OBJECTIVE: To systematically compare the tacker mesh fixation (TMF) with the suture mesh fixation (SMF) in laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia (LIVH) repair. METHODS: Trials evaluating the TMF with the SMF in LIVH repair were analysed using the statistical tool RevMan(®). Combined dichotomous and continuous data were expressed as odds ...

We propose that systems exhibiting compositional patterning at the nanoscale, so far assumed to be due to some kind of ordered phase segregation, can be understood instead in terms of coherent, single phase ordering of minority motifs, caused by some constrained drive for uniformity. The essential features of this type ...

Frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chemistry has provided a new strategy for small molecule binding and/or catalytic activation. It is based on the cooperative reaction behavior of Lewis acid and Lewis base centers that are in close proximity to each other (e.g., within the same molecule) but cannot form a direct ...

Patients with congenital supravalvar aortic stenosis (SVAS) with associated biventricular outflow tract obstruction and coronary artery abnormalities have a tenuous myocardial oxygen supply/demand relationship. They are at increased risk of acute myocardial ischemia and sudden death, especially during anesthesia. Furthermore, resuscitation during cardiac arrest is frequently unsuccessful. We report a ...

BACKGROUND: Brain tissue oxygen monitoring (pBtO2) has been advocated in the treatment of patients with severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI); however, controversy exists regarding the improvements that pBtO2 monitoring provides. The objective of our study was to evaluate our experience and effect on mortality with goal directed pBtO2 monitoring for ...

ABSTRACT Nitric oxide, (•)NO, is one of the most important molecules in the biochemistry of living organisms. By contrast, nitroxyl, NO(-), one-electron reduced analog of (•)NO which exists at physiological conditions in its protonated form, HNO, has been relatively overlooked. Recent data shows that HNO might be produced endogenously and ...

The tick's fat body plays an essential role in energy storage and utilization. This study aimed to analyze the fat body neutral lipid composition in Rhipicephalus microplus engorged females. In the first study (physiological profile of untreated ticks), the lipid analysis took place over the course of 4 days; the engorged ...

Metabolic engineering seeks to redirect metabolic pathways through the modification of specific biochemical reactions or the introduction of new ones with the use of recombinant technology. Many of the chemicals synthesized via introduction of product-specific enzymes or the reconstruction of entire metabolic pathways into engineered hosts that can sustain production ...

Porous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C(3)N(4)) was prepared by a simple pyrolysis of urea, and then a g-C(3)N(4)-Pt-TiO(2) nanocomposite was fabricated via a facile chemical adsorption followed by a calcination process. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectra, and electron microscopy. It ...

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells that activate and modulate immune responses, but the mechanisms underlying DC activation have not been fully understood. In this study, we investigated the role of Notch signaling in DC activation by using murine bone marrow-derived DCs. Triggering of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) of ...

Antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) have been banned and phased out because their use has been linked to the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens; however, the ban has had a marked impact on livestock production, and feed additive alternatives to AGPs are required. We focused on green tea leaves as ...

Current studies suggest dysfunctional emotional processing as a key factor in the aetiology of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Investigating facial emotion recognition (FER) may offer an elegant and reliable way to study emotional processing in patients with TMD. Twenty patients with TMD and the same number of age-, sex- and education-matched ...

Molecular knots remain difficult to produce using the current synthetic methods of chemistry because of their topological complexity. We report here the near-quantitative self-assembly of a trefoil knot from a naphthalenediimide-based aqueous disulfide dynamic combinatorial library. The formation of the knot appears to be driven by the hydrophobic effect and ...

BACKGROUND: Solitary necrotic nodule of the liver (SNNL) is a rare benign lesion with an uncertain aetiology. There are no typical diagnostic clinical or radiological features, and this lesion is usually detected incidentally during imaging for other purposes. METHODS: We describe the clinical and radiological findings in three patients with ...

Reviewed are the phosphorylation events reporting activation of protein kinases and the key substrates critical for the DNA damage signaling (DDS). These DDS events are detected immunocytochemically using phospho-specific Abs; flow cytometry or image-assisted cytometry provide the means to quantitatively assess them on a cell by cell basis. The multiparameter ...

Objective: To assess the associations between psychological factors and return to work among long-term sickness absentees. Design: Longitudinal study with a 3-year follow-up. Subjects: Long-term sickness absentees (n = 905) who had undergone a multidisciplinary medical assessment. Methods: Three years after multidisciplinary medical assessment, return to work status (full, partial, or none) ...

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide an opportunity to examine the genetic architecture of quantitatively inherited traits in breeding populations. The objectives of this study were to use GWAS to identify chromosome regions governing traits of importance in six-rowed winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) germplasm and to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) ...

In the spirit of the radiation chemical "spur model", the lifetime of a spur (τ(s)) is an important indicator of overlapping spurs and the establishment of homogeneity in the distribution of reactive species created by the action of low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation (such as fast electrons or γ ...

Rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) are known to cause pulmonary, extra-pulmonary, systemic/disseminated, and cutaneous and subcutaneous infections. The erroneous detection of RGM that is based solely on microscopy, solid and liquid cultures, Bactec systems, and species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may produce misleading results. Thus, inappropriate therapeutic measures may be used ...

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable malignancy of terminally differentiated B lymphoid cells. Here, we investigated the role of Fas apoptosis inhibitory molecule (FAIM) in MM. We demonstrated that IGF-1 treatment up-regulated FAIM expression in MM cells in a dose-dependent manner. Silencing of FAIM expression attenuates Akt signaling downstream of ...

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine, using speech error and articulatory analyses, whether the binary distinction between iambs and trochees should be extended to include additional prosodic subcategories. Adults, children who are normally developing, and children with specific language impairment (SLI) participated. Children with SLI were included ...

The fabrication of nanoporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and PVDF/nickel nanocomposites from semicrystalline block copolymer precursors is reported. Polystyrene-block-poly(vinylidene fluoride)-block-polystyrene (PS-b-PVDF-b-PS) is prepared through functional benzoyl peroxide initiated polymerization of VDF, followed by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene. The crystallization of PVDF plays a dominant role in the formation ...

Quantum dots (QDs) fluorescent probes based on oligonucleotide aptamers and peptides with specific molecular recognition have attracted much attention. In this paper, CdSe/ZnS QDs probes for targeted delivery to mouse and human cells using aptamer GS24 and peptide T7 specific to mouse/human transferrin receptors were developed. Capillary electrophoresis analyses indicated ...

The lower plant Physcomitrella patens synthesizes several long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) by a series of desaturation and elongation reactions. In the present study, the full-length cDNAs for two novel fatty acid elongases designated PpELO1 and PpELO2 were isolated from P. patens using a PCR-based cloning strategy. These cDNAs encoding ...

BACKGROUND: Topical β-blockers are commonly prescribed for primary open-angle glaucoma. Existing research is limited regarding respiratory or cardiovascular events that may result from using these topical β-blockers. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate inpatient and outpatient service encounters and payments associated with the topical adjunctive use of the β-blocker timolol for glaucoma. STUDY ...

Four novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on high-nuclear metal carboxylate clusters, namely, [Zn(4)(L)(2)(μ(3)-OH)(2)(H(2)O)(1.5)]·2H(2)O (), [Zn(5)Na(L)(2)(μ(3)-OH)(4)(CH(3)CH(2)O)(H(2)O)(2)] (), [Cd(4)(L)(2)(BIME)(0.5)(μ(3)-OH)(2)(H(2)O)(1.5)]·2H(2)O (), and [Zn(4)(L)(2)(BET)(0.5)(μ(3)-OH)(2)(H(2)O)] (), where H(3)L = (3,5-dicarboxyl-phenyl)-(4-(2'-carboxyl-phenyl)-benzyl)ether, BET = 1,1'-(2'-oxybis(ethane-2,1-diyl))bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl), BIME = 1,2-bis(imidazol-1-yl)ethane, have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. In , each planar octanuclear zinc cluster [Zn(8)(μ(3)-OH)(8)(CO(2))(12)(H(2)O)(3)] is linked by twelve L ...

PURPOSE: Human amniotic fluid comprises cells with high differentiation capacity, thus representing a potential cell source for skin tissue engineering. In this experimental study, we investigated the ability of human amniotic fluid derived cells to substitute dermal fibroblasts and support epidermis formation and stratification in a humanized animal model. METHODS: ...

RATIONALE: Cariprazine (RGH-188) is a D(3)-preferring dopamine D(3)/D(2) receptor partial agonist antipsychotic candidate for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar mania. Substance abuse is a frequent comorbidity of both disorders and is associated with serious health issues. Based on preclinical efficacy, dopamine D(2) and D(3) receptor partial agonists and antagonists ...

OBJECTIVES: Computed tomography (CT) colonography cost assumptions so far ranged from <euro>346 to <euro>594 per procedure, based on clinical CT reimbursement rates. The aim of our study was to estimate the costs in a screening situation. METHODS: Data were collected within an invitational population-based CRC screening trial (n = 2,920, age 50-75 years) ...

OPINION STATEMENT: Small-cell lung cancers are aggressive tumors, often discovered with widespread metastases that include brain involvement. For patients with limited-stage disease, the standard of care is platinum-doublet chemotherapy (often etoposide) with concurrent radiation. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy can be difficult when given upfront, sometimes preventing on-time completion of later chemotherapy cycles. ...

Domestic dogs comprehend human gestural communication flexibly, particularly the pointing gesture. Here, we examine whether dogs interpret pointing informatively, that is, as simply providing information, or rather as a command, for example, ordering them to move to a particular location. In the first study a human pointed toward an empty ...

To improve the poor compatibility among different components of Drug-in-adhesive type patch, two novel plasters (Drug-in-fiber and Drug-in-adhesive/fiber) were developed based on ibuprofen (IBU)-loaded fiber mats. These fibrous mats were fabricated via electrospinning of cellulose acetate/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) composites in a binary solvent of N,N-dimethyl acetamide/acetone. Physical status studies suggested that Drug-in-fiber ...

The role of climate change in the development and demise of Classic Maya civilization (300 to 1000 C.E.) remains controversial because of the absence of well-dated climate and archaeological sequences. We present a precisely dated subannual climate record for the past 2000 years from Yok Balum Cave, Belize. From comparison ...

It is widely assumed that artifacts fall into distinct kinds. These kinds are generally identified by appeal to words-chair versus stool versus bowl versus vase, and so on. But contextual and cross-linguistic variation in what artifacts are grouped together by name raise questions about whether artifacts indeed do fall into ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Scaffold-assisted autologous chondrocyte implantation is an effective clinical procedure for cartilage repair. From the regulatory point of view, the ovine model is one of the suggested large animal models for pre-clinical studies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the in vitro re-differentiation capacity of expanded ovine ...

Abstract Background: Rifampin is a potent inducer of both cytochrome P-450 oxidative enzymes and the P-glycoprotein transport system. Among numerous well-documented, clinically significant interactions, examples include warfarin, oral contraceptives, itraconazole, digoxin, verapamil, simvastatin, and human immunodeficiency virus-related protease inhibitors. Rifabutin reduces serum concentrations of antiretroviral agents, but less so than ...

Cells rely on a complex, interconnected network of signaling pathways to sense and interpret changes in their extracellular environment. The development of genetically encoded fluorescent protein (FP)-based biosensors has made it possible for researchers to directly observe and characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of these intracellular signaling pathways in living cells. ...

In this paper, the intermolecular structural study asserted by the vibrational analysis in the stretch frequencies of hydrogen bonds (πH) and dihydrogen bonds (H(-δ)H(+δ)) have definitively been revisited by means of calculations carried out by Density Functional Theory (DFT) and topological parameters derived from the classic treatise of the Quantum ...

Many butterflies acquire nutrients from non-nectar sources such as puddles. To better understand how male Papilio butterflies identify suitable sites for puddling, we used behavioral and electrophysiological methods to examine the responses of Japanese Papilio butterflies to Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+). Based on behavioral analyses, these butterflies preferred a ...

Although Paget's disease of bone (PDB) is common in western countries, it is extremely rare in Asian ones including Japan. Recently, oral risedronate (17.5 mg once daily) was approved in Japan as a treatment of PDB besides calcitonin and etidronate. However, there are few data regarding the efficacy of this agent, ...

The aim of this study was to examine possible effects of bee pollen added to the feed mixture (FM) on rat ovarian functions (secretion activity and apoptosis). We evaluated the bee pollen effect on the release of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and steroid hormones (progesterone and estradiol), as well ...

PAX2, a nuclear transcription factor in renal development, is strongly expressed during kidney development and plays an important role in kidney development, differentiation, and renal cell proliferation. PAX2 is expressed in epithelial cells of fetal kidneys and its expression is up-regulated in certain pathologic conditions. However, the transcription activation of ...

Hydrogen desorption from a LiH + NH(3) mixture is very difficult due to the formation of the stable LiNH(4) compound. Using cluster models and first-principles theory, we demonstrate that the C(60) molecule can in fact significantly improve the thermodynamics of ammonia-mediated hydrogen desorption from LiH due to the stabilization of the intermediate ...

AIMS: In this study, we investigated the peripheral mechanisms underlying the metabolic side effects of fluoxetine (FLX) by focusing on hepatic lipid metabolism. METHODS: Primary mouse hepatocytes were prepared from male mice by the two-step perfusion method. The lipid accumulation in primary mouse hepatocytes was analyzed via neutral oil staining. ...

In this study, a consanguineous family with progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME) was clinically examined and molecularly investigated to determine the molecular events causing disease. Since exclusion of known genes indicated that novel genes causing PME still remained unidentified, homozygosity mapping, exome sequencing, as well as validation and disease-segregation analyses were ...

Nanofibers are attractive substrates for tissue regeneration applications because they structurally mimic the native extracellular matrix. Electrospinning has been recognized as one of the most efficient techniques to fabricate polymer nanofibers. Recent research has demonstrated that cellular responses, for example attachment, proliferation and differentiation, can be modulated by tuning nanofiber ...

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of neonatal encephalopathy (NE). The accurate diagnosis of neonatal AKI, irrespective of the cause, relies on suboptimal methods such as identification of rising serum creatinine, decreased urinary output and glomerular filtration rate. Studies of AKI biomarkers in adults and children have shown ...

Spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana is a major disease of wheat in warm and humid wheat growing regions of the world including south Asian countries such as India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The CIMMYT bread wheat line Saar which carries the leaf tip necrosis (LTN)-associated rust resistance genes Lr34 and ...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously expressed small non-coding RNAs, which are evolutionarily conserved and function as regulators of gene expression. These molecules are involved in numerous biological processes including differentiation, development, proliferation and apoptosis. Further investigation identifies that miRNAs may act as either potent oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes, linking to cancer ...

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal counselling in case of fetal obstructive uropathies still represents a clinical dilemma, despite ultrasound detection of lower urinary tract obstruction has greatly advanced during recent years as well as fetal intervention techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of the relevant literature on the topic was performed, with ...