PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether sense of coherence (SOC) at baseline predicts health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 12-28-month follow-up among patients with coronary heart disease when controlled for sociodemographic and medical variables. METHODS: A total of 179 consecutive patients (58.28 ± 6.52 years, 16.8% women) scheduled for ...

To study the effects of a 29-h total sleep deprivation (TSD) on local cold tolerance, 10 healthy men immersed their right hand for 30 min in a 5°C water bath (CWI) after a 30-min rest period in a thermoneutral environment (Control), after a normal night (NN) and after a 29-h TSD. ...

Components of 7TMR signaling machinery once considered as rigid, fixed and inflexible entities, operating in a one-dimensional way, homogeneous spatially and temporally, are now proved to be structurally plastic, flexible and dynamic in space and time. 7TMRs are thought to exist as ensembles of multiple, inter-convertible, pre-existing conformations and this ...

Human VEFGR2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in the angiogenesis process and regarded as an interesting target for the design of anticancer drugs. Its activation/inactivation mechanism is related to changes in position of some structural important elements of its cytoplasmatic kinase domain (KDR domain), first among all the αC-helix ...

In the present study, a new type of mass spectrometer combining a quadrupole mass filter, a higher collision dissociation (HCD) cell and an Orbitrap detector, was evaluated for the analysis of dried blood spots (DBS) in doping controls. DBS analysis is characterized by the necessity to detect prohibited compounds in ...

Background:Overexpression of the ERG protein is highly prevalent in prostate cancer (PCa) and commonly results from gene fusions involving the ERG gene. Recently, N-terminal epitope-targeted mouse and a C-terminal epitope-targeted rabbit monoclonal anti-ERG antibody (ERG-MAbs) have been introduced for the detection of the ERG protein. Independent studies reported that immunohistochemistry ...

Background  Emergency surgery is associated with higher mortality rates, especially in elderly patients presenting emergent colorectal disease. The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes in elderly patients following emergency colorectal resection in the elderly, with particular attention to octogenarians who presented a 6-fold mortality rate with respect ...

The health of old monkeys usually begins to deteriorate by 20 years of age, coinciding with the onset of a slowly progressing immune senescence. Changes in lymphocyte subsets and responses to several antigens have been characterized in geriatric primates, but systematic research has not been conducted on vaccination against influenza ...

Alloreactivity, defined as a strong primary T cell response against allelic variants of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules in the species, has been a long-standing puzzle in immunology with some of its details remaining unclear up to now. Here I shall provide a historical overview of how our understanding of ...

Phase II clinical trials are usually designed to measure efficacy, but safety is also an important end point. Previous authors recommended a method to monitor toxic events after each patient is enrolled, which is also known as continuously monitoring the toxicity. In this work, we investigate combining the usual Simon ...

Acanthamoeba is one of the most common free-living amoebae. It is widespread in the environment and can infect humans, causing diseases such as keratitis and encephalitis. In this study, we used a strain of Acanthamoeba castellanii (UAH-T17c3) isolated from cooling towers, and we evaluated the efficiency of three different culture ...

Cytological diagnosis is not generally conclusive enough to identify histopathological malignancy in canine mammary tumors (CMTs). To establish cytological examination using fine needle biopsy (FNB) samples, gene expressions of hormonal receptors, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and transcription regulators (Special AT-rich binding protein 1: SATB1 and Snail) were ...

A genuinely abstract number representation is thought to be capable of representing the numerosity of any set of discrete elements, whether they are sequentially or simultaneously presented. Recent neuroimaging studies, however, have demonstrated that different areas of intraparietal sulcus play a role in extracting numerosity across simultaneous or sequential presentation ...

Community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection (CA-CDI) is an increasingly appreciated condition. It is being described in populations lacking traditional predisposing factors that have been previously considered at low-risk for this infection. As most studies of CDI are hospital-based, outcomes in these patients are not well known. To examine outcomes and their ...

The paired box 3 (PAX3), a crucial transcription factor, is normally expressed during embryonic development and is absent in normal adult human tissues. Deregulated expression of PAX3 has been observed in tumors like rhabdomyosarcoma and melanomas. To assess deregulated PAX3 expression in patients with gliomas, these samples from 57 glioma ...

Research on neuropsychological difficulties among cancer patients has focused on chemotherapy as a primary cause, yet several studies have now shown that some patients evidence cognitive weaknesses prior to chemotherapy. As an alternative to the 'chemo-brain' theory, this study examined the hypothesis that stress and coping style may be associated ...

INTRODUCTION: The toxic effect of the oxidation hair dyes on Phanerochaete chrysosporium was investigated by exposure of this fungus in a nitrogen-limited culture medium to various concentrations of the oxidation hair dyes. RESULTS: The results showed that both the size and the dry weight of the mycelial pellets of P. ...

BACKGROUND: Increasing proportions of patients diagnosed with cancer will become long-term survivors (≥5 years post-diagnosis). However, survivors may continue to experience negative effects of cancer and/or treatment, including fear of recurrence (FoR). This review aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on FoR, including determinants and consequences in long-term cancer ...

Aim:  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), specifically from uteroplacental insufficiency, on fetal cardiac dimensions. Material and Methods:  Cardiac circumference (CC) and cardiac area (CA) were measured in four-chamber view in 143 normal fetuses between 18 and 40 weeks of gestation. A ...

Percutaneous needle core biopsy is the definitive procedure by which essential diagnostic and prognostic information on acute and chronic renal allograft dysfunction is obtained. The diagnostic value of the information so obtained has endured for over three decades and has proven crucially important in shaping strategies for therapeutic intervention. This ...

Thanks to the recent advances in cancer care, more and more young women can survive but suffer from infertility as a result of cancer treatment that had to be submitted. There are a variety of methods to preserve fertility, as chemoprotection, ovariopexy, and some assisted reproductive technologies, although some of ...

Computer simulations are excellent tools for understanding the evolutionary and genetic consequences of complex processes whose interactions cannot be analytically predicted. Simulations have traditionally been used in population genetics by a fairly small community with programming expertise, but the recent availability of dozens of sophisticated, customizable software packages for simulation ...

Methionine aminopeptidases (MetAPs), which remove methionine residue from newly synthesized polypeptide chains, are a class of metalloproteases ubiquitously distributed in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. MetAP-2 inhibition can induce G1 cell cycle arrest, cytostasis in tumor cells in vitro and inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. The discovery of fumagillin with ...

The aim of this study was to identify novel biofilm inhibitors from actinomycetes isolated from the Arctic against Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. The biofilm inhibitory activity of actinomycetes was assessed using biofilm assay and was confirmed using air-liquid interphase coverslip assay. The potential isolates were identified using ...

OBJECTIVE: Maternal nutrition knowledge has frequently been identified as an important target for nutrition promotion interventions. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether maternal nutrition knowledge is more strongly associated with the mother's own diet or that of her child. DESIGN: Cross-sectional multivariate linear regression with interactions ...

Jaundice in hyperemesis gravidarum may cause physicians to suspect several underlying diseases. Jaundice appeared in a woman with hyperemesis gravidarum and an ultrasound revealed biliary sludge. Hydration concomitantly ameliorated the symptoms, jaundice and the biliary sludge. Another woman with hyperemesis gravidarum showed elevated aminotransferases, with biliary sludge also being present. ...

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate (64)Cu-DOTA-rituximab (PETRIT) in a preclinical transgenic mouse model expressing human CD20 for potential clinical translation. PROCEDURES: (64)Cu was chelated to DOTA-rituximab. Multiple radiolabeling, quality assurance, and imaging experiments were performed. The human CD20 antigen was expressed in B cells of transgenic mice (CD20TM). The ...

Laser hair removal is a relatively effective method for thick hair. Despite the risk for induction of fine hair growth, application of laser for fine dark hair is sometimes inevitable. We investigate the effects of 755-nm Alexandrite laser on fine dark facial hair and evaluate the induction rates of fine ...

Aging has profound effects on the immune system, including thymic involution, reduced diversity of the T cell receptor repertoire, reduced effector T cell and B cell function and chronic increase of proinflammatory cytokine production by innate immune cells. The precise effects of aging on conventional dendritic cells (cDC), the main ...

Epidemic dropsy (ED) results from accidental ingestion of adulterated mustard oil with argemone oil. Chief organs involved in this disease are heart, subcutaneous tissue, eyes and kidneys. Nervous system involvement is very rare. Objective manifestation of neurological involvement is even rarer. The authors report two cases from the same family, ...

OBJECTIVE: According to the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the prevalence of obesity in the US population was 33·8 %; 34·3 % and 38·2 %, respectively, in middle-aged men and women. We asked whether available blood donor data could be used for obesity surveillance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of ...

In 2011, new treatment recommendations for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) were proposed, inroads were made towards understanding the heterogeneity of this disease, and data were presented demonstrating the potential efficacy of DMARD combination therapies for JIA treatment. These advances hold promise for improved management of JIA in 2012 and beyond.

Melamine can be detected in infant formula without the need for additional sample preparation or purification using a simple galvanic displacement reaction to fabricate portable silver SERS substrates. The reaction is rapid, inexpensive, and robust enough to perform well on highly heterogeneous common metal objects such as tape and coins.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the influence of body composition and body mass index on blood pressure in type 1 diabetic patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional, observational study included 45 type 1 diabetic patients and 30 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, and body composition by dual X-ray absorptiometry ...

The assessment of myocardial viability may be an important component of the evaluation of patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction. The primary goal of viability assessment in such patients is to guide therapeutic decisions by determining which patients would most likely benefit from revascularization. In patients with ...

Aim:  To evaluate the effect of age, body mass index (BMI), and parity on Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system measurements in women with symptomatic prolapse. Material and Methods:  The charts of 603 women with symptomatic prolapse were reviewed. Patients with prior prolapse surgery or hysterectomy were excluded. POP-Q measurements ...

This study aimed to clarify the controversial effects of acute and short-term salbutamol (SAL) intake on sprint performance in healthy athletes. Based on the results of previous studies, an anabolic effect for the short-term treatment and increased glycolysis in both treatments were hypothesized. Eight male recreational athletes completed force-velocity exercise ...

Cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder typically caused by folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAs) that interfere with folate transport across the blood-brain barrier. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and improvements in ASD symptoms with leucovorin (folinic acid) treatment have been reported in some children with CFD. In children with ...

Objectives. We estimated the associations of parity and offspring birthweight with the risk of shoulder dystocia, and studied whether the association of offspring birthweight differed by parity. Design. Population based register study. Setting. The Medical Birth Registry of Norway was used to identify all deliveries between 1967 and 2006. Population. ...

The aim of this study is to clarify the prognostic value of the pathological overall tumor cellularity after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer. In consecutive series of 45 operable patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy by cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil was administered. Pathological image analysis was performed ...

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is the world's most disastrous disease for which these is no effective treatment. Several studies suggest that nanoparticles could adversely influence the pathology of SCI and thereby alter the efficacy of many neuroprotective agents. Thus, there is an urgent need to find suitable therapeutic agents that ...

Abstract Background. Methotrexate is an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, long-term treatments have been associated with the development of liver fibrosis. FibroScan® is a noninvasive, safe, and effective technique to evaluate liver fibrosis. Aim. To evaluate the presence of significant liver fibrosis by transient elastography (FibroScan®) in ...

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is associated with a profound immune defect, which results in increased susceptibility to recurrent infections as well as a failure to mount effective antitumor immune responses. Current chemotherapy-based regimens are not curative and often worsen this immune suppression, so their usefulness is limited, particularly in the ...

The electronic properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes can be altered by surface adsorption of electronic impurities or dopants. However, fully understanding the influence of these impurities is difficult because of the inherent complexity of the solution-based colloidal chemistry of nanotubes, and because of a lack of techniques for directly imaging ...

Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) have been found to produce a variety of biological effects. These effects of ELF-EMF depend upon frequency, amplitude, and length of exposure, And are also related to intrinsic susceptibility and responsiveness of different cell types. Although the mechanism of this interaction is still obscure ...

Objective. To compare the efficacy of aromatase inhibitor vs. gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonists in treating premenopausal women with uterine adenomyosis. Design. A prospective randomized controlled study. Setting. A university hospital and a private practice setting. Population. Thirty-two patients with uterine adenomyosis. Methods. Patients were randomized to receive oral letrozole (2.5 ...

Abstract Objective. There are few prospective studies of the prevalence of colonic neoplasia in the normal population. In order to properly evaluate screening-protocols for colorectal cancer in risk groups (e.g., older subjects or those with a family history), it is essential to know the prevalence of adenomas and cancer in ...

Remote follow-up has proven its safety and efficacy in the literature, and indeed in daily use. It saves the patient time and travel, allows earlier detection of events, and reduces inappropriate shocks. At the same time, it is not infallible and definitely not a universal substitute for in-office visits, as ...

Previous research using US data suggests that height, as a marker for early investments in health, is associated with better cognitive functioning in later life, but this association disappears once education is controlled for. Using an English cohort of men and women older than 50 years, we find that the association ...

PURPOSE: The options for haemostasis and dissection during modern thyroid surgery include the use of a bipolar vessel sealing system and ultrasonic technology. The aim of this study was to compare these energy-based devices (EBDs) with respect to their use in open thyroidectomy. METHODS: The FOCUS Shear (F) and LigaSure ...