Clinical islet transplantation has demonstrated success in treating type 1 diabetes. A current limitation is the intrahepatic portal vein transplant site, which is prone to mechanical stress and inflammation. Transplantation of pancreatic islets into alternative sites is preferable, but challenging, as it may require a three-dimensional vehicle to confer mechanical ...

ABSTRACT: The recent findings brought the necessity of testing the mutational status of a series of genes which had been already identified as responsible for melanomas development and progression, such as BRAF, CKIT and PTEN: the consequent results are, in fact, essential to guide the assessment of the novel treatment ...

Coagulation disorders and reperfusion of ischemic myocardium are major causes of morbidity and mortality. Lectin pathway initiation complexes are composed of multimolecular carbohydrate recognition subcomponents and 3 lectin pathway-specific serine proteases. We have recently shown that the lectin pathway-specific carbohydrate recognition subcomponent mannose-binding lectin plays an essential role in the ...

What is known and Objective:  Pilocarpine, a muscarinic receptor agonist, has been used for the treatment of dry mouth. Salivary glands are supplied with nerve fibres that contain neuropeptides, such as substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), which are important modulators of salivation. It is ...

We investigated iron uptake mechanisms in five marine micro-algae from different ecologically important phyla: the diatoms Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Thalassiosira pseudonana, the Prasinophyceae Ostreococcus tauri and Micromonas pusilla, and the Coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi. Among these species, only the two diatoms were clearly able to reduce iron, via an inducible (P. ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Previous reports of infection with Clostridium septicum have identified an unexpected association with concurrent malignancy. The reported rate of associated malignancy has been found to be as high as 81 percent. The purpose of this case report was to present a case of a total knee arthroplasty infected ...

Background and Purpose: Understanding the CT characteristics of the pyramidal lobe and other thyroid variations and detecting them accurately using preoperative neck CT will minimize unnecessary remnant thyroid after total thyroidectomy in thyroid cancer patients. The purpose of the present study was to assess the frequency, location, and size of ...

Abstract RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful, sequence specific, and long-lasting method of gene knockdown, and can be elicited by the expression of short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules driven via polymerase III type 3 promoters from a DNA vector or transgene. To further develop RNAi as a tool in zebrafish, we ...

The vibrational properties of the cationic spin crossover (SCO) coordination polymers [{Fe(4-amino-1,2,4-triazole)(3)}(+2)](n) containing the anions chlorine, methanosulfonate and 1-naphthalenesulfonate have been studied via nuclear inelastic scattering of synchrotron radiation (NIS) as well as by Raman spectroscopy. Although the different anions have a strong influence on the spin crossover temperature, they ...

Mushrooms are becoming relevant foods due to their nutritional, gastronomic and pharmacological properties, namely antioxidant, antitumor and antimicrobial properties. However, despite several mushroom species have been chemically characterized, the evaluation of triacylglycerol (TAG) profile remained nearly discarded. Since TAG was formerly used to assess the authentication of highly valued commercial ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Although chronic effects of exercise on endothelial function are established, the impact of acute exercise on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of brachial artery has not been elucidated yet. METHODS: Eighty-six young healthy volunteers were prospectively enrolled from January 2011 to December 2011. The subjects completed FMD tests at rest ...

An improved convective self-assembly method was developed to fabricate crack-free colloidal crystal heterostructure. A composite opaline heterostructure composed of polystyrene (PS) colloids was firstly fabricated. Subsequent calcination of the opaline heterostructure led to the formation of inverse opaline heterostructure composed of SiO2 or TiO2. Both opaline and inverse opaline heterostructures ...

Introduction Road traffic injuries (RTIs) and attendant fatalities on Nigerian roads have been on an increasing trend over the past three decades. Mortality from RTIs in Nigeria is estimated to be 162 deaths/100,000 population. This study aims to compare and identify best prehospital trauma care practices in Nigeria and some ...

Administration of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists GLP-1 and exendin-4 (Ex-4) directly into the central nervous system decreases food intake. But although Ex-4 potently suppresses food intake after peripheral administration, the effects of parenteral GLP-1 are variable and not as strong. A plausible explanation for these effects is the ...

While structural information on biomolecules is mainly obtained from purified in-vitro samples, NMR can also be applied in the context of entire cells or organisms. The present study describes maturation processes in living Salmonella enterica, a prevalent cause for human gastroenteritis. In our physiological study we follow the composition of ...

Dendoaspin (Den) and rhodostomin (Rho) are snake venom proteins containing a PRGDMP motif. Although Den and Rho have different 3D structures, they are highly potent integrin inhibitors. To study their structure, function, and dynamics relationships, we expressed Den and Rho in Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris). The recombinant Den and Rho ...

OBJECTIVE:To report a case of nephrotic syndrome (NS) induced by both sunitinib and sorafenib therapy.CASE SUMMARY:A 61-year-old woman with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) presented with NS and hypertension following therapy with sunitinib 400 mg/day. Because of grade 3 toxicity, the drug was discontinued. After sunitinib discontinuation, NS and hypertension ...

The sacoglossan mollusc-derived metabolite, tridachiahydropyrone (), and its proposed biosynthetic precursors ( and ) form part of a complex chemical defence system against predators and harmful UV light. Here, we provide supporting biophysical evidence that the metabolites become selectively localised at cell membranes and outline a binding scheme that accommodates ...

Objective: Vaccination provides the most effective protection against maternal, fetal and neonatal complications of influenza infection. This study aimed to determine the uptake rate of influenza vaccination including 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza and seasonal influenza vaccination and the reasons for acceptance or rejection among pregnant women.   Method: This questionnaire ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Subsistence hunting is a traditional practice providing food and many other goods for households in the Yucatan Peninsula, southeast Mexico. Economic, demographic, and cultural change in this region drive wildlife habitat loss and local extinctions. Improving our understanding about current practices of wildlife use may support better management ...

To evaluate the diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging characteristics of nonmalignant lesion subtypes assessed as false-positive findings at conventional breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. This HIPAA-compliant retrospective study had institutional review board approval, and the need for informed patient consent was waived. Lesions assessed as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category ...

Abstract Introduction Few studies have examined the patient characteristics that lead to early continence following Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) and to date, there has been no investigation into the predictors of immediate continence. In the current study, we examine a large multi-surgeon population of patients undergoing RARP to assess ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Sonic hedgehog (Shh)/Gli pathway plays an important regulatory role on the neuroepithelial cells (NEc) proliferation in the dorsal regions of the developing vertebrate Central Nervous System. The aim of this paper was to analyze the effect of the Shh/Gli signaling pathway activation on the proliferation dynamics and/or the ...

Rhodopseudomonas palustris (R. palustris) is a purple nonsulfur anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium with metabolic versatility and able to grow under photoheterotrophic and chemoheterotrophic states. It has the ability in carbon management, carbon recycling, hydrogen generation, and lipid production; therefore it has the potential for bioenergy production and biodegradation. This study is ...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a severe debilitating disorder characterised by progressive demyelination and axonal damage of the central nervous system (CNS). Current therapies for MS inhibit the immune response and demonstrate reasonable benefits if applied during the early phase of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) while there are no treatments for patients ...

BACKGROUND: The UPDRS is the most widely used rating scale for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, subtle features of early disease stages may be missed. METHODS: We studied 25 early PD patients using a newly compiled battery of motor tests focusing on subtle motor features. Focal dystonia patients (n = 31) ...

One sixth of US dialysis patients 65 years of age have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF). Little is known, however, about the incidence of AF in this population. We identified 258 605 older patients (≥67 years of age) with fee-for-service Medicare initiating dialysis in 1995 to 2007, who had ...

Purpose:  Interictal positron emission tomography (PET) and ictal subtraction single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the brain have been shown to be valuable tests in the presurgical evaluation of epilepsy. To determine the relative utility of these methods in the localization of seizure foci, we compared interictal PET and ...

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in the destruction of the joint and have been shown to be strongly associated with inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Circulating MMPs have also been associated with cardiovascular disease in the general population, and are predictive of cardiovascular mortality. The purpose of the ...

Transparent electronic memory would be useful in integrated transparent electronics. However, achieving such transparency produces limits in material composition, and hence, hinders processing and device performance. Here we present a route to fabricate highly transparent memory using SiO(x) as the active material and indium tin oxide or graphene as the ...

Background:Hand-foot-skin reaction (HFSR) is an adverse event frequently observed during treatment with capecitabine (cape). In the present analysis, we sought to evaluate the potential association of HFSR and survival in German patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and locally advanced rectal cancer treated with cape in clinical trials.Methods:Patients of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft ...

Despite the therapeutic potential of nucleic acid drugs, their clinical application has been limited in part by a lack of appropriate delivery systems. Exosomes or microvesicles are small endosomally derived vesicles that are secreted by a variety of cell types and tissues. Here, we show that exosomes can efficiently deliver ...

Au-PtCu core-shell nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via galvanic replacement of Cu by Pt on hollow Au nano-spheres. Characterizations of the nanoparticles were conducted by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electrochemical measurements. Results indicate 2-2.5 times higher specific activity and mass activity of the Au-PtCu catalysts than commercial ...

Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) have been the object of intense research due to its potential therapeutic use. In this paper, we present molecular evidence of a bona fide epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) undergone by hAECs. Amniotic Membrane (AM) hAECs showed the presence of typical epithelial markers such as ...

Objective :  To explore the experiences of children and young people with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in relation to being treated for and living with this condition. Design :  A systematic review of qualitative research. Electronic databases and hand-searching were employed to identify relevant studies. The review centered on ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate CD4+ helper functions and antitumor effect of promiscuous universal cancer peptides (UCP) derived from telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To evaluate the widespread immunogenicity of UCPs in human, spontaneous T cell responses against UCPs were measured in various types of cancer using T cell proliferation and ...

Several studies show that climatic (extrinsic) factors can interact with density-dependent (intrinsic) factors to alter long-term population dynamics, yet there is a surprising lack of investigations of how anthropogenic disturbance modifies such dynamics. Such interactions could be especially important in agricultural systems subject to climate change. We investigated the effects ...

The molecular chaperone αB-crystallin has emerged as a target for cancer therapy due to its expression in human tumors and its role in regulating tumor angiogenesis. αB-crystallin also reduces neuroinflammation, but its role in other inflammatory conditions has not been investigated. Here, we examined whether αB-crystallin regulates inflammation associated with ...

Protein chemical modification was introduced here to tune protein/polymer interactions in a systematic manner, where met-hemoglobin (Hb) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) served as a model system. Under similar conditions of pH and ionic strength, influence of protein charge on Hb/PAA interaction was studied using chemically modified Hb and isothermal titration ...

OBJECTIVE: Cleaning products may cause work-related asthma, but information regarding the specific exposures involved is scarce. We aimed to determine the associations between asthma and occupational exposure to cleaning agents in hospital workers. METHODS: Analyses were conducted in 179 (136 women) hospital workers and a reference population of 545 subjects ...

Breast cancer resistance protein 1 (BCRP1/ABCG2) is used to identify the side population (SP) within a population of cells, which is enriched for stem and progenitor cells in different tissues. Here, we investigated the role of extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 in the signaling mechanisms underlying ischemic/hypoxic conditions in kidney SP ...

BACKGROUND: THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS (SES) AND HIGH MORTALITY FROM CORONARY HEART DISEASE IS WELL-KNOWN. HOWEVER, THE ROLE OF SES IN RELATION TO THE CLINICAL OUTCOME AFTER PRIMARY PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION REMAINS POORLY UNDERSTOOD.METHODS AND RESULTS: WE STUDIED 7385 PATIENTS TREATED WITH PRIMARY PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION. PARTICIPANTS WERE ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. The use of mobile mammography units to offer screening to women living in remote areas is a rational strategy to increase the number of women examined. This study aimed to ...

The facile axial ligand exchange properties of gallium(III) protoporphyrin IX in methanol solution were utilized to explore self-association interactions by NMR techniques. Structural changes were observed, as well as competitive behavior with the ligands acetate and fluoride, which differed from that seen with the synthetic analogue gallium(III) octaethylporphyrin which lacks ...

Collagen peptides are analysed using a low-cost high-throughput method for assessing deamidation using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). For each chosen peptide, the theoretical distribution is calculated and the measured distribution for each sample compared with this to determine the extent of glutamine deamidation. The deamidation of glutamine (Q) ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Little is known about the comparability of stroke subtype mortality across states. We conducted a -cross--sectional descriptive study to examine state differences in the reporting of "unspecified stroke" on death certificates in the United States. METHODS: The number of deaths from different subtypes of stroke in each ...

The use of sludge (biosolids) in land application may contribute to the spread of organic micropollutants, as wastewater treatments do not completely remove these compounds. Therefore, the development of alternative strategies for sludge treatment is a matter of recent concern. The elimination of pharmaceuticals at pre-existent concentrations from sewage sludge ...

Background:Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is involved in the regulation of whole-body energy expenditure and adiposity. The activity and prevalence of BAT decrease with age in humans.Objective:To examine the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms of the genes for uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and β3-adrenergic receptor (β3AR), key molecules of BAT thermogenesis, ...

We investigated the effect of advance information about the sequence of a to-be-signaled motor response on corticospinal excitability during the foreperiod in healthy humans. Advance information about the sequence of a to-be-signaled motor response was provided by a precue signal 600 ms before a response signal during a warned choice reaction ...

49,XXXXY is a rare sex chromosome polysomy with an incidence of 1 in 85 000 male births. It has a characteristic triad of mental retardation, skeletal malformation and hypogonadism. This is the first case report of a child with 49,XXXXY syndrome and renal agenesis. This child was referred for genetic ...