Sloughing esophagitis is characterized by superficial necrotic squamous epithelium and endoscopic plaques or membranes. According to abstract reports SE affects older, debilitated patients on multiple medications. This study seeks to evaluate the clinical findings in patients with SE. Thirty-one patients with necrotic superficial squamous epithelium, with endoscopic white plaques or ...

Abstract Purpose: Environmental electromagnetic fields originate from man-made sources, such as mobile phones and base stations, and have led to increasing public concern about their possible adverse health effects. We aimed to investigate the possible effects of Radiofrequency radiation (RFR) generated from these devices on oversensitive animals, such as pregnant ...

BOK/MTD was discovered as a protein that binds to the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member MCL-1 and shares extensive amino-acid sequence similarity to BAX and BAK, which are essential for the effector phase of apoptosis. Therefore, and on the basis of its reported expression pattern, BOK is thought to function in ...

Activity period plays a central role in studies of primate origins and adaptations, yet fundamental questions remain concerning the evolutionary history of primate activity period. Lemurs are of particular interest because they display marked variation in activity period, with some species exhibiting completely nocturnal or diurnal lifestyles, and others distributing ...

Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae), a Brazilian medicinal plant known as "wolf fruit," contains about 1.5% of glycoalkaloids in its dried fruits, consisting mainly of solamargine and solasonine. The present work reports the obtainment of the alkaloidic extract of the S. lycocarpum fruit by acid-base extraction and the isolation of the major ...

No single genealogical reconstruction or typing method currently encompasses all levels of bacterial diversity, from domain to strain. We propose ribosomal multilocus sequence typing (rMLST), an approach which indexes variation of the 53 genes encoding the bacterial ribosome protein subunits (rps genes), as a means of integrating microbial genealogy and ...

Chiari-syringomyelia is a heterogeneous condition that may be treated by decompression of the foramen magnum. Raised intracranial pressure (ICP) and/or hydrocephalus is a rare complication of this treatment. We aim to describe the incidence, clinical presentation, radiographic findings, management and outcome of patients developing raised ICP and/or hydrocephalus after hindbrain ...

The nuclear receptors Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPAR)α and PPARγ are therapeutic targets for hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance, respectively. Evidence is now emerging that the PPARβ/δ isotype is a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. AREAS COVERED: In this review, the capacity of ...

The proatlas is derived from the fourth occipital sclerotome in human embryos. It usually fuses with the three upper occipital sclerotomes to form the occipital bone. However, this does not always occur. Manifestations of a partial proatlas structure may persist due to failure of fusion. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: These embryological remnants ...

Organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) uptake transporters are important for the disposition of many drugs and perturbed OATP activity can contribute to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). It is well documented that both genetic and environmental factors can alter OATP expression and activity. Genetic factors include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that ...

Treatment of arterial hypertension can be a difficult exercise. Anti-hypertensive treatments need to be administered, keeping in mind the pathophysiological mechanisms and correlates at the base of arterial hypertension in the specific patient. AREAS COVERED: The common pathophysiological mechanisms at the base of hypertension and their undisputed mechanistic relationship with ...

Protein splicing is a self-catalyzed and spontaneous post-translational process in which inteins excise themselves out of precursor proteins while the exteins are ligated together. We report the first discovery of an intramolecular disulfide bond between the two active-site cysteines, Cys1 and Cys+1, in an intein precursor composed of the hyperthermophilic ...

To make full use of research data, the bioscience community needs to adopt technologies and reward mechanisms that support interoperability and promote the growth of an open 'data commoning' culture. Here we describe the prerequisites for data commoning and present an established and growing ecosystem of solutions using the shared ...

The processes responsible for the evolution of key innovations, whereby lineages acquire qualitatively new functions that expand their ecological opportunities, remain poorly understood. We examined how a virus, bacteriophage λ, evolved to infect its host, Escherichia coli, through a novel pathway. Natural selection promoted the fixation of mutations in the ...

TRAAK channels, members of the two-pore domain K(+) (potassium ion) channel family K2P, are expressed almost exclusively in the nervous system and control the resting membrane potential. Their gating is sensitive to polyunsaturated fatty acids, mechanical deformation of the membrane, and temperature changes. Physiologically, these channels appear to control the ...

Population biobanks offer new opportunities for public health, are rudimentary for the development of its new branch called Public Health Genomics, and are important for translational research. This article presents organizational models of population biobanks in selected European countries. Review of bibliography and websites of European population biobanks (UK, Spain, ...

Structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) has been widely applied in early-stage drug discovery. From a problem-centric perspective, we reviewed the recent advances and applications in SBVS with a special focus on docking-based virtual screening. We emphasized the researchers' practical efforts in real projects by understanding the ligand-target binding interactions as a ...

The present research work was aimed to formulate clotrimazole encapsulated Cavamax W7 composite ethosomes by injection method for improved delivery across epidermis. 3(2) factorial design was used to design nine formulations (F1-F9) and compared with ethosomal formulations (F10-F12). F9 with vesicle size of 202.8 ± 4.8 nm, highest zeta potential ...

C3 is the central component of the complement system and activation of C3 via any of the three major activation pathways-the classical, the lectin and the alternative pathways-results in initiation of the terminal complement pathway and release of the anaphylatoxin C3a. Both terminal pathway activation and signalling of C3a and ...

To determine the incidence of acute retinal necrosis (ARN) in the United Kingdom and to describe the demographics, management, and visual outcome in these patients. This was a prospective study carried out by the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU) between September 2007 and October 2008. Initial and 6-month questionnaires were ...

Next to clinical and experimental research, mathematical modeling plays a crucial role in medicine. Biomedical research takes place on many different levels, from molecules to the whole organism. Due to the complexity of biological systems, the interactions between components are often difficult or impossible to understand without the help of ...

To analyze whether an association exists between keratometric and pachymetric changes in the cornea, and whether it can be used to create pachymetric cutoff criteria secondary to keratometric criteria. In this cross-sectional study, 1000 candidates presenting to the refractive surgery services of a tertiary care hospital underwent bilateral Orbscan IIz ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebrolysin showed neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties in various preclinical models of ischemia and small clinical trials. The aim of this large double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was to test its efficacy and safety in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: Patients with acute ischemic hemispheric stroke were ...

Indium-mediated allylation of N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines afforded in high yields and diastereoselectivities homoallylic amine derivatives with the nitrogen atom bonded to a quaternary stereocenter.

An immunoassay based on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy was developed to detect muramidase released protein (MRP) antibody against Streptococcus suis II (SS2) utilizing thorny gold nanoparticles (tAuNPs) as SERS substrates. Initially, tAuNPs with multi-branches were prepared by the seed-mediated growth method in the absence of templates and surfactants, ...

Abstract: BACKGROUND:The aim of this study was to evaluate the lung-protective effect of combined remote ischemic pre- and post-conditioning (RIPC(pre) plus RIPC(post)) in patients undergoing complex valvular heart surgery. METHODS:This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind trial. Fifty-four patients were randomly allocated into the RIPC(pre) plus RIPC(post) group or Control ...

The possibility of tuning the electronic properties of graphene by tailoring the morphology at the nanoscale or by chemical functionalization opens interesting perspectives towards the realization of devices for nanoelectronics. Indeed, the integration of the intrinsic high carrier mobilities of graphene with functionalities that are able to react to external ...

Background/Aims: To evaluate tumor invasion (T staging) and lymph node metastasis (N staging) of colorectal cancer preoperatively by using multi-detector computerized tomography (MDCT) and to compare with the histopathological findings. Methodology: MDCT scan was performed for 73 patients with pathological proven colorectal carcinoma. One radiologist prospectively evaluated the depth of ...

Purpose:In-service exams are a commonly used educational tool in postgraduate medical education. Although most specialties utilize such an exam, medical genetics did not. It was decided in the spring of 2009 at the inaugural Medical Genetics Residency Program Directors (PDs) Group meeting to develop and implement such a test.Methods:Using questions ...

The wheel-lock (WL) model for depressed ambulatory activity in rats has shown metabolic maladies ensuing within 53-173 hours after WL begins. We sought to determine if WL beginning after 21-23 days of voluntary running in growing female Wistar rats affected the mRNA profile in the polyribosomal fraction from plantaris muscle ...

Three closely related Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from the same patient harboured bla(CTX-M-15), bla(OXA-1), bla(SHV-11), qnrS1, aac(6')-Ib-cr, oqxAB, aac(3)-II and aph(3')-Ia genes. Two of the isolates were recovered after treatment with meropenem and showed resistance to carbapenems. Sequencing of ompK35 and ompK36 porin genes of carbapenem resistant strains revealed the ...

Introduction: Although sperm have been shown to be present in the post-ejaculate urine (PEU) of both fertile and infertile men, the number of sperm present in the post-ejaculate urine of the general population has never been well-defined. The objective of this study was to describe the semen and PEU findings ...

OBJECTIVE: Scavenger receptor A (SR-A) is abundantly expressed by macrophage and plays a critical role in foam cell formation and atherogenesis. In search of selective SR-AI antagonists, we have used affinity selection of a phage displayed peptide library on the synthetic extracellular domain of SR-AI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Phage selection ...

The purpose of this review is 2-fold. First, it speculates on future scientific work that will have the greatest effect on clinical practice of nutrition care. Second, it discusses the current and future state of the healthcare system, paying special attention to demographic trends and the future of healthcare reform ...

Throughout Western Europe, psychiatric care has been subjected to 'modernisation' by the implementation of various managerial reforms in order to achieve improved mental health services. This paper examines how practitioners resist specific managerial reforms introduced in Finnish outpatient clinics and a child psychiatry clinic. The empirical study involves documentary research ...

Six new metabolites, micropeptin KT1042, microguanidine KT636, aeruginosins KT608A, KT608B, and KT650, and pseudoaeruginosin KT554, were isolated along with the known micropeptins SF909 and HM978, cyanopeptolin S, anabaenopeptin F, and the two isomers of planktocyclin-S-oxide from a bloom material collected from Lake Kinneret, Israel, in March 2005. The structure elucidation ...

Four new tetrahydrofuranoid lignans, (-)-tanegool-7'-methyl ether ( 1), (+)-7'-methoxylariciresinol ( 2), sinolignan C ( 3), and epipinoresinol-4,4'-di- O- β- D-glucopyranoside ( 4), were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of SINOPODOPHYLLUM EMODI together with one known lignan ( 5). Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic ...

South Asians have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that remains largely unexplained. We hypothesized that the increased CVD risk in South Asians compared to Europeans is mediated through higher levels of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in South Asians compared to total body fat and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue ...

The preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules primarily depends upon fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. However, up to 25% of FNA samples have associated "suspicious or indeterminate", but not diagnostic cytologic reports, resulting in difficulty deciding appropriate clinical management for these patients. We hypothesize that the use of molecular markers as ...

The gut microbiota has been shown to be involved in host energy homeostasis and diet-induced metabolic disorders. To gain insight into the relationship between diet, microbiota and host, we evaluated the effects of a high-fat (HF) diet on the gut bacterial community in weaning mice. C57BL/6 mice were fed either ...

Rapid discontinuation of prednisone after kidney transplantation potentially allows for minimization of steroid-related side effects. Although intermediate-term data with rapid discontinuation of prednisone have been promising, concern still exists regarding long-term outcomes. The 10-year experience is reported herein. Between October 1, 1999 and December 31, 2010, 1241 adult primary kidney ...

A good harvest: Two self-assembling strategies (micellization and electrostatic attraction) and covalent capture were employed to construct a robust, inexpensive, efficient artificial light-harvesting system. The synthesis was achieved by a one-pot reaction. A high density of the antenna chromophores was achieved without self-quenching and excimer formation, thus affording extremely efficient ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This is the first bibliometric comparison between countries of the development of stroke research over time. METHODS: Clinical and epidemiological articles on stroke published 2001 to mid-2011 were identified in Science Citation Index Expanded. Article fractions, citation fractions, h-index, and international collaboration were calculated using the BibExcel ...

The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) developed a Web-based registry for nutrition care launched in early 2011, initially focusing on the home parenteral nutrition (HPN) patient population. The purpose of Sustain is to collect information regarding the patients and populations who require HPN in the United States, ...

Previous studies have established that red mold rice can regulate blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and that Monascus-fermented products, including monacolin K, ankaflavin (AF), and monascin (MS), can inhibit expression of adhesion factors such as E-selectin and endothelin-1 to prevent human acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 monocytes ...

PURPOSE.: The purpose of this case report is to report a rare, bilateral, choroidal metastases from a primary esophageal melanoma. CASE REPORT.: A 44-year-old white female presented to the ocular oncology clinic in February 2010 on urgent referral from her ophthalmologist for evaluation of an elevated mass in each eye. ...

BACKGROUND: Treatment of high-risk localized prostate cancer remains inadequate. The authors performed a phase 2 multicenter trial of neoadjuvant docetaxel plus bevacizumab before radical prostatectomy. METHODS: Eligibility included any of the following: prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >20 ng/mL or PSA velocity >2 ng/mL/y, cT3 disease, any biopsy Gleason score 8 to ...

Bacterial histone-like proteins are important to nucleoids structure, cell growth, DNA replication, recombination and gene regulation. In this study, we focused on the role of DR0199 (the EbfC ortholog), a newly identified member of the nucleoid-associated protein family in D. radiodurans. The survival fraction of DR0199-null mutant decreased by ten-fold ...

The aim of this study was to characterize mandibular fracture locations using 64-slice multidetector CT (MDCT). CT scans of 138 patients with mandibular fractures who underwent 64-slice MDCT were studied. Mandibular fractures were classified into five types: median, paramedian, angle, condylar and coronoid process. Statistical analysis for the relationship between ...

The objective of this study was to develop a technique for determining the country of origin of rice in the Japanese market. The rice samples included a total of 350 products grown in Japan (n = 200), the United States (n = 50), China (n = 50), and Thailand (n ...