D-cycloserine (DCS) is an antibiotic currently used in the second-line treatment of tuberculosis. DCS is a structural analogue of D-alanine and targets two enzymes involved in the cytosolic stages of peptidoglycan synthesis, alanine racemase (Alr) and D-alanine:D-alanine ligase (Ddl). The mechanisms of inhibition of DCS have been well assessed with ...

A best evidence topic was constructed according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy should be performed during lung metastasectomy of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Of the 13 papers found through a report search, seven represent the best evidence to answer this clinical question. The ...

Hemichorea, due to contralateral basal ganglia dysfunction, is well described in patients with hyperglycaemia but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. We present clinical and radiological data that support ipsilateral vascular compromise to the basal ganglia in such cases. We suggest vascular evaluation in patients with unilateral neurological phenomena secondary ...

The causal and noncausal associations that account for linkages between depressive symptoms and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome are complex and not completely understood. Depression is a common mental health condition that affects approximately 20%-30% of persons receiving HIV medical care. Those suffering from depressive symptoms may be ...

The aim of this study was to improve osteoblast function by delivering two growth factors, PDGF-BB and BMP-2, incorporated onto heparinized titanium (Hep-Ti) substrate. To achieve co-delivery of PDGF-BB and BMP-2, the surface of anodized Ti was immobilized with heparin, and then the two growth factors were coated onto the ...

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a localized proliferation of Langerhans cells in the lung presenting without systemic manifestations, as bilateral nodular lung disease in adult cigarette smokers. The molecular basis for this proliferation is unknown. METHODS: Concurrent nodules in five patients (22 total) were microdissected from formalin fixed ...

We investigate the structure and adsorption of amphiphilic molecules at planar walls modified by tethered chain molecules using density functional theory. The molecules are modeled as spheres composed of a hydrophilic and hydrophobic part. The pinned chains are treated as tangentially jointed spheres that can interact with fluid molecules via ...

AbstractBackground. The Cancer-Specific Geriatric Assessment (CSGA) is a primarily self-administered paper survey of validated measures.Methods. We developed and tested the feasibility of a computer-based CSGA in patients ≥70 years of age who were receiving treatment for gastrointestinal malignancies at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. From December 2009 to June 2011, patients ...

The formation of the atherosclerotic lesion is a complex process influenced by an array of inflammatory and lipid metabolic pathways. We previously demonstrated that NR4A nuclear receptors are highly induced in macrophages in response to inflammatory stimuli and modulate the expression of genes linked to inflammation in vitro. Here we ...

OBJECTIVE: The present study describes the consumption patterns of sweetened food and drink products in a Catholic Middle Eastern Canadian community and examines its associations with physical activity, sedentary behaviours and BMI. DESIGN: A two-stage cross-sectional design was used. In Stage 1 (n 42), 24 h recalls enabled the identification ...

Hybrid PET/MR combines the exceptional molecular sensitivity of PET with the high resolution and versatility of MR imaging. Simultaneous data acquisition additionally promises the use of MR to enhance the quality of PET images, for example, by respiratory motion correction. This advantage is especially relevant in thoracic and abdominal areas ...

OBJECTIVE: Acquired heart diseases, such as valve disease, are major causes of human morbidity and mortality. However, the pathological mechanisms underlying these diseases are largely unknown. Our aim is to identify the role of the hairy and enhancer of split-related (Hesr)-2 gene in the adult heart. METHODS AND RESULTS: Echocardiography ...

Abstract This study explored Facebook addiction among Turkish college students and its behavioral, demographic, and psychological health predictors. The Facebook Addiction Scale (FAS) was developed and its construct validity was assessed through factor analyses. A total of 447 students reported their personal information and Facebook usage and completed the FAS ...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic bacterial pathogen. Despite its metabolic and virulence versatility, it has not been shown to infect articular joints, which are environments that are rarely infected with bacteria in general. We hypothesized that articular joints possess antimicrobial activity that limits bacterial survival in these environments. We ...

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and CYP3A/Cyp3a in the intestine can attenuate absorption of orally administered drugs. While some suggest that P-gp enhances intestinal metabolism by CYP3A/Cyp3a during absorption of a dual substrate, others suggest that P-gp reduces the metabolism in the intestine when substrates are at sub-saturating concentrations. Hence, to elucidate the ...

Ribosomally synthesized posttranslationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a rapidly growing class of natural products with diverse structures and activities. In recent years, a great deal of progress has been made in elucidating the biosynthesis of various RiPP family members. As with the study of nonribosomal peptide and polyketide biosynthetic enzymes, ...

Introduction: The aims of this paper were to examine how disabled workers assess encounters with return-to-work (RTW) stakeholders during sickness absence due to common mental disorders (CMD) and to investigate gender differences in these assessments. Method: Data on contact with and assessment of encounters with RTW-stakeholders were obtained from a ...

A new series of complexes containing two electron donating groups, {M(CO)(3)}(+) ions, M = Re or Mn, on one polytungstate electron acceptor group have been prepared and characterized. These complexes containing two electron donating groups, {M(CO)(3)}(+) ions, M = Re or Mn, on one polytungstate electron acceptor group have been ...

Piperazine (PZ) is widely recognised as a promising solvent for post combustion capture (PCC) of carbon dioxide (CO2). In view of the highly conflicting data describing the kinetic reactions of CO2(aq) in piperazine solutions, the present study focuses on the identification of the chemical mechanism, specifically the kinetic pathways for ...

Disorders of the brain and its sensory organs have traditionally been associated with deficits in movement, perception, cognition, emotion, and behavior. It is increasingly evident, however, that positive phenomena may also occur in such conditions, with implications for the individual, science, medicine, and for society. This article provides a selective ...

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of early intensive insulin therapy on body fat distribution, lean body mass and β-cell function in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Methods. Thirty-eight subjects with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes participated in a 12-week course of intensive ...

INTRODUCTION: Large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) are medium- to large-sized lymphocytes with azurophilic cytoplasmic granules. Reactive vs. neoplastic LGLs are usually morphologically indistinguishable. METHODS: We investigated 25 consecutive cases of LGL lymphoproliferation using flow cytometric T cell receptor Vβ (FC-Vβ) repertoire and T cell receptor gene rearrangement (TCR-GR) in detecting clonality. ...

Tissue engineering is aimed at the fabrication of autologous cardiovascular implants, for example, heart valves or vascular grafts. To date, the mechanical characterization of tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) has focused mainly on the material's strength and not on the deformation behavior. A total of 31 samples obtained from 3 mature ...

Although attempts have been made to unveil protein-protein and host-pathogen interactions based on molecular insights of important biological events and pathogenesis in various organisms, these efforts have not yet been reported in Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Cp), the causative agent of Caseous Lymphadenitis (CLA). In this study, we used computational approaches to ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Dementia patients are often cared for in institutional arrangements, which are associated with substantial spending on professional long-term care services. Nevertheless, there is little evidence on the exact cost differences between community-based and institutional dementia care, especially when it comes to the distinct health care services. Adopting the ...

OBJECTIVE: High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a DNA-binding cytokine expressed mainly by macrophages, contributes to lesion progression and chronic inflammation within atherosclerotic plaque. It has been suggested that different cytokines could regulate HMGB1 expression in monocytes. We have analyzed the effect of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) ...

To determine the efficacy of long-term anti-miR-33 therapy on the progression of atherosclerosis in high-fat, high-cholesterol-fed Ldlr(-/-) mice. Ldlr(-/-) mice received saline, or control or anti-miR-33 oligonucleotides once a week for 14 weeks. The treatment was effective, as measured by reduced levels of hepatic miR-33 and increased hepatic expression of ...

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Sputum samples from patients with non-multidrug-resistant (non-MDR) pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) may remain smear-positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) on the 5th month of anti-TB treatment. However, its significance remains unknown. METHODS: From January 2004 to April 2009, there were 5403 patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB from in four hospitals ...

In this paper, a facile strategy to develop graphene-based delivery nanosystems for effective drug loading and sustained drug release was proposed and validated. Specifically, biocompatible naphthalene-terminated PEG (NP) and anticancer drugs (curcumin or doxorubicin (DOX)) were simultaneously integrated onto oxidized graphene (GO) , leading to self-assembled, nano-sized complexes. It was ...

The application of the local basis equation (Ferenczy and Adams, J. Chem. Phys. 2009, 130, 134108) in mixed quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) and quantum mechanics/quantum mechanics (QM/QM) methods is investigated. This equation is suitable to derive local basis nonorthogonal orbitals that minimize the energy of the system and it exhibits ...

Reports of nuisance jellyfish blooms have increased worldwide during the last half-century, but the possible causes remain unclear. A persistent difficulty lies in identifying whether blooms occur owing to local or regional processes. This issue can be resolved, in part, by establishing the geographical scales of connectivity among locations, which ...

Poring over polymers: Highly porous polymers with hierarchical macro- and mesoporous structures were synthesized by using the title method and UV radiation. The porosity properties of the polymers can be easily tuned by controlling the CO(2) pressure used, and the polymers have potential applications in catalysis. IL=ionic liquid, PAM=polyacrylamide.

Carbon tips for in situ scanning tunneling microscopy studies in an electrochemical environment were prepared by electrochemical etching of carbon fibers and subsequent coating with electrodeposition paint and a silicone elastomer. The tips obtained were stable in acidic electrolyte and allowed high-resolution in situ imaging of the bare Au(111) electrode ...

A cross-sectional analysis of ethnic differences in dietary intake, insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function, using the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), was conducted on 497 healthy adult participants of the 'Reading, Imperial, Surrey, Cambridge, and Kings' (RISCK) study. Insulin sensitivity (Si) was significantly lower in African-Caribbean (AC) and South Asian ...

Background: More effective psychological treatments for psychosis are required. Case series data and pilot trials suggest metacognitive therapy (MCT) is a promising treatment for anxiety and depression. Other research has found negative metacognitive beliefs and thought-control strategies may be involved in the development and maintenance of hallucinations and delusions. The ...

Sleep duration is dependent on circadian rhythm that controls a variety of key cellular functions. Circadian disruption has been implicated in colorectal tumorigenesis in experimental studies. We prospectively examined the association between sleep duration and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). In the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, 75 828 postmenopausal ...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESES: Nasal bone length is commonly referenced in the rhinoplasty literature. It has been suggested that short nasal bone length may predispose one to a greater risk of middle vault collapse after rhinoplasty. However, there are limited data available on what constitutes the normal dimensions of these pertinent structures of ...

Employing the concept of effective Hamiltonians, an analytical theory is introduced to describe transitions in a multi-level system in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Specifically, the discussion is centered towards the treatment of selective and non-selective excitations in static quadrupolar spin (I > 1/2) systems. To this end, effective radiofrequency ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in premature infants and the ensuing posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus cause significant mortality and neurological disabilities, and there are currently no effective therapies. This study determined whether intraventricular transplantation of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells prevents posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus development and attenuates brain damage ...

Dihydroazulenes are photochromic molecules that reversibly switch between two distinct geometric and conductivity states. Molecular design, surface attachment, and precise control over the assembly of such molecular machines are critical in order to understand molecular function and motion at the nanoscale. Here, we use surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy on special atomically ...

Background. The identification of multiple viruses during respiratory illness is increasing with advances in rapid molecular testing, however the epidemiology of respiratory viral coinfections is not well known.Methods. 225 childcare attendees were prospectively followed for up to 2 years. Nasal swabs were collected at respiratory illness onset and every 7-10 days until ...

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported signs and symptoms are often the first indication of clinically relevant lymphedema. OBJECTIVE: Develop and assess the diagnostic accuracy of a screening questionnaire to detect lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) among normal weight and obese women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey study. METHODS: We reviewed existing questionnaires assessing upper extremity lymphedema ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Whole pelvis intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is increasingly being used to treat cervical cancer aiming to reduce side effects. Encouraged by this, some groups have proposed the use of simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) to target the tumor, either to get a higher tumoricidal effect or to replace brachytherapy. ...

Dengue fever is re-emerging as a major scourge in south-east Asian countries affecting about 50-100 million people and causing about 25,000 mortality annually. India as a whole is under the risk of infection of this disease. We genetically characterized viruses causing Dengue infections in Kerala, one of the worst affected ...

An easy-to-prepare series of electroactive PAMAM-based dendrimers of generations G0 to G2 having mannopyranosylferrocenyl moieties in the periphery to detect carbohydrate-protein interactions is reported. The synthesis involved the functionalization of the PAMAM surface with azidomethylferrocenyl groups and subsequent coupling of mannoside units by Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen reaction. The binding affinity of ...

Aims: To describe the distribution of subjective health complaints (SHCs) in a Danish working population and the associations between SHC and register based sickness absence. Methods: The study entailed 2876 men and 3574 women aged 18-59 years that constituted the 2005 panel in the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study (DWECS). ...

Clinical guidelines recommend that, where clinically appropriate, laparoscopic tumour resections should be available for patients with colorectal cancer. This study aimed to examine the introduction of laparoscopic surgery in the English National Health Service. Data were extracted from the National Cancer Data Repository on all patients who underwent major resection ...

Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) have become powerful tools for targeted genome editing. Here we demonstrated efficient targeted mutagenesis in medaka (Oryzias latipes), which serves an excellent vertebrate model for genetics and genomics. We designed and constructed a pair of TALENs targeting the medaka DJ-1 gene, a homologue of human ...

ABSTRACT The disinfection by-products, 3-chloro-4-dichloromethyl-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) and microcystins-LR (MC-LR), common contaminants in drinking water, often occur together in water sources in areas with high gastrointestinal tract cancer risks. While often studied alone, combination effects of these compounds are unknown. Here, we examine combined genotoxic responses to mixtures of MX and ...

Abstract Background: Open-vent jet nebulizers are frequently used to promote drug deposition in the lung, but their clinical efficacy and indications are not clear. Our study compared lung deposition of amikacin using two different configurations of a jet nebulizer (Sidestream(®)): one vented (N(1)) and one unvented with a corrugated piece ...