The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of serotonin (5-HT) receptors of type 6 (5-HT(6)) in postmortem human prefrontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus. The brain samples were obtained from 6 subjects who had died for causes not involving primarily or secondarily the CNS. The 5-HT(6) receptor distribution ...

A suite of eight cationic, tetra-metallic molecular rectangles (1-8) was generated via coordination-driven self-assembly using four dicarboxylate-bridged arene-Ru precursors (A1-A4) with one of two dipyridyl ligands (D1, D2). The high-yielding (84-92%) rectangles were characterized by (1)H NMR and HR-ESI-MS to support their structural assignments. The molecular structure of 5 was ...

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This study aims to compare pre-operative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) point C with and without cervical traction to that obtained intra-operatively in women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse surgery and to assess acceptability of examination with cervical traction without anaesthesia. METHODS: Eighty-one women were randomised to having ...

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Interruption of urine flow during micturition has been used as an assessment of ability to voluntarily contract the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). However, the PFM are also activated during specific abdominal manoeuvres. This study aimed to assess the effect of similar abdominal manoeuvres on urine flow and ...

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective of the study was to characterize trends in lower reproductive tract fistula (LRTF) repair in inpatient US women from 1979 to 2006. METHODS: Retrospective data was obtained from the National Hospital Discharge Survey regarding LRTF diagnoses, demographics, comorbidities, and fistula repair procedures, using ICD-9-CM diagnostic ...

Azilsartan is a novel angiotensin receptor blocker being developed for hypertension treatment. This 16-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study compared the efficacy and safety of azilsartan (20-40 mg once daily by forced titration) and its ability to provide 24-h blood pressure (BP) control, with that of candesartan cilexetil (candesartan; 8-12 mg once daily ...

  Branchial cleft anomalies are rare developmental defects of the neck, with an estimated 2% to 3% being bilateral. Although most are isolated findings, some are associated with syndromes. We report a 2-month-old boy with bilateral branchial cleft anomalies, low-set ears, and hydronephrosis who tested positive for a mutation in ...

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We sought to characterize risk factors of urinary incontinence (UI) during pregnancy and the postpartum period in primiparous women in China. METHODS: We enrolled 10,098 women from the seven regions of China ≥28 weeks' gestation from September 2007 to May 2009 and administered the Bristol Female Lower Urinary ...

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Dialysis patients show cyclic changes in PWV related to their hydration status and blood pressure. Our aim is to assess the impact of daily dialysis on PWV. We performed a randomized crossover ...

Scratching has been successfully used to detect anxiety, a proxy for stress, in primates, from strepsirrhines to Homo sapiens. Here, we investigated the fluctuation of scratching in Lemur catta during the mating season. In particular we evaluated whether scratching (1) varied according to sex and rank differences, (2) increased in ...

To explore the co-effects of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR) on hypertension in a large Asian population. Data on demographic characteristics, blood pressure and other variables were collected; additionally, fasting plasma glucose, insulin and biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble E-selectin ...

We conducted a cross-sectional observation study that included 500 asymptomatic subjects to investigate the relationship between bone metabolism and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in hypertensive conditions. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteopontin (OPN) levels and their associations with hypertension were analyzed to predict CAC in 316 subjects. Multislice computed tomography was used ...

The complete nucleotide sequences of two isolates of apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (Z1 and Z3) collected from peach in Henan Province, China, were determined. The genomes of both Z1 and Z3 were found to contain three open reading frames (ORFs). Sequence analysis showed that genomic sequences of Z1 and ...

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has a vital role in regulating the cardiovascular system. The primary effector of the RAS is the octapeptide angiotensin (Ang) II, a potent regulator of blood pressure and water homeostasis. Ang II mediates its functions through the stimulation of two distinct receptors, AT(1) (two subtypes in ...

Ecology Letters (2012) ABSTRACT: Body-size structure of food webs and adaptive foraging of consumers are two of the dominant concepts of our understanding how natural ecosystems maintain their stability and diversity. The interplay of these two processes, however, is a critically important yet unresolved issue. To fill this gap in ...

The discovery of the role of a teleost-specific aquaporin (Aqp1ab) during the process of oocyte hydration in marine fish producing pelagic (floating) eggs, recently confirmed by molecular approaches, has revealed that this mechanism is more sophisticated than initially thought. Recent phylogenetic and genomic studies suggest that Aqp1ab likely evolved by ...

The Combination Therapy of Hypertension to Prevent Cardiovascular Events (COPE) trial demonstrated that the calcium-channel blocker benidipine-based combination therapies with an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB), a β-blocker, or a thiazide diuretic (thiazide) were similarly effective in preventing cardiovascular events and achieving the target blood pressure (BP; <140/90 mm Hg). We further evaluated the ...

OBJECTIVES: Two fractured one-piece experimental (commercially unavailable) zirconia implants were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis to identify failure origins and aid in understanding the failure mechanisms. Modifications to the zirconia implant design are suggested to minimize such fracture incidences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two zirconia implants fractured during the ...

Reduction in eel resources and catches of glass eels as seedlings for aquaculture have been a serious concern in recent years in both Europe and East Asia. Thus, technical advancement to produce eel seeds for artificial cultivation is most desired. Fundamental information on oocyte maturation and ovulation and its application ...

Introduction: The current strategies employed for the treatment of connective tissue disease include the application of stem cells, the use of functional molecules that can reorganize tissue integrity and cellular activities to recover connective tissue function. Approaches to the regeneration of periodontal tissue, which is the tooth-supporting connective tissue, have ...

The objective was to take a first step in the development of a process-oriented quality assurance (QA) system for monitoring and safeguarding of fish welfare at a company level. A process-oriented approach is focused on preventing hazards and involves establishment of critical steps in a process that requires careful control. ...

BACKGROUND: Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a group of life-threatening complications of organ transplantation, which occurs most frequently in pediatric patients. This retrospective study evaluates a single-institution experience of five cases of PTLD after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). PATIENTS AND METHOD: We reviewed the records of 78 pediatric patients (<18 years ...

Pancreatic surgery concomitant with abdominal aortic repair is rarely chosen due to concerns about prosthetic infection following pancreatic leakage and the poor prognosis of pancreatic neoplasms. We herein report a successfully treated case of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas treated by a one-stage ...

AIMS: In a problem-based learning curriculum, most medical students research the Internet for information for their "learning issues." Internet sites such as "YouTube" have become a useful resource for information. This study aimed at assessing YouTube videos covering surface anatomy. METHOD: A search of YouTube was conducted from November 8 ...

Single-incision laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease is not widespread because of its technical difficulty. On the other hand, patients with gastroesophageal reflux frequently also have mental retardation and eating disorders. We have been performing single-incision laparoscopic fundoplication via a gastrostomy site incision since October 2009 for these patients. The ...

The process of Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) follows the adenoma-to-carcinoma sequence. If it progresses to malignancy about 5 years is required. Even though the process is slow IPMN provides the clinician with the opportunity to avoid malignancy if the patient is at risk. The natural history as observed through Kaplan ...

Selective venous sampling (SVS) helps to interpret imaging results in patients with persistent primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). However, one of the drawbacks of conventional SVS may be low "spatial resolution", depending on the sample size. We modified SVS in the following way: first, patients underwent conventional SVS with up to 11 ...

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of life-style practices in adolescents and their association with nickel allergy. Upper secondary school pupils (n = 4,376; 15-23 years) were patch-tested for nickel aller-gy, follow-ing completion of a questionnaire (answered by 6,095). Almost 86% girls and 21% of boys reported piercing. More ...

PURPOSE: This study is aimed to report a case of endogenous Nocardia endophthalmitis in the setting of immunosuppression from chronic steroid use. METHODS: A case report was conducted. RESULTS: A 79-year-old woman presented with decreased vision with floaters in the left eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed severe inflammation in the anterior ...

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to evaluate the osteogenic potential of electrosprayed organic and non-organic surface coatings in a gap-implant model over 4 and 12 weeks of implantation into the dog mandible. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixteen Beagle dogs received experimental titanium implants in the mandible 3 months after removal of left premolars ...

An efficient and convenient solution-phase synthesis of a 1H-1,2,4-triazole library with potential agrochemical activity is reported employing microwave-assisted organic synthesis (MAOS) and continuous-flow microfluidic synthetic methods starting from commercially available 3,5-dibromo-1H-1,2,4-triazole (1). MAOS was used for the synthesis of 5-amino-3-bromo-1,2,4-triazole analogs 3 and for their 3-aryl derivatives 4 via Suzuki-Miyaura ...

Biological soil crusts, formed by an association of soil particles with cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses, fungi and bacteria in varying proportions, live in or directly on top of the uppermost soil layer. To evaluate their role in the global carbon cycle, gas exchange measurements were conducted under controlled conditions. Moss-dominated soil ...

Shifts in biological communities are occurring at rapid rates as human activities induced global climate change increases. Understanding the effects of the change on biodiversity is important to reduce loss of biodiversity and mass extinction, and to insure the long-term persistence of natural resources and natures' services. Especially in remote ...

Salinity stress is one of the most common abiotic stresses that hamper plant productivity worldwide. Successful plant adaptations to salt stress require substantial changes in cellular protein expression. In this work, we present a 2-DE-based proteomic analysis of a model unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, subjected to 300 mM NaCl for ...

Elutriate bioassays are among numerous methods that exist for assessing the potential toxicity of sediments in aquatic systems. In this study, interlaboratory results were compared from 96-h Ceriodaphnia dubia and Pimephales promelas static-renewal acute toxicity tests conducted independently by two laboratories using elutriate samples prepared from the same sediment. The ...

Total organic matter (TOM) content of sediment samples collected from various depths of continental shelf region of the southeast coast of India varied from 0.19% to 7.73%. Higher TOM content and lower median particle diameter could be attributed to the influence of higher riverine flow. Higher values were observed at ...

BACKGROUND: Persistent postoperative elevation of parathyroid hormone (POePTH) following successful parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is presumed to result from bone remineralization. Predicting which patients may need treatment is difficult. This study investigated whether preoperative serum osteocalcin (OC), a bone turnover marker involved in mineralization, can predict POePTH. METHODS: A ...

A series of dithiocarbamates was prepared by reaction of primary/secondary amines with carbon disulfide in the presence of bases. These compounds were tested for the inhibition of 4 human (h) isoforms of the zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase, CA (EC 4.2.1.1), hCA I, II, IX and XII, involved in pathologies such ...

The major aim of neoadjuvant systemic therapy is to improve prognosis by individualizing treatment. The proven benefits of neoadjuvant systemic therapy include reducing tumor burden, higher breast-conserving surgery, and the possibility of in vivo monitoring of response to treatment. Other goals of neoadjuvant treatment are the detection of new prognostic ...

A pectate lyase gene (pl-str) was cloned from Streptomyces sp. S27 and expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta. The full-length pl-str consists of 972 bp and encodes for a protein of 323 amino acids without signal peptide that belongs to family PF00544. The recombinant enzyme (r-PL-STR) was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity using Ni(2+)-NTA ...

Arthrogryposis represents a group of heterogeneous disorders, characterized by contractures of multiple joints at birth. Involvement of the hip is very common (55-90% of patients) ranging from soft tissue contractures to subluxation and dislocation. Isolated contracture of the hip can usually be managed conservatively: compensative mechanisms and contractures of other ...

The thermal pyrolysis behaviour of a complex of β-cyclodextrin (CD) and potassium ferrioxalate (PF) was analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Two rare inorganic ions: CO(2)(2+) and O(4)(+), neither of which was found in the cases of free β-CD and PF, were synchronously observed during the decomposition ...

INTRODUCTION: Though uncommon, the collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) of Bellini is a very aggressive primary renal tumour occurring in less than 1% of all renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases. This rare subtype was always excluded from the prospective trials with targeted therapies. Few data so far available concern the subgroup ...

OPINION STATEMENT: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has an excellent prognosis, yet lymph node metastases are common. Most authors agree that central and/or lateral lymph node dissection should be undertaken in patients with abnormal lymph nodes detected on ultrasound, physical examination or intraoperative inspection. However the appropriate extent of prophylactic lymph ...

  Two infants presented with multiple asymptomatic papules and geographic and annular plaques over the extensor aspect of the upper and lower extremities and trunk. Skin biopsy of both lesions showed plugged and hyperplastic dilated acrosryingia and deep dermal ducts, along with granulomatous inflammatory reaction. These lesions showed self-healing with ...

BACKGROUND: The kidney is a major organ involved in calcium (Ca(2+)) metabolism. Ca(2+) is transported through renal tubular epithelial cells. The intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) is tightly controlled at a low concentration, but transient increases and oscillations in [Ca(2+)](i) are induced by various conditions. In this study, we investigated ...

The composition of photosynthetic pico and nanoeukaryotes was investigated in the North East Pacific and the Arctic Ocean with special emphasis on the Beaufort Sea during the MALINA cruise in summer 2009. Photosynthetic populations were sorted using flow cytometry based on their size and pigment fluorescence. Diversity of the sorted ...

Buildings are complex ecosystems that house trillions of microorganisms interacting with each other, with humans and with their environment. Understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes that determine the diversity and composition of the built environment microbiome-the community of microorganisms that live indoors-is important for understanding the relationship between building design, ...

BACKGROUND: There has been no study to investigate whether cystatin C could predict cardiovascular events in incident dialysis patients. We aimed to delineate the role of serum cystatin C and cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR(cysC)) for prediction of cardiovascular events. METHODS: This study included 66 end-stage renal disease ...

Glycans on mucosal surfaces have an important role in host-microbe interactions. The locus encoding the blood-group-related glycosyltransferase β-1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 2 (B4galnt2) is subject to strong selective forces in natural house-mouse populations that contain a common allelic variant that confers loss of B4galnt2 gene expression in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We reasoned ...