The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) plays a critical role in both priming-and cue-induced reinstatement of extinguished drug-seeking behavior, but its role in stress-induced reinstatement is less clear. Our laboratory has recently demonstrated that systemic administration of the DA D1-like receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, attenuates acute food deprivation (FD) stress-induced reinstatement. The ...

Background/Aims: To investigate the meta-analysis of the effect between radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryosurgery ablation (CSA) in treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methodology: Systematic literature search of relevant clinical studies was carried out in Pubmed, Embase, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library Central databases and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. ...

N(α) -Boc-N(im) -(4-toluenesulfonyl-l-histidylbenzotriazole) enables convenient acylation of N-, O-, S-, and C-nucleophiles with no detectable racemization. We report efficient syntheses of novel histidine-containing di-, tri-, and tetra-peptides and models for the preparation of potentially biologically active histidine N-, O-, S-, and C-conjugates. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John ...

Delivery of exogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) increases locomotor activity in rodent models of aging and Parkinson's disease in conjunction with increased dopamine (DA) tissue content in substantia nigra (SN). Striatal GDNF infusion also increases expression of GDNF's cognate receptor, GFRα1, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) ser31 phosphorylation in ...

The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of CA-125 area under the curve (CA-125 AUC) as a prognostic factor following surgical treatment for ovarian cancer patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted on ninety-five patients with ovarian cancer who had primary treatment in a tertiary center between 2000 ...

For the determination of lenalidomide using carbamazepine as an internal standard, an ultra-fast stability indicating LC-MS/MS method was developed, validated and optimized to support clinical advancement. The samples were prepared by solid-phase extraction. The calibration range was 2-1000 ng mL(-1), for which a quadratic regression (1/x(2)) was best fitted. The ...

A high power continuous wave quantum cascade laser operating around 1900 cm(-1) has been used to conduct Lamb dip spectroscopy on a low pressure sample of NO. The widths of the Lamb dips indicate that the laser linewidth is 800 ± 60 kHz and the power sufficient to induce significant ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Many reports point to the beneficial effect of male partner involvement in programs for the prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in curbing pediatric HIV infections. This paper summarizes the barriers and facilitators of male involvement in prevention programs of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, ...

PURPOSE: This retrospective study compared the influence of perceived sports involvement on lower extremity neuromuscular adaptations during single-leg countermovement jumping (CMJ), perceived knee function and internal health locus of control (HLOC) scores at a minimum 2-year post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The hypothesis was that subjects with higher-level sports involvement would ...

SCOPE: Shogaols, a series of major constituents in dried ginger with the most abundant being [6]-, [8]-, and [10]-shogaols, show much higher anticancer potencies than gingerols. Previously, we reported the mercapturic acid pathway as a major metabolic route for [6]-shogaol in mice. However, it is still unclear how the side ...

We have investigated the influence of concentration of surfactants typically used as flotation frothers (α-terpineol and n-octanol) and roughness of the solid surface on phenomena occurring during rising bubble collisions with a model hydrophobic Teflon surface. The time of three-phase contact (TPC) formation (t(TPC)) and the time of drainage (t(D)) ...

Many studies have shown that students learn better when they are given repeated exposures to different concepts in a way that is shuffled or interleaved, rather than blocked (e.g., Rohrer Educational Psychology Review, 24, 355-367, 2012). The present study explored the effects of interleaving versus blocking on learning French pronunciations. ...

Background/Aims: There is increasing evidence that the PI3K/Akt signal pathway plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Akt protein modulates the function of numerous substrates related to the regulation of cell proliferation, such as cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors, including p27 and Cks1. The aim of this study was ...

Each phase of eukaryotic cell cycle is tightly controlled by multi-component regulatory networks based on complex relationships of protein phosphorylation. In order to better understand the relationships between kinases and their substrate proteins during the progress of cell cycle, we analyzed phosphoproteome of HeLa cells during G1, S and G2/M ...

Tissues within the central nervous system (CNS) have generally been regarded as immunologically privileged. However, in recent decades, it has been shown that immune reactions in the CNS continuously occur via various types of inflammation following autoimmune diseases and mechanical insults such as spinal cord injury (SCI). Among the various ...

The aim of this was to determine whether the change of size observed at the first response evaluation after initiation of first-line combination chemotherapy correlates with overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The change in size of tumors derived from measurements according to Response Evaluation Criteria ...

5,6,7,8-Tetrahydroquinolines and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyridines with appended trifluoromethyl groups are valuable chemotypes in medicinal chemistry due to the presence of a partially-saturated bicyclic ring and metabolically-stable CF(3) group. (1)H NMR studies were used to optimize the preparation of such compounds, using a three-step/one-pot procedure, to provide novel 2,6-disubstitued derivatives with a tertiary-substituent. ...

Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with rhodamine 6G Schiff base, which exhibit high selectivity and sensitivity toward Al(3+) over other common metal ions in aqueous media under a physiological pH window via a 1 : 1 binding mode, have been synthesized and characterized. The resulting conjugate renders the rhodamine 6G Schiff base unit ...

A quantitative descriptive analysis was developed to characterize the sensory quality of a set of 12 organic and conventional tomato juices sold in Spanish and Italian markets. The volatile compounds of tomato juices were also studied. Twelve sensory descriptors, selected by a trained panel, evaluated the sensory profile of the ...

This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a single vendor commercially available CT perfusion (CTP) software in predicting stroke. A retrospective analysis on patients presenting with stroke-like symptoms within 6 h with CTP and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed. Lesion maps, which overlays areas of computer-detected abnormally elevated mean ...

Background/Aims: This study aimed to identify the preoperative predictors of microvascular invasion (MVI) in solitary small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and evaluate their application in surgical treatment. Methodology: We retrospectively analyzed 161 patients with solitary small HCC who underwent curative hepatic resection. Overall and disease-free survival rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier ...

In this work, a very simple, label-free, isothermal and ultrasensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor has been developed based on an autocatalytic and exonuclease III (Exo III)-assisted target recycling amplification strategy. A duplex DNA probe constructed by the hybridization of a quadruplex-forming oligomer with a molecular beacon is ingeniously designed and assembled ...

The treatment of proximal humerus fractures continues to evolve. While the many of these injuries can be managed nonoperatively, a certain percentage require operative treatment. Open reduction internal fixation can offer excellent outcomes when performed in the appropriate patient and utilizing proper techniques. This article reviews the most up-to-date literature ...

The carrier dynamics in optically excited graphene is determined by an interplay between the Coulomb- and phonon-induced scattering processes. The pump fluence of the excitation pulse plays a crucial role: for high fluences the ultrafast relaxation dynamics is determined by carrier-carrier scattering, whereas for low fluences the carrier-phonon relaxation channels are ...

Patient can obtain sorts of health-care delivery services via Telecare Medical Information Systems (TMIS). Authentication, security, patient's privacy protection and data confidentiality are important for patient or doctor accessing to Electronic Medical Records (EMR). In 2012, Chen et al. showed that Khan et al.'s dynamic ID-based authentication scheme has some ...

The antioxidant capability of coffee polyphenols to inhibit red-meat lipid peroxidation in stomach medium and absorption into blood of malondialdehyde (MDA) in humans was studied. Roasted-ground coffee polyphenols that were found to inhibit lipid peroxidation in stomach medium are 2- to 5-fold more efficient antioxidant than those found in instant ...

We use the Cellular Potts Model (CPM) to study the contact angle (CA) hysteresis in multiphase (solid-liquid-vapour) systems. We simulate a droplet over the tilted patterned surface, and a bubble placed under the surface immersed in liquid. The difference between bubbles and droplets was discussed through their CA hysteresis. Dependency ...

In microwave chemistry there is a common misconception that small, highly conducting particles heat profusely when placed in a large microwave electric field. However, this is not the case; with the simple physical explanation that the electric field (which drives the heating) within a highly conducting particle is highly screened. ...

Molecular depth profiling is needed to develop high-tech materials optimised to the μm or even up to the nm scale. Recent progress in time-of-flight static secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-S-SIMS) offers perspectives to molecular depth profiling. However, at this moment, the methodology is not yet capable to deal with a ...

An association between glaucoma development or progression and compromised ocular blood flow has been postulated as a result of population-based studies and prospective cohort studies. Blood flow in the optic nerve head (ONH) is of primary importance in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. The potential to modify the blood flow in ...

The aim of this study was to compare the hearing results and graft integration rates in patients undergoing myringoplasty for the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane, with the use of either cartilage or temporalis muscle fascia (TMF). A systematic literature review in Medline and other database sources up to February ...

This report presents the results from a historical case series of cytotoxic drug extravasations managed by saline washout; its purpose is to assess the efficacy of the procedure based on patient outcome. Eighty-nine patients were identified as having experienced a vesicant or exfoliant extravasation from incident reports filed over a ...

Gene flow (defined as allele exchange between populations) and gene flux (defined as allele exchange during meiosis in heterokaryotypic females) are important factors decreasing genetic differentiation between populations and inversions. Many chromosomal inversions are under strong selection and their role in recombination reduction enhances the maintenance of their genetic distinctness. ...

Impaired energy metabolism in neurons is integral to a range of neurodegenerative diseases, from Alzheimer's disease to stroke. To investigate the complex molecular changes underpinning cellular adaptation to metabolic stress, we have defined the proteomic response of the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line after exposure to a metabolic challenge of ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Oseltamivir is the most widely prescribed anti-influenza medication. However, in rare instances, it has been reported to stimulate behavioural activities in adolescents. The goal of this study was to determine the molecular mechanism responsible for these behavioural activities. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We performed an in vitro assay of ...

AIMS: Recessive PDX1 (IPF1) mutations are a rare cause of pancreatic agenesis, with three cases reported worldwide. A recent report described two cousins with a homozygous hypomorphic PDX1 mutation causing permanent neonatal diabetes with subclinical exocrine insufficiency. The aim of our study was to investigate the possibility of hypomorphic PDX1 ...

HIV infection results in gastrointestinal (GI) tract damage, microbial translocation, and immune activation, which are not completely ameliorated with suppression of viremia by antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. Furthermore, increased morbidity and mortality of ARV-treated HIV-infected individuals is associated with these dysfunctions. Thus, to enhance GI tract physiology, we treated SIV-infected pigtail ...

Cathepsin K (CTSK) is secreted by osteoclasts to degrade collagen and other matrix proteins during bone resorption. Global deletion of Ctsk in mice decreases bone resorption, leading to osteopetrosis, but also increases the bone formation rate (BFR). To understand how Ctsk deletion increases the BFR, we generated osteoclast- and osteoblast-targeted ...

Tumor metastasis involves a series of biological steps during which the tumor cells acquire the ability to invade surrounding tissues and survive outside the original tumor site. During the early stages, the cancer cells undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Wnt/β-catenin signaling is known to drive EMT and metastasis. Here we ...

Osteoclasts are bone resorbing, multinucleate cells that differentiate from mononuclear macrophage/monocyte-lineage hematopoietic precursor cells. Although previous studies have revealed important molecular signals, how the bone resorptive functions of such cells are controlled in vivo remains less well characterized. Here, we visualized fluorescently labeled mature osteoclasts in intact mouse bone tissues ...

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) has been implicated in multiple aspects of human cancer. However, its role in bladder carcinogenesis and metastasis are unclear,with some studies suggesting it may be a promoter and others arguing the opposite. Using a chemical carcinogenesis model in Sparc-deficient mice and their ...

Gastrointestinal cancers are frequently associated with chronic inflammation and excessive secretion of IL-6 family cytokines, which promote tumorigenesis through persistent activation of the GP130/JAK/STAT3 pathway. Although tumor progression can be prevented by genetic ablation of Stat3 in mice, this transcription factor remains a challenging therapeutic target with a paucity of ...

Epigenetic mechanisms mediate heritable control of cell identity in normal cells and cancer. We sought to identify epigenetic regulators driving the pathogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the most lethal human cancers. We found that KDM2B (also known as Ndy1, FBXL10, and JHDM1B), an H3K36 histone demethylase implicated ...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be dysregulated in virus-related cancers; however, miRNA regulation of virus-related cancer development and progression remains poorly understood. Here, we report that miR-148a is repressed by hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) to promote cancer growth and metastasis in a mouse model of hepatocellular ...

Highly accurate, in-line and real-time composition measurements of gases are mandatory in many processing applications. The quantitative analysis of mixtures of hydrogen isotopologues ($\rm{H_2}$, $\rm{D_2}$, $\rm{T_2}$, $\rm{HD}$, $\rm{HT}$ and $\rm{DT}$) is of high importance in such fields as DT fusion, neutrino mass measurements using tritium $\beta$-decay or photonuclear experiments where ...

Retinoids and their naturally metabolized and synthetic products (e.g. all-trans retinoic acid, 13-cis retinoic acid, bexarotene) induce differentiation in various cell types. Retinoids exert their actions mainly through binding to the nuclear retinoic acid receptors (α, β, γ), which are transcriptional and homeostatic regulators whose functions are often compromised early ...

Inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (pRB) alters the expression of a myriad of genes. To understand the altered cellular environment that these changes create, we took advantage of the Drosophila model system and used targeted liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to profile the metabolic changes that occur when ...

Background and study aims: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) bowel preparations are regarded as effective and safe for colonoscopy; however, recent reports have indicated a risk of acute renal failure (ARF). This population-based case-crossover study evaluated the association between PEG and ARF in screening colonoscopy patients aged ≥ 50 years.Patients and methods: Korean ...

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to examine the potential contributions of sociocultural activities to reduce risks of death by homicide. METHODS: This study was designed as a case control study. Relatives of 90 adult homicide victims in Dar es Salaam Region, Tanzania, in 2005 were interviewed. As controls, 211 participants ...

Until recently, the freeze-drying process and formulation development have suffered from a lack of micro-scale analytical tools. Using such an analytical should decrease the required sample volume and also shorten the duration of the experiment compared to a laboratory scale setup. This study evaluated the applicability of Raman spectroscopy for ...