known to induce Hsp70 expression, including the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-DMAG and the glucocorticoid dexamethasone. Although the individual treatment with these compounds produced no significant benefits, their combination significantly increased the level of inducible Hsp70, decreased the level of total PrP, reduced the accumulation of pathogenic PrP conformers, and improved locomotor activity. Thus, the combined action of two pharmacological activators of Hsp70 with distinct targets results in sustained high levels of inducible Hsp70 with improved behavioral output. These findings can have important therapeutic applications for the devastating prion diseases and other related proteinopathies.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1677
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In vitro studies of ovulation in the perfused rabbit ovary.
A system has been developed for the perfusion of the rabbit ovary in vitro. At laparotomy, the ovarian artery is cannulated and perfused with M 199 tissue culture medium containing insulin and heparin, then removed with its vascular pedicle intact. Perfusion at 37 degrees C is maintained by using a capillary oxygenator and Buchler roller pump. The functional integrity of the perfused ovary is confirmed by serial determinations of the perfusate pH, glucose and lactate concentrations, and by ovarian histology. This in vitro model was used to study the mechanism of ovulation. One group of isolated rabbits received human chorionic gonadotropin (50 IU, intravenously) and, 8 hours later, one ovary was removed and perfused; the contralateral ovary remained in situ, serving as an in vivo control. Serial observations for follicle development and rupture were made over the subsequent 7-hour interval. The occurrence of ovulation in vitro was documented by time-lapse photography. In each animal, comparisons made between the in vitro and in vivo ovary indicated that the rate and time of follicle maturation and ovulation were comparable. Ovulation occurred between 10 and 15 hours after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin in both preparations.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1678
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Use of extracorporeal treatments in the management of poisonings.
Historically, the clinical application of extracorporeal treatments (ECTRs), such as hemodialysis or hemoperfusion, was first intended for poisoned patients. With time, ECTRs were used almost indiscriminately to facilitate the elimination of many poisons, albeit with uncertain clinical benefit. To determine the precise role of ECTRs in poisoning situations, multiple variables need to be considered including a careful risk assessment, the poison's characteristics including toxicokinetics, alternative treatments, the patient's clinical status, and intricacies of available ECTRs, all of which are reviewed in this article. Recently, evidence-based and expert opinion-based recommendations from the EXTRIP workgroup were also published to help minimize the knowledge gap in this area.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1679
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Specific quantitation of urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulphate by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.
6-Hydroxymelatonin sulphate, a unique urinary metabolite of melatonin, has been measured in human subjects for the first time using a chromatography mass spectrometry and an isotope labelled internal standard. Urinary levels in both males and females were similar and ranged from 25-125 nmol 24 h-1. A significant nocturnal elevations of 6-hydroxymelatonin sulphate was also established in a male subject.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1680
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Challenging an old paradigm by demonstrating transition metal-like chemistry at a neutral nonmetal center.
We describe nonmetal adducts of the phosphorus center of terminal phosphinidene complexes using classical C- and N-ligands from metal coordination chemistry. The nature of the L-P bond has been analyzed by various theoretical methods including a refined method on the variation of the Laplacian of electron density ∇2ρ along the L-P bond path. Studies on thermal stability reveal stark differences between N-ligands such as N-methyl imidazole and C-ligands such as tert-butyl isocyanide, including ligand exchange reactions and a surprising formation of white phosphorus. A milestone is the transformation of a nonmetal-bound isocyanide into phosphaguanidine or an acyclic bisaminocarbene bound to phosphorus; the latter is analogous to the chemistry of transition metal-bound isocyanides, and the former reveals the differences. This example has been studied via cutting-edge DFT calculations leading to two pathways differently favored depending on variations in steric demand. This study reveals the emergence of organometallic from coordination chemistry of a neutral nonmetal center.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1681
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Electronic and optical properties of hydrogenated group-IV multilayer materials.
Hydrogenated group-IV layered materials are semiconducting forms of silicene, germanene and stanene. We systematically studied the evolution of the structural, electronic and optical properties of these 2D materials as a function of the number of layers. We verify that the exfoliation energy increases upon the increase of the atomic number (Si → Sn) of the group-IV material. We show that silicane, independent of the number of layers, is an indirect band gap (Γ-M) material. This behavior is different from both germanane and stanane, which are direct band gap (Γ point) semiconductors. The calculated optical spectra show, for all systems, a red shift in the absorption edges and an enhanced absorption of the visible light for the in-plane (α‖) component upon the increase in the number of layers and, also as a function of the increasing atomic number. Our findings also indicate that: (i) (XH2)m(YH2)n vdW heterostructures will always present a type-I band alignment for X = Si and Y = Ge or Sn, whereas (ii) for X = Ge and Y = Sn, the band alignment can be tuned (type-I ↔ type-II) by the number of layers (m,n).
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1682
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A fourth IkappaB protein within the NF-kappaB signaling module.
Inflammatory NF-kappaB/RelA activation is mediated by the three canonical inhibitors, IkappaBalpha, -beta, and -epsilon. We report here the characterization of a fourth inhibitor, nfkappab2/p100, that forms two distinct inhibitory complexes with RelA, one of which mediates developmental NF-kappaB activation. Our genetic evidence confirms that p100 is required and sufficient as a fourth IkappaB protein for noncanonical NF-kappaB signaling downstream of NIK and IKK1. We develop a mathematical model of the four-IkappaB-containing NF-kappaB signaling module to account for NF-kappaB/RelA:p50 activation in response to inflammatory and developmental stimuli and find signaling crosstalk between them that determines gene-expression programs. Further combined computational and experimental studies reveal that mutant cells with altered balances between canonical and noncanonical IkappaB proteins may exhibit inappropriate inflammatory gene expression in response to developmental signals. Our results have important implications for physiological and pathological scenarios in which inflammatory and developmental signals converge.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1683
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Haplotype-Resolved Genome Analyses Reveal Genetically Distinct Nuclei within a Commercial Cultivar of Lentinula edodes.
Lentinula edodes is a tetrapolar basidiomycete with two haploid nuclei in each cell during most of their life cycle. Understanding the two haploid nuclei genome structures and their interactions on growth and fruiting body development has significant practical implications, especially for commercial cultivars. In this study, we isolated and assembled the two haploid genomes from a commercial strain of L. edodes using Illumina, HiFi, and Hi-C technologies. The total genome lengths were 50.93 Mb and 49.80 Mb for the two monokaryons SP3 and SP30, respectively, with each assembled into 10 chromosomes with 99.63% and 98.91% anchoring rates, respectively, for contigs more than 100 Kb. Genome comparisons suggest that two haploid nuclei likely derived from distinct genetic ancestries, with ~30% of their genomes being unique or non-syntenic. Consistent with a tetrapolar mating system, the two mating-type loci A (matA) and B (matB) of L. edodes were found located on two different chromosomes. However, we identified a new but incomplete homeodomain (HD) sublocus at ~2.8 Mb from matA in both monokaryons. Our study provides a solid foundation for investigating the relationships among cultivars and between cultivars and wild strains and for studying how two genetically divergent nuclei coordinate to regulate fruiting body formation in L. edodes.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1684
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Deep Soil Water-Use Determines the Yield Benefit of Long-Cycle Wheat.
Wheat production in southern Australia is reliant on autumn (April-May) rainfall to germinate seeds and allow timely establishment. Reliance on autumn rainfall can be removed by sowing earlier than currently practiced and using late summer and early autumn rainfall to establish crops, but this requires slower developing cultivars to match life-cycle to seasonal conditions. While slow-developing wheat cultivars sown early in the sowing window (long-cycle), have in some cases increased yield in comparison to the more commonly grown fast-developing cultivars sown later (short-cycle), the yield response is variable between environments. In irrigated wheat in the sub-tropics, the variable response has been linked to ability to withstand water stress, but the mechanism behind this is unknown. We compared short- vs. long-cycle cultivars × time of sowing combinations over four seasons (2011, 2012, 2015, and 2016) at Temora, NSW, Australia. Two seasons (2011 and 2012) had above average summer fallow (December-March) rain, and two seasons had below average summer fallow rain (2015 and 2016). Initial plant available water in each season was 104, 91, 28, and 27 mm, respectively. Rainfall in the 30 days prior to flowering (approximating the critical period for yield determination) in each year was 8, 6, 14, and 190 mm, respectively. We only observed a yield benefit in long-cycle treatments in 2011 and 2012 seasons where there was (i) soil water stored at depth (ii) little rain during the critical period. The higher yield of long-cycle treatments could be attributed to greater deep soil water extraction (<1.0 m), dry-matter production and grain number. In 2015, there was little rain during the critical period, no water stored at depth and no difference between treatments. In 2016, high in-crop rainfall filled the soil profile, but high rainfall during the critical period removed crop reliance on deep water, and yields were equivalent. A simulation study extended our findings to demonstrate a median yield benefit in long-cycle treatments when the volume of starting soil water was increased. This work reveals environmental conditions that can be used to quantify the frequency of circumstances where long-cycle wheat will provide a yield advantage over current practice.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1685
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Pseudoporphyria associated with voriconazole.
Pseudoporphyria is a rare photosensitivity that resembles porphyria cutanea tarda clinically but lacks the biochemical derangements in porphyrin metabolism. The majority of cases are induced by ingestion of particular medications. We report a case of pseudoporphyria induced by voriconazole, a second-generation triazole antifungal agent, in a lung transplant recipient. Voriconazole was not discontinued due to medical necessity. The patient's pseudoporphyria was adequately controlled with UVA and UVB protection sunscreen despite continued mild sun exposure.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1686
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Effect of pulsed light treatment on Listeria inactivation, sensory quality and oxidation in two varieties of Spanish dry-cured ham.
The efficacy of pulsed light (PL) for the surface decontamination of ready-to-eat dry-cured ham was studied in two Spanish varieties, Serrano and Iberian. Listeriainnocua was inoculated on the surface of ham slices that were vacuum-packaged and flashed with 2.1, 4.2 and 8.4 J/cm2. Survivors were enumerated immediately after treatment. Peroxide values, sensory analysis and volatile profile were investigated during storage at 4 and 20 °C. Inactivation of Listeria was higher in Iberian (ca. 2 log cfu/cm2) than in Serrano ham (ca. 1 log cfu/cm2) with 8.4 J/cm2. PL did not increase the peroxide values above the usual levels reported in dry-cured ham, and no rancid notes were observed in the sensory analysis. PL-treated samples showed an increase in the concentration of some volatile compounds, such as methional, dimethyl disulfide and 1-octen-3-one, which imparted slight sulfur and metallic notes, although they disappeared during storage.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1687
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Asynchronous differentiation models explain bone marrow labeling kinetics and predict reflux between the pre- and immature B cell pools.
B lymphopoiesis has historically been depicted as a unidirectional process, in which cohorts of developing cells transit through successive differentiative stages in an irreversible, synchronous manner. Here, we examine this view by combining kinetic analysis of developing B cell subsets in the bone marrow with mathematical modeling. Our bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling data are incompatible with B cell development being a synchronous process, because labeling curves are non-linear. Moreover, we show that B cell development may not be completely unidirectional, because our results support the possibility of a phenotypic "reflux" among the immature to the pre-B cell subsets.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1688
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Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveying marine fauna: a dugong case study.
Aerial surveys of marine mammals are routinely conducted to assess and monitor species' habitat use and population status. In Australia, dugongs (Dugong dugon) are regularly surveyed and long-term datasets have formed the basis for defining habitat of high conservation value and risk assessments of human impacts. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may facilitate more accurate, human-risk free, and cheaper aerial surveys. We undertook the first Australian UAV survey trial in Shark Bay, western Australia. We conducted seven flights of the ScanEagle UAV, mounted with a digital SLR camera payload. During each flight, ten transects covering a 1.3 km(2) area frequently used by dugongs, were flown at 500, 750 and 1000 ft. Image (photograph) capture was controlled via the Ground Control Station and the capture rate was scheduled to achieve a prescribed 10% overlap between images along transect lines. Images were manually reviewed post hoc for animals and scored according to sun glitter, Beaufort Sea state and turbidity. We captured 6243 images, 627 containing dugongs. We also identified whales, dolphins, turtles and a range of other fauna. Of all possible dugong sightings, 95% (CI = 90%, 98%) were subjectively classed as 'certain' (unmistakably dugongs). Neither our dugong sighting rate, nor our ability to identify dugongs with certainty, were affected by UAV altitude. Turbidity was the only environmental variable significantly affecting the dugong sighting rate. Our results suggest that UAV systems may not be limited by sea state conditions in the same manner as sightings from manned surveys. The overlap between images proved valuable for detecting animals that were masked by sun glitter in the corners of images, and identifying animals initially captured at awkward body angles. This initial trial of a basic camera system has successfully demonstrated that the ScanEagle UAV has great potential as a tool for marine mammal aerial surveys.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1689
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Engineering a Polyketide Synthase for In Vitro Production of Adipic Acid.
Polyketides have enormous structural diversity, yet polyketide synthases (PKSs) have thus far been engineered to produce only drug candidates or derivatives thereof. Thousands of other molecules, including commodity and specialty chemicals, could be synthesized using PKSs if composing hybrid PKSs from well-characterized parts derived from natural PKSs was more efficient. Here, using modern mass spectrometry techniques as an essential part of the design-build-test cycle, we engineered a chimeric PKS to enable production one of the most widely used commodity chemicals, adipic acid. To accomplish this, we introduced heterologous reductive domains from various PKS clusters into the borrelidin PKS' first extension module, which we previously showed produces a 3-hydroxy-adipoyl intermediate when coincubated with the loading module and a succinyl-CoA starter unit. Acyl-ACP intermediate analysis revealed an unexpected bottleneck at the dehydration step, which was overcome by introduction of a carboxyacyl-processing dehydratase domain. Appending a thioesterase to the hybrid PKS enabled the production of free adipic acid. Using acyl-intermediate based techniques to "debug" PKSs as described here, it should one day be possible to engineer chimeric PKSs to produce a variety of existing commodity and specialty chemicals, as well as thousands of chemicals that are difficult to produce from petroleum feedstocks using traditional synthetic chemistry.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1690
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Building proteins with fibronectin type III modules.
Fibronectin type III modules are versatile components of many proteins. Recent structures of module pairs show how these modules are joined together.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1691
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Gastroprotective and Antiulcer Effects of Celastrus paniculatus Seed Oil Against Several Gastric Ulcer Models in Rats.
Peptic ulcer is a recurrent chronic illness and has become almost a hallmark of the so-called civilized life. In folk medicine, the Celastrus paniculatus plant has been used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases and gastrointestinal disturbances, including dyspepsia and stomach ulcers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the gastroprotective and antiulcer effects of Celastrus paniculatus seed oil (CPO) against several gastric ulcer models in rats. The gastroprotective and antiulcer effects of CPO were evaluated using pylorus-ligated ulcer ethanol- and indomethacin-induced ulcers using rantidine (40 mg/kg per os [PO]) as standard. Gastrointestinal motility was determined by gastric emptying time and gastrointestinal transit ratio. The results of the pharmacological studies of CPO (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg) demonstrated effective gastroprotection against ethanol- and indomethacin-induced ulcer models. In pylorus-ligated rats, the seed oil showed gastroprotective activity by decreasing total gastric juice volume and gastric acidity while increasing the gastric pH. The gastroprotection against ethanol and indomethacin is partially attributed to effective inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6, and increase in the levels of IL-10. Treatment with CPO in ethanol-induced ulcer rats significantly (p < .05) decreased MDA (malondialdehyde) levels, which were accompanied by an increase in the activities of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and catalase. CPO reduced the rate of gastric emptying but had no effect on gastrointestinal transit. The present findings indicate that CPO has potent gastroprotective effects and support the folkloric usage of the seed oil to treat various gastrointestinal disturbances.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1692
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Modulation of calcium-binding proteins expression and cisplatin chemosensitivity by calcium chelation in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.
Cisplatin (CDDP) is currently one of the most effective FDA-approved treatments for breast cancer. Previous studies have shown that CDDP-induced cell death in human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells is associated with disruption of calcium homeostasis. However, whether the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to cisplatin is associated with dysregulation of the expression of calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) remains unknown. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the intracellular calcium chelator (BAPTA-AM) on viability of MCF-7 cells in the presence of toxic and sub-toxic doses of cisplatin. Furthermore, this study assessed the expression of CaBPs, calmodulin, S100A8, and S100A14 in MCF-7 cells treated with cisplatin. Cell viability was determined using MTT-based in vitro toxicity assay. Intracellular calcium imaging was done using Fluo-4 AM, a cell-permeant fluorescent calcium indicator. Expression of CaBPs was tested using real-time quantitative PCR. Exposure of cells to increasing amounts of CDDP correlated with increasing fluorescence of the intracellular calcium indicator, Fluo-4 AM. Conversely, treating cells with cisplatin significantly decreased mRNA levels of calmodulin, S100A8, and S100A14. Treatment of the cells with calcium chelator, BAPTA-AM, significantly enhanced the cytotoxic effects of sub-toxic dose of cisplatin. Our results indicated a statistically significant negative correlation between calmodulin, S100A8, and S100A14 expression and sensitivity of breast cancer cells to a sub-toxic dose of cisplatin. We propose that modulating the activity of calcium-binding proteins, calmodulin, S100A8, and S100A14, could be used to increase cisplatin efficacy, lowering its treatment dosage while maintaining its chemotherapeutic value.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1693
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Exploring the influence of silver and lead on structure and function of xylanase: spectroscopic and calorimetric methods.
Soil contamination with heavy metal could induce the alteration of soil ecological environments, and soil enzyme activities are sensitive indicators for the soil toxicology. Xylanase is one of predominant soil enzymes related to carbon nitrogen cycle. In this work, we explored the underlying mechanisms for conformational and enzymatic activity alterations of xylanase after silver and lead exposure at molecular level with systematical measurements including multiple spectroscopic methods, isothermal titration calorimetry, and enzymatic activity. Both silver and lead could loosen and unfold the skeleton of xylanase with the quenching of endogenous fluorescence. Silver interacted with xylanase forming larger-size aggregations through Van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding, while lead interacted with xylanase forming larger-size aggregations through hydrophobic force. Silver and lead induced an obvious loss (67.1 and 56.31%) of the xylanase enzymatic activity, but silver has a greater impact on xylanase than that of lead. The xylanase enzymatic activity significantly decreased due to the conformational alterations. The negative effect of silver exposure on xylanase structure and function was more prominent than that of lead.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1694
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Unwanted pregnancy among Chinese renal transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the occurrence of unwanted pregnancies among renal transplant recipients and to identify major contributing factors.
METHODS
A total of 647 women of childbearing age who had received a renal transplant at one of the five participating hospitals in China were enrolled in the study and administered a questionnaire that collected information on their reproductive health, pregnancies, and awareness and use of contraceptive methods.
RESULTS
Of the 647 eligible patients, 98 (15%) reported 133 unwanted pregnancies post-transplantation. In this group (n = 98), despite an awareness of the available contraceptive measures, 56% had not applied any method of contraception, while 20% had relied on the rhythm method, and in only 12% of the cases male condoms had been used. The most common reason for not using contraception was a failure to realise that their reproductive function had been restored to normal soon after transplantation (19%). CONCLUSION In female renal transplant recipients, unprotected sex combined with incorrect judgment about their own reproductive potential post-transplantation were the major causes of unwanted pregnancies. The latter could be avoided through counselling about the risk pregnancy entails and the implementation of appropriate contraceptive measures.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1695
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The action of general anaesthetic agents on root responses of the frog isolated spinal cord.
1. The action of volatile and barbiturate general anaesthetic agents on synaptic transmission in the frog isolated spinal cord has been studied by recording ventral root synaptic potentials and spike discharges evoked by volleys in a dorsal root and in the lateral column fibres.2. Some observations on the distribution of the lateral column fibres and the characteristics of the dorsal root potentials have been presented.3. Volatile agents depressed and eventually abolished all components of the ventral root responses. Failure of motoneurone discharge was the result of two factors, a decrease in the slope of the synaptic potential and an elevation of the critical depolarization required to trigger propagated impulses.4. Barbiturate compounds, in contrast, readily abolished polysynaptic components of the ventral root responses, but the short latency discharge produced by lateral column stimulation was potentiated, and was accompanied by a lowering of the firing threshold of motoneurones. The mechanism of this potentiation by barbiturate compounds is discussed.5. It is concluded that volatile agents act predominantly on the initial segment and subsynaptic elements of the motoneurone, whereas barbiturate compounds depress the presynaptic or postsynaptic components of interneuronal synapses.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1696
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Recruitment dynamics of ESCRT-III and Vps4 to endosomes and implications for reverse membrane budding.
The ESCRT machinery mediates reverse membrane scission. By quantitative fluorescence lattice light-sheet microscopy, we have shown that ESCRT-III subunits polymerize rapidly on yeast endosomes, together with the recruitment of at least two Vps4 hexamers. During their 3-45 s lifetimes, the ESCRT-III assemblies accumulated 75-200 Snf7 and 15-50 Vps24 molecules. Productive budding events required at least two additional Vps4 hexamers. Membrane budding was associated with continuous, stochastic exchange of Vps4 and ESCRT-III components, rather than steady growth of fixed assemblies, and depended on Vps4 ATPase activity. An all-or-none step led to final release of ESCRT-III and Vps4. Tomographic electron microscopy demonstrated that acute disruption of Vps4 recruitment stalled membrane budding. We propose a model in which multiple Vps4 hexamers (four or more) draw together several ESCRT-III filaments. This process induces cargo crowding and inward membrane buckling, followed by constriction of the nascent bud neck and ultimately ILV generation by vesicle fission.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1697
|
Case of metastatic breast cancer from esophageal cancer.
Metastasis to the breast from extramammary malignancies is rare. This is the third case report of metastatic breast cancer from esophageal cancer. We report the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings of a 57-year-old woman who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer and developed metastatic cancer 2 years later. Pathologic examination of a resected specimen of the breast revealed squamous cell carcinoma invading the mammary glands. Estrogen receptor and axillary lymph node metastasis were negative with immunostaining. She is alive 6 months after the modified radical mastectomy.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1698
|
Henry Ware Cattell and Walt Whitman's Brain.
Henry Ware Cattell was a prominent pathologist and medical editor in late 19th and early 20th century America. Strangely, his name is unknown to most medical historians but is more widely known by aficionados of Walt Whitman's poetry. In 1892, Cattell was involved in an incident that abruptly changed his life and decreased his commitment to pathology as a career. Cattell had been serving as the pathologist/prosector for the American Anthropometric Society at the time the poet Walt Whitman died. Cattell, the pathologist for the University of Pennsylvania's Wistar Institute, performed Whitman's autopsy on March 27, 1892; Whitman's brain was removed and was to join those of other prominent American intellectuals who had donated their brains to the Society's "Brain Club," but something went horribly wrong (allegedly, an assistant had dropped the brain and destroyed it) and Cattell kept this a secret. Full of self-doubt, Cattell was anguished about his inadequacies as a pathologist and was extremely worried about how all of this would affect his career when discovered. While still continuing to practice hospital-based pathology, he began to transition into an author and editor. This essay will provide a detailed biographical sketch of Henry Ware Cattell, address his sibling rivalry with his more famous brother James McKeen Cattell, briefly discuss the fad of 19th century intellectuals embracing the pseudo-science of phrenology and their participation in anatomical "brain clubs," and, finally, address the mystery of what happened to Walt Whitman's brain. Clin. Anat. 31:988-996, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever1699
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Bilateral intravesical ureterocele associated with unilateral partial duplication of the ureter and other anomalies: proposal of a new variant to the classification of ureterocles based on a perinatal autopsy, review of the literature and embryology.
The aims of this study were to demonstrate a case of bilateral intravesical ureterocele associated with megacystis and mega-ureters, unilateral partial duplication of the ureter and unilateral segmental renal dysplasia of the upper pole and an accessory spleen and to propose an addition of the new variant to the classification of ureteroceles. A perinatal necropsy was conducted on the 21-week fetus by employing the Rokitansky procedure with evisceration performed in blocks. The autopsy revealed the aforementioned abnormalities without cardiac or neural anomalies. The amniocentesis report was normal. Ureterocele is a saccular expansion of the distal ureter. It is most commonly observed in females and children and usually affects the upper moiety of a complete pyeloureteral duplication. Four types of ureteroceles are described: (A) ureterocele with single ureter (10%); (B) ureterocele with total duplication and intravesical development (10%); (C) ureterocele with total duplication and extravesical development (62%); and (D) ureterocele with ectopic ureter (3%). One case in a new born with bilateral intravesical ureterocele associated with hydrouretero-nephrosis and hyperechogenic spots in kidneys has been reported, but bilateral intravesical ureterocele with unilateral incomplete pyeloureteral duplication has never been described in the literature.
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No pos
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No neg
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