Information concerning the association of serum UA levels and the development of MS in the Chinese aging population is limited. The aims of this study were to investigate age-related metabolic disorders and analyze the relationship between serum UA levels and the components of MS in the elderly. This cross-sectional observational ...

Stem cells are fundamental units for achieving regenerative therapies, which leads naturally to a theoretical and experimental focus on these cells for therapeutic screening and intervention. A growing body of data in many tissue systems indicates that stem cell function is critically influenced by extrinsic signals derived from the microenvironment, ...

Septic thrombophlebitis on a central venous access device (CVAD) is a rare and serious complication. According to current guidelines, the device should be removed and antibiotics be given. The risk of septic thrombophlebitis is related to the migration of septic emboli to the lung, a potentially fatal event, particularly in ...

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been shown to disrupt thyroid hormone (TH) functions on experimental animals, and one of the proposed disruption mechanisms is the competitive binding of PBDE metabolites to TH transport proteins. In this report, a nonradioactive, site-specific fluorescein-thyroxine (F-T4) conjugate was designed and synthesized as a fluorescence ...

INTRODUCTION: Retrospective studies and case reports suggest an association between coeliac disease and impaired cognitive function. AIM: To evaluate functional and cognitive performances in coeliac disease vs. control patients older than 65 years. METHOD: Eighteen coeliac disease patients (75±4 years, group A) on gluten free diet since 5.5±3 years and ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) concentration, a vitamin-like substance found in every cell, which is also viewed as the most effective membrane antioxidant, of thalassemic patients and investigate the effect of chelating agents and ferritin levels on its concentration in patients with ...

Pancreatic cancer is characterized by intraperitoneal dissemination and often by large volumes of ascites. Aminobisphosphonates exhibit potent antitumor effects and are currently being tested against human solid tumors. Several aminobisphosphonates inhibit cancer cell migration by preventing the activation of Rho through inhibition of the mevalonate pathway. We evaluated the ability ...

A total of 69 preschool children were tested on measures of false belief understanding (the Unexpected Transfer task), inhibitory control (the Grass/Snow task), and strategic reasoning (the Windows task). For each task, children indicated their response either by pointing with their index finger or by using a nonstandard response mode ...

We investigated and compared nano-size Ag spheres, plates, and wires in a fish gill epithelial cell line (RT-W1) and in zebrafish embryos to understand the mechanism of toxicity of an engineered nanomaterial raising considerable environmental concern. While most of the Ag nanoparticles induced N-acetyl cysteine sensitive oxidative stress effects in ...

The growth of one-dimensional (1D) fluorinated copper-phthalocyanine (CuPcF16) on gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) is studied by electron tomography. The shape of the 1D structure and its geometrical relationship with the associated Au NP are determined by a three-dimensional reconstruction analysis combined with high-resolution electron microscopy. The CuPcF16 molecules nucleate at ...

The previously reported pseudotetrahedral Co(I) complexes, CoX(PR(3))(3), where R = Me, Ph, and chelating analogues, and X = Cl, Br, I exhibit a spin triplet ground state, which is uncommon for Co(I), although expected for this geometry. Described here are studies using electronic absorption and high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic ...

We present for the first time the synthesis of sequence-defined monodisperse glycopolymer segments via solid phase polymer synthesis. Functional building blocks displaying alkyne moieties and hydrophilic ethylenedioxy units were assembled step-wise on solid phase. The resulting polymer segments were conjugated with mannose sugars via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The obtained mono-, di- ...

Acid mine drainage (AMD) from the Iberian Pyrite Belt has high acidity and metal concentrations. Earlier pilot experiments, based on limestone sand dispersed in wood shavings (dispersed alkaline substrate; DAS) have been shown to be an efficient treatment option. However, complete metal removal was not achieved, principally due to the ...

Eusocial behavior is extensively studied in the honeybee, Apis mellifera, as it displays an extreme form of altruism. Honeybee workers are generally obligatory sterile in a bee colony headed by a queen, but the inhibition of ovary activation is lifted upon the absence of queen and larvae. Worker bees are ...

Comprehensive investigations of the effects of species and concentrations of metal ions on the ion-responsive behaviors of poly(N-isopropylacrylamideco-co-benzo-18-crown-6-acrylamide) (P(NIPAM-co-B18C6Am)) are systematically carried out with a series of P(NIPAM-co-B18C6Am) linear copolymers and cross-linked hydrogels containing different crown ether contents. The results show that, when the B18C6Am receptors form stable B18C6Am/Mn+ host-guest ...

Our study examined whether reproductive and hormonal factors before, at the time of, or after radiation treatment for a first primary breast cancer modify the risk of radiation-induced second primary breast cancer. The Women's Environmental, Cancer and Radiation Epidemiology (WECARE) Study is a multicenter, population-based study of 708 women (cases) ...

We have devised a method to selectively fluorinate graphene by irradiating fluoropolymer-covered graphene with a laser. This fluoropolymer produces active fluorine radicals under laser irradiation that react with graphene but only in the laser-irradiated region. The kinetics of C-F bond formation is dependent on both the laser power and fluoropolymer ...

Abstract Reprogramming of energy metabolism, such as increased glycolysis, is a hallmark of cancer cells. One mechanism by which cancer cells fuel glycolysis is by an increased uptake of glucose across cell membranes via the glucose transporter GLUT1. One of the transcriptional repressors of GLUT1 is wild-type TP53, and cancer-associated ...

INTRODUCTION: The fusion oncogene of echinoderm microtubule-associated protein like 4 (EML4) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) defines a new molecular subset of non-small-cell lung cancer. We explored the EML4-ALK gene in a relatively large cohort and reviewed the clinicoradiologic background of the patients. METHODS: We studied 720 patients with lung ...

It is widely accepted that pressure affects the structure and dynamics of proteins; however, the underlying mechanism remains unresolved. Our previous studies have investigated pressure effects on fundamental secondary structural elements using model peptides, because these peptides represent a basis from which to understand pressure effects on more complex structures. ...

A new method combining FT-ICR/MS analysis and Kendrick plots for the characterization of silicon species at trace levels in light petroleum products is presented. The method provides efficient instrumental detection limits ranging from 80 ng/kg to 5 µg/kg and reliable mass accuracy lower than 0.50 ppm for model silicon molecules ...

The detection capabilities of single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) with respect to particle size and number concentrations are investigated for the case of silver nanoparticles (ca. 20 nm - 80 nm). An iterative algorithm was developed where particle measurement events were distinguished as outliers from the more continuous ...

Anatomic segmentectomy is a versatile sublobar resection approach that can be both diagnostic and therapeutic in the setting of the indeterminate pulmonary nodule (IPN), metastasectomy, as well as small, peripheral cancers. We analyzed the clinical indications and perioperative outcomes after anatomic segmentectomy and explored its utility in the diagnosis and ...

BACKGROUND: The subscapularis is an important mover and stabilizer of the glenohumeral joint. Since the advent of shoulder arthroscopy, partial tears are found in 43% of rotator cuff patients. While partial tears to the upper band occur more commonly, little is known about the structure and mechanical behavior of the ...

OBJECTIVES: To describe the follow-up care within 28 days of an emergency department (ED) visit for asthma and to determine the association of follow-up visits within 28 days with ED re-visits and hospital admissions in the subsequent year. STUDY DESIGN: Population-based retrospective cohort study of children with asthma aged 2-17 ...

Background: An immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) may complicate immune restoration following start of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV infected patients. The occurrence of Graves' disease in the setting of an IRIS is well recognized. We hereby report a case of an Hashimoto's thyroiditis, presenting as an acute painful thyroiditis, ...

CCHH-type zinc fingers are among the most common DNA binding motifs found in eukaryotes. In a previous report, we substituted the second ligand cysteine residue to aspartic acid, resulting in a Zn(II)-responsive transcription factor; this indicates that a ligand substitution is a possible design target of an engineered zinc finger ...

The mercapto group of cysteine (Cys) is a predominant target for oxidative modification, where one-electron oxidation leads to the formation of Cys thiyl radicals, CysS•. These Cys thiyl radicals enter 1,2- and 1,3-hydrogen transfer reactions, for which rate constants are reported in this paper. The products of these 1,2- and ...

Carbon sponge, an adsorbent with spatially controlled structure is demonstrated for targeting internalized radiocesium and other radionuclides in human body. Three dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) carbons derived from inverse opal replicas of colloidal-crystal template exhibit large surface area and high porosity, resulting in highly efficient adsorbents for radionuclides. It is ...

A fatty diet is regarded as one of the most important risk factors related to the etiology of colorectal cancer, and this effect is linked to the quantity and principal types of fatty acids consumed. In this study, the chemopreventive effects of different oils on rats were investigated. Forty Wistar ...

New rhodium complexes of bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-phenol)amine ([ONO(cat)]H(3)) were synthesized, and their electronic properties were investigated. These compounds were prepared by combining [ONO(q)]K and [(cod)Rh(μ-Cl)](2) in the presence of an auxiliary donor ligand to yield complexes of the type [ONO]RhL(n) (n = 3, L = py (1); n = 2, L = ...

There is a critical need to better define the relationship among particle size, surface area, and dissolution rate for nanoscale materials to determine their role in the environment, their toxicity, and their technological utility. Although some previous studies concluded that nanoparticles dissolve faster than their bulk analogs, contradictory evidence suggests ...

In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Heidel et al. (2012) use genetic and pharmacological approaches to reveal that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is required for leukemic stem cell (LSC) maintenance in chronic myeloid leukemia. They demonstrate that β-catenin inactivation targets imanitib-resistant LSCs in vivo.

The study investigated age-related changes in the thickness of the deep and superficial abdominal muscles of 103 healthy women who could walk independently The participants were classified into five age groups: young (n=26; 20-24 years), young adult (n=26; 25-44 years), middle-aged (n=16; 45-64 years), young-old (n=16; 65-74 years), and old-old ...

Noncommunicable diseases are now a major source of mortality and disability in the developing world. Stroke incidence and prevalence is on the rise and is of particular interest because of its elevated mortality and morbidity. Developing countries bear the brunt of this disease, which hampers efforts to achieve economic and ...

Cerebrospinal fluid leakage is a major complication of transsphenoidal surgery. An intraoperative CSF leak, which occurs in up to 50% of pituitary tumor cases, is the only modifiable risk factor for postoperative leaks. Although several techniques have been described for surgical repair when an intraoperative leak is noted, none has ...

BACKGROUND: Numerous analyses of research published in scientific nursing journals have been examined over the past decades. However, a comprehensive analysis of trends in research has not been reported since 1980. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this analysis was to review randomly selected research articles published in four scientific nursing journals ...

OBJECTIVE: In juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) cardiac involvement is usually silent without typical symptoms. The purpose of this study was to assess left ventricular functions with tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE), strain and strain rate in children with JIA. METHODS: Our study was designed as a cross-sectional observational study. Thirty pediatric ...

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a man-made fluorosurfactant and globally persistent organic pollutant. PFOS is mainly distributed in blood with a long half-life for elimination. PFOS was found mainly bound to human serum albumin (HSA) in plasma, the most abundant protein in human blood plasma, which transports variety of endogenous and ...

BACKGROUND: Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation provoke a marked sympathetic response, potentially harmful in patients with cerebral or cardiovascular pathology or haemorrhage. Standard pre-hospital rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia (RSI) does not incorporate agents that attenuate this response. It is not known if a clinically significant response occurs following pre-hospital RSI ...

A new strategy for developing stereoselective bond-forming reactions is introduced; it takes advantage of the ionic nucleophilic catalysis of chiral ammonium betaines to simultaneously utilize vinylic esters as an enolate precursor and an acylating agent for coupling with electrophiles. Its synthetic utility is clearly demonstrated by realizing a highly diastereo- ...

An important chemical sink for organic peroxy radicals (RO2) in the troposphere is reaction with hydroperoxy radicals (HO2). While this reaction is typically assumed to form hydroperoxides as the major products (R1a), acetyl peroxy radicals and acetonyl peroxy radicals have been shown to undergo other reactions (R1b and R1c) with ...

The use of two new highly sterically bulky α-diimine ligands for the stabilization of neutral, monomeric platinum(II) hydroxo complexes is described. Halide abstraction from LPtCl(2) complexes of these ligands in the presence of water, followed by deprotonation of the cationic aquo complex, leads to LPt(OH)Cl and LPt(OH)(2). The latter can ...

In this work we investigate the influence of polarizable environment on the interaction energies and the interaction--induced (excess) static electric dipole properties for the selected model hydrogen--bonded complexes. The excess properties were estimated for water and hydrogen fluoride dimers using the supermolecular approach and assuming the polarizable continuum model (PCM) ...

BACKGROUND: The management of femoral shaft fractures using intramedullary nailing is a popular method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term functional outcome after antegrade or retrograde intramedullary nailing of traumatic femoral shaft fractures. We further determined predictors of these functional outcome scores. METHODS: In a retrospective ...

OBJECTIVES: To compare the impact of short term training with resistance plus plyometric training (RT+P) or electromyostimulation plus plyometric training (EMS+P) on explosive force production in elite volleyball players. DESIGN: Sixteen elite volleyball players of the first German division participated in a training study. METHODS: The participants were randomly assigned ...

The calculation of anharmonic vibrational frequencies for a set of small molecules has been examined in order to explore the merit to applying such computationally expensive approaches for large molecules with density functional theory. The performance of different hybrid and gradient-corrected exchange-correlation functionals has been assessed for the calculation of ...

We concentrated on the complication-free phase of juvenile onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) searching for associations between concentration of inflammatory factors TNF-α, CRP and VEGF and two monocyte subsets the CD14(++)CD16(-) and CD14(+)CD16(+). We analysed a randomly selected group of 150 patients without complications (disease duration 2.74±2.51years) at the ...

Introduction:To assess differences in amplitude among electrode locations on amplitude-integrated electroencephalograms (aEEGs) in preterm infants and change therein between preterm age and term-equivalent age (TEA), we investigated aEEGs in preterm infants at both 30-32 weeks post-conceptional age (PCA) and TEA.Methods:The median values of upper- and lower-margin amplitudes were quantitatively calculated ...

In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Ma et al. (2012) report a differentiation protocol for generating striatal projection neurons from human embryonic stem cells with high efficiency. The cells survive transplantation, reconnect striatal circuitry, and restore motor function in a mouse model of striatal neurodegeneration that mimics the central pathohology ...