ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Despite the potential impact on treatment adherence and recovery, there is a dearth of data on the extent and correlates of internalized stigma in patients with schizophrenia in low income countries. We conducted a study to determine the extent, domains and correlates of internalized stigma amongst outpatients with ...

Adenosine is an important neuromodulator in the central nervous system involved in the regulation of wakefulness, sleep, learning and memory, fear and anxiety as well as motor functions. Extracellular adenosine is synthesized by the cell-surface ectoenzyme ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73) from 5'-adenosine monophosphate. While CD73 is widely expressed throughout the mammalian brain, ...

Emerging evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding regulatory RNAs, have important roles in multiple biological processes. To determine the potential contribution of miRNAs to coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), we comprehensively surveyed and identified differentially expressed miRNA profiles in patients with CWP by small RNA sequencing and ...

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a slowly progressive eye disease leading to blindness, mostly affecting people above 40 years old. The only known method of curing FECD is corneal transplantation. The disease is characterized by the presence of extracellular deposits called "cornea guttata", apoptosis of corneal endothelial cells, dysfunction of ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The complex geological history of Mesoamerica provides the opportunity to study the impact of multiple biogeographic barriers on population differentiation. We examine phylogeographic patterns in a clade of lowland salamanders (Bolitoglossa subgenus Nanotriton) using two mitochondrial genes and one nuclear gene. We use several phylogeographic analyses to infer ...

A new pharmaceutical derivative obtained by stoichiometric complexation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) with aluminum (CIP-complex) has been investigated and reported in this study. Such product has high solubility in the gastrointestinal pH range and was successful in the development of optimized formulations while maintaining its antimicrobial potency. The systemic exposure, tissue ...

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) interact with various extracellular molecules such as growth factors, cytokines/chemokines, neurotrophic factors, morphogens, and viral proteins, thereby playing roles in a variety of biological processes including cell adhesion, proliferation, tissue morphogenesis, neurite outgrowth, infections, and inflammation/leukocyte trafficking. CS/DS are modified with sulfate groups ...

BACKGROUND: The rising prevalence of childhood obesity was observed in China. This study assessed the prevalence and district distribution of childhood obesity in Shandong Province, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the province. A total of 42 275 students (21 222 boys and 21 053 girls) aged 7-18 ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Proximal humeral fractures are common osteoporotic fractures. Most proximal humeral fractures are treated non-surgically, although surgical treatment has gained popularity. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in the surgical treatment of proximal humeral fractures in Finland between 1987 and 2009. METHODS: The study covered the ...

The importance of direct and indirect alcohol markers to evaluate alcohol consumption in clinical and forensic settings is increasingly recognized. While some markers are used to prove abstinence from ethanol, other markers are suitable for detection of alcohol misuse. Phosphatidyl ethanol (PEth) is ranked among the latter. There is only ...

A number of genetic studies have established that Sox10 involved in a wide range of developmental processes including sex differentiation and neurogenesis in vertebrates. A Sox10 homologue was cloned from brain of Paramisgurnus dabryanus by using homologous cloning and RACE method, designated as PdSox10. The full-length cDNA of PdSox10 contains ...

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms under neurally mediated syncope (NMS) are not fully understood. This study aimed to assess the level of storage iron in children with different hemodynamic patterns in head-up tilt test. METHODS: Altogether 210 children (11.31±2.49 years) with syncope or pre-syncope treated between May 2008 and September 2010 were ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Reduced upper extremity function is one of the most common impairments after stroke and has previously been reported in approximately 70-80% of patients in the acute stage. Acute care for stroke has changes over the last years, with more people being admitted to a stroke unit as well ...

RATIONALE: Isolation rearing in rodents causes not only abnormal behaviors which resemble the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia but also hypoalgesia in thermal nociception models. However, the mechanism of the hypoalgesia is not known. OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the effect of isolation rearing on acute pain and the descending pain ...

It is well established that non-uniform sampling (NUS) allows acquisition of multi-dimensional NMR spectra at a resolution that cannot be obtained with traditional uniform acquisition through the indirect dimensions. However, the impact of NUS on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and sensitivity are less well documented. SNR and sensitivity are essential ...

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the anatomical and functional outcomes of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to retinitis pigmentosa (RP). METHODS: Three patients (four eyes), aged 24 to 46 years, presented with refractory ME secondary to RP. Intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) was administered to treat ME. The anatomical ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Malaria vector control using long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS), with pyrethroids and DDT, to reduce malaria transmission has been expansively implemented in Zambia. The impact of these interventions on malaria morbidity and mortality has not previously been formally assessed at the population level in ...

Periprocedural myocardial infarction (pMI) is an important complication associated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, data on the frequency of biomarker testing and the incidence of pMI remain unclear. Using the multicenter Japan Cardiovascular Database, we identified 2182 patients who underwent PCI without preprocedural cardiac biomarker elevation (silent ischemia, stable ...

We assessed quality of life (QOL) and disease activity in patients with Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) of Turkish ancestry living in Germany or Turkey and conducted a correlation with FMF disease activity. 40 FMF patients in Turkey (TR), 40 FMF patients in Germany (G) and 40 healthy controls in Germany ...

PURPOSE: Early-life stress (ELS) may mediate adjustment problems while resilience may protect individuals against adjustment problems during military service. We investigated the relationship of ELS and resilience with adjustment problem factor scores in the Korea Military Personality Test (KMPT) in candidates for the military service. METHODS: Four hundred and sixty-one ...

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to present a case of a solitary intraventricular schwannoma with a review of the literature and to analyse the current theories of its origin. DESCRIPTION: A 16-year-old male patient, without any pathological, genetic or familial history of significance, presented with symptoms of intracranial ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Health control beliefs were postulated to be associated with health behaviour. However, the results of studies assessing these associations suggest that they might not be universal. Among young adults associations have been reported, but, the evidence is limited. The objective of this analysis was to re-examine these associations ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is a widely used patient reported outcome in osteoarthritis. An important, but frequently overlooked, aspect of validating health outcome measures is to establish if items exhibit differential item functioning (DIF). That is, if respondents have the same underlying level ...

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common inherited disorder worldwide including southern China. G6PD gene mutations cause deficiency of the enzyme and a large spectrum of diseases. High-resolution DNA melting (HRM) assay was recently introduced as a rapid, inexpensive and effective method for genotyping. But there was a shortcoming of ...

To investigate the bactericidal effects of Jinghua Weikang Capsule () and its major component Chenopodium ambrosioides L. on antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori. Four clinical antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains were isolated and incubated in liquid medium containing Jinghua Weikang Capsule or Chenopodium ambrosioides L. By means of time-kill curve method, the average ...

Spatial interactions between nuclear actin and some proteins of the exon-exon junction complex (EJC) have been demonstrated in the nuclei of early mouse embryos by using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET has been registered for the pairs actin-Y14, actin-Aly/REF and actin-NXF1/TAP in nucleoplasmic, irregularly shaped zones and in nucleolus ...

Data comparing the efficacy of monthly and trimonthly formulations of LHRH agonists are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of monthly goserelin and trimonthly leuprolide on estradiol levels. A total of 79 early breast cancer patients receiving LHRH agonists for at least 6 months were enrolled ...

It is well established that hyperplasia and decreased apoptosis of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) play an important role in the asthmatic airway remodeling. Tumor suppressor PTEN gene with phosphatase activity plays an important regulatory role in embryonic development, cell proliferation, and apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, migration (invasion) of the ...

The study examined differential effects of preoperative biomarkers (cotisol, C-reactive protein/CRP, and interleukin-6/IL-6) on postoperative symptoms in mental health (depressed mood, anxiety and hostility) 1 month following open-heart surgery, controlling for known predictors. Preoperative and postoperative interviews were conducted on 162 patients. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected between 8 ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The formation of contractile myofibrils requires the stepwise onset of expression of muscle specific proteins. It is likely that elucidation of the expression patterns of muscle-specific sarcomeric proteins is important to understand muscle disorders originating from defects in contractile sarcomeric proteins. METHODS: We investigated the expression profile of ...

The liver is currently considered to be one of the first organs to be subjected to the hypoxic insult inflicted by hemorrhagic shock. The oxidative injury caused by resuscitation also targets the liver and can lead to malfunction and the eventual failure of this organ. Each of the various fluids, ...

Bone marrow stimulation (BMS) has been regarded as a first-line procedure for the repair of articular cartilage. However, cartilage repair using BMS alone has so far not been ideal because cell homing to the required area has not been sufficient. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: To describe the epidemiology and possible risk factors for the development of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Namibia. METHODS: Using medical records and patient questionnaires, we conducted a case-control study among patients diagnosed with TB between January 2007 and March 2009. Cases were defined as patients with laboratory-confirmed MDR-TB; ...

BACKGROUND: Clinical symptoms of Dengue vary from mild febrile illness to severe infection. A potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-17, secreted by mainly Th17 cells mediate inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Role of IL-17 in pathogenesis of dengue virus (DV) infection is not clear. METHODS: Total 211 dengue patients and 70 healthy controls ...

The current study evaluates the levels of comparative optimism among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and examines its relationship to health outcomes 12 months later. 164 patients completed self-report questionnaires at the end of cardiac rehabilitation and the number of adverse clinical events in the following 12 months were recorded. Comparative ...

Numerous genetic loci are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension, including genes related to aldosterone synthesis and mineralocorticoid receptor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotypic distribution of mineralocorticoid receptor and cytochrome P450 11B2 (CYP11B2) T-344C polymorphisms and their relationship with hypertension and cardiac remodeling in a ...

A 62-year-old immunocompetent rural woman who represents an isolated cryptococcal skull infection without systematic involvement is described. Diagnosis was based on positive India ink staining, positive histopathologic examination, and positive culture. Species identification was performed by growth on Sabouraud dextrose agar and CHROMagar medium and by sequencing of the intergenic ...

BACKGROUND: Monitoring of brain function and metabolism during surgery may be of benefit for patient outcome. Microdialysis is the only sampling technique to date that allows continuous monitoring of drug or metabolite concentrations in the extracellular fluid of multiple tissues in the brain. This qualitative systematic review aimed to determine ...

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of acetazolamide (AZ) on different ocular vascular beds. METHODS: In a prospective study, 32 healthy volunteers (16 male, 16 female) with a mean age of 23.9 ± 3.3 years (20-39 years) were included. Before and after intravenous administration of 1,000 mg AZ (single dose), ocular microcirculation parameters were measured every ...

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between ginkgolide B (GB) and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and to explore its regulating effect on secondary cell apoptosis following spinal cord injury (SCI), to elucidate the protective mechanism GB against acute SCI. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham-operated group, an ...

Recent technological developments in molecular genetics facilitate the large-scale detection of inherited genetic disorders and allow an increasing number of genetic conditions to be screened for (American College of Medical Genetics 2012). This technological evolution creates the background which makes reflection necessary about the desirability to offer community-based (preconception) carrier ...

This article presents estimates based on the research conducted in 2010 of the cost to the Ugandan health system of providing post-abortion care (PAC), filling a gap in knowledge of the cost of unsafe abortion. Thirty-nine public and private health facilities were sampled representing three levels of health care, and ...

BACKGROUND: Benign convulsions occur in infants during the course of mild gastroenteritis. It is now recognized as a distinct clinical entity in many countries. However, its occurrence in China has not yet been widely recognized by Chinese pediatricians. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 48 patients with convulsions between ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: There is, globally, an often observed inequality in the health services available in urban and rural areas. One strategy to overcome the inequality is to require urban doctors to spend time in rural hospitals. This approach was adopted by the Beijing Municipality (population of 20.19 million) to improve ...

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a serious complication of acute and chronic liver disease associated with severe morbidity and mortality. We performed updated random effects meta-analyses to evaluate the evidence for non-absorbable disaccharides (lactulose and lactitol), rifaximin and branched chain amino acids (BCAA). A meta-analysis of randomized trials showed that, compared ...

Using various risk factor scores, we aimed to identify a subset of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) for whom it was possible to assess the prognosis. We also aimed to develop a novel prognostic score system. This single centre study involved 102 patients of ≥60 years of age with ...

OBJECTIVES: This was a prospective controlled study to determine the P-wave duration (Pdu) and P-wave dispersion (Pd) in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). METHODS: The study group consisted of 26 children with uncomplicated FMF and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We performed electrocardiography (ECG) with Doppler echocardiography on ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: There are many test options available for colorectal cancer screening. The choice of test relates to the objectives of those offering or considering screening. DISCUSSION: While all screening programs aim to detect disease early in order to improve the length and/or quality of life for the individual, some ...

The presence of the Onodi cell (OC) may be accompanied by morphological variations of the neighboring anatomic structures. Such variations carry significant surgical implications and challenges. Pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus induces anterior clinoid pneumatization (ACP), affects the type of the Vidian nerve (VN) canal or alters the courses of ...

Potassium (K+) channels are targets of reactive oxygen species in aging nervous system. KCNB1 (formerly Kv2.1), a voltage-gated K+ channel abundantly expressed in cortex and hippocampus is oxidized in the brains of aging mice and of the triple transgenic 3xTg-AD mouse model of AD. KCNB1 oxidation acts to enhance apoptosis ...