Abstract OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of the referees in assisting with the peer review process of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. STUDY DESIGN: A one-page questionnaire was mailed to 1,391 referees of two journals, the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Obstetrics and Gynecology. The referees were asked how ...

A novel protecting group directed diversity leading to the synthesis of bridged bicyclic and six-membered iminocyclitols from a common carbohydrate derived diamino triol under Mitsunobu conditions is reported. When the intramolecular cyclization of benzoyl derivative was carried out under Mitsunobu conditions, an unprecedented one-pot domino intramolecular "cyclization-N → O benzoyl ...

AIM: Little is known about bone and joint infections (BJIs) in children, despite the risk of growth disturbance. This study examined BJIs epidemiology using the French National Hospital Discharge Database (HD). METHODS: Any child <15 years hospitalised with an HD diagnosis of BJI, alone or in combination with sepsis or ...

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a nuclear deacetylase that modulates lipid metabolism and enhances mitochondrial activity. SIRT1 targets multiple transcription factors and coactivators. Thyroid hormone (T(3)) stimulates the expression of hepatic genes involved in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and gluconeogenesis. We reported that T(3) induces genes for carnitine palmitoyltransferase (cpt1a), pyruvate ...

Unlike most anadromous fishes that have evolved strict homing behaviour, Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) seem to lack philopatry as evidenced by minimal population structure across the species range. Yet unexplained findings of within-region population genetic heterogeneity coupled with the morphological and behavioural diversity described for the species suggest that adaptive ...

The freely dissolved concentration (Cw,0) in the pore water and the accessible (releasable) concentration in the sediment (Cas,0) are important parameters for risk assessment. These parameters were determined by equilibrating contaminated sediments and passive sampler using largely differing sampler-sediment ratios. This method is based on the principle that incubations at ...

The electronic structure of the Beryllium-Hydride anion, BeH(-), was investigated at valence Full-Configuration-Interaction (FCI) level, using large cc-pV6Z basis sets. It appears that there is a deep change of the wavefunction nature as a function of the internuclear distance:the ion structure goes from a weakly bonded Be...H(-) complex, at long ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:Diagnostic imaging procedures (DIPs) producing radiation exposure in children have been associated with increased cancer risk. To develop effective clinical practice interventions that reduce pediatric radiation exposure, a longitudinal assessment of DIP ordering practices in the current clinical climate was performed. Our objective was to determine the prevalence ...

The present study was planned to explore the effect of L.acidophilus on the Th17 immune response in a mouse model of β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) allergy.Bovine β-lg sensitised BALB/c mice were orally administered with different doses of heat-killed L. acidophilus (low, 5×10(7) CFU; medium, 5×10(8)CFU; high, 5×10(9)CFU) in 200 μL of PBS ...

A single human cell contains more than 5.0 × 10(5) copies of long interspersed element-1 (L1), 80-100 of which are competent for retrotransposition (L1-RTP). Recent observations have revealed the presence of de novo L1 insertions in various tumors, but little is known about its mechanism. Here, we found that 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine ...

Caspase inhibitors are usually administered intracranially. There's very limited evidence showing that they can be used intraperitoneally, and still have a beneficial effect. We tested the hypothesis that, during focal cerebral ischemia, caspase inhibitors when used in combination with an anesthetic agent results in a significantly reduction in the neuronal ...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the reliability and validity and to decrease the battery of items in the Pain Care Quality (PainCQ(©) ) Surveys. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Patient-reported data were collected prospectively from 337 hospitalized adult patients with pain on medical/surgical oncology units in four hospitals in three states. STUDY DESIGN: This ...

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate absence from work in Denmark due to occupational and non-occupational accidents. Background: Since the beginning of the last decade, political focus has been placed on the population's working capacity and the scope of absence due to illness. Absence from work ...

Two invasive, container-breeding mosquito species, Aedes aegypti (Stegomyia aegypti) and Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) (Diptera: Culicidae), have different distribution patterns on Reunion Island. Aedes albopictus occurs in all areas and Ae. aegypti colonizes only some restricted areas already occupied by Ae. albopictus. This study investigates the abiotic and biotic ecological ...

The phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) superfamily consists of 16 groups and many subgroups and constitutes a diverse set of enzymes that have a common catalytic activity due to convergent evolution. However, different PLA(2) types have unique three-dimensional structures and catalytic residues as well as specific tissue localization and distinct biological functions. ...

Objective To determine the accuracy of placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and inhibin A in singleton and multiple-gestation pregnancies for predicting preeclampsia (PE) and small for gestational age (SGA).Study Design A prospective cohort nested in a randomized controlled trial of antioxidant supplementation for the prevention of PE. Plasma ...

Both disease diagnosis and therapeutic treatments require real-time information from assays capable of identifying multiple targets. Among various multiplexed biochips, multiplexed suspension assays of QD (Quantum Dot)-encoded microspheres are highly advantageous. This arises from the excellent fluorescent properties of the QDs incorporated into these microspheres, thus allowing them to serve ...

Indians undergoing socioeconomic and lifestyle transitions will be maximally affected by epidemic of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We conducted a two-stage genome-wide association study of T2D in 12,535 Indians, a less explored but high-risk group. We identified a new type 2 diabetes-associated locus at 2q21, with the lead signal being ...

Regulation of carbon metabolism in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum at cell, metabolite and gene expression level in exponential fed-batch cultures is reported. Transcriptional profiles and cell chemistry sampled simultaneously at all time-points provide a comprehensive data set on carbon incorporation, fate and regulation. An increase in Nile Red fluorescence (a ...

Plants are necessarily highly competitive and have finely tuned mechanisms to adjust growth and development in accordance with opportunities and limitations in their environment. Sugars from photosynthesis form an integral part of this growth control process, acting as both an energy source and as signaling molecules in areas targeted for ...

The degradation behaviors of catechins in dilute aqueous systems including tea beverages and catechin solutions have been documented; however, their reaction kinetics in green tea concentrated solutions, and impacts of pH, concentration, and temperature thereon, have not yet been established. In this study, reactions were conducted at pH levels ranging ...

ABSTRACT: Cardiovascular deaths account for about 40% of all deaths of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those on dialysis, while sudden cardiac death (SCD) might be responsible for as many as 60% of SCD in patients undergoing dialysis. Studies have demonstrated a number of factors occurring in hemodialysis ...

Pseudobinary solid-solution semiconductor nanowires made of (GaP)1-x(ZnS)x, (ZnS)1-x(GaP)x and (GaN)1-x(ZnO)x were synthesized based on an elaborative compositional, structural and synthetic designs. Using analytical high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), we confirm that the structure uniformity and a lattice match between the two constituting binary components ...

The present study investigates the antinociceptive properties of lupeol in models of inflammatory and post-operative pain, as well as its mechanisms of action. The effects of lupeol were tested against acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin test, carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, and post-operative pain model. Cytokine levels were determined by ELISA. Mice motor performance ...

P-type ion pumps are membrane transporters that have been classified into five subfamilies termed P1-P5. The ion transported by the P5-ATPases is not known. Five genes named ATP13A1-ATP13A5 that belong to the P5-ATPase group have been identified in humans. Mutations of the human gene ATP13A2 underlie a form of Parkinson's ...

Most centers utilize phone or written surveys to screen candidates who self-refer to be living kidney donors. To increase efficiency and reduce resource utilization, we developed a web-based application to screen kidney donor candidates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of this web-based application. Method and ...

To date, 11 studies conducted in different countries to test the association between Plasmodium falciparum Na(+)/H(+) exchanger gene (pfnhe-1; PF13_0019) polymorphisms and in vitro susceptibility to quinine have generated conflicting data. In this context and to extend our knowledge of the genetic polymorphism of Pfnhe gene, we have sequenced the ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: A Southwest Asian origin and dispersal to North Africa in the Early Upper Palaeolithic era has been inferred in previous studies for mtDNA haplogroups M1 and U6. Both haplogroups have been proposed to show similar geographic patterns and shared demographic histories. RESULTS: We report here 24 M1 and ...

Herein, we report on a new Cu-based MOF material, Cu(2)(dhtp), structurally homologous to the honeycomb-like M(2)(dhtp) series. This has been crystallized under solvothermal conditions using copper nitrate and 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid as an organic linker, being the nature of the co-solvent in the synthesis media an important variable over the final ...

Background/Aims: Knowledge about neuropsychiatric symptoms in young-onset Alzheimer's disease (YO-AD) is scarce, but essential to establish a prognosis and plan care for YO-AD patients. The aim of this study is to assess frequency parameters of neuropsychiatric symptoms in YO-AD over 2 years and investigate whether there are differences compared with ...

Ingestion of wheat, barley, or rye triggers small intestinal inflammation in patients with celiac disease. Specifically, the storage proteins of these cereals (gluten) elicit an adaptive Th1-mediated immune response in individuals carrying HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 as major genetic predisposition. This well-defined role of adaptive immunity contrasts with an ill-defined component ...

Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) is a β-ketoamphetamine stimulant drug of abuse with close structural and mechanistic similarities to methamphetamine. One of the most powerful actions associated with mephedrone is the ability to stimulate dopamine (DA) release and block its reuptake through its interaction with the dopamine transporter (DAT). Although mephedrone does not ...

We developed "cyclic host liquids (CHLs)" as a new type of solvent. The CHLs are nonvolatile, liquid over a wide temperature range, biocompatible, recyclable, have high thermal stability and are miscible with many organic solvents. Compared with typical complexation systems, the CHL system is extremely efficient for maintaining host-guest complexation ...

BH3-only proteins integrate apoptosis and autophagy pathways, yet regulation and functional consequences of pathway cross-talk are not fully resolved. The BH3-only protein Bnip3 is an autophagy receptor that signals autophagic degradation of mitochondria (mitophagy) via interaction of its LC3-interacting region (LIR) with Atg8 proteins. Here we report that phosphorylation of ...

Objective To examine maternal dietary intake and preterm delivery.Study Design Data included 5738 deliveries from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Odds ratios (ORs) reflected risks of delivery at <32, 32-34, or 35-36 versus ≥37 weeks for maternal intake in the lowest or highest quartile of nutrient intake compared with the middle ...

Patients with diabetes were enrolled into a telemonitoring programme. They were offered the choice of collecting their health data either by using Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled mobile phones equipped with a dedicated application (App), or by means of a web-browser based user interface (Web). At the end of the ...

Based on a vertically aligned ultra-long Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) nanowire array fabricated using electrospinning nanofibers, we developed a new type of integrated nanogenerator (NG) with ultra-high output voltage of 209 V and current density of 23.5 μA/cm2, which are 3.6 times and 2.9 times of the previous record values respectively. The ...

Existing antifungal agents are still confronted to activities limited to specific fungal species and to the development of resistance. Several improvements are possible either by tackling and overcoming resistance or exacerbating the activity of existing antifungal agents. In Candida glabrata, azole resistance is almost exclusively mediated by ABC transporters (including ...

Photoinitiators used in food packaging ink, such as 2-isopropylthioxanthone (2-ITX), have been shown to migrate into food and beverages. Recently, several studies indicated that 2-ITX might be an endocrine disrupting chemical. In the present work, the effects of 2-ITX, 4-isopropylthioxanthone (4-ITX), 2,4-diethylthioxanthone (2,4-diethyl-TX), 2-chlorothioxanthone (2-chloro-TX) and 1-chloro-4-propoxythioxanthone (1-chloro-4-propoxy-TX) on steroidogenesis ...

This Review summarizes the development of catalytic asymmetric dearomatization (CADA) reactions. The CADA reactions discussed herein include oxidative dearomatization reactions, dearomatization by Diels-Alder and related reactions, the alkylative dearomatization of electron-rich arenes, transition-metal-catalyzed dearomatization reactions, cascade sequences involving asymmetric dearomatization as the key step, and nucleophilic dearomatization reactions of pyridinium ...

BACKGROUND: Evidence supports the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural approaches in improving the symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Duration, cost and resistance of many patients towards a psychological therapy have limited their acceptance. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a psycho-educational intervention on IBS symptoms. METHODS: Sixty-nine IBS patients ...

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key regulator of cell growth and its uncontrolled activation is a hallmark of cancer. Moreover, mTOR activation has been implicated in the resistance of cancer cells to many anticancer drugs rendering this pathway a promising pharmacotherapeutic target. Here we explored the capability ...

Abstract: Health benefits of tomato seed oil (TSO) have been suggested to be related to its antioxidant activity, although at the moment no much information is available on the antioxidant effects of TSO in biological systems. In this paper, we evaluated the antioxidant capacity of TSO by using different spectrophotometrical ...

From July to September, 2009, an outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEv) occurred in five counties in Maine. The virus was isolated from 15 horses, 1 llama, and pheasants in three separate captive flocks. One wild turkey, screened before translocation, also showed exposure to the virus in January 2010. ...

Abstract Objective: Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased cardiac morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate exercise-induced hypertension (EIH) in men with metabolic syndrome and to explore potential associations with anthropometric and metabolic variables. Methods: A total of 179 normotensive men with metabolic syndrome underwent a maximal symptom-limited ...

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of orthodontic movement (OM) on the periodontal tissues of rats suffering from ligature-induced periodontal disease (P). Methods: 88 rats were divided into four groups: 1- negative control (sham operated), 2 - P, 3 - orthodontic movement (OM), 4 - P followed by ...

N-truncated and N-modified forms of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide are found in diffused and dense core plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. Among them, the most abundant N-truncated peptide starts with pyroglutamyl at residue 3 (AβpE3). AβpE3 has increased aggregation potential and toxicity and its abundance has been reported to correlate ...

Summary Objective: While propranolol pharmacokinetics has been extensively studied in adults, this study reports the first evaluation of propranolol pharmacokinetics in term and preterm neonates. Methods: Propranolol concentrations were measured in four term and thirty-two preterm newborns treated with oral propranolol at the dose of 0.5 or 0.25 mg/kg every ...

Blastic plasmacytoid DC neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare haematopoietic malignancy with an aggressive behaviour. We evaluated five patients allografted as consolidative treatment with an unrelated donor in first or subsequent remission. Four patients received a reduced intensity-conditioning regimen because of age or co-morbidities. As the stem cell sources, two umbilical ...

Noble metallic nanostructures exhibit a phenomenon known as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in which the Raman scattering cross-sections are dramatically enhanced for the molecules adsorbed thereon. Due to their wide accessible potential range in aqueous solutions and the high biocompatibility, Au supports are preferred for spectro-electrochemical investigations. But the optical ...