ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The objective was to determine the effects of agility exercise on dogs of different skill levels with respect to urinary eicosanoids, urinary 15F2t-isoprostane (lipid peroxidation marker) and hematological/biochemical changes in plasma. Fifteen adult dogs had blood and urine samples obtained prior to, immediately and 4-hours following an agility ...

Site-specific recombinases (SSRs) can perform DNA rearrangements, including deletions, inversions and translocations when their naive target sequences are placed strategically into the genome of an organism. Hence, in order to employ SSRs in heterologous hosts, their target sites have to be introduced into the genome of an organism before the ...

Frailty models account for the clustering present in event time data. A proportional hazards model with shared frailties expresses the hazard for each subject. Often a one-parameter gamma distribution is assumed for the frailties. In this paper, we construct formal goodness-of-fit tests to test for gamma frailties. We construct a ...

Gastrin is natriuretic, but its renal molecular targets and signal transduction pathways are not fully known. In this study, we confirmed the existence of CCKBR (a gastrin receptor) in male human renal proximal tubule cells and discovered that gastrin induced S6 phosphorylation, a downstream component of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase ...

OBJECTIVES: . Markov chain models are frequently used to study the clinical course of chronic diseases. The aim of this article is to adopt statistical methods to describe the time dynamics of chronically ill patients when 2 kinds of data sets-fully and partially observable data are available. Model. We propose ...

Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs) play a major role in determining whether cells undergo apoptosis in response to TNF as well as other stimuli. However, TNF is also highly pro-inflammatory through its ability to trigger the secretion of multiple inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which is arguably the most important role ...

The genes coding for quinaldine catabolism in Arthrobacter sp. strain Rue61a are clustered on the linear plasmid pAL1 in two upper pathway operons (meqABC and meqDEF) coding for quinaldine conversion to anthranilate and a lower pathway operon encoding anthranilate degradation via coenzyme A (CoA) thioester intermediates. The meqR2 gene, located ...

Although hormone replacement therapy is an option for the loss of ovarian function, hormone delivery through pharmacological means results in various clinical complications. The present study was designed to deliver sex steroids by a functional construct fabricated using encapsulation techniques. Theca and granulosa cells isolated from ovaries of 21-day old ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is regarded as a potent antitumor agent, but its clinical application is limited by its short half-life and significant side effects. In this paper, we tried to develop IFN-gamma gene therapy by a replication defective adenovirus encoding the human IFN-gamma (Ad-IFNgamma), and evaluate the antitumoral effects ...

GABA(B) receptor-positive modulators are thought to have advantages as potential medications for anxiety, depression, and drug addiction. They may have fewer side effects than GABA(B) receptor agonists, because selective enhancement of activated receptors could have effects different from nonselective activation of all receptors. To examine this, pigeons were trained to ...

Background and AimsThe coastal plain of Israel hosts the last few remaining populations of the endemic Iris atropurpurea (Iridaceae), a Red List species of high conservation priority. The flowers offer no nectar reward. Here the role of night-sheltering male solitary bees, honey-bees and female solitary bees as pollinators of I. ...

Hypozincemia, with hepatic zinc accumulation at the expense of other organs, occurs in infection, inflammation, and aseptic lung injury. Mechanisms underlying zinc partitioning or its impact on extrahepatic organs are unclear. Here we show that the major zinc-binding protein, metallothionein (MT), is critical for zinc transmigration from lung to liver ...

The thymine analog 5-chlorouridine, first reported in the 1950s as anti-tumor agent, is known as an effective mutagen, clastogen and toxicant as well as an effective inducer of sister-chromatid exchange. Recently, the first microorganism with a chemically different genome was reported; the selected Escherichia coli strain relies on the four ...

Pt(II) complexes bearing 4-(7-(benzothiazol-2'-yl)-9,9-diethyl-fluoren-2-yl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine or 4-(7-(benzothiazol-2'-yl)-9,9-diethyl-fluoren-2-yl)ethynyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine ligand exhibit strong reverse saturable absorption in the visible spectral region, and large two-photon initiated excited-state absorption in the near-IR region. They are promising broadband nonlinear absorbing materials from visible to the near-IR region. The extended π-conjugation in complex 2 that has a C≡C ...

BACKGROUND: The Dutch reimbursement procedure for expensive drugs requires the submission of a baseline cost-effectiveness (CE) analysis and a research plan for the period of temporary reimbursement to estimate the real-life cost-effectiveness after 4 years. The Dutch guidelines recommend a value-of-information analysis to identify the critical parameters to be studied ...

Acute cerebellar ataxia is the most common cause of childhood ataxia, usually resulting from infections or vaccinations. Cases of acute cerebellar ataxia have been reported as a consequence of several viral and bacterial infections as well as immunizing agents, such as varicella, influenza, hepatitis B, and diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccines. Although immunization ...

The regional classification method developed to classify 3-D fluoresce spectra, referred to by Li et al. 2012 as the fluorescence regional integration (FRI) method, was criticized in response to the Environmental Science and Technology publication "Identifying Well Contamination through the use of 3-D Fluorescence Spectroscopy to Classify Coalbed Methane Produced ...

Class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is essential for clonal expansion, differentiation and effector function of B and T lymphocytes. The p110δ catalytic isoform of PI3K is highly expressed in lymphocytes and plays a prominent role in B and T cell responses. Another class IA PI3K catalytic isoform, p110α, is a ...

E. coli cells normally require RNase E activity to form colonies (colony forming ability; CFA). The CFA-defective phenotype of cells lacking RNase E is partly reversed by overexpression of the related endoribonuclease RNase G or by mutation of the gene encoding the RNA helicase DeaD. We found that the carbon ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of POSTN expression following prostatectomy. METHODS: Periostin (POSTN) expression in prostate cancer (PCa) and in normal specimens was evaluated in 90 patients by an immuno-reactive score(IRS) based on the intensity of immunostaining and on the quantity ...

In Western countries, the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer is preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision. However, in Japan, the treatment results without preoperative chemoradiotherapy are by no means inferior; therefore, extrapolation of the results of preoperative treatment in Western countries to Japan is controversial. We consider ...

Recently, a novel variant of mecA known as mecC (mecA(LGA251)) was identified in S. aureus isolates from both humans and animals. In this study, we identified a S. xylosus isolate that harbours a new allotype of the mecC gene, mecC1. Whole genome sequencing revealed that mecC1 forms part of a ...

ABSTRACT: The need for a reliable neurological evaluation in severely brain-injured patients conflicts with sedation, which is routinely administered. Helbok and colleagues prospectively evaluated in a small cohort of 20 sedated severely brain-injured patients the effects of a wakeup test on intracranial pressure (ICP), brain tissue oxygen tension and brain ...

To obtain optimal field emission (FE) properties, it is important to evaluate FE parameters including the electron emission site α and the field enhancement factor β. However, it is difficult to evaluate α quantitatively because the emitting electrons cannot be observed directly. The authors have aimed to analyze this site ...

RNA editing by adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADARs) diversifies the transcriptome by changing adenosines to inosines. In mammals, editing levels vary in different tissues, during development, and also in pathogenic conditions. From a screen for repressors of editing we have isolated three proteins that repress ADAR2-mediated RNA editing. ...

Accumulation of misfolded proinsulin in the β-cell leads to dysfunction induced by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, with diabetes as a consequence. Autophagy helps cellular adaptation to stress via clearance of misfolded proteins and damaged organelles. We studied the effects of proinsulin misfolding on autophagy and the impact of stimulating autophagy ...

Reinvestigation of the CHCl(3)-soluble extract from aerial parts of Ipomoea purga was carried out to identify mammalian multidrug-resistance inhibitors. Preparative-scale recycling HPLC was used to purify four new resin glycosides, purgins II (1) and III (2) in addition to purginosides III (3) and IV (4), as well as the known ...

In 2009, Virginia became the first state in the United States to enact a school vaccine mandate for the human papillomavirus (HPV), putting it at the forefront of the national HPV vaccine mandate controversy. It is critical to explore the public response and sensemaking where the mandate has already been ...

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a low protein content biological fluid with dynamic range spanning at least nine orders of magnitude in protein content and is in direct contact with the brain. A modified IgY-14 immunodepletion treatment was performed to enhance analysis of the low volumes of CSF that are obtainable ...

The molecular etiology of human progenitor reprogramming into self-renewing leukemia stem cells (LSC) has remained elusive. Although DNA sequencing has uncovered spliceosome gene mutations that promote alternative splicing and portend leukemic transformation, isoform diversity also may be generated by RNA editing mediated by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes ...

BACKGROUND:: The impact of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza on immunocompromised patients in western countries has been described, but reports from pediatric patients in the Middle East or Arab countries are deficient. In this study, we describe the clinical characteristics of children with hematological malignancies and laboratory-proven H1N1 influenza. PATIENTS AND ...

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNAemia (EBVd) may be a surrogate marker of the net state of immunosuppression after solid organ transplantation (SOT). METHODS: A sample of 81 SOT recipients (53 renal, 21 liver, and 7 cardiac) from our institution (2003-2004) surviving more than 180 days was analyzed. EBVd was monitored ...

Fullerene/sulfur-bridged annulene cocrystals with a two-dimensional segregated alternating layer structure were prepared by a simple solution-process. Continuing π-π interactions exited both in donor and acceptor layers as revealed by single crystal analysis, which serve as transporting paths for holes and electrons separately. The ambipolar transport behaviors were demonstrated with single ...

The ability of (95)Mo solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectroscopy to probe the atomic and electronic structures of inorganic molybdenum cluster materials has been demonstrated for the first time. Six cluster compounds were studied: MoBr(2), Cs(2)Mo(6)Br(14), (Bu(4)N)(2)Mo(6)Br(14), each containing the octahedral Mo(6)Br(14)(2-) cluster unit, and MoS(2)Cl(3), Mo(3)S(7)Cl(4), and MoSCl that ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Current efforts are underway to quantify the chemical concentration in a treated air space to determine the minimum effective concentration that elicits a spatial repellent (deterrent) response in a vector population. Such information will facilitate identifying the optimum active ingredient (AI) dosage and intervention coverage important for the ...

Context:Severe early-onset obesity with major hyperphagia associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is recognized as the main clinical presentation of leptin (LEP) or LEP receptor (LEPR) gene complete deficiency. In a few reported cases, homozygous mutations have been found in patients from consanguineous families. Care of LEPR-deficient patients is complicated because they ...

Variable responses of neuronal networks to repeated sensory or electrical stimuli reflect the interaction of the stimulus' response with ongoing activity in the brain and its modulation by adaptive mechanisms such as cognitive context, network state or cellular excitability and synaptic transmission capability. Here, we focus on reliability, length, delays ...

Adult β-cell dysfunction, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, can be programmed by adverse fetal environment. We have shown that fetal glucocorticoids (GCs) participate in this programming through inhibition of β-cell development. Here we have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation. We showed that GCs stimulate the expression of ...

We have identified Cdc55, a regulatory B subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), as an essential activating factor for stress gene transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The presence of PP2A-Cdc55 is required for full activation of the environmental stress response mediated by the transcription factors Msn2 and Msn4. We show that ...

PURPOSE: To investigate how differences in language ability relate to differences in processing talker information in the native language and an unfamiliar language by comparing performance for different ages and for groups with impaired language. METHOD: Three groups of native-English listeners with typical language development (TLD) (ages 7-9, ages 10-12, ...

Templated synthesis has been considered as an efficient approach to produce polyaniline (PANI) nanostructures. The features of DNA molecules enable DNA template to be an intriguing template for fabrication of emeraldine PANI. In this work, we assembled HRP-mimicking DNAzyme with different artificial DNA nanostructures, aiming to manipulate the molecular structures ...

An 83-year-old woman with Sjögren syndrome underwent insertion of large punctal plugs in the right upper and lower puncti. Nine months later, she presented with upper canaliculitis, although the plugs were not found in the puncti. Dacryoendoscopic examination revealed punctal plug migration, granulation, and a large amount of debris in ...

OBJECTIVEIdentifying individuals most at risk for diabetic retinopathy progression and intervening early can limit vision loss and reduce the costs associated with managing more advanced disease. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with progression from nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).RESEARCH DESIGN AND ...

OBJECTIVETo compare three continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices in subjects with type 1 diabetes under closed-loop blood glucose (BG) control.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSSix subjects with type 1 diabetes (age 52 ± 14 years, diabetes duration 32 ± 14 years) each participated in two 51-h closed-loop BG control experiments in the ...

BACKGROUND: /st>Patients with proximal femoral fracture (PFF) are at high risk of postoperative complications. Goal-directed haemodynamic treatment (GDHT) in other high-risk surgical patients reduces postoperative complications. We aimed to compare effects of GDHT and routine fluid treatment (RFT) on postoperative outcomes after PFF surgery. METHODS: /st>PFF patients (≥70 yr) were ...

OBJECTIVE: The effectiveness of inpatient palliative care units, a complex intervention, is challenging to evaluate due to methodological and practical difficulties. We conducted a study to evaluate providers' perceived effectiveness of one such unit. METHODS: A non-concurrent, prospective, controlled study using the Audit Scale for good death services as an ...

Ceftolozane is a new cephalosporin with potent activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae. The neutropenic murine thigh-infection was used to determine which pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic index and magnitude drives efficacy of ceftolozane with gram-negative bacilli, compare the rate of in-vivo killing of ceftolozane with ceftazidime against P. aeruginosa, and determine the impact ...

A new hydroxythiophenedicarboxylate metal-organic framework based on Mn(II) cations has been obtained by an aqueous two-step procedure including hydrothermal treatment. The structure of Mn(3)(OH)(2)(C(6)H(2)O(4)S)(2) has been determined ab initio from synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data and consists of infinite inorganic ribbons which are interlinked by 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate (tdc) molecules (monoclinic, space ...

Structural variation is an important class of genetic variation in mammals. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies promise to revolutionize copy-number variation (CNV) detection but present substantial analytic challenges. Converging evidence suggests that multiple types of CNV-informative data (e.g. read-depth, read-pair, split-read) need be considered, and that sophisticated methods are needed for ...

Moral distress has been widely reviewed across many care contexts and among a range of disciplines. Interest in this area has produced a plethora of studies, commentary and critique. An overview of the literature around moral distress reveals a commonality about factors contributing to moral distress, the attendant outcomes of ...