The role of cannabinoid receptors in inflammation has been the topic of many research endeavors. Despite this effort, to date the involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in inflammation remains obscure. The ambiguity of cannabinoid involvement may be explained by the existence of cannabinoid receptors, other than CB(1) and CB(2), ...

Antiplatelet drugs have been evaluated by measuring platelet aggregation ex vivo, but in vivo studies were scanty. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of an antiplatelet agent (clopidogrel) on the process of laser-induced thrombus formation in mice using intravital fluorescence microscopy. C57 BL/6J mice (n = 19) were ...

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is an attempt to clarify the productive time of drainages as we find that the use of drains in knee arthroplasty is controversial, and there is no consensus regarding their length-time maintenance. We analysed the survival curve of bleeding within three surgical techniques for ...

BACKGROUND: Interventional closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs) with a transcatheter device is the preferred strategy in children and adults. This procedure has been proven in numerous studies, but X-ray and contrast agent exposure is still a major side effect. The aim of this study was to clarify whether the ...

A 3D finite element (FE) model has been developed to study the mean intracranial pressure (ICP) response during constant-rate infusion using linear poroelasticity. Due to the uncertainties in the poroelastic constants for brain tissue, the influence of each of the main parameters on the transient ICP infusion curve was studied. ...

Memory Clinics provide evidence based diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Whenever a diagnosis of dementia is made, it is important to inform the patients about the possible impact of dementia on driving. Patients and their next of kin require competent advice whenever this difficult question is addressed and the mobility ...

Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) has been recommended for both adults and children with all types of hearing loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the objective and subjective benefits with VSB and the difference in benefits for patients with different types of hearing loss. A retrospective case review was ...

Background: One of the key elements for introducing a problem-based learning (PBL) programme is constructing good PBL cases. Good cases should reflect the educational principles of PBL including (a) integration of basic and clinical sciences together with professionalism and psychosocial components, (b) encouragement of discussion of cognitive domains such as ...

Conventionally, the "breathing zone" is defined as the zone within a 0.3 m (or 10 inches) radius of a worker's nose and mouth, and it has been generally assumed that a contaminant in the breathing zone is homogeneous and its concentration is equivalent to the concentration inhaled by the worker. ...

The associations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels with the risk of cardiovascular events among patients treated with statin therapy have not been reliably documented. To evaluate the relative strength of the associations of LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and apoB with cardiovascular risk among ...

Two novel Gram-positive, spore-forming, thermophilic actinomycetes, designated as strain YIM 77501(T) and YIM 77570, were isolated from a sandy soil sample collected at Tengchong National Volcanic Geological Park, Yunnan province, south-west China. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that the two isolates fell within the family ...

The essential oil of Eugenia caryophyllata (clove oil; Family: Myrtaceae) is used in dental care as an antiseptic and analgesic. The study aims to evaluate the effect of clove oil on experimental models of pain and cognition in mice. To observe the acute effects of clove oil at different doses, ...

Recently, schizophrenia endophenotypes have been actively investigated to better understand the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Past studies have shown that cognitive functions, including working memory and executive function, correlate with acoustic startle responses, such as prepulse inhibition (PPI), in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the ...

Background: The ability of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict subsequent physical disability and cognitive deterioration after a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is weak.Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether conventional MRI changes over 1 year could predict cognitive and physical disability 5 years later in CIS. We performed analyses ...

Abstract This study aims to systematically review published literature on heterosexual transmission among HIV discordant couples in China. We conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of 32 published articles in both Chinese and English. The summarized overall HIV seroconversion rate among discordant couples in China is 1.2 per 100 ...

This work aims to demonstrate the usefulness of a low-field one-dimensional pulsed-field gradient NMR (1D pfg NMR) profilometry technique to enable in situ nondestructive sediment characterization and resuspendability quantification of concentrated prefilled injectable suspensions. Aqueous paliperidone palmitate suspensions were used as model samples and low-intensity centrifugation was evaluated as a ...

The differential diagnosis of eosinophilia is broad and constitutes a major challenge for both, the general practitioner and the hematologist. Whereas in developing countries secondary eosinophilia is commonly caused by parasitic infections, in Western and European countries eosinophilia is more often associated with atopic diseases or drug-related. This case-report presents ...

This paper explores a new method for screening metabolites in an array format based on relative polarity using selective solvent dissolution. A synthetic cocktail of metabolites was spotted onto a hydrophobic silicon surface, and solubilised with solvents of varying polarity. The metabolites retained on the silicon surface after the solvent ...

There are studies about health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but few studies prospectively assessed HRQoL. The main purpose of this study was to analyze HRQoL in patients hospitalized due to RA exacerbation and observed over a planned 2-year follow-up in an outpatient setting. The ...

Objective: To investigate the levels of sex hormones and androgen receptor (AR) in elderly male patients and to explore a possible correlation with obesity. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 314 Elderly males (age ≥ 65 year). Of these subjects, 104 were healthy (age range 65-92 year; mean 71.38 ± 5.154 ...

Many solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) approaches for membrane proteins rely on orientation-dependent parameters, from which the alignment of peptide segments in the lipid bilayer can be calculated. Molecules embedded in liquid-crystalline membranes, such as monomeric helices, are highly mobile, leading to partial averaging of the measured NMR parameters. These ...

Recent studies suggest that unstable employment contracts may affect the health of workers. Many Japanese workers working full time in ostensibly permanent positions actually operate within unstable and precarious employment conditions. We compared the health status of Japanese workers with precarious employment contracts with that of permanent workers using the ...

A secundum atrial septal defect (ASD 2) was closed percutaneously via the transfemoral approach in a 3-year-old boy with interrupted inferior vena cava and azygos continuation. The procedure was guided by transesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy using conscious sedation. Successful transhepatic and jugular accesses in similar patients are described. This is ...

INTRODUCTION: Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignant tumour of the biliary system with an extraordinarily poor prognosis. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated forty-two patients with histologically proven gallbladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Estimated survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were assessed using the logrank ...

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the lifestyle, prostate volume (PV), and metabolic syndrome (MS) on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in the elderly males. A total of 764 men aged greater than 40 years were enrolled. Their severities of LUTS were assessed by the International Prostate Symptom ...

The aim of this study was investigate the effects of different intrasession exercise orders in the neuromuscular adaptations induced by concurrent training in elderly. Twenty-six healthy elderly men (64.7 ± 4.1 years), were placed into two concurrent training groups: strength prior to (SE, n = 13) or after (ES, n = 13) endurance training. Subjects trained strength ...

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. OBJECTIVE: Comparison of clinical and radiological outcomes of single-level open versus minimally invasive (MIS) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) at 6 months and 2-year follow-up. There is recognition that more data are required to ascertain the benefits and risks of MIS vis-a-vis open TLIF. This ...

Two novel general odorant-binding protein (GOBP) cDNAs (GmolGOBP1 and GmolGOBP2) were cloned and characterized from female antennal tissue of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta. We focused our investigation on this olfactory protein family by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends-PCR (RACE-PCR). The full-length ...

Inferior parietal lobule (IPL) forms an integral part of a critical frontoparietal network, which has been implicated in various clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits seen in schizophrenia. Despite its functional relevance, the relatively few studies that have investigated the structural changes in the IPL report inconsistent findings concerning the nature ...

The physicochemical properties of polyion complex (PIC) micelles were investigated in order to characterize the cores constituted of electrostatic complexes of two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. The pH-sensitive micelles were obtained with double hydrophilic block copolymers containing a poly(acrylic acid) block linked to a modified poly(ethylene oxide) block and various polyamines ...

Articular cartilage deterioration, which includes cartilage degradation and chondrocyte hypertrophy, is a hallmark of degenerative joint diseases (DJD). Chondrocyte hypertrophy is initiated in the deep layer of the cartilage; thus, a robust explants model for investigation of hypertrophy should include this zone. The aim of this study was to characterize ...

Background: To apply what has been learned theoretically in a clinical context is for many students a major challenge. In order to ease their transition into practice, a training programme was developed, focusing on learning to solve clinical problems. Aims: The programme is designed for veterinary medicine students in the ...

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of silencing hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) on proliferation, invasion, and migration of glioblastoma U87 cells. HIF-1α-shRNA lentiviral vector was designed for liposome-mediated transfection into U87 cells. The efficiency of interference was assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation was ...

Members of the Herpesviridae family have the capacity to undergo both lytic and latent infection to establish a lifelong relationship with their host. Following primary infection, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can persist as a subclinical, recurrent infection for the lifetime of an individual. This quiescent portion of its life cycle is ...

Filamins are actin-binding proteins that participate in a wide range of cell functions, including cell morphology, locomotion, membrane protein localization, and intracellular signaling. The three filamin isoforms found in humans, filamin A, B, and C, are highly homologous, and their roles are partly complementary. In addition to actin, filamins interact ...

We demonstrate a simple and scalable strategy for synthesizing hierarchical porous NiCo(2)O(4) nanowires which exhibit a high specific capacitance of 743 F g(-1) at 1 A g(-1) with excellent rate performance (78.6% capacity retention at 40 A g(-1)) and cycling stability (only 6.2% loss after 3000 cycles).

Interleukin 13 (IL-13)-induced epithelial gene and protein expression changes are central to the pathogenesis of multiple allergic diseases. Herein, using human esophageal squamous and bronchial columnar epithelial cells, we identified microRNAs (miRNAs) that were differentially regulated after IL-13 stimulation. Among the IL-13-regulated miRNAs, miR-375 showed a conserved pattern of downregulation. ...

Ventricular septal perforation represents a serious complication after acute myocardial infarction. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term and longterm outcomes of postinfarction ventricular septal perforation (VSP). We evaluated outcomes for VSP repair for 42 patients over 19 years. A retrospective analysis of clinical records, risk factors for hospital death, ...

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of acute neurologic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Bioenergetic failure is the primary cause of acute neuronal necrosis, and involves excitotoxicity-associated mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload, resulting in opening of the inner membrane permeability transition pore and inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondrial energy metabolism is also very ...

Impaired mitochondrial function accompanied by microglial activation and the release of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines has been reported in Alzheimer's disease, its prodromal phase of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and in aged rats. The present study showed that 6 months treatment of 16 month old rats with ladostigil (1 mg/kg/day), a ...

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine malignancy with an ill-defined natural history following locoregional recurrence. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of patients with MCC diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic from 1981 to 2008. For each outcome (subsequent locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and death) the survival-free ...

The reliability of patient-specific finite element (FE) modelling is dependent on the ability to provide repeatable analyses. Differences of inter-operator generated grids can produce variability in strain and stress readings at a desired location, which are magnified at the surface of the model as a result of the partial volume ...

An elevated prothrombotic state is a major risk factor for venous thromboembolism, atrial fibrillation and cardiac strokes. The regulation of various coagulation cascade proteases plays an important role in determining a prothrombotic state. Clinically used anticoagulants are inhibitor of enzymes that are involved in the coagulation pathway, primarily thrombin and ...

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of thrombophilic disorders in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) women with history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Materials and methods: This study was carried out in 184 women with history of RPL, of which 92 of them were diagnosed with PCOS and 92 patients were without ...

Knowledge about parasites of Antarctic birds is fragmented and scarce. The aim of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of gastrointestinal parasites of the Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) from Deception Island (South Shetlands, Antarctica). Gastrointestinal tracts of 64 fresh dead individuals (61 chicks and three adults) were collected ...

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are recognized to constitute the largest family of membrane proteins. Due to the disproportion in the quantity of crystal structures and their amino acid sequences, homology modeling contributes a reasonable and feasible approach to GPCR theoretical coordinates. With the brand new crystal structures resolved recently, herein ...

We use electrospinning to prepare chitosan-PVA nanofibers containing graphene. The nanofibers can be directly used in wound healing: graphene, as an antibacterial material, can be beneficial for this. A possible antibacterial mechanism for graphene is presented.

To better understand indeterminate HTLV-1 carriers and smoldering (SM) subtype of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), HTLV-1 proviral integrated status, proviral load (PVL) and ATL-related biomarkers were examined in 57 smoldering cases, including unusual carriers with a percentage of ATL-like cells. We found that according to Southern blot hybridization analytic features, ...

There are numerous asymmetries in anatomy between the nasal and temporal hemiretinae, which have been connected to various asymmetries in behavioral performance. These include asymmetries in Vernier acuity, saccade selection, and attentional function, in addition to some evidence for latency differences for saccadic eye movements. There is also evidence for ...

Cervical cancer remains persistently the second most common malignancies among women worldwide, responsible for 500,000 new cases annually. Only in Brazil, the estimate is for 18,430 new cases in 2011. Several types of molecular markers have been studied in carcinogenesis including proteins associated with apoptosis such as BAG-1 and PARP-1. ...