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Growth and quantum transport properties of vertical Bi2Se3 nanoplate films on Si substrates. Controlling the growth direction (planar versus vertical) and surface-to-bulk ratio can lead to lots of unique properties for two-dimensional layered materials. We report a simple method to fabricate continuous films of vertical Bi2Se3 nanoplates on Si substrate and investigate the quantum transport properties of such films. In contrast to (001) oriented planar Bi2Se3 nanoplate film, vertical Bi2Se3 nanoplate films are enclosed by (015) facets, which possess high surface-to-bulk ratio that can enhance the quantum transport property of topological surface states. And by controlling the compactness of vertical Bi2Se3 nanoplates, we realized an effective tuning of the weak antilocalization effect from topological surface states in Bi2Se3 films. Our work paves a way for exploring the unique transport properties of this unconventional structure topological insulator film.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Simultaneous induction of axial and planar chirality in arene-chromium complexes by molybdenum-catalyzed enantioselective ring-closing metathesis. The molybdenum-catalyzed asymmetric ring-closing metathesis of the various Cs -symmetric (π-arene)chromium substrates provides the corresponding bridged planar-chiral (π-arene)chromium complexes in excellent yields with up to >99 % ee. With a bulky and unsymmetrical substituent, such as N-indolyl or 1-naphthyl, at the 2-positions of the η(6) -1,3-diisopropenylbenzene ligands, both biaryl-based axial chirality and π-arene-based planar chirality are simultaneously induced in the products. The axial chirality is retained even after the removal of the dicarbonylchromium fragment, and the chiral biaryl/heterobiaryl compounds are obtained with complete retention of the enantiopurity.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Improving physical fitness by exercise training programs. Thirteen young men completed a ten-week exercise training program on bicycle ergometers. Training sessions were conducted five days per week, with eight men randomly assigned to low-effort (LE) and five to high-effort (HE) regimens. LE participants worked continuously at 50% of their maximal oxygen intake (exercise HR congruent to 135 BPM); HE participants performed two minutes alternating work-rest intervals at 80% of their maximal oxygen intake (exercise HR congruent to 170 BPM). Total work done was held constant for the two groups. LE and HE participants increased maximal oxygen intake (P < .01), but there was no difference in changes between the two groups. LE exercise training programs are more comfortable for participants and perhaps should be recommended over HE programs for most individuals, since improvements in physical fitness appear to be comparable.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Effects of insulin on luteinizing hormone and prolactin secretion and calcium signaling in female rat pituitary cells. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, which might contribute to the hypersecretion of luteinizing hormone (LH). Hyperprolactinemia is another finding in a subgroup of patients with PCOS, whereas its relation to hyperinsulinemia is not fully understood yet. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that insulin might affect LH or prolactin secretion of cultured female rat pituitary cells. To address the mechanisms by which insulin could act at the intracellular level we examined the GnRH- and TRH-induced Ca(2+) signals in single gonadotrophs and lactotrophs, because Ca(2+) is an important component of GnRH signal transduction that is closely related to exocytosis. Cells treated for 24 h with insulin (10(-9) M) showed an enhancement of basal and agonist-induced LH and prolactin secretion. Insulin did not affect GnRH- and TRH-induced Ca(2+) signals compared to controls. There were no differences neither in the frequency nor in the amplitude of the Ca signal. Our findings suggest that insulin might contribute to LH hypersecretion. Insulin might be partially responsible for hyperprolactinemia. Since insulin did not affect Ca signaling, other components of the GnRH signal transduction pathway might be involved in LH hypersecretion.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Long-term outcome in pediatric renal tumor survivors: experience of a single center. Medical records of 30 children with renal tumor diagnosed at Siriraj Hospital during 1996 to 2007 were reviewed. Mean age at diagnosis was 36 months; male to female ratio was 1.7:1. Clinical manifestations included abdominal mass (96.7%), hypertension (40.0%), abdominal pain (36.7%), hematuria (26.7%), postrenal obstruction (16.7%), and proteinuria (13.3%). Eight patients had Denys-Drash malformations, WAGR, Dandy-Walker malformation, or genitourinary anomalies. Twenty-seven patients (90%) had Wilms tumor. Sixteen patients were stage 3 or more at diagnosis. Rhabdoid tumor was found in 3 patients. All patients received chemotherapy, 13 patients also received radiation therapy. Acute complications included febrile neutropenia (44.4%), hypokalemia (37.0%), hyponatremia (29.6%), Fanconi syndrome (11.1%), urinary tract Infection (10.0%), and acute renal failure (7.4%). Mean follow-up time was 57.2 months. Ten patients died from progressive disease. Five-year patient survival was 69.7%. Two patients had chronic kidney disease. One of these had Denys-Drash malformations. Both patients received ifosfamide-carboplatin-etoposide protocol and abdominal radiation. Antihypertensive medications were needed in 9 patients for a mean duration of 164 days. None had persistent proteinuria or hematuria. No difference was found among mean estimated glomerular filtration rate at diagnosis, 1 year after treatment, and at last follow-up. Long-term follow-up, especially renal function, is recommended.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Electrochemical oxidation and the quantitative determination of phosphine on a SPE-based sensor. A new type of solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) PH(3) electrochemical sensor is reported. The oxidation of PH(3) on the SPE-Pt electrode is studied by electrochemical and XPS methods. At the same time, the linearity, the stability and response time of the sensor is investigated and discussed. The results obtained indicate the SPE-based PH(3) sensor possesses a number of attractive properties.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[Clinical applications of intravenous anaesthetics pharmacology: the example of hypnotics and opioids]. To review the general principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics models by focusing on intravenous anaesthetics (hypnotics and opioids). Medline references, lectures from the French congress of anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine, abstracts. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling allows simple estimation of becoming of anaesthetic drugs in the body, instead of classical pharmacologic approach. However, pharmacokinetic as well as pharmacodynamic parameters are often considered as resulting from complex mathematic approaches and remain then poorly used in practice by physicians. The aim of this article is to simply expose concepts underlying PK-PD models building and to explain significance of the main PK-PD parameters (first-order rate constants, k(e0), T(1/2)k(e0), T(peak), context-sensitive half-time, context-sensitive decrement times). Clinical consequences for using intravenous anaesthetic drugs (hypnotics and opioids) are exposed either during bolus injection or continuous infusion, when injected alone or co-administered.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Losartan accelerates the repair process of renal fibrosis in UUO mouse after the surgical recanalization by upregulating the expression of Tregs. Obstructive nephropathy is a common cause for chronic kidney disease. Surgery, which is adopted to promptly relieve the obstruction, is the most important method to save damaged kidneys. However, earlier studies have shown that renal function will continue to deteriorate until the terminal stage after the obstruction' relief. The aim of this study is to explore the renal fibrosis and investigate the effect of losartan on renal fibrosis after the obstruction' relief using an improved mouse model of relief for unilateral ureteral obstruction (RUUO). Experiments carried out using C57BL/6 mice (n = 30) were randomly divided into RUUO + Losartan group, RUUO group and sham group. Using an improved mouse RUUO model, this study revealed that the mouse kidney for 3- or 7-day unilateral ureteral obstruction undergoing the RUUO surgery was still in a state of injury and fibrosis, while losartan could effectively ameliorate renal fibrosis by upregulating the expression of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + regulatory T cells (Tregs) in kidney after the surgery of RUUO.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Adaptation of suprathreshold contrast and luminance stimuli. The temporal and spatial properties of the difference in perceived contrast and brightness of two suprathreshold stimuli presented successively in different retinal locations were determined. Stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) was varied and the perceived contrast or brightness of the first stimulus (S1) was measured as a function of SOA by matching the contrast or luminance of the second stimulus (S2) to that of S1. The two stimuli overlapped in time for 200 ms to allow the comparison to be made. The adjusted values for S2 could well be fitted with an exponential decay function of SOA. For luminance increments and decrements the time constant for this function was 253 ms; for checkerboards with checks of size 16 min square the time constant was 164 ms. The difference in perceived contrast was dependent on initial contrast in a nonlinear fashion. It increased with increasing check size and was independent of the mean luminance and spatial proximity of the two stimuli. The phenomenon was observed with different pattern types and with dichoptic presentation, but could only be seen when direct comparison of the two stimuli was possible.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[Leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord. Apropos of 2 cases]. Two cases of leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord are reported. Prognostic factors and therapy of this kind of tumors are discussed.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Acute pulmonary edema associated with use of low-molecular weight dextran for prevention of microvascular thrombosis. Low-molecular weight dextran is commonly used to prevent thrombosis after microvascular procedures; however, the potential complications of this drug are not well known. We report a case of acute pulmonary edema in a healthy person after elective microsurgery for treatment of a malignant tumor of the forearm. The mechanism of action of dextran and the pathophysiology of two potential adverse reactions to this drug are discussed. It is thought that in this patient pulmonary edema was caused by dextran toxicity.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
The anatomic and radiologic basis of the circumflex scapular artery perforator flap. Microsurgical development has recently focused upon the perforator paradigm and primary thinning. Existing perforator flaps may require intramuscular dissection or lack reliable surface markings, whereas traditional scapular/parascapular flaps have low donor morbidity and reliable anatomy, but can be excessively bulky. Clinical application of a new flap based on a perforator from the circumflex scapular axis (CSA) has recently been published, but the vessel's anatomy has not been adequately characterized. The CSA was dissected in 115 sites in 69 cadavers. The number, external vessel diameter, and site of origin of perforators were measured relative to the CSA bifurcation. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to delineate the CSA and its perforators bilaterally in 40 volunteers. The number, origin relative to CSA bifurcation, diameter, length, and flow velocity of cutaneous perforators were determined. A CSA perforator was always present, running into the subdermal plexus, arising within 2.4 cm of the bifurcation. Cadaver studies: mean perforator diameter, 1.3 mm (SD, 0.66); 13% arose at bifurcation, 36% arose proximal (mean, 1.1 mm; SD, 0.63), and 52% distal to bifurcation (mean, 1.5 mm; SD, 0.88). Ultrasound: mean perforator diameter, 1.18 mm (SD, 0.41); mean flow velocity, 16.3 cm/s (SD, 3.65); perforator arose in 36% proximal, in 40% distal to bifurcation, and in 24% from the bifurcation. We definitively describe the anatomy of the perforator from the circumflex scapular artery upon which a new flap has been based. Its origin and dimensions are anatomically and radiologically reliable. The flap has certain potential benefits over existing perforator flaps.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
The new era for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: perspectives and validated strategies. Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthropathy associated with psoriasis. Psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease, characterized by hyperproliferation and aberrant differentiation of keratinocytes. PsA and PsO can be considered as a unique disease and are immune-mediated diseases and both innate and adaptive immunity play a role in their pathogenesis. Initially, PsO and PsA were thought to be Th1-mediated diseases, however, in the last years, several studies have shown the role of interleukin 17 (IL-17) and Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of PsA and PsO. Th17 cells have been detected in dermal infiltrates of psoriatic lesions as well as in synovial fluid. Interleukin (IL)-23, produced by antigen presenting cells (APC), especially by dendritic cells (DC), is the key regulator cytokine for Th17 and IL-17 production. In this review we discuss the role of IL-17 and IL-23 in the pathogenesis of PsO and PsA and their role as therapeutic targets for PsO and PsA treatment.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
New Regression Equation for 123I-IMP Non-invasive Cerebral Blood Flow Measurement Using the Graph Plot Method. A graph plot (GP) method using 123I-N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) has been proposed as a simple and non-invasive estimation of quantitative cerebral bloodflow (CBF). A regression equation for the GP method was estimated by the data of resting state. Therefore, the accuracy of CBF values in high flow range may be an underestimated possibility in this method.The aim of this study was to formulate a new regression equation for the GP method by the data of resting state and acetazolamide (ACZ) challenge, and to clarify the accuracy of it. The images of 26 consecutive patients who underwent both 123I-IMP chest radioisotope-angiography (RIA) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) examinations were used to construct the new regression equation. Examinations of the resting state and ACZ challenge were performed in different days. All patients were analyzed by both the GP method and autoradiography (ARG) method which is the conventional examination with the one-point arterial blood sampling. A linear regression equation between the index of the input function was obtained by the GP method and CBF value of ARG. The linear regression equation based on the resting data was compared with the equation based on the resting and ACZ challenge (rest+stress) data. Goodliner correlation was obtained between the index of the input function obtained by the GP method and CBF value of the ARG method in the rest+stress state (y=2.75x+15.1, r=0.78). In contrast, correlation results between the index of the input function obtained by the GP method and CBF value of the ARG method in the resting state was expressed as y=2.28x+18.4, r=0.54 rCBF values based on the resting data was 20% underestimated in the high flow range compared with values based on the rest+stress data. The new linear regression equation for the GP method is useful for clinical study. Key words: non-invasive cerebral blood flow measurement method, graph plot (GP), autoradiography (ARG), 123I-N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP).	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Rapid analysis of cyclamate in foods and beverages by gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). A rapid method for determination of sodium cyclamate in foods and beverages was developed. Sodium cyclamate was converted to N,N-dichloridecyclohexylamine by reaction with sodium hypochlorite under acid condition. N,N-dichloridecyclohexylamine was subsequently extracted by n-hexane and determined by gas chromatography. Conditions such as derivatization time, the concentration of sodium hypochlorite and sulphuric acid were optimised. Amino acids, aliphatic amines, and food additives such as preservatives, dyes and sweeteners showed no interference for quantification of cyclamate. The correlation coefficient of calibration curve was 0.9993 in the range of 5.0-250mg/L. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were calculated as three or ten times the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), respectively. The LOD and LOQ for yellow wine and fruit juice were 0.05 and 0.2mg/L, respectively. The LOD and LOQ for cake and preserved fruit were 0.25 and 0.8mg/kg, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day RSD were 0.28% and 1.1% (n=5), respectively. The method was successfully applied for determination of cyclamate in yellow wine, cake, fruit juice and preserved fruit. This method was simple, fast, and sensitive. It was suitable for the determination of cyclamate in foods and beverages for safety and quality control inspections.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Physiotherapy in osteoarthrosis of the knees. A controlled trial of hospital versus home exercises. Patients with osteoarthrosis of the knee were taught two simple exercises to be practised daily with graduated weights, recording the details in an instruction/record book. Patients were randomly divided into those receiving treatment (and short-wave diathermy) at hospital (group A), and those doing their exercises at home (group B). Both groups showed decreased pain and increased function, maximum weight lift and endurance at the end of 4 weeks. There was no difference between the groups. Benefit was retained by most of those patients notified at 6 weeks of a further assessment session at 12 weeks; most of these subjects continued daily exercises, whereas those not notified in advance were more likely to cease exercising and experience more pain. The exercise regimens are easy to perform and document. It is suggested that if such regimens were routinely used there would be great practical benefits for patient and physiotherapist.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Elution and reconcentration of polioviruses adsorbed on coal from water samples. Viruses adsorbed on coal particles in the form of coal bed could efficiently be recovered with elution of 6% beef extract solution in Mcllvaine buffer at pH 7.1. Significant reduction in large volume of eluate could be achieved by employing modified organic flocculation technique to obtain virus concentrate. Modified organic flocculation technique involves addition of 0.02% bovine albumin in eluate. Enteroviruses were adsorbed to flocs which were formed at pH 3.5 and were recovered by centrifugation followed by solublization of flocs in a small volume of 0.15 M disodium hydrogen phosphate solution at pH 9.5. The recovery of viruses ranged from 87.9% to 97.3% with an average of 92.2%.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Detection of highly polymorphic microsatellite loci in a species with little allozyme polymorphism. Microsatellite loci are regions of DNA containing tandem repeats of a short sequence motif; they occur abundantly in all eukaryotic genomes and have been shown to be a rich source of highly polymorphic genetic markers in humans and other mammals. These loci are particularly suitable for population studies because they can be relatively easily scored using a combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of each locus followed by electrophoresis to separate alleles. This paper details a method for finding these loci in any species. This method demonstrates that trinucleotide microsatellite loci are abundant and highly polymorphic in the social wasp Polistes annularis, whereas allozyme electrophoresis reveals very little polymorphism. The first six loci examined were all polymorphic with a mean observed heterozygosity of 0.62; in comparison average heterozygosity of 33 allozymes was 0.035. We suggest that this method can be used to detect variation where other methods have failed, making it an ideal tool for population and conservation geneticists who must deal with populations lacking other types of genetic variability.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
A novel time-course cDNA microarray analysis method identifies genes associated with the development of cisplatin resistance. In recent years, most cDNA microarray studies of chemotherapeutic drug resistance have not considered the temporal pattern of gene expression. The objective of this study was to examine systematically changes in gene expression of NCI-H226 and NCI-H2170 lung cancer cells treated weekly with IC10 doses of cisplatin. NCI-H226 lung cancer cells were treated weekly with an IC10 dose of cisplatin. Candidate genes with a fold change of 2.0 or more were identified from this study. A second experiment was conducted by exposing NCI-H2170 cells to cisplatin doses that were increased in week 4 and decreased in week 5. Overall, 44 genes were differentially expressed in both the NCI-H226 and NCI-H2170 cell lines. In the NCI-H2170 cell line, 24 genes had a twofold gene expression change from weeks 3 to 4. Real-time PCR found a significant correlation of the gene expression changes for seven genes of interest. This small time-ordered series identified novel genes associated with cisplatin resistance. This kind of analysis should be viewed as a first step towards building gene-regulatory networks.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Silencing of murine transthyretin and retinol binding protein genes has distinct and shared behavioral and neuropathologic effects. The murine genes encoding transthyretin (TTR) and retinol binding protein (RBP) were independently silenced by targeted disruption more than 10 years ago. Studies of both strains showed surprisingly little impact on either thyroid function or retinoid metabolism. Silencing TTR led to a relatively mild behavioral phenotype. In order to gain insight into the behavioral effect and determine if it was related to TTR's function as the carrier of RBP we carried out simultaneous studies with homozygous Rbp4(-/-) and Ttr(-/-) animals 4-7 months of age. Both strains showed behavioral differences relative to Ttr and Rbp4 wild-type animals and each other. The patterns were discrete for each knockout although there was some overlap. Neuropathologic examination of the cortex and hippocampus revealed cortical and hippocampal (CA3) neuronal loss in both and some degree of gliosis, more pronounced in the Rbp4(-/-) mice. There also appeared to be a major reduction in proliferating neuroblasts in the subventricular zone in both strains, which was also more severe in the Rbp4(-/-) mice. This is the first description of behavioral abnormalities in Rbp4(-/-)mice. The data also indicate that it is unlikely that the behaviors seen in Ttr(-/-) mice are related to its function as an RBP carrier.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Cognitive predictors of copying and drawing from memory of the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure in 7- to 10-year-old children. Cognitive models of drawing are mainly based on assessment of copying performance of adults, whereas only a few studies have verified these models in young children. Moreover, developmental investigations have only rarely performed a systematic examination of the contribution of perceptual and representational visuo-spatial processes to copying and drawing from memory. In this study we investigated the role of visual perception and mental representation in both copying and drawing from memory skills in a sample of 227 typically developing children (53% females) aged 7-10 years. Participants underwent a neuropsychological assessment and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF). The fit and invariance of the predictive model considering visuo-spatial abilities, working memory, and executive functions were tested by means of hierarchical regressions and path analysis. Results showed that, in a gender invariant way, visual perception abilities and spatial mental representation had a direct effect on copying performance, whereas copying performance was the only specific predictor for drawing from memory. These effects were independent from age and socioeconomic status, and showed that cognitive models of drawing built up for adults could be considered for predicting copying and drawing from memory in children.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[Epidemiology of thalassemia in Sicily. Sicilian Regional Epidemiologic Surveillance. Sicilian Cooperative Group for the Study of Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies]. A Sicilian Register of Thalassaemia set up in 1984 revealed 912 cases of Thalassaemia Major and 216 of Th. Intermedia on the island in that year. A significant decrease in the number of Cooley disease births was also noted in 1982-1984.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
De novo galectin-3 expression influences the response of melanoma cells to isatin-Schiff base copper (II) complex-induced oxidative stimulus. Galectin-3, a ubiquitous member of the galectin family, has been shown to control cellular proliferation, adhesion, migration and apoptosis; thus, it has a role in tumor development and progression. Galectin-3 expression is both up- and down-regulated during melanoma progression. However, conflicting data regarding its roles in tumor biology prompted us to investigate if the presence of galectin-3 influences the response of melanoma cells to a novel metallodrug because metastatic melanoma acquires chemo resistance and is reported to be redox-sensitive. Previously, it was demonstrated that the complex [bis-(2-oxindol-3-yl-imino)-2-(2-aminoethyl) pyridine-N,N'] copper (II) perchlorate, herein referred to as [Cu(isaepy)], induces ROS formation and apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells through mitochondrial uncoupling and the activation of AMPK/p38/p53 signaling. Here, we used a model of vertical growth melanoma (TM1), in which GAL3 expression is lost during tumor progression. When de novo expressed, galectin-3 was found to be ubiquitously present in all subcellular compartments. Our results demonstrate that de novo galectin-3 expression impairs the cellular antioxidant system and renders TM1G3 cells more susceptible than GAL3-null TM1MNG3 cells to [Cu(isaepy)] treatment. This compound, in contrast with the redox inactive [dichloro (2-oxindol-3-yl-imino)-2-(2-aminoethyl) pyridine-N,N'] zinc (II), herein referred to as [Zn(isaepy)], leads to increased intracellular ROS accumulation, increased carbonyl stress, increased mitochondrial depolarization, decreased cell adhesion, increased p38 activation and apoptosis in TM1G3, compared with TM1MNG3. Cell death was shown to be dependent on a hydrogen peroxide-derived species and on the activation of p38. Because mitochondria are a target of both [Cu(isaepy)] and galectin-3, we propose that the presence of galectin-3 in this organelle favors increased ROS production, thereby inducing oxidative cellular damage and apoptotic death. Therefore, [Cu(isaepy)] may be envisaged as a possible anti-melanoma strategy, particularly for melanomas that express galectin-3.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Evolution of phenolic composition of red wine during vinification and storage and its contribution to wine sensory properties and antioxidant activity. The objective of this work was to study the evolution of the phenolic composition of red wine during vinification and storage and its relationship with some sensory properties (astringency and bitterness) and antioxidant activities. Thus, red wine was made by a classic vinification method with Castelão and Tinta Miúda grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) harvested at maturity (3:2; w/w). Samples were taken at 2 and 7 days of maceration, at second racking, at the time of bottling and at 6 and 14 months after bottling. The total polyphenols extract (TPx) in each sample was isolated by column chromatography. The phenolic composition (anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins), in vitro antioxidant activity, and sensory property (astringency, bitterness) of the isolated TPx from different winemaking stages were evaluated through high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazyl radical test, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, total phenolic index, MWI (polyphenol molecular weight index), TSA (tannin specific activity), and sensory panel tasting. The results showed that the phenolic composition of red wine varied significantly during winemaking. The intensity of astringency (IA) and the intensity bitterness (IB) of the isolated TPx from different winemaking stages increased from 2 days of maceration until second racking and then decreased. Furthermore, MWI and TSA are positively correlated with IA and IB. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the isolated TPx from different winemaking stages maintained unchanged after alcoholic fermentation, which was independent of the variation of phenolic composition and sensory properties.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Reserpine attenuates interstitial adenosine-mediated activation of ecto-5'-nucleotidase in rat hearts in vivo. We examined whether reserpine-induced norepinephrine (NE) depletion attenuated the products of adenosine in rat heart. A flexibly mounted microdialysis technique was used to measure the concentration of interstitial adenosine and to assess the activity of ecto-5'-nucleotidase in rat hearts in situ. The microdialysis probe was implanted in the left ventricular myocardium of anesthetized rats and perfused with Tyrode solution containing adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) at rate of 1.0 microliter/min. The baseline level of dialysate adenosine was 0.51 +/- 0.09 microM. The introduction of AMP (100 microM) through the probe increased markedly the dialysate adenosine to 8.95 +/- 0.86 microM, and this increase was inhibited by ecto-5'-nucleotidase inhibitor, alpha, beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-diphosphate (AOPCP, 100 microM), to 0.66 +/- 0.38 microM. Thus, the level of dialysate adenosine is a measure of the ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity in the tissue in situ. AMP concentration for the half-maximal effect of adenosine release (EC(50)) was 107.3 microM. The maximum attainable concentration of dialysate adenosine (E(max)) by AMP was 21.1 microM. However, the EC(50) and E(max) values with reserpinized animals were 106.9 and 7.1 microM, respectively. Electrical stimulation of the left stellate ganglion increased significantly dialysate adenosine concentration, from the control level of 8.66 +/- 0.96 microM to 12.38 +/- 1.11 microM. After stimulation, dialysate adenosine returned to near the prestimulation level. When corresponding experiments were performed with reserpinized animals, the effect of electrical stimulation was abolished. Tyramine (endogenous catecholamine trigger) increased the adenosine concentration in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the elevation of adenosine concentration with reserpinized animals was not observed. These results suggest that reserpine attenuates NE-induced adenosine via stimulation of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor and protein kinase C mediated activation of ecto-5'-nucleotidase in rat heart.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Is temperature important in delivery room resuscitation? The possibility that temperature may affect the outcome of resuscitation from severe perinatal asphyxia has been a long-standing focus of research. Experimentally it is now well established that even small changes in temperature during severe hypoxia-ischemia critically modulate outcome. Clinical and experimental studies have now shown that hypoxic-ischemic injury continues to evolve after resuscitation. Experimentally, prolonged mild to moderate hypothermia can dramatically reduce this delayed injury, while mild hyperthermia over the same period worsens injury. Indeed there are data indicating that moderate post-ischemic hyperthermia can be deleterious as late as 24 h after reperfusion. Hypothermia has significant potential adverse effects, and at present its clinical use is restricted to large randomized controlled trials. The present paper reviews evidence suggesting that both primary prevention of maternal pyrexia during labour, and secondary prevention of hyperthermia after neonatal resuscitation, have the potential to significantly reduce the consequences of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
In vivo effects of Maillard reaction products derived from biscuits. The antioxidant activity, antihypertensive effect and prebiotic activity of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) derived from biscuits were investigated in Wistar rats. Animals were fed the following diets for 6 weeks: control (AIN-93 diet); Asc-diet (AIN-93 diet with ascorbic acid in the drinking water); HT-B diet (containing high amount of MRP derived from biscuits) and LT-B diet (containing negligible amounts of biscuit MRP). Serum antioxidant activity (FRAP, ABTS), as well as lipid peroxidation (TBARS) were determined at the end of the experiment. Results showed that dietary MRP reduced the food efficiency, increased the antioxidant activity of serum, increased the ratio between lactic and total aerobic bacteria, increased water-holding capacity of faeces and reduced blood pressure, but did not reduce mineral absorption. Therefore, the biscuit MRP functional claims could be demonstrated by an in vivo study.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Detection of high-grade small bowel obstruction on conventional radiography with convolutional neural networks. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine whether a deep convolutional neural network can be trained with limited image data to detect high-grade small bowel obstruction patterns on supine abdominal radiographs. Grayscale images from 3663 clinical supine abdominal radiographs were categorized into obstructive and non-obstructive categories independently by three abdominal radiologists, and the majority classification was used as ground truth; 74 images were found to be consistent with small bowel obstruction. Images were rescaled and randomized, with 2210 images constituting the training set (39 with small bowel obstruction) and 1453 images constituting the test set (35 with small bowel obstruction). Weight parameters for the final classification layer of the Inception v3 convolutional neural network, previously trained on the 2014 Large Scale Visual Recognition Challenge dataset, were retrained on the training set. After training, the neural network achieved an AUC of 0.84 on the test set (95% CI 0.78-0.89). At the maximum Youden index (sensitivity + specificity-1), the sensitivity of the system for small bowel obstruction is 83.8%, with a specificity of 68.1%. The results demonstrate that transfer learning with convolutional neural networks, even with limited training data, may be used to train a detector for high-grade small bowel obstruction gas patterns on supine radiographs.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Tillage and field scale controls on greenhouse gas emissions. There is a lack of understanding of how associations among soil properties and management-induced changes control the variability of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soil. We performed a laboratory investigation to quantify relationships between GHG emissions and soil indicators in an irrigated agricultural field under standard tillage (ST) and a field recently converted (2 yr) to no-tillage (NT). Soil cores (15-cm depth) were incubated at 25 degrees C at field moisture content and 75% water holding capacity. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified that most of the variation of the measured soil properties was related to differences in soil C and N and soil water conditions under ST, but soil texture and bulk density under NT. This trend became more apparent after irrigation. However, principal component regression (PCR) suggested that soil physical properties or total C and N were less important in controlling GHG emissions across tillage systems. The CO2 flux was more strongly determined by microbial biomass under ST and inorganic N content under NT than soil physical properties. Similarly, N2O and CH4 fluxes were predominantly controlled by NO3- content and labile C and N availability in both ST and NT soils at field moisture content, and NH4+ content after irrigation. Our study indicates that the field-scale variability of GHG emissions is controlled primarily by biochemical parameters rather than physical parameters. Differences in the availability and type of C and N sources for microbial activity as affected by tillage and irrigation develop different levels and combinations of field-scale controls on GHG emissions.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Pneumatosis intestinalis in systemic lupus erythematosus. A benign episode of pneumatosis intestinalis developed in a 54-year old black woman with rapidly progressive systemic lupus erythematosus. This case illustrates that pneumatosis intestinalis in association with the various collagen diseases can have disparate prognostic implications.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Pulse pressure variation and systolic pressure variation in horses undergoing general anesthesia. Changes in arterial pressure due to respiratory phases have been used to predict fluid responsiveness in a number of species and pulse pressure variation (PPV) and systolic pressure variation (SPV) are commonly used. The relationship between PPV and SPV has not been described in horses. To describe and compare PPV and SPV values of horses under general anesthesia. Twenty-six horses undergoing general anesthesia and receiving mechanical ventilation were enrolled in the study. Recordings of maximal and minimal values of pulse pressure and systolic pressure were calculated every 15 minutes throughout surgery. Initial PPV was 15.6% (7.9, 33.8) and decreased over the first 30 minutes to 10.7 ± 7.2% (P = 0.03). Initial SPV was 10.3 ± 2.6% and decreased over the first 30 minutes to 7.3 ± 3.3% (P = 0.004). PPV and SPV had a correlation coefficient of 0.52 (P < 0.0001) and a 95% limits of agreement from -7.1% to 14.4%. PPV and SPV measurements in horses do not have strong agreement.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Relationship of sexual orientation to substance use, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and other factors in a population of homeless adolescents. To explore the relationship of sexual orientation and gender to four sets of factors: (a) family history, (b) incarceration, (c) substance use, and (d) depression and suicide, in a population of homeless adolescents. A sample of homeless adolescents was recruited in Portland, Oregon and assessed using semi-structured interviews at baseline, three months and six months. A total of 532 youths (216 females and 316 males) provided data on sexual orientation and other variables. Heterosexual (n = 391) and non-heterosexual youths (n = 141) were compared on all sets of factors, primarily using logistic regressions. 44.9% of females identified as lesbian or bisexual, while only 13.9% of males identified as gay or bisexual. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and "unsure" (GLBU) youths were less likely to have been in foster care or arrested, but were more likely to have spent time in a locked mental health treatment facility. More than one-third of all participants reported use of injection drugs. GLBU youths were more likely to have recently used amphetamines and to have injected drugs, however, gay-bisexual males were less likely to have recently used marijuana. GLBU status was associated with recent measures of depression and suicidal ideation, but not with lifetime measures. Associations of sexual orientation with several lifetime measures were different than with prospective measures, demonstrating the limitations of using lifetime measures rather than recent or prospective measures. This population of homeless adolescents appears to be higher in its high rate of injection drug use and the large proportion of females who identify as lesbian or bisexual than found in other studies. The high rates of depression and suicidal ideation, especially among GLBU youth, are of great concern.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[IL-33 promotes airway remodeling in a mouse model of asthma via ERK1/2 signaling pathway]. To explore the role of IL-33 in asthmatic airway remodeling. Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: a control group, an ovalbumin (OVA) group, and an anti-IL-33 antibody combined with OVA group. The airway remodeling features in mice were observed by HE staining. In addition, the expressions of IL-33, alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and type 1 collagen (Col1) in the airway of mice were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Finally, Western blotting was used to determine the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1) in the lungs of mice. In vitro, human lung fibroblasts (HLF-1) were pretreated with the ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 or the MSK1 inhibitor H89 respectively, and then treated with the human recombinant IL-33 (rIL-33). Then real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to test the expressions of α-SMA and Col1. Immunofluorescence cytochemistry and Western blotting were also used to observe the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and MSK1 in HLF-1 cells. The pre-treatment with the ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 or anti-IL-33 antibody significantly abolished the OVA-induced airway remodeling, increased expressions of IL-33, α-SMA, Col1, and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and MSK1 in the airway of mice. In vitro, the increased expressions of α-SMA and Col1 and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and MSK1 induced by rIL-33 in HLF-1 cells were markedly inhibited by the pre-treatment with U0126 or H89. IL-33 promotes airway remodeling in asthmatic mice via the ERK1/2-MSK1 signaling pathway.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Cohesin: a global player in chromosome biology with local ties to gene regulation. Cohesin complexes hold sister chromatids together, which is essential for proper chromosome segregation during cell division and for post-replicative DNA repair. Recent studies suggest that, in addition to this global role in chromosome biology, cohesin is recruited to specific chromosomal locations by CTCF, and perhaps by other sequence-specific DNA binding factors. Once in position, cohesin controls chromosome conformation at the local level. Could this be key to understanding cohesin's role in gene expression?	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Short-Term Effects of Relamorelin on Descending Colon Motility in Chronic Constipation: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. The pentapeptide ghrelin agonist, relamorelin, accelerates colonic transit in patients with chronic constipation (CC). In a murine model, relamorelin decreased excitability of colonic circular smooth muscle cells and colonic intraluminal pressure. To determine short-term effects of relamorelin on colonic motility measured by barostat and multilumen manometry in CC. In a placebo-controlled, single-dose, double-blind, randomized study in patients with CC, we investigated the motor effects of relamorelin, 100 μg, SQ (12 patients) compared to placebo SQ (six patients). A motility-barostat balloon assembly was used to measure colonic compliance; tone and phasic pressure activity were measured before and after a 1000-kcal milkshake meal (administered ~60 min post-medication). Overall "background" phasic pressure activity was assessed by: average amplitude and motility index (MI = ln[sum amplitudes × #contractions + 1]) over defined periods. High-amplitude propagating contractions (HAPCs) were characterized by amplitude >75 mmHg and propagating contractions >50 mmHg; both were propagated over at least 10 cm. Postprandial HAPCs were the primary end point. The study sample had 80% power to detect an increase of 3.3 HAPCs in the hour post-meal. Relamorelin, 100 μg, significantly induced more pre-meal propagated contractions [PCs of either >50 or >75 mmHg] compared to placebo (p < 0.05). Relamorelin also induced more post-meal PCs >50 or >75 mmHg than placebo. Relamorelin did not significantly alter colonic compliance, fasting or postprandial phasic pressure activity (20 min pre-meal fasting MI) or tone, and 60 min postprandial phasic pressure amplitude or MI, or tone. Relamorelin stimulates propagated colonic contractions without alteration of background irregular contractions in CC. ClinicalTrial.Gov registration number: NCT 01781104.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Application of the Discrete Wavelet Transform to SEM and AFM Micrographs for Quantitative Analysis of Complex Surfaces. The discrete wavelet transform (DWT) has found significant utility in process monitoring, filtering, and feature isolation of SEM, AFM, and optical images. Current use of the DWT for surface analysis assumes initial knowledge of the sizes of the features of interest in order to effectively isolate and analyze surface components. Current methods do not adequately address complex, heterogeneous surfaces in which features across multiple size ranges are of interest. Further, in situations where structure-to-property relationships are desired, the identification of features relevant for the function of the material is necessary. In this work, the DWT is examined as a tool for quantitative, length-scale specific surface metrology without prior knowledge of relevant features or length-scales. A new method is explored for determination of the best wavelet basis to minimize variation in roughness and skewness measurements with respect to change in position and orientation of surface features. It is observed that the size of the wavelet does not directly correlate with the size of features on the surface, and a method to measure the true length-scale specific roughness of the surface is presented. This method is applied to SEM and AFM images of non-precious metal catalysts, yielding new length-scale specific structure-to-property relationships for chemical speciation and fuel cell performance. The relationship between SEM and AFM length-scale specific roughness is also explored. Evidence is presented that roughness distributions of SEM images, as measured by the DWT, is representative of the true surface roughness distribution obtained from AFM.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Extramedullary plasmacytoma in the adrenal incidentaloma. High-resolution imaging has led to the increasingly frequent discovery of adrenal incidentalomas. Most are nonfunctioning tumours and adenomas, but it is difficult to distinguish benign from malignant tumours using only morphological and laboratory data, and the diagnosis often remains uncertain without histological examination. Here we report the case of a 52-year-old Japanese man who had a right adrenal incidentaloma 4 cm in diameter. The tumour was removed by laparoscopic adrenalectomy. The pathology specimen revealed the typical histology of plasmacytoma. Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a very rare type of plasma cell proliferative disorder. This is the first documented case of an extramedullary plasmacytoma in the adrenal gland.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Erythrocyte selenium-75 uptake as a measure of selenium status in weaner sheep, and its relationship to erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity. The relationship between in vitro erythrocyte 75Se uptake (75Se uptake) and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (EGSHPx) activity was examined in weaner sheep during periods of selenium depletion and repletion, to determine whether 75Se uptake was better correlated than EGSHPx activity to the development of weaner nutritional myopathy. In the 2 trials conducted, only 3 of 45 Merino wether weaners developed clinical myopathy and histological lesions in skeletal muscles. The 75Se uptake values and EGSHPx activities in these 3 sheep were no different from those in the unaffected sheep. There was a significant negative correlation between 75Se uptake values and EGSHPx activities over the entire period of the trials. It could not be demonstrated that 75Se uptake was any better correlated than EGSHPx activity to the development of nutritional myopathy, and it was concluded that EGSHPx activity indicated selenium status better than 75Se uptake in weaner sheep.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Sex hormone-binding globulin: anatomy and physiology of a new regulatory system. Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is a plasma glycoprotein that binds a number of circulating steroid hormones (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and estradiol) with high affinity, thus regulating their free concentration in plasma. In addition to binding steroids, SHBG itself binds to receptor sites on plasma membranes with somewhat unusual kinetics. Both the off and on rates are quite slow. The steroid-binding and membrane-binding functions are intertwined in what is clearly an allosteric relationship. Occupation of SHBG's steroid-binding site by a steroid inhibits its ability to bind to its membrane receptor-binding site. This inhibition is not related to a steroid's biological activity. Metabolites of steroids without biological activity, e.g. 2-methoxyestradiol, actively inhibit SHBG's interaction with its membrane receptor. However, if unliganded SHBG is allowed to bind to its receptor on intact cells, and an appropriate steroid hormone then is introduced, adenylate cyclase is activated and intracellular cAMP increases. This function is specific for steroids with biological activity, 2-methoxyestradiol has no activity in this arena. These observations demonstrate a potentially important role for SHBG as a regulator of cell function. They also demonstrate an additional mode of action of steroid hormones, one that does not require that the steroid interact with a steroid receptor.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Retrograde axonal transport and lesion-induced upregulation of the TrkA high-affinity NGF receptor. Long-term physiological responses of nerve growth factor (NGF) and other neurotrophins require gene regulation and likely depend on retrograde axonal transport of NGF or a signaling molecule activated by ligand-receptor interaction. The low-affinity neurotrophin receptor p75LANR is retrogradely transported, but this receptor is not sufficient for NGF-dependent cell survival or differentiation. In this study we examined the distribution and transport of the TrkA NGF receptor using two anti-peptide polyclonal antibodies and a monoclonal antibody, all of which are TrkA specific. We find that (1) in the adult rat brain TrkA-like immunoreactivity is similar with all antibodies in striatal and basal forebrain neurons, (2) TrkA is upregulated in neuronal and nonneuronal cells near the sites of injury, and (3) TrkA immunoreactivity builds up within the proximal and distal segments of transected fimbrial axons, which is consistent with its transport in the anterograde and retrograde directions. Thus, TrkA may itself be, or be a component of, the neurotrophic intraaxonal messenger by which NGF regulates gene expression in sensitive neurons.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Combination therapy for onychomycosis using a fractional 2940-nm Er:YAG laser and 5 % amorolfine lacquer. Onychomycosis remains difficult to cure by traditional methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy with a fractional erbium yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser and 5 % amorolfine lacquer on onychomycosis. Nine patients with bilateral nails affected by distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis were included. The bilateral nails of each patient were divided into two groups. The 20 affected nails on one side of each patient as group 1 were treated with a fractional Er:YAG laser once a week and 5 % amorolfine lacquer twice weekly, while the 20 nails on the symmetrical side of each patient as group 2 were treated with amorolfine lacquer only. The laser treatment was conducted at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 12 in group 1. The clinical improvement, onychomycosis severity index (OSI), maximum linear clear nail growth (MLCNG), and mycological cure rate were evaluated. At week 24, 18 of 20 (90 %) nails in group 1 had achieved obvious clinical responses. The mean OSI score showed a significant decrease (5.24) and the average MLCNG was 3.1 mm in group 1. At week 24, 15 of 20 (75 %) nails achieved a negative mycological examination in group 1, compared with four of 20 (20 %) nails in group 2. The treatments were well-tolerated by most patients. This clinical study suggests that combination therapy of a fractional 2940-nm Er:YAG laser and 5 % amorolfine lacquer is an effective, safe, and convenient treatment method for onychomycosis.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Attention and dual-task conditions: physical therapy implications for individuals with acquired brain injury. The aim of this article is to consider how impairments in attention may affect the performance of two tasks during balance or walking in individuals recovering from acquired brain injury (ABI). Guidelines from the experimental dual-task paradigm from cognitive psychology are reviewed. In this paper, dual-task conditions are described as the use of two tasks performed simultaneously, but not necessarily following all the experimental guidelines of the dual-task paradigm. How and why dual-task costs may emerge are discussed as well as considerations for task selection. Review of literature that describes dual-task performance problems in older adults is summarized briefly as a foundation for considering how similar conditions may affect individuals with ABI. Studies of individuals with ABI of dual-task performance in balance or walking are reviewed in detail. Examination approaches including observational measures of attention as well as clinical measures of dual-task performance during walking are reviewed. Intervention concepts and approaches are described by review of intervention designs used with older adults and individuals with ABI that describe task selection and use of instructional set for dual-task training. Two intervention strategies described in the literature for treating attention problems are contrasted: (1) an explicit focus on cognitive impairments with the expectation that function will improve as a result and (2) an implicit focus on functional tasks through errorless learning with the expectation that cognition (and attention) will improve. An illustration of the use of both of these strategies in a complementary fashion to improve attention in a patient with ABI is reviewed. Current literature is limited in clearly directing assessment and intervention to improve attention after ABI, but strategies are presented and areas for future research are identified.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Impairment by cyclosporin A of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. This study introduces the immunosuppressor, cyclosporin A, as a cardioprotective drug. This effect was analyzed during development of reperfusion/induced arrhythmias after 5-min period of coronary ligation in hearts of rats under anesthesia. The results indicate that cyclosporin, when given before coronary occlusion, at a dose of 20 mg/kg, effectively protects against the high incidence of arrhythmias and the fall in blood pressure induced by reperfusion. In addition, in inhibits the delivery of lactic dehydrogenase and creatine kinase enzymes to the plasma. We propose that the protective effect could be related with its well documented action to restrain Ca(2+)-induced damage of mitochondrial functions.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
(18)F-choline PET/CT for early detection of metastases in biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy. Salvage radiotherapy (SRT) for biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP) should if possible be added at a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of <1-2 ng/mL. The value of positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) at such low PSA values is not defined. The purpose was to determine what proportion of a well-defined cohort of hormone-naïve patients who were candidates for early salvage radiotherapy had (18)F-choline PET/CT findings suggesting metastases. Patients with untreated BCR following RP, PSA <2 ng/mL, and Gleason score ≥7 or PSA doubling time ≤6 months underwent (18)F-choline PET/CT. Focal choline uptake in lymph nodes or skeletal sites was recorded. PET/CT indicated metastases in 16 (28 %) of 58 patients. In five (9 %) patients, the scans suggested bone metastases, and in 11 (19 %) patients, the scans suggested regional lymph node metastases only. For patients with PSA levels <1.0 ng/mL, the PET/CT scans indicated metastatic recurrence in 25 %. (18)F-choline PET/CT may be valuable for selecting patients with BCR following RP for SRT or experimental treatment of oligometastases, even at low PSA values.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Immunopathologic demonstration of T lymphocyte subpopulations and interleukin 2 in granuloma annulare. Immunopathologic aspects of granuloma annulare were studied in frozen sections of nine skin biopsy specimens with monoclonal antibodies directed against T lymphocytes, Langerhans' cells, interleukin 2, and interleukin 2 receptors in conjunction with immunoperoxidase techniques. The predominant lymphocyte was an activated T lymphocyte (Leu 1+, HLA-DR+) with an excess of helper/inducer phenotype (Leu 3a+) as compared with suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype (Leu 2a+). Langerhans' cells were increased in the epidermis and numerous OKT6+ cells were observed in the perivascular and granulomatous infiltrate. Both interleukin 2-positive cells and interleukin 2 receptor-positive cells were identified in the dermal lesions according to observed reactivity with the corresponding monoclonal antibodies. These findings suggest that a cell-mediated immune response producing cytokines may be important in the pathogenesis of granuloma annulare. Comparison of these results with skin specimens from patients with sarcoidosis and from a patient with granuloma annulare having some of the histologic features of sarcoidosis, suggests that the cutaneous infiltrate in granuloma annulare represents a response distinct from that of sarcoidosis.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Morphological ordering in biopolymers: informational statistical thermodynamic approach. We consider the question of the emergence of morphological ordering in an open far-from-equilibrium model of a biopolymer. We apply informational statistical thermodynamics, which was shown to be appropriate to deal with dissipative systems displaying complex behavior. The formation of nonlinear spatial ordering consisting in the emergence of static charge-density waves, producing a bioelectret-type state, is evidenced. This kind of behavior may arise in biopolymers under the influence of biochemical processes.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Results of excision of thymoma in cats and dogs: 20 cases (1984-2005). To provide long-term follow-up information for a series of dogs and cats with invasive and noninvasive thymomas treated by excision alone. Retrospective case series. 9 cats and 11 dogs with thymoma. Medical records were reviewed. The following factors were analyzed for their effect on prognosis: age of dog or cat, invasiveness of the tumor, percentage of lymphocytes in the mass (percentage lymphocyte composition) on histologic evaluation, and mitotic index of the mass. All patients were treated with excision of the tumor alone. Median overall survival time for the cats was 1,825 days, with a 1-year survival rate of 89% and a 3-year survival rate of 74%. Median overall survival time for the dogs was 790 days, with a 1-year survival rate of 64% and a 3-year survival rate of 42%. Recurrence of thymoma was observed in 2 cats and 1 dog, and a second surgery was performed in each, with subsequent survival times of 5, 3, and 4 years following the first surgery. Percentage lymphocyte composition of the mass was the only factor that was significantly correlated with survival time; animals with a high percentage of lymphocytes lived longer. Results of this study indicated that most cats and dogs with thymomas did well after excision. Even cats and dogs with invasive masses that survived the surgery and the few cats and dogs with recurrent thymomas or paraneoplastic syndromes had a good long-term outcome. Excision should be considered an effective treatment option for dogs and cats with thymomas.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Homozygosity for the +674C>T polymorphism on VEGF gene is associated with age-related macular degeneration in a Brazilian cohort. To investigate the association between VEGF gene polymorphism and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Brazilian cohort. We examined 160 affected individuals and 140 sex- and age-matched controls recruited at the Vision Institute and the Retina Department, São Geraldo Hospital, Minas Gerais Federal University, Brazil, between 2007 and 2011. Genotyping for the VEGF rs1413711 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (+674C>T) was performed. The incidence rate ratios and 95% confidence interval (CI) for AMD for this genotype was calculated. The odds ratio (OR) was also assessed by using logistic regression, controlling for CFH and LOC387715 risk genotype. We observed a prevalence of homozygosity (TT genotype) of 18.1% for rs1413711 among AMD cases compared with 5.8% among controls (P < 0.002). The ORs for this polymorphism were 3.6 (95%CI 1.6-8.2) for homozygous subjects and 1.5 (95%CI 1.1-2.1, P < 0.01) if the subject had at least one risk allele. When we studied separately exudative and dry AMD groups, this polymorphism was statistically significant for both groups. Controlling for CFH and LOC387715 risk genotype the OR was 3.0 for VEGF homozygous, and the OR increases if the patient is homozygous for the three genes. The present data suggests that VEGF TT genotype is associated with AMD among Brazilian patients.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Symmetric Predictive Estimator for Biologically Plausible Neural Learning. In a real brain, the act of perception is a bidirectional process, depending on both feedforward sensory pathways and feedback pathways that carry expectations. We are interested in how such a neural network might emerge from a biologically plausible learning rule. Other neural network learning methods either only apply to feedforward networks, or employ assumptions (such as weight copying) that render them unlikely in a real brain. Predictive estimators (PEs) offer a better solution to this bidirectional learning scenario. However, PEs also depend on weight copying. In this paper, we propose the symmetric PE (SPE), an architecture that can learn both feedforward and feedback connection weights individually using only locally available information. We demonstrate that the SPE can learn complicated mappings without the use of weight copying. The SPE networks also show promise in deeper architectures.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with previous ipsilateral complete axillary lymph node dissection. Prior ipsilateral completion axillary lymph node dissection (CALND) may be considered a contraindication to performing a sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in a patient with recurrent breast carcinoma. However, reoperative SLN biopsy following axillary dissection would determine if alternative lymphatic drainage pathways exist. If nodes were found to contain metastatic disease, staging and locoregional control of the disease could be affected. An institutional breast cancer database and electronic health record (IRB No. 102554) prospectively accrued 6225 patients between 1994 and 2007. Under separate IRB approval (IRB No. 102552), this database was queried for patients with a prior history of CALND who received a SLN biopsy. Patients' demographic, clinical, and treatment variables were recorded. Of the 6225 patients, 45 (0.7%) were identified as having previously undergone breast-conservation surgery, CALND, and ipsilateral reoperative SLN mapping and biopsy. Of the 45 patients, 13 (29%) had a successful ipsilateral reoperative SLN mapping and biopsy. Nonaxillary drainage was identified in 5 patients with reoperative SLN biopsy. Reoperative SLN mapping and biopsy is feasible in the setting of local recurrence after previous CALND. This procedure performed for breast cancer recurrence provides important staging information while identifying extra-axillary drainage that could affect both staging and local control.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Involvement of c-myc oncogene in lymphoma cell lines with no detectable chromosome rearrangement of band 8q24. Two lymphoma cell lines of B-cell type were established from Japanese patients with diffuse small noncleaved cell lymphoma. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a 14q+ marker chromosome in both cell lines, and a t(8;14)(q24.1;q32.3) seemed most likely to have occurred. The chromosome 8 pair, however, had no abnormalities. Molecular analysis demonstrated c-myc amplification lacking gross rearrangement in one cell line and genetic rearrangement of c-myc at the first intron as well as aberrant sizes of c-myc mRNA in the other cell line. In the latter case, it is possible that a t(8;14)(q24.1;q32.3) was buried in an unrecognized complex translocation. A combination of cytogenetic and molecular studies to determine the precise nature of the 14q32 translocation is discussed.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Electron transport in SiGe alloy nanowires in the ballistic regime from first-principles. Silicon-germanium alloying is emerging as one of the most promising strategies to engineer heat transport at the nanoscale. Here, we perform first-principles electron transport calculations to assess at what extent such approach can be followed without worsening the electrical conduction properties of the system, providing then a path toward high-efficiency thermoelectric materials.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Mild ventriculomegaly as a counselling challenge. Our purpose was to evaluate the outcome of a group of fetuses with mild ventriculomegaly. We retrospectively collected all cases of antenatally diagnosed mild enlargement of the lateral cerebral ventricles (transverse diameter of the atrium between 10 and 15 mm) between 1992 and 1997. Cases were included in the study if no other ultrasonic anomalies (including soft markers) were found. TORCH screening, karyotyping, search for associated anomalies and neurological examination (including imaging) were performed. Outcome information was available for all cases up to 30 months. Fourteen cases were examined. TORCH was always negative, 1 case with a microdeletion of chromosome 1 was identified. During the course of pregnancy, 2 fetuses showed progression to frank hydrocephalus. Five cases of agenesis of the corpus callosum, 1 of lissencephaly and 1 of heterotopia were eventually diagnosed. After birth 2 syndromes were identified. Three babies died during the follow-up period, among the survivors 4 had severe neurological damage, 2 of them had no associated dysmorphic findings. A heterogeneous group of central nervous system disorders may manifest antenatally as mild ventriculomegaly. The current management may not be able to identify dangerous conditions that present subtle dysmorphic features, or be able to predict abnormal outcome in most of the cases.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Use of an Educational Video to Reduce Barriers to Military Mental Health Care. Although there is significant need for mental health care among service members, stigma surrounding these services, along with myths associated with behavioral health treatment, discourages care seeking. This study evaluated the effect of a video designed to demystify mental health treatment on barriers to seeking care among military personnel. Participants were 294 active duty U.S. Marine Corps personnel who were randomly assigned to the intervention video only, the intervention video with discussion, or an attentional control video. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed social stigma regarding mental health treatment and willingness to seek help at pretest, posttest, and 6-week follow-up; personal desire for mental health care was assessed at pretest and 6-week follow-up. Participants who viewed the intervention video in either condition showed significant and similar decreases in social stigma and increases in willingness to seek help at posttest (p<.001), whereas participants in the control group showed no change at posttest in either variable. Although social stigma did not differ by intervention group at the 6-week follow-up, participants in either intervention were 2.56 times more likely than participants in the control group to report a personal desire for mental health care at the 6-week follow-up (p=.05). There were no significant differences between the two interventions on the main outcomes. A video in which mental health care providers explain the treatment process may be effective as an initial stand-alone social stigma reduction intervention. Additional efforts are likely needed to sustain effects and to realize increases in help-seeking behavior.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Priming of anesthesia circuit with xenon for closed circuit anesthesia. Xenon is an inert gas with a practical anesthetic potency (1 MAC = 71%). Because it is very expensive, the use of closed circuit anesthesia technique is ideal for the conduction of xenon anesthesia. Here we describe our methods of starting closed circuit anesthesia without excessive waste of xenon gas. We induce anesthesia with intravenous agents, and after endotracheal intubation, denitrogenate the patient for approximately 30 min with a high flow of oxygen. This is done to minimize accumulation of nitrogen in the anesthesia circuit during the subsequent closed-circuit anesthesia with xenon. Anesthesia is maintained with an inhalational anesthetic during this period. Then, we discontinue the inhalation agent and start xenon. For this transition, we feel it is unacceptable to simply administer xenon at a high flow until the desired end-tidal concentration is reached because it is too costly. Instead we set up another machine with its circuit filled in advance (i.e., primed) with at least 60% xenon in oxygen and switch the patient to this machine. To prime the circuit, we push xenon using a large syringe into a circuit, which was prefilled with oxygen. Oxygen inside the circuit is pushed out before it is mixed with xenon, and xenon waste will thus be minimized. In this way, we can achieve close to 1 MAC from the beginning of xenon anesthesia, and thereby minimize the risk of light anesthesia and awareness during transition from denitrogenation to closed-circuit xenon anesthesia.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Intradermal administration of GAD & evaluation of diabetes incidence in mice: possible relevance for skin tests in humans. In vitro cell mediated reactivity to Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) has been reported in man and in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. The demonstration of such reactivity in vivo using GAD in a simple intradermal skin test would be useful for mass screening of subjects at risk of Type 1 diabetes. Such a skin test could be simply applied to the forearm, then signs of local reaction would indicate patients at risk. However, in order to safely apply a skin test of this type it must be certain that administration of the antigen does not itself provoke or start the process leading to diabetes in susceptible individuals. In the present study the NOD mouse model was used. GAD and two peptides of GAD, which may have relevance to the disease process, were applied intradermally to these mice to determine whether a local reaction could be seen and to see if the diabetes rate was altered. Moreover, Balb/c mice, which can be considered to be at zero risk of developing the disease, were also injected with the same GAD and GAD peptides. No significant differences were seen in the diabetes incidence of the treatment groups compared to the control groups in either the NOD or Balb/c mice although a local swelling was seen in female NOD mice susceptible to diabetes after GAD administration in the footpad. We conclude that the administration of GAD and/or GAD peptides does not provoke or accelerate diabetes incidence in the NOD mouse and that an intradermal skin-test with GAD may be suitable for preliminary trials aimed at large scale screening of humans for their potential to develop type 1 diabetes.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[Importance of the histopathological type of the tumor as a parameter for recurrence and for prognosis of gastric cancers]. Importance of histopathological type of tumor for the prediction of recurrence and prognosis of gastric cancers was analysed in 4419 patients who underwent surgery in Aichi Cancer Center during the 23 years from 1965 to 1987. Correlation of initial recurrence site and the histology of the tumor was examined by the categorical discriminant analysis in 617 patients. Among these patients, 62% of liver metastasis was caused by well differentiated type cancers whereas 71% of peritoneal recurrence was poorly differentiated type cancers. Cox's regression tree type analysis was performed for 2893 cases with curative gastrectomy and the maximum difference in risk ratio was observed whether the tumor microscopically penetrated the serosal layer of the stomach. Difference of the prognosis due to histopathological type of the tumor appeared after correction of the s and n factors and in the early stages poorly differentiated type had better prognosis than well differentiated type cancers. On the contrary, in more advanced cases well differentiated type tumors had much better prognosis than poorly differentiated type cancers. From these results, we suggest that the consideration of histopathological type of the tumor should be implemented as an important parameter for the evaluation of prognosis of the gastric cancers.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Primitives, premotor drives, and pattern generation: a combined computational and neuroethological perspective. A modular motor organization may be needed to solve the degrees of freedom problem in biological motor control. Reflex elements, kinematic primitives, muscle synergies, force-field primitives and/or pattern generators all have experimental support as modular elements. We discuss the possible relations of force-field primitives, spinal feedback systems, and pattern generation and shaping systems in detail, and review methods for examining underlying motor pattern structure in intact or semi-intact behaving animals. The divisions of systems into primitives, synergies, and rhythmic elements or oscillators suggest specific functions and methods of construction of movement. We briefly discuss the limitations and caveats needed in these interpretations given current knowledge, together with some of the hypotheses arising from these frameworks.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Modulated oscillations in many dimensions. Modulated oscillations are described via their time-varying amplitude and frequency. For multivariate signals, there is structure in the signal beyond this local amplitude and frequency defined for each signal component, in turn describing the commonality of the components. The multivariate structure encodes how the common oscillation is present in each component signal. This structure will also be evolving. I review the special case of the representation of both bivariate and trivariate oscillations. Additionally, existing results on the general multivariate oscillation are covered. I discuss the difference between a model of a multivariate oscillation compared with other common signal models of phenomena observed in several channels, and how their properties are different. I show how for the multivariate signal the global dimensionality of the signal is built up from local one-dimensional contributions, and introduce the purely unidirectional signal, to quantify how any given signal is different from the closest such signal. I illustrate the properties of the derived representation of the multivariate signal with synthetic examples, and discuss the representation of data from observations in physical oceanography.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
The ultraviolet studies on protein-lipid interaction of a protein kinase C-gamma phorbol-binding domain. Family of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes play a key role in transducing a vast number of signals into the cells. The members of classical PKC family are activated by binding of various lipid ligands to one of the several cysteine-rich domains of the enzyme. Second cysteine-rich (Cys2) domain of PKC-gamma was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with glutathione-S-transferase (GST) using the cDNA sequence from rat brain. The Cys2 protein after cleavage from GST was purified to homogeneity using glutathione-agarose and Mono-S cation exchanger column. In order to investigate the interaction of lipids and calcium with Cys2 protein we used UW spectroscopy. The UV spectrum of Cys2 protein exhibited a maximum at 205 nm. Exposition of Cys2 protein to phosphatidylserine (PS) vesicles resulted in significant decrease in the absorbance in the 210 nm region. Changes in UW spectrum of Cys2 protein induced by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) were smaller than those induced by PS, and addition of PDB with PS had no effect on the PS induced changes in UV spectrum of Cys2. Neither phosphatidylcholine (PC) nor phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) affected UV spectrum of Cys2 but in the presence of phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PIP2) or phosphatidyliinositol 4-phosphate (PIP) vesicles some changes were observed. Calcium ions alone or in the presence of PS had no effect on the UV spectrum of Cys2 protein. These data indicate that PS comparing to PDB, interacts with a larger area of Cys2 protein, and that the binding sites for these two molecules are at least overlapping. The site of PIP and PIP2 interaction with PKC-gamma is distinct from that of phorbol ester binding site.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Association between overweight/obesity and eating habits while watching television among primary-school children in the city of Shiraz, Iran. It has been reported that television (TV) viewing is associated with childhood obesity in Western countries. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity and eating habits while watching TV among primary-school children in the Middle East. Cross-sectional. Children were recruited from primary schools of four educational districts in Shiraz, Iran. Anthropometric indices of mass (kg) and height (m) were measured, and BMI (percentile) was calculated. Demographic characteristics, TV viewing behaviours and physical activity data were collected from parents during face-to-face interviews and a 3d dietary record was completed. Subject Children (n 607) aged 6-10 years. Mean (sd) age of children was 8·16 (1·37) years, of whom 9·1 and 8·4 % were overweight and obese, respectively. Children who spent ≥2 h watching TV on weekdays (OR=1·99; 95 % CI 1·09, 3·60) and weekend days (OR=1·86; 95 % CI 1·01, 3·43) had higher odds of being obese, even after adjusting for physical activity. Children who ate breakfast while watching TV had higher odds of being overweight v. those who did not watch TV while eating breakfast (OR=2·70; 95 % CI 1·02, 7·60). There were no associations between TV viewing during other meals (lunch and dinner) and overweight/obesity. TV viewing for ≥2 h daily increases the risk of being obese in Iranian children aged 6-10 years, independent of physical activity. Further, breakfast consumption while watching TV may increase the risk of overweight/obesity, independent of total TV viewing time.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Health policy and its impact on poverty. Poverty may be defined narrowly as a lack of income, but is more usefully viewed as a multidimensional concept. I discuss some associations between poverty and health, identify groups with special needs, and describe some aspects of the government's health policy which are relevant to those needs. Finally, I note the importance of ensuring there is a more integrated approach in future.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Estimation of 99mTc-MAG3 clearance by single-sample methods and camera-based methods. We compared single-sample methods, proposed by Russell et al. and Bubeck et al., and camera-based methods in calculating 99mTc-MAG3 clearance, and determined camera-based methods that provide estimates comparable to those measured by the Russell method. Twenty-one patients underwent 99mTc-MAG3 renal scintigraphy, and clearance was measured by the Russell method and Bubeck method. Various renogram parameters were determined based on the slope of the renogram and area under the renogram, and correlated with the clearance measured by the Russell method. Camera-based clearance was calculated with the obtained regression equations and with equations determined previously using the Bubeck method as a standard. The Bubeck method provided lower measures than the Russell method in high renal function. Clearance measured by the Russell method was well correlated with renogram parameters, and clearance calculated with the obtained regression equation was comparable to that measured by the Russell method. When camera-based clearance was predicted with the previous equation, it was lower than the result obtained by the Russell method in high function. In conclusion, there are systematic differences in 99mTc-MAG3 clearance calculated by different methods. The camera-based methods obtained in this study appear to facilitate comparison of results obtained by the Russell method and camera-based method.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Free-Energy Barrier of Filling a Spherical Cavity in the Presence of Line Tension: Implication to the Energy Barrier between the Cassie and Wenzel States on a Superhydrophobic Surface with Spherical Cavities. The free-energy barrier of filling a spherical cavity having an inner wall of various wettabilities is studied. The morphology and free energy of a lens-shaped droplet are determined from the minimum of the free energy. The effect of line tension on the free energy is also studied. Then, the equilibrium contact angle of the droplet is determined from the generalized Young's equation. By increasing the droplet volume within the spherical cavity, the droplet morphology changes from spherical with an equilibrium contact angle of 180° to a lens with a convex meniscus, where the morphological complete drying transition occurs. By further increasing the droplet volume, the meniscus changes from convex to concave. Then, the lens-shaped droplet with concave meniscus spreads over the whole inner wall, resulting in an equilibrium contact angle of 0° to leave a spherical bubble, where the morphological complete wetting transition occurs. Finally, the whole cavity is filled with liquid. The free energy shows a barrier from complete drying to complete wetting as a function of droplet volume, which corresponds to the energy barrier between the Cassie and Wenzel states of the superhydrophobic surface with spherical cavities. The free-energy maximum occurs when the meniscus of the droplet becomes flat, and it is given by an analytic formula. The effect of line tension is expressed by the scaled line tension, and this effect is largest at the free-energy maximum. The positive line tension increases the free-energy maximum, which thus increases the stability of the Cassie superhydrophobic state, whereas the negative line tension destabilizes the superhydrophobic state.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Neuromuscular complications of statins. Statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methlglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are commonly prescribed for patients who have hyperlipidemia. Statins were first approved in 1987. Statin therapy is well documented to reduce serum low-density lipoprotein levels, incidence of cardiovascular events, and mortality. Although statin therapy is well tolerated, serious adverse affects have been reported, including neuromuscular and hepatic complications. Myopathy is particularly concerning because of the potential for rhabdomyolysis and death. Recently, peripheral neuropathy also has been identified as a possible complication. The incidence of neuromuscular complications is expected to increase with the increased number of people using statin therapy. Clinicians should be aware of the potential neuromuscular complications. This article reviews epidemiology, possible mechanisms, risk factors, and management of statin-associated neuromuscular complications.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Sister-chromatid exchange frequencies in fibroblasts and lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies have been measured in lymphocytes and fibroblasts of patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and healthy controls, and in lymphocytes of control patients with serum anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) but no other disease manifestations of SLE. The SCEs of SLE lymphocytes were higher than those of the controls but the SCEs of the SLE fibroblasts did not differ from those of the controls. The SCEs of the controls with positive ANA did not differ significantly from those of the healthy controls. There was no correlation between SCE frequencies of the SLE lymphocytes and disease activity determined by many clinical and laboratory measurements. Primary and secondary DNA-repair defects in SLE cells are considered.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review. Recent studies suggest that periodontal disease, as a source of subclinical and persistent infection, may induce systemic inflammatory responses that increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. To examine the existing evidence on the relationship between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Published studies identified via searches of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Current Contents full-text databases. We identified and selected observational studies (i.e. case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort) and nonrandomised controlled studies or randomised controlled trials that examined periodontal disease as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Odds ratios (OR) or risk ratios (RR) were extracted or calculated from the studies' data. We calculated pooled effect size for two clinical controlled trials but not for the observational studies due to the heterogeneity in definitions for periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes across studies. Twenty-five studies (13 case-control, 9 cohort, and 3 controlled trials) were identified. The studies focused on preterm low birthweight, low birthweight, preterm birth, birthweight by gestational age, miscarriage or pregnancy loss, and pre-eclampsia. Of the chosen studies, 18 suggested an association between periodontal disease and increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome (ORs ranging from 1.10 to 20.0) and 7 found no evidence of an association (ORs ranging from 0.78 to 2.54). Three clinical trial studies suggest that oral prophylaxis and periodontal treatment can lead to a 57% reduction in preterm low birthweight (pooled RR 0.43; 95% CI 0.24-0.78) and a 50% reduction in preterm births (RR 0.5; 95% CI 0.20-1.30). Periodontal disease may be associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. However, more methodologically rigorous studies are needed for confirmation.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Infection of WHV/c-myc transgenic mice with Moloney murine leukaemia virus and proviral insertion near the syndecan-4 gene in an early liver tumour. The capacity of Moloney murine leukaemia virus (MoMLV) to infect neonatal hepatocytes and to accelerate liver carcinogenesis was examined in a transgenic mouse model. WHV/c-myc mice which are highly susceptible to the development of liver tumours were infected with MoMLV shortly after birth, when expression of the murine ecotropic retroviral receptor gene was still detectable in the neonatal liver. All MoMLV-infected transgenic mice and non-transgenic littermates succumbed to T-cell lymphomas within 2-9 months; during this period of time, three infected transgenic animals developed primary hepatocellular carcinomas. Remarkably, one of these liver tumours arose significantly faster than tumours from uninfected WHV/c-myc controls, and it harboured a unique MoMLV provirus. The provirus integration site was located 5.5 kb upstream of the first exon of the syndecan-4 gene, which encodes a heparan sulphate proteoglycan implicated in growth factor activation and protein kinase C distribution in focal adhesions. Our data provide evidence for clonal MoMLV provirus integration in a hepatocellular carcinoma, and indicate that parenchymal liver cells may be susceptible to MoMLV infection following neonatal inoculation.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[Ouabain binding and the conformational change in Na+, K+ -ATPase]. The addition of ouabain to the Na+, K+-ATPase [EC.3.6.1.3] of pig kidney modified with N-[p-(2-benzimidazolyl) phenyl] maleimide gradually increased the fluorescence and the amount of phosphoenzyme from Pi with the same time course in the presence of 0.43 mM Mg2+, 16 mM Na+, 27 microM ADP and 27 microM Pi. The extent of the increment of the fluorescence intensity was dependent on the concentration of ouabain. A Hill plot of the data showed that n (Hill coefficient) and K1/2 (apparent affinity) were equal to 0.27 and 0.84 microM, respectively. Addition of ouabain to give 93 microM increased the intensity to the highest level, similar to that of K+-sensitive phosphoenzyme (E2P), and increased the extent of phosphorylation to half the amount of E2P formed with Mg2, Na+ and ATP. ADP inhibited the phosphorylation from Pi without affecting the binding of ouabain. The extent of the fluorescence intensity induced by ouabain in the presence of 0.43 mM Mg2+, 16 mM Na+ and 27 microM ADP was the same irrespective of the presence of 27 microM Pi. Addition of inorganic phosphate to give 2.6 mM accelerated the rate of fluorescence increase and 27 microM ADP retarded it without affecting the extent of the increment. The addition of ouabain to the Na+-bound enzyme increased the fluorescence with time to a level similar to that of E2P. These results and those of others indicate that ouabain can bind to nonphosphorylated Na+, K+-ATPase, and the relative fluorescence intensity of ouabain bound Na+, K+-ATPase was similar to that of E2P irrespective of the phosphorylation.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
In vitro shear bond strength of three self-adhesive resin cements and a resin-modified glass ionomer cement to various prosthodontic substrates. To evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of three self-adhesive resin cements and a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) to different prosthodontic substrates. The substrates base metal, noble metal, zirconia, ceramic, and resin composite were used for bonding with different cements (n=12). Specimens were placed in a bonding jig, which was filled with one of four cements (RelyX Unicem, Multilink Automix, Maxcem Elite, and FujiCEM Automix). Both light-polymerizing (LP) and self-polymerizing (SP) setting reactions were tested. Shear bond strength was measured at 15 minutes and 24 hours in a testing device at a test speed of 1 mm/min and expressed in MPa. A Student t-test and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to evaluate differences between setting reactions, between testing times, and among cements irrespective of other factors. Generalized linear regression model and Tukey tests were used for multifactorial analysis. Significantly higher mean SBS were demonstrated for LP mode relative to SP mode (p<0.001) and for 24 hours relative to 15 minutes (p<0.001). Multifactorial analysis revealed that all factors (cement, substrate, and setting reaction) and all their interactions had a significant effect on the bond strength (p<0.001). Resin showed significantly higher SBS than other substrates when bonded to RelyX Unicem and Multilink Automix in LP mode (p<0.05). Overall, FujiCEM demonstrated significantly lower SBS than the three self-adhesive resin cements (p<0.05). Overall, higher bond strengths were demonstrated for LP relative to SP mode, 24 hours relative to 15 minutes and self-adhesive resin cements compared to the RMGICs. Bond strengths also varied depending on the substrate, indicating that selection of luting cement should be partially dictated by the substrate and the setting reaction.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Increased processing speed for emotionally negative odors in schizophrenia. Although olfactory identification deficits in schizophrenia have been repeatedly demonstrated, some studies indicate that schizophrenia patients may also show an olfactory hypersensitivity. In addition, recent evidence points to impaired odor hedonics in schizophrenia. It was the aim of the present study to investigate olfactory information processing in schizophrenia patients with positive symptoms, by means of chemosensory event-related potential (CSERP) analysis. To control for modality-specific effects, these data were compared to visual event-related potentials (VERP), and in order to control for disorder-specific effects, the schizophrenia patients were compared to healthy controls as well as to patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). In each group, nine subjects were investigated. During EEG recording (32 scalp locations) two odors (positive valence: phenyl-ethylalcohol, negative valence: isobutyraldehyde) were presented using the constant flow method. Afterwards, two colors (red, yellow) were presented. The schizophrenia patients responded to both odors with shorter CSERP latencies than healthy controls and MDD-patients. This effect was most pronounced for the early processing (N1 component) of the emotionally negative odor. However, in response to colors, schizophrenia patients showed increased N1 latencies and a reduced P3 amplitude. It will be discussed whether schizophrenia patients with positive symptoms show a general processing advantage for emotionally negative (threat-related) information.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Outcomes and quality of life after aortic valve surgery in octogenarians. The emergence of catheter-based techniques questioned existing treatment strategies for patients with aortic stenosis. The increasing effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve implantation therapies justifies a renewed evaluation of the results in terms of survival rate as well as the quality of life (QoL) after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in the elderly. The aim of this study is the assessment of QoL in octogenarians undergoing isolated SAVR. A retrospective observational and descriptive study between January 2015 and January 2018, was conducted. Eighty-four Caucasians patients over 80 years of age undergoing aortic valve replacement in a single unit were, finally, followed-up. The patients' medical records were reviewed and QoL after a median 22-month follow-up time was evaluated by administering the EQ-5D questionnaire on the telephone. Mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II was 2.1%. The 30-day mortality was 0% and the 1-year mortality was 3.6%. On the assessment of QoL within mean follow-up time of 22 months, performed in 81 patients (survivors), a remarkable improvement was recorded in 76.5% of patients (62 patients), while 12.3% (10 patients) reported aggravation of their health status and 11.1% (9 patients) had no change. Mortality rates after SAVR can be kept at very low levels, especially in experienced high-volume centers, even in the elderly. Furthermore, it must be pointed out that the majority of these patients achieve a good functional status and a satisfactory QoL after the operation. Therefore, SAVR should not be withheld on the grounds of age alone.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Setting standards of performance for program evaluations: the case of the teaching hospital general medicine group practice program. Program evaluation is like research in its use of the scientific method. An important difference is that evaluations result in judgments of merit. What are the standards for making the judgments? Little attention has been paid to their selection and use. This article reports on how standards were set in an evaluation of the structure of fifteen of the nation's university hospitals who participated in the Teaching Hospital General Medicine Group Practice Program (sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation). Many sources were used to select standards including a review of the literature, expert advice and actual data from two years of the programs's performance. Also, the standard-setting process was a participatory one in which all potentially competing views were provided with a forum for discussion. Finally, standards were set in advance of the collection of information, facilitating the selection of study designs and analysis techniques. Almost all project directors stated that the process helped them in program planning and gave them ideas for research and evaluation. Because standard-setting has mutual benefits, we recommend that it take place during program planning.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Real-Time Imaging of Dynamic Cell Reprogramming with Nanosensors. Cellular reprogramming, the process by which somatic cells regain pluripotency, is relevant in many disease modeling, therapeutic, and drug discovery applications. Molecular evaluation of reprogramming (e.g., polymerase chain reaction, immunostaining) is typically disruptive, and only provides snapshots of phenotypic traits. Gene reporter constructs facilitate live-cell evaluation but is labor intensive and may risk insertional mutagenesis during viral transfection. Herein, the utilization of a non-integrative nanosensor is demonstrated to visualize key reprogramming events in situ within live cells. Principally based on sustained intracellular release of encapsulated molecular probes, nanosensors successfully monitored mesenchymal-epithelial transition, pluripotency acquisition, and transdifferentiation events. Tracking the dynamic expression of four pivotal biomarkers (i.e., THY1, E-CADHERIN, OCT4, and GATA4 mRNA), nanosensor signal showed great agreement with polymerase chain reaction and gene reporter imaging (R2 > 0.9). Overall, such facile, versatile nanosensor enables real-time monitoring of low-frequency reprogramming events, thereby useful for high-throughput assessment, optimization, and biomarker-specific cell enrichment.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
The non-operative management of radial head fractures: a randomized trial of three treatments. Ninety-eight consecutive patients with Mason type 1 and 2 radial head fractures were randomized into three treatment groups to compare early mobilization with immobilization in flexion and extension. Eighty-one patients were reviewed on average 25 months following fracture and assessed for pain, disability and range of movement. Loss of full extension was the most frequent restriction of movement and was found in 17 patients. Two patients had restricted flexion without limited extension. Patients immobilized in a flexion cast had a significantly reduced range of movement compared with patients immobilized in extension (P = 0.02). Nineteen patients had residual pain and again the flexion group fared worse than the extension group (P = 0.06). Results from early mobilization in a sling were not significantly different from the other two groups. Treatment of radial head fractures in flexion casts should be avoided.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Continuous neural monitoring in lumbar spine surgery: experience with 101 patients. The first report about lumbar spinal surgery under epidural anesthesia has been published in 1958. The aim of this study was assess to epidural anesthesia as a regional operative anesthesia in lower lumbar spine surgery and to use the opportunity of verbal interaction with the patient who is able to move her/his lower extremities voluntarily during surgery. We called this simultaneous clinical assessment process as continuous neural monitoring. Established pathologies in the patients were as follows; lumbar herniated intervertebral disc disease (n = 95), lumbar spondylolisthesis (n = 4), lumbar lamina fracture (n = 1) and lumbar dumbbell Ewing's sarcoma (n = 1). Preoperative findings, operative findings, operative complications, postoperative complications and short-term results were assessed by the surgeon-anesthesiologist team. The patients, 99 out of 101, were followed-up for more than 15 months (mean 21.2 months). Fair and failure results were assessed in 7.0 % of the patients. Even though epidural anesthesia is almost equal to general anesthesia in terms of anesthetic complications, surgical complications and surgical results in uncomplicated lumbar spinal surgery cases, it has the advantage of being able to simultaneously evaluate motor results of surgical maneuvers and/or manipulations on the neural structures. This advantage, which is not available at the same accuracy with other neurophysiologic monitoring modalities, would be valuable in complex lumbar spine surgery cases.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Age structure in predator-prey systems: intraspecific carnivore interaction, passive diffusion, and the paradox of enrichment. An existing arthropod predator-prey model incorporating age structure in the carnivore through the use of the von Foerster equation is extended to include the effects of intraspecific carnivore interaction and passive diffusion or migration. A linear stability analysis of the community equilibrium point of that differential-integral equation system is performed and the resulting secular equation analyzed by the method of D-partitions. These stability results are then compared to those obtained by employing an analogous differential equation model without age structure, in particular as they relate to the so-called paradox of enrichment. In the absence of passive diffusion, it is shown that, unlike for a differential equation model, the paradox of enrichment can occur even with a carnivore which exhibits intraspecific competition. This destabilizing effect of age structure is seen to occur most dramatically when interspecific interactions are large, while the effect of passive diffusion is to offset that tendency and restabilize the system. These predictions are in accordance with relevant experimental evidence involving mites.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[Is premature termination of opiate detoxification due to intensive withdrawal or craving?]. Opiate addicts terminate inpatient detoxification prematurely in about 50% of treatment episodes. Premature termination of treatment is often considered to be motivated by intensive withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, the relation between discontinuing treatment and the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and heroin craving is investigated. 130 opiate addicts consecutively admitted to a detoxification ward daily assessed the intensity of withdrawal symptoms on the Short Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) as well as the intensity of heroin craving on a visual analogue scale. Withdrawal symptoms were treated by stepwise reduction of methadone and symptom-oriented medication. 66 patients (50.8%) terminated treatment prematurely. However, during the days preceding treatment termination, these patients did not differ from regularly detoxified patients assessed on corresponding days with respect to craving, and reported even less intensity of withdrawal symptoms. In conclusion, neither the intensity of withdrawal symptoms nor the intensity of heroin craving constitutes the primary reason for premature termination of detoxification.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[The organo-clinical hiatus today. Some thoughts about Neurosciences, Psychopathology and Clinical Psychiatry in the early twenty-first century]. The concept of "organo clinical-hiatus" prepared by Henri Ey the mid-twentieth century has transcended the boundaries of time and has an amazing utility if it is considered from the point of view of both epistemological and clinical. Current developments in the field of neuroscience on the one hand and effective in clinical practice of psychopathological concepts born in the nineteenth century on the other, pose a challenge for psychiatrists today. It is important not to take a naive position on the new neuroscientific knowledge adopting a dogmatic stance that keeps us patient and while maintaining a clear position that avoids specialty contempt by those who argue that mental illness is a mere construct sustained by the medical hegemonic power. We believe the best way to protect our psychiatric practice of involuntary biases and attacks blinded by reductionist ideas is having a historical knowledge of our discipline and a solid epistemological basis. That way we will have the largest options to help our patients.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Significance of head-shaking nystagmus in the evaluation of the dizzy patient. In a series of studies, the phenomenon of head-shaking nystagmus (HSN) was assessed in 50 control subjects and 1364 consecutive dizzy patients who underwent formal electronystagmography (ENG) at the Toronto Hospital Center for Advanced Hearing and Balance Testing. HSN was compared in a series of 30 patients who underwent conventional electro-oculography (EOG) vs magnetic (scleral) coil eye movement recordings. Clinical correlation of HSN to other parameters of the ENG test battery was performed in another sub-series of 300 patients with known diagnoses. HSN was identified in 31.7% of dizzy patients vs 24% of control subjects. No significant difference in its manifestation was noted between active vs passive head-shaking tests or on EOG vs magnetic (scleral) coil eye movement recordings. When compared to other aspects of the ENG test battery, HSN was neither specific nor sensitive for vestibular dysfunction. It nevertheless correlated well with the presence of a caloric reduction and with increasing R/L excitability differences on ENG testing. When present, HSN was characteristically monophasic in 76.8%, biphasic in 22.7% and triphasic in 0.5% of subjects. The initial direction of HSN generally obeyed Ewald's second law, but the reverse was noted in 27% with monophasic and 17.6% of patients with biphasic HSN. In the subseries of 300 patients with known diagnoses, the presence of HSN was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction vs psychogenic dizziness. Its presence was also significant in well-documented peripheral vestibular disorders such as Meniere's disease (p < 0.01), vestibular neuronitis (p < 0.05) and acoustic neuroma (p < 0.05). Localization of the disease involvement based on the initial direction of HSN was especially unpredictable in patients with Meniere's disease. The significance and usefulness of the head-shake test in the otoneurological evaluation of the dizzy patient is further commented on.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[Semi-automatic generation of finite element meshes fo dental preparations]. The mechanical properties and elastic behaviour of periodontal tissue are a decisive factor in understanding initial tooth mobility and bone remodelling processes in orthodontics. An experimental set-up was designed to precisely determine a tooth's elastic response to different loading conditions. Segments of pig's maxilla bearing separated molars were used, and their mechanical response to loading was recorded. Subsequently, finite element analysis (FEA) was performed on the basis of the experimental data. The combination of experimental and numerical methods was used to determine the material properties of the periodontal ligament (PDL). The geometries of the preparations were reconstructed and FE meshes generated semi-automatically with the aid of the special computer program, CAGOG (Computer Aided Generator for Orthodontic Geometries) to optimally match the experimental geometry. Nonlinear material parameters were determined for the PDL and verified by comparing experimental and numerical results obtained in other specimens with an error of about 10%. This good correlation indicates that the selected method of mesh generation is appropriate for creating realistic FE models that can be compared with experimental results.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Inhalant abuse: monitoring trends by using poison control data, 1993-2008. To demonstrate the value of poison control data as an adjunct to national drug abuse surveys and a source of data to inform and focus prevention efforts. National Poison Data System (NPDS) data are collected and compiled in real time by the 60 US poison centers as callers seek guidance for poison exposures. Demographic, geographic, product, outcome, and treatment-site data for the 35453 inhalant cases reported between 1993 and 2008 were analyzed. The prevalence of inhalant cases reported to US poison control centers decreased 33% from 1993 to 2008. Prevalence was highest among children aged 12 to 17 years and peaked in 14-year-olds. In contrast to national survey data showing nearly equal use of inhalants by both genders, 73.5% of NPDS inhalant cases occurred in boys, which suggests that boys may pursue riskier usage behaviors. Most cases (67.8%) were managed in health care facilities. More than 3400 different products were reported. Propellants, gasoline, and paint were the most frequent product categories. Propellants were the only product category that substantially increased over time. Butane, propane, and air fresheners had the highest fatality rates. Prevalence for all inhalants was highest in western mountain states and West Virginia, but geographic distribution varied according to product type. Gasoline was a proportionately greater problem for younger children; propellants were an issue for older children. NPDS should be used to monitor inhalant abuse because it provides unique, timely, and clinically useful information on medical outcomes experienced by users, includes detailed product information (brand and formulation), and can potentially be used to identify real-time demographic, geographic, and product trends. Focusing inhalant prevention efforts on the most hazardous products and most seriously affected users may improve and facilitate strategic prevention, enabling interventions such as targeted education, product reformulation, repackaging, relabeling, or prohibition of sales of especially hazardous inhalant products to youth.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[Longitudinal study of epilepsies occurring during adolescence (author's transl)]. A total of 216 cases of epilepsies occurring during adolescence (11-18 years) were studied for a period of 10 years mean. The frequency of primary generalized epilepsies (PGE) was very high: 3/4 of the cases. Adolescence epilepsies were, in a decreasing order of frequency, PGE with grand mal seizures, partial epilepsies (PE) with complex semiology seizures, PE with elementary semiology seizures, PGE with petit mal seizures and secondary generalized epilepsies. Family antecedents could be found in PGE. Organic lesions were often observed in PE with complex semiology seizures, but never in PE with elementary semiology seizures. The seizures evolved as follows: disappearance for most of the PGE; sometimes good evolution in PE with elementary semiology seizures; more rarely good evolution in PE with complex semiology seizures. The epilepsies with a good evolution represent 80% of the epilepsies occurring during adolescence.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Flow cytometry study of human cyclin B1 and cyclin E expression in leukemic cell lines: cell cycle kinetics and cell localization. Experiments by flow cytometry (FCM) after nuclei isolation have never been done to investigate cyclins. We have conducted different experiments by FCM using whole cells and isolated nuclei to study the immunolocalization and kinetic patterns of cyclin B1 and cyclin E in various leukemic cell lines. During asynchronous growth, all whole cells had a scheduled, cell cycle phase-restricted expression of cyclin B1. By using a washless immunostaining of unfixed nuclei, cyclin B1 was detected in all cell cycle phases, including G1, although to a lesser extent than in G2/M, suggesting that in whole cells the cyclin B1 epitope is masked and accessible only in isolated nuclei. When the cells were synchronized at the G1/S boundary by thymidine or in the G1 phase by sodium n-butyrate, an identical accumulation of cyclin B1 was observed. As for cyclin E, its expression was higher with thymidine treatment than with sodium n-butyrate, particularly in nuclei. The elevated cyclin B1 level in the cells arrested at the G1/S boundary may reflect the increased half-life of this protein stabilized as the result of cyclin E overexpression. However, our FCM data also support the notion that accumulation of human cyclin B1 in leukemic cell lines begins during the G1 phase of the cell cycle, probably in the nucleus. The detection of cyclin B1 by Western blot in cells sorted in the G1 phase of the cell cycle confirms this finding. It is possible, therefore, that tumor transformation or leukemic phenotype may invariably be associated with altered cyclin B1 expression.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Safety considerations when using anti-TNFα therapy to treat Crohn's disease. Over the past decade, the introduction of a new class of anti-TNFα drugs has dramatically changed the approach taken to the management of Crohn's disease (CD). An increasing number of patients are receiving treatment with these advanced biological therapies, and the risk of adverse events that may be associated with their use must be carefully evaluated. Safety data about the three anti-TNFα drugs currently approved for use in CD patients (infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol) is critically evaluated, including data coming from randomized clinical trials and post-marketing reports. Possible side effects of anti-TNFα agents are presented as drug-, class- and disease-specific adverse events. Management strategies to minimize the occurrence of side effects are summarized. The safety profile of the three anti-TNFα drugs approved for clinical use in CD patients appears to be comparable among drugs. Data from clinical trials and a growing body of information from post-marketing surveillance indicate that anti-TNFα agents are generally safe, and that most of the observed side effects are mild and easily manageable. Nonetheless, serious short- and long-term adverse events may occur. Accurate selection of patients, careful pre-treatment evaluation, and regular follow-up during therapy could potentially reduce the rate of adverse events related to the use of anti-TNFα drugs.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Integrative Analysis Confirmed the Association between Osteoprotegerin and Osteoporosis. Objective This study aimed to verify the association between osteoprotegerin gene (OPG) and its variants with osteoporosis (OP) by performing integrative analysis.Methods We used the KGG software to perform gene-based association analysis, which integrated all publicly available single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based P values and obtained an overall P value for the OPG. The significant SNPs were screened for expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). Meta-analysis was used to combine the associations between the variants of OPG and bone mineral density (BMD) reported in the literatures. Then we performed dual-luciferase reporter gene systems for the functional verification of the variants of OPG in vitro.Results In the gene-based association analysis, the over all P value of OPG was 6.24×10 -13for BMD at femoral neck (FN) and 7.37×10 -17 for BMD at lumbar spine (LS), indicating the importance of OPG for OP. The publicly available eQTL database identified 5 eQTLs which exert cis-regulation effects on OPG at FN and LS. Literature searching found that rs2073617 (known as T950C) was the hot spot SNP. There were 13 relevant studies on rs2073617 besides the GEFOS-2 study identified from the PubMed. Significant differences among TT, TC and CC genotypes at FN (P= 0.047) and LS (P= 0.025) were shown by meta-analysis, demonstrating the associations between T950C polymorphism and BMD. Luciferase gene expression was significantly higher at the presence of allele C than allele T in the 293T cells (t=-9.47, P<0.01). Conclusion The integrative analysis further confirmed the importance of OPG in OP and the correlation of T950C polymorphism with BMD of OP. The strategy can be used as a reference for functional interpretation of other disease-related genes.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Effects of a Novel Neurodynamic Tension Technique on Muscle Extensibility and Stretch Tolerance: A Counterbalanced Crossover Study. Neurodynamic tension affects hamstring extensibility and stretch tolerance and is considered important in hamstring injury management. Neurodynamic tension was postulated to affect segmental muscle extensibility and stretch tolerance and potentially also to demonstrate extrasegmental and contralateral effects. To assess the effects of a novel sciatic-tibial neurodynamic tension technique, the modified long sit slump (MLSS), on segmental, extrasegmental, and contralateral muscle extensibility and stretch tolerance. Counterbalanced crossover study. University research laboratory. 13 healthy and active subjects (mean ± SD age 24 ± 8 y; BMI, 23.1 ± 2.8 kg/m2). MLSS application (5 s, 5 repetitions, 3 sets) on 2 occasions with a 3-wk washout period, and either stance- or skill-leg treated in a counterbalanced manner. Segmental and extrasegmental muscle extensibility was measured using passive straight-leg raise (PSLR) and prone knee bend (PKB) at pre-, immediately post-, and 1 h postintervention. Stretch-intensity ratings were measured using a simple numerical rating scale (SNRS). MLSS significantly increased PSLR and PKB bilaterally (P < .001). The effect for PSLR was greater in the ipsilateral leg compared to the contralateral leg (baseline to 1 h post: +9° ± 6° and +5° ± 5°, respectively, P < .001) but not for PKB (baseline to 1 h post: ipsilateral leg +5° ± 5°, contralateral leg +5° ± 4°). For both PSLR and PKB the effect of the first session was retained at the start of the second session 3 wk later. SNRS data were consistent with increased stretch tolerance. Application of a novel sciatic-tibial neurodynamic tension technique, the MLSS, increases muscle extensibility and stretch tolerance segmentally, extrasegmentally and contralaterally. 2C outcomes research.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Worry and rumination in anorexia nervosa. Difficulties with comprehending and managing emotions are core features of the pathology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Advancements in understanding aetiology and treatment have been made within other clinical domains by targeting worry and rumination. However, worry and rumination have been given minimal consideration in AN. This study is the largest to date of worry and rumination in AN. Sixty-two outpatients with a diagnosis of AN took part. Measures of worry, rumination, core AN pathology and neuropsychological correlates were administered. Findings suggest that worry and rumination are elevated in AN patients compared with both healthy controls and anxiety disorder comparison groups. Regression analyses indicated that worry and rumination were significant predictors of eating disorder symptomatology, over and above the effects of anxiety and depression. Worry and rumination were not associated with neuropsychological measures of set-shifting and focus on detail. The data suggest that worry and rumination are major concerns for this group and warrant further study.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Sustained infection induces 2 distinct microvascular mechanisms in the splanchnic circulation. Altered intestinal blood flow during systemic inflammation leads to organ dysfunction. Mucosal ischemia occurs during sepsis despite an increase in portal blood flow. We hypothesized that separate mechanisms are active in the large resistance and small mucosal microvessels to account for this dichotomy. Chronic infection was induced in rats by bacterial inoculation (Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis) of an implanted subcutaneous sponge. Separate groups were studied at 24 and 72 hours after a single inoculation of bacterium or 24 hours after a second inoculation (ie, 72 hours of sepsis). Time-matched controls were used for each group. Intravital microscopy of the terminal ileum was used to assess endothelial-dependent vasodilation to acetylcholine (10(-9) to 10(-5) mol/L) in resistance (A(1)) and premucosal (A(3)) arterioles. Threshold sensitivity (-log of 20% response dose) was calculated from dose response curves for each animal. Vasodilator sensitivity to acetylcholine in A(1) arterioles was significantly decreased at 24 hours, and these changes persisted up to 72 hours after a single bacterial inoculation. There was no change in the dilator sensitivity of A(3) arterioles after a single inoculation. When there was a challenge with a second bacterial inoculation, there was a reversal of the A(1) dilator response and an increase in A(3) sensitivity. An initial septic event results in a decrease in dilator reactivity in the resistance A1 arterioles that persists for at least 72 hours. A sustained septic challenge results in increased dilator reactivity in both A(1) and A(3) vessels. This enhanced sensitivity during sepsis suggests that more than 1 therapeutic approach to preservation of intestinal blood flow will be necessary.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Discovery and structure-activity relationship studies of N6-benzoyladenine derivatives as novel BRD4 inhibitors. Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins are epigenetic readers that bind to acetylated lysines in histones. Among them, BRD4 is a candidate target molecule of therapeutic agents for diverse diseases, including cancer and inflammatory disease. As a part of our continuing structural development studies of thalidomide to obtain a broad spectrum of biological modifiers based on the 'multi-template' approach, in this work we focused on BRD4-inhibitory activity, and discovered that N6-benzoyladenine derivatives exhibit this activity. Structure-activity relationship studies led to N6-(2,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)adenine (29), which exhibits potent BRD4 bromodomain1 inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 0.427μM. N6-Benzoyladenine appears to be a new chemical scaffold for development of BRD4 inhibitors.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Cadmium overload and toxicity. Studies suggest that cadmium is associated with several clinical complications, primarily renal dysfunction and bone disease, but also some cancers. Cadmium toxicity has been associated with clinical manifestations at exposure levels that are well below the limits set by the World Health Organization. Here I review the OSCAR study, which demonstrates an association between environmental and occupational cadmium exposure and renal tubular damage, as well as the Cadmibel study, a cross-sectional population study demonstrating an association of cadmium exposure with renal dysfunction. The paper also reviews the association of end-stage renal disease prevalence with occupational and environmental exposure to cadmium in the Swedish population of Kalmar County. Renal tubular damage was shown to develop at levels of exposure much lower than previously thought. Cadmium-induced tubular proteinuria is irreversible, and continued exposure may lead to glomerular damage with decreased glomerular filtration rate. Itai-itai disease in the Jinzu river basin is discussed, as are the implications of low-level cadmium exposure in the PheeCad project. Cadmium accumulates in bone and is associated with osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Other bone-seeking trace elements, such as chromium, lanthanum, strontium and zinc, are of concern because of low level environmental, occupational or clinical exposure. As techniques are perfected for detecting smaller amounts of trace elements in various tissues in the body, investigators are finding that the threshold for toxicity from trace elements is much lower than expected. Further research on cadmium is necessary to reveal the mechanisms of toxicity and true environmental and occupational exposure limits.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Cellular behavior change of macrophage after exposure to nanoparticles. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are few of the nanoparticles used clinically. When MNPs are delivered into human body, they are ingested by macrophages. We evaluated the cellular response of macrophage after MNPs loading. In face of stimulation by lipopolysaccharide, a strong stimulant derived from bacterial cell wall, MNPs loaded macrophage exhibited decreased phagocytic activity and decreased generation of cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta whereas increased nitric oxide generation was noticed. Although these changes might decrease bactiericidal activity, it also alleviates the risk of senses, a life threatening phenomenon in infection patients. The finding has significant implications on nanoparticle based targeted drug delivery.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Influence of age on the cerebral lesions in an immature rat model of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia: a light microscopic study. The most frequently used model of neonatal cerebral hypoxia-ischemia consists of a 7-day postnatal rat model with combined common carotid artery ligation and hypoxemia. Neuropathologic studies have shown major differences between this 7-day postnatal rat model and a similar adult model in regard to overall cerebral vulnerability, type and distribution of lesions. It is not clear how and when during animals' development these changes in cerebral vulnerability take place. To determine this we studied groups of rats of 2 to 30 postnatal days. The animals underwent unilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by breathing in 8% oxygen for 30, 60, 90, or 120 min and their brains were examined at 24- or 72-h recovery intervals. Due to resistance of 2-3-day-old rats to develop cerebral hypoxic-ischemic damage, 5% O2 was used instead of 8% O2. The results indicate that: (i) There is an overall increase in severity of cerebral lesions on the side of common carotid artery ligation between 2 and 7 postnatal days. There is also an increase in the frequency of cerebral lesions in developing animals with increasing age. (ii) Hippocampus is remarkably resistant to hypoxic-ischemic insult at 2-3 postnatal days but becomes progressively vulnerable, and by age 13 postnatal days hippocampal vulnerability far exceeds that of cortex. (iii) Cortical lesions change from predominantly columnar cell death to laminar selective neuronal death at age 13 postnatal days. (iv) Also significant changes occur in relative vulnerability of various hippocampal regions during development. During the first 5 postnatal days relative vulnerability of hippocampal regions is similar, but as the animals' development proceeds and hippocampal vulnerability increases lesions tend to involve specific regions while sparing others. By age 13 postnatal days CA1 and lateral CA3 develop increased vulnerability while medial CA3 and fascia dentata become relatively resistant and by 21 postnatal days adult pattern of CA1 selective vulnerability is approached. The underlying mechanisms for these changes in regional vulnerability to cerebral hypoxia-ischemia during development should be sought in complex regional anatomic, functional, and metabolic alterations that take place as brain matures.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Age-related alterations in the catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase system of the prostate. Considerably reduced responses to stimulation by isoproterenol of adenylate cyclase activity of prostatic membranes were observed in 12- to 18-month-old rats, compared to 3-month-old animals. Plasma testosterone levels were significantly lower in 18-month-old rats, while 12-month-old animals showed levels similar to those present in young ones. A decrease in isoproterenol activation of adenylate cyclase was not associated with a fall in beta-adrenergic receptor sites. Guanine triphosphate and 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) were effective in potentiation of isoproterenol activation of adenylate cyclase and altering the affinity of beta-adrenergic receptors for the agonist in membranes from young rats but not from the aged. The age-induced refractoriness to isoproterenol or Gpp(NH)p was observed without a significant loss in NaF-stimulated activity. Prior incubation of aged membranes with isoproterenol and GMP restored subsequent stimulation by Gpp(NH)p, presumably due to the clearance of inhibitory GDP tightly bound to the guanine nucleotide regulatory components in aged membranes. These results indicate that the dysfunction in the adenylate cyclase system of old prostates may not be related to a modification in the beta-adrenergic receptor per se, but to, in part, a defect in the interaction of activating guanine nucleotides with regulatory components of the adenylate cyclase system.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
FDG-PET imaging in Merkel cell carcinoma - value of head-to-toe scan. A 63-year-old man was diagnosed with metastatic MCC. Preliminary staging PET scan with 18F-FDG was not done at the time of diagnosis. After completion of chemo- and radiotherapy, the patient underwent a CT scan of the area from the maxilla to the ischium; no evidence of disease was noted. Clinically, the patient was considered to be in remission. The CT scan was followed by head-to-toe FDG-PET scanning which revealed foci of metastatic disease in the right mid- thigh and left proximal calf. This case demonstrates the added value of head-to-toe FDG-PET for the detection of distant metastases in MCC.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
Phased versus midventilation attenuation-corrected respiration-correlated PET for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Respiration-correlated PET (RCPET) can reduce motion artifacts, but image quality generally decreases. The use of phase-by-phase attenuation correction (PAC) for RCPET using respiration-correlated CT (RCCT) requires large computational resources, and tumor positions will not always match correctly because of different binning methods for CT and PET. In this study, we investigated whether PAC for RCPET can be replaced by midventilation attenuation correction (MidV-AC) for a group of lung cancer patients. RCPET/CT scans of 19 non-small cell lung cancer patients were performed. List-mode PET and CT data were binned and reconstructed into 8 phases. Two AC methods for RCPET were applied. First, the corresponding 8 RCCT phases were used for PAC. Then MidV-AC was used. Analyses were performed in terms of standardized uptake values (SUVs), volume recovery, contrast, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Average differences between PAC and MidV-AC for mean and maximum SUV were 1.0% and 0.9% (P = 0.007 and P = 0.002), respectively, whereas SNR, contrast, and volume did not differ significantly (P >or= 0.2). Large motion amplitudes and irregular breathing revealed larger differences between phase 1 and MidV-AC values. Differences in SUV, volume, SNR, and contrast between PAC as available in currently used clinical software and MidV-AC for RCPET are small. MidV-AC provides an excellent surrogate for PAC for most lung cancer patients encountered in clinical practice.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
On distance dependence of pinna spectral patterns in head-related transfer functions. The aim of this letter is to address a little understood question in sound source localization: Can the distance of a near sound source affect our own perception of its elevation? The issue is studied by means of an objective analysis of a database of distance-dependent head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) of a KEMAR (Knowles Electronic Manikin for Acoustic Research) mannequin with different pinnae on a dense spatial grid. Iso-directional HRTFs are compared through spectral error metrics; results indicate significant distance-dependent HRTF modifications due to the pinna occur when the source is close to the interaural axis.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
"Boomerang" rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap in head and neck reconstruction. Immediate head and neck reconstruction after cancer resection using the "boomerang" rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (RAM) free flap was performed in 13 patients over the past 2 years. The skin paddle of the flap is designed as a boomerang shape based on the anatomical construction of the dominant perforators from the inferior epigastric vascular system. A versatile technique of the boomerang RAM flap provides effective use for reconstruction of the complex defects at the skull base, orbital, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, oropharynx, palate, buccal mucosa, tongue, floor of mouth, and neck. It also allows a reconstructive surgical team to elevate the flap simultaneously with a head and neck surgical team before the size and location of the defect are exactly determined and greatly reduces operating time. This flap will be a routine technique for immediate head and neck reconstruction after cancer resection.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
How Do Different Types of Alignment Affect Perceived Entity Status? Perceptions of entitativity are thought to be influenced by salient features such as the physical proximity and physical similarity of group members (Campbell in Behav Sci 3:14-25, 1958). But social interactions among group members involve a number of low-level alignment (Pickering and Garrod in Behav Brain Sci 27:212-225, 2004) and synchronization (Marsh et al. in Top Cogn Sci 1:320-339, 2009) processes. Conversational partners, for instance, become aligned in syntax, semantics, emotion, and bodily posture. In this paper, we explore whether alignment correlates with observers' judgments of entitativity, and, moreover, which specific forms of alignment have the strongest effects on these judgments. Results revealed that only emotional alignment had on effect on judgments of entitativity. We discuss how future work may further assess the role of various dimensions in shaping the perception of group status in linguistic interaction.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }
[Determination of sucralose in foods by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry]. A simple method for the determination of sucralose in various foods using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was developed. Sucralose was extracted with water or methanol, and the extract was cleaned up on a C18 cartridge, and diluted with water for injection into the LC/MS/MS. The LC separation was performed with a reversed-phase gradient on an ODS column, and the mass spectral acquisition was done in the negative ion mode by applying selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The recoveries of sucralose from various kinds of foods fortified at 100 micrograms/g and 5 micrograms/g were 88.1-96.7% and 92.7-98.5%, respectively. The lower limits of quantification were 0.5 microgram/g in beverage, low-malt beer, yogurt and chocolate and 2.5 micrograms/g in other foods. Forty-three commercial foods containing sucralose were analyzed by this method. Sucralose was detected in all samples at levels of 3.8-481 micrograms/g.	{ "pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts" }

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