AIMS: To investigate whether objective cardiovascular parameters have an independent association with nocturnal voiding in women. METHODS: Thirty-two parameters derived from questionnaires, and anthropometric, physiological and biochemical measures of 5,980 women were applied for analysis. Nocturnal voiding was assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score and the Overactive Bladder Symptom ...

BACKGROUND: Understanding perceived influences on recovery following a first episode of psychosis could help improve services. MATERIAL: Thematic analysis was used to examine important influences on early recovery identified by 30 individuals receiving services in an early intervention programme. DISCUSSION: Social support, medication, meaningful activities and lifestyle modification were identified ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Base-of-tongue carcinoma is a relatively rare disease with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Up to date no consensus exists regarding the ideal management strategy for each stage of the disease. This study aims to evaluate the experience of a single head and neck oncology center in the ...

Objective:To investigate the relationship of body weight and its changes over time with physical activity (PA).Design:Population-based prospective cohort study (Norfolk cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, EPIC-Norfolk, United Kingdom).Subjects:A total of 25 639 men and women aged 39-79 years at baseline. PA was self-reported. Weight and height ...

Signaling across the membrane in response to extracellular stimuli is essential for survival of all cells. In bacteria, responses to environmental changes are predominantly mediated by two-component systems, which are typically composed of a membrane-spanning sensor histidine kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. In the human gut symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, ...

OBJECTIVES: To assess (A) determinants of patient's global assessment of disease activity (PTGL) and patient's assessment of general health (GH) scores of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients; (B) whether they are equivalent as individual variables; and (C) whether they may be used interchangeably in calculating common RA activity assessment composite indices.METHODS: ...

Chronic skeletal muscle stretch typically increases serial muscle fiber sarcomere number. Since serial sarcomere number correlates with functional excursion in normal muscle, observed changes in sarcomere number are often extrapolated to their new assumed function. However, this has not been well demonstrated experimentally. Thus, we measured the functional properties of ...

The oxidation of AuCu nanoparticles was studied as a function of composition and temperature. Oxidation rates at 110 °C were higher for NPs with higher Cu content, showing that Au stabilized the Cu. Electrochemistry measurements show that AuCu could be a promising catalyst for lowering the over potential of CO(2) ...

We sought to investigate the risk factors and outcome of Ventilator Associated Tracheitis (VAT) according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) definition in pediatric trauma patients who were ventilated for ≥48 hr. In a retrospective cohort study, medical records of all pediatric trauma patients admitted to our Pediatric Intensive Care ...

A reaction-based strategy exploiting cobalt-mediated oxidative C-O bond cleavage affords a selective turn-on fluorescent probe for paramagnetic Co(2+) in water and in living cells.

We have designed and synthesised a double-headed nucleotide that presents two nucleobases in the interior of a dsDNA duplex. This nucleotide recognises and forms Watson-Crick base pairs with two complementary adenosines in a Watson-Crick framework. Furthermore, with judicious positioning in complementary strands, the nucleotide recognises itself through the formation of ...

Substituted pyrroles may be synthesized from selected 1,2-pyridazines through a reductive ring contraction involving the addition of four electrons and four protons. Our density functional theory computations of this reaction mechanism show that the first reduction event must be preceded by the uptake of one proton by 1,2-pyridazine, and that ...

Background and purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of gantry angle optimisation (GAO) compared to equidistant beam geometry for two inverse treatment planning systems (TPSs) by utilising the information obtained from a range of treatment plans. Material and methods. The comparison was based on treatment ...

In the present report, 3D-QSAR analysis was executed on the previously synthesized and evaluated derivatives of isoquinolin-1-ones and quinazolin-4-ones; potent inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). Statistically significant 3D-QSAR models were generated using 42 molecules in the training set. The predictive ability of models was determined using a randomly ...

We propose a new method to produce admittivity images of the breast for the diagnosis of breast cancer using electrical impedance tomography (EIT). Considering the anatomical structure of the breast, we designed an electrode configuration where current-injection and voltage-sensing electrodes are separated in such a way that internal current pathways ...

This article introduces an effective b-factor b(TSE) for turbo spin echo (TSE) sequences to quantify their inherent diffusion sensitivity. b(TSE) is investigated for a broad variety of two-dimensional- and three-dimensional-TSE sequences using constant and varying flip angles (transitions between pseudo steady states, SPACE, VISTA, Cube, etc.). The inherent TSE diffusion ...

Intrauterine growth retardation predisposes toward long-term morbidity from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. To explain this association, the concept of programming was introduced to indicate a process whereby a stimulus or insult at a critical period of development has lasting or lifelong consequences on key endocrine and metabolic pathways. ...

Many RNA-processing events in the cell nucleus involve the Trf4/Air2/Mtr4 polyadenylation (TRAMP) complex, which contains the poly(A) polymerase Trf4p, the Zn-knuckle protein Air2p, and the RNA helicase Mtr4p. TRAMP polyadenylates RNAs designated for processing by the nuclear exosome. In addition, TRAMP functions as an exosome cofactor during RNA degradation, and ...

The simultaneous trapping of a large number of sedimenting Au colloids by optical radiation forces has been studied in detail. The particles are collected by a convergent laser beam and compressed against gravity and osmotic pressure at the upper window of the cell, thereby forming a dense colloidal gas. A ...

We conducted a pilot study to assess magnetic field levels in electric compared to gasoline-powered vehicles, and established a methodology that would provide valid data for further assessments. The sample consisted of 14 vehicles, all manufactured between January 2000 and April 2009; 6 were gasoline-powered vehicles and 8 were electric ...

Here we present new routes for the efficient syntheses of 6,5'-(S)- and 6,5'-(R)-cyclouridine. The syntheses utilize readily accessible uridine as a starting material. This route to the R diastereomer is significantly more efficient than previous synthetic efforts, allowing us to obtain large amounts of pure material for future biological testing.

The present study attempted to explore the efficacy of curcumin and resveratrol in modulating mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis during lung carcinogenesis. The mice were segregated into five groups, which included normal control, benzo(a)pyrene (BP)-treated, BP + curcumin (C)-treated, BP + resveratrol (R)-treated and BP + C + R-treated groups. The ...

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived cytokine, crosses the blood-brain barrier to act on many regions of the central nervous system (CNS). It participates in the regulation of energy balance, inflammatory processes, immune regulation, synaptic formation, memory condensation, and neurotrophic activities. This review focuses on the newly identified actions of leptin on astrocytes. ...

The vasodilatory effect of Globularia alypum L. (GA) extract was evaluated in rat mesenteric arterial bed pre-contracted by continuous infusion of phenylephrine (2-4 ng/mL). Bolus injections of GA elicited dose-response vasodilation, which was abolished after endothelium removal. Addition of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (100 µmol/L), alone or in ...

Corneal epithelium relies on abundant glycogen stores as its primary energy source. MicroRNA-31 (miR-31), a corneal epithelial-preferred miRNA, negatively regulates factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (FIH-1). Since HIF-1α is involved in anaerobic energy production, we investigated the role that miR-31 and FIH-1 play in regulating corneal epithelial glycogen. We used antagomirs ...

A metal-organic framework, Cu(3)(BTC)(2), was synthesized and applied as an electro-responsive electrorheological material dispersed in insulating oil. Powder of crystalline Cu(3)(BTC)(2) exhibited excellent chain-like structures and controllable rheological properties in an applied electric field.

A novel series of polycyclic amines, containing nitrogen monoxide donating moieties, were synthesised and tested for calcium channel and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor modulating activity. The synthesised compounds were classified into two groups, based on their nitrogen monoxide donating moieties: unsaturated nitro compounds (1, 2 and 3) and nitro esters, or nitrates ...

AIMS: To enhance the interpretability of the PFDI-20 by establishing a score distribution for women in the general population and to determine whether scores correspond with urinary and anal incontinence (UI and AI). METHODS: Subjects recruited during Twins Day Festivals from 2004 to 2009 completed a survey assessing for stress ...

Background  Little is known about the associations of metabolic aberrations with malignant melanoma (MM) and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Objectives  To assess the associations between metabolic factors (both individually and combined) and the risk of skin cancer in the large prospective Metabolic Syndrome and Cancer Project (Me-Can). Methods  During a ...

Objectives: To assess the importance and desired timing of end-of-life care (EOLC) discussions among women with gynecologic cancer. METHODS: A questionnaire related to EOLC issues was distributed to patients with gynecologic cancer. Answers were analyzed via SPSS using descriptive statistics. Contingency analysis was done to evaluate for differences among disease ...

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), the prototype arenavirus, and Lassa virus (LASV), the causative agent of Lassa fever (LF), have extensive strain diversity and significant variations in pathogenicity for humans and experimental animals. The WE strain of LCMV (LCMV-WE), but not the Armstrong (Arm) strain, induces a fatal LF-like disease in ...

This study estimated the prevalence of negative self-perception of smile because of occlusion abnormalities and investigated their association according to standard clinical criteria. The sample consisted of 1290 randomly selected Brazilian adolescent boys and girls aged 12-16 years. The outcome of interest was dissatisfaction with smile, and data were collected ...

OBJECTIVE: To identify a specific pattern of serum cytokines that correlates with the diagnosis, activity and severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with early RA as well as with the level of serum markers of B cell activation.METHODS: Serum interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL1-Ra), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, ...

Telomerase has been proposed as a novel and potentially selective target in cancer therapy. Silymarin, which is a standardized mixture of flavonolignans from the medical plant Silybum marianum, has potent effects against various types of cancer cells, but its effect on telomerase activity in the human leukemia cell line K562 ...

Use of high flow nasal cannula oxygen (HFNC) is increasingly popular in adult ICUs for patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. This is the result of the successful long-term use of HFNC in the neonatal field and recent clinical data in adults indicating beneficial effects of HFNC over conventional facemask ...

Breathing moves volumes of electrically insulating air into and out of the lungs, producing conductivity changes which can be seen by electrical impedance tomography (EIT). It has thus been apparent, since the early days of EIT research, that imaging of ventilation could become a key clinical application of EIT. In ...

Percent mammographic density adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI) is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer and has a heritable component that remains largely unidentified. We performed a three-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) of percent mammographic density to identify novel genetic loci associated with this ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Molecular and cellular studies of Plasmodium falciparum require cloning of parasites by limiting dilution cultivation, typically performed in microplates. The parasite's slow replication rate combined with laborious methods for identification of positive wells has limited these studies. A new high-throughput method for detecting growth without compromising parasite viability ...

A 1D motif usually comprises conserved essential residues involved in catalysis, ligand binding, or maintaining a specific structure. However, it cannot be easily detected in proteins with low sequence identity because it is difficult to (1) identify protein sequences suspected to contain the motif, and (2) align sequences with little ...

Fluorescence imaging technique has been used for imaging of biological cells and tissues in vivo. The Cd-free luminescent quantum dots conjugating with a cancer targeting ligand has been taken as a promising biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity system for targeted cancer imaging. This work reports the synthesis of fluorescent-doped core/shell quantum ...

An organised mammography screening programme was gradually implemented in Norway during the period 1996 to 2004. Norwegian authorities have initiated an evaluation of the programme. This study focused on breast cancer mortality. Using Poisson regression we compared the change in breast cancer mortality from before to during screening in four ...

BACKGROUND: Tissue factor (TF) is a significant risk factor for tumor growth and hepatic metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate whether hyperthermia has synergistic anti-tumor effects with TF knockdown in suppressing CRC progression and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Human colorectal cancer ...

We employ empirical tight-binding simulations on strained tetrahedral amorphous carbon and diamond nanocomposite networks. For each applied strain, the optoelectronic properties are monitored through the absorption coefficient and the dielectric function. These lead to the optical gaps and are able to quantify the amount of disorder in the structures. We ...

Over the last decade, there has been a significant progress in general surgical applications of robotic surgery. Multiple groups have reported safe and effective techniques for robotic adrenalectomy. Our aim in this review is to describe these techniques and summarize the literature on outcomes. J. Surg. Oncol © 2012 Wiley ...

1. Longevity is a major determinant of individual differences in Darwinian fitness. Several studies have analyzed the stochastic, time-dependent causes of variation in longevity, but little information exists from free-ranging animal populations on the effects that environmental conditions and phenotype early in ontogeny have on duration of life. 2. In this long-term ...

Aim. The objective of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of a known galectin-3 inhibitor, PectaSol-C modified citrus pectin (MCP), and 2 novel integrative polybotanical compounds for breast and prostate health, BreastDefend (BD) and ProstaCaid (PC), on invasive behavior in human breast and prostate cancer cells in vitro, ...

Introduction: There is an enormous growth and awareness of the potential applications of natural polymers for colon delivery of therapeutic bioactives. Chitosan (CH), a cationic polysaccharide, has a number of vital applications in the field of colon delivery and has attracted a great deal of attention from formulation scientists, academicians ...

Aims:  To develop a novel Vero Cell Assay which implements a real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) system for the determination of the presence of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). The assay overcomes the major drawbacks in conventional Vero Cell assay, e.g. labour-intensive and time consuming. Methods and Results:  Cells were grown ...

Measurements of change in bone mineral density (BMD) are thought to be weak predictors of treatment effect on the reduction of fracture risk. In this study we report an alternative year-on-year approach for the estimation of treatment effect explained by BMD in which we examine the relationship between fracture risk ...

Firefly luciferase catalyzes a light-emitting reaction in which an excited-state product is formed. Both experimental and theoretical methodologies are used to study this system, and the reactions catalyzed by luciferase are relatively well characterized. However, the mechanism by which an excited-state product is formed is still unknown. This Minireview deals ...