The crucial residues of hBaxBH3 peptide for interaction with hBcl-B, an anti-apoptotic protein, were identified using molecular docking studies on the polypeptides and temperature-specific molecular dynamic simulations performed for the protein-peptide complex at near-physiological conditions (pH 7.0, 1 atmospheric pressure and 0.1 M NaCl). The data from the methods were ...

In many environments recruitment of dispersive propagules (e.g. seeds, spores and larvae) can vary from situations when particular taxa recruit in relative isolation to times when they recruit simultaneously with other, functionally quite different taxa. Differences in the identity and density of recruiting taxa can have important consequences on community ...

Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies make it increasingly more efficient to sequence large cohorts for many complex traits. We discuss here a class of sequence-based association tests for family-based designs that corresponds naturally to previously proposed population-based tests, including the classical Burden and variance-component tests. This framework allows for ...

Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) has shown efficacy in preventing acute GVHD (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), but its efficacy in chronic GVHD (cGVHD) and long-term outcomes remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate potential benefit and risk of prophylactic ATG use in myeloablative HCT. We ...

Syndecans are transmembrane heparan sulphate proteoglycans with roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion and migration. They have been associated with multiple functions in tumour progression through their ability to interact with a wide range of ligands as well as other receptors, which makes them key effectors in the pericellular microenvironment. ...

Mass growth of dark fungal biofilms on water taps and associated habitats was observed in various German drinking water distribution systems recently. Customers of affected drinking water systems are anxious about potential and unknown health risks. These environments are known to harbour a fungal flora also comprising a variety of ...

We have studied the interactions of three bile acid-tamoxifen conjugates, lithocholic acid-tamoxifen (LA-Tam(1)-Am), deoxycholic acid-tamoxifen (DCA-Tam(2)-Am), and cholic acid-tamoxifen (CA-Tam(3)-Am), possessing 1-3 tamoxifen molecules having an amine headgroup with model DPPC membranes and compared with N-desmethylated tamoxifen (TamNHMe) using DPH based fluorescence anisotropy, Prodan based hydration, and differential scanning calorimetry ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Both obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) are considered to be related with the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study we evaluate the association between OSAS and presence of subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by tomographic coronary calcium score in patients who had ...

The new thrombin inhibitors have provided an exciting opportunity for effective thromboprophylaxis without some of the disadvantages of the current anticoagulants. These drugs are orally administered, have predictable pharmacokinetics and dose-response, do not require monitoring and have an acceptable safety profile when used appropriately. However, inappropriate prescribing of these drugs ...

AIM: The investigations reported here aimed to evaluate the incremental benefit for dose finding by concentration-response analysis versus dose-response analysis. METHODS: Trials were simulated using an Emax model for a range of scenarios of drug properties, trial design options and target response levels. The simulated data were analysed by concentration-response ...

Background. While lightweight (LW) polypropylene (PP) meshes are been used for hernia repair, new prosthetic meshes also of low-density and with largepores have recently been introduced composed of other polymer materials. This study compares the behavior in the short-term of two macroporous LW prosthetic materials, PP and non-expanded PTFE. Methods. ...

Macular lymphocytic arteritis describes a recently reported entity, clinically characterized by asymptomatic hyperpigmented macules on the lower limbs, without association of systemic diseases. Histopathologically it is characterized by a lymphocytic arteritis with a hyalinized fibrin ring. We report a new case presenting with ulceration, a finding not previously described. A ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: To investigate the associations of aural symptoms, headache and depression with the presence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms in a young adult population in Japan. METHODS: A personal interview survey was conducted on first-year university students (n = 1,930) regarding symptoms of TMD, aural problems, headache, shoulder pain ...

Limiting the location where electron injection occurs at the cathode interface to a narrower region is the key factor for achieving a highly improved RS performance, which can be achieved by including the Ru-NDs. The development of a memory cell structure truly at the nanoscale with such a limiting factor ...

A novel easy-to-use homogeneous method utilizing two-photon excitation (TPX) for quantification of proteins or counting of eukaryotic cells in solution has been developed. This highly-sensitive technique is based on the adsorption competition between the sample and fluorescently labeled protein to micron-sized carboxylate modified polystyrene particles and detection of two-photon excited ...

PURPOSE: Bipolar affective disorder (BAD) and schizophrenia are two severe psychotic conditions that are associated with disability. The present study was designed to compare the pattern of disability between clinically stable individuals with BAD and schizophrenia in a sub-Saharan mental health facility. METHODS: A total of 200 consecutive participants (made ...

Objective: To use the finite element model of a Lenke 5 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patient to simulate four corrections (including anterior and posterior correction); to investigate the corrective effect of different surgical protocols; and to analyze the biomechanical stress and strain of the scoliotic spines. Methods: Four surgical strategies ...

Glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs) have exhibited potential as bone cements. This study investigates the effect of substituting TiO(2) for SiO(2) in the glass phase and the subsequent effect on cement rheology, mechanical properties, ion release and antibacterial properties. Glass characterization revealed a reduction in glass transition temperature (T ( g ...

An increase in fish production has consequently brought an increase in infectious diseases in fish farms. The use of chemotherapic drugs is the most effective instrument against common bacterial agents. The number of registered drugs for use in aquaculture is limited and often veterinary practitioners resort to the off-label use ...

The role played by whole-genome duplication (WGD) in evolution and adaptation is particularly well illustrated in allopolyploids, where WGD is concomitant with interspecific hybridization. This 'Genome Shock', usually accompanied by structural and functional modifications, has been associated with the activation of transposable elements (TEs). However, the impact of allopolyploidy on ...

The sight of a speaker's facial movements during the perception of a spoken message can benefit speech processing through online predictive mechanisms. Recent evidence suggests that these predictive mechanisms can operate across sensory modalities, that is, vision and audition. However, to date, behavioral and electrophysiological demonstrations of cross-modal prediction in ...

GABA(A) receptors are members of the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily that mediate inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system. They are thought to be composed of 2 alpha (α), 2 beta (β) subunits and one other such as a gamma (γ) or delta (δ) subunit. The potency of GABA is influenced ...

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) using fluorescence in situ hybridisation probes was carried out for 59 couples carrying reciprocal translocations. Before treatment, 85% of pregnancies had resulted in spontaneous miscarriage and five couples had achieved a healthy live-birth delivery. Following treatment, 33% of pregnancies failed and 21of 59 couples had a ...

H5N1 influenza virus is one of the viruses that can potentially cause an influenza pandemic. Protection of newborns against influenza virus infection could be effectively provided by maternal immunization. In this study, female mice were immunized with H5N1 HA DNA vaccine or inactivated whole-virion vaccine, and the protection provided by ...

A new family of bis-ureidic receptors () has been synthesised. The binding properties of towards different anions (acetate, benzoate, glutarate, malonate, dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen pyrophosphate, triphosphate, AMP and ADP) have been studied by means of (1)H-NMR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies and a remarkable affinity for HPpi(3-) has been observed in ...

Corticosteroid injection and physiotherapy, common treatments for lateral epicondylalgia, are frequently combined in clinical practice. However, evidence on their combined efficacy is lacking. To investigate the effectiveness of corticosteroid injection, multimodal physiotherapy, or both in patients with unilateral lateral epicondylalgia. A 2 × 2 factorial, randomized, injection-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was ...

Gold nanohexapods represent a novel class of optically tunable nanostructures consisting of an octahedral core and six arms grown on its vertices. By controlling the length of the arms, their localized surface plasmon resonance peaks could be tuned from the visible to the near-infrared region for deep penetration of light ...

Ultrasound treatment was used to extract carotenoids from tomato waste. Gelatin and gum arabic were applied as coating materials for the encapsulation of carotenoids. The first-order reaction was used to determine the degradation of carotenoids in the microcapsules. The result of controlled release studies showed that microcapsules would protect most ...

Onishi et al. recently reported here an association of diabetes mellitus (DM) with neoplasm type in newly identified patients with Werner syndrome (WS), an autosomal recessive cancer predisposition syndrome with features of premature aging that include a high risk of DM (Onishi et al. in Acta Diabetol 49(Suppl 1):259-260, 2012; ...

The effect of the terpenes α-pinene, eucalyptol, and limonene, individually and as mixtures, on atrazine (ATZ) biodegradation and on biological activity in a biobed biomixture was evaluated. Additionally, terpenes emitted from the biomixture were captured using solid-phase microextraction. Terpenes added individually at relatively low concentrations (50 μg kg(-1)) significantly enhanced ATZ degradation ...

The successive events of shedding and regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) are discovered over the course of the last decade as a fundamental biological process of type I and II membrane proteins, e.g. amyloid precursor protein (APP), Notch receptor and pro-tumor necrosis factor-α. Some of the resulting fragments were shown to ...

Negative plant-soil feedbacks play an important role in soil sickness, which is one of the factors limiting the sustainable development of intensive agriculture. Various factors, such as the buildup of pests in the soil, disorder in physico-chemical soil properties, autotoxicity, and other unknown factors may contribute to soil sickness. A ...

Neurotransmitters such as glutamate are potential regulators of neurogenesis. Interference with defined glutamate receptor subtypes affects proliferation, migration and differentiation of neural progenitor cells. The cellular targets for the actions of different glutamate receptor ligands are less well known. In this study we have combined calcium imaging, measurement of membrane ...

PURPOSE: During open-wedge high tibial osteotomy, fracture occurring in the insufficient osteotomy before distraction of the osteotomy gap is an important complication. The objective of this study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) around the proximal tibiofibular joint (PTFJ) and the osteotomy hinge. The hypotheses of this study were ...

Abstract The incidence of HZ in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) receiving bortezomib-based therapy has not been well-studied. We reviewed data from two phase II trials in which bortezomib was administered to 236 patients, median age 65 years, with relapsed/refractory mantle cell or indolent NHL. HZ occurred in 24 patients ...

PURPOSE: We have observed significant rates of uterine artery patency after uterine artery embolization (UAE) with nonspherical polyvinyl alcohol (nsPVA) on 6 month follow-up MR scanning. The study aim was to quantitatively assess uterine artery patency after UAE with nsPVA and to assess the effect of continued uterine artery patency on ...

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine retrospectively the effectiveness of Sugioka's transtrochanteric valgus osteotomy (TVO) combined with the shelf procedure for patients who had advanced osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip with severe acetabular dysplasia. METHODS: Sixty-two hips in 61 patients were reviewed retrospectively between April 1993 and ...

We report the synthesis of compositionally asymmetric, core-Janus shell plasmonic nanostructures comprised of Au and Ag. Kinetic control was employed to achieve asymmetric shell growth on Au nanoparticles acting as cores. Subsequent differential surface functionalization of these nanostructures enabled programmed shell growth resulting in core-Janus shell nanostructures. UV/vis extinction spectra ...

Pathological gambling behaviour is a side effect of dopaminergic drugs used in Parkinson's disease, but has seldom been reported with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. A 58-years-old woman with somatisation disorder since the age of 20 and recent-onset major depression (at 54 years) received 40 mg/day intravenous citalopram, thereafter switching to the same ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Although intima-media thickness (IMT) was increased in several inflammatory diseases, studies investigating whether the inflammatory processes lead to macrovascular alteration with increased IMT in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) lack. METHODS: Using ultrasound (high-resolution B-mode), we compared bilaterally the IMT of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT), the radial ...

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood. No large, multicentre clinical trials in children with persistent allergic rhinitis (PER) have previously been performed. Rupatadine, a newer second-generation antihistamine, effective and safe in adults, is a promising treatment for children with AR. The aim ...

Despite considerable advances, multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable and the development of novel therapies targeting the interplay between plasma cells (PCs) and their bone marrow (BM) microenvironment remains essential. We investigated the effect of various agents in vitro on the proliferation, phenotype, morphology, actin polymerization and migration of MM cells ...

ABSTRACT: Large numbers of patients who survive critical illness are left with significant new cognitive impairments that are often severe and remain years after hospital discharge. In the previous issue of Critical Care, Guerra and colleagues assessed risk factors for the development of dementia after an intensive care unit (ICU) ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Infused particles induce thrombogenesis, impair microcirculation and modulate immune response. We have previously shown in critically ill children, that particle-retentive in-line filtration reduced the overall complication rate of severe events, length of stay and duration of mechanical ventilation. We now evaluated the influence of in-line filtration on different ...

We find that both Brevundimonas diminuta and Serratia marcescens can grow through sterilizing grade filter membranes of different membrane polymer compositions. Although this passage does not occur on a consistent basis, generation of "grow-through positive" results indicate that grow-through can occur stochastically at basal levels. This observation argues that the ...

A novel star-shaped polymer, porphyrin-poly(L-lysine) dendrons (PP-PLLD), is synthesized by the click reaction between azido-modified porphyrin and propargyl focal point poly(L-lysine) dendrons. Its chemical structure is characterized by (1) H nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is analyses etc. Due to its amphiphilic property, ...

A (13)C(α) chemical exchange saturation transfer based experiment is presented for the study of protein systems undergoing slow interconversion between an 'observable' ground state and one or more 'invisible' excited states. Here a labeling strategy whereby [2-(13)C]-glucose is the sole carbon source is exploited, producing proteins with (13)C at the ...

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate the feasibility and clinical efficacy of a strategy of performing simultaneous balloon removal and sleeve gastrectomy in the super-super obese patients. METHODS: Forty consecutive super-super obese patients underwent intra-gastric balloon insertion followed by simultaneous balloon removal and sleeve gastrectomy 6 months ...

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to evaluate the performance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Responder Endpoint for clinical trials in IBS-C, using data from two large Phase 3 clinical trials of linaclotide. The FDA interim endpoint requires that, for 50% of trial weeks, patients report ≥30% decrease in Abdominal ...

There are many challenges to measuring power input and force output from a flapping vertebrate. Animals can vary a multitude of kinematic parameters simultaneously, and methods for measuring power and force are either not possible in a flying vertebrate or are very time and equipment intensive. To circumvent these challenges, ...