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Retriever2100
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[The organization of system of information support of regional health care].
The comparative analysis was implemented concerning versions of architecture of segment of unified public information system of health care within the framework of the regional program of modernization of Nizhniy Novgorod health care system. The author proposed means of increasing effectiveness of public investments on the basis of analysis of aggregate value of ownership of information system. The evaluation is given concerning running up to target program indicators and dynamics of basic indicators of informatization of institutions of oblast health care system.
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Retriever2101
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Chemical components change along the ontogeny of a bat fruit (Neolamarckia cadamba) with ripening asynchrony in favour of its fruit selection and seed dispersal.
An asynchronous fruit-ripening strategy can enhance the chance of seed dispersal by providing ripe fruits for an extended period to foragers. However, mechanisms associated with this strategy that can facilitate seed dispersal are understudied. This study aimed to investigate whether the chemical components (minerals and secondary metabolites) of a bat fruit with ripening asynchrony change along its ontogeny (Rubiaceae: Neolamarckia cadamba). We predicted that the seed-to-pulp ratio would increase along with fruit ripeness. The chemical components of the fruit were also predicted to change along their ontogenesis in favour of fruit selection and seed dispersal by fruit bats. Our study shows that the asynchronous fruiting strategy limited the number of ripe fruits daily so that fruits were available at a steady rate. As predicted, the seed-to-pulp ratio of each fruit increased along with fruit development. A fruit's mineral concentration also increased as fruit developed, with a sharp jump at full ripeness, when fruit colour also changed. In contrast, the concentration of secondary metabolite compositions decreased gradually during the process of ontogeny. Fruit bats (Pteropodidae: Pteropus giganteus and Cynopterus sphinx) were the only nocturnal frugivore visitors of these trees and their fruit selection was driven by fruit size and colour. Both bats preferably consumed ripe fruits, which had a higher concentration of attractants (essential minerals) and a lower concentration of deterrents (secondary metabolites), supplemented with a higher seed-to-pulp ratio. The bats exhibited different foraging patterns and home ranges resulting in dispersal (as measured by feeding roost location) occurring across different spatial scales. Our study shows that the chemical components involved in an asynchronous fruit-ripening process could select for extended fruit availability by intensifying the demand for each ripe fruit among legitimate seed dispersers, which increases the likelihood of fruits being dispersed away from parent crowns.
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Retriever2102
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DHA-supplemented diet increases the survival of rats following asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass resuscitation.
Accumulating evidence illustrates the beneficial effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on cardiovascular diseases. However, its effects on cardiac arrest (CA) remain controversial in epidemiological studies and have not been reported in controlled animal studies. Here, we examined whether dietary DHA can improve survival, the most important endpoint in CA. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups and received either a control diet or a DHA-supplemented diet for 7-8 weeks. Rats were then subjected to 20 min asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest followed by 30 min cardiopulmonary bypass resuscitation. Rat survival was monitored for additional 3.5 h following resuscitation. In the control group, 1 of 9 rats survived for 4 h, whereas 6 of 9 rats survived in the DHA-treated group. Surviving rats in the DHA-treated group displayed moderately improved hemodynamics compared to rats in the control group 1 h after the start of resuscitation. Rats in the control group showed no sign of brain function whereas rats in the DHA-treated group had recurrent seizures and spontaneous respiration, suggesting dietary DHA also protects the brain. Overall, our study shows that dietary DHA significantly improves rat survival following 20 min of severe CA.
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Retriever2103
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Visual and Ocular Manifestations of Alzheimer's Disease and Their Use as Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Progression.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia affecting the growing aging population today, with prevalence expected to rise over the next 35 years. Clinically, patients exhibit a progressive decline in cognition, memory, and social functioning due to deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) protein and intracellular hyperphosphorylated tau protein. These pathological hallmarks of AD are measured either through neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, or diagnosed post-mortem. Importantly, neuropathological progression occurs in the eye as well as the brain, and multiple visual changes have been noted in both human and animal models of AD. The eye offers itself as a transparent medium to cerebral pathology and has thus potentiated the development of ocular biomarkers for AD. The use of non-invasive screening, such as retinal imaging and visual testing, may enable earlier diagnosis in the clinical setting, minimizing invasive and expensive investigations. It also potentially improves disease management and quality of life for AD patients, as an earlier diagnosis allows initiation of medication and treatment. In this review, we explore the evidence surrounding ocular changes in AD and consider the biomarkers currently in development for early diagnosis.
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Retriever2104
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Mandarin-speaking preschoolers' pitch discrimination, prosodic and phonological awareness, and their relation to receptive vocabulary and reading abilities.
Cross-linguistic studies have reported that prosodic pattern awareness (e.g., lexical stress and lexical tone) is more important to reading acquisition than phonological awareness. However, few longitudinal studies have been conducted to explore the relations between these variables. This study examined preschoolers' pitch discrimination, prosodic and phonological awareness, and their connection to receptive vocabulary in preschool and reading abilities in first grade. Findings reveal (1) children improve their pitch discrimination and prosodic awareness from preschool to fourth grade; (2) pitch interval discrimination (frequency separation between tones) contributes to receptive vocabulary whereas pitch contour discrimination (patterns of rising and falling pitch) predicts word reading; (3) phonological awareness accounts for more variability in receptive vocabulary than prosodic awareness; whereas the reverse was found for word reading and reading comprehension. Together, prosody and its acoustic cue (i.e., pitch) play a vital role in learning to read Mandarin.
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Retriever2105
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A Novel Allyl Transfer Coupled with a Grob Fragmentation.
A novel acid-promoted rearrangement is disclosed. In the previously unknown transformation, an allyl group migrated to an in situ formed carbocation stabilized by an electron-rich aryl or heteroaryl group, resulting in a stereoselective intramolecular Grob fragmentation. The outcome of the rearrangement observed with an array of substrates can be satisfactorily rationalized using a working hypothesis with the aid of a six-membered transition state similar to those proposed for the anionic oxy-Cope or oxonia-Cope rearrangements, but involving only one instead of two double bonds.
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Retriever2106
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Combining Selective Internal Radiation Therapy with Immunotherapy in Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Hepatic Colorectal Metastases: A Systematic Review.
Immunotherapy in the form of checkpoint inhibitors has changed the treatment paradigm in oncology. Combining selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with immunotherapy has been suggested to potentially improve outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC). In this systematic review, the authors discuss the current developments and available clinical data regarding the combination of immunotherapy and SIRT in treating hepatic malignancies. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were systematically searched for eligible studies (adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines). Original patient studies written in English language with patients with HCC or mCRC who were treated with SIRT and immunotherapy were included. Endpoints evaluated included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR). 1038 publications were screened, from which 1034 publications were excluded. Eventually four studies with a total of 87 patients were included in this systematic review, of which two consisted of mCRC and the other two HCC. All four studies showed no increased toxicities of the combination therapy over known data on monotherapy. One mCRC study reported a median OS of 8 months, while the other mCRC study ended due to futility. Both reported an ORR of 0%. The two HCC studies reported a median OS of 16.5 and 16.2 months. Median PFS was 5.6 and 5.7 months. ORR ranged from 31% to 80%. The combination of SIRT and immunotherapy has been studied in four early-phase studies showing a favorable safety profile. Further studies are necessary to understand the possible synergy and possible benefit of combination therapy.
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Retriever2107
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Does a prior cancer diagnosis impact PSA testing? Results from the National Health Interview Survey.
INTRODUCTION
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing remains a controversial issue. However, most urological guidelines recommend PSA testing in men aged 55-69 through a shared decision-making process with the patient. The impact of prior cancer diagnosis on PSA testing is not well-known. To compare PSA testing in men aged 55-69 years with and without a history of cancer (excluding prostate cancer patients).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Utilizing the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a retrospective cross-sectional study during the year 2018 was carried out. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was implemented to demonstrate potential associations with PSA testing and assess the association of cancer history.
RESULTS
A total of 2,892 men aged 55-69 years from the NHIS survey who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. A total of 308 (10.7%) men had a history of cancer (non-prostate). Men with a cancer history had a higher number of PSA tests and more recent testing than men with no previous cancer history. On multivariable analysis, men who were previously diagnosed with cancer had a higher likelihood of undergoing PSA testing compared to men with no history of cancer (OR: 1.87, 95% CI 1.39-2.52, p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that men aged 55-69 with a history of cancer are more likely to undergo PSA testing than men with no cancer history.
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Retriever2108
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Association of Australian arboviruses with nervous disease in horses.
An outbreak of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) occurred in New South Wales during the first five months of 1974. Specimens from 52 horses with nervous disease collected January to May 1974 were examined histopathological or virologically. Although MVE virus was not isolated, 13 horses had serological evidence of recent infection with MVE virus. Another 4 horses had evidence of recent infection with Ross River virus. Two animals had histological evidence of viral infection of the central nervous system. Attempts to experimentally infect 2 horses with a low dose of MVE virus were not successful by intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous routes.
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Retriever2109
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Efficacy of Shikonin against Esophageal Cancer Cells and its possible mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.
Increasing evidences indicate that shikonin can suppress the tumor growth. However, the mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of shikonin against esophageal cancer. The expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in esophageal cancer tissues and cells was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. CCK-8 was used to examine the esophageal cancer cell viability. Apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of EGFR, PI3K, Akt, p-AKT, mTOR, HIF1α and PKM2 was detected by Western blot. EC109/pkm2 was established by lentivirus transducer. Ec109 tumor model was founded to observe the antitumor effect of shikonin in vivo. We found that HIF1α and PKM2 protein expression levels were higher in esophageal cancer tissues and cells than normal esophageal tissues and cells. Shikonin reduced esophageal cancer cells viability and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Shikonin decreased EGFR, PI3K, p-AKT, HIF1α and PKM2 expression. Overexpression of PKM2 could enhance resistance of esophageal cancer cells to shikonin. In vivo we found that shikonin reduced tumor burden, inducing cell arrest and apoptosis. Taken together, shikonin has a significant antitumor effect in the esophageal cancer by regulating HIF1α/PKM2 signal pathway.
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Retriever2110
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[The characteristics of the bladder-sphincter reflex in children].
Based on the examination of 89 children (71 patients with various bladder diseases and 18 healthy subjects), the authors developed a new procedure for recording the vesicosphincteral reflex by the use of urethral profilometry. The procedure involved comparison of background and stimulation examination findings of urethral profilograms. The optimum parameters were defined for detection of vesicosphincteral reflex and the conditions were developed for its performance. The procedure may be useful in the diagnosis of neurogenic bladder, sphincter-detrusor dyssynergia, stress-induced enuresis, etc.
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Retriever2111
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Physiological and behavioral changes in honey bees (Apis mellifera) induced by Nosema ceranae infection.
Persistent exposure to mite pests, poor nutrition, pesticides, and pathogens threaten honey bee survival. In healthy colonies, the interaction of the yolk precursor protein, vitellogenin (Vg), and endocrine factor, juvenile hormone (JH), functions as a pacemaker driving the sequence of behaviors that workers perform throughout their lives. Young bees perform nursing duties within the hive and have high Vg and low JH; as older bees transition to foraging, this trend reverses. Pathogens and parasites can alter this regulatory network. For example, infection with the microsporidian, Nosema apis, has been shown to advance behavioral maturation in workers. We investigated the effects of infection with a recent honey bee pathogen on physiological factors underlying the division of labor in workers. Bees infected with N. ceranae were nearly twice as likely to engage in precocious foraging and lived 9 days less, on average, compared to controls. We also show that Vg transcript was low, while JH titer spiked, in infected nurse-aged bees in cages. This pattern of expression is atypical and the reverse of what would be expected for healthy, non-infected bees. Disruption of the basic underpinnings of temporal polyethism due to infection may be a contributing factor to recent high colony mortality, as workers may lose flexibility in their response to colony demands.
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Retriever2112
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Meta-analysis of magnetic resonance imaging in detecting residual breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy.
BACKGROUND
It has been proposed that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) be used to guide breast cancer surgery by differentiating residual tumor from pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This meta-analysis examines MRI accuracy in detecting residual tumor, investigates variables potentially affecting MRI performance, and compares MRI with other tests.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was undertaken. Hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) models were used to estimate (relative) diagnostic odds ratios ([R]DORs). Summary sensitivity (correct identification of residual tumor), specificity (correct identification of pCR), and areas under the SROC curves (AUCs) were derived. All statistical tests were two-sided.
RESULTS
Forty-four studies (2050 patients) were included. The overall AUC of MRI was 0.88. Accuracy was lower for "standard" pCR definitions (referent category) than "less clearly described" (RDOR = 2.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11 to 5.23) or "near-pCR" definitions (RDOR = 2.60, 95% CI = 0.73 to 9.24; P = .03.) Corresponding AUCs were 0.83, 0.90, and 0.91. Specificity was higher when negative MRI was defined as contrast enhancement less than or equal to normal tissue (0.83, 95% CI = 0.64 to 0.93) vs no enhancement (0.54, 95% CI = 0.39 to 0.69; P = .02), with comparable sensitivity (0.83, 95% CI = 0.69 to 0.91; vs 0.87, 95% CI = 0.80 to 0.92; P = .45). MRI had higher accuracy than mammography (P = .02); there was only weak evidence that MRI had higher accuracy than clinical examination (P = .10). No difference in MRI and ultrasound accuracy was found (P = .15).
CONCLUSIONS
MRI accurately detects residual tumor after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Accuracy was lower when pCR was more rigorously defined, and specificity was lower when test negativity thresholds were more stringent; these definitions require standardization. MRI is more accurate than mammography; however, studies comparing MRI and ultrasound are required.
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Retriever2113
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Study of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Taiwan.
The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common serious problems that affect the quality of life for both the patients with such symptoms as well as their caregivers. BPSD present a major challenge in the medical management of patients and are the major cause of institutionalization. Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia in Taiwan. I performed a systematic literature review on BPSD studies and found that Taiwanese patients with AD exhibit many of the BPSD. Studies showed that between 30% and 63% of Taiwan's AD patients experienced delusion. Hallucination occurred less frequently, which ranged from 21% to 26%. Anxiety occurred in 35-76% of patients and depression 22-50%, sleep abnormalities 26-61% and 39-46%. The differences in the prevalence of BPSD might result from the different clinical settings and evaluation instruments. The prevalence and clinical manifestations of BPSD in Taiwan are similar to Western reports and it suggests that most of BPSD are neurobiologically determined. Based on differing cultural backgrounds, the interpretation of agitation and apathy might differ, so, the development of cross-cultural applicable criteria and rating scales for the assessment and treatment of BPSD are important for future studies.
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Retriever2114
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[Antimicrobial chemotherapy of infection in intensive care conditions].
Antimicrobiologic chemotherapy is a cornerstone in the modern concept of treatment of sepsis. It is supported by a number of measures of intensive care. Externally acquired infections followed by sepsis mainly affect immunocompromised patients. They represent the minority. On the other hand, nosocomial infections play a dominant role in intensive care units. Nosocomial pneumonias and infections caused by intravascular plastics or endoprotheses are the most important reasons of sepsis. Initial antimicrobiologic therapy considers both the infectious focus and the specific epidemiology and resistance of microorganisms present in the department: it comprises the drawing of 2 to 3 blood cultures, taking of urinary cultures, tracheal secretion, liquor and wound-swaps for microbiologic examination. A gramstaining of the preparation can be helpful. In case the focus of the sepsis is not known, the first step of treatment consists of a combination of piperacilline or cephalosporins with aminoglycosides. If the septic state does not improve within 48 hours, a glycopeptide should be added against staphylococci (second step). If the combination fails, imipenem/cilastatin and aminoglycosides are administered as the third step. Normally, the result of cultures and resistogram already are available by this time. Today aminoglycosides are preferably given once daily, the serum level is monitored, and the toxicity of aminoglycosides is thus diminished.
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Retriever2115
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Unilateral bronchospasm following interpleural analgesia with bupivacaine.
The interpleural block (IPB) is a relatively safe procedure and is commonly practised to provide analgesia. A local anaesthetic injected into the interpleural space spreads widely to block various neural structures. The IPB can initiate bronchospasm by interrupting the sympathetic outflow but sparing the parasympathetic outflow to the lungs. In addition, unilateral reduction of intercostal muscle tone with consequential selective reduction of the functional residual capacity of that lung may also mimic airflow obstruction. We report a case of unilateral bronchospasm encountered following IPB.
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Retriever2116
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Computers in patient education.
Nurses in practice have an increasing need to become aware of the computer-based resources available and the evidence regarding their use in the process of patient education. This synthesis of the literature examines research related to computer-based patient education. A particular focus is placed on the nurse clinician's perspective and the role of the nurse as a patient educator in the digital age. Two primary healthcare database resources, MEDLINE and CINAHL, were selected for review of the current literature. A listing of articles related to the use of computer technology in patient education was obtained from both of these databases. The search strategy included exploding the subject heading terms "computer" and "patient education," and included articles from 1971 to 2001. Computer-based patient education is an effective strategy for improving healthcare knowledge and clinical outcomes. Computer-based learning can be tailored to the individual's age and specific learning needs. Furthermore, although access to computer-based resources continues to be a barrier for some, socioeconomic disparities have no reported impact on patients' abilities to use computer-based technologies effectively.
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Retriever2117
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Rapid morphological radiation and convergence among races of the butterfly Heliconius erato inferred from patterns of mitochondrial DNA evolution.
The neotropical Heliconius butterflies are famous examples of Müllerian mimicry, due to the diverse array of shared, brightly colored wing patterns that advertise the butterflies' unpalatability. The parallel geographical variation in these patterns within several widespread species has been invoked to support the controversial Pleistocene refugium hypothesis of tropical diversification. However, in no Heliconius species have either evolutionary rates or relationships among geographical races been explicitly examined. I present a phylogenetic hypothesis based on mitochondrial DNA sequences for 14 divergent races of Heliconius erato, which reveals that similar wing patterns have evolved rapidly and convergently within the species. There is a basal split between groups of races from east and west of the Andes, reflecting a vicariant separation at the base of the Pleistocene. Within each of these clades, sequence divergence is very low, and some haplotypes are shared between allopatric races with radically different wing patterns. The topology implies a simultaneous radiation of races in these two areas within the last 200,000 years. Ages for the clades are estimated by comparing sequence divergence to a plot of mitochondrial divergence in several arthropod taxa with independently dated divergence times. This plot is linear and suggests that mitochondrial DNA in arthropods evolves in a clocklike manner, at least initially, when sequence divergence is low.
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Retriever2118
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Mechanism of action and specificity of antimicrobial peptides designed based on buforin IIb.
Buforin IIb-a synthetic analog of buforin II that contains a proline hinge between the two α-helices and a model α-helical sequence at the C-terminus (3× RLLR)-is a potent cell-penetrating antimicrobial peptide. To develop novel antimicrobial peptides with enhanced activities and specificity/therapeutic index, we designed several analogs (Buf III analogs) by substitutions of amino acids in the proline hinge region and two α-helices of buforin IIb, and examined their antimicrobial activity and mechanism of action. The substitution of hydrophobic residues ([F(6)] and [V(8)]) in the proline hinge region with other hydrophobic residues ([W(6)] and [I(8)]) did not affect antimicrobial activity, while the substitution of the first four amino acids RAGL with a model α-helical sequence increased the antimicrobial activity up to 2-fold. Like buforin IIb, Buf III analogs penetrated the bacterial cell membranes without significantly permeabilizing them and were accumulated inside Escherichia coli. Buf III analogs were shown to bind DNA in vitro and the DNA binding affinity of the peptides correlated linearly with their antimicrobial potency. Among the Buf III analogs, the therapeutic index of Buf IIIb and IIIc (RVVRQWPIG[RVVR](3) and KLLKQWPIG[KLLK](3), respectively) were improved 7-fold compared to that of buforin IIb. These results indicate that Buf III analogs appear to be promising candidates for future development as novel antimicrobial agents.
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Retriever2119
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Expression of hsp 27, hsp 60, hsc 70, and hsp 70 stress response genes in cultured human urothelial cells (UROtsa) exposed to lethal and sublethal concentrations of sodium arsenite.
The stress response is one mechanism that the bladder urothelium could potentially employ to protect itself from cellular damage after exposure to arsenic and, in so doing, influence the shape of the dose-response curve at low concentrations of exposure to this environmental pollutant. In the present study, we used the cultured human urothelial cell line UROtsa, a model of human urothelium, to determine the expression of heat shock proteins hsp 27, hsp 60, hsc 70, and hsp 70 after acute and extended exposure of the cells to lethal and sublethal levels of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2). Acute exposure was modeled by exposing confluent cultures of UROtsa cells to 100 micro M NaAsO2 for 4 hr followed by a 48-hr recovery period. Extended exposure was modeled by exposing confluent UROtsa cells to 1, 4, and 8 micro M NaAsO2 for 16 days, with the highest concentration producing cell death by 4 days of exposure. The expression of hsp 27, hsp 60, hsc 70, and hsp 70 mRNA and protein was determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western analysis. Cell viability was determined by the MTT [(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. The results demonstrated that the expression of hsp 27, hsp 60, and hsc 70 mRNA and protein were not consistently increased by either acute or extended exposure to NaAsO2. In contrast, hsp 70 expression was induced by NaAsO2 after both acute and extended exposure. The degree and duration of the induction of the hsp 70 protein in the extended time course of exposure to NaAsO2 correlated directly with UROtsa cell cytotoxicity. The substantial level of basal expression of hsp 27, hsp 60, and hsc 70 shown previously in human bladder urothelium, coupled with the inducible expression of hsp 70, could provide the human urothelium with a mechanism to withstand and recover from a low level of arsenite exposure.
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Retriever2120
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Robot Communication: Network Traffic Classification Based on Deep Neural Network.
With the rapid popularization of robots, the risks brought by robot communication have also attracted the attention of researchers. Because current traffic classification methods based on plaintext cannot classify encrypted traffic, other methods based on statistical analysis require manual extraction of features. This paper proposes (i) a traffic classification framework based on a capsule neural network. This method has a multilayer neural network that can automatically learn the characteristics of the data stream. It uses capsule vectors instead of a single scalar input to effectively classify encrypted network traffic. (ii) For different network structures, a classification network structure combining convolution neural network and long short-term memory network is proposed. This structure has the characteristics of learning network traffic time and space characteristics. Experimental results show that the network model can classify encrypted traffic and does not require manual feature extraction. And on the basis of the previous tool, the recognition accuracy rate has increased by 8.
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Retriever2121
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Supramolecular structures and columnar mesophase induction in nondiscoid pyrazoles by complexation to rhodium(I).
Several new cis-[RhCl(CO)2(Ln)] complexes have been prepared using different polycatenar pyrazole ligands (Ln) in order to obtain columnar liquid crystalline arrangements. The topology of the ligand plays an essential role, and a mesophase is induced at room temperature from a nonmesogenic pyrazole only when it is symmetrically substituted with six decyloxy chains. The single-crystal structure of a methoxy-substituted analogue, 3,5-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)pyrazole, is formed by globular tetrameric structures held together by H-bonding. However, parallel dimers are present in the corresponding cis-chlorodicarbonylrhodium(I) complex, a situation that explains the induction of a columnar mesophase in the decyloxy-substituted complex. The XRD pattern of the mesophase is consistent with a hexagonal symmetry in which the columns are formed by molecules assembled in an antiparallel mode. The crystal-to-mesophase transition was also detected by spectroscopic techniques as a shift in the IR carbonyl stretching bands and the appearance of a charge-transfer band in the absorption spectrum with thermochromic behavior.
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Retriever2122
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Bilateral same-day endoscopic tympanoplasty.
PURPOSE
Although bilateral same-day tympanoplasty is a faster and more comfortable procedure for patients, it is rarely performed due to its theoretical risks. The present study aims to evaluate the results of patients who underwent bilateral same-day endoscopic tympanoplasty.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this study, 26 patients and 52 ears were evaluated. Postoperative anatomic success rate, pre- and postoperative hearing test results, hearing gains and postoperative complications were recorded.
RESULTS
Postoperative anatomic success rate was 92.3% (48/52). Audiological tests revealed the preoperative air-bone gap (ABG) as 19.1 ± 8.8 (7-35) dB and postoperative ABG as 9.8 ± 5.7 (5-25) dB. Postoperative ABG decreased significantly (p: <0.001) and 9.2 ± 4.6 (2-23) dB hearing gain was obtained. We did not observe any significant complications.
CONCLUSION
Bilateral same-day endoscopic tympanoplasty is a feasible surgical procedure with good anatomic and functional outcomes, low complication rate and good postoperative patient comfort.
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Retriever2123
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Significance of PD-L1 in the diagnosis and treatment of B-cell malignant lymphoma.
The present study explored the significance of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) molecules in the diagnosis and treatment of B-cell malignant lymphoma. A total of 92 patients with B-cell malignant lymphoma (experimental group), admitted to the Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from February 2014 to May 2017, and 60 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Plasma levels of PD-L1 before treatment and at 5, 10, and 15 days after treatment were measured by ELISA. Correlation between PD-L1 expression levels and treatment time was analyzed. Levels of PD-L1 in different pathological types were compared. ROC curve was used to analyze the efficacy of PD-L1 in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma. The expression level of PD-L1 in experimental group was 272.86±48.21 pg/ml, significantly higher than that in control group (18.24±3.62 pg/ml) (P<0.01). In patients with B-cell lymphoma, PD-L1 expression was highest in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, followed by small lymphocyte lymphoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and the lowest PD-L1 expression level was observed in follicular lymphoma (P<0.05). Linear correlation analysis showed that the expression level of PD-L1 was negatively correlated with treatment time (r=-0.683, P<0.01). The highest Youden index (51.24) was set as cut-off score, the sensitivity of the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma was 81.66%, and the specificity was 90.24%. PD-L1 is highly expressed in B-cell malignant lymphomas and negatively correlated with treatment time. It has high diagnostic efficiency for B-cell lymphoma and is expected to be an effective immunotherapeutic target for B-cell lymphoma.
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Retriever2124
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Effects of perinatal asphyxia on rat striatal cytoskeleton.
Perinatal asphyxia (PA) is a medical condition associated with a high short-term morbimortality and different long-term neurological diseases. In previous works, we have shown that neuronal and synaptic changes in rat striatum lead to ubi-protein accumulation in post-synaptic density (PSD) after six months of sub-severe PA. However, very little is known about the synaptic and related structural modifications induced by PA in young rats. In the present work, we studied neuronal cytoskeleton modifications in striatum induced by subsevere PA in 30-day-old rats. We observed a significant decrease in the number of neurons, in particular calbindin immunoreactive neurons after PA. In addition, it was also observed that actin cytoskeleton was highly modified in the PSD as well as an increment of F-actin staining by Phalloidin-alexa(488) in the striatum of PA rats. Using correlative fluorescence-electron microscopy photooxidation, we confirmed and extended confocal observations. F-actin staining augmentation was mostly related with an increment in the number of mushroom-shaped spines. Consistent with microscopic data, Western blot analysis revealed a β-actin increment in PSD in PA rats. On the other hand, MAP-2 immunostaining was decreased after PA, being NF-200 expression unmodified. Although neuronal death was observed, signs of generalized neurodegeneration were absent. Taken together these results showed early post-synaptic F-actin cytoskeleton changes induced by PA with slightly modifications in the other components of the neuronal cytoskeleton, suggesting that F-actin accumulation in the dendritic spines could be involved in the neuronal loss induced by PA.
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Retriever2125
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Optical properties of etiolated plant tissues.
Etiolated tissues of several plants are multiple bundles of fiber optics capable of coherent transfer of light over at least 20 mm. The acceptance angles (the angles at which light can be intercepted and then internally reflected longitudinally) for mung beans, oats, and corn are 47 degrees , 59 degrees , and 52 degrees -54 degrees , respectively. The shapes of the curves that describe the acceptance angles are the same for various tissues of the same plant but differ between species. The pattern of light transmitted longitudinally through a tissue is dependent on the angle at which the light intercepts the side of the tissue and is strongly influenced by the tissue geometry. When 0.5 mm of the tip is irradiated, the amount of light traveling down the "shaded" side of the coleoptile is equal to or 2- to 3-fold greater than the amount traveling down the "lighted" side.
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Retriever2126
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Correlations of SOX9 expression with serum IGF1 and inflammatory cytokines IL-1α and IL-6 in skin lesions of patients with acne.
OBJECTIVE
To study the correlations of sex determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) expression with serum type-1 insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in skin lesion tissues of patients with acne.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Six patients with acne who were treated for the first time in our outpatient clinic from June 2017 to July 2017 were selected as observation group, and 6 normal subjects were selected as control group. The expression of SOX9 was detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein expressions of IGF-1, IL-1α, and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SOX9 was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
RESULTS
Compared with that in control group, the expression of SOX9 in observation group was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Compared with those in control group, the expressions of IGF-1, IL-1α and IL-6 in observation group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Compared with that in control group, the mRNA expression of SOX9 in observation group was significantly increased (p < 0.05). SOX9 was positively correlated with IGF-1, IL-1α and IL-6.
CONCLUSIONS
The expressions of SOX9, IGF-1, IL-1α, and IL-6 in skin lesion tissues of patients with acne are increased, and SOX9 is positively correlated with IGF-1, IL-1α, and IL-6 and can be used as a target for the treatment of acne inflammation.
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Retriever2127
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Reversible Endoscopic Medial Maxillectomy: Endonasal Approach to Diseases of the Maxillary Sinus.
Introduction The endoscopic access has reduced the morbidity associated with external approaches in diseases of the maxillary sinus. A reversible endoscopic medial maxillectomy (REMM) is presented as an alternative for treatment of benign maxillary diseases. Objective To describe the REMM technique and report four cases of patients with benign maxillary sinus conditions treated through this approach. Methods The present study was divided into two parts: anatomical and case series. Two cadaveric dissections confirmed the feasibility of the REMM approach. The same technique was performed on four consecutive patients with benign maxillary sinus disease. Results The cadaveric dissections confirmed wide exposure to the maxillary cavity, preserving the anatomy of the maxillary sinus. In the patient series, one patient presented with an antrochoanal polyp, one had a silent sinus syndrome, one had a chronic maxillary sinusitis secondary to a gunshot, and the last one had an inverted papilloma in the maxillary sinus. In all of the cases, the REMM approach provided excellent access and adequate resection, as well as preservation of the inferior turbinate, nasolacrimal duct, and lateral wall of the nose (including its osteomucosal component). Finally, all of the patients had an uneventful postoperative course. Conclusion The REMM technique is an excellent surgical approach to benign conditions of the maxillary sinus. It has few limitations and appears to be associated with less morbidity than conventional techniques.
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Retriever2128
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Facile fabrication of transparent high-barrier poly(lactic acid)-based bilayer films with antioxidant/antimicrobial performances.
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has been intended as an encouraging biopolymer for packaging purposes. Nevertheless, PLA-based films suffer from low gas barrier properties, which restrict their applications. Here, we report a facile fabrication of multi-component coating via layer deposition of cinnamaldehyde (CIN)-doped chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/fish gelatin (CPF) on PLA surfaces. Different PLA/CPF ratios (100:0, 77.5:22.5, 55:45, 32.5:67.5, and 0:100) were tested, whereas the PLA55:CPF45 was selected for loading of CIN. The surface and morphology analyses of the bilayers verify that CPF layers are successfully coated on the PLA surfaces. This design improved the mechanical strength and water barrier of CPF films and simultaneously enhanced the ductility of PLA films. By deposition of CIN-doped CPF layer on a PLA substrate, the oxygen permeability decreased from 28.92 to 0.238 cm3 mm/m2 day bar, approximately 122 times lower than that of bare PLA. CIN loadings in the CPF layer endowed bilayer films with antioxidant/antimicrobial activity.
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Retriever2129
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Position as a variable for cardiovascular responses during exercise.
Twenty-one normal young male subjects underwent resting and exercise (bicycle) radionuclide angiography in the full supine and 70 degrees upright tilt positions in order to examine the effects of position on left ventricular size and performance, hemodynamics, and exercise duration. All subjects also underwent full (90 degrees) upright bicycle ergometry with respiratory gas analysis to establish the level of maximal exercise capacity for each. Body position significantly (p less than 0.05) affected resting and exercise cardiovascular parameters. End-diastolic and endsystolic left ventricular volumes and stroke volume were larger in the supine position, both at rest and during exercise. The cardiac output at rest and during exercise were comparable for the two positions; an increase in resting and exercise heart rate in the 70 degrees tilt position compensated for the reduced stroke volume of this posture. At maximal exercise, the 70 degrees upright position was associated with a greater response in left ventricular ejection fraction, otherwise this parameter was not position related. Exercise capacity, in terms of duration and workload, was significantly higher in the supine (1870 +/- 390 s) and full upright (1830 +/- 250 s) positions than in the 70 degrees tilt position (1730 +/- 260 s). Changes in body position significantly alter parameters of ventricular, cardiovascular, and exercise performance.
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Retriever2130
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Readiness for interprofessional education among healthcare students in Oman: Results of a cross-sectional survey.
Interprofessional education (IPE) is a promising educational strategy to strengthen the healthcare system in Oman. This study aimed to evaluate the perception and readiness of nursing and medical students for IPE in Oman. Students enrolled in medical and nursing programs at Sultan Qaboos University were invited to participate in this study by completing the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS). A total of 390 (180 nursing and 210 medical) students completed the survey. The RIPLS scores of nursing and medical students were high. Medical students had significantly higher scores in the Negative Professional Identity subscale. Gender and GPA correlated with total scores. Medical and nursing students demonstrated positive perceptions and readiness for IPE. Efforts should be directed to facilitate its implementation in the curriculum.
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Retriever2131
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Characterization of the molecular mechanisms for p53-mediated differentiation.
The p53 tumor suppressor protein can induce both apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, we and others have shown previously that p53 is a potent mediator of differentiation. For example, expression of ptsp53, a temperature-inducible form of p53, induces differentiation of leukemic monoblastic U-937 cells. The functions of p53 have for long been believed to be dependent on the transactivating capacity of p53. However, recent data show that both p53-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis can be induced independently of p53-mediated transcriptional activation, indicating alternative pathways for p53-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. The bcl-2 proto-oncogene contributes to the development of certain malignancies, probably by inhibition of apoptosis. Interestingly, Bcl-2 has been shown to inhibit p53-mediated apoptosis as well as p53-mediated transcriptional activation. Asking whether Bcl-2 would interfere with the p53-mediated differentiation of U-937 cells, we stably transfected bcl-2 to U-937 cells inducibly expressing p53. Although the established Bcl-2-expressing clones were resistant to p53-mediated apoptosis, we did not observe any interference of Bcl-2 with the p53-mediated differentiation, suggesting separable pathways for p53 in mediating apoptosis and differentiation of U-937 cells. Neither did expression of Bcl-2 interfere with p53-induced expression of endogenous p21, suggesting that p53-induced differentiation might be dependent on the transcriptional activity of p53. To further investigate whether the p53-mediated differentiation of U-937 cells depends on the transcriptional activity of p53, we overexpressed transactivation-deficient p53, a transcriptionally inactive p53 mutant in these cells. However, in contrast to the effects of wild-type p53, expression of trans-activation-deficient p53 did neither induce signs of apoptosis nor of differentiation in U-937 cells. Our results indicate that the transcriptional activity of p53 is essential both for p53-mediated apoptosis and differentiation of U-937 cells.
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Retriever2132
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Literacy skills of Australian Indigenous school children with and without otitis media and hearing loss.
This study examined the relationship between reading, spelling, and the presence of otitis media (OM) and co-occurring hearing loss (HL) in metropolitan Indigenous Australian children, and compared their reading and spelling outcomes with those of their non-Indigenous peers. OM and HL may hinder language development and phonological awareness skills, but there is little empirical evidence to link OM/HL and literacy in this population. Eighty-six Indigenous and non-Indigenous children attending pre-primary, year one and year two at primary schools in the Perth metropolitan area participated in the study. The ear health of the participants was screened by Telethon Speech and Hearing Centre EarBus in 2011/2012. Participants' reading and spelling skills were tested with culturally modified sub-tests of the Queensland University Inventory of Literacy. Of the 46 Indigenous children, 18 presented with at least one episode of OM and one episode of HL. Results indicated that Indigenous participants had significantly poorer non-word and real word reading and spelling skills than their non-Indigenous peers. There was no significant difference between the groups of Indigenous participants with OM and HL and those with normal ear health on either measure. This research provides evidence to suggest that Indigenous children have ongoing literacy development difficulties and discusses the possibility of OM as one of many impacting factors.
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Retriever2133
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How to Find Dental Survival Articles: Using the New Search Strategies.
Clinicians and readers rely on accurate identification of articles to answer clinical questions and explore hypotheses. Commonly, these questions relate to the outcome and survival of dental treatments. Errors in indexing and inconsistencies in descriptions of these studies have meant that such articles are difficult to locate. To help address this problem, sensitive, precise and optimized electronic search strategies have been developed, and this article aims to explain how these new strategies can be used. These electronic search strategies have been shown to improve the identification of dental survival analyses.
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Retriever2134
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Retinal pigment epithelium cells cultured on synthetic biodegradable polymers.
Alterations in the normal structure or functions of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) can result in a number of ocular diseases. Implantation of RPE cells cultured on thin, biodegradable polymer films may provide a means of transplanting an organized sheet of RPE cells with distinct apical/basal characteristics for the restoration of normal RPE function. We have investigated the interactions of human RPE cells with different biodegradable polymer films to assess their suitability as substrates for RPE culture. Four biodegradable polymers were used: low molecular weight (MW) 50:50 poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA); high MW 50:50 PLGA; 75:25 PLGA; and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA). Polymer film substrates were manufactured using a solvent casting technique. Human fetal RPE cells (10-16 weeks gestational) were plated on the polymer substrates and the cultures assessed with respect to cell attachment and proliferation. Histological and immunohistochemical studies were performed on the cells after 8 days in culture. RPE cells attached to all the polymers studied after 8 h in culture. After 8 h, 80.2 +/- 9.5% and 82.3 +/- 7.9% of the plated cells were attached to substrates of high MW 50:50 PLGA and 75:25 PLGA, respectively. The cells proliferated on all substrates, and there was about a threefold increase in cell number over the 8-day culture period on all the polymers studied. Immunohistochemistry after 8 days in culture demonstrated RPE cells labeled with a distinct reaction product for cytokeratin in the cell cytoplasm. All the polymers studied were suitable for RPE culture; however, high MW 50:50 PLGA and 75:25 PLGA proved to be the best in terms of manufacturing properties, cell attachment, and proliferation. These polymers can provide a suitable substrate for RPE cell culture and hold promise for the subretinal implantation of organized sheets of RPE cells.
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Retriever2135
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Transition-metal-mediated activation of the heptaarsenide trianion: isolation of a diaryltetraarsenabutadienediide.
Reaction of an ethylenediamine solution of K(3)As(7) with the low-valent, low-coordinate cobalt(II) complex [Co(mes)(2)(PEt(2)Ph)(2)] yielded the novel dianionic species [Co(η(3)-As(3)){η(4)-As(4)(mes)(2)}](2-) (1). The [η(4)-As(4)(mes)(2)](2-) moiety present in 1 is a rare example of a group 15 analogue of a butadienediide.
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Retriever2136
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Dietary fiber and the risk of precancerous lesions and cancer of the esophagus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dietary fiber has several anticarcinogenic effects and is thought to be protective against esophageal cancer. The aim of this systematic review was to quantify the association between dietary fiber and the risk of esophageal cancer by investigating histological subtypes of esophageal cancer and the stage at which fiber may influence the carcinogenic pathway. Systematic search strategies were used to identify relevant studies, and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were combined using random-effects meta-analyses to assess the risk of cancer when comparing extreme categories of fiber intake. Ten relevant case-control studies were identified within the timeframe searched. Pooled estimates from eight studies of esophageal adenocarcinoma revealed a significant inverse association with the highest fiber intakes (OR 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.98). Two studies also identified protective effects of dietary fiber against Barrett's esophagus. Similar, though nonsignificant, associations were observed when results from five studies of fiber intake and risk of squamous cell carcinoma were combined (OR 0.61; 95%CI 0.31-1.20). Dietary fiber is associated with protective effects against esophageal carcinogenesis, most notably esophageal adenocarcinoma. Potential methods of action include modification of gastroesophageal reflux and/or weight control.
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Retriever2137
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Treatment of vasculitic IgA nephropathy.
BACKGROUND
Patients with IgA nephropathy and histological vasculitic/crescentic lesions have a poor prognosis. We performed a retrospective study to assess whether treatment with steroids and immunosuppressants would preserve renal function by healing these lesions and thereby prevent progression to glomerular sclerosis and renal failure.
METHODS
Sixteen patients with IgA nephropathy and a vasculitic/crescentic glomerulonephritis diagnosed by renal histology were treated with a reducing course of prednisolone (initial dose 60 mg/day). Six patients also received cyclophosphamide (2 mg/kg/day) for three months followed by azathioprine (100 mg/day) in five patients. Ten patients received azathioprine (100 mg/day) in addition to prednisolone. The median duration of treatment was 12 months (range 5-30 months). At the end of treatment each patient had a second renal biopsy.
RESULTS
Following treatment there was a significant reduction in the proportion of glomeruli with acute vasculitic lesions from a median of 17.4% (range 4.8-57.5%) to 0 (range 0-15.8%) (p=0.001). There was an increase in the proportion of globally sclerosed glomeruli from a median of 13.4% (range 0-44.4%) to 21.5% (range 0-90%) after treatment but this did not significantly differ from baseline (p=0.24). The proportion of renal cortex with chronic tubular atrophy increased from 2.55% (0.4-57.7%) to 11.3% (0.3-61%) (p=0.09). The median duration of follow-up was 30 months (inter-quartile range 6-30 months). At both 12 and 24 months there was no significant increase in serum creatinine. Four patients, however, developed end-stage renal failure between 24 and 81 months.
CONCLUSION
In this retrospective study we show that treatment with steroids and immunosuppressants leads to healing of vasculitic lesions and may thus arrest progression of glomerular scarring.
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Retriever2138
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Empathy across the adult lifespan: Longitudinal and experience-sampling findings.
This study examined change in self-reported empathy in a four-wave longitudinal study spanning 12 years (1992-2004) and the association between empathy and other measures, including daily reports of relationship experiences. Participants initially ranged in age from 10 years to 87 years. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of age with empathy revealed divergent patterns. Whereas cross-sectional analyses suggested that older adults scored lower in empathy than younger adults, longitudinal analyses showed no age-related decline in empathy. This combined pattern suggests that the cross-sectional age-differences reflect a cohort rather than an age effect, with older cohorts reporting lower levels of empathy than younger ones. Independent of age, empathy was associated with a positive well-being (e.g., life satisfaction) and interaction profile (e.g., positive relations with others). In addition, a subsample of participants (n = 114) conducted experience-sampling about social interactions for a week. People with high self-reported empathy perceived their interactions as more meaningful, felt more positive in these interactions, and thought that their interaction partner felt also more positive. Thus, self-reported empathy was meaningfully associated with adults' actual social interactions.
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Retriever2139
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Changes in spinal cord architecture after brachial plexus injury in the newborn.
Obstetric brachial plexus palsy is a devastating birth injury. While many children recover spontaneously, 20-25% are left with a permanent impairment of the affected limb. So far, concepts of pathology and recovery have focused on the injury of the peripheral nerve. Proximal nerve injury at birth, however, leads to massive injury-induced motoneuron loss in corresponding motoneuron pools and therefore limits the extent of functional recovery. In the present study, the role of spinal cord plasticity after injury and recovery from obstetric brachial plexus lesions was investigated. A selective injury to spinal roots C5 and C6 was induced in newborn Sprague-Dawley rats, leading to motoneuron loss in corresponding motoneuron pools. Recovery of extremity function was evaluated with different behavioural paradigms. Permanent changes of adjacent motoneuron pools were quantitatively evaluated by retrograde tracing and functional muscle testing. We report that the adjacent C7 motoneuron contribution to biceps muscle innervation increased four-fold after upper trunk lesions in newborns, thus compensating for the injury-induced motoneuron loss. These results indicate that, in obstetric brachial plexus palsy, changes in spinal cord architecture are an integral part not only of primary pathology but also of the subsequent recovery process. While present treatment is directed towards the restoration of neural continuity, future treatment strategies must recognize and take advantage of CNS participation in the injury and recovery process.
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Retriever2140
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Impaired but undiagnosed.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence and outcomes of individuals with psychosocial impairment not meeting DSM-III-R criteria for any of 29 well-defined disorders and to suggest operational definitions for not otherwise specified (NOS) diagnoses and V codes.
METHODS
Two-stage general population sampling resulted in 1,015 youths aged 9, 11, and 13 years being interviewed in the first wave of the Great Smoky Mountains Study. They were reinterviewed 1 year later using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment.
RESULTS
The weighted prevalence of sibling relational problems was found to be 1.4%. That of parent-child relational problems was 3.6% and that of relational problems NOS was 0.6%. The overall rate of symptomatic impairment was 9.4%. Across a variety of "caseness measures," those with symptomatic impairment proved to be more disturbed than those without either a diagnosis or impairment, and as disturbed as those with a diagnosis but without impairment.
CONCLUSION
Children and adolescents who do not meet DSM-III-R criteria for any well-defined disorder but who have symptoms associated with psychosocial impairment should be regarded as suffering from a psychiatric disorder. It is suggested that researchers adopt this definition for the many NOS diagnoses included in the DSM nosology and implement it in their research diagnostic algorithms.
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Retriever2141
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[Examination of shortened version of spider phobia and snake phobia questionnaire on Hungarian sample].
INTRODUCTION
One of the most common mental disorders is the specific phobia. Within this, the prevalence of animal phobia, such as the fear from spiders and snakes, is very high. In case of irrational fears, beyond the change in behavior (for example avoidance of the situation), a specific brain activation pattern can also be observed. However, if animal phobia is detected, it can be treated through several different therapeutic methods. There is a great need for reliable questionnaires to examine the subtypes of animal phobia. The SNAQ-12 and SPQ-12 can be used for this purpose, furthermore these questionnaires have good psychometric properties and clinical cut-off scores. The aim of the present study is therefore to examine the psychometric properties of the two questionnaires' Hungarian version.
METHOD AND RESULTS
The SNAQ-12 (12 item long Snake Questionnaire, SNAQ) and the SPQ-12 (12 item long Spider Phobia Questionnaire), according to the measured sample (1071 Hungarian subject) have excellent psychometric properties (Snake Questionnaire: Cronbach alpha=0.912. Spider Questionnaire: Cronbach alpha=0.909), and are suitable for reliable testing of fear from snake and spider.
CONCLUSION
The questionnaires are useful in phobia related researches and studies and can promote the clinical work, to recognize phobias and to monitor the effectiveness of therapy.
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Retriever2142
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Influence of statin-potency on the risk of kidney disease - A nationwide cohort study using laboratory data.
PURPOSE
To estimate the risk of kidney disease in high-potency statin users compared to those treated with low-potency statins without history of kidney disease at statin initiation, linking the Swedish national healthcare registers and laboratory data.
METHODS
Incident users of statins, ≥40 years of age, with estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) >60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and no diagnosis of kidney disease at treatment initiation were identified between 2006 and 2007 and then followed for 2-years. The outcome was the incidence of kidney disease identified by the presence of the diagnostic code in the healthcare registers or eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 . We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with adjusted and propensity score (PS)-matched Cox proportional hazards models.
RESULTS
A total of 27 385 patients were identified, 25.2% of which treated with a high-potency statin. During the follow-up, 68 (0.25%) patients were identified with a diagnosis of kidney disease from the registers. The number increased to 2498 (9.1%) when the criteria of eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was added. The adjusted HR of kidney disease in high-potency statin users was 1.14 (95%CI 1.03-1.25) compared to low-potency users; the result was unchanged after the PS approach.
CONCLUSIONS
Adding information from laboratory data to those from the national health registers, a slightly increased risk for kidney disease was found in high-potency statin users without pre-existing kidney disease at treatment initiation compared to those treated with low-potency statins.
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Retriever2143
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Information and support for women following the primary treatment of breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the need for, use of and satisfaction with information and support following primary treatment of breast cancer.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional survey.
PARTICIPANTS
Cohort of 266 surviving women diagnosed with breast cancer over a 25-month period at a tertiary hospital, Adelaide, Australia. Time since diagnosis ranged from 6 to 30 months.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Need for, use of and satisfaction with information and support.
RESULTS
Women reported high levels of need for information about a variety of issues following breast cancer treatment. Ninety-four percentage reported a high level of need for information about one or more issues, particularly recognizing a recurrence, chances of cure and risk to family members of breast cancer. However, few women (2-32%) reported receiving such information. The most frequently used source of information was the surgeon followed by television, newspapers and books. The most frequently used source of support was family followed by friends and the surgeon. Few women (<7%) used formal support services or the Internet. Women were very satisfied with the information and support that they received from the surgeon and other health professionals but reported receiving decreasing amounts of information and support from them over time.
CONCLUSIONS
Women experience a high need for information about breast cancer related issues following primary treatment of breast cancer. These needs remain largely unmet as few women receive information about issues that concern them. The role of the surgeon and other health professionals is critical in narrowing the gap between needing and receiving information.
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Retriever2144
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Bile ductopenia following therapy with sulpiride.
We report a case of ductopenia associated with cholestatic hepatitis in a 59-year-old woman treated for 41 years for temporal epilepsy. The patient developed jaundice, without any clinical or biochemical features of hypersensitivity, 10 months after the beginning of treatment with sulpiride. Liver biopsy showed ballooning and acidophilic degeneration of the hepatocytes, macrophages packed with lipofuscin, biliary pigment in Kupffer cells, some biliary plugs, confluent necrosis and absence of biliary ducts in all the portal tracts. These features and the presence of foci of cholangiolitis suggest a destructive cholangitis as the pathogenetic mechanism causing ductopenia. Other causes of ductopenia were excluded. Sulpiride is known to produce severe cholestatic jaundice, which we believe is due to ductopenia. The absence of hypersensitivity and the 10-month latency suggest that sulpiride may cause liver damage through a toxic mechanism in genetically susceptible subjects.
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Retriever2145
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Do hair follicles operate as primitive, multifocal kidney-like excretory (mini-) organs?
Besides their many other functions, hair shafts (HS) also are a repository for potentially noxious compounds. These are neutralized by their deposition within terminally differentiated, avital epithelial cells (trichocytes) that also facilitate the interaction of potential toxins with melanin, a toxin-adsorbent biopolymer. Trichocytes are completely extruded via HS shedding during exogen, an actively controlled process. This underappreciated functional property of the human hair follicle (HF) makes it a bona fide excretory (mini-) organ. Here, we ask whether the ca. 2 million HFs of the human integument operate in part as primitive, spatially dispersed kidney-like excretory organs. Despite the many obvious differences between kidneys and HFs, this provocative hypothesis is also supported by other underappreciated renal-follicular similarities such as anatomical parallels between Bowman's capsule and the anagen hair bulb, renal podocytes and HF winged cells ["Fuegelzellen"], and hypoxia-dependent production of erythropoietin and extensive prostaglandin synthesis by human scalp HFs-just as in the kidney. The proposed kidney-like excretory function of HFs may have constituted a major selection advantage of mammals during evolution and could be clinically relevant. We explain how the many open questions (eg, how are molecules destined to be excreted by hair shaft entrapment recognized, taken up and deposited into hair matrix cells?) can be tested experimentally. Finally, we explore how the therapeutic targeting of kidney-like excretory HF functions may usefully complement classical nephrological therapy (dialysis) and ask whether stimulation of intrafollicular erythropoietin synthesis might become exploitable for the benefit of patients with renal anaemia.
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Retriever2146
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Low correlation of serology with detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by ligase chain reaction and antigen EIA.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of serology by using new assays for the detection of genus and species-specific IgG, IgM, IgA and secretory IgA antibody in female sex workers. Cervical swabs and first void urine (FVU) from 314 female sex workers were submitted to nucleic acid amplification by ligase chain reaction (LCx, Abbott). Concomittantly, blood samples were tested for the presence of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies using a genus-specific assay (rELISA, Medac) and species-specific test (SeroCT, Orgenics). Chlamydia trachomatis infection was detected in a total of 30 (9.6%) female sex workers by LCR. With rELISA, seroprevalences for IgG, IgM, and IgA antibody to Chlamydia were 88.9%, 19.1% and 62.7%, respectively. IgG and IgA antibody prevalences against C. trachomatis (SeroCT) were 65.0% and 23.9%, respectively. In comparison to the positive LCR results obtained from cervical swab and/or FVU, the sensitivity of rELISA for Chlamydia IgG, IgA and IgM detection was 93.3%, 83.3% and 16.7%, respectively. With SeroCT, the sensitivity for C. trachomatis-specific IgG and IgA detection was 86.7% and 33.3%, respectively. The specificities of both serologic tests in comparison to LCR were very low. In conclusion, the correlation of serology with active C. trachomatis infection of the lower genital tract is very low. According to our results, serologic testing for Chlamydia can exclude active infection of the lower genital tract with a high reliability (> or = 95%). However, detection of C. trachomatis can only be reliably achieved by nucleic acid amplification assays.
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Retriever2147
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Regeneration of the gill filaments and replacement of serotonergic neuroepithelial cells in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Respiratory epithelia and chemoreceptors of the gills and mammalian lung derive from the same embryonic structures. While the lung is limited to facultative regeneration, the regenerative capacity of the gill has not been adequately explored. We report regeneration of gill filaments and respiratory lamellae in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Gill filaments retained a constitutive population of mitotic cells identified by the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Within 24 h of resection, a new mass of PCNA-positive cells appeared at the filament tip. At 40 days post-resection, approximately half of resected tissue was replaced; and at 160 days post-resection, regeneration was nearly complete. Chemoreceptive neuroepithelial cells, identified by serotonin immunohistochemistry, were present in regenerates and established innervation by nerve fibres. Use of the transgenic zebrafish line Tg(fli1a:EGFP), in which the gill vasculature was labelled with enhanced green fluorescent protein, indicated that angiogenesis occurred during the regenerative process. Thus, the zebrafish is capable of substantive gill regeneration and replacement of respiratory chemoreceptors.
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Retriever2148
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Plasma repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor levels are decreased in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
Repressor element 1-silencing transcription (REST)/neuron-restrictive silencer factor is considered a new therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the relationship between AD and REST remains unclear. This study aimed to 1) examine plasma REST levels and REST gene levels in AD patients and 2) further explore the pathological relationships between REST protein levels and cognitive decline in clinical conditions, including medial temporal lobe atrophy.
METHODS
Participants (n = 252, mean age 68.95 ± 8.78 years) were recruited in Beijing, China, and then divided into a normal cognition (NC) group (n = 89), an amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) group (n = 79), and an AD dementia group (n = 84) according to diagnostic criteria. All participants underwent neuropsychological assessments, laboratory tests, and neuroimaging scans (magnetic resonance imaging) at baseline. Plasma REST protein levels and the distribution of REST single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were compared among the three groups. Correlations between cognitive function, neuro-imaging results, and REST levels were determined by a multivariate linear regression analysis.
RESULTS
The plasma REST levels in both the NC group (430.30 ± 303.43)pg/ml and aMCI group (414.27 ± 263.39)pg/ml were significantly higher than that in the AD dementia group (NC vs AD dementia group, p = 0.034; aMCI vs AD dementia group, p = 0.033). There was no significant difference between the NC and aMCI groups (p = 0.948). No significant difference was found among the three groups regarding the genotype distribution (rs2227902 and rs3976529 SNPs) of the REST gene. The REST level was correlated with the left medial temporal lobe atrophy index (r = 0.306, p = 0.023). After 6 months of follow-up, the REST level in the NC group was positively correlated with the change in the Mini-Mental State Examination score (r = 0.289, p = 0.02).
CONCLUSION
The plasma REST protein level is decreased in AD dementia patients, which is associated with memory impairment and left temporal lobe atrophy and may have potential value for clinical diagnosis of AD dementia.
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Retriever2149
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Utilization review of the use of BACTEC PLUS high-volume blood culture bottles.
The BACTEC PLUS 26 (NR26) (Becton Dickinson, Towson, Md.) high-volume blood culture bottle replaced the less expensive smaller-volume NR6A bottle in our hospital. An audit carried out several months after their introduction revealed that only 17.5% of the NR26 bottles received the required blood volume. Several audits and educational programs were required in order to achieve a compliance rate of > 60%.
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Retriever2150
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Scalar coupling between the 15N centres in methylated 1,8-diaminonaphthalenes and 1,6-diazacyclodecane: to what extent is 2HJNN a reliable indicator of N-N distance?
The scalar couplings between hydrogen bonded nitrogen centres ((2H)J(NN)) in the free-base and protonated forms of the complete series of [(15)N(2)]-N-methylated 1,8-diamino naphthalenes in [D(7)]DMF solution have been determined, either directly (15N[1H] NMR), or, indirectly (13C[1H] NMR and simulation of the X part of the ABX spectrum (X=13C, A,B=15N)). Additionally, the (2H)J(NN) value in the HBF(4) salt of [(15)N(2)]-1,6-dimethyl-1,6-diazacyclodecane was determined, indirectly by 13C[(1H] NMR spectroscopy. As confirmed by DFT calculations and by reference to CSD, the rigid nature of the naphthalene scaffold results in rather low deviations in N,N distance or H-N,N angle within each series, apart from the free base of the permethylated compound (proton sponge) where the naphthalene ring is severely distorted to relieve strain. Despite such restrictions, the (2H)J(NN) values increase smoothly from 1.5 to 8.5 Hz in the protonated series as the degree of methylation increases. The effect in the free-base forms is much less pronounced (2.9 to 3.7 Hz) with no scalar N,N coupling detected in the permethylated compound (proton sponge) due to the lack of hydrogen bond between the N,N centres. Neither the pK(a) nor the N-N distance in the protonated forms correlates with (2H)J(NN). However, the sum of the (13)C NMR shifts of the naphthalene ring C(1,8) carbons which are attached directly to the nitrogen centres correlates linearly with (2H)J(NN) and with the degree of methylation. The gas-phase computed (2H)J(NN) is almost constant throughout the homologous series, and close to the experimental value for the tetramethylated ion. However, the computed coupling constant is attenuated in structures involving microsolvation of each N-H unit, and the trend then matches experiment. These experimental and computational observations suggest that Fermi contact between the two N centres is decreased upon formation of strong charge-dispersing intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the free N-H groups with the solvent.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2151
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Cardiovascular Disease and Breast Cancer: Where These Entities Intersect: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in women, yet many people perceive breast cancer to be the number one threat to women's health. CVD and breast cancer have several overlapping risk factors, such as obesity and smoking. Additionally, current breast cancer treatments can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health (eg, left ventricular dysfunction, accelerated CVD), and for women with pre-existing CVD, this might influence cancer treatment decisions by both the patient and the provider. Improvements in early detection and treatment of breast cancer have led to an increasing number of breast cancer survivors who are at risk of long-term cardiac complications from cancer treatments. For older women, CVD poses a greater mortality threat than breast cancer itself. This is the first scientific statement from the American Heart Association on CVD and breast cancer. This document will provide a comprehensive overview of the prevalence of these diseases, shared risk factors, the cardiotoxic effects of therapy, and the prevention and treatment of CVD in breast cancer patients.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2152
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Multiple personality and primary affective disorder.
This report describes a young woman who met research criteria for both primary depression and multiple personality. Abnormal dexamethasone suppression test results supported the former diagnosis and returned to normal during electroconvulsive therapy in anticipation of depressive symptom resolution. This suggests that multiple personality may occur as an epiphenomenon of affective disorder or of other illnesses.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2153
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The Current Status of the Pathology of Prostate Cancer.
BACKGROUND: The pathology of prostate cancer in modern day medicine cannot be understood simply in terms of tissue patterns or genetic abnormalities. Efforts to accommodate changes in patient care delivery and reimbursement, combined with an explosion in information, have wrought major changes in pathology. METHODS: The author summarizes the current status of the pathology of prostate cancer in light of these influences. The detection of prostate cancer in needle biopsies, the diagnostic interpretations that tend to confuse clinicians, the prognostic factors in prostate cancer, and the effects of radiotherapy and hormone therapy on prostatic tissue are discussed. RESULTS: Collegial associations are difficult to maintain when consultants are spatially separated and patients are shuttled between primary care and specialty centers. Economic forces cannot be ignored, regardless of the level of altruism of individual practitioners. A medical environment governed by judgment and wisdom is difficult to maintain when external forces and even patients themselves demand application of the latest information to each case. CONCLUSIONS: Current trends in medicine offer almost as many pitfalls as promises. Information gathering and transfer tend to marginalize anatomic pathologists from patient care. Current pathology is affected by the influences of medicolegal and economic forces.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2154
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The longitudinal structure of disgust proneness: Testing a latent trait-state model in relation to obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Although disgust proneness (DP) is increasingly recognized as a personality characteristic that confers risk for psychiatric conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the extent to which it reflects a time-varying (TV) or state-like factor versus a time-invariant (TI) or trait-like personality characteristic is unclear. In a 6-wave, 5-month longitudinal study, community participants (n = 982) recruited through ResearchMatch completed the Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale Revised (van Overveld, de Jong, Peters, Cavanagh, & Davey, 2006), a measure of three variants of DP including Somatic Disgust Sensitivity, Ruminative Disgust Sensitivity, and Disgust Propensity. A latent variable (trait-state-occasion) model was applied to all of the DP dimensions. The results showed that although estimates of TI factor variance and TV factor variance were both significant for Somatic Disgust, Ruminative Disgust, and Disgust Propensity, the proportion of TI factor variance (range from .68 to .82) for the DP dimensions was substantially and significantly greater than the amount of TV factor variance (range from .18 to .32). Furthermore, while TV factor stability was statistically significant for the DP dimensions, the size of the coefficients were only moderate in magnitude. Subsequent analysis then examined the extent to which TV or TI components of DP were associated with latent OCD symptoms at each of the six time points. The results showed that estimates of the regression weight for the TI DP factor were significant and larger than those for the TV factor which were often nonsignificant. These findings suggest that DP is largely TI, and it is this TI component that is most strongly associated with OCD symptoms.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2155
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Untangling the Relationship Between Antiretroviral Therapy Use and Incident Pregnancy: A Marginal Structural Model Analysis Using Data From 47,313 HIV-Positive Women in East Africa.
BACKGROUND
Scale-up of triple-drug antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Africa has transformed the context of childbearing for HIV-positive women and may impact pregnancy incidence in HIV programs.
METHODS
Using observational data from 47,313 HIV-positive women enrolled at 26 HIV clinics in Kenya and Uganda between 2001 and 2009, we calculated the crude cumulative incidence of pregnancy for the pre-ART and on-ART periods. The causal effect of ART use on incident pregnancy was assessed using inverse probability weighted marginal structural models, and the relationship was further explored in multivariable Cox models.
RESULTS
Crude cumulative pregnancy incidence at 1 year after enrollment/ART initiation was 4.0% and 3.9% during the pre-ART and on-ART periods, respectively. In marginal structural models, ART use was not significantly associated with incident pregnancy [hazard ratio = 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99 to 1.12]. Similarly, in Cox models, there was no significant relationship between ART use and incident pregnancy (cause-specific hazard ratio: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.05), but effect modification was observed. Specifically, women who were pregnant at enrollment and on ART had an increased risk of incident pregnancy compared to those not pregnant at enrollment and not on ART (cause-specific hazard ratio: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.23).
CONCLUSIONS
In this large cohort, ART initiation was not associated with incident pregnancy in the general population of women enrolling in HIV care but rather only among those pregnant at enrollment. This finding further highlights the importance of scaling up access to lifelong treatment for pregnant women.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2156
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Characterization of N-terminal amino acid sequence of monoclonal nonspecific suppressor factor.
Monoclonal nonspecific suppressor factor (MNSF), a product of a murine T cell hybridoma, suppresses the antibody response to lipopolysaccharide. In an attempt to clarify the N-terminal sequence, MNSF was prepared and purified by affinity chromatography with the use of an anti-MNSF monoclonal antibody (MO6), and reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. On the SDS-PAGE, the purified MNSF showed a single band with a molecular weight of 12,000. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protein was determined and showed no strong homology to any of the sequences of known biologically active proteins. However, the sequence revealed significant (60%) amino acid identity to transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF beta 2).
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2157
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Effect of heifer-raising practices on E. coli antimicrobial resistance and Salmonella prevalence in heifer raisers.
Although cattle movement and commingling play an important role in the inter-herd transmission of pathogens, little is known about the effect of commingling of heifers at raising operations. The objective of this study was to compare the resistance of E. coli and prevalence of Salmonella from pooled faecal pats of heifers raised off-farm at multi-source raisers (MULTI) that raised heifers from at least two farms compared with on-farm raisers (HOME), with heifers from only that farm. MULTI faecal pat samples were collected from pens with animals that had arrived at the farm within the previous 2 months (AP) and from animals that would be departing the heifer raiser in 2-3 months (DP). Corresponding age sampling was conducted at HOME raisers. Odds of ampicillin resistance were 3·0 times greater in E. coli collected from MULTI compared to HOME raisers. E. coli from AP pens had significantly (P < 0·05) higher odds of resistance to ampicillin, neomycin, streptomycin, and tetracycline compared to DP pens. Salmonella recovery was not significantly different between heifer-raising systems (P = 0·3). Heifer-raising system did not have a major overall impact on selection of resistant E. coli, which was strongly affected by the age of the animals sampled.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2158
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[Epigenetics and environmental exposure to xenobiotics].
Environmental pollution, together with predisposing genetic factors, plays a key role in determining short and long-term adverse effects on human health. In the industrialized countries the identification of etiology related to diseases of environmental origin has then become a research of priority interest. With regard to this, it has been widely demonstrated that different chemical compounds, such as endocrine disruptors, are able to modify the epigenetic characteristics of a human being. According to recent studies, the paradigm "genotype is strongly correlated with a phenotype" is changing in favor of the concept that a phenotype is defined by a "genotype and by an epigenome". Thus, there is a genotype identical for all cells associated to the epigenome that causes changes in gene expression without modifying the nucleotide sequence of the genome, through alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications and the pathway of small non-coding RNAs. The epigenome is easily affected by different factors, such as aberrations of normal epigenetic processes that can be caused by environmental factors as exposure to xenobiotics, social behavior and nutritional deficiencies. Epigenetic changes are thus a biological response to environmental stress factors and may be transmitted to the offspring. As the elimination of the environmental factor determines the possible reversion of epigenetic modifications, it seems not to play a role in the natural selection process. However, epigenetic aberrations affect gene expression by interfering with the stability and survival of cells and with the inactivation of onco-suppressor genes. Thus, it is of considerable interest to investigate about the possible elements of induction of epigenetic processes in order to implement prevention protocols. Moreover, the gene expression screening through high through-put techniques like microarray, represent a new tool for the identification of new epigenetic indicators in order to monitor the early biological effects on the population exposed to xenobiotics.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2159
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Observation of unique cross-linked lattices between multiantennary carbohydrates and soybean lectin. Presence of pseudo-2-fold axes of symmetry in complex type carbohydrates.
The tetrameric lectin from Glycine max (soybean) (SBA) has been shown to cross-link and precipitate with N-linked multiantennary complex type oligosaccharides containing nonreducing terminal Gal residues (Bhattacharyya, L., Haraldsson, M., & Brewer, C. F. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 1034-1041). In the present study, negative stain electron micrographs of the precipitates of SBA with a series of naturally occurring and synthetic multiantennary carbohydrates with terminal Gal or GalNAc residues show the presence of highly ordered cross-linked lattices for many of the complexes. The precipitates of SBA with a "bisected" and "nonbisected" N-linked biantennary complex type oligosaccharide containing Gal residues at the nonreducing termini show similar two-dimensional patterns. However, the pattern observed for the precipitates of a tetraantennary complex type oligosaccharide with SBA is distinct from those of the two biantennary carbohydrates. Furthermore, the precipitates formed between the lectin and a synthetic O-linked biantennary ("cluster") glycoside with terminal GalNAc residues show a pattern that is different from those above. Four biantennary pentasaccharide analogs of the blood group I antigen containing beta-LacNAc moieties at the 2.3-, 2.4-, 2.6-, and 3.6-positions of the core Gal also showed ordered patterns in their precipitates with SBA. X-ray crystallographic data and mixed quantitative precipitation profiles of binary mixtures of the four analogs demonstrate that each analog possesses a unique cross-linked lattice with the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2160
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Adolescence and other risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis genitourinary infection in women in Melbourne, Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the prevalence of and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection to determine the role of universal versus targeted testing.
METHODS
A prospective study of 1107 women attending two sexual and reproductive health clinics in Melbourne, Australia, was carried out. A questionnaire was used to establish risk factors. Urine samples were tested for C. trachomatis by PCR. The main outcome measures were prevalence of and risk factors for C. trachomatis infection.
RESULTS
Of 1107 recruitable women, 851 (76.9%) consented and were successfully tested. C. trachomatis was detected in 18 (4.8% (95% CI 2.9 to 7.5)) of 373 women in the inner city and eight (1.7% (95% CI (0.7 to 3.3)) of 478 women in the suburban clinic. Of women under 25 years, 17 (6.2% (95% CI 3.7 to 9.8)) of 273 in the inner city in contrast with three (1.7% (95% CI 0.4 to 5.0)) of 174 in the suburban clinic were infected. In the inner city clinic, age under 25 years (OR 5.4 (95% CI 0.7 to 41.5)), vaginal discharge (OR 4.1 (95% CI 1.5 to 11.1)), and recent change of sexual partner (OR 4.6 (95% CI 1.6 to 12.9)) were associated with C. trachomatis. In contrast, in the suburban clinic, only vaginal discharge (OR 3.5 (95% CI 0.9 to 14.3)) and recent change of sexual partner (OR 3.4 (95% CI 0.8 to 15.7)) were identified as risk factors. Multivariate analysis showed that recent change of partner (OR 4.5 (95% CI 1.5 to 13.8)) was the most strongly associated independent risk factor for infection in the inner city clinic.
CONCLUSION
The high prevalence of C. trachomatis indicates that universal testing should be undertaken in the inner city clinic. Young age may not be a risk factor for C. trachomatis in more affluent populations with lower prevalence rates. No risk factors were identified with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to be useful for targeted testing. Prevalence and identifiable risk factors for C. trachomatis are not transferable between populations, even in the same city.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2161
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[Effect of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization on activity of cell proliferation in Wilms; tumor].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of preoperative transcatherter arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) on the cell proliferation in Wilms; tumor.
METHODS
Forty-one cases of Wilms; tumor diagnosed by histopathology were divided into two groups: in TACE group, 23 patients received TACE first and were operated 2 weeks later; in control group, 18 patients were operated alone. A comparative analysis of the pathological finding was made in two groups, and the expression of PCNA and VEGF in tumor tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.
RESULT
The degeneration of tumor tissue such as tumor cell necrotic, broken, disappearance occurred in 17 cases of TACE group and in 4 cases of control group, respectively (P <0.01). The expression of PCNA in TACE group and in control group was 1/23 (4.3 %) and 9/18(50.0 %), respectively (P <0.01). VEGF was expressed in 7/23 (30.4 %) of TACE group and 9/18 (50.0 %) of control group (P=0.283).
CONCLUSION
TACE can significantly inhibit proliferation and enhance degeneration of Wilms; tumor cells.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2162
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Regulation of fatty acid oxidation in heart muscle. Effects of pyruvate and dichloroacetate.
The possibility of a mutual regulation between carbohydrate and fatty acid oxidation was studied in isolated perfused rat hearts. Infusions of pyruvate and/or dichloroacetate were employed to convert fully the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex into its active form during [1-14C]octanoate oxidation, the rate of which was measured by the production of 14CO2. It was found that 5 mM dichloroacetate suppressed the oxidation of 0.1 mM octanoate by 58%, but 10 mM external pyruvate was without effect. Dichloroacetate reduced the tissue malate concentration by 41% and the citrate concentration by 76% at a 0.1 mM octanoate concentration, but had no effect on the metabolite concentrations or fatty acid oxidation rate in perfusions with 1 mM octanoate. Metabolite depletion was probably partly due to inhibition of the carboxylation of pyruvate, as verified by determination of the metabolite labelling kinetics from [1-14C]pyruvate. It is, therefore, possible that the dichloroacetate-induced inhibition of octanoate oxidation could also be partly due to inhibition of tricarboxylic acid cycle secondary to metabolite depletion. Since both dichloroacetate and pyruvate converted pyruvate dehydrogenase to its active form, but only dichloroacetate inhibited fatty acid oxidation, the latter effect could not be due to oxidation of a competing substrate, but instead may result from an inhibition of fatty acid uptake, activation or transport, as also indicated by the observed decrease in the acid-soluble acyl-CoA concentration. This interpretation is also supported by the mitochondrial redox effects of dichloroacetate observed during octanoate oxidation in the perfused heart.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2163
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Lesch Nyhan syndrome: a novel complex mutation in a Tunisian child.
Lesch Nyhan syndrome (LNS) is an X-linked recessive disorder due to complete deficiency of the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) enzyme. Defect of the enzymatic activity is related to mutations of the HPRT1 gene. The disorder severity is due to neurological features and renal complications. Up to now, more than 300 mutations have been reported. We report on a Tunisian child with a severe phenotype due to a novel identified complex mutation.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2164
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In vitro determination of generation times for Entodinium exiguum, Ophryoscolex purkynjei and Eudiplodinium maggii.
Most previously reported generation times for rumen ciliate protozoa are longer than would be required to prevent their being flushed out of the rumen. In an earlier study from this lab, using a sequential transfer procedure, generation times between 12 and 13 h were determined for both Epidinium caudatum and Entodinium caudatum. This would permit these species to be maintained in a rumen with a fluid volume turnover rate as rapid as twice a day. In this study, generation times were estimated for Entodinium exiguum (13.2 h), Eudiplodinium maggii (26.8 h), and Ophryoscolex purkynjei (29 h), by sequential transfer at both 12 and 24 h time periods. The generation time for E. exiguum is lower than reported for this and other Entodinium species as determined by logarithmic growth from a small inoculum, but similar to that obtained for Ent. caudatum using sequential transfer. Eudiplodinium maggii and O. purkynjei generation times are similar to previous estimates of 24- and 24-48 h, respectively. However, it was observed that after an adaptation period of 36 to 48 h (generally 3-4 transfers) cell concentrations decreased and generation times were markedly decreased, i.e. 12.2 h for Ent. exiguum, 15.0 h for E. maggii and 12.8 h for O. purkynjei. In a separate study, varying both the concentration of Epidinium and the quantity of substrate fed per cell had no effect on generation time.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2165
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[A case of Leber optic neuropathy with a new point mutation in the cytochrome b gene].
BACKGROUND
Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is associated with mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). We report the clinical and molecular genetic findings of a patient who does not carry any of the common LHON mutations.
METHODS
Clinical data were collected for the affected patient and two unaffected maternal family members. Complete sequence analysis of the mtDNA protein coding region was performed in the affected patient.
RESULTS
Clinical examination of the affected patient showed typical features of LHON. A nucleotide exchange was detected at np14894 replacing an evolutionarily conserved phenylalanine by a leucine in the cytochrome b gene. The mutation was also present in two unaffected maternal family members, but absent in 60 other LHON lineages and 175 unrelated controls.
CONCLUSIONS
Cytochrome b plays an important role in the electron transport chain of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and some mutations in the gene encoding cytochrome b have been associated with LHON. Our results may imply that the novel mutation at np14894 is responsible for LHON in this family.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2166
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Validation of the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model: The imperative to reduce modifiable risk factors.
AIM
To validate the psychometrics of the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model (HIIFRM) and identify the prevalence of intrinsic fall risk factors in a diverse, multisite population.
BACKGROUND
Injurious inpatient falls are common events, and hospitals have implemented programs to achieve "zero" inpatient falls.
METHODS
Retrospective analysis of patient data from electronic health records at nine hospitals that are part of Ascension. Participants were adult inpatients (N = 214,358) consecutively admitted to the study hospitals from January 2016 through December 2018. Fall risk was assessed using the HIIFRM on admission and one time or more per nursing shift.
RESULTS
Overall fall rate was 0.29%. At the standard threshold of HIIFRM score ≥ 5, 492 falls and 76,800 non-falls were identified (fall rate 0.36%; HIIFRM specificity 64.07%, sensitivity 78.72%). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.765 (standard error 0.008; 95% confidence interval 0.748, 0.781; p < 0.001), indicating moderate accuracy of the HIIFRM to predict falls. At a lower cut-off score of ≥4, an additional 74 falls could have been identified, with an improvement in sensitivity (90.56%) and reduction in specificity (44.43%).
CONCLUSION
Analysis of this very large inpatient sample confirmed the strong psychometric characteristics of the HIIFRM. The study also identified a large number of inpatients with multiple fall risk factors (n = 77,292), which are typically not actively managed during hospitalization, leaving patients at risk in the hospital and after discharge. This finding represents an opportunity to reduce injurious falls through the active management of modifiable risk factors.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2167
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The Biochemical Mechanism of Fork Regression in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes-A Single Molecule Comparison.
The rescue of stalled DNA replication forks is essential for cell viability. Impeded but still intact forks can be rescued by atypical DNA helicases in a reaction known as fork regression. This reaction has been studied at the single-molecule level using the Escherichia coli DNA helicase RecG and, separately, using the eukaryotic SMARCAL1 enzyme. Both nanomachines possess the necessary activities to regress forks: they simultaneously couple DNA unwinding to duplex rewinding and the displacement of bound proteins. Furthermore, they can regress a fork into a Holliday junction structure, the central intermediate of many fork regression models. However, there are key differences between these two enzymes. RecG is monomeric and unidirectional, catalyzing an efficient and processive fork regression reaction and, in the process, generating a significant amount of force that is used to displace the tightly-bound E. coli SSB protein. In contrast, the inefficient SMARCAL1 is not unidirectional, displays limited processivity, and likely uses fork rewinding to facilitate RPA displacement. Like many other eukaryotic enzymes, SMARCAL1 may require additional factors and/or post-translational modifications to enhance its catalytic activity, whereas RecG can drive fork regression on its own.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2168
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[Chemical Constitutes from Seeds of Plantago asiatica].
OBJECTIVE
To study the chemical constituents of Plantago asiatica seeds.
METHODS
The constituents were isolated from the seeds of Plantago asiatica by column chromatography over silica gel, MCI gel, macroporous resin HP-20, Sephadex LH-20, Polyamide and by preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of physical and chemical properties and spectral data.
RESULTS
Five compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as acteoside (1), isoacteoside (2), decaffeoylacteoside (3), tetradecanoic acid (4), and bis (2-ethythexyl) benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate (5).
CONCLUSION
Compound 5 is isolated from Plantaginaceae for the first time. Compounds 3 and 4 are firstly characterized in Plantago asiatica.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2169
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Globoside Is Dispensable for Parvovirus B19 Entry but Essential at a Postentry Step for Productive Infection.
Globoside (Gb4) is considered the primary receptor of parvovirus B19 (B19V); however, its expression does not correlate well with the attachment and restricted tropism of the virus. The N terminus of VP1 (VP1u) of B19V interacts with an as-yet-unknown receptor required for virus internalization. In contrast to Gb4, the VP1u cognate receptor is expressed exclusively in cells that B19V can internalize. With the aim of clarifying the role of Gb4 as a B19V receptor, we knocked out the gene B3GalNT1 coding for the enzyme globoside synthase in UT7/Epo cells. Consequently, B3GalNT1 transcripts and Gb4 became undetectable in the knockout (KO) cells without affecting cell viability and proliferation. Unexpectedly, virus attachment, internalization, and nuclear targeting were not disturbed in the KO cells. However, NS1 transcription failed, and consequently, genome replication and capsid protein expression were abrogated. The block could be circumvented by transfection with a B19V infectious clone, indicating that Gb4 is not required after the generation of viral double-stranded DNA with resolved inverted terminal repeats. While in wild-type (WT) cells, occupation of the VP1u cognate receptor with recombinant VP1u disturbed virus binding and blocked the infection, antibodies against Gb4 had no significant effect. In a mixed population of WT and KO cells, B19V selectively infected WT cells. This study demonstrates that Gb4 does not have the expected receptor function, as it is dispensable for virus entry; however, it is essential for productive infection, explaining the resistance of the rare individuals lacking Gb4 to B19V infection.IMPORTANCE Globoside has long been considered the primary receptor of B19V. However, its expression does not correlate well with B19V binding and uptake and cannot explain the pathogenesis or the remarkable narrow tissue tropism of the virus. By using a knockout cell line, we demonstrate that globoside does not have the expected function as a cell surface receptor required for B19V entry, but it has an essential role at a postentry step for productive infection. This finding explains the natural resistance to infection associated with individuals lacking globoside, contributes to a better understanding of B19V restricted tropism, and offers novel strategies for the development of antiviral therapies.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2170
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Topological phase transition induced by band structure modulation in a Chern insulator.
We study a systematic evolution of the topological properties of a Chern insulator upon smooth variation of a hopping parameter (t1) of the electrons among a pair of nearest neighbour sites on a honeycomb lattice, while keeping the other two hopping terms (t) fixed. In the absence of a Haldane flux, the tuning oft1results in gradual shifting of the Dirac cones which eventually merge into one at theMpoint in the Brillouin zone (BZ) att1= 2twith a gapless semi-Dirac dispersion at low energies. In the presence of a Haldane flux, the system becomes a Chern insulator fort1< 2t, but turns gapless att1= 2twith the semi-Dirac dispersion being transformed to an anisotropic Dirac one. The spectrum eventually gaps out and transforms into a trivial insulator fort1> 2t. The Chern number phase diagram obtained via integrating the Berry curvature over the BZ shows a gradual shrinking of the 'topological' lobes, and vanishes just beyondt1= 2t, where a small but a finite Berry curvature still exists. Thus, there is a phase transition from a topological phase to a trivial phase across the semi-Dirac point (t1= 2t). The vanishing of the anomalous Hall conductivity plateau and the merger of the chiral edge states with the bulk bands near theMpoint provide robust support of the observed phase transition.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2171
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[The reversible inhibition of cholinesterases from different biological sources by phosphonium betaines].
The action of some phosphonium betains on cholinesterases from different biological sources has been studied. It has been shown, that all studied betains are reversible inhibitors of cholinesterase hydrolysis of acetyltiocholine. Inhibiting action of these compounds on acetylcholinesterases is about ten times weaker that of the majority of known phosphonium salts, while their action on butyrylcholinesterases has no peculiarities. There were found certain differences for each betain compounds in their action on cholinesterases from different biological sources. These results may be used for detail classification of cholinesterases and allow to extend knowledge in comparative enzymology.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2172
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Marijuana use in opioid exposed pregnancy increases risk of preterm birth.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of opioid use disorder has increased across the United States, but the rural population of Appalachia has been disproportionately impacted. Concurrently, the slow, but steady progress in the legalization of marijuana may be affecting perception of marijuana use in pregnancy. However, marijuana use in pregnancy has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Concomitant use of opioids and marijuana in pregnancy has not been evaluated.
OBJECTIVE
The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the association between confirmed marijuana use in late pregnancy and preterm birth in opioid-exposed pregnancies.
METHODOLOGY
A retrospective chart review was conducted that included all births from July 2011 to June 2016 from 6 delivery hospitals in South-Central Appalachia. Out of 18,732 births, 2368 singleton pregnancies indicated opioid use and met remaining inclusion criteria, with 108 of these mothers testing positive for marijuana at delivery. Independent sample t-test and Chi-Square analyses compared marijuana and non-marijuana exposed groups on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Regression analyses controlled for confounding variables in predicting neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), NICU admission, preterm birth, small for gestational age, and low birth weight outcomes as shown in Table 1.
RESULTS
Neonates born to marijuana-positive women in opioid-exposed pregnancy were more likely to be born preterm, small for gestational age, have low birth weight, and be admitted to NICU. After statistically controlling for parity, marital status, tobacco and benzodiazepine use, preterm birth and low birth weight remained statistically significant with aOR of 2.35 (1.30-4.24) and 2.01 (1.18-3.44), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Maternal use of marijuana in any opioid-exposed pregnancy may increase risk of preterm birth and low-birth weight infants. Prospective studies need to examine the dose and timing of marijuana and opioid use in pregnancy to better delineate perinatal effects. Nonetheless, pregnant women using opioids, including recommended medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, should be educated about the risks of concurrent marijuana use during pregnancy and may need to be counseled to abstain from marijuana use during pregnancy for an optimal outcome.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2173
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Simultaneous determination of urinary mandelic, phenylglyoxylic, and mercapturic acids of styrene by high-performance liquid chromatography.
We have developed a relatively simple and reproducible HPLC procedure for the determination of urinary metabolites of styrene. Urine samples (pH 2) are extracted with ethyl acetate, the organic layer is evaporated to dryness, and the residues are dissolved in water-methanol (1:1). Samples are analyzed by HPLC with a C18 reversed-phase column and a water (pH 6, 5mM tetrabutylammonium dihydrogen phosphate)-acetonitrile gradient and ultraviolet detection at 225 nm. Using this method, it is possible to determine simultaneously mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids, N-acetyl-S-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine (M1), and N-acetyl-S-(2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine (M2). The internal standard is p-hydroxybenzoic acid. Additional validation data are obtained by analysis of urine samples obtained from rats treated with a wide range of styrene doses.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2174
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Characterizing Short-Term Outcomes Following Surgery for Rectal Cancer: the Role of Race and Insurance Status.
BACKGROUND
There is a paucity of data demonstrating the effect race and insurance status have on postoperative outcomes for patients with rectal cancer. We evaluated factors impacting short-term outcomes following rectal cancer surgery.
DESIGN
Patients who underwent surgery for rectal cancer using the University Health System Consortium database from 2011 to 2012 were studied. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to identify patient related risk factors for 30-day outcomes after proctectomy: complication rate, 30-day readmission, ICU stay, and length of hospital stay (LOS).
RESULTS
A total of 9272 proctectomies were identified in this cohort. After adjustment for potential confounders, black patients were more likely to have 30-day readmissions (OR 1.51, 95 % CI 1.26-1.81), ICU stays (OR 1.25, 95 % CI 1.03-1.51), and longer LOS (+1.67 days, 95 % CI 1.21-2.13) when compared to whites. Compared to those with private insurance, patients with public or military insurance or who were self-pay had a higher likelihood of having postoperative complications.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients who undergo elective proctectomy for rectal cancer, non-white and non-privately insured status are associated with significantly worse short-term outcomes. Further studies are needed to determine the implications with respect to receipt of adjuvant therapy and survival.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2175
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Clinical significance of pain in patients with chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND
There is a paucity of studies investigating the clinical and biochemical characteristics of pain in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. This study aimed to determine the clinical and biochemical characteristics and outcomes in Chinese patients with CHF and symptoms of pain.
METHODS
Sociodemographics, serum levels of creatinine, NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, and two-dimensional echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were determined in 305 patients with CHF. A questionnaire packet including the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) was used to assess the degree of pain rated on a 0 - 10 scale and the quality of life (QOL). A six-minute walking test was performed during routine clinic visits. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were recorded; including all-cause or cardiac mortality and rehospitalization because of myocardial infarction, worsening heart failure or stroke at follow-up.
RESULTS
Pain occurred in 25.6% of CHF patients, and was more common when the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class was worse. More patients with pain were female in gender, and had more co-morbidities, lower LVEF, and shorter distance during the 6-minute walking test. Despite similar serum levels of creatinine, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), IL-6 and IL-10, the TNF-α levels were higher and MLHFQ scores were greater in CHF patients with pain. At follow-up, CHF patients with moderate to severe pain (≥ 4 scale) had higher rates of all-cause and cardiac mortality and rehospitalization because of myocardial infarction, worsening heart failure or stroke. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the presence of pain was an independent risk factor for MACE and reduced QOL in CHF patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Pain occurs in all stages of the CHF trajectory, and its incidence increases as clinical functional status is worsened. The presence of pain exerts a negative impact on clinical outcome and QOL in patients with CHF.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2176
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A Phosphanyl-Phosphagallene that Functions as a Frustrated Lewis Pair.
Phosphagallenes (1 a/1 b) featuring double bonds between phosphorus and gallium were synthesized by reaction of (phosphanyl)phosphaketenes with the gallium carbenoid Ga(Nacnac) (Nacnac=HC[C(Me)N(2,6-i-Pr2 C6 H3 )]2 ). The stability of these species is dependent on the saturation of the phosphanyl moiety. 1 a, which bears an unsaturated phosphanyl ring, rearranges in solution to yield a spirocyclic compound (2) which contains a P=P bond. The saturated variant 1 b is stable even at elevated temperatures. 1 b behaves as a frustrated Lewis pair capable of activation of H2 and forms a 1:1 adduct with CO2 .
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2177
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The performance of a component-based allergen-microarray in clinical practice.
BACKGROUND
Currently, the diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergy is based on allergen-specific history and diagnostic procedures using natural allergen extracts for in vivo and in vitro tests.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to comparatively analyse a new component-based allergen-microarray and the 'quasi-standard' ImmunoCAP for their clinical relevance in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to five aeroallergens [house dust mite (HDM), cat dander, birch, grass and mugwort pollen] in a prospective, double-centre study.
METHODS
We enrolled 120 subjects at the two study centres. Allergic patients were defined as having an allergen-specific history plus a concomitant positive skin-prick test (SPT) to natural allergen extracts and specific serum IgE was measured by both methods. Each allergen was analysed separately.
RESULTS
The microarray performed equally well in receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses when compared with the CAP in cat (23 allergic vs 97 non-allergic, ROC area under the curve microarray 0.950 vs CAP 0.894, P = 0.211), birch (31/89, 0.908 vs 0.878, P = 0.483) and grass pollen (47/73, 0.923 vs 0.915, P = 0.770). It was slightly less sensitive in HDM-allergic subjects (26 allergic vs 94 non-allergic, ROC area microarray 0.808 vs CAP 0.911, P = 0.053) and displayed a reduced sensitivity in the mugwort pollen-allergic patients (17/103, 0.723 vs 0.879, P = 0.032).
CONCLUSIONS
Component-based testing and the whole-allergen CAP are equally relevant in the diagnosis of grass-, birch- and cat-allergic patients. Although slightly less sensitive, the microarray is sufficient for the diagnosis of HDM-allergic patients, but needs alternative and/or additional components for detecting mugwort allergy.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2178
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Evaluation and optimization of urine screening by Autobac.
The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Autobac (Pfizer Inc., New York, N.Y.) urine screen for detection of bacteriuria in 3,026 urine specimens and to establish the optimum procedure for the Autobac system. Overall, 97% of urine specimens having greater than 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU) per ml were detected within 5 h by the Autobac system. The system detected 66, 90, and 94% of such specimens after 2, 3, and 4 h of incubation, respectively. Of specimens having 10(4) to 10(5) CFU/ml, the Autobac system detected 10, 45, 53, and 95% after 2, 3, 4, and 5 h of incubation, respectively. The rate of false-positive results increased from 0% after 2 h to 2% after 3 h to 6% after 4 h and 25% after 5 h of incubation. The specificity of the urine screening results also varied with the incubation time. Percentages of specimens having greater than 10(5) CFU/ml that gave positive urine screening results at various times were as follows: 96% at 2 h, 74% at 3 h, 29% at 4 h, and 9% at 5 h. These findings suggest that a 3- or 4-h urine screening procedure will effectively detect bacteriuria of greater than 10(5) CFU/ml, with few false-positive results. However, a 5-h procedure, which gives more false-positive results, may be needed for detection of lower levels of bacteriuria.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2179
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Head shop compound abuse amongst attendees of the Drug Treatment Centre Board.
The use of "Head Shop" compounds has received much media attention lately. There is very little research in the current literature with regard to the extent of the usage of these substances amongst the drug using population in Ireland. We conducted a study to examine the extent of the usage of Mephedrone, Methylone and BZP amongst attendees of Methadone maintenance programs at the DTCB. Two hundred and nine samples in total were tested. The results showed significant usage of these compounds amongst this cohort of drug users, with 29 (13.9%) of samples tested being positive for Mephedrone, 7 (3.3%) positive for Methylone and 1 (0.5%) positive for BZP.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2180
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99th Dahlem conference on infection, inflammation and chronic inflammatory disorders: the role of infections in allergy: atopic asthma as a paradigm.
Earlier iterations of the 'hygiene hypothesis', in which infections during childhood protect against allergic disease by stimulation of the T helper type 2 (Th2)-antagonistic Th1 immunity, have been supplanted progressively by a broader understanding of the complexities of the underlying cellular and molecular interactions. Most notably, it is now clear that whole certain types of microbial exposure, in particular from normal gastrointestinal flora, may provide key signals driving postnatal development of immune competence, including mechanisms responsible for natural resistance to allergic sensitization. Other types of infections can exert converse effects and promote allergic disease. We review below recent findings relating to both sides of this complex picture.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2181
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The calcium-binding ATPase inhibitor protein from bovine heart mitochondria. Purification and properties.
Two ATPase inhibitor proteins were isolated together from bovine heart mitochondria by a new procedure; each was purified further. The one inhibitor is a Ca2+-binding protein. It was found to contain 2 cysteine residues/mol as well as threonine and proline residues, all of which the other inhibitor (first isolated by Pullman and Monroy (Pullman, M.E., and Monroy, G. C. (1963) J. Biol. Chem. 238, 3762-3769] lacks. Its minimal molecular weight was 6390 with 62 amino acid residues/mol, and its isoelectric point was 4.6. Besides differences in size, composition, and response to Ca2+, the two inhibitor proteins also differed in response to sulfhydryl compounds, pH, KCl, and cardiolipin. Inhibition by the two inhibitor proteins was additive. Both cross-reacted with mitochondrial ATPase from rat skeletal muscle. Calmodulin, with or without Ca2+, had no effect on the activity of either inhibitor protein. Antibody to the Ca2+-binding inhibitor protein did not interact with the Pullman-Monroy inhibitor or have any effect on its activity. The antibody interacted with intact submitochondrial particles that contained both inhibitor proteins but not with particles from which only the Ca2+-binding inhibitor had been removed. Clearly, the two inhibitors are distinct immunologically as well as in other properties. The two types of inhibitor protein were also isolated from rat skeletal muscle mitochondria by the new procedure.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2182
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Bleeding and coagulation changes during spinal fusion surgery: a comparison of neuromuscular and idiopathic scoliosis patients.
OBJECTIVE
Major blood loss is common during spinal fusion surgery. We have previously demonstrated that patients with neuromuscular scoliosis have more blood loss and greater transfusion requirement than those with idiopathic scoliosis. Our objective is to study the relationships between etiology of scoliosis, blood loss, and coagulation changes in children and adolescents undergoing spinal fusion surgery.
DESIGN
Prospective, observational study.
SETTING
University teaching hospital.
PATIENTS
A total of 25 patients, 11 with neuromuscular and 14 with idiopathic scoliosis, undergoing spinal fusion surgery.
INTERVENTIONS
Blood was obtained preoperatively, 2 and 4 hrs intraoperatively, and 2 and 24 hrs postoperatively for prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, platelet count, D-dimer, factor VII and VIII activity, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, and protein induced by vitamin K absence. Changes in coagulation over time were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance. Comparisons between groups were made using independent t-tests.
RESULTS
Neuromuscular scoliosis patients had significantly greater blood loss than idiopathic scoliosis patients (median blood loss, 78% of total blood volume; range, 25-127% vs. 20%, 2-82%; p < .001). Prothrombin time increased over time in both groups and was higher in the neuromuscular than the idiopathic group both preoperatively and postoperatively (p < .05). Factor VII activity decreased over time in both groups (p < .001) and was lower in the neuromuscular than the idiopathic group during surgery (p < .05). No changes in partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, or factor VIII activity were observed. D-dimers were present in both groups by 4 hrs intraoperatively. Protein induced by vitamin K absence was not detected in any patient.
CONCLUSIONS
Neuromuscular scoliosis patients have more blood loss during spinal fusion surgery than idiopathic scoliosis patients. The prolongation of prothrombin time and decrease in Factor VII activity suggest activation of the extrinsic coagulation pathway. Depletion of clotting factors during scoliosis surgery occurs to a greater extent in patients with underlying neuromuscular disease.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2183
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[Wernicke encephalopathy in a non-alcoholic patient with diabetic nephropathy under hemodialysis].
A 75-year-old man with diabetic nephropathy treated with hemodialysis visited to a medical office because of slight fever, and received intravenous glucose infusion without any vitamins. Thereafter, he noticed gait disturbance and began to tell inconsistent stories. He was admitted to our hospital due to aggravation of these symptoms. On admission, he was disoriented and not able to sit by himself because of severe truncal ataxia without weakness. He had also gaze direction nystagmus. Based on clinical features, we considered him as having Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) and treated him with 100 mg thiamine per day. The thiamine supply diminished these symptoms soon. Plasma thiamine level prior to the administration was 7 ng/ml, which confirmed the diagnosis. MRI did not disclose any abnormalities frequently seen in WE. WE is a life-threatening disease, and 'early detection, early cure' is important for recovering without sequelae. The thiamine deficiency is often seen in dialysis patients because of dietary restrictions as well as its loss during dialysis. This case gives us the caution; when hemodialysis patients present acute/subacute gait disturbance and/ or abnormal mental state, we should consider WE. Furthermore, high-risk patients, such as elderly patients under hemodialysis may need some supplement including thiamine even at preclinical stage.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2184
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Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of piano training on cognitive and psychosocial outcomes.
Age-related cognitive decline and cognitive impairment represent the fastest growing health epidemic worldwide among those over 60. There is a critical need to identify effective and novel complex cognitive interventions to promote successful aging. Since piano training engages cognitive and bimanual sensorimotor processing, we hypothesize that piano training may serve as an effective cognitive intervention, as it requires sustained attention and engages an executive network that supports generalized cognition and emotional control. Here, I describe the protocol of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the impact of piano training on cognitive performance in adulthood, a period associated with decreased neuroplasticity. In this cluster RCT, healthy older adults (age 60-80) were recruited and screened to control for confounding variables. Eligible participants completed an initial 3-h assessment of standardized cognitive and psychosocial measures. Participants were stratified by age, education, and estimate of intelligence and randomly assigned to one of three groups: piano training, computer brain training, or a no-treatment control group. Computer brain training consisted of progressively difficult auditory cognitive exercises (Brain HQ; Posit Science, 2010). Participants assigned to training groups completed a 16-week program that met twice a week for 90 minutes. Upon program completion and at a 3-month follow-up, training participants and no-treatment controls completed a posttest visit lasting 2.5 hours.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2185
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Exploring supported conversation with familial caregivers of persons with dementia: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Dementia can lead to difficulties in communication between caregivers and patients. Teaching conversational strategies has been effective for a wide array of clients with acquired neurologic disorders and their caregivers. Research indicates positive results for Supported Conversation for adults with Aphasia (SCA) secondary to stroke. Applying this method to work with caregivers of individuals with dementia could prove to be a valid intervention tool. This investigation examined the applicability of SCA with individuals with dementia and their familial caregivers.
METHOD
Four dyads (caregiver and individual with dementia) participated in the SCA program with some adaptation for dementia. The program was 4 weeks with a pre-training and post training assessment. The Measure of Skill in Supported Conversation (MSC) and Measure of Level of Participation in Conversation (MPC) were given to measure the overall effectiveness of SCA at teaching and improving communication, respectively. A qualitative analysis of unproductive coping mechanisms also occurred. The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) was given to gauge caregiver burden from pre- to post-training.
RESULTS
MSC and MPC scores were significantly improved from baseline to post training, and a significant reduction in unproductive coping behaviors also occured. ZBI scores were variable across participants.
CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that the SCA has the potential to be used to improve communication between persons with dementia and their caregivers. Findings suggest that further research is warranted into the effectiveness of SCA in dementia.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Retrospectively registered 9/5/2018 ISRCTN17622451.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2186
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Down-regulation of Delta by proteolytic processing.
Notch signaling regulates cell fate decisions during development through local cell interactions. Signaling is triggered by the interaction of the Notch receptor with its transmembrane ligands expressed on adjacent cells. Recent studies suggest that Delta is cleaved to release an extracellular fragment, DlEC, by a mechanism that involves the activity of the metalloprotease Kuzbanian; however, the functional significance of that cleavage remains controversial. Using independent functional assays in vitro and in vivo, we examined the biological activity of purified soluble Delta forms and conclude that Delta cleavage is an important down-regulating event in Notch signaling. The data support a model whereby Delta inactivation is essential for providing the critical ligand/receptor expression differential between neighboring cells in order to distinguish the signaling versus the receiving partner.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2187
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A study on measuring the 222Rn in the Buriganga River and tap water of the megacity Dhaka.
Radon (222Rn), an inert gas, is considered a silent killer due to its carcinogenic characteristics. Dhaka city is situated on the banks of the Buriganga River, which is regarded as the lifeline of Dhaka city because it serves as a significant source of the city's water supply for domestic and industrial purposes. Thirty water samples (10 tap water from Dhaka city and 20 surface samples from the Buriganga River) were collected and analyzed using a RAD H2O accessory for 222Rn concentration. The average 222Rn concentration in tap and river water was 1.54 ± 0.38 Bq/L and 0.68 ± 0.29 Bq/L, respectively. All the values were found below the maximum contamination limit (MCL) of 11.1 Bq/L set by the USEPA, the WHO-recommended safe limit of 100 Bq/L, and the UNSCEAR suggested range of 4-40 Bq/L. The mean values of the total annual effective doses due to inhalation and ingestion were calculated to be 9.77 μSv/y and 4.29 μSv/y for tap water and river water, respectively. Although all these values were well below the permissible limit of 100 μSv/y proposed by WHO, they cannot be neglected because of the hazardous nature of 222Rn, especially considering their entry to the human body via inhalation and ingestion pathways. The obtained data may serve as a reference for future 222Rn-related works.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2188
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Struma Ovarii With Hyperthyroidism.
We report the case of a 61-year-old woman with persistent thyrotoxicosis for 7 years despite low thyroidal radioiodine uptake and methimazole treatment. Her initial I whole-body scan (WBS) was read as negative. Upon evaluation in our institution, she remained hyperthyroid after discontinuation of methimazole. Repeat WBS with SPECT/CT revealed low 24-hour thyroidal uptake (RAIU = 2%) and intensely focal radioiodine uptake in a large heterogeneous left pelvic mass, consistent with left adnexal struma ovarii. Resection of this mass confirmed benign struma ovarii. This case illustrates the advantage of fusion SPECT/CT imaging with planar I-WBS for diagnosis of extrathyroidal thyrotoxicosis.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2189
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The APPLE Score - A Novel Score for the Prediction of Rhythm Outcomes after Repeat Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation.
BACKGROUND
Arrhythmia recurrences after catheter ablation occur in up to 50% within one year but their prediction remains challenging. Recently, we developed a novel score for the prediction of rhythm outcomes after single AF ablation demonstrating superiority to other scores. The current study was performed to 1) prove the predictive value of the APPLE score in patients undergoing repeat AF ablation and 2) compare it with the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores.
METHODS
Rhythm outcome between 3-12 months after AF ablation were documented. The APPLE score (one point for Age >65 years, Persistent AF, imPaired eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73m2), LA diameter ≥43 mm, EF <50%) was calculated in every patient before procedure.
RESULTS
379 consecutive patients from The Leipzig Heart Center AF Ablation Registry (60±10 years, 65% male, 70% paroxysmal AF) undergoing repeat AF catheter ablation were included. Arrhythmia recurrences were observed in 133 patients (35%). While the CHADS2 (AUC 0.577, p = 0.037) and CHA2DS2-VASc scores (AUC 0.590, p = 0.015) demonstrated low predictive value, the APPLE score showed better prediction of arrhythmia recurrences (AUC 0.617, p = 0.002) than other scores (both p<0.001). Compared to patients with an APPLE score of 0, the risk (OR) for arrhythmia recurrences was 2.9, 3.0 and 6.0 (all p<0.01) for APPLE scores 1, 2, or ≥3, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The novel APPLE score is superior to the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores for prediction of rhythm outcomes after repeat AF catheter ablation. It may be helpful to identify patients with low, intermediate or high risk for recurrences after repeat procedure.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2190
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On-line detection of microbial contaminations in animal cell reactor cultures using an electronic nose device.
An electronic nose (EN) device was used to detect microbial and viral contaminations in a variety of animal cell culture systems. The emission of volatile components from the cultures accumulated in the bioreactor headspace, was sampled and subsequently analysed by the EN device. The EN, which was equipped with an array of 17 chemical gas sensors of varying selectivity towards the sampled volatile molecules, generated response patterns of up to 85 computed signals. Each 15 or 20 min a new gas sample was taken generating a new response pattern. A software evaluation tool visualised the data mainly by using principal component analysis. The EN was first used to detect microbial contaminations in a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line producing a recombinant human macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhM-CSF). The CHO cell culture was contaminated by Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida utilis which all were detected. The response patterns from the CHO cell culture were compared with monoculture references of the microorganisms. Second, contaminations were studied in an Sf-9 insect cell culture producing another recombinant protein (VP2 protein). Contaminants were detected from E. coli, a filamentous fungus and a baculovirus. Third, contamination of a human cell line, HEK-293, infected with E. coli exhibited comparable results. Fourth, bacterial contaminations could also be detected in cultures of a MLV vector producer cell line. Based on the overall experiences in this study it is concluded that the EN method has in a number of cases the potential to be developed into a useful on-line contamination alarm in order to support safety and economical operation for industrial cultivation.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2191
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Pathway to Independence - an interview with James Gahan.
James Gahan is a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow supported by Rob Klose (University of Oxford, UK) and David Booth (University of California San Francisco, USA) interested in the evolutionary origins of animals and developmental gene regulation. James is part of the first cohort of Development's Pathway to Independence Programme Fellows, which aims to support postdocs in obtaining their first faculty positions. We met with James over Teams to learn more about his career using unconventional model systems and the future of his research as he moves towards setting up his own lab.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2192
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A Case of Suspected Streptococcus Pneumoniae Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (pHUS) with Utilization of Minor Crossmatching for Platelet Blood Products Lead to a Diagnosis of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS).
BACKGROUND
The action of bacterial neuraminidase of Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPN) results in exposure of the normally "hidden" Thomsen-Freidenreich antigen (T-antigen) found on erythrocytes and other tissues. This may lead to SPN-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome (pHUS) with subsequent hemolysis and end organ damage. pHUS can be identified by minor crossmatch incompatibility. We present a case of suspected pHUS that resulted in a compatible minor crossmatch which led to concern and eventually diagnosis of atypical HUS (aHUS).
DESIGN
A 6-month-old boy presented with respiratory failure. He was found to have blood cultures positive for SPN. Shiga toxin was negative and he had normal levels of ADAMTS 13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13). The clinical team was concerned for pHUS and requested washed platelet product prior to a surgical procedure. Alternatively, a minor crossmatching was performed to determine the presence of T activation. An aHUS genetic panel was performed to sequence and analyze 12 genes encoding complement factors.
RESULTS
Minor crossmatch was performed using the patient's erythrocytes and plasma of ABO-identical platelets to be transfused. No agglutination was seen at immediate spin, 37°C, or anti-human globulin phase with valid controls. Genetics testing for complement mutations was consistent with aHUS.
CONCLUSIONS
We present a case that is clinically consistent with pHUS. Confirmation of this entity is done with lectins or anti-sera that are not readily available. An alternative means of identifying pHUS is by demonstrating minor crossmatch incompatibility. By doing so, we excluded the possibility of pHUS and helped to elucidate a definitive diagnosis of aHUS. Our goal is to share our experience of a practical approach in a time-sensitive situation that other clinical pathologists could utilize in suspected cases of T activation with a clinical picture of thrombotic microangiopathy.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2193
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Factor structure of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test.
A factor analysis of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test completed by motorists arrested for driving while intoxicated demonstrated four independent dimensions of alcoholic symptomatology--Help-Seeking, Discord, Alienation and Denial.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2194
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An electro-ocular switch for communication of the speechless.
The designed EOG switch was based on the principle of the detection of the saccadal velocity producing a pulse above a certain selected value of the saccadal derivative. The EOG transducer is preferable above an eye switch designed on the infrared limbus-pupil reflection method because of two reasons, namely in its use for vertical eye movements and because of its low costs when composed with operational amplifiers (741) or with IC's. AC-coupling between the differential amplifier and the main amplifier excludes the effects of the well-known DC-drift during EOG recording on switching. An optocoupler at the output of the switch serves for the safety of the non-vocal handicapped during the communication process with the Handiwriter. Experience is obtained with the EOG switch connected with the Handiwriter system by one quadriplegic CVA patient and one quadriplegic ALS patient. A possible group of patients as candidates for using the EOG switch has been indicated in the discussion.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2195
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Antioxidant properties of Teaw (Cratoxylum formosum Dyer) extract in soybean oil and emulsions.
The antioxidant activity of an extract from Teaw (Cratoxylum formosum Dyer) leaves was studied in soybean oil and soybean oil-in-water emulsions. Samples containing the extract or reference antioxidants including chlorogenic acid, which comprises 60% of the Teaw extract, were stored at 60 degrees C and analyzed periodically for peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) to allow both hydroperoxides and hydroperoxide degradation products to be monitored. Chlorogenic acid and the Teaw extract were more effective than alpha-tocopherol in inhibiting lipid oxidation in bulk oil but were less effective in an oil-in-water emulsion in accordance with the polar paradox. The PV/TBARS ratio for oil samples containing chlorogenic acid was higher than for alpha-tocopherol and BHT because chlorogenic acid inhibits both hydroperoxide formation by radical scavenging and hydroperoxide decomposition by metal chelation. The importance of the metal-chelating activity in retarding hydroperoxide decomposition was confirmed by studying the decomposition of oil samples containing added ferric ions. The PV/TBARS ratio was higher for citric acid than for alpha-tocopherol in the presence of added ferric chloride, but the order was reversed in samples lacking ferric chloride. Samples containing added chlorogenic acid gave the highest PV/TBARS ratios both in the presence and absence of ferric ions. The PV/TBARS ratios for the samples containing antioxidants fell rapidly to lower values in a soybean oil-in-water emulsion than in the soybean oil. This was due to increased hydroperoxide decomposition in the emulsion at the same PV. The Teaw extract contained 12% oil-soluble components, which contributed to a slightly higher oil-water partition coefficient than that of chlorogenic acid. The antioxidant activity of the aqueous phase of the Teaw extract was reduced more than that of chlorogenic acid by partitioning of the oil-soluble components into oil, which showed that the less-polar components contributed to the antioxidant activity of the Teaw extract in aqueous media.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2196
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Voluntary outreach counselling and testing for HIV and STI among men who have sex with men in Antwerp.
BACKGROUND
High risk settings for transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) offer an opportunity for screening of difficult to reach risk groups.
METHODS
Free, anonymous counselling and testing for HIV, syphilis, Chlamydia and hepatitis B/C were offered to visitors in two selected gay venues in Antwerp, by a multidisciplinary team. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire. The STI-test results were communicated by cell phone using standardised text messages.
RESULTS
In total, 137 MSM were tested. Facilitators of risky sexual behaviour (alcohol and drug use) were reported by 34 and 21%, respectively. Four men (3%) were newly diagnosed with HIV; 25 men (18%) had an active, transmittable STI. Infected MSM were significantly less often registered with a fixed general practitioner (GP).
CONCLUSIONS
Outreach testing in gay venues is a suitable method to detect MSM at risk for HIV/STI. Although the outreach approach is very labour intensive, it shows a high yield of new STI-diagnoses that are not detected in the regular health system.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2197
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Treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis with probiotics. A proof-of-concept study.
BACKGROUND
Probiotics have profound effect on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in animal models. We aimed to test the hypothesis that probiotics treatment was superior to usual care in reducing liver fat in NASH patients.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Patients with histology-proven NASH were randomized to receive probiotics (n = 10) or usual care (n = 10) for 6 months. The Lepicol probiotic formula contained Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus deslbrueckii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium bifidum. The primary endpoint was change in intrahepatic triglyceride content (IHTG), as measured by proton-magnetic resonance spectroscopy, from baseline to month 6. Secondary endpoints included changes in liver biochemistry and metabolic profile.
RESULTS
IHTG decreased from 22.6 ± 8.2% to 14.9 ± 7.0% in the probiotic group (P = 0.034) but remained static in the usual care group (16.9 ± 6.1% to 16.0 ± 6.6%; P = 0.55). Six subjects in the probiotic group had IHTG reduced by more than 30% from baseline, compared to 2 subjects in the usual care group (P = 0.17). The probiotic group also had greater reduction in serum aspartate aminotransferase level (P = 0.008). On the other hand, the use of probiotics was not associated with changes in body mass index, waist circumference, glucose and lipid levels.
CONCLUSIONS
Probiotics treatment may reduce liver fat and AST level in NASH patients. The therapeutic potential of probiotics in NASH should be tested in larger studies.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2198
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Anti-nidatory effect of vaginally administered fumagillin in the rhesus monkey.
In the present study, fumagillin, which is an antibiotic with potent angiostatic activity secreted from Aspergillus fumigatus was administered intravaginally during peri-implantation stage in the rhesus monkey and its effects on ovarian function, blastocyst implantation and pregnancy outcome in the rhesus monkey were investigated. Female monkeys (n = 18) showing normal menstrual cycles were vaginally inserted with tampons containing fumagillin (0 mg/animal in group 1; 1 mg/animal in group 2; 2 mg/animal in group 3; 4 mg/animal in group 4) on cycle day 20 of the mated treatment cycle, and these were removed on day 26 of the treatment cycle. Pregnancy was found to occur in animals treated with 1 mg and 2 mg fumagillin. However, animals treated with 4 mg fumagillin remained non-pregnant along with decreased (p <0.001) concentration of progesterone in circulation during the luteal period compared with that in normal, non-mated, ovulatory cycle.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever2199
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Effects of beraprost sodium on renal function and inflammatory factors of rats with diabetic nephropathy.
Beraprost sodium (BPS) is a prostaglandin analogue. We investigated its effects on rats with diabetic nephropathy. There were 20 rats each in the normal control group (NC), the diabetic nephropathy group (DN), and the BPS treatment group. The rats in DN and BPS groups were given a high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin intraperitoneal injections. The rats in the BPS group were given daily 0.6 mg/kg intraperitoneal injections of this drug. After 8 weeks, blood glucose, 24-h UAlb, Cr, BUN, hs-CRP, and IL-6 levels increased significantly in the DN group compared with the NC group; however, the body mass was significantly reduced in the DN group compared with the NC group. Blood glucose, urine output, 24-h UAlb, Cr, hs-CRP, and IL-6 levels were significantly lower in the BPS group than in the DN group; the body mass was significantly greater in the DN group. Therefore, we concluded that BPS can improve renal function and protect the kidneys of DN rats by reducing oxidative stress and generation of inflammatory cytokines; it also decreases urinary protein excretion of rats with diabetic nephropathy.
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No pos
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No neg
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