Given the uncertainty surrounding solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure and risk of lymphoid neoplasms, we performed an ecological analysis of national Australian data for incident cases diagnosed between 2002-2006. Subtype-specific incidence was examined by latitude band (<29°S, 29-36°S, ≥37°S), a proxy for ambient UVR exposure, using multiple Poisson regression, adjusted ...

Neurology is one of the most underrecognized and underappreciated specialties in Pakistan.(1) The beginnings of clinical and academic neurology in Pakistan can be traced to the 1960s when 3 neurology departments were established in 2 major cities of Pakistan: 2 in Karachi and 1 in Lahore.(2,3) One of the 2 ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Although banana (Musa sp.) is an important edible crop, contributing towards poverty alleviation and food security, limited transcriptome datasets are available for use in accelerated molecular-based breeding in this genus. 454 GS-FLX Titanium technology was employed to determine the sequence of gene transcripts in genotypes of Musa acuminata ...

BACKGROUND: Tracheal intubation may cause vocal fold damage. The trial was designed to assess laryngeal morbidity comparing the Endoflex(®) tube with a conventional endotracheal tube with stylet. We hypothesised that laryngeal morbidity within the first 24 h after extubation would be lower with the Endoflex tube than with the conventional endotracheal ...

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) is a single-organ autoimmune disease characterized by subepithelial deposition of immune complexes containing IgG4 resulting in proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome, and, in some, end-stage renal disease. The pathogenesis involves a chronic IgG4 response against specific podocyte antigens which have now been at least partially defined in the ...

Abstract Nano materials are commonly functionalized to boost their physicochemical properties. However, there is little known about the impact of these modifications on cellular systems. Herein, we synthesized 8 types of polymeric nanoparticles bearing different functional groups, and investigated their effects on interactions with cellular membranes. As models for particle- ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: There are concerns over safety of older drivers due to increased crash involvement and vulnerability to injury. However, loss of driving privileges can dramatically reduce independence and quality of life for older members of the community. The aim of this trial is to examine the effectiveness of a ...

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, Th2-type inflammatory disease. Chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule on Th2 cells (CRTH2) is a prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2) ) receptor, expressed by Th2 cells and other inflammatory cells, including eosinophils and basophils, that mediates chemotaxis and activation. OC000459 is a selective CRTH2 antagonist and would be ...

It is generally assumed that antagonists of G(s)-coupled receptors do not activate cAMP signalling, because they do not stimulate cAMP production via G(s)-protein/adenylyl cyclase activation. Here, we report a new signalling pathway whereby antagonists of β(1)-adrenergic receptors (β(1)ARs) increase cAMP levels locally without stimulating cAMP production directly. Binding of antagonists ...

BACKGROUND: It has not been established whether off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) is less invasive than conventional CABG. In our experience, OPCABG has several advantages such as shorter operative duration, decreased requirement of blood transfusion and myocardial protection compared with conventional CABG. However, frequency of postoperative paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ...

The thermotolerant methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha is able to grow at elevated temperature up to 48 °C as one of a few yeast strains which are naturally capable of alcoholic fermentation of xylose, a pentose sugar abundant in lignocellulosic biomass. However, the current level of ethanol production from xylose by H. ...

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: Systems for image guidance during laparoscopic surgery can be broadly defined as systems that enable the surgeon to refer to preoperatively gathered information during the procedure. For a laparoscopic system the preoperative information can be overlaid onto the laparoscopic ...

Research consistently shows that the learning environment plays an important role for early adolescents' learning and outcomes and suggests that good teacher-student relationships can serve as a protective factor for maintaining young adolescents' interest and active engagement in learning. However, less is known about the dynamic nature of teacher-student relationships ...

Notch signaling plays critical roles in stem cells by regulating cell fate determination and differentiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the participation of Notch signaling in neurogenic commitment of human periodontal ligament-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPDLSCs) and to examine the ability to control differentiation of these cells ...

α2-macroglobulin (α2M) is an acute phase protein released upon challenges like cardiac hypertrophy and infarction. α2M signals via lipoprotein LDL receptor related protein (LRP-1) and may induce stem cell activation. In the present study, the effects of α2M on vasculogenesis/angiogenesis and underlying signalling cascades were investigated in mouse embryonic stem ...

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT: Adolescence is an important period of physiological growth. Loss of central adiposity with preservation of lean mass during weight loss is optimal. There are discrepancies in the literature concerning changes in lean mass during weight loss in adolescents. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This ...

Fibro-osseous lesions of the jaw are poorly understood because of a significant overlap of clinical, radiological and histological features among the various types, though they present distinct patterns of disease progression. An ossifying fibroma is associated with significant cosmetic and functional disturbances, as it shows expansive proliferation. Thus, it is ...

The causative agents in periodontal disease are periopathogenic bacteria; however, viruses have been implicated. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of different HHVs in the saliva of chronic periodontitis patients and to compare it to two groups of healthy controls. Three groups were included: chronic periodontitis ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Anti-NMDA-encephalitis is caused by antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and characterized by a severe encephalopathy with psychosis, epileptic seizures and autonomic disturbances. It predominantly occurs in young women and is associated in 59% with an ovarian teratoma. RESULTS: We describe effects of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from an ...

For several years, clopidogrel plus aspirin has been the dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) of choice for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation. More recently, prasugrel and ticagrelor have demonstrated greater efficacy than clopidogrel. In TRITON-TIMI 38, the risk of TIMI major bleeding ...

We focused our attention on the endotoxin present within and on the surface of white blood cells and attempted to establish a new sample preparation method for endotoxin assays in leukocyte-rich plasma (LRP), taking advantage of the erythrocyte-aggregating property of hydroxyethyl starch. We used an endotoxin-specific turbidimetric kinetic assay, which ...

Protein glycosylation analysis is important for elucidating protein function and molecular mechanisms in various biological processes. We previously developed a glycan analysis method using a 3-aminoquinoline/α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid liquid matrix (3-AQ/CHCA LM) and applied it to the quantitative glycan profiling of glycoproteins. However, information concerning glycosylation sites is lost; glycopeptide analysis ...

OBJECTIVE: To assess preliminarily the effectiveness of a novel opioid antagonist, ALKS-33, in binge eating disorder (BED). METHOD: In this randomized, placebo-controlled, flexible dose, proof-of-concept trial, 62 outpatients with BED and obesity received ALKS-33 (N = 26) or placebo (N = 36) for 6 weeks. Outcome measures of binge eating, ...

A low temperature micro-plasma generated in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was used as a radiation source for the excitation of iodine and its determination by vapor generation-optical emission spectrometry. A piece of ceramic tube served as an excitation chamber to provide a small gas path for introducing a helium ...

ACCESSIBLE SUMMARY: Adopting a model of personally meaningful recovery places demands on the therapeutic relationship, on clinical governance and supervision of clinicians. The recovery journey from childhood sexual abuse (CSA) starts at the point of disclosure. Findings support the use of shame-based and compassion-focused interventions with CSA survivors. ABSTRACT: Research ...

There is unequal access to surgical health care in underdeveloped countries such as Bangladesh. Bangladesh has a large young population, with 70 % of the population living in rural areas. All of the pediatric surgical services of the country are situated in major cities. We therefore organized an outreach service with ...

Investigators have made key advances in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) genetics in the past 10 years. Although genetic studies have had limited influence on clinical practice and drug discovery, they are currently generating testable hypotheses to explain disease pathogenesis. Firstly, we review here the major advances in identifying RA genetic susceptibility ...

In spite of all the efforts to control H5N1 in Egypt, the virus still circulates endemically, causing significant economic losses in the poultry industry and endangering human health. This study aimed to elucidate the role of clinically healthy ducks in perpetuation of H5N1 virus in Egypt in mid-summer, when the ...

The requirement that leukemic GATA1 mutations be present in cells harboring trisomy 21 led to the discovery that overexpression of ERG drives aberrant megakaryopoiesis. Given that constitutive PI3K/AKT signaling is a frequent component of hematologic malignancies and the relationship between AKT and Notch in this lineage, we studied the cross ...

This study compared the effects of a 1 h self-selected recovery period to those of a standard night shift arrangement (with a total break time of 1-h) over a simulated three-day night shift schedule in a laboratory setting. Results showed that the inclusion of the flexible nap scheme resulted in higher ...

A prospective, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial was conducted in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) to check the analgesic efficacy of infrared low-power GaAlAs diode laser applied to acupuncture points. Forty female subjects, ranging in age from 20 to 40 years, with diagnoses of chronic myofascial pain and arthralgia were ...

Colocalisation, the overlap of subcellular structures labelled with different colours, is a key step to characterise cellular phenotypes. We have developed a novel bioimage informatics approach for quantifying colocalisation of round, blob-like structures in two-colour, highly resolved, three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy datasets. First, the algorithm identifies isotropic fluorescent particles, of relative ...

Objective: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) is a potentially effective vehicle for the cell and gene therapy in clinical disease treatment. We studied whether the most commonly used anesthetic drugs have negative effects on rat BMSCs in vitro. Materials and methods: The cultured BMSCs were treated with sevoflurane (in ...

Hemolyitic uremic syndrome (HUS), characterized by triad of acute kidney injury, thrombocytopenia, and hemolytic anemia, has considerable morbidity and mortality and is known to be associated with diarrheal illness. It usually occurs after a diarrheal illness due to Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare but well recognized trigger ...

Objective: To explore the long-term outcome and prognostic factors of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in Chinese adults. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 104 adults with primary FSGS. Clinical records and renal biopsies were reviewed. The primary endpoint was end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and death. Results: The most ...

PURPOSE: To provide a perspective regarding mild ovarian stimulation, taking into account particular issues relevant in the United States METHODS: Literature review and editorial commentary RESULTS: Mild ovarian stimulation for IVF has some proven and some theoretical advantages over conventional stimulation, such as lower risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and ...

We describe a survey of children with ASD aged 4-10 years. The main dependent variables were out-of-pocket expenditures for health services and hours of therapy. Multivariable logistic regression models were used in order to find independent predictors for service utilization. Parents of 178 of the children (87 %) agreed to participate. The ...

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to assess the working definition of a colorectal anastomotic leak among colorectal surgeons and to survey the current approach to investigation and management of a patient with a suspected anastomotic leak. METHODS: Online survey consisting of nine questions regarding the definition, assessment and ...

The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) comprises strains with a virulence potential toward immunocompromised patients as well as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Owing to the link between quorum sensing (QS) and virulence, most studies among Bcc species have been directed toward QS of pathogenic bacteria. We have investigated the QS of ...

BACKGROUND: Whether to preserve or sacrifice critical structures (bone, major vessels and major nerves) adjacent to soft tissue sarcomas is still controversial. Referring to characteristic imaging and intraoperative findings, we perform planned preservation surgery for these critical structures. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome of ...

AIMS: Signet-ring cell (SRC) change has not been reported in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical findings in four cases of ACC with SRCs (ACC-SRC), in which the relative proportion of the SRC component ranged from 25% to 50%. METHODS ...

Non-additive allelic interactions underlie over dominant and under dominant inheritance, which explain positive and negative heterosis. These heteroses are often observed in the aboveground traits, but rarely reported in root. We identified a very short root (VSR) phenotype in the F(1) hybrid between the common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) landrace ...

Groundwater samples were collected from the Integrated Field Research Challenge field site in Rifle, CO over the course of a bicarbonate-induced U desorption-adsorption experiment. Uranium concentrations and high precision U isotopic compositions (238U/235U) of these groundwater samples were determined and used to assess the impact of bicarbonate-induced U(VI) desorption from ...

Distal embolization (DE) is a serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with stable angina. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the coronary plaque characteristics that indicate DE during PCI in patients with stable angina using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS). Three hundred and sixty-four consecutive ...

The rheumatology community has witnessed remarkable advances in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) made possible by the development of highly effective biologic DMARDs. Robust randomized controlled trials of clinical efficacy, equipped with validated outcome measures, ensured these therapies could enter the clinical arena and thus substantially improve patient outcomes. ...

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) poses a great threat to the Chinese swine industry. During 2006-2011, 74.0 % (94/127) of samples from 32 swine-raising farms in 15 provinces were positive for PEDV by reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR). The sequences of nucleocapsid (N) genes of 32 representative field ...

This review was aimed at systematically investigating the evidence suggesting that obese individuals demonstrate impaired performance on behavioural tasks examining executive functioning abilities. A systematic review of literature was carried out by searching five separate databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PubMed) and a hand search of relevant journals. Twenty-one ...

We show that natural abundance oxygen-17 NMR of solids could be obtained in minutes at a moderate magnetic field strength by using dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). Electron spin polarization could be transferred either directly to 17O spins or indirectly via 1H spins in inorganic oxides and hydroxides using an oxygen-free ...

PURPOSE: To comprise current knowledge on morphology, embryology and pathophysiology of synovial plicae as well as on clinical and therapeutic aspects of the plica syndrome. METHODS: Review of the literature combined with a meta-analysis of studies assessing the outcome of open or arthroscopic plica excision including the author's own series. ...

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the fourth leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the USA. AIS most commonly occurs when a blood vessel is obstructed leading to irreversible brain injury and subsequent focal neurologic deficits. Drug treatment of AIS involves intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase ...