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Retriever3400
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Is self-image, in reference to the gravitational vertical, altered in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? A multicenter, single-blind, case-control study.
PURPOSE
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is associated with perturbation of orthostatic postural control. In humans, orthostatic postural control is organized around the gravitational vertical (GV). Perception of the GV involves a bottom-up process (central integration of multisensorial information) and a top-down process that uses cognitive mechanisms relying on body image. This study hypothesized that AIS would be associated with an erroneous central representation of verticality. The objective was to demonstrate an altered top-down process of sense of verticality in AIS.
METHODS
This multicenter, single-blind, case-control study evaluated 63 adolescent girls with AIS divided into two groups (major AIS (n = 31) and minor AIS (n = 32)) and 30 matched non-scoliotic adolescents. Participants scored their perception of trunk appearance in an upright position using a pictographic scale. The outcome measure was the difference between perception score and real trunk deformity.
RESULTS
Participants with major AIS presented with misperception of their trunk appearance in an upright position when compared with those with minor AIS or controls.
CONCLUSION
Adolescents with major AIS underestimate their trunk deformity in an upright position. This suggests an altered representation of body image, affecting top-down control of sense of verticality.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3401
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Association Between Enterovirus Infection and Type 1 Diabetes Risk: A Meta-Analysis of 38 Case-Control Studies.
Objective
The association between enterovirus infection and type 1 diabetes (T1D) is controversial, and this meta-analysis aimed to explore the correlation.
Methods
PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database were searched from inception to April 2020. Studies were included if they could provide sufficient information to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. All analyses were performed using STATA 15.1.
Results
Thirty-eight studies, encompassing 5921 subjects (2841 T1D patients and 3080 controls), were included. The pooled analysis showed that enterovirus infection was associated with T1D (P < 0.001). Enterovirus infection was correlated with T1D in the European (P < 0.001), African (P = 0.002), Asian (P = 0.001), Australian (P = 0.011), and Latin American (P = 0.002) populations, but no conclusion could be reached for North America. The association between enterovirus infection and T1D was detected in blood and tissue samples (both P < 0.001); no association was found in stool samples.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that enterovirus infection is associated with T1D.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3402
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Signalling mechanisms: a decade of signalling.
Knowledge of signaling mechanisms has increased dramatically during the past decade, particularly in the areas of development, biochemical signaling cascades, synaptic transmission and ion channel biophysics.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3403
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Effectiveness of Cf 252-neutrons at low dose rates.
Californium-252, an isotope emitting neutrons, gamma photons and alpha particles, is being investigated for its practical use in interstitial Curie therapy. After an introduction in which the history of Californium-252 and its application in industry are described, a review of results concerning RBE values of Cf-neutrons for tolerance of different types of normal tissues and for responses of experimental tumors as a function of dose rate is given. In addition, a review of clinical results is presented.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3404
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[Atypical renal cysts: report of 31 cases].
In a series of 205 patients operated for renal cyst, 31 cases had a persistent preoperative doubt concerning the benign nature of the cyst after IVU and/or first-line renal ultrasonography or even computed tomography (80% of cases). Histological confirmation based on analysis of the entire cyst wall or the partial nephrectomy specimen revealed cancer in 45% of cases. Computed tomography must therefore be performed routinely in patients with atypical renal cysts. The authors recommend surgical exploration and partial nephrectomy with frozen section examination at slightest doubt.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3405
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Novel Quantitative Imaging for Predicting Response to Therapy: Techniques and Clinical Applications.
The current standard of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST)-based tumor response evaluation is limited in its ability to accurately monitor treatment response. Radiomics, an approach involving computerized extraction of several quantitative imaging features, has shown promise in predicting as well as monitoring response to therapy. In this article, we provide a brief overview of radiomic approaches and the various analytical methods and techniques, specifically in the context of predicting and monitoring treatment response for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We briefly summarize some of the various types of radiomic features, including tumor shape and textural patterns, both within the tumor and within the adjacent tumor microenvironment. Additionally, we also discuss work in delta-radiomics or change in radiomic features (e.g., texture within the nodule) across longitudinally interspersed images in time for monitoring changes in therapy. We discuss the utility of these approaches for NSCLC, specifically the role of radiomics as a prognostic marker for treatment effectiveness and early therapy response, including chemoradiation, immunotherapy, and trimodality therapy.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3406
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Meningioma interdigitated with primary central nervous system B-cell lymphoma: A case report and literature review.
BACKGROUND
Simultaneous presentation of multiple primary central nervous system (CNS) malignancies is extremely rare. There have been only eight cases of meningiomas co-existing with primary cerebral lymphoma, reported in the literature.
CASE DESCRIPTION
We present a case of a patient who underwent surgical resection of an olfactory grove meningioma that was interdigitated with a primary CNS B-cell lymphoma. Following surgery, the patient was treated with high-dose methotrexate, and has no evidence of recurrence after 18 months.
CONCLUSION
Because of the early recognition of these two distinct pathologies, the patient received directed adjuvant therapies, and has exceeded the survival of all other cases reported in the literature.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3407
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[Recommendations on organization, design, characteristics and operation of neonatology services].
Neonatal care has undergone important advances involving the technology for treatment and mo nitoring, the design of care spaces, the incorporation of support professionals, and, especially, the strengthening of an organizational model in networks with centers of different levels of care. Neona tal units should be located in centers with maternity services and, ideally, with pediatric ones of an equivalent level of care. This document defines the admission and transfer criteria according to the level of care and among the different levels, respectively. The evidence recommends an individual room design due to the associated benefits such as decreased occurrence and better control of health care-associated infections, improved breastfeeding, and better interaction with parents. The sugges ted room sizes favor the implementation of the family-centered care model. These recommendations establish the possibility of performing emergency surgical procedures in the neonatal unit and define the safety criteria of the physical plant. In addition, they define the human resources according to the level of care, recognizing the time dedicated to non-direct patient care activities, , and the re quirements of non-medical professionals such as psychologists, physical and respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, and social workers. Neonatal care should be led by the neonatologist allowing the participation of general pediatricians with training and demonstrated experience in neonatal care. Midwives and neonatal nurses should have accredited formation in such area. The purpose of this document is to update the "Recommendations on the Organization, Characteristics and Operation of Neonatology Services or Units" to serve as an orien tation and guide for the design and management of neonatal care in public and private health care centers in the country.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3408
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Rheumatic fever in Minnesota. II. Evaluation of hospitalized patients and utilization of a State Rheumatic Fever Registry.
We studied the hospital records of 124 patients with a discharge diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever who were hospitalized in 21 Minneapolis-St. Paul hospitals during 1975 and 1976. After careful review of the hospital records, we found that 83 (67 per cent) of these patients did not have an acute illness. Seventeen (41 per cent) of the 41 cases with an acute illness were thought to adequately fulfill the Jones' Criteria for acute rheumatic fever. Upon review of the rheumatic fever registry of the Minnesota State Health Department, we found that less than one-half of the hospitalized patients had been reported to the registry. Cases that fulfilled and did not fulfill the Jones' Criteria were reported with equal frequency, indicating significant underreporting and overreporting of rheumatic fever. Evaluation of secondary rheumatic fever prophylaxis, both in those patients with acute rheumatic fever as well as in those with rheumatic heart disease, indicated that many patients who, in theory, should be receiving prophylaxis were not receiving it. These studies indicate a need for more thorough evaluation of the current epidemiology of rheumatic fever and the role of a rheumatic fever registry, and imply a need for reevaluation of these programs. (Am J Public Health 69:767-771, 1979).
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3409
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Impact of triglycerides and waist circumference on insulin resistance and β-cell function in non-diabetic first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Although there is abundant evidence indicating the relative contribution of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell dysfunction (HOMA-β) among first-degree relatives (FDRs) of Type 2 DM patients, few studies reported the association between HOMA-IR and HOMA-β with metabolic syndrome. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of metabolic syndrome factors on HOMA-IR, HOMA-β and glycoproteins in non-diabetic FDRs.
METHODS
In this study, 103 Yemeni male subjects aged 25-42 years, with BMI < 25 kg/m2 were examined, 39 of whom were normal subjects with no family history of diabetes served as control and 64 subjects were non-diabetic FDRs of Type 2 DM patients.
RESULTS
Both glycoproteins, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fructosamine as well as insulin, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β were significantly (p = 4.9 × 10-9; 6.0 × 10-8; 6.6 × 10-12; 1.3 × 10-7; 5.5 × 10-12, respectively) higher in non-diabetic FDRs as compared to control group. Fasting plasma glucose, though within normal range, were significantly (p = 0.026) higher in non-diabetic FDRs. Linear regression analysis showed that both TG and WC are the main metabolic syndrome factors that significantly increased HOMA-IR (B = 0.334, p = 1.97 × 10-6; B = 0.024, p = 1.05 × 10-5), HOMA-β (B = 16.8, p = 6.8 × 10-5; B = 0.95, p = 0.004), insulin (B = 16.5, p = 1.2 × 10-6; B = 1.19, p = 8.3 × 10-6) and HbA1c (B = 0.001, p = 0.034; B = 0.007, p = 0.037).
CONCLUSION
Triglyceride and WC are the important metabolic syndrome factors associated with insulin resistance, basal β-cell function and insulin levels in non-diabetic FDR men of Type 2 DM patients. Moreover, FDRs showed insulin resistance with compensatory β-cell function (hyperinsulinaemia) suggesting that insulin resistance precede the development of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in individuals at risk of Type 2 DM.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3410
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The Role of Ranolazine in Heart Failure-Current Concepts.
Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome with a detrimental impact on mortality and morbidity. Energy substrate utilization and myocardial ion channel regulation have gained research interest especially after the introduction of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors in the treatment of heart failure. Ranolazine or N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-(4-[2-hydroxy-3-(2-methoxyphenoxy) propyl] piperazin-1-yl) acetamide hydrochloride is an active piperazine derivative which inhibits late sodium current thus minimizing calcium overload in the ischemic cardiomyocytes. Ranolazine also prevents fatty acid oxidation and favors glycose utilization ameliorating the "energy starvation" of the failing heart. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is characterized by diastolic impairment; according to the literature ranolazine could be beneficial in the management of increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, right ventricular systolic dysfunction and wall shear stress which is reflected by the high natriuretic peptides. Fewer data is evident regarding the effects of ranolazine in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and mainly support the control of the sodium-calcium exchanger and function of sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium adenosine triphosphatase. Ranolazine's therapeutic mechanisms in myocardial ion channels and energy utilization are documented in patients with chronic coronary syndromes. Nevertheless, ranolazine might have a broader effect in the therapy of heart failure and further mechanistic research is required.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3411
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Electronic Medical Record Context Signatures Improve Diagnostic Classification Using Medical Image Computing.
Composite models that combine medical imaging with electronic medical records (EMR) improve predictive power when compared to traditional models that use imaging alone. The digitization of EMR provides potential access to a wealth of medical information, but presents new challenges in algorithm design and inference. Previous studies, such as Phenome Wide Association Study (PheWAS), have shown that EMR data can be used to investigate the relationship between genotypes and clinical conditions. Here, we introduce Phenome-Disease Association Study to extend the statistical capabilities of the PheWAS software through a custom Python package, which creates diagnostic EMR signatures to capture system-wide co-morbidities for a disease population within a given time interval. We investigate the effect of integrating these EMR signatures with radiological data to improve diagnostic classification in disease domains known to have confounding factors because of variable and complex clinical presentation. Specifically, we focus on two studies: First, a study of four major optic nerve related conditions; and second, a study of diabetes. Addition of EMR signature vectors to radiologically derived structural metrics improves the area under the curve (AUC) for diagnostic classification using elastic net regression, for diseases of the optic nerve. For glaucoma, the AUC improves from 0.71 to 0.83, for intrinsic optic nerve disease it increases from 0.72 to 0.91, for optic nerve edema it increases from 0.95 to 0.96, and for thyroid eye disease from 0.79 to 0.89. The EMR signatures recapitulate known comorbidities with diabetes, such as abnormal glucose, but do not significantly modulate image-derived features. In summary, EMR signatures present a scalable and readily applicable.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3412
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[The influence of platelets on PTA1 expression and PDGF release from ECV304 cells].
AIM
To study the influence of platelets on the expression of platelet/T cell activation antegen 1 (PTA1) and release of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) from vascular endothelial cells (ECV304) stimulated with pregnancy induced hypertention (PIH) patient sera.
METHODS
The expression of PTA1 on ECV304 cells stimulated with PIH patient sera and incubated with or without platelets was analyzed by flow cytometry. ELISA was employed to measure the quantity of PDGF released from ECV304 cells.
RESULTS
After incubation with platelets, PTA1 expression on ECV304 cells stimulated with PIH patient sera decreased. PIH sera induced more PDGF release from ECV304 cells than sera from normal pregnant women. Coculture with platelets increased PDGF release from ECV304 stimulated with PIH patient sera.
CONCLUSION
PTA1 molecule may mediate the adhesion between ECV304 cells and platelets, which lead to the release of PDGF.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3413
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Conservation of biodiversity in the genomics era.
"Conservation genomics" encompasses the idea that genome-scale data will improve the capacity of resource managers to protect species. Although genetic approaches have long been used in conservation research, it has only recently become tractable to generate genome-wide data at a scale that is useful for conservation. In this Review, we discuss how genome-scale data can inform species delineation in the face of admixture, facilitate evolution through the identification of adaptive alleles, and enhance evolutionary rescue based on genomic patterns of inbreeding. As genomic approaches become more widely adopted in conservation, we expect that they will have a positive impact on management and policy decisions.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3414
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Clinical Prediction Tool To Identify Adults With Type 2 Diabetes at Risk for Persistent Adverse Glycemia in Hospital.
OBJECTIVES
Given the high incidence of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in hospital and the lack of prediction tools for this problem, we developed a clinical tool to assist early identification of individuals at risk for persistent adverse glycemia (AG) in hospital.
METHODS
We analyzed a cohort of 594 consecutive adult inpatients with type 2 diabetes. We identified clinical factors available early in the admission course that were associated with persistent AG (defined as ≥2 days with capillary glucose <4 or >15 mmol/L during admission). A prediction model for persistent AG was constructed using logistic regression and internal validation was performed using a split-sample approach.
RESULTS
Persistent AG occurred in 153 (26%) of inpatients, and was associated with admission dysglycemia (odds ratio [OR], 3.65), glycated hemoglobin ≥8.1% (OR, 5.08), glucose-lowering treatment regimen containing sulfonylurea (OR, 3.50) or insulin (OR, 4.22), glucocorticoid medication treatment (OR, 2.27), Charlson Comorbidity Index score and the number of observed days. An early-identification prediction tool, based on clinical factors reliably available at admission (admission dysglycemia, glycated hemoglobin, glucose-lowering regimen and glucocorticoid treatment), could accurately predict persistent AG (receiver-operating characteristic area under curve = 0.806), and, at the optimal cutoff, the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value were 84%, 66% and 53%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
A clinical prediction tool based on clinical risk factors available at admission to hospital identified patients at increased risk for persistent AG and could assist early targeted management by inpatient diabetes teams.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3415
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Recombinant Sj16 from Schistosoma japonicum contains a functional N-terminal nuclear localization signal necessary for nuclear translocation in dendritic cells and interleukin-10 production.
Sj16 is a Schistosoma japonicum-derived protein (16 kDa in molecular weight) that has been identified as an immune modulation molecule, but the mechanisms of modulation of immune responses are not known. In this report, we aimed to investigate the host immune regulation mechanism by recombinant Sj16 (rSj16) and thus illuminate the molecular mechanism of immune evasion by S. japonicum. The effect of rSj16 and rSj16 mutants on the biology of dendritic cells (DCs) was assessed by examining DC maturation, cytokine production, and expression of surface markers by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that rSj16 significantly stimulated interleukin (IL)-10 production and inhibited LPS-induced bone marrow-derived dendrite cell (BMDC) maturation in a dose-dependent manner. By using antibody neutralization experiments and IL-10-deficient (knockout) mice, we confirmed that the inhibitory effect of rSj16 on LPS-induced BMDCs is due to its induction of IL-10 production. To understand how rSj16 induces the production of IL-10, we analyzed the protein sequence and revealed two potential nuclear localization signals (NLS) in Sj16. The N-terminal NLS (NLS1) is both necessary and sufficient for translocation of rSj16 to the nucleus of BMDCs and is important for subsequent induction of IL-10 production and the inhibition of BMDC maturation by rSj16. The results of our study concluded that the ability of rSj16 to inhibit DC functions is IL-10 dependent which is operated by IL-10R signal pathway. This study also confirmed that NLS is an important domain associated with increased production of IL-10. Our findings will extend the current understanding on host-schistosome relationship and provide insight about bottleneck of parasitic control.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3416
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e-Bitter: Bitterant Prediction by the Consensus Voting From the Machine-Learning Methods.
In-silico bitterant prediction received the considerable attention due to the expensive and laborious experimental-screening of the bitterant. In this work, we collect the fully experimental dataset containing 707 bitterants and 592 non-bitterants, which is distinct from the fully or partially hypothetical non-bitterant dataset used in the previous works. Based on this experimental dataset, we harness the consensus votes from the multiple machine-learning methods (e.g., deep learning etc.) combined with the molecular fingerprint to build the bitter/bitterless classification models with five-fold cross-validation, which are further inspected by the Y-randomization test and applicability domain analysis. One of the best consensus models affords the accuracy, precision, specificity, sensitivity, F1-score, and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.929, 0.918, 0.898, 0.954, 0.936, and 0.856 respectively on our test set. For the automatic prediction of bitterant, a graphic program "e-Bitter" is developed for the convenience of users via the simple mouse click. To our best knowledge, it is for the first time to adopt the consensus model for the bitterant prediction and develop the first free stand-alone software for the experimental food scientist.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3417
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Flow kinetics of immobilized beta-glucosidase.
The enzyme beta-glucosidase was attached covalently to the inner surface of nylon tubing. Flow kinetic studies were carried out at a range of temperatures, pH values, flow rates, and substrate concentrations. Various tests showed that the extent of diffusion control was negligible. At 25 degrees C the Michaelis constant was 33.4 mM, not greatly different from the value for the enzyme in free solution. The pH dependence was similar to that for the free enzyme. The Arrhenius plots showed inflexions at about 22 degrees C, as with the free enzyme, the changes in slope being small at the pH optimum of about 5.9 and becoming much more pronounced as the pH is increased or decreased. The immobilized enzyme is more stable than the free enzyme, both on storage at low and higher temperatures, and its reuse stability is greater.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3418
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Functionalized surface arrays for spatial targeting of immune cell signaling.
The effect of surface topography and chemistry on cellular response is of fundamental importance, especially where living systems encounter device surfaces as in medical implants, tissue engineering, and cell-based sensors. To understand these biological processes on surfaces, there is a widespread interest in tailored surface-active materials produced by a combination of surface chemistry coupled to advanced patterning processes. We utilize self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as molecular templates with submicrometer-scale spatial resolution to engage and cluster IgE receptors on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) mast cells. Bioactive templates consisted of gold arrays on silicon with patterns from 1 mum down to 45 nm. These gold arrays served as molecular tethering sites, enabling covalent binding of functionalized self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols. The free ends of the monolayers were functionalized with 2,4-dinitrophenyl(DNP)-caproate-based ligands which interact specifically with anti-DNP IgE bound to its high affinity cell surface receptor, FcepsilonRI on RBL mast cells. Present results on structures 1 mum down to 600 nm in size indicate that these ligand-immobilized patterned arrays can function as a powerful tool for visualization and systematic characterization of cell membrane involvement in IgE receptor-mediated immune cell signaling.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3419
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Association of Interim FDG-PET Imaging During Chemoradiation for Squamous Anal Canal Carcinoma With Recurrence.
PURPOSE
Imaging parameters from 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) before and after chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for anal canal cancer correlate with clinical outcomes. This prospective, hypothesis-generating pilot study investigates the relationship between interim PET imaging during CRT for anal canal cancer and clinical outcome.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
From June 2012 to August 2015, 30 patients with anal canal cancer were enrolled in a prospective clinical study of PET prior to and during CRT after ∼30 Gy. PET parameters of the primary site included maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). MTV and TLG were calculated based on 40% SUVmax (MTV40, TLG40) or SUV 2.5 (MTV2.5, TLG2.5) thresholds for pretreatment and interim images. Absolute and change in PET parameters were assessed for association with freedom from local and regional recurrence (FFLR) using single-predictor Cox regression models. Local and regional recurrence were primary and nodal (in-field) recurrences, respectively.
RESULTS
Twenty-three patients were eligible for analysis. Patients were excluded with nonsquamous cell histology, recurrent anal cancer, and incomplete studies due to treatment toxicity or patient choice. Median follow-up was 2.5 years. Pretreatment MTV40 (HR 1.4 [95% CI 1.02-2.05]), interim MTV2.5 (1.4 [1.04-1.89]), and interim TLG2.5 (1.1 [1.01-1.21]) were associated with FFLR.
CONCLUSIONS
In this prospective pilot study, interim PET parameters were associated with FFLR. These results warrant further investigation assessing the value of interim PET as a biomarker of response in the treatment of patients with anal cancer.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3420
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Novel genes involved in canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in early Ciona intestinalis embryos.
We report here characterization of five genes for novel components of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. These genes were identified in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis through a loss-of-function screening for genes required for embryogenesis with morpholinos, and four of them have counterparts in vertebrates. The five genes we studied are as follows: Ci-PGAP1, a Ciona orthologue of human PGAP1, which encodes GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol) inositol-deacylase, Ci-ZF278, a gene encoding a C2H2 zinc-finger protein, Ci-C10orf11, a Ciona orthologue of human C10orf11 that encodes a protein with leucine-rich repeats, Ci-Spatial/C4orf17, a single counterpart for two human genes Spatial and C4orf17, and Ci-FLJ10634, a Ciona orthologue of human FLJ10634 that encodes a member of the J-protein family. Knockdown of each of the genes mimicked beta-catenin knockdown and resulted in suppression of the expression of beta-catenin downstream genes (Ci-FoxD, Ci-Lhx3, Ci-Otx and Ci-Fgf9/16/20) and subsequent endoderm formation. For every gene, defects in knockdown embryos were rescued by overexpression of a constitutively active form, but not wild-type, of Ci-beta-catenin. Dosage-sensitive interactions were found between Ci-beta-catenin and each of the genes. These results suggest that these five genes act upstream of or parallel to Ci-beta-catenin in the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in early Ciona embryos.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3421
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[Clinical characteristics of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: analysis of 82 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinical characteristics of Chinese patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and provide clinical and laboratory evidence for the study of its etiology and treatment.
METHODS
82 patients with CFS diagnosed based on the CDC criteria 1994 were recruited. History was collected, and physical examination was made. SCL-90 and memory test were used, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale was used to those showing depression and/or anxiety. Laboratory examination, including examination of electrolytes, blood sugar, creatinine, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine trasaminase, etc, was conducted. Western blotting was used to detect the protein-24 of Borna disease virus (BDV) in the plasma of 61 patients and 73 healthy controls. High-pressure chromatography was conducted to detect n-6 fatty acids on the membrane of erythrocytes of 42 patients and 37 healthy controls. Plasma L-carnitine in 61 patients and 73 healthy controls was detected by zymological analysis. In different examinations sex and age-matched controls were used.
RESULTS
Most of the patients were 21 approximately 50 years old (74/82, 90.24%). No gender difference was found. The patients usually had 4 approximately 6 symptoms besides distinctive fatigue. Descent of remembrance and/or attention was the most conspicuous accompanying symptoms (69/82, 84.15%). Abnormalities in SCL-90 scores were present in 57 patients (69.51%), e.g, somatization existed most commonly (32/82, 39.02%), and anxiety and depression were 20.73% (17/82) and 18.29% (15/82) respectively. The prevalence of anti-BDV-p24 antibody was 20.73% (17/82), significantly higher than that of the controls (0%, chi(2) = 6.673, P = 0.010). The arachidonic acid level was significantly lower in the CFS group than in the controls (P > 0.05) and there were no differences in linoleic acid and ETA (both P > 0.05). The level of L-carnitine was 6.4336 +/- 3.4225, significantly lower than that of the control group (7.6666 +/- 3.5819, t = 2.025, P = 0.045) and the L-carnitine level was increased 2 weeks after supplementary treatment, together with improvement of symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Most of the CFS patients are young and middle-aged. Descent of reorganization is common in these patients. Psychological abnormalities exist in most patients. Some patients are infected with BDV, some with deficiency of nutrition and/or abnormality of energy metabolism.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3422
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Our Experience With Sacubitril/Valsartan in Chronic Heart Failure Management - HFrEF in the Ambulatory Setting.
Background
The prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) is up to 1-2% of the adult population in developed countries, rising to >10% after the age of 70. Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains a prevalent clinical syndrome associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan in a group of ambulatory patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and its effect on the hemodynamic, metabolic, renal, and cardiac remodeling parameters.
Methods
From January 2018 to May 2021, 106 patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were prospectively enrolled. Patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan (ARNI) were compared with an arm of the same size (n = 53) and matched by age and gender who were taking a standard optimal medical therapy for HFrEF.
Results
The 106 patients completing the study were characterized by age: 69.5 ± 8.0, 64% are male gender. The mean duration of follow-up in the 2 treatment arms was 12 months. In the ARNI arm, we evaluate the hemodynamic, metabolic, renal, and cardiac remodeling parameters upon the initial evaluation and at the end of the follow-up after 12 months treatment with sacubitril/valsartan. The LVEF values increased significantly (p < 0.001) in the ARNI arm compared to the OMT arm, 42.1 % vs. 30.1%. The LVMI decreased from a baseline value of 153.1 g/m2 to 147.8 g/m2 with significant improvement only in the arm treated with ARNI. The eGFR values increased significantly (p < 0.001) in the ARNI arm compared to the OMT arm 70.1 vs. 64.9 mL/min/1.73 m2. Initiation and titration of sacubitril-valsartan was associated with a reduction in NT-pro-BNP concentration, the values of NT-pro-BNP improved significantly only in the arm treated with ARNI 3107.1 vs. 5678.2. Mortality and re-hospitalization due to HF were lower in the arm treated with ARNI compared to the control (20.3 vs. 32.4 % and 25.3 vs. 46.6 %, respectively; p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Sacubitril/valsartan is an important advancement in the treatment of HFrEF. Sacubitril/valsartan induce "hemodynamic recovery". This study provides real-world data demonstrating incremental improvements in functional and echocardiographic outcomes in optimally treated patients with HFrEF switched to sacubitril/valsartan in ambulatory setting.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3423
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Utilization of an alternative Communication Device using the Anal Sphincter (CDAS).
The purpose of this study was to invent a new communication system for terminal amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients who are in a state of complete motor paralysis with intact sensory and cognitive functions whose speech are disrupted due to the weakness of muscles involved in speaking and/ or to tracheostomy and ventilator dependence.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3424
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Chemoprotection by D-methionine against cisplatin-induced side-effects: insight from in vitro studies using human plasma.
Animal studies have shown that the nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity of the anti-cancer drug cisplatin (CP) can be ameliorated by the co-administration with D-methionine. The molecular mechanisms of this activity, however, are not well understood. Since CP is intravenously administered, the underlying chemistry may involve the interaction of CP-derived Pt-species with D-methionine in the bloodstream. Our previous studies have shown that the chemoprotective agents N-acetyl-l-cysteine and sodium thiosulfate modulate the metabolism of CP in human plasma in vitro, albeit in a different manner. Using a metallomics approach, we show that the incubation of human plasma with D-methionine and CP (molar ratio of 20 : 1) leads to the formation of a Pt-D-methionine complex independent of the order of addition. These results were corroborated by analogous experiments that were carried out using PBS-buffer instead of plasma. In addition, CP and D-methionine were added simultaneously to PBS-buffer and samples were analyzed at certain time intervals by the same metallomics method and LC-ESI-MS over a ∼21 h time period. Whereas the intermediate [Pt(NH3)Cl(D-methionine)](+) species was detected between 1-4 h, only the terminal [Pt(D-methionine)2](+) complex was present 21 h later. Combined, these studies demonstrate that in plasma and at the 20 : 1 D-methionine : CP molar ratio, an early CP hydrolysis product reacts with D-methionine to form a 1 : 1 complex that is followed by the formation of a 2 : 1 compound at a later time point. The formation of these Pt-D-methionine species may therefore play an important role in the processes by which D-methionine protects mammalian organisms against CP-induced toxicities.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3425
|
Measuring recognition memory.
Recent years have seen an expanded interest in recognition memory tasks. This resurgence of interest has also renewed concerns with measurement problems. Comparing 4 models of recognition memory, Snodgrass and Corwin (1988) found that measures of bias from the distribution-free (nonparametric) model were inadequate. However, their analysis was based on bias measures that can be shown a priori to be nonindependent of discrimination. This article traces the history of the nonparametric model and develops a better measure of bias. The consequence of developing this better measure is that the nonparametric model deserves serious consideration.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3426
|
Increased adhesion and aggregation of platelets lacking cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate kinase I.
Atherosclerotic vascular lesions are considered to be a major cause of ischemic diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke. Platelet adhesion and aggregation during ischemia-reperfusion are thought to be the initial steps leading to remodeling and reocclusion of the postischemic vasculature. Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits platelet aggregation and smooth muscle proliferation. A major downstream target of NO is cyclic guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate kinase I (cGKI). To test the intravascular significance of the NO/cGKI signaling pathway in vivo, we have studied platelet-endothelial cell and platelet-platelet interactions during ischemia/reperfusion using cGKI-deficient (cGKI-/-) mice. Platelet cGKI but not endothelial or smooth muscle cGKI is essential to prevent intravascular adhesion and aggregation of platelets after ischemia. The defect in platelet cGKI is not compensated by the cAMP/cAMP kinase pathway supporting the essential role of cGKI in prevention of ischemia-induced platelet adhesion and aggregation.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3427
|
[Ultrasound tomography and guided fine needle biopsy of intrathoracic space occupying lesions].
Pleural and pleural-based intrathoracic masses lead to a real sound transmission, thus allowing a sonomorphological diagnostic approach. Thoracic sonography is particularly helpful to evaluate the nature of pleural-based radiographic opacities. Moreover, fine needle biopsies guided by sonography permit cyto-histological diagnoses of intrathoracic masses. Ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy was performed in 15 patients with pleural-based space-occupying pulmonary lesions. True positive results were obtained in 12 of the 15 patients with two true negative results and one false negative aspiration. The overall accuracy of aspiration cytology was 14 out of 15 (93.3%). In one patient a small pneumothorax occurred as a complication of the transthoracic needle approach.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3428
|
A variable parameter single degree-of-freedom model for predicting the effects of sitting posture and vibration magnitude on the vertical apparent mass of the human body.
Models of the vertical apparent mass of the human body are mostly restricted to a sitting posture unsupported by a backrest and ignore the variations in apparent mass associated with changes in posture and changes in the magnitude of vibration. Using findings from experimental research, this study fitted a single degree-of-freedom lumped parameter model to the measured vertical apparent mass of the body measured with a range of sitting postures and vibration magnitudes. The resulting model reflects the effects of reclining a rigid backrest or reclining a foam backrest (from 0 to 30 degrees), the effects of moving the hands from the lap to a steering wheel, the effects of moving the horizontal position of the feet, and the effects of vibration magnitude (from 0.125 to 1.6 ms(-2) r.m.s.). The error between the modelled and the measured apparent mass was minimised, for both the apparent masses of individual subjects and the median apparent masses of groups of 12 subjects, for each sitting posture and each vibration magnitude. Trends in model parameters, the damping ratios, and the damped natural frequencies were identified as a function of the model variables and show the effects of posture and vibration magnitude on body dynamics. For example, contact with a rigid backrest increased the derived damped natural frequency of the principal resonance as a result of reduced moving mass and increased stiffness. When the rigid backrest was reclined from 0 to 30º, the damping decreased and the resonance frequency increased as a result of reduced moving mass. It is concluded that, by appropriate variations in model parameters, a single degree-of-freedom model can provide a useful fit to the vertical apparent mass of the human body over a wide range of postures and vibration magnitudes. When measuring or modelling seat transmissibility, it may be difficult to justify an apparent mass model with more than a single degree-of-freedom if it does not reflect the large influences of vibration magnitude, body posture, and individual variability.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3429
|
Inflammatory cell accumulation in traumatic neuromas of the human lingual nerve.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the accumulation of inflammatory cells in traumatic neuromas of the human lingual nerve, and to establish any correlation with the patients' reported symptoms of dysaesthesia.
DESIGN
Using fluorescence immunohistochemistry, the extent of any chronic inflammatory infiltrate was quantified in human lingual neuroma specimens removed from 24 patients at the time of microsurgical nerve repair. A pan-leucocyte marker (CD45) and a specific macrophage marker (CD68) were used, and comparisons made between neuromas-in-continuity (NICs) and nerve-end neuromas (NENs) in patients with or without symptoms of dysaesthesia.
RESULTS
CD68 and CD45 labelling was significantly associated with areas of viable nerve tissue in neuromas and the CD68 labelling was significantly higher in NICs than NENs. CD68 labelling density tended to decrease with increasing time after the initial nerve injury, but this correlation was only significant for labelling associated with viable nerve tissue in NENs. No significant difference was found between the level of CD68 or CD45 labelling in patients with or without symptoms of dysaesthesia.
CONCLUSION
This study has demonstrated the presence of inflammatory cells within traumatic neuromas of the human lingual nerve. These cells were found to be closely associated with regions of viable nerve tissue, but there was no correlation with the patients' clinical symptoms.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3430
|
Zinc and copper concentrations in serum, blood and liver in moderate experimental pancreatic insufficiency.
Serum and liver concentrations of zinc and copper were studied in the rat after ligation of the pancreatic duct. Ligation of the bile duct was done close to the duodenum and high up in the hilum of the liver. The bile flow was by-passed into the intestine via a plastic catheter. The surgical method used was found suitable for a study of moderate exocrine pancreatic insufficiency since significant--although markedly reduced--concentrations of amylase and trypsin were estimated in intestinal contents at sacrifice 19 weeks after the operation. The serum zinc level was unaffected by duct ligation except for a slight decrease after 2 weeks. Similarly zinc in whole blood was unaffected. The copper concentration in serum was, however, significantly enhanced during in first 10 weeks. The copper zinc ration was markedly increased in duct ligated rats during the whole period. Zinc and copper concentrations in liver tissue were significantly decreased after 19 weeks. The findings suggest that a decrease function of exocrine pancreas might induce a disturbed balance of zinc and copper in the rat.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3431
|
Involvement of midkine in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.
Midkine is a low-molecular-weight heparin-binding protein that is strongly expressed mainly in the midgestation period and has various physiological activities such as in development and cell migration. Midkine has been reported to be strongly expressed in cancer cells and in inflammation and repair processes, and to be involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. However, its role in the lung is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients in relation to midkine expression and used a mouse bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model to investigate the role of midkine in pulmonary fibrosis. In the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients, the serum midkine level was significantly higher than in healthy subjects, and midkine levels in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid correlated positively with the percentage of inflammatory cells in the BAL fluid. In wild-type mice, intratracheal bleomycin administration increased midkine expression in lung tissue. Additionally, compared with wild-type mice, midkine-deficient mice showed low expression of both collagen and α-smooth muscle actin, as well as a low value for the pathological lung fibrosis score after bleomycin administration. Furthermore, the total cell count and lymphocyte percentage in the BAL fluid, as well as TNF-α and transforming growth factor-β expression in lung tissue, were significantly lower in the midkine-deficient mice compared with wild-type mice. These results suggest that midkine is involved in the development of pulmonary fibrosis by regulating inflammatory cell migration into the lung, and TNF-α and transforming growth factor-β expression.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3432
|
Cycloartane-type glycosides from Aquilegia flabellata.
Two new cycloartane-type glycosides, named aquilegiosides A and B, were isolated from the dried aerial parts of Aquilegia flabellata Sieb.et Zucc.var flabellata (Ranunculaceae). Their chemical structures have been characterized as 22S-3beta,16alpha,29-trihydroxy-cycloart-24-en-26,22-olid e 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--->2)-alpha- L-arabinopyranoside and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, by chemical and spectroscopic evidence.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3433
|
Rheological and microstructural properties of polysaccharide obtained from the gelatinous Tremella fuciformis fungus.
The gelatinous feature of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide (TFP) has attracted growing interest in its application as a thickening agent in the food industry. This study aims to reveal the microstructure and rheological properties of TFP. Results showed that TFP randomly distributed in aqueous solutions in an irregular worm-like morphology and formed a more extensive entangled network and stiffer chains at higher concentration solutions. The further rheological study indicated that the TFP solutions exhibited a shear-thinning behavior. Multiple results of dynamic oscillation tests confirmed the viscoelastic properties of TFP. Frequency sweep data display that TFP solutions exhibit solid-like behavior at high frequencies, showing the oscillatory behavior of entangled polymers. The temperature sweep demonstrated that the rheological behavior of TFP is thermally reversible. These results enriched the understanding of the rheology-microstructure relationship of TFP solution and were beneficial to expanding the application of TFP in food processing.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3434
|
Distinguishing prognostic and treatment-predictive information for localized prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVES
To distinguish the concepts of prognostic and treatment-predictive information for localized prostate cancer.
METHODS
We defined a prognostic factor as one that identifies subgroups associated with differing outcomes in untreated patients. A treatment-predictive factor identifies patients with differing outcomes as a consequence of treatment and is best identified in a large, randomized trial. Outside of such a trial, a treatment-predictive factor can be identified in prognostic subgroups or after adjustment for prognostic factors.
RESULTS
The distinctions between prognostic and treatment-predictive factors are illustrated by hypothetical examples.
CONCLUSIONS
The practical implication of the distinctions is that prognostic information may not provide reliable treatment-predictive information, that is, additional information may be needed before selection of patients for different treatments can be based on prognostic information. Determination of the relative treatment effect in any prognostic subgroup of patients requires a comparative setting. Until now, identified prognostic factors for localized prostate cancer at best can give guidance for clinical decisions on which patients should not be offered local aggressive therapy if the aim of the therapy is to cure the patient of the disease.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3435
|
Concentration of trace metals from sea-water by complexation with 8-hydroxyquinoline and adsorption on C(18)-bonded silica gel.
A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic technique based on a combination of multielement chelation by 8-hydroxyquinoline with subsequent adsorption on C(18)-bonded silica gel is described for the concentration of Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mn and Fe from sea-water. Enrichment factors of 50-100 are readily obtained following elution of the absorbate with methanol to provide a matrix-free concentrate suitable for graphite-furnace atomic-absorption analysis. Quantitative recovery of these elements from near-shore samples of sea-water is demonstrated and the accuracy and precision of the technique are discussed.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3436
|
The Ankrd2 protein, a link between the sarcomere and the nucleus in skeletal muscle.
Ankrd2 may be a link between the sarcomere and the nucleus; a similar role has recently been proposed for CARP that has a high level of structural and functional conservation with Ankrd2. Both Ankrd2 and CARP are involved in striated muscle hypertrophy. The mechanism by which muscle stretch is sensed and signals are transduced is still unknown; however, Ankrd2 and CARP could play similar roles in pathways leading to hypertrophy, the triggering mechanisms being heart pressure overload monitored by CARP and mechanical stretch in skeletal muscle monitored by Ankrd2. Recently Ankrd2 and CARP have been proposed as members of a family of muscle ankyrin repeat proteins (MARPs) that form a complex with titin, myopalladin and calpain protease p94, involved in signaling and regulation of gene expression in response to muscle stress. Here, we show that Ankrd2 is able to interact with the Z-disc protein telethonin as well as being able to interact with three transcription factors: YB-1, PML and p53. Ankrd2 binding to the ubiquitous transcription factor YB-1 can be demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo; this is not very surprising, since a similar interaction was previously described for CARP. However, the interactions with PML and p53 are unexpected new findings, with interesting implications in the Ankrd2 signaling cascade. Ankrd2 co-localizes with the transcriptional co-activator and co-repressor PML in nuclear bodies (NBs) in human myoblasts as detected by confocal immunofluorescence. Interestingly, we show that Ankrd2 not only binds the tumor suppressor protein p53 both in vitro and in vivo but also enhances the up-regulation of the p21(WAFI/CIPI) promoter by p53. Therefore, our findings strengthen the hypothesis that Ankrd2 may be involved in sensing stress signals and linking these to muscle gene regulation.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3437
|
Pathological calcification and replicating calcifying-nanoparticles: general approach and correlation.
Calcification, a phenomenon often regarded by pathologists little more than evidence of cell death, is becoming recognized to be important in the dynamics of a variety of diseases from which millions of beings suffer in all ages. In calcification, all that is needed for crystal formation to start is nidi (nuclei) and an environment of available dissolved components at or near saturation concentrations, along with the absence of inhibitors for crystal formation. Calcifying nanoparticles (CNP) are the first calcium phosphate mineral containing particles isolated from human blood and were detected in numerous pathologic calcification related diseases. Controversy and critical role of CNP as nidi and triggering factor in human pathologic calcification are discussed.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3438
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Ornithine decarboxylase and arginine decarboxylase activities in meristematic tissues of tomato and potato plants.
Ornithine decarboxylase and arginine decarboxylase activities were measured in roots and buds of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Pearson ms-35) and potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Desire) plants. In both tomato and potato, the activity of ornithine decarboxylase was the highest at the root tip, decreasing proximally. The same was true for potato buds. In vegetative buds of tomato, the highest activity was found in the youngest leaves. The older the leaf, the lower was orithine decarboxylase activity. Arginine decarboxylase, on the other hand, did not display a similar gradient. These findings are in accordance with the suggestion that in tomato and potato elevated ornithine decarboxylase activity is associated with intense mitotic activity.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3439
|
Molecular Engineering Strategies Tailoring the Apoptotic Response to a MET Therapeutic Antibody.
The MET oncogene encodes a tyrosine kinase receptor involved in the control of a complex network of biological responses that include protection from apoptosis and stimulation of cell growth during embryogenesis, tissue regeneration, and cancer progression. We previously developed an antagonist antibody (DN30) inducing the physical removal of the receptor from the cell surface and resulting in suppression of the biological responses to MET. In its bivalent form, the antibody displayed a residual agonist activity, due to dimerization of the lingering receptors, and partial activation of the downstream signaling cascade. The balance between the two opposing activities is variable in different biological systems and is hardly predictable. In this study, we generated and characterized two single-chain antibody fragments derived from DN30, sharing the same variable regions but including linkers different in length and composition. The two engineered molecules bind MET with high affinity but induce different biological responses. One behaves as a MET-antagonist, promoting programmed cell death in MET "addicted" cancer cells. The other acts as a hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-mimetic, protecting normal cells from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. Thus, by engineering the same receptor antibody, it is possible to generate molecules enhancing or inhibiting apoptosis either to kill cancer cells or to protect healthy tissues from the injuries of chemotherapy.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3440
|
Long-term safety outcomes of prekillikrein (Fletcher factor) deficiency: A systematic literature review of case reports.
BACKGROUND
Hereditary prekallikrein (Fletcher factor) deficiency is a rare condition characterized by a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. Inhibitors of plasma kallikrein have recently been approved for prophylaxis of hereditary angioedema and are under investigation for use in other indications.
OBJECTIVE
We attempted to conservatively assess the impact of long-term inhibition of this pathway by reviewing reportedcomorbidities in patients with hereditary prekallikrein deficiency.
METHODS
We searched several medical literature databases for publications that reported data from patients with hereditaryprekallikrein deficiency (<10% of normal and/or shortening of activated partial thromboplastin time on increased incubationtime). Data reporting of cardiovascular, bleeding, and autoimmune-related diseases were extracted.
RESULTS
Of 1966 publications screened, 45 publications (which represented 53 patients with prekallikrein deficiency) wereincluded. Among 53 identified patients with prekallikrein deficiency, 25 were explicitly defined as asymptomatic, with no comorbidities mentioned in another three cases. Another 16 of the 53 patients were described as having undergone surgery or dental extractions with no complications. Cardiovascular comorbidities were reported in 19 patients, mainly hypertension (9 patients) and cerebrovascular ischemia or stroke (5 patients). Excessive bleeding episodes after surgery were reported in four patients. Autoimmune-related diseases were reported for three patients (two with Graves disease and onewith systemic lupus erythematosus).
CONCLUSION
This review identified patients with hereditary prekallikrein deficiency who reported a spectrum of health outcomes from asymptomatic to infrequent reports of cardiovascular, bleeding, and autoimmune comorbidities. The majority of the reports did not indicate any association between prekallikrein deficiency and comorbidities; however, additional observation is required to confirm the long-term safety of plasma kallikrein inhibition.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3441
|
Localization of quantitative trait loci regulating adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats: evidence for genetic factors common to multiple autoimmune diseases.
Adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats is a widely used autoimmune experimental model with many features similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To identify potential genetic regulatory mechanisms in RA, we conducted genome-wide linkage analysis in F2 progeny of arthritis-susceptible Dark Agouti (DA) and relatively resistant Fischer 344 (F344) inbred rats. We compared the data with our previously reported investigation of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), which was expanded in the follow-up study reported in this work. We found two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in common, i.e., Aia1/Cia1 on chromosome 20, which includes the MHC, and Aia3/Cia3 on chromosome 4. We also identified a second unique QTL in AIA, Aia2, on chromosome 4. Interestingly, the QTL region on chromosome 4 (Aia3/Cia3), like the MHC, appears to be involved in several other autoimmune diseases in rats, including insulin-dependent diabetes, thyroiditis, and experimental autoimmune uveitis. Moreover, an analysis of conserved synteny among rats, mice, and humans suggested that Aia2 and Aia3/Cia3, like Aia1/Cia1, contain candidate genes for several autoimmune/inflammatory diseases in mice and humans, including diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma/atopy, multiple sclerosis, and RA. The rat models appear to provide a powerful complementary approach to identify and characterize candidate genes that may contribute to autoimmune diseases in several species.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3442
|
Multiple myeloma with massive Bence Jones proteinuria and preservation of renal function.
The case history of a patient having multiple myeloma with a remarkably high level of Bence Jones proteinuria (more than 20 g/day) is presented. The patient has responded well to therapy, and at no stage has he shown impairment of renal function as determined by creatinine clearance studies. A review of published reports has shown that such marked Bence Jones proteinuria at presentation is rare and is usually accompanied by renal impairment and a short survival. Additional presentation data from selected patients in the MRC First Myelomatosis Trial is presented. This suggests a higher incidence of marked Bence Jones proteinuria, and underlines the lack of correlation between the quantity excreted and the degree of renal impairment. The mechanisms by which Bence Jones protein may cause renal damage are discussed.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3443
|
Retinal metabolic and structural alterations in response to aflibercept treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
PURPOSE
Non-invasive retinal markers of disease activity could pave the way for individualized treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). We aimed to evaluate if retinal vascular oxygen saturation and calibres could predict the initial treatment response after a loading phase of intravitreal aflibercept in nAMD.
METHOD
A total of 149 eyes were included (nAMD, n = 76; dry AMD, n = 30; normal eyes n = 43). Of these, 57 treatment-naïve eyes with nAMD received three monthly injections with 2.0 mg aflibercept and were subsequently stratified according to functional and structural response according to development in best-corrected visual acuity and macular retinal thickness. The retinal vascular oxygen saturation and calibres were measured prior to treatment and 1 month after the third injection.
RESULTS
Patients with nAMD and dry AMD had higher retinal arteriolar oxygen saturation as compared to normal eyes (94.3% versus 95.2% versus 92.6%, p = 0.04). Thirty-nine (68.4%) and 12 (21.1%) eyes with nAMD were functional and structural responders. After the loading phase, structural nonresponders developed a higher retinal arteriolar (95.3% versus 93.3%, p = 0.03) and venular (64.7% versus 59.4%, p = 0.02) oxygen saturation, and responders developed a lower retinal arteriolar calibre (118.0 versus 114.3 μm, p < 0.01). In a multiple logistic regression model, increasing retinal venular oxygen saturation associated with a negative structural treatment outcome (odds ratio 1.17 for each 1% increment after the loading phase, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.36, p = 0.03).
CONCLUSION
Changes in the retinal venular oxygen saturation associate independently with initial treatment response in nAMD, but functional and structural retinal measurements prior to treatment could not predict the treatment response.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3444
|
2-Chlorobenzylidene malonitrile (CS) causes spindle disturbances in V79 Chinese hamster cells.
Exposure of V79 Chinese hamster cells to 2-chlorobenzylidene malonitrile (CS), a chemical used as a sensory irritant for riot control, caused a concentration-dependent increase in the incidence of spindle disturbances. A C-mitotic effect with the appearance of C-metaphases, a metaphase block and the concomitant disappearance of ana-telophase figures were observed after a 3-h treatment. The results indicate that CS might induce aneuploidy in mammalian cells by interacting with the mitotic apparatus.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3445
|
Associations of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A with mortality in haemodialysis patients.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) manifest a chronic inflammatory state. Serum albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serum amyloid A (SAA) have been associated with mortality in ESRD, although reports vary as to whether they are true independent markers of mortality. We undertook a prospective study to determine whether these markers could predict mortality in ESRD.
METHODS
A cohort of individuals on haemodialysis was followed prospectively for a mean of 2.1 years. Albumin, CRP, IL-6 and SAA were drawn at enrollment. Association between mortality and serum markers was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. A trend analysis was undertaken to establish the functional form of the association between serum markers and outcome.
RESULTS
After multivariable adjustment, IL-6 was most strongly associated with mortality, followed closely by albumin (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.0005, respectively). CRP was marginally associated with mortality (P = 0.046), and SAA was not independently associated with mortality. In the final model adjusting for the effects of both IL-6 and albumin simultaneously, both markers remained associated with mortality (P = 0.003 and P = 0.011).
CONCLUSION
IL-6 had the strongest independent association with mortality, followed closely by albumin. CRP and SAA were not associated with mortality when measured at single time points. Increasing levels of IL-6 and decreasing levels of albumin were associated with increased mortality. IL-6 and albumin may be capturing different aspects of the inflammatory burden observed in haemodialysis patients.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3446
|
Health-related quality of life and chronic wound characteristics among patients with chronic wounds treated in primary care: A cross-sectional study in Singapore.
Chronic wounds commonly decrease patients' quality of life. Understanding how chronic wounds impact a patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important for healthcare service delivery and treatment management. This study explored HRQoL among patients suffering from chronic wounds and investigated associations with patients' socio-demographics and wound characteristics. Two hundred and thirty-three patients across six primary care clinics were assessed and responded to a survey that collected information on socio-demographic, wound characteristics, and HRQoL using the EQ-5D-5L instrument. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics and generalised linear models. The mean age of patients was 61.2 (SD: 14.6) years; 68.2% were males; and 61.8% were of Chinese origin. Arterial ulcers had the greatest negative impact on HRQoL related to mobility, self-care, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression, and the lowest VAS mean score 62.31 (SD: 28.3; range: 0-100) indicating the worst health. HRQoL related to mobility was significantly associated with age (β = 0.008, P < .001), non-Chinese ethnicity (β = 0.25, P = .001), mixed ulcers (β = -0.41, P = .022), atypical hard-to-heal wounds (β = -0.38, P = .021), wounds with low (β = 0.24, P = .044) to moderate (β = 0.29, P = .018) exudate level, and a wound duration ≥6 months (β = 0.19, P = .033). The findings can be used to improve healthcare delivery for patients with chronic wound to optimise their HRQoL.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3447
|
PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICIAN-GRADED SUBRETINAL FIBROSIS IN EYES TREATED FOR NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.
PURPOSE
To assess the prevalence and incidence of and risk factors for subretinal fibrosis (SRFi) in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) that underwent vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor treatment for up to 10 years.
METHODS
A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis was performed on data from a neovascular age-related macular degeneration registry. The presence and location of SRFi were graded by the treating practitioner. Visual acuity, lesion characteristics (type, morphology, and activity), and treatment administered at each visit was recorded.
RESULTS
The prevalence of SRFi in 2,914 eyes rose from 20.4% at year interval 0-1 to 40.7% at year interval 9 to 10. The incidence in 1,950 eyes was 14.3% at baseline and 26.3% at 24 months. Independent characteristics associated with SRFi included poorer baseline vision (adjusted odds ratio 5.33 [95% confidence interval 4.66-7.61] for visual acuity ≤35 letters vs. visual acuity ≥70 letters, P < 0.01), baseline lesion size (adjusted odds ratio 1.08 [95% confidence interval 1.08-1.14] per 1000 µm, P = 0.03), lesion type (adjusted odds ratio 1.42 [95% confidence interval 1.17-1.72] for predominantly classic vs. occult lesions, P = 0.02), and proportion of active visits (adjusted odds ratio 1.58 [95% confidence interval 1.25-2.01] for the group with the highest level of activity vs. the lowest level of activity, P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
Subretinal fibrosis was found in 40% of eyes after 10 years of treatment. High rates of lesion activity, predominantly classic lesions, poor baseline vision, and larger lesion size seem to be independent risk factors for SRFi.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3448
|
N-Phenyl-tert-butane-sulfinamide.
In the racemic title compound, C(10)H(15)NOS, the packing exhibits centrosymmetric pairs of mol-ecules linked by N-H⋯O=S hydrogen bonds in a head-to-tail fashion. The N-C(ar-yl) bond [1.4083 (12) Å] is considerably shorter than the N-C(alk-yl) bonds typically found in N-alkyl-alkanesulfinamides (1.470-1.530 Å).
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3449
|
Changes in the Distribution of Cell Contacts and Mitotic Cycle Disturbances in Cells of the Allograft of Rat Embryonic Neocortex.
Morphological changes in the allograft of rat anterior cerebral vesicle at the early stages after transplantation into the peripheral nerve of an adult rat were studied by immunohistochemical methods. Immunohistochemical reaction to bromodeoxyuridine showed that the delay of mitotic division in neural stem/progenitor cells in the grafts occurred during S/G2 stage. In transplants of rat embryonic neocortex (E13), changes in the cell cycle of neural stem/progenitor cells in 3 h after transplantation into the nerve correlated with abnormal distribution of adherens junctions and interkinetic nuclear migration.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3450
|
Quantitative analysis of tetrapentylammonium-induced blockade of open N-methyl-D-aspartate channels.
The blockade of open N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) channels by tetrapentylammonium (TPentA) in acutely isolated rat hippocampal neurons was studied using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. TPentA prevented the closure of the NMDA channel following what is known as the foot-in-the-door mechanism. Hooked tail currents appearing after termination of the agonist (aspartate) and TPentA coapplication were analyzed quantitatively according to the corresponding sequential kinetic model. Studies of the hooked tail current amplitude and the degree of the stationary current inhibition dependence on the blocker concentration led to a new method for estimation of fast foot-in-the-door blocker binding/unbinding rate constants. The application of this method to the NMDA channel blockade by TPentA allowed finding the values of its binding (1.48 microM(-1)s(-1)) and unbinding (14 s(-1)) rate constants. An analysis of the dependence of the electric charge carried during the hooked tail current on the blocker concentration led to a new method for estimation of the maximum NMDA channel open probability, P(0). The value of P(0) found in experiments with TPentA was 0.04.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3451
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Differential expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines between nasal and small intestinal mucosae: implications for T- and sIgA+ B-lymphocyte recruitment.
Nasal and small intestinal mucosae are the first sites of contact with infectious agents and the sites of T-cell-mediated and secreted immunoglobulin A (IgA)-mediated defences against pathogens. We investigated the factors controlling the infiltration of CD3(+) T lymphocytes and surface IgA(+) (sIgA(+)) B lymphocytes into swine epithelium and lamina propria (LP) within and between these two mucosal effector sites. Vascular addressins, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 were reciprocally expressed in both mucosae. Strong expression of alpha(4)beta(1) relative to alpha(4)beta(7) was characteristic of CD3(+) T cells in nasal mucosa LP and epithelium and of sIgA(+) cells in nasal mucosa epithelium. The same profile was observed on corresponding blood cells. Conversely, higher levels of integrins beta(7) and alpha(4)beta(7) than alpha(4)beta(1) were characteristic of CD3(+) T cells and sIgA(+) cells in the small intestine. However, about 40% of the LP-activated sIgA(+) cells displayed sIgA(high), integrin alpha(4) and integrin alpha(4) expression. Whereas CCL19, CXCL12, CCL21 and CCL28 messenger RNAs were similarly expressed in both mucosae, CCL25 messenger RNA was only expressed in the small intestine. Thus, the nasal and small intestine mucosae represent separate compartments for infiltration by CD3(+) T cells and sIgA(+) effector cells, with the exception of a population of small intestine activated sIgA(+) cells, which may gain access to both mucosae.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3452
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Characteristics of female adolescent sexual offenders.
Descriptive data on a group of female adolescent sexual offenders seen in an outpatient clinic are presented, with characteristics of offenders, offenses, and victims. Unlike female adult sexual offenders of previous studies, these adolescents committed offenses without coercion from male co-offenders starting at an early age. Results are discussed with reference to gender differences among adolescent sexual offenders.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3453
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A tiling-deletion-based genetic screen for cis-regulatory element identification in mammalian cells.
Millions of cis-regulatory elements are predicted to be present in the human genome, but direct evidence for their biological function is scarce. Here we report a high-throughput method, cis-regulatory element scan by tiling-deletion and sequencing (CREST-seq), for the unbiased discovery and functional assessment of cis-regulatory sequences in the genome. We used it to interrogate the 2-Mb POU5F1 locus in human embryonic stem cells, and identified 45 cis-regulatory elements. A majority of these elements have active chromatin marks, DNase hypersensitivity, and occupancy by multiple transcription factors, which confirms the utility of chromatin signatures in cis-element mapping. Notably, 17 of them are previously annotated promoters of functionally unrelated genes, and like typical enhancers, they form extensive spatial contacts with the POU5F1 promoter. These results point to the commonality of enhancer-like promoters in the human genome.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3454
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Corrigendum: Feasibility of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells as a tool for studying pregnancy-related disorders.
This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/srep46220.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3455
|
Volume Reduction: Which Dose is Sufficient to Retain Resistance Training Adaptations in Older Women?
We compared the effects of different resistance training (RT) volume reduction strategies on muscular strength and lean soft-tissue (LST) in older women. Fifty-seven physically independent women (>60 years) performed a 20-week pre-conditioning phase of a standardized whole-body RT program (eight exercises, three sets, 8-12 repetitions, three sessions a week), and were then randomly assigned to one of the following conditions: reduced volume for a single set (RV1, n=20) or two sets (RV2, n=19), or maintained volume of three sets (MV, n=18) for 8 weeks (specific training phase). Muscular strength in the chest press, leg extension, and preacher curl exercises was determined by one-repetition maximum tests. A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry device was used to estimate LST. An increase in muscular strength (16.3-32.1%) and LST (3.2-7.9%) was observed after the pre-conditioning phase. There was an increase in chest press for all groups (9.4-16.7%) after the specific training phase. In contrast, only MV increased significantly in the leg extension (4.4%). No between-group differences were revealed for LST in the specific training phase. Our results suggest that reduced RT volume from three to one set per exercise for 8 weeks seems sufficient to retain neuromuscular adaptations in older women.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3456
|
A Model Program to Manage Behavioral Emergencies and Support Nurses in the Medical Setting.
Medically hospitalized individuals have high rates of comorbid psychiatric, substance abuse, and behavioral disorders. Disruptive and sometimes aggressive behaviors may arise when mental health needs of patients go unrecognized or are inadequately addressed. Health care workers experience the most workplace violence compared with other professions, with nurses and nursing aides at highest risk. A Behavioral Emergency Support Team (BEST) model can be an effective approach to providing a customized response to a patient's agitation through identification of underlying clinical and environmental contributors to the onset of aggression as well as to provide behavioral education and support of nursing staff. Results from 2 years of BEST model use resulted in 124 events among 96 patients of whom 19 had repeated events. The most common reasons for codes were aggression (79%) and elopement threat/attempt (45%), and the most frequent patient diagnosis was cognitive impairment (54%). Development of a BEST model provides support to nurses that is not otherwise available for events that are disruptive to care in inpatient medical settings and help minimize the occurrence of workplace violence.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3457
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Lurasidone in the treatment of acute schizophrenia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Lurasidone is a novel psychotropic agent with high affinity for D(2) and 5-HT(2A) receptors, as well as for receptors implicated in the enhancement of cognition and mood and the reduction of negative symptoms (5-HT(7), 5-HT(1A), and alpha(2c)). The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lurasidone in patients hospitalized for an acute exacerbation of DSM-IV-defined schizophrenia.
METHOD
Patients were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of double-blind treatment with a fixed dose of lurasidone 80 mg (N = 90, 75.6% male, mean age = 39.7 years, mean baseline score on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale derived from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [BPRSd] = 55.1) or placebo (N = 90, 77.8% male, mean age = 41.9 years, mean BPRSd score = 56.1). The primary efficacy measure was the BPRSd. The study was conducted from May to December 2004.
RESULTS
At day 42, last-observation-carried-forward endpoint, treatment with lurasidone was associated with significant improvement compared to placebo on the BPRSd (least squares mean +/- SE = -8.9 +/- 1.3 vs. -4.2 +/- 1.4; p = .012), as well as on all secondary efficacy measures, including the PANSS total score (-14.1 +/- 2.1 vs. -5.5 +/- 2.2; p = .004) and the PANSS positive (-4.3 +/- 0.7 vs. -1.7 +/- 0.7; p = .006), negative (-2.9 +/- 0.5 vs. -1.3 +/- 0.5; p = .025), and general psychopathology (-7.0 +/- 1.1 vs. -2.7 +/- 1.2; p = .0061) subscales. Significant improvement was seen as early as day 3, based on BPRSd, PANSS, and Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness assessments. Treatment with lurasidone was generally well tolerated and was not associated with adverse changes in metabolic or electrocardiogram parameters. There were no clinically significant differences between lurasidone and placebo in objective measures of extrapyramidal symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that the novel psychotropic agent lurasidone is a safe and effective treatment for patients with an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
(ClinicalTrials.gov) Identifier: NCT00088634.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3458
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Dural arteriovenous fistulas in the cavernous sinus: clinical research and treatment.
Introduction. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the clinical course, with the dural carotid cavernous fistula (CCF), featuring a pallet of symptoms, paying special attention to radiological findings. Methods. Seventy-six consecutive patients with dural CCFs were investigated in detail, all of whom were defined by angiography. Results. The most common initial symptom was diplopia in 47 patients (62%) and the most frequently observed on arrival were type II, featuring cranial nerve palsies followed by the classical triad in 27, and then type I only with cranial nerve palsies. The time until admission with type I (mean: 6.7 W ± 6.0) was significantly shorter than that with type II (mean: 25.1 W ± 23.5). Branches from bilateral carotid arteries widely inflowing into bilateral carotid cavernous sinus were present in 30 (39%), 20 (26%) of which also demonstrated direct inflow into the intercavernous sinus. type I and II had more multiple venous drainage routes as compared with type III (classical triad only on arrival) and IV (initial development of the classical triad followed by cranial nerve palsy). Conclusion. In our series of dural CCF patients, the most common initial symptom was cranial nerve palsy, mostly featuring multiple venous drainage including cortical drainage. Such palsies should be added to the classical triad as indicative symptoms. Bilateral carotid arteries often inflow into cavernous and intercavernous sinuses, which should be taken into account in choice of therapeutic strategy.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3459
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Drosophila polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (DmPTB) regulates dorso-ventral patterning genes in embryos.
The Drosophila polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (dmPTB or hephaestus) plays an important role during embryogenesis. A loss of function mutation, heph(03429), results in varied defects in embryonic developmental processes, leading to embryonic lethality. However, the suite of molecular functions that are disrupted in the mutant remains unknown. We have used an unbiased high throughput sequencing approach to identify transcripts that are misregulated in this mutant. Misregulated transcripts show evidence of significantly altered patterns of splicing (exon skipping, 5' and 3' splice site switching), alternative 5' ends, and mRNA level changes (up and down regulation). These findings are independently supported by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis and in situ hybridization. We show that a group of genes, such as Zerknüllt, z600 and screw are among the most upregulated in the mutant and have been functionally linked to dorso-ventral patterning and/or dorsal closure processes. Thus, loss of dmPTB function results in specific misregulated transcripts, including those that provide the missing link between the loss of dmPTB function and observed developmental defects in embryogenesis. This study provides the first comprehensive repertoire of genes affected in vivo in the heph mutant in Drosophila and offers insight into the role of dmPTB during embryonic development.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3460
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Novel Arabidopsis microtubule-associated proteins track growing microtubule plus ends.
BACKGROUND
Microtubules (MTs) are polarized polymers with highly dynamic plus ends that stochastically switch between growth and shrinkage phases. In eukaryotic cells, a plethora of MT-associated proteins (MAPs) regulate the dynamics and higher-order organization of MTs to mediate distinct cellular functions. Plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs) are a group of MAPs that specifically accumulate at the growing MT plus ends, where they modulate the behavior of the MT plus ends and mediate interactions with cellular targets. Although several functionally important + TIP proteins have been characterized in yeast and animals, little is known about this group of proteins in plants.
RESULTS
We report here that two homologous MAPs from Arabidopsis thaliana, Growing Plus-end Tracking 1 (GPT1) and GPT2 (henceforth GPT1/2), contain basic MT-binding regions at their central and C-terminal regions, and bind directly to MTs in vitro. Interestingly, GPT1/2 preferentially accumulated at the growing plus ends of cortical MTs in interphase Arabidopsis cells. When the GPT1/12-decorated growing plus ends switched to rapid depolymerization, GPT1/2 dissociated from the MT plus ends. Conversely, when the depolymerizing ends were rescued and started to polymerize again, GPT1/2 were immediately recruited to the growing MT tips. This tip tracking behavior of GPT proteins does not depend on the two established plant + TIPs, End-Binding protein 1 (EB1) and SPIRAL1 (SPR1).
CONCLUSIONS
The Arabidopsis MAPs GPT1 and GPT2 bind MTs directly through their basic regions. These MAPs track the plus ends of growing MTs independently of EB1 and SPR1 and represent a novel plant-specific + TIP family.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3461
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Psychiatric hospitalizations by the Unified Health System in Brazil between 2000 and 2014.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the profile of patients hospitalized for mental and behavioral disorders by the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil between 2000 and 2014, and to verify how aspects of the new mental health policy influenced the rate of hospitalized patients in that period.
METHODS
Non-concurrent prospective cohort study using secondary data from inpatients with a primary diagnosis of mental and behavioral disorders between 01/01/2000 and 12/31/2014. Sociodemographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics variables were selected. Overall rates of hospitalized patients were calculated according to reason for admission, type of hospital, legal nature, and number of admissions per year for each patient. The association between rates of hospitalized patients, number of psychiatric beds per year, and number of Psychosocial Care Centers per year were tested.
RESULTS
We selected a total of 1,549,298 patients, whose most frequent diagnoses on first admission were psychoactive substance use disorders, followed by schizophrenia and mood disorders. The median of hospitalizations per patient was 1.9 and the length of stay per patient was 29 days. The overall rate of hospitalized patients was reduced by almost half in the period. The number of beds per year was positively associated with the rates of hospitalized patients; the number of CAPS per year was negatively associated with some rates of hospitalized patients.
CONCLUSION
Even in the face of adversity, the National Mental Health Policy has advanced in its goal of progressively reducing hospital beds and increasing the supply of substitute services such that both strategies were associated with the reduced inpatient rates. But the changes were felt with greater intensity in the first years of the policy's implementation, becoming less pronounced in recent years.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3462
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Duodenal cytochrome b: a novel ferrireductase in airway epithelial cells.
Catalytically active iron in the lung causes oxidative stress and promotes microbial growth that can be limited by intracellular sequestration of iron within ferritin. Because cellular iron uptake requires membrane ferrireductase activity that in the gut can be provided by duodenal cytochrome b (Dcytb), we sought Dcytb in the lung to test the hypothesis that it contributes to epithelial iron regulation by reducing Fe(3+) for cellular iron transport. Dcytb expression was found in respiratory epithelium in vitro and in vivo and was responsive to iron concentration. Iron transport was measured in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and was demonstrated to be partially inhibited in the presence of Dcytb-blocking antibody, suggesting that Dcytb reduces Fe(3+) for cellular iron transport. A definite source of reducing equivalents for Dcytb was sought but not identified. We found no evidence that ascorbate was involved but did demonstrate that O(2)(-). production decreased when Dcytb function was blocked. The presence of Dcytb in airway epithelial cells and its regulation by iron therefore may contribute to pulmonary cytoprotection.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3463
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AAAPT Diagnostic Criteria for Acute Pain Following Breast Surgery.
Acute pain after breast surgery decreases the quality of life of cancer survivors. Previous studies using a variety of definitions and methods report prevalence rates between 10% and 80%, which suggests the need for a comprehensive framework that can be used to guide assessment of acute pain and pain-related outcomes after breast surgery. A multidisciplinary task force with clinical and research expertise performed a focused review and synthesis and applied the 5 dimensional framework of the AAAPT (Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks [ACTTION], American Academy of Pain Medicine [AAPM], American Pain Society [APS] Pain Taxonomy) to acute pain after breast surgery. Application of the AAAPT taxonomy yielded the following: 1) Core Criteria: Location, timing, severity, and impact of breast surgery pain were defined; 2) Common Features: Character and expected trajectories were established in relevant surgical subgroups, and common pain assessment tools for acute breast surgery pain identified; 3) Modulating Factors: Biological, psychological, and social factors that modulate interindividual variability were delineated; 4) Impact/Functional Consequences: Domains of impact were outlined and defined; 5) Neurobiologic Mechanisms: Putative mechanisms were specified ranging from nerve injury, inflammation, peripheral and central sensitization, to affective and social processing of pain. PERSPECTIVE: The AAAPT provides a framework to define and guide improved assessment of acute pain after breast surgery, which will enhance generalizability of results across studies and facilitate meta-analyses and studies of interindividual variation, and underlying mechanism. It will allow researchers and clinicians to better compare between treatments, across institutions, and with other types of acute pain.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3464
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Changes to physician and nurse time burdens when caring for patients under contact precautions.
Contact precautions are complex behavioral interventions. To better understand barriers to compliance, we conducted a prospective study that compared the time burden for health care workers caring for contact precautions patients versus other patients. We found that nurses spent significantly more time in the rooms of contact precautions patients. There was no significant change in physician timing. Future studies need to evaluate workflow changes so that barriers to contact precaution implementation can be fully understood and addressed.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3465
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Hemodynamic effects of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy performed under topical anesthesia.
Central hemodynamics and blood gases were measured continuously during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy performed under topical anesthesia in ten patients with restrictive lung disease. The procedure induced marked hemodynamic changes, which were maximal and similar in magnitude, during passage through the larynx and during suctioning. Mean arterial pressure increased by 30 percent, heart rate by 43 percent, cardiac index by 28 percent and mean pulmonary arteriolar occlusion pressure by 86 percent compared with pre-bronchoscopic control values. A slight fall in arterial oxygen tension was measured during bronchial suctioning and in the post-bronchoscopic period. Rate pressure product reached its highest value during bronchial suctioning at which time three of the ten patients developed ST-T-segment changes, implying that myocardial oxygen demand might have exceeded supply. It is suggested that the major mechanism behind the hemodynamic changes is a reflex sympathetic discharge caused by mechanical irritation of larynx and bronchi.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3466
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Classification of pro-inflammatory status for interleukin-6 affects relative muscle strength in obese elderly women.
BACKGROUND
Obesity, defined by an excess amount of body fat or a percent body fat higher than 30 % for women is a complex chronic disorder with multifactorial etiology and is accompanied by chronic low-grade inflammation, which results in elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines.
AIMS
The aim of this study was to compare muscle strength between high and low pro-inflammatory status in obese elderly women and to verify the relationship of IL-6 with muscle strength and fat-free mass.
METHODS
Eighty-nine elderly women (age 69.47 ± 6.07 years; body mass 64.70 ± 12.04 kg; height 1.52 ± 0.06 m; body mass index 27.78 ± 4.75 kg/m(2)) were divided into two groups: high and low inflammatory status for IL-6. Lower limb muscle strength was tested using bilateral leg extension with the ten repetitions maximum test, IL-6 was measured by ELISA and body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
RESULTS
Women classified from the high pro-inflammatory status presented lower relative muscle strength (P = 0.056) when compared with the low inflammatory status group, with no differences for absolute muscle strength (P = 0.18). There was a significant negative correlation of IL-6 with relative muscle strength (P = 0.03, R = -0.22) and a considerable trend toward significance (P = 0.06, R = -0.19) and negative association with fat-free mass (P = 0.84, R = -0.02).
CONCLUSIONS
This study provides insights that a high pro-inflammatory status in sedentary obese elderly women might impair muscle strength and negatively affect fat-free mass. Thus, elderly women classified with high pro-inflammatory status for IL-6 should receive further health care attention to prevent this deleterious condition.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3467
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Impact of finfish aquaculture on biogeochemical processes in coastal ecosystems and elemental sulfur as a relevant proxy for assessing farming condition.
We conducted experiments to investigate the effects of finfish aquaculture and to propose appropriate proxies for assessing their environmental impact. Due to enhanced fish feed input, sulfate reduction (SR) and the resulting metabolic products (H2S, NH4+, PO43-) were significantly greater at the farm than at the control site. Benthic release of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (DIP) from farm sediment accounted for 52-837% and 926-1048%, respectively, of the potential DIN and DIP demand for phytoplankton production. The results suggest that excess organic loading in fish farms induces deleterious eutrophication and algal blooms in coastal ecosystems via benthic-pelagic coupling. Direct SR measurement provided the most useful information of all the parameters on organic contamination in fish farms. However, given its abundance, relatively lower chemical reactivity and relative ease of analysis, elemental sulfur was regarded as the most appropriate proxy for assessing the environmental impacts of finfish aquaculture.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3468
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Rapid Extraction and Identification of Maitotoxin and Ciguatoxin-Like Toxins from Caribbean and Pacific Gambierdiscus Using a New Functional Bioassay.
BACKGROUND
Ciguatera is a circumtropical disease produced by polyether sodium channel toxins (ciguatoxins) that enter the marine food chain and accumulate in otherwise edible fish. Ciguatoxins, as well as potent water-soluble polyethers known as maitotoxins, are produced by certain dinoflagellate species in the genus Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa spp. in the Pacific but little is known of the potential of related Caribbean species to produce these toxins.
METHODS
We established a simplified procedure for extracting polyether toxins from Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa spp. based on the ciguatoxin rapid extraction method (CREM). Fractionated extracts from identified Pacific and Caribbean isolates were analysed using a functional bioassay that recorded intracellular calcium changes (Ca2+) in response to sample addition in SH-SY5Y cells. Maitotoxin directly elevated Ca2+i, while low levels of ciguatoxin-like toxins were detected using veratridine to enhance responses.
RESULTS
We identified significant maitotoxin production in 11 of 12 isolates analysed, with 6 of 12 producing at least two forms of maitotoxin. In contrast, only 2 Caribbean isolates produced detectable levels of ciguatoxin-like activity despite a detection limit of >30 pM. Significant strain-dependent differences in the levels and types of ciguatoxins and maitotoxins produced by the same Gambierdiscus spp. were also identified.
CONCLUSIONS
The ability to rapidly identify polyether toxins produced by Gambierdiscus spp. in culture has the potential to distinguish ciguatoxin-producing species prior to large-scale culture and in naturally occurring blooms of Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa spp. Our results have implications for the evaluation of ciguatera risk associated with Gambierdiscus and related species.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3469
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Draft Genome Sequences of Four Microcystis aeruginosa Strains (NIES-3787, NIES-3804, NIES-3806, and NIES-3807) Isolated from Lake Kasumigaura, Japan.
Microcystis aeruginosa is a bloom-forming cyanobacterium found in freshwater environments. The draft genomes of the M. aeruginosa strains NIES-3787, NIES-3804, NIES-3806, and NIES-3807, which were isolated from Lake Kasumigaura, Japan, were sequenced. The genome sizes of NIES-3787, NIES-3804, NIES-3806, and NIES-3807 were 4,524,637, 4,522,701, 4,370,004, and 4,378,226 bp, respectively.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3470
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FOXA1 represses the molecular phenotype of basal breast cancer cells.
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that comprises multiple subtypes. Luminal subtype tumors confer a more favorable patient prognosis, which is, in part, attributed to estrogen receptor (ER)-α positivity and antihormone responsiveness. Expression of the forkhead box transcription factor, FOXA1, similarly correlates with the luminal subtype and patient survival, but is also present in a subset of ER-negative tumors. FOXA1 is also consistently expressed in luminal breast cancer cell lines even in the absence of ER. In contrast, breast cancer cell lines representing the basal subtype do not express FOXA1. To delineate an ER-independent role for FOXA1 in maintaining the luminal phenotype, and hence a more favorable prognosis, we performed expression microarray analyses on FOXA1-positive and ER-positive (MCF7, T47D), or FOXA1-positive and ER-negative (MDA-MB-453, SKBR3) luminal cell lines in the presence or absence of transient FOXA1 silencing. This resulted in three FOXA1 transcriptomes: (1) a luminal signature (consistent across cell lines), (2) an ER-positive signature (restricted to MCF7 and T47D) and (3) an ER-negative signature (restricted to MDA-MB-453 and SKBR3). Gene set enrichment analyses revealed FOXA1 silencing causes a partial transcriptome shift from luminal to basal gene expression signatures. FOXA1 binds to a subset of both luminal and basal genes within luminal breast cancer cells, and loss of FOXA1 increases enhancer RNA transcription for a representative basal gene (CD58). These data suggest FOXA1 directly represses a subset of basal signature genes. Functionally, FOXA1 silencing increases migration and invasion of luminal cancer cells, both of which are characteristics of basal subtype cells. We conclude FOXA1 controls plasticity between basal and luminal breast cancer cells, not only by inducing luminal genes but also by repressing the basal phenotype, and thus aggressiveness. Although it has been proposed that FOXA1-targeting agents may be useful for treating luminal tumors, these data suggest that this approach may promote transitions toward more aggressive cancers.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3471
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A randomized, double-blind comparison of intravenous diltiazem and digoxin for atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery.
BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary bypass graft surgery may result in hypotension, heart failure symptoms, embolic complications, and prolongation in length of hospital stay (LOHS). The purpose of this study was to determine whether intravenous diltiazem is more effective than digoxin for ventricular rate control in AF after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. A secondary end point was to determine whether ventricular rate control with diltiazem reduces postoperative LOHS compared with digoxin.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Patients with AF and ventricular rate > 100 beats/min within 7 days after coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomly assigned to receive intravenous therapy with diltiazem (n = 20) or digoxin (n = 20). Efficacy was measured with ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter monitoring). Safety was assessed by clinical monitoring and electrocardiographic recording. LOHS was measured from the day of surgery. Data were analyzed with the intention-to-treat principle in all randomly assigned patients. In addition, a separate intention-to-treat analysis was performed excluding patients who spontaneously converted to sinus rhythm. In the analysis of all randomly assigned patients, those who received diltiazem achieved ventricular rate control (> or = 20% decrease in pretreatment ventricular rate) in a mean of 10 +/- 20 (median 2) minutes compared with 352 +/- 312 (median 228) minutes for patients who received digoxin (p < 0.0001). At 2 hours, the proportion of patients who achieved rate control was significantly higher in patients treated with diltiazem (75% vs 35%, p = 0.03). Similarly, at 6 hours, the response rate associated with diltiazem was higher than that in the digoxin group (85% vs 45%, p = 0.02). However, response rates associated with diltiazem and digoxin at 12 and 24 hours were not significantly different. At 24 hours, conversion to sinus rhythm had occurred in 11 of 20 (55%) patients receiving diltiazem and 13 of 20 (65%) patients receiving digoxin (p = 0.75). Results of the analysis of only those patients who remained in AF were similar to those presented above. There was no difference between the diltiazem-treated and digoxin-treated groups in postoperative LOHS (8.6 +/- 2.2 vs 7.7 +/- 2.0 days, respectively, p = 0.43).
CONCLUSIONS
Ventricular rate control occurs more rapidly with intravenous diltiazem than digoxin in AF after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. However, 12- and 24-hour response rates and duration of postoperative hospital stay associated with the two drugs are similar.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3472
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Does magnetic resonance imaging accurately predict residual disease in breast cancer?
BACKGROUND
The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying residual disease after breast conservation therapy (BCT) is unclear.
METHOD
Review of an institutional database identified patients with positive or close (<or=2 mm) margins undergoing MRI before re-excision. Histopathologic correlation was performed.
RESULTS
Forty-three women underwent MRI after BCT. MRI suggested residual disease in 29 patients, of whom 20 (69%) had residual carcinoma pathologically. Nine patients had false-positive MRI as seen by benign pathology findings. Fourteen MRIs indicated no residual disease, of which 6 had residual disease pathologically. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of MRI was 77% and 69%, respectively. MRI conducted within 28 days of the original surgery was 85% sensitive. MRI performed after 28 days was 69% sensitive.
CONCLUSIONS
MRI is able to detect residual disease among most patients undergoing re-excision. False-positive results may be caused by inflammatory processes that resemble residual disease.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3473
|
Growth factors and receptors in bladder development and obstruction.
During fetal and neonatal development and experimental obstruction, the bladder wall undergoes changes in both the amount and composition of the urothelium, extracellular matrix, and smooth muscle. We hypothesize that cell-cell signaling among the different layers of the bladder wall mediates these changes. Growth factors likely to be involved in this process are keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, -beta 2, and -beta 3. Whole rodent bladders were analyzed by RNase protection assays for KGF, KGF receptor, TGF alpha, epidermal growth factor receptor, and TGF beta 2 and -beta 3 transcripts at Fetal Day 14 (before smooth muscle differentiation) and Fetal Day 18 (after smooth muscle differentiation), at birth, and 60 days postnatal. Growth factor transcripts were also analyzed in partially obstructed rodent bladders and in sham-operated animals. TGF beta 2 and -beta 3 mRNA expression decreased as a function of gestational age, whereas TGF alpha mRNA increased. KGF mRNA was low before smooth muscle differentiation at 14 days' gestation, then increased. The mRNA of receptors for KGF and EGF remained essentially unchanged throughout bladder development. In bladders subjected to partial urethral outlet obstruction, there was a 2-fold increase in mRNA for TGF beta 2, a 5-fold increase in TGF beta 3, and a 10-fold increase TGF alpha mRNA. In contrast, there was no change in transcripts for either KGF or receptors for KGF and epidermal growth factor. Immunohistochemical localization of the protein for these growth factors showed selective localization to the epithelium and/or smooth muscle for TGF beta 2 and -beta 3, whereas TGF alpha and the epidermal growth factor receptor localized throughout the bladder wall. In conclusion, growth factor mRNA expression is modulated in bladder development and obstruction, which implies a possible mechanistic role of growth factors for the observed changes in the bladder wall and extracellular matrix.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3474
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Anatomical study of the superficial temporal branches of the auriculotemporal nerve: Application to surgery and other invasive treatments to the temporal region.
BACKGROUND AND AIM
The auriculotemporal nerve (ATN) is one of the branches of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, which gives rise to many branches to the retromandibular and temporal regions. Of these, the superficial temporal branch can occasionally be the cause of migraine headaches and auriculotemporal neuralgia. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the anatomy of the superficial temporal branch, which has never been described in detail.
METHODS
A total of 14 sides of cadaveric heads were used for this study. The number of superficial temporal branch was counted, and the horizontal and vertical distances from the middle of the tragus to the branching point were measured.
RESULTS
Three of 14 sides had two main trunks, and 11 sides had one main trunk. Each of the duplicated ATN had already branches into two main trunks as they left the retromandibular space. The number of superficial temporal branches ranged from two to seven. The vertical and horizontal distances from the middle of the tragus to the branching point of the superficial temporal branch ranged from 6.19 to 25.65 mm and from 3.45 to 11.88 mm, respectively. The communicating branches occasionally formed a loop or so-called "ansa," and a double ansa was identified in one case.
CONCLUSIONS
These data can provide surgeons a better view of the course of these distant branches, so that skin incisions can be better planned.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3475
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Maternal arterial stiffness in pregnancies affected by Type 1 diabetes mellitus.
AIM
There is little information about maternal central haemodynamics and arterial stiffness in pregnancies affected by Type 1 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether maternal arterial stiffness is altered in pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes mellitus compared with women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study involving 37 pregnant women without diabetes and 37 pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes mellitus during the second trimester of pregnancy. Maternal wave reflection (augmentation index) and pulse wave velocity of the carotid-femoral and carotid-radial part of the arterial tree were assessed non-invasively using applanation tonometry.
RESULTS
Pregnant women with normal pregnancies and Type 1 diabetes mellitus had similar augmentation index (3.7 +/- 12.8 vs. 5.1 +/- 12.6%, P = 0.6), even after adjusting for possible confounders. Within the group of diabetic women, augmentation index was associated with duration of diabetes (P = 0.003, r(2) = 0.22) but not with glycated haemoglobin. Pulse wave velocities were similar between the two groups of women (carotid-femoral: 5.6 +/- 0.9 vs. 5.7 +/- 1.1 m/s, P = 0.4; carotid-radial: 7.4 +/- 1.2 vs. 7.8 +/- 1 m/s, P = 0.1). In the diabetic women there was no significant association between the pulse wave velocities and either duration of diabetes or glycated haemoglobin.
CONCLUSIONS
Pregnancy in women with Type 1 diabetes mellitus is not associated with altered maternal systemic arterial stiffness. However, maternal wave reflections increase with the duration of diabetes.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3476
|
Osteosarcoma in New Zealand 1981-7: an overview.
AIMS
To examine the incidence, and results of treatment of osteosarcoma in New Zealand between 1981 and 1987.
METHOD
Data was obtained from the Cancer Registry for all patients registered with osteosarcoma between 1981 and 1987.
RESULTS
There were 104 patients in the study group. There was a peak incidence in the second decade with a second smaller peak in the seventh and eight decades. The overall 5 year survival rate was 29%. For the group aged under 30 years there was a 44% 5 year survival rate. Those aged over 60 years had a 3.2% 5 year survival. Survival rates were better when treated with surgery and chemotherapy and where the tumour was of the appendicular skeleton.
CONCLUSION
This is a mixed group of patients. The 5 year survival rates appear to be at the lower end of the spectrum of the results reported for similar groups in other countries.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3477
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Galactose-Deficient IgA1 as a Candidate Urinary Polypeptide Marker of IgA Nephropathy?
In patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), circulatory IgA1 and IgA1 in mesangial deposits contain elevated amounts of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1). We hypothesized that a fraction of Gd-IgA1 from the glomerular deposits and/or circulation may be excreted into the urine and thus represent a disease-specific biomarker. Levels of urinary IgA and Gd-IgA1 were determined in 207 patients with IgAN, 205 patients with other renal diseases, and 57 healthy controls, recruited in USA, Japan, and Italy. Urinary IgA was similarly elevated in patients with IgAN and renal-disease controls compared with healthy controls. However, urinary Gd-IgA1 levels were higher in patients with IgAN (IgAN, 28.0 ± 17.9; disease controls, 20.6 ± 17.4 units/mg urinary creatinine; P < 0.0001). Lectin western blotting data confirmed these results. In IgAN patients, levels of urinary Gd-IgA1 correlated with proteinuria (P < 0.001). When we purified IgA from serum and urine of an IgAN patient, the relative proportion of Gd-IgA1 to total IgA1 was higher in the urine compared with serum, suggesting selective excretion of Gd-IgA1 in IgAN. In summary, urinary excretion of Gd-IgA1 was elevated in patients with IgAN and the urinary Gd-IgA1 levels correlated with proteinuria. Urinary Gd-IgA1 may thus represent a disease-specific biomarker of IgAN.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3478
|
Toll-like receptor ligands and atopy: a coin with at least two sides.
Allergic disease prevalence rates have increased dramatically in affluent countries over the last half century. One proposed explanation is that decreased exposures to microbes caused by modern public health practices has led to deficiencies in an important source of immune education and a consequent increase in the risk of pathogenic immune responses to environmental antigens. Recently, it has become clear that innate responses to microbes are mediated in large part by Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which recognize a diverse family of ligands produced by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. In this perspectives article we will review experimental evidence suggesting that TLRs also play a dominant role in innate responses to noninfectious immunostimulatory materials present in environments of daily living. We will further discuss how ligands for different TLRs can polarize the T(H) bias of adaptive responses in opposing directions. Finally, we will consider how TLRs might contribute to the genesis of atopy and the clinical potential of pharmacologic interventions that target TLRs for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3479
|
Two-Year-Old Children Expect Native, but Not Foreign Speakers to Use the Same Tool for the Same Purpose.
Previous research has already demonstrated that even very young children are sensitive to language cues and learn differently from native and foreign speaker models. A possible explanation for this phenomenon suggests that spoken language is a sign of someone's cultural background and in this sense demonstrates the person's culture specific knowledge. The aim of the present study was to investigate what children think about native and foreign speakers' behavior in a domain that is typically regulated by cultural norms (tool usage), specifically whether they expect group members to act alike or not. In a violation of expectation paradigm, two-year-old toddlers first watched a video on which a native and a foreign speaker person used different tools for achieving the same goal. In the test phase a new native speaker model appeared and selected one of the previously seen tools for the same goal as it was used before. Results indicated that toddlers were surprised if the native speaker model had chosen the tool that had previously been used by the foreign speaker. In Experiment 2, the familiarization phase was exactly the same as in Experiment 1, but during the test phase, the model spoke a foreign language. Results, in this case, showed no significant differences between looking times. These experiments suggest that two-year-olds expect native (but not foreign) speakers to use the same tool for the same goals. As tool usage is a fundamental element of cultural knowledge, we propose that this pattern of results suggest that children expect native speakers to possess shared cultural knowledge at least in the domain of artifacts.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3480
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Congenital absence of the epiglottis and its potential role in obstructive sleep apnea.
A 3 month old girl with congenital absence of the epiglottis presents with inspiratory stridor. Over the next 8 years frank obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) develops, confirmed by polysomnography. She has no difficulty in swallowing or phonation as assessed clinically and with barium swallow. This suggests that the epiglottis may help stabilize the upper airway, and any role in swallowing or phonation may, in its absence, be compensated by other mechanisms.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3481
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Communicating with assistive listening devices and age-related hearing loss: Perceptions of older Australians.
Abstract Age-related hearing loss can impact adversely on the delivery of primary care and cannot necessarily be remedied by hearing aid technology. A study of 20 older Australians living in a Queensland retirement village and residential hostel complex was undertaken to investigate how communication might be advanced through an assistive listening device (ALD). Most participants were women aged over 85 years; almost all had hearing loss and wore hearing aids. Tests with an ALD found very high levels of satisfaction with understanding speech and sound quality amongst participants. However, few had heard previously of ALDs, all required individualised assistance to fit and use the device and rated ease of use less highly. The findings affirm those of previous studies that ALD technology has a role in communication for older hearing impaired people and for hearing rehabilitation. Its potential to enhance quality of life can be facilitated and promoted through nursing practice, but requires professional and consumer education so that it is not overlooked as a communication option.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3482
|
A lapachol derivative active against mouse lymphocytic leukemia P-388.
Lapachol [2-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone] and its analogs [2-(3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl)-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 2-(3,3-dibromo-2-propenyl)-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone] have been described, among almost a hundred synthesized analogs, as active against rat tumor Walker 256 carcinosarcoma. The acetylglucosylation of lapachol results in a compound which extends lapachol activity becoming effective against mouse lymphocytic leukemia P-388. When mice inoculated with 10(6) leukemic cells were treated with the drug during 9 days, their life span increased 80% over the control animals. Identification spectral data (uv, ir, 1H NMR, and MS) of the compound obtained by synthesis are given.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3483
|
gamma-Globulin level and dietary protein intake during the first year of life.
To investigate the possible causes of relatively low blood gamma-globulin levels (less than or equal to 0.5 gm/dl) during the first year of life, 287 patients less than 1 year of age who were suffering from mild diseases were studied retrospectively. They were divided into two groups, those with a gamma-globulin level less than 0.5 gm/dl and those with a gamma-globulin level greater than 0.5 gm/dl. By reconstructing the diets given, it was found that they had been receiving isocaloric diets that differed only in protein supply: patients with lower gamma-globulin levels received 2.9 gm/kg/day of protein and patients with higher gamma-globulin levels received 4.0 gm/kg/day. Fifty-five healthy subjects were studied prospectively during the first year of life on two isocaloric diets that differed only in their protein content: the first one supplied 2.5 gm/kg/day of protein and the second supplied 4.0 gm/kg/day. At approximately 5, 7, and 10 months of age, hemoglobin, total protein, albumin, globulins, immunoglobulins, and other common blood parameters were measured. Patients on the lower protein diet had a gamma-globulin concentration of less than or equal to 0.5 gm/dl and those on the higher protein diet had a gamma-globulin concentration of greater than or equal to 0.8 gm/dl. Immunoglobulin levels, particularly IgG, were lower in patients on the lower protein diet. The subjects with lower protein intake and lower levels of gamma-globulin and immunoglobulins showed significantly higher morbidity.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3484
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Continuous glucose monitoring in insulin-treated patients in non-ICU settings.
Inpatient hyperglycemia, in patients with and without a history of diabetes, is associated with increased risk of complications, mortality, and longer hospital stay in medicine and surgical patients. Bedside capillary point of care testing is widely recommended as the preferred method for glucose monitoring and for guiding glycemic management of individual patients; however, the accuracy of most handheld glucose meters is far from optimal. Recent studies in the hospital setting have reported that the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can provide real-time information about glucose concentration, direction, and rate of change over a period of several days. Because it provides glucose values every 5-10 minutes 24 hours a day, CGM may have an advantage over point of care testing with respect to reducing the incidence of severe hypoglycemia in acute care. Real-time CGM technology may facilitate glycemic control and to reduce hypoglycemia in insulin-treated patients. Recent guidelines, however, have recommended deferring the use of CGM in the adult hospital setting until further data on accuracy and safety become available. In this study, we review the advantages and disadvantages of the use of real-time CGM in the management of dysglycemia in the hospital setting.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3485
|
Structure of Chemisorbed CO(2) Species in Amine-Functionalized Mesoporous Silicas Studied by Solid-State NMR and Computer Modeling.
Two-dimensional (2D) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) experiments on samples loaded with 13C-labeled CO2, "under controlled partial pressures", have been performed in this work, revealing unprecedented structural details about the formation of CO2 adducts from its reaction with various amine-functionalized SBA-15 containing amines having distinct steric hindrances (e.g., primary, secondary) and similar loadings. Three chemisorbed CO2 species were identified by NMR from distinct carbonyl environments resonating at δC ≈ 153, 160, and 164 ppm. The newly reported chemisorbed CO2 species at δC ≈ 153 ppm was found to be extremely moisture dependent. A comprehensive 1H-based SSNMR study [1D 1H and 2D 1H-X heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR, X = 13C, 29Si) experiments] was performed on samples subjected to different treatments. It was found that all chemisorbed CO2 species are involved in hydrogen bonds (HBs) with either surface silanols or neighboring alkylamines. 1H chemical shifts up to 11.8 ppm revealed that certain chemisorbed CO2 species are engaged in very strong HBs. We effectively demonstrate that NMR may help in discriminating among free and hydrogen-bonded functional groups. 13C{14N} dipolar-recoupling NMR showed that the formation of carbonate or bicarbonate is excluded. Density functional theory calculations on models of alkylamines grafted into the silica surface assisted the 1H/13C assignments and validated various HB arrangements that may occur upon formation of carbamic acid. This work extends the understanding of the chemisorbed CO2 structures that are formed upon bonding of CO2 with surface amines and readily released from the surface by pressure swing.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3486
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The long-term stability of dentition in skeletal class III malocclusion following orthodontic-orthognathic surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To Investigate the changes in dentition at each treatment stage and to get some guidelines for clinical work.
METHODS
Thirty-one cephalometric films of skeletal class III malocclusion patients were analyzed. All the patients were treated by orthodontic and orthognathic surgery.
RESULTS
During presurgical orthodontic treatment, the lower Incisors were decompensated (labially Proclined by 7 degrees ). The upper incisors were uprighted during surgery following rotation of maxilla. After surgery, the upper anterior teeth kept tipping for ward. While the lower anterior teeth were In stable. The dentition was in good occlusion during observing stage.
CONCLUSIONS
Lingually tipped lower Incisors were decompensated after presurgical orthodontic treatment in class III malocclusion patients, and lower Incisors kept in stable during observing stage, while the upper incisor had a little bit relapse.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3487
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Intravenous lipids: antidotal therapy for drug overdose and toxic effects of local anesthetics.
Intravenous lipid emulsion is an accepted therapy for the treatment of severe cardiac toxic effects caused by local anesthetics. Lipid emulsion therapy has also been used successfully to treat cardiac arrest and intractable arrhythmias caused by overdoses of antiepileptic drugs, cardiovascular drugs, and psychotropic medications, but experience with intravenous lipids as antidotal therapy in these clinical situations is limited. However, intravenous lipids are relatively safe, widely available, and easy to administer, and many published case reports document their dramatic effectiveness. Patients who have not responded to standard therapies have been quickly revived by administration of intravenous lipids. Use of lipids most likely will increase, and critical care nurses should be familiar with lipid therapy.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3488
|
Expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator Cl- channels in heart.
Cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent chloride channels modulate changes in resting membrane potential and action potential duration in response to autonomic stimulation in heart. A growing body of evidence suggests that there are marked similarities in the properties of the cAMP-dependent chloride channels in heart and cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) chloride channels found in airway epithelia or in cells expressing the CFTR gene product. We isolated poly A+ mRNA from rabbit ventricle and converted it to cDNA for amplification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A fragment corresponding to the nucleotide-binding domain 1 (NBD1) of the CFTR transcript was cloned. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of NBD1 of human CFTR with the deduced sequence of the rabbit heart PCR product indicated 98% identity. Northern blot analysis, using the heart amplification product as a cDNA probe, demonstrated expression of homologous transcripts in human atrium, guinea pig and rabbit ventricle, and dog pancreas. Xenopus oocytes injected with poly A+ mRNA extracted from rabbit and guinea pig ventricle or dog pancreas expressed robust time-independent chloride currents in response to an elevation of cAMP. We conclude that CFTR chloride channels are expressed in heart and are responsible for the observed cAMP-dependent chloride conductance.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3489
|
Reference frame of the ventriloquism aftereffect.
Seeing the image of a newscaster on a television set causes us to think that the sound coming from the loudspeaker is actually coming from the screen. How images capture sounds is mysterious because the brain uses different methods for determining the locations of visual versus auditory stimuli. The retina senses the locations of visual objects with respect to the eyes, whereas differences in sound characteristics across the ears indicate the locations of sound sources referenced to the head. Here, we tested which reference frame (RF) is used when vision recalibrates perceived sound locations. Visually guided biases in sound localization were induced in seven humans and two monkeys who made eye movements to auditory or audiovisual stimuli. On audiovisual (training) trials, the visual component of the targets was displaced laterally by 5-6 degrees. Interleaved auditory-only (probe) trials served to evaluate the effect of experience with mismatched visual stimuli on auditory localization. We found that the displaced visual stimuli induced ventriloquism aftereffect in both humans (approximately 50% of the displacement size) and monkeys (approximately 25%), but only for locations around the trained spatial region, showing that audiovisual recalibration can be spatially specific. We tested the reference frame in which the recalibration occurs. On probe trials, we varied eye position relative to the head to dissociate head- from eye-centered RFs. Results indicate that both humans and monkeys use a mixture of the two RFs, suggesting that the neural mechanisms involved in ventriloquism occur in brain region(s) using a hybrid RF for encoding spatial information.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3490
|
Tolerance to NaCl induces changes in plasma membrane lipid composition, fluidity and H+-ATPase activity of tomato calli.
Two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Pera) callus lines tolerant to NaCl were obtained by successive subcultures of NaCl-sensitive calli in 50 and 100 mM NaCl-supplemented medium. Growth and ion content, as well as plasma membrane lipid composition, fluidity and H+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.35) activity, were studied in both NaCl-sensitive and NaCl-tolerant calli. Although calli tolerant to 100 mM NaCl exhibited a reduced growth relative to calli sensitive to NaCl or tolerant to 50 mM NaCl, growth of calli tolerant to 100 mM NaCl was higher than that of NaCl-sensitive calli grown for one subculture in 100 mM NaCl. Growth in the presence of 100 mM NaCl provoked an increase of Na+ and Cl- content, but no significant changes in K+ and Ca2+. As compared with NaCl-sensitive and 50 mM NaCl-tolerant calli, plasma membrane vesicles isolated from calli tolerant to 100 mM NaCl exhibited a higher phospholipid and sterol content as well as a lower phospholipid/free sterol ratio and a lower double bond index (DBI) of phospholipid fatty acids. The changes in plasma membrane lipid composition were correlated with a decrease of plasma membrane fluidity in calli tolerant to 100 mM NaCl, as indicated by fluorimetric studies using diphenylhexatriene (DPH) as probe. Plasma membrane-enriched vesicles isolated from calli tolerant to 100 mM NaCl showed lower ATP hydrolysis and ATP-dependent H+-pumping activities, as well as a lower passive permeability to H+ than plasma membrane from NaCl-sensitive and 50 mM NaCl-tolerant calli. The involvement of the changes in plasma membrane lipid content and composition, fluidity and H+-ATPase activity in salt tolerance of tomato calli is discussed.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3491
|
Retrieval from the ER-golgi intermediate compartment is key to the targeting of c-terminally anchored ER-resident proteins.
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident proteins may be maintained in the ER by retention, where the leak into post-ER compartments is absent or slow, or retrieval, where a significant leak is countered by retrieval from post-ER compartments. Here the targeting of the C-terminally anchored protein ER-resident protein, cytochrome b5a (cytb5a), considered to be maintained in the ER mainly by the process of retention, is compared with that of sarcolipin (SLN) and phospholamban (PLB); also C-terminally anchored ER-residents. Laser confocal microscopy, and cell fractionation of green fluorescent protein-tagged constructs expressed in COS 7 cells indicate that while calnexin appears to be retained in the ER with no evidence of leak into the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), significant amounts of cytb5a, SLN, and PLB are detectable in the ERGIC, indicating that there is considerable leak from the ER. This is supported by an in vitro budding assay that shows that while small amounts of calnexin appear in the transport vesicles budding off from the ER, significant amounts of cytb5a and SLN are found in such vesicles. These data support the hypothesis that retrieval plays a major role in ensuring that C-terminally anchored proteins are maintained in the ER.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3492
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Introduction of a carbon paste electrode based on nickel carbide for investigation of interaction between warfarin and vitamin K1.
In this paper a novel electrochemical sensor based on nickel carbide (Ni3C) nanoparticles as a new modifier was constructed. Ni3C nanoparticle was synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and first-principles study. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies confirmed the electrode modification. Afterwards, the new electrode for the first time was used for interaction study between vitamin K1 and warfarin as an anticoagulant drug by differential pulse voltammetry. The adduct formation between the drug and vitamin K1 was improved by decreasing in anodic peak current of warfarin in the presence of different amounts of vitamin K1. The binding constant between warfarin and vitamin K1 was obtained by voltammetric and UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic methods. The molecular modeling method was also performed to explore the structural features and binding mechanism of warfarin to vitamin K1. The different aspects of modeling of vitamin K1 and warfarin and their adduct structures confirmed the adduct formation by hydrogen bonding.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3493
|
Prostate-specific antigen 'bounce' after permanent 125I-implant brachytherapy in Japanese men: a multi-institutional pooled analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the incidence, timing, and magnitude of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level 'bounce' after permanent prostate brachytherapy (BT) and correlate the PSA bounce with clinical and dosimetric factors in Japanese patients with prostate cancer.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A multi-institutional pooled analysis was carried out in 388 consecutive patients with T1-T2N0M0 prostate cancer treated with (125)I-seed implant BT with no hormonal therapy or external beam radiotherapy. All patients had >or=1 year of follow-up and at least three follow-up PSA level measurements. Three definitions of PSA bounce were used: definition A, a PSA level rise of 0.1 ng/mL; definition B, a PSA level rise of 0.4 ng/mL; and definition C, a PSA level rise of 35% over the previous value, followed by a subsequent fall.
RESULTS
The actuarial likelihood of having PSA bounce at 24 months was 50.8% for definition A, 23.5% for definition B, and 19.4% for definition C. The median time to develop PSA bounce was 12 months for definition A, 18 months for definition B, and 18 months for definition C. There was a PSA bounce magnitude of 2 ng/mL in 5.3% of patients, and 95.3% of PSA bounce occurred within 24 months after (125)I-BT. Among the before and after (125)I-BT factors, clinical stage, initial PSA level, and Gleason score did not predict for PSA bounce using any definition; only being younger predicted for PSA bounce on multivariate analysis (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
PSA bounce is a common phenomenon after (125)I-BT and occurred at a rate of 19-51% in the Japanese men who underwent (125)I-BT, depending on the definition used. It is more common in younger patients, and early PSA bounce should be considered when assessing a patient with a rising PSA level after (125)I-BT, before implementing salvage interventions. Furthermore, PSA bounce magnitude might be lower in Japanese than in Caucasian patients.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3494
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The Advantage of Case-Tailored Information Metrics for the Development of Predictive Models, Calculated Profit in Credit Scoring.
This paper compares model development strategies based on different performance metrics. The study was conducted in the area of credit risk modeling with the usage of diverse metrics, including general-purpose Area Under the ROC curve (AUC), problem-dedicated Expected Maximum Profit (EMP) and the novel case-tailored Calculated Profit (CP). The metrics were used to optimize competitive credit risk scoring models based on two predictive algorithms that are widely used in the financial industry: Logistic Regression and extreme gradient boosting machine (XGBoost). A dataset provided by the American Fannie Mae agency was utilized to conduct the study. In addition to the baseline study, the paper also includes a stability analysis. In each case examined the proposed CP metric that allowed us to achieve the most profitable loan portfolio.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3495
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Fertilizability and structural properties of boar spermatozoa prepared by Percoll gradient centrifugation.
Two techniques for the preparation of boar spermatozoa for in vitro fertilization were studied: a simple washing procedure and centrifugation on a discontinuous Percoll gradient. Their respective effects on motility of spermatozoa were analysed by computer-assisted sperm analysis. The Percoll density gradient technique selected spermatozoa with significantly (P < 0.0001) enhanced motility and movement characteristics. In vitro matured oocytes inseminated with spermatozoa prepared by Percoll gradient centrifugation had significantly (P < 0.0001) greater cleavage rates than did oocytes inseminated with washed spermatozoa. This increased penetration ability was not due to an increased proportion of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. Transmission electron microscopy revealed no unique ultrastructural differences between the spermatozoa from either preparation. Spermatozoa prepared by Percoll gradient centrifugation are recommended for insemination and studies of porcine in vitro fertilization.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3496
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Epidemiological analyses of African swine fever in the European Union (November 2017 until November 2018).
This update on the African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in the EU demonstrated that out of all tested wild boar found dead, the proportion of positive samples peaked in winter and summer. For domestic pigs only, a summer peak was evident. Despite the existence of several plausible factors that could result in the observed seasonality, there is no evidence to prove causality. Wild boar density was the most influential risk factor for the occurrence of ASF in wild boar. In the vast majority of introductions in domestic pig holdings, direct contact with infected domestic pigs or wild boar was excluded as the route of introduction. The implementation of emergency measures in the wild boar management zones following a focal ASF introduction was evaluated. As a sole control strategy, intensive hunting around the buffer area might not always be sufficient to eradicate ASF. However, the probability of eradication success is increased after adding quick and safe carcass removal. A wider buffer area leads to a higher success probability; however it implies a larger intensive hunting area and the need for more animals to be hunted. If carcass removal and intensive hunting are effectively implemented, fencing is more useful for delineating zones, rather than adding substantially to control efficacy. However, segments of fencing will be particularly useful in those areas where carcass removal or intensive hunting is difficult to implement. It was not possible to demonstrate an effect of natural barriers on ASF spread. Human-mediated translocation may override any effect of natural barriers. Recommendations for ASF control in four different epidemiological scenarios are presented.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3497
|
Black-box superconducting circuit quantization.
We present a semiclassical method for determining the effective low-energy quantum Hamiltonian of weakly anharmonic superconducting circuits containing mesoscopic Josephson junctions coupled to electromagnetic environments made of an arbitrary combination of distributed and lumped elements. A convenient basis, capturing the multimode physics, is given by the quantized eigenmodes of the linearized circuit and is fully determined by a classical linear response function. The method is used to calculate numerically the low-energy spectrum of a 3D transmon system, and quantitative agreement with measurements is found.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3498
|
Self-generated hierarchically porous titania with high surface area: photocatalytic activity enhancement by macrochannel structure.
Various hierarchical porous titania with high surface area over 600 m(2)/g have been synthesized via a spontaneous self-formation process from titanium alkoxides by a water adjusting approach using acetonitrile as reaction medium. The reactivity of metal alkoxides and the water content in acetonitrile medium on the resultant structure have been investigated. The porosities of the products were characterized by SEM, TEM and N(2) adsorption-desorption measurements. The observation on the evolution of porous structure with increasing water content in reaction system is essential for a better understanding of hierarchical porous structure formation over different length scales by this self-formation process. The creation of macro/micropores in photocatalytic titania materials has been found to enhance the photocatalytic activity due to both the action of macrochannels as light harvester and the easy diffusion effect of organic molecules. The present work shows clearly that hierarchically porous titania with the presence of macroporous structure and high surface area can be very efficient photocatalysts, suggesting their potential applications in water treatment as decontamination materials.
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No pos
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No neg
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Retriever3499
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Percutaneous large core needle biopsy versus surgical biopsy in the diagnosis of breast lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To value LCNB accuracy in the determination of morphobiological parameters and as an alternative to the open SB diagnostic procedure of breast lesions.
SETTING
University Hospital, Italy.
SUBJECTS
From May 1992 to February 1995 196 biopsies have been performed. The diameter of the neoplasms examined varied from 0.6 to 7 cm with an average of 1.9 cm.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The accuracy of the two methods in the evaluation of histological degree, receptor state, protein c-erb B2 and p53 were compared.
RESULTS
No inadequate sampling were ever recorded. LCNB has shown values of 97% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The positivity and negativity predicted values obtained were 100% and 89% respectively. Retrospectively 70 sample-cases of carcinoma were selected and the morphobiological parameters evaluated. The correlation coefficients for the data obtained with SB and LCNB in the evaluation of Progesteron and Oestrogen receptor expression, protein c-erb B2 and p53 were excellent. Furthermore it was noted that LCNB allows a saving of at least 1/3 of the cost vs intraoperative SB.
CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous LCNB has high diagnostic accuracy for histological classification. LCNB has the same accuracy as SB for morphobiological parameters. The cost of LCNB is markedly lower than SB.
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No pos
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No neg
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