Datasets:

khairi

/

pubmed-text-02

like 0

22099146

Three-dimensional assessment of zygomatic malunion using computed tomography in patients with cheek ptosis caused by reduction malarplasty.

Reduction malarplasty is one of the most popular aesthetic surgical procedures for reshaping facial contour in oriental people. Especially for those who have a wide midface and a prominent zygoma. Although malunion and cheek ptosis are known as plications in reduction malarplasty, but there have been few reports about their causes and patterns. The authors experienced many revision reduction malarplasty using the coronal approach to correct cheek ptosis with malunion and were able to categorize the types of malunion by analyzing 3-dimensional CT imaging prior to revision surgery.

22099147

Novel ex-vivo mechanobiological intervertebral disc culture system.

Intervertebral disc degeneration, a leading cause of low back pain, poses a significant socioeconomic burden with a broad array of costly treatment options. Mechanical loading is important in disease progression and treatment. Connecting mechanics and biology is critical for determining how loading parameters affect cellular response and matrix homeostasis. A novel ex-vivo experimental platform was developed to facilitate in-situ loading of rabbit functional spinal units (FSUs) with relevant biological e measures. The system was designed for motion outside of an incubator and validated for rigid fixation and physiologic environmental conditions. Specimen motion relative to novel fixtures was assessed using a digitizer; fixture stiffness exceeded specimen stiffness by an order of magnitude. Intradiscal pressure (IDP), measured using a fiber-optic pressure transducer, confirmed rigidity pressive force selection. Surrounding media was controlled at 37 °C, 5% O(2)/CO(2) using a closed flow loop with an hypoxic incubator and was validated with probes in the specimen chamber. FSUs were subjected to pression (20 cycles) and four-hour creep at 1.0 MPa. Disc tissue was analyzed for cell viability using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), which showed high viability (>90%) regardless of loading. Conditioned media was assayed for type-II collagen degradation fragments (CTX-II) and an aggrecan epitope (CS-846) associated with new aggrecan synthesis. CTX-II concentrations were not associated with loading, but CS-846 concentrations appeared to be increased with loading. Preservation of the full FSU allows physiologic load transmission and future multi-axis motion and identification of load-responsive proteins, thereby forming a new niche in intervertebral disc organ culture.

22099148

Mechanical work performed by the individual legs during uphill and downhill walking.

Previous studies of the mechanical work performed during uphill and downhill walking have neglected the simultaneous negative and positive work performed by the leading and trailing legs during double support. Our goal was to quantify the mechanical work performed by the individual legs across a range of uphill and downhill grades. We hypothesized that during double support, (1) with steeper uphill grade, the negative work performed by the leading leg would e negligible and the trailing leg would perform progressively greater positive work to raise the center of mass (CoM), and (2) with steeper downhill grade, the leading leg would perform progressively greater negative work to lower the CoM and the positive work performed by the trailing leg would e negligible. 11 healthy young adults (6 M/5 F, 71.0±12.3 kg) walked at 1.25 m/s on a dual-belt force-measuring treadmill at seven grades (0, ±3, ±6, ±9°). We collected three-dimensional ground reaction forces (GRFs) and used the individual limbs method to calculate the mechanical work performed by each leg. As hypothesized, the trailing leg performed progressively greater positive work with steeper uphill grade, and the leading leg performed progressively greater negative work with steeper downhill grade (p<0.005). To our surprise, unlike level-ground walking, during double support the leading leg performed considerable positive work when walking uphill and the trailing leg performed considerable negative work when walking downhill (p<0.005). To understand how humans walk uphill and downhill, it is important to consider these revealing biomechanical aspects of individual leg function and interaction during double support.

22099149

A physician reminder to improve postpartum diabetes screening in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Women with gestational diabetes (GDM) have a 20% risk of developing diabetes in the 10 years following pregnancy, but the risk may be as high as 70% in higher risk populations. Guidelines mend screening for diabetes postpartum, but screening rates are low. We evaluated the effect of a physician reminder on postpartum screening and in women with GDM.

22099150

Hemisphere-dependent holistic processing of familiar faces.

In two behavioral experiments involving lateralized stimulus presentation, we tested whether one of the monly used measures of holistic face posite face effect-would be more pronounced for stimuli presented to the right pared to the left hemisphere. In experiment 1, we investigated posite face effect in a verbal identification task, similar to its original report (Young, Hellawell, & Hay, 1987). Aligning top and bottom halves posite face stimuli led to performance decreases irrespective of hemifield, indicating holistic processing parable magnitude for inputs provided separately to either hemisphere. However, when matching of the same top parts was required in experiment 2, an alignment-dependent performance decrease was found for stimuli presented in the left, but not right visual field. These observations suggest that the right hemisphere dominates in early stages of holistic processing, as indexed by posite face effect, but that later processes such as face identification and naming are based on unified representations that are independent of input lateralization. Moreover, posite face effect may not rely on the exact same representation(s) when measured in matching and identification tasks.

22099151

Investigation of stimulus-response compatibility using a startling acoustic stimulus.

We investigated the processes underlying patibility by using a lateralized auditory stimulus in a simple and choice reaction time (RT) paradigm. Participants were asked to make either a left or right key lift in response to either a control (80dB) or startling (124dB) stimulus presented to either the left ear, right ear, or both ears. In the simple RT paradigm, we did not find patibility effect for either control or startle trials but did find a right-ear advantage which we attribute to anatomical asymmetry of auditory pathways. In the choice RT paradigm, we patibility effects for both startle and control trials as well a high incidence of error for contralateral stimulus-response mapping. We attribute these results to automatic activation of the ipsilateral response, which must then be inhibited prior to initiation of the correct response. The presence patibility effects for startle trials also suggest that similar pathways are being used to initiate movements in a choice RT situation, as opposed to involuntary triggering that is thought to occur in a simple RT situation.

22099154

A QM/MM study of the complexes formed by aluminum and iron with serum transferrin at neutral and acidic pH.

Serum transferrin (sTf) transports iron in serum and internalizes in cells via receptor mediated endocytosis. Additionally, sTf has been identified as the predominant aluminum carrier in serum. Some questions remain unclear about the exact mechanism for the metal release or whether the aluminum and iron show the same binding mode during the entire process. In the present work, simulation techniques at quantum and atomic levels have been employed in order to gain access into a molecular level understanding of the metal-bound plex, and to describe the binding of Al(III) and Fe(III) ions to sTf. First, hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out in order to analyze the dynamics of the plex, taking into account the different pH conditions in blood and into the cell. Moreover, plexes formed by transferrin with Al(III) and Fe(III) were optimized with high level density functional theory (DFT)/MM methods. All these results indicate that the interaction mode of Al(III) and Fe(III) with sTf change upon different pH conditions, and that the coordination of Al(III) and Fe(III) is not equivalent during the metal intake, transport and release processes. Our results emphasize the importance of the pH on the metal binding and release mechanism and suggest that Al(III) can follow the iron pathway to get access into cells, although once there, it may show a different binding mode, leading to a different mechanism for its release.

22099153

Up-regulation of NF-kB-sensitive miRNA-125b and miRNA-146a in metal sulfate-stressed human astroglial (HAG) primary cell cultures.

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) constitute a unique class of small, non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The presence of two inducible miRNAs, miRNA-125b and miRNA-146a, involved in respectively, astroglial cell proliferation and in the innate immune and inflammatory response, is significantly up-regulated in human neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study we analyzed abundances miRNA-125b and miRNA-146a in magnesium-, iron-, gallium, and aluminum-sulfate-stressed human-astroglial (HAG) cells, a structural and immune-responsive brain cell type. bination of iron- plus aluminum-sulfate was found to be significantly synergistic in up-regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) abundance, NF-кB-DNA binding and miRNA-125b and miRNA-146a expression. Treatment of metal-sulfate stressed HAG cells with the antioxidant phenyl butyl nitrone (PBN) or the NF-кB inhibitors curcumin, the metal chelator-anti-oxidant pyrollidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), or the resveratrol analog CAY10512, abrogated both NF-кB signaling and induction of these miRNAs. Our observations further illustrate the potential of physiologically relevant amounts of aluminum and iron sulfates to synergistically up-regulate specific miRNAs known to contribute to AD-relevant pathogenetic mechanisms, and suggest that antioxidants or NF-кB inhibitors may be useful to quench metal-sulfate triggered genotoxicity.

22099156

Aluminium effects on thyroid gland function: iodide uptake, hormone biosynthesis and secretion.

The effects of aluminium (Al) on thyroid function were evaluated in adult Wistar rats intraperitoneally (i.p) injected with 7 mg Al (as lactate)/kg body weight (b.w) per day during a six week period. The time-course kinetics of Na(125)I (3 μCi per 100 g b.w, i.p) was analysed by measuring gamma-radioactivity of thyroid, serum, serum protein precipitate and bile, at times ranging from 2 to 96 h post-dosing. In Al-treated group the (125)I(-) thyroid uptake at 24 h (15,840 ± 570 vs. 18,030 ± 630 dpm/mg, P<0.05) as well as the rate of (125)I(-) release from the gland, calculated as the slope of the plot between 24 and 96 h (84 ± 8 vs. 129 ± 11 dpm/mg/h, P<0.05) were significantly reduced pared to control. The biliary (125)I(-) excretion was not modified at all studied times. The Al content and lipid peroxidation (69.1 ± 8.5 vs. 53.2 ± 7.0 nmol MDA/g wet weight, P<0.05) of thyroid tissue were increased in Al-treated rats. The serum concentrations of total thyroxine (T4, 3.78 ± 0.14 vs. 4.68 ± 0.12 μg/dL, P<0.05) and total triiodothyronine (T3, 47 ± 4 vs. 66 ± 5 ng/dL, P<0.05) were decreased by effect of Al, but free-T4 (1.05 ± 0.05 vs. 1.04 ± 0.04 ng/dL, NS) and thyrotropin (TSH, 2.7 ± 0.4 vs. 2.6 ± 0.5 ng/ml, NS) remain unchanged. In spite of the Al could indirectly affect thyroid iodide uptake and hormones secretion by a mechanism involving the induction of an oxidative stress state, however, these changes could be managed by the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid endocrine axis. We can conclude that in adult rats the Al would not act as a thyroid disruptor.

22099155

Long-term follow-up of cognitive dysfunction in patients with aluminum hydroxide-induced macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF).

Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is characterized by specific muscle lesions assessing long-term persistence of aluminum hydroxide within macrophages at the site of previous immunization. Affected patients are middle-aged adults, mainly presenting with diffuse arthromyalgias, chronic fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. Representative features of MMF-associated cognitive dysfunction (MACD) include (i) dysexecutive syndrome; (i) visual memory; (iii) left ear extinction at dichotic listening test. In present study we retrospectively evaluated the progression of MACD in 30 MMF patients. Most patients fulfilled criteria for non-amnestic/dysexecutive mild cognitive impairment, even if some cognitive deficits seemed unusually severe. MACD remained stable over time, although dysexecutive syndrome tended to worsen. Long-term follow-up of a subset of patients with 3 or 4 consecutive neuropsychological evaluations confirmed the stability of MACD with time, despite marked fluctuations.

22099157

Aluminium-induced changes in root epidermal cell patterning, a distinctive feature of hyperresistance to Al in Brachiaria decumbens.

Brachiaria, a genus of forage grasses of African origin, is gaining considerable importance because of both its nutritional value and its high stress resistance. An extraordinary resistance to Al toxicity has been reported in B. decumbens. The mechanisms of this hyperresistance are still unknown. This study explores the localization of Al in two contrasting Brachiaria species, the hyperresistant B. decumbens and the less resistant B. brizantha. Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive Spectrometry, confocal fluorescence microscopy and optical microscopy of lumogallion or morin-stained roots was performed. Species differences in Al resistance were evident at 32 μM Al(3+) activity in low ionic strength full nutrient solution containing Si. Roots of B. decumbens accumulated less Al than those of B. brizantha. Moreover, location and Al form seemed different. In B. decumbens Al accumulation was localized in hot spots of high Al concentrations. These sites with high Al accumulation mainly correspond to root hairs. B. brizantha exhibited a more even distribution of Al in cell walls of the root tip. Analysis of soluble phenolic substances in roots revealed species differences in response to Al. An Al-induced increase of chlorogenic acid concentrations was found in B. decumbens but not in B. brizantha. Taken together the results suggest a possible role for chlorogenic acid as a primer for changes in root epidermal cell patterning that may contribute to the Al hyperresistance in B. decumbens.

22099158

Aluminium and human breast diseases.

The human breast is exposed to aluminium from many sources including diet and personal care products, but dermal application of aluminium-based antiperspirant salts provides a local long-term source of exposure. Recent measurements have shown that aluminium is present in both tissue and fat of the human breast but at levels which vary both between breasts and between tissue samples from the same breast. We have recently found increased levels of aluminium in noninvasively collected nipple aspirate fluids taken from breast cancer patients (mean 268 ± 28 pared with control healthy subjects (mean 131 ± 10 μg/l) providing evidence of raised aluminium levels in the breast microenvironment when cancer is present. The measurement of higher levels of aluminium in type I human breast cyst fluids (median 150 pared with human serum (median 6 μg/l) or human milk (median 25 μg/l) warrants further investigation into any possible role of aluminium in development of this benign breast disease. Emerging evidence for aluminium in several breast structures now requires biomarkers of aluminium action in order to ascertain whether the presence of aluminium has any biological impact. To this end, we report raised levels of proteins that modulate iron homeostasis (ferritin, transferrin) in parallel with raised aluminium in nipple aspirate fluids in vivo, and we report overexpression of mRNA for several S100 calcium binding proteins following long-term exposure of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vitro to aluminium chlorhydrate.

22099159

Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are serious multisystem developmental disorders and an urgent global public health concern. Dysfunctional immunity and impaired brain function are core deficits in ASD. Aluminum (Al), the monly used vaccine adjuvant, is a demonstrated neurotoxin and a strong immune stimulator. Hence, adjuvant Al has the potential to induce neuroimmune disorders. When assessing adjuvant toxicity in children, two key points ought to be considered: (i) children should not be viewed as "small adults" as their unique physiology makes them much more vulnerable to toxic insults; and (ii) if exposure to Al from only few vaccines can lead to cognitive impairment and autoimmunity in adults, is it unreasonable to question whether the current pediatric schedules, often containing 18 Al adjuvanted vaccines, are safe for children? By applying Hill's criteria for establishing causality between exposure and e we investigated whether exposure to Al from vaccines could be contributing to the rise in ASD prevalence in the Western world. Our results show that: (i) children from countries with the highest ASD prevalence appear to have the highest exposure to Al from vaccines; (ii) the increase in exposure to Al adjuvants significantly correlates with the increase in ASD prevalence in the United States observed over the last two decades (Pearson r=0.92, p<0.0001); and (iii) a significant correlation exists between the amounts of Al administered to preschool children and the current prevalence of ASD in seven Western countries, particularly at 3-4 months of age (Pearson r=0.89-0.94, p=0.0018-0.0248). The application of the Hill's criteria to these data indicates that the correlation between Al in vaccines and ASD may be causal. Because children represent a fraction of the population most at risk plications following exposure to Al, a more rigorous evaluation of Al adjuvant safety seems warranted.

22099161

Aluminum toxicity and astrocyte dysfunction: a metabolic link to neurological disorders.

Aluminum (Al) has been implicated in a variety of neurological diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms that enable Al to be involved in these disorders have yet to be fully delineated. Using astrocytes as a model of the cerebral cellular system, we have uncovered the biochemical networks that are affected by Al toxicity. In this review, we reveal how the inhibitory influence of Al on ATP production and on mitochondrial functions help generate globular astrocytes that are fat producing machines. These biological events may be the contributing factors to Al-triggered brain disorders.

22099160

Towards the prevention of potential aluminum toxic effects and an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

In 1991, treatment with low dose intramuscular desferrioxamine (DFO), a trivalent chelator that can remove excessive iron and/or aluminum from the body, was reported to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by a factor of two. Twenty years later this promising trial has not been followed up and why this treatment worked still is not clear. In this critical interdisciplinary review, we provide an overview of plexities of AD and involvement of metal ions, and revisit the neglected DFO trial. We discuss research done by us and others that is helping to explain involvement of metal ion catalyzed production of reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of AD, and emerging strategies for inhibition of metal-ion toxicity. Highlighted are insights to be considered in the quests to prevent potentially toxic effects of aluminum toxicity and prevention and intervention in AD.

22099162

Thermodynamic remarks on chelating ligands for aluminium related diseases.

Attention is devoted to the role of chelating agents in the treatment of aluminium related diseases. In fact, in spite of the actions that have drastically reduced the occurrence of dialysis diseases, they so far constitute a cause of great medical concern. Being aluminium chelators strictly related to iron chelators, parison is made of plex formation properties of these two hard metal ions towards ligands characterized by charged oxygen donor groups. Empirical correlations between aluminium(III) and plex formation constants, and their behavior are discussed in terms of structural and thermodynamic stabilities. Insertion of proper substituents to enhance the chelator binding capacity is debated on the bases of substituent effects on protonation plex formation constants.

22099165

Control of working memory: effects of attention training on target recognition and distractor salience in an auditory selection task.

Behavioral and electrophysiological measures of target and distractor processing were examined in an auditory selective attention task before and after three weeks of distractor suppression training. Behaviorally, training improved target recognition and led to less conservative and more rapid responding. Training also effectively shortened the temporal distance between distractors and targets needed to achieve a fixed level of target sensitivity. The effects of training on event-related potentials were restricted to the distracting stimulus: earlier N1 latency, enhanced P2 amplitude, and weakened P3 amplitude. Nevertheless, as distractor P2 amplitude increased, so too did target P3 amplitude, connecting experience-dependent changes in distractor processing with greater distinctiveness of targets in working memory. We consider the effects of attention training on the processing priorities, representational noise, and inhibitory processes operating in working memory.

22099163

Aluminum induces changes in oxidative burst scavenging enzymes in Coffea arabica L. suspension cells with differential Al tolerance.

The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and itant oxidative stress have been considered deleterious consequences of aluminum toxicity. However, several lines of evidence suggest that ROS can function as important signaling molecules in the plant defense system for protection from abiotic stress and the acquisition of tolerance. The role of ROS-scavenging enzymes was assayed in two different coffee cell suspension lines. We treated L2 (Al-sensitive) and LAMt (Al-tolerant) Coffea arabica suspension cells with 100 μM AlCl(3) and observed significant differences in catalase activity between the two cell lines. However, we did not observe any differences in superoxide dismutase or glutathione reductase activity in either cell line following Al treatment. ROS production was diminished in the LAMt cell line. Taken together, these results indicate that aluminum treatment may impair the oxidative stress response in L2 cells but not in LAMt cells. We suggest a possible role for Al-induced oxidative bursts in the signaling pathways that lead to Al resistance and protection from Al toxicity.

22099166

Osteocytes: central conductors of bone biology in normal and pathological conditions.

Osteocytes are the most abundant and longest-living cells in the adult skeleton. For a long time, osteocytes were considered static and inactive cells, but in recent years, it has been suggested that they represent the key responder to various stimuli that regulate bone formation and remodelling as well as one of the key endocrine regulators of bone metabolism. Osteocytes respond to mechanical stimuli by producing and secreting several signalling molecules, such as nitric oxide and prostaglandin E(2) , that initiate local bone remodelling. Moreover, they can control bone formation by modulating the WNT signalling pathway, an essential regulator of cell fate mitment, as they represent the main source of sclerostin, a negative regulator of bone formation. Osteocytes can also act as an endocrine organ by releasing fibroblast growth factor 23 and several other proteins (DMP-1, MEPE, PHEX) that regulate phosphate metabolism. It has been demonstrated that various bone diseases are associated with osteocyte abnormalities, although it is not clear if these changes are the direct cause of the pathology or if they are secondary to the pathological changes in the bone microenvironment. Thus, a better understanding of these cells could offer exciting opportunities for new advances in the prevention and management of different bone diseases.

22099167

The development of visual working memory capacity during early childhood.

The change detection task has been used in dozens of studies with adults to measure visual working memory capacity. Two studies have recently tested children in this task, suggesting a gradual increase in capacity from 5 years to adulthood. These results contrast with findings from an infant looking paradigm suggesting that capacity reaches adult-like levels within the first year. The current study adapted the change detection task for use with children younger than 5 years to test whether the standard version of the task was too difficult and may have underestimated children's capacity. Results showed that 3- and 4-year-olds could plete this modified task and that capacity increased roughly linearly, from 2 or 3 items during this period to 3 or 4 items between 5 and 7 years. Furthermore, performance did not differ significantly between the modified version and a replication of the standard version with 5- and 7-year-olds. Thus, there is no evidence that previous research with the change detection task underestimated children's capacity. Further research is needed to understand how performance relates across the infant looking task and change detection to provide a plete picture of visual working memory capacity over development.

22099169

The suitability of an uncemented hydroxyapatite coated (HAC) hip hemiarthroplasty stem for intra-capsular femoral neck fractures in osteoporotic elderly patients: the Metaphyseal-Diaphyseal Index, a solution to preventing intra-operative periprosthetic fracture.

This study will seek to identify a measurable radiographic index, the Metaphyseal-Diaphyseal Index (MDI) score to determine whether intra-operative fracture in osteoporotic bone can be predicted.A 5 year prospective cohort of 560 consecutive patients, undergoing hemiarthroplasty (cemented or uncemented), was evaluated. A nested case-control study to determine risk factors affecting intra-operative fracture was carried out. The Vancouver Classification was used to classify periprosthetic fracture. The MDI score was calculated using radiographs from the uncemented group. As a control (gold standard), Yeung et al's Canal Bone Ratio (CBR) score was also calculated. From this, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was formulated for both scores and area under the curve pared. Intra and inter-observer correlations were determined. Cost analysis was also worked out for adverse es. Four hundred and seven uncemented and one hundred and fifty-three cemented stems were implanted. The use of uncemented implants was the main risk factor for intra-operative periprosthetic fracture. Sixty-two periprosthetic fractures occurred in the uncemented group (15.2%), nine occurred in the cemented group (5.9%), P < 0.001. The revision rate for sustaining a periprosthetic fracture (uncemented group) was 17.7%, P < 0.001 and 90 day mortality 19.7%, P < 0.03. MDI's AUC was pared to CBR's 0.948, P < 0.001. The MDI score cut-off to predict fracture was 21, sensitivity 98.3%, specificity 99.8%, positive predictive value 90.5% and negative predictive value 98%. Multivariate regression analysis ruled out any other confounding factors as being significant. The intra and inter-observer Pearson correlation scores were r = 0.99, P < 0.001. JRI uncemented hemiarthroplasty has a significantly higher intra-operative fracture rate. We mend cemented arthroplasty for hip fractures. We propose a radiographic system that may allow surgeons to select patients who are good candidates for uncemented arthroplasty, but it needs prospective validation.

22099170

Sex differences in the relationship between inflammatory and hemostatic biomarkers and metabolic syndrome: British 1958 Birth Cohort.

Circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer, tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA) and von Willebrand factor (VWF) are associated with incident coronary heart disease (CHD). However, their associations with metabolic syndrome and ponents in large populations of men and women have not been well defined.

22099171

A natural compound induced cardiogenic differentiation of endogenous MSCs for repair of infarcted heart.

An intra-myocardial injection of a cardiogenic factor (cardiogenin) was reported to induce myocardial regeneration of exogenous mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) origin. In this study, replacement of the dangerous intra-myocardial injection with a safe method and whether the endogenous MSCs contribute to the cardiogenin-mediated myocardial regeneration were investigated. Bone marrow transplantation with labeled MSCs was performed in rats, which were subsequently subject to a permanent ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery one week after the transplantation. The rats were then treated with the cardiogenin through oral administration for 2 weeks. We not only demonstrated the substantial therapeutic effects of cardiogenin on myocardial infarction through an oral administration, but also provided direct evidences that the bone marrow derived endogenous MSCs are the major cellular source of the regenerating myocardium. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that miR-9 and its target E-cadherin may be required for intercalated disc formation.

22099172

Transcription factors TP53 and SP1 and the osteogenic differentiation of dental stem cells.

Dental follicle is a loose connective tissue that surrounds the developing tooth. Dental follicle cells (DFCs) have a promising potential for tissue engineering applications including periodontal and bone regeneration. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying osteogenic differentiation. In a previous study we detected that more than 35% of genes that are regulated during osteogenic differentiation of DFCs have promoter binding sites for the transcription factors TP53 and SP1. However, the role of these transcription factors in dental stem cells is still unknown. We hypothesize that both factors influence the processes of cell proliferation and differentiation in dental stem cells. Therefore, we transiently transfected DFCs and dental pulp stem cells (SHED; Stem cells from human exfoliated decidiuous teeth) with expression vectors for these transcription factors. After overexpression of SP1 and TP53, SP1 influenced cell proliferation and TP53 osteogenic differentiation in both dental cell types. The effects on cell proliferation and differentiation were less pronounced after siRNA mediated silencing of TP53 and SP1. This indicates that the effects we observed after TP53 and SP1 overexpression are indirect and subject plex regulation. Interestingly, upregulated biological processes in DFCs after TP53-overexpression resemble the downregulated biological processes in SHED after SP1-overexpression. Here, regulated processes are involved in cell motility, wound healing and programmed cell death. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that SP1 and TP53 influence cell proliferation and differentiation and similar biological processes in both SHED and DFCs.

22099173

Stem cell factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor promote neuronal lineage commitment of neural stem cells.

Stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were originally discovered as growth factors for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). It has been well defined that SCF and G-CSF contribute to regulation of mitment for HSCs. However, little is known about whether SCF and G-CSF play roles in the determination and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). Here we demonstrate the novel function of SCF and G-CSF in controlling cell cycle and cell fate determination of NSCs. We also observe that SCF and G-CSF promote neuronal differentiation and inhibit astroglial differentiation at the early stage of differentiation. In addition, our research data reveal that SCF bination with G-CSF has a dual function in promoting cell cycle exit and directing neuronal mitment at the stage of NSC dividing. This coordination effect of SCF+G-CSF on cell cycle arrest and neuronal differentiation is through enhancing neurogenin 1 (Ngn1) activity. These findings extend current knowledge regarding the role of SCF and G-CSF in the regulation of neurogenesis and provide insights into the contribution of hematopoietic growth factors to brain development and remodeling.

22099175

Neph3 associates with regulation of glomerular and neural development in zebrafish.

Neph3 (filtrin) is a membrane protein expressed in the glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes), but its role in the glomerulus is still largely unknown. To characterize the function of Neph3 in the glomerulus, we employed the zebrafish as a model system. Here we show that the expression of neph3 in pronephros starts before the onset of nephrin and podocin expression, peaks when the nephron primordium differentiates into glomerulus and tubulus, and is then downregulated upon glomerular maturation. By histology, we found that neph3 is specifically expressed in pronephric podocytes at 36hpf. Furthermore, disruption of neph3 expression by antisense morpholino oligonucleotides results in distorted body curvature and transient pericardial edema, the latter likely reflecting perturbation of glomerular osmoregulatory function. Histological analysis of neph3 morphants reveals altered glomerular morphology and dilated pronephric tubules. The phenotype of neph3 morphants, curved body and pericardial edema, is rescued by wild-type zebrafish neph3 mRNA. In addition to glomerulus, neph3 is highly expressed in the developing brain and specific regions of mature midbrain and hindbrain. In line with this, neph3 morphants show aberrant brain morphology. Collectively, the expression of neph3 in glomerulus and brain together with the morphant phenotype imply that neph3 is a pleiotropic gene active during distinct stages of tissue differentiation and associates directly in the regulation of both glomerular and neural development.

22099174

Laterality defects are influenced by timing of treatments and animal model.

The timing of when the embryonic left-right (LR) axis is first established and the mechanisms driving this process are subjects of strong debate. While groups have focused on the role of cilia in establishing the LR axis during gastrula and neurula stages, many animals appear to orient the LR axis prior to the appearance of, or without the benefit of, motile cilia. Because of the large amount of data available in the published literature and the similarities in the type of data collected across laboratories, I have examined relationships between the studies that do and do not implicate cilia, the choice of animal model, the kinds of LR patterning defects observed, and the penetrance of LR phenotypes. I found that treatments affecting cilia structure and motility had a higher penetrance for both altered gene expression and improper organ pared to treatments that affect processes in early cleavage stage embryos. I also found differences in penetrance that could be attributed to the animal models used; the mouse is highly prone to LR randomization. Additionally, the data were examined to address whether gene expression can be used to predict randomized organ placement. Using regression analysis, gene expression was found to be predictive of organ placement in frogs, but much less so in the other animals examined. Together, these results challenge previous ideas about the conservation of LR mechanisms, with the mouse model being significantly different from fish, frogs, and chick in almost every aspect examined. Additionally, this analysis indicates that there may be missing pieces in the molecular pathways that dictate how genetic information es organ positional information in vertebrates; these gaps will be important for future studies to identify, as LR asymmetry is not only a fundamentally fascinating aspect of development but also of considerable biomedical importance.

22099176

The GM-CSF receptor utilizes β-catenin and Tcf4 to specify macrophage lineage differentiation.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) promotes the growth, survival, differentiation and activation of normal myeloid cells and is essential for fully functional macrophage differentiation in vivo. To better understand the mechanisms by which growth factors control the balance between proliferation and self-renewal versus growth-suppression and differentiation we have used the bi-potent FDB1 myeloid cell line, which proliferates in IL-3 and differentiates to granulocytes and macrophages in response to GM-CSF. This provides a manipulable model in which to dissect the switch between growth and differentiation. We show that, in the context of signaling from an activating mutant of the GM-CSF receptor β subunit, a single intracellular tyrosine residue (Y577) mediates the granulocyte fate decision. Loss of granulocyte differentiation in a Y577F second-site mutant is panied by enhanced macrophage differentiation and accumulation of β-catenin together with activation of Tcf4 and other Wnt target genes. These include the known macrophage lineage inducer, Egr1. We show that forced expression of Tcf4 or a stabilised β-catenin mutant is sufficient to promote macrophage differentiation in response to GM-CSF and that GM-CSF can regulate β-catenin stability, most likely via GSK3β. Consistent with this pathway being active in primary cells we show that inhibition of GSK3β activity promotes the formation of macrophage colonies at the expense of granulocyte colonies in response to GM-CSF. This study therefore identifies a novel pathway through which growth factor receptor signaling can interact with transcriptional regulators to influence lineage choice during myeloid differentiation.

22099177

The influence of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(1) during differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells to neural cells.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ, belongs to PPARs, which exerts various metabolic functions including differentiation process. To testify the importance of PPARγ in neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), its expression level was assessed. Data revealed an elevation in expression level of PPARγ when neural precursors (NPs) are formed upon retinoic acid treatment. Thus, involvement of PPARγ in two stages of neural differentiation of mESCs, during and post-NPs formation was examined by application of its agonist and antagonist. Our results indicated that PPARγ inactivation via treatment with GW9662 during NPs formation, reduced expression of neural precursor and neural (neuronal and astrocytes) markers. However, PPARγ inactivation by antagonist treatment post-NPs formation stage only decreased the expression of mature astrocyte marker (Gfap) suggesting that inactivation of PPARγ by antagonist decreased astrocyte differentiation. Here, we have demonstrated the stage dependent role of PPARγ modulation on neural differentiation of mESCs by retinoic acid treatment for the first time.

22099178

Cellular signals underlying β-adrenergic receptor mediated salivary gland enlargement.

We examined the cellular signaling pathways involved in parotid gland enlargement induced by repeated isoproterenol administration in rats. Immunoblot analysis revealed early (1h) activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) ERK1/2, and progressive activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), p38MAPK and p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) during 72h of isoproterenol treatment. Expression of β-adrenergic receptors (ARs) of the β2, but not β1, subtype increased over time in parallel with increases in the proliferation marker PCNA and parotid gland weight. Levels of β2-AR mRNA, assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis, were upregulated in parotid glands of isoproterenol treated rats. cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), a positive regulator of β2-AR transcription, was activated at 1h after isoproterenol administration, as evidenced by increased nuclear translocation and DNA binding using immunohistochemical staining and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. ELISA of NF-κB, also a β2-AR transcriptional regulator, revealed an increase in p65 and p50 subunits in nuclear protein extracts from parotid glands of isoproterenol treated rats. Together, these results demonstrate that β-adrenergic stimulation activates diverse cell survival and progrowth signaling pathways, including cAMP and EGFR linked activation of ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and p70S6K, and also induction of β2-ARs, possibly mediated by CREB and NF-κB, resulting in salivary gland enlargement. We propose that during isoproterenol treatment activation of the β1-AR, the predominant β-AR subtype in unstimulated salivary glands, initiates proliferative signaling cascades, and that upregulation of the β2-AR plays an essential role in later stages of salivary gland growth.

22099179

More than nervous: the emerging roles of plexins.

Plexins are the receptors for semaphorins, a large family of axon guidance cues. Accordingly, the role of plexins in the development of the nervous system was the first to be acknowledged. However, the expression of plexins is not restricted to neuronal cells, and recent research has been increasingly focused on the roles of plexin-semaphorin signalling outside of the nervous system. During embryogenesis, plexins regulate the development of many organs, including the cardiovascular system, skeleton and kidney. They have also been shown to be involved in immune system functions and tumour progression. Analyses of the plexin signalling in different tissues and cell types have provided new insight to the versatility of plexin interactions with semaphorins and other cell-surface receptors. In this review we try to summarise the current understanding of the roles of plexins in non-neural development and immunity.

22099180

New culture system for human embryonic stem cells: autologous mesenchymal stem cell feeder without exogenous fibroblast growth factor 2.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells have been successfully maintained using human-cell feeder systems or feeder-free systems. However, despite advances in culture techniques, hES cells require supplementation with fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), an exogenous stemness factor, which is needed to sustain the authentic undifferentiated status. We developed a new culture system for hES cells; this system does not require supplementation with FGF-2 to obtain hES cells that are suitable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This culture system employed mesenchymal stem cells derived from hES cells (hESC-MSCs) as autologous human feeder cells in the absence of FGF-2. The hES cell line SNUhES3 cultured in this new autologous feeder culture system maintained the typical morphology of hES cells and expression of pluripotency-related proteins, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, OCT4, and alkaline phosphatase, without development of abnormal karyotypes after more than 30 passages. RNA expression of the pluripotency-related genes OCT4 and NANOG was similar to the expression in SNUhES3 cells maintained on xenofeeder STO cells. To identify the mechanism that enables the cells to be maintained without exogenous FGF-2, we checked the secretion of FGF-2 from the mitomycin-C treated autofeeder hESC-MSCs versus xenofeeder STO cells, and confirmed that hESC-MSCs secreted FGF-2 whereas STO cells did not. The level of FGF-2 in the media from the autofeeder system without exogenous FGF-2 parable to that from the xenofeeder system with addition of FGF-2. In conclusion, our new culture system for hES cells, which employs a feeder layer of autologous hESC-MSCs, supplies sufficient amounts of secreted FGF-2 to eliminate the requirement for exogenous FGF-2.

22099182

Interactions between gastrointestinal nematode parasites and diarrhoea in sheep: pathogenesis and control.

Diarrhoea is a major impediment to profitable sheep production in many countries as it predisposes animals to blowfly strike and contaminates wool and meat carcasses. While it is accepted that nematode parasites are a major cause of diarrhoea in grazing animals, less is known about what facets of the host-parasite relationship lead to diarrhoea and what the most appropriate control strategies are. In this review, the relationship between gastrointestinal nematode infection and diarrhoea is discussed and it is concluded that in many cases, particularly in immunologically mature sheep, diarrhoea is not due to parasite infection per se but rather due to immunopathological processes. Mechanisms that lead to faecal softening in immune sheep are considered, and the question addressed as to whether anthelmintic treatment and selective breeding of naturally parasite-resistant sheep will effectively reduce the occurrence of diarrhoea.

22099184

Effects of obesity on lung function and airway reactivity in healthy dogs.

The present study investigated the effects of bodyweight (BW) gain on respiratory function and airway responsiveness in healthy Beagles using barometric whole body plethysmography (BWBP). Six adult dogs were examined before and after a fattening diet. The high-energy diet induced a mean increase in BW of 41±6%. BWBP basal parameters were recorded prior to airway reactivity testing (using increasing concentrations of histamine nebulisations). An airway responsiveness index (H-Penh300) was calculated as the histamine concentration necessary to reach 300% of basal enhanced pause (Penh, bronchoconstriction index). The same dogs underwent a doxapram hydrochloride (Dxp) stimulation testing 2 weeks later. Basal measurements showed that obese dogs had tidal volume per kg (TV/BW) that was significantly decreased whilst respiratory rate (RR) increased significantly. H-Penh300 decreased significantly in obese Beagles, indicating increased bronchoreactivity. Dxp administration induced a significant increase in TV/BW, minute volume per kg (MV/BW), peak inspiratory and expiratory flows per kg (PIF/BW and PEF/BW) in both normal and obese dogs although the TV/BW increase was significantly less marked in the obese group. In conclusion, obesity induced changes in basal respiratory parameters, increased bronchoreactivity and a blunted response to Dxp-induced respiratory stimulation. bination of basal respiratory parameters, bronchoreactivity testing and pharmacological stimulation testing using non-invasive BWBP can help characterize pulmonary function and airway responsiveness in obese dogs.

22099183

Electroencephalographic recordings in dogs suffering from idiopathic and symptomatic epilepsy: diagnostic value of interictal short time EEG protocols supplemented by two activation techniques.

The diagnostic value of interictal short time electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings in epileptic dogs under general anaesthesia with propofol and the muscle relaxant rocuronium bromide was investigated. Two activation techniques, namely photic stimulation and hyperventilation, were evaluated for their potential to enhance the diagnostic validity of these recordings. Sixty-one dogs suffering from idiopathic epilepsy and 28 dogs suffering from symptomatic epilepsy were included. Electroencephalograms were recorded using five subdermal EEG electrodes (F3, F4, Cz, O1 and O2). All 89 EEGs were analysed visually and 61 were also evaluated quantitatively with fast Fourier transformation. Interictal paroxysmal epileptiform activity was found in 25% of idiopathic and in 29% of symptomatic epileptic dogs. Quantitative analysis of the EEGs (qEEGs) detected significant differences of frequency analysis in single reading points without any continuous changes of frequency bands. parison between healthy and affected brain hemispheres in seven dogs with focal lesions of one hemisphere did not show any significant differences in qEEG analysis. qEEG was not more sensitive than visual evaluation. Despite the use of activation techniques, the results showed that short time EEG recordings in epileptic dogs can detect interictal epileptic activity in less than one third of all seizuring dogs and is not a useful screening method.

22099186

SCF ubiquitin ligases in the maintenance of genome stability.

In response to genotoxic stress, eukaryotic cells activate the DNA damage response (DDR), a series of pathways that coordinate cell cycle arrest and DNA repair to prevent deleterious mutations. In addition, cells possess checkpoint mechanisms that prevent aneuploidy by regulating the number of centrosomes and spindle assembly. Among these mechanisms, ubiquitin-mediated degradation of key proteins has an important role in the regulation of the DDR, centrosome duplication and chromosome segregation. This review discusses the functions of a group of ubiquitin ligases, the SCF (SKP1-CUL1-F-box protein) family, in the maintenance of genome stability. Given that general proteasome inhibitors are currently used as anticancer agents, a better understanding of the ubiquitylation of specific targets by specific ubiquitin ligases may result in improved cancer therapeutics.

22099188

[Assessment and management of rotation and angulation of lower limbs in children].

Most rotational and angulational variations in young children are benign and resolved spontaneously. However, they may cause great concerns to parents. In order to provide a deliberate assessment and management of lower limb rotational and angulational problems, it is necessary for pediatricians to understand the normal variations of lower limb development in healthy bined with the features of child growth and development and detail physical examinations.

22099189

[Therapeutic effects of erythropoietin on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in neonates].

To study the efficacy of erythropoietinin (EPO) in the treatment of moderate or severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates.

22099187

The enzymes of bacterial census and censorship.

N-Acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are a major class of quorum-sensing signals used by Gram-negative bacteria to regulate gene expression in a population-dependent manner, thereby enabling group behavior. Enzymes capable of generating and catabolizing AHL signals are of significant interest for the study of microbial ecology and quorum-sensing pathways, for understanding the systems that bacteria have evolved to interact with small-molecule signals, and for their possible use in therapeutic and industrial applications. The recent structural and functional studies reviewed here provide a detailed insight into the chemistry and enzymology of munication.

22099190

[Factors influencing the bone mineral density in preterm infants].

To study the bone mineral development and the factors influencing the development in preterm infants.

22099191

[FLT3 mutations in children with acute myeloid leukemia: a single center study].

To study the clinical significance of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutations including internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation and point mutation of tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

22099192

[Comparisons of clinical features of chronic aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome in children].

This pared the differences in clinical features between chronic aplastic anemia (CAA) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in children in order to provide a basis for the differential diagnosis of the two diseases.

22099193

[Prognosis of 212 children with asthma: a 5-year follow-up study].

To study the prognosis of childhood asthma and the factors influencing asthmatic attacks and prognosis.

22099194

[Evaluation of efficacy and safety of loratadine in the treatment of childhood asthma].

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of loratadine, a new generation of antihistaminics, in the treatment of childhood asthma.

22099195

[Correlation of renal AQP1-4 protein expression with renal parenchyma thickness and glomerular filtration rate in children with congenital hydronephrosis].

To study the relationship of renal aquaporin -1, -2, -3, and -4 (AQP1-4) expression with renal parenchymal thickness and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children with congenital hydronephrotis.

22099196

[Relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism and essential hypertension in children].

To study the relationship between insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of 287 bp in the 16th intron of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and essential hypertension in children.

22099197

[Diagnosis of vasovagal syncope in children with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome].

To study the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope (VVS) in children with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

22099198

[Changes of regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of children with epilepsy].

To study the levels of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the peripheral blood of children with epilepsy and the roles of Tregs in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.

22099199

[Relationship between congenital heart disease and bronchial dysplasia].

To study the relationship of the incidence of bronchial dysplasia (bronchial anomalous origin and bronchial stenosis) with congenital heart disease.

22099200

[Impact of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs on body mass index in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty: a long-term follow-up study].

To study the impact of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) on body mass index (BMI) in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP).

22099201

[Investigation on the behavior problems of children aged 3 to 5 years in Changsha and comparison of the norm of Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire in Chinese and American urban children].

To investigate the behavior problems of children aged 3 to 5 years in Changsha and pare the differences of the results detected by the norm of Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ) in Chinese and American urban children.

22099202

[Social-psychological factors contributing to male juvenile delinquency].

To study the major social-psychological factors contributing to male juvenile delinquency.

22099203

[Influence of lipopolysaccharide on the permeability of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells and the molecular mechanism].

To study the influence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the permeability of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and possible molecular mechanism.

22099204

[Expression of erythropoietin and its receptor in the brain of newborn rats suffering from fetal distress].

To study the expression of erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor (EPOR) in the brain of newborn rats suffering fetal distress.

22099205

[Effects of Mycobacterium phlei F.U.36 on regulatory T cells and TLR4 expression in asthmatic mice].

To study the effects of early intervention on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and TLR4 expression with Mycobacterium phlei F.U.36 in asthmatic mice.

22099210

Role of hepatic HCV-RNA level on the severity of chronic hepatitis C and response to antiviral therapy.

Correlation between hepatic HCV-RNA and serum HCV-RNA, severity of liver disease and response to therapy is poorly known.

22099211

Lipid-related residual risk and renal function for occurrence and prognosis among patients with first-event acute coronary syndrome and normal LDL cholesterol.

We investigated relationship of low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high levels of triglycerides, and renal function for the odds, prognosis and survival following acute coronary events among patients with a first event and normal low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

22099212

Bivalirudin-based versus conventional heparin anticoagulation for postcardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after cardiac operations (postcardiotomy) monly used for the treatment of acute heart failure refractory to drug treatment. Bleeding and thromboembolic events are the plications of postcardiotomy ECMO. The present study is a parison of the conventional heparin-based anticoagulation protocol with a bivalirudin-based, heparin-free protocol. Endpoints of this study are blood loss, allogeneic blood product use, and costs during the ECMO procedure.

22099213

Integrating historical clinical and financial data for pharmacological research.

Retrospective research requires longitudinal data, and repositories derived from electronic health records (EHR) can be sources of such data. With Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act meaningful use provisions, many institutions are expected to adopt EHRs, but may be left with large amounts of financial and historical clinical data, which can differ significantly from data obtained from newer systems, due to lack or inconsistent use of controlled medical terminologies (CMT) in older systems. We examined different approaches for semantic enrichment of financial data with CMT, and integration of clinical data from disparate historical and current sources for research.

22099215

Longitudinal change in HbA1c after insulin initiation in primary care patients with type 2 diabetes: a database analysis in UK and Germany.

To evaluate the 3-year change in HbA1c values after start of insulin therapy among patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care practices in UK and Germany.

22099216

The health of HIV-exposed children after early weaning.

There are potential health risks associated with the use of early weaning to prevent mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in resource-poor settings. Our objective was to examine growth and nutrient inadequacies among a cohort of children weaned early. Children participating in the Breastfeeding Antiretrovirals and Nutrition (BAN) Study in Lilongwe, Malawi, had HIV-infected mothers, were weaned at 6 months and fed LNS until 12 months. 40 HIV-negative, BAN-exited children pared with 40 munity children matched on age, gender and local health clinic. Nutrient intake was calculated from 24-h dietary recalls collected from BAN-exited children. Anthropometric measurements were collected from BAN-exited and munity children at 15-16 months, and 2 months later. Longitudinal random effects sex-stratified models were used to evaluate anthropometric differences between the two groups. BAN-exited children consumed adequate energy, protein and carbohydrates but inadequate amounts of fat. The prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intakes were: 46% for vitamin A; 20% for vitamin B6; 69% for folate; 13% for vitamin C; 19% for iron; 23% for zinc. Regarding growth, BAN-exited girls gained weight at a significantly lower rate {0.02 g kg(-1) per day [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01, 0.03]} than their parison [0.05 g kg(-1) per day (95% CI: 0.03, 0.07)]; BAN girls grew significantly slower [0.73 cm month(-1) (95% CI: 0.40,1.06)] than their parison (1.55 cm month(-1) [95% CI: 0.98, 2.12]). Among this sample of BAN-exited children, early weaning was associated with dietary deficiencies and girls experienced reduced growth velocity. In resource-poor settings, HIV prevention programmes must ensure that breastfeeding stop only once a nutritionally adequate and safe diet without breast milk can be provided.

22099219

Characterizing plant cell wall derived oligosaccharides using hydrophilic interaction chromatography with mass spectrometry detection.

Analysis plex mixtures of plant cell wall derived oligosaccharides is still challenging and multiple analytical techniques are often required for separation and characterization of these mixtures. In this work it is demonstrated that hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering and mass spectrometry detection (HILIC-ELSD-MS(n)) is a valuable tool for identification of a wide range of neutral and acidic cell wall derived oligosaccharides. The separation potential for acidic oligosaccharides observed with HILIC is much pared to other existing techniques, like capillary electrophoresis, reversed phase and porous-graphitized carbon chromatography. Important structural information, such as presence of methyl esters and acetyl groups, is retained during analysis. Separation of acidic oligosaccharides with equal charge yet with different degrees of polymerization can be obtained. The efficient coupling of HILIC with ELSD and MS(n)-detection enables characterization and quantification of many different oligosaccharide structures present plex mixtures. This makes HILIC-ELSD-MS(n) a versatile and powerful additional technique in plant cell wall analysis.

22099218

Lipid MALDI profile classifies non-small cell lung cancers according to the histologic type.

We investigated whether direct tissue matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) analysis on lipid may assist with the histopathologic diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Twenty-one pairs of frozen, resected NSCLCs and adjacent normal tissue samples were initially analyzed using histology-directed, MALDI MS. 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid/α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid were manually deposited on areas of each tissue section enriched in epithelial cells to identify lipid profiles, and mass spectra were acquired using a MALDI-time of flight instrument. A lipid profile that could differentiate cancer and adjacent normal samples with a median accuracy of 92.9% was discovered. Several phospholipids including phosphatidylcholines (PC) {34:1} were overexpressed in lung cancer. Squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas were found to have different lipid profiles. Discriminatory lipids correctly classified the histology of 80.4% of independent NSCLC surgical tissue samples (41 out of 51) in validation set. MALDI MS image of 11 discriminatory lipids validated their differential expression according to the histologic type in cancer cells of bronchoscopic biopsy samples. PC {32:0} [M+Na](+) (m/z 756.68) and ST-OH {42:1} [M-H](-) (m/z 906.89) were overexpressed in adenocarcinomas. Thus, lipid profiles accurately distinguish tumor from adjacent normal tissue and classify non-small cell lung cancers according to the histologic type.

22099220

Enhancement of molecular shape selectivity by in situ anion-exchange in poly(octadecylimidazolium) silica column.

This paper demonstrates that in situ anion exchange could be successfully applied as a new method for modifying the surface properties of a poly(octadecylimidazolium)-grafted silica stationary phase to tune and enhance selectivity. Specifically, the original stationary phase was prepared by surface-initiated radical chain-transfer polymerization of 1-vinyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bromide as an ionic liquid monomer; the Br(-) counter anion was then exchanged for methyl orange via an in-column process. As evaluated via the separation of constrained isomers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the in situ exchange enhanced the molecular shape-selectivity performance. Enhanced selectivity was also confirmed using Standard Reference Material (SRM) 869b (column selectivity test mixture) and SRM 1647e (16 priority pollutant PAHs). The reproducibility of new column was tested via the separation of pyrene, triphenylene, benzo[a]anthracene and chrysene with methanol as eluent at 10 °C and the RSD values (n=12) of the retention factors of them are within 0.27-0.77%.

22099221

Is it really necessary to validate an analytical method or not? That is the question.

Method validation is an important requirement in the practice of chemical analysis. However, awareness of its importance, why it should be done and when, and exactly what needs to be done, seems to be poor amongst analytical chemists. Much advice related to method validation already exists in the literature, especially related to particular methods, but more often than not is underused. Some analysts see method validation as something that can only be done by collaborating with other laboratories and therefore do not go about it. In addition, analysts' understanding of method validation is inhibited by the fact that many of the technical terms used in the processes for evaluating methods vary in different sectors of analytical measurement, both in terms of their meaning and the way they are determined. Validation applies to a defined protocol, for the determination of a specified analyte and range of concentrations in a particular type of test material, used for a specified purpose. In general, validation should check that the method performs adequately for the purpose throughout the range of analyte concentrations and test materials to which it is applied. It follows that these features, together with a statement of any fitness-for-purpose criteria, should pletely specified before any validation takes place.

22099222

Capillary bioreactors based on human purine nucleoside phosphorylase: a new approach for ligands identification and characterization.

The enzyme purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is a target for the discovery of new pounds employed on the treatment severe T-cell mediated disorders. Within this context, the development of new, direct, and reliable methods for ligands screening is an important task. This paper describes the preparation of fused silica capillaries human PNP (HsPNP) immobilized enzyme reactor (IMER). The activity of the obtained IMER is monitored on line in a multidimensional liquid chromatography system, by the quantification of the product formed throughout the enzymatic reaction. The K(M) value for the immobilized enzyme was about twofold higher than that measured for the enzyme in solution (255 ± 29.2 μM and 133 ± 14.9 μM, respectively). A new fourth-generation immucillin derivative (DI4G; IC(50)=40.6 ± 0.36 nM), previously identified and characterized in HsPNP free enzyme assays, was used to validate the IMER as a screening method for HsPNP ligands. The validated method was also used for mechanistic studies with this inhibitor. This new approach is a valuable tool to PNP ligand screening, since it directly measures the hypoxanthine released by inosine phosphorolysis, thus furnishing more reliable results than those one used in a coupled enzymatic spectrophotometric assay.

22099223

An automated method for the analysis of phenolic acids in plasma based on ion-pairing micro-extraction coupled on-line to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with in-liner derivatisation.

A new method is presented for the analysis of phenolic acids in plasma based on ion-pairing 'Micro-extraction in packed sorbent' (MEPS) coupled on-line to in-liner derivatisation-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The ion-pairing reagent served a dual purpose. It was used both to improve extraction yields of the more polar analytes and as the methyl donor in the automated in-liner derivatisation method. In this way, a fully automated procedure for the extraction, derivatisation and injection of a wide range of phenolic acids in plasma samples has been obtained. An extensive optimisation of the extraction and derivatisation procedure has been performed. The entire method showed excellent repeatabilities of under 10% and linearities of 0.99 or better for all phenolic acids. The limits of detection of the optimised method for the majority of phenolic acids were 10ng/mL or lower with three phenolic acids having less-favourable detection limits of around 100 ng/mL. Finally, the newly developed method has been applied in a human intervention trial in which the bioavailability of polyphenols from wine and tea was studied. Forty plasma samples could be analysed within 24h in a fully automated method including sample extraction, derivatisation and gas chromatographic analysis.

22099224

The selective cleanup of complex matrices and simultaneous separation of benzo[a]pyrene by solid-phase extraction with MgO microspheres as sorbents.

A new method for the selective cleanup plex matrices and simultaneous separation of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was developed in this study. This method was based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) using magnesium oxide microspheres as sorbents, and it eliminated interferences from various impurities, such as lipids, sulphur, pigments, halobenzenes, polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorodibenzofurans. Several parameters, including the volume of rinsing and eluting solvents, the type of loading solvents and SPE sorbents, were optimized systematically. The capability for impurity removal was verified by gel permeation chromatography, gas chromatography, and liquid chromatography. Compared mercial sorbents (silica gel, florisil and alumina), MgO microspheres exhibited excellent performance in the selective isolation of BaP and removal of impurities. The proposed method was applied to detect BaP plex samples (sediments, soils, fish, and porcine liver). The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 1.04 ngL(-1), and the resulting regression coefficient (r(2)) was greater than 0.999 over a broad concentration range (9.5-7600 ngL(-1)). In contrast to traditional methods, the proposed method can give rise to higher recovery (85.1-100.8%) and better selectivity with simpler operation and less consumption of organic solvents (20-40 mL).

22099225

Development of liquid phase microextraction based on manual shaking and ultrasound-assisted emulsification method for analysis of organochlorine pesticides in aqueous samples.

A novel method using sample preparation method, "ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction" (USAEME) with manual shaking, coupled with gas chromatography using and an electron capture detector (GC-ECD) was developed for the analysis of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in aqueous samples. The apparatus is simple and easy to operate. After manual shaking for 10s, ultrasound was used to accelerate emulsification of the organic solvent (1-decanol) in aqueous solution. Only 10 μL of the low-toxicity extraction solvent is used in this method; no dispersive solvent is required and the total extraction time is ∼4 min. Manual shaking before ultrasound-assisted emulsification enhances the extraction efficiency by >100%. The effects of horizontal and vertical orientation as well as the location of the sample within the ultrasonic bath were studied. After centrifugation, we used an improved solvent collection system (ISCS) to reduce the amount of extraction solvent required. A 1 μL sample of the extract was injected into the GC column. Under optimum conditions, the linear range of the method is 5-2500 ngL(-1) for most of the OCPs, and the limit of detection of the method ranged from 0.6 to 2.9 ngL(-1).The relative recoveries ranged from 75 to 107% for sea water and from 70 to 99% for field fresh water. The method, which provides good enrichment factors, low LODs and minimization of the consumption of organic solvent, provides a rapid, simple and environment-friendly procedure for determining OCPs in aqueous samples.

22099226

The use of ethylene glycol solution as the running buffer for highly efficient microchip-based electrophoresis in unmodified cyclic olefin copolymer microchips.

An ethylene glycol solution was used as the electrophoretic running buffer in unmodified cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) microchips to minimize the interactions between the analytes and the hydrophobic walls of the plastic microchannels, enhance the resolution of the analytes and eliminate the uncontrollable dispersion caused by uneven liquid levels and non-uniform surfaces of the separation channels. Five amino acids that were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) were used as model analytes to examine the separation efficiency. The effects of ethylene glycol concentration, pH and sodium tetraborate concentration were systematically investigated. The five FITC-labeled amino acids were effectively resolved using a COC microchip with an effective length of 2.5 cm under optimum conditions, which included using a running buffer of 20 mmol/L sodium tetraborate in ethylene glycol:water (80:20, v/v), pH 6.7. A theoretical plate number of 4.8 × 10(5)/m was obtained for aspartic acid. The system exhibited good repeatability, and the relative standard deviations (n=5) of the peak areas and migration times were no more than 3.4% and 0.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the system was successfully applied to elucidate these five amino acids in human saliva.

22099227

Development of multiwalled carbon nanotubes based micro-solid-phase extraction for the determination of trace levels of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples.

Micro-solid-phase extraction (μ-SPE) was developed for the determination of trace level of 16 United States Environmental Protection Agency priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in river water samples with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the μ-SPE device, multiwalled carbon nanotubes was employed as sorbent and was packed inside an porous polypropylene membrane "envelope" whose edges were heat-sealed to secure the contents. The μ-SPE device was placed in a stirred sample solution to extract the analytes. The porous polypropylene membrane envelope in μ-SPE device acts as a filter to exclude potential interferences, such as eliminating or reducing the influence of particles that are bigger than the pore size. After extraction, analyte desorption was carried out with a suitable organic solvent under ultrasonication. Important extraction parameters were optimized in detail, including the selection and amount of sorbent materials, the extraction temperature and extraction time, desorption solvent and desorption time, amount of organic modifier, agitation speed and sample ionic strength. Under the developed extraction conditions, the proposed method provided good linearity in the range of 0.1-50 μg/L, low limits of detection (4.2-46.5 ng/L), and good repeatability of the extractions (relative standard deviations, <12%, n=5). The developed μ-SPE method was successfully applied to the extraction of PAHs in river water samples. The μ-SPE method was demonstrated to be a fast and efficient method for the determination of PAHs from environmental water samples.

22099228

Retention mechanism for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in reversed-phase liquid chromatography with monomeric stationary phases.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) is the foremost technique for the separation of analytes that have very similar chemical functionalities, but differ only in their molecular shape. This ability is crucial in the analysis of various mixtures with environmental and biological importance including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and steroids. A large amount of effort has been devoted to studying this phenomenon experimentally, but a detailed molecular-level description remains lacking. To provide some insight on the mechanism of shape selectivity in RPLC, particle-based simulations were carried out for stationary phases and chromatographic parameters that closely mimic those in an experimental study by Sentell and Dorsey [J. Chromatogr. 461 (1989) 193]. The retention of aromatic hydrocarbons ranging in size from benzene to the isomeric PAHs of the formula C(18)H(12) was examined for model RPLC systems consisting of monomeric dimethyl octadecylsilane (ODS) stationary phases with surface coverages ranging from 1.6 to 4.2 μmol/m(2) (i.e., stationary phases yielding low to intermediate shape selectivity) in contact with a 67/33 mol% acetonitrile/water mobile phase. The simulations show that the stationary phase acts as a very heterogeneous environment where analytes with different shapes prefer different spatial regions with specific local bonding environments of the ODS chains. However, these favorable retentive regions cannot be described as pre-existing cavities because the chain conformation in these local stationary phase regions adapts to modate the analytes.

22099229

Preparation and chromatographic evaluation of a cysteine-bonded zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography stationary phase.

A cysteine-bonded zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) stationary phase (Click TE-Cys) was prepared based on the "thiol-ene" click chemistry. The Click TE-Cys material was characterized by solid state ¹³C cross polarization/magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR and elemental analysis. The dynamic evaluation for cytosine, cytidine and orotic acid was performed using Van Deemter plots. The plate height values were no more than 24 μm for the flow rate between 0.5 and 5.4 mm s⁻¹ (0.3-3.5 mL min⁻¹), which proved the excellent separation efficiency of Click TE-Cys stationary phase. The influences of the content of water, concentration of salt and pH of the buffer solution on the retention of pounds were investigated. The results demonstrated that the separation of polar analytes was dominated by the partitioning mechanism, while the contribution of electrostatic interaction was minor. The thermodynamic characteristic of Click TE-Cys stationary phase was also studied according to van't Hoff plot. An exothermic process for transferring analytes from the mobile phase to the stationary phase was observed and a linear relationship for ln k and 1/T was achieved, indicating no change of retention mechanism within the measured temperature range. Besides, the zwitterionic stationary phase exhibited good stability. Considering the high hydrophilicity of Click TE-Cys stationary phase, the application in the separation of protein tryptic digests was carried out using hydrophilic interaction chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HILIC-ESI-MS). More peaks were adequately resolved on the Click TE-Cys paring with that on the TSK Amide-80 column. In addition, the orthogonality between HILIC and RPLC system was investigated utilizing geometric approach. The XTerra MS C₁₈ and Click TE-Cys column displayed great difference in separation selectivity, with the orthogonality reaching 88.0%. On the other hand, the orthogonality between Click TE-Cys and TSK Amide-80 system was 21.4%, i.e. the selectivity was similar but slightly different from each other. The successful separation of protein digests indicated the great potential of Click TE-Cys stationary phase in the separation plex samples and applicability in two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC).

22099230

Healthy People 2010 objectives for unintentional injury and violence among adolescents. Trends from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 1999-2009.

In 2000, the USDHHS released Healthy People 2010 (HP2010), a series of disease prevention and health promotion objectives for the nation. Thirty-nine of these objectives were dedicated to injury prevention and six of these objectives related to adolescents, who were tracked through CDC's National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).

22099231

Home smoking bans among U.S. households with children and smokers. Opportunities for intervention.

Public health campaigns have reduced the exposure of U.S. children to secondhand smoke at home; however, these may not have been equally effective across subgroups.

22099232

Association between smokefree laws and voluntary smokefree-home rules.

More states and localities are passing restrictions on smoking in public places and workplaces.

22099234

Timing of adolescent meningococcal conjugate vaccination attitudes and practices of pediatricians and family medicine physicians.

The meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) was mended for those aged 11-18 years in 2005. Initial supply issues led to an emphasis on immunizing older adolescents. When supply improved in 2007, routine immunization was mended for those aged 11-12 years.

22099235

Blood pressure and cholesterol screening prevalence among U.S. women of reproductive age opportunities to improve screening.

Blood pressure and cholesterol screening among women of reproductive age are important for early disease detection and intervention, and because hypertension and dyslipidemia are associated with adverse pregnancy es.

22099233

Serosurvey of bacterial and viral respiratory pathogens among deployed U.S. service members.

Respiratory illnesses can cause substantial morbidity during military deployments. Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are hypothesized causes.

22099236

Sufficient sleep, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors.

Insufficient sleep among adolescents mon and has adverse health and behavior consequences. Understanding associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with sleep duration could shed light on ways to promote sufficient sleep.

22099237

Health information systems in small practices. Improving the delivery of clinical preventive services.

Despite strong evidence that clinical preventive services (CPS) reduce morbidity and mortality, CPS performance has not improved in adult primary care. In addition to implementing electronic health records (EHRs), key factors for improving CPS include providing actionable information at the point of care, technical support staff, and quality-improvement assistance. These resources are not typically available in small practices.

22099238

Efficacy of a weight-loss website based on positive deviance. A randomized trial.

Web-based interventions for weight control could promote more-widespread dissemination of weight-loss opportunities; however, they remain limited in effectiveness. Incorporating weight-control practices used by individuals with long-term weight-loss success ("positive deviants") may improve the efficacy of web-based weight control interventions.

22099239

A cluster randomized trial of sun protection at elementary schools. Results from year 2.

Elementary schools are one potential venue for sun protection interventions that reduce childhood sun exposure.

22099240

Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccination among adults with asthma, U.S., 2010.

The 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus (2009 H1N1) was first identified in April 2009 and quickly spread around the world. The first doses of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine (2009 H1N1 vaccine) became available in the U.S. in early October 2009. Because people with asthma are at increased risk plications from influenza, people with asthma were included among the initial prioritized groups.

22099241

Medical costs attributable to child maltreatment a systematic review of short- and long-term effects.

Child maltreatment is a serious and prevalent public health problem, which has been shown to be associated with numerous short- and long-term effects on mental and physical health. Few estimates of the medical costs of these effects have been published to date. To determine the range and quality of currently available estimates and identify the gaps and needs for future research, this article reviews research on medical costs of child maltreatment.

22099242

Public health surveillance and knowing about health in the context of growing sources of health data.

The past decade has brought substantial changes in how data related to munity's health are collected, stored, and used to inform decisions about health interventions. Despite these changes, the purpose of public health surveillance has remained constant for more than a century. Public health surveillance is the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data with the a priori purpose of preventing or controlling disease or injury, or of identifying unusual events of public health importance, followed by the dissemination and use of information for public health action. Surveillance is an important and necessary contributor to knowledge of munity's health. The public health system is responsible for ensuring that public health surveillance is conducted with appropriate practices and safeguards in order to maintain the public's trust.

22099243

The in-service examination score as a predictor of success on the American Board of Preventive Medicine certification examination.

To date, there has been no study correlating the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) in-service exam (ISE) with the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) certification exam.

22099248

Patient-centeredness in long-term care of older patients - a structured interview.

The aim of this study was to describe assessments of older people about patient-centeredness in the long-term care of Estonian hospitals, and to determine correlations between patients' assessments and their socio-demographic characters.

22099250

Structural studies of the lipopolysaccharide of Moritella viscosa strain M2-226.

The structure of the O-specific side chain of the lipopolysaccharide from the Gram-negative psychrophilic bacterium Moritella viscosa strain M2-226, responsible for the winter ulcer in Atlantic salmon, has been determined. Monosaccharide analysis and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy were employed to elucidate the structure. It was concluded that the polysaccharide posed of a trisaccharide repeating unit with the following structure: →3)-β-D-GlcpNAc-(1→4)-[α-D-GlcpA-(1→3)]-α-L-Fucp-(1→ .

22099251

A method for determining reactive hydroxyl groups in natural fibers: application to ramie fiber and its modification.

The hydrophilic features of natural fibers (NFs) hinder the widespread application of natural posites due to the hydroxyl groups (-OH) presented in the cellulose molecule. Detecting reactive hydroxyl groups in NFs is very important for optimizing the modification process of natural fibers. This paper proposes a simple and practical methodology to measure reactive hydroxyl groups in NFs using a isocyanate group, a method we term the isocyanate group back titration (IBT) method. Application of the IBT method to ramie fiber with toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) and hexadecanol indicated that the measured value of reactive hydroxyl groups was about 150 mg KOH/g, which was less than the theoretical value of hydroxyl groups in the ramie fiber being tested. The FTIR analysis revealed that the TDI and hexadecanol were grafted onto the surface of the ramie fiber, leading the modified ramie fiber to be hydrophobic. Thus, the IBT method is also useful for modifying the surface properties of NFs and improving patibility with polymers, and finally leading to good mechanical properties of posites.

22099252

Air-coupled MUMPs capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers with resonant cavities.

This work reports performance improvements of air-coupled capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) using resonant cavities. In order to perform this work, we have designed and manufactured a CMUT employing multi-user microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) processes (MUMPs). The transducer was designed using Helmholtz resonator principles. This was characterised by the dimensions of the cavity and several acoustic ports, which had the form of holes in the CMUT plate. The MUMPs process has the advantage of being low cost which allows the manufacture of economic prototypes. In this paper we show the effects of the resonant cavities and acoustic ports in CMUTs using laser Doppler vibrometry and acoustical measurements. We also use Finite Element (FE) simulations in order to support experimental measurements. The results show that it is possible to enhance the output pressure and bandwidth in air by tuning the resonance frequency of the plate (f(p)) with that of the Helmholtz resonator (f(H)). The experimental measurements show the plate resonance along with an additional resonance in the output pressure spectrum. This appears due to the effect of the new resonant cavities in the transducer. FE simulations show an increase of 11 dB in the output pressure with respect to that of a theoretical vacuum-sealed cavity MUMPs CMUT by properly tuning the transducer. The bandwidth has been also analyzed by calculating the mechanical Q factor of the tuned CMUT. This has been estimated as pared with 7.75 for the vacuum-sealed cavity MUMPs CMUT.

22099253

Interaction between parallel polymer fibers insonificated by ultrasound of low/mild intensity: an analytical theory and experiments.

The purpose of this article is to develop a simple mathematical model to address some bioeffects which may be caused by a static attractive force between two long neighboring parallel thin fibers (for example, a pair of collagen bundles of connective tissue) when they are insonificated by a continuous (CW) traveling plane ultrasound (US) under the condition that the fiber length (L)≫the distance between them (h) and h≪the wavelength of US (λ). The theory predicts that there is an attractive force between these fibers when they are exposed to the CW US with an intensity of a magnitude of 100mW/cm(2). The relationship between the relative approaching velocity of the fibers and the acoustic pressure amplitude can be calculated using the theory. An experiment was performed to verify the theoretical predictions. A plastic test chamber (diameter × height=6mm × 3.5mm) with a cap made of a sound-absorbing material and filled full with distilled water was placed on a microscope stage. A polymer fiber pair of 100μm diameter (d) and 4mm length (L) were immersed in water and aligned parallel in a plane which is normal to the US propagation direction. They floated at the central area of the chamber and h ≤10d. A 25mm diameter, 1MHz quartz crystal was used as an ultrasound source as well as the bottom of the test chamber. The quartz crystal was gold-coated on both sides, but a 5mm diameter center was left transparent (electrode free) to enable optical observation via a microscope. The maximum acoustic intensity, I(max), of the CW wave generated by the source was set at 300mW/cm(2); the corresponding acoustic pressure amplitude was 100kPa. The magnitude of the average approaching velocity of the fiber pair due to the attractive force was found in agreement with that predicted by the theory.

22099254

Modeling powder encapsulation in dosator-based machines: II. Experimental evaluation.

A theoretical model was previously derived to predict powder encapsulation in dosator-based machines. The theoretical basis of the model was discussed earlier. In this part; the model was evaluated experimentally using two powder formulations with substantially different flow behavior. Encapsulation experiments were performed using a Zanasi encapsulation machine under two sets of experimental conditions. Model predicted es such as encapsulation fill weight and plug height pared to those experimentally obtained. Results showed a high correlation between predicted and actual es demonstrating the model's success in predicting the encapsulation of both formulations. The model is a potentially useful in silico analysis tool that can be used for capsule dosage form development in accordance to quality by design (QbD) principles.

22099255

Tunneled-cuffed catheter implanted into the accessory hemiazygos vein because of occlusion of the left innominate vein.

Hemodialyzed patients are at risk of multiple catheterizations. Nephrologists performing such procedures need to be familiar with congenital and acquired vascular abnormalities. We describe a successful insertion and use of a cuffed-tunneled catheter in a patient with unusual anatomy of the central venous system. Computed tomography angiography revealed thrombosis of the right subclavian vein and bilateral occlusion of innominate veins. The left internal jugular and subclavian veins joined to form a large vessel that drained through the accessory hemiazygos and azygos veins into the superior vena cava. The catheter was implanted through the left internal jugular vein into the accessory hemiazygos vein. The presented case demonstrates that the catheter can be implanted into distended collateral, especially when no other location is possible.

22099256

Synthesis of 5-aryl-1,4-benzodiazepine derivatives attached in resorcinaren-PAMAM dendrimers and their anti-cancer activity.

A series of resorcinaren-PAMAM dendrimers with benzodiazepines in the periphery were synthesized and their anticancer properties studied. The synthesized dendrimers showed potential anticancer activities, which were enhanced in the presence of a chloro-substituent in the second ring of the 5-aryl-1,4-benzodiazepine. The dendrimers were characterized by IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR, UV-vis absorption, electrospray (ES) and/or MALDI-TOF mass spectrometries.

22099257

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel small molecule inhibitors of the influenza virus protein NS1.

Influenza is a continuing world-wide public health problem that causes significant morbidity and mortality during seasonal epidemics and sporadic pandemics. The existing vaccination program is variably effective from year to year, and drug resistance to available antivirals is a growing problem, making the development of additional antivirals an important challenge. Influenza virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is the centerpiece of the viral response to the host interferon (IFN) system. NS1 was demonstrated previously to be a potential therapeutic target for antiviral therapy by the identification of specific small-molecule inhibitors. One pound, NSC125044, was subjected to chemical evaluation. Initial synthetic prised simplifying the core structure by removing unwanted functionality and determination of key features important for activity. Several subclasses of molecules were designed and synthesized to further probe activity and develop the basis for a structure-activity relationship. Apparent potency, as judged by activity in virus replication assays, increased dramatically for some analogs, without cytotoxicity. Results suggest that the target binding site tolerates hydrophobic bulk as well as having a preference for weakly basic substituents.

22099258

Infantile spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type I (SMARD 1): an atypical phenotype and review of the literature.

Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress (SMARD 1) is a very rare autosomal recessive motor neuron disorder that affects infants and is characterized by diaphragmatic palsy, symmetrical distal muscular weakness, muscle atrophy, peripheral sensory neuropathy and autonomic nerve dysfunction. SMARD 1 is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and the mutations have been identified in the gene encoding immunoglobulin μ-binding protein 2 (IGHMBP2), located on chromosome 11q13. It is considered a fatal form of infantile motoneuron disease and most of the patients dies within the first 13 months of life. We present a female child with genetically confirmed SMARD 1 displaying a mild phenotype and no severe signs of respiratory involvement, typically found in this form, up to 38 months despite a diaphragmatic palsy diagnosed at 6 months of age. Therefore, our clinical observation suggests that respiratory failure is not secondary, in any case, to the diaphragmatic palsy but other pathogenetic mechanisms might be involved.

22099261

Cognitive load impacts error evaluation within medial-frontal cortex.

In the present experiment we investigated the impact of cognitive load on feedback evaluation by a learning system within medial-frontal cortex. pleted a task in which they had to use feedback to learn to accurately estimate the duration of one second. In two experimental conditions, we manipulated the cognitive load of the feedback stimuli (low load versus high load). Our results revealed that the amplitude of the feedback error-related negatvity (fERN), ponent of the event-related brain potential (ERP) thought to index a learning system within medial-frontal, was reduced in the high load condition. Further, an analysis of the behavioural data revealed that in the high load condition participants made less effective adjustments to their estimates following error feedback. Taken together, our data suggest that the functional efficacy of the medial-frontal learning system is reduced as the cognitive load of feeback signals increase. Moreover, our data indicate that the effect of increased cognitive load is to increase the trial-to-trial temporal variability of feedback stimulus evaluation.

22099262

Mild hypothermia enhanced the protective effect of protein therapy with transductive anti-death FNK protein using a rat focal transient cerebral ischemia model.

We previously reported that the protein transduction domain fused FNK (PTD-FNK) protein, which was derived from anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL protein and thereby gained higher anti-cell death activity, has a strong neuroprotective effect on rat focal brain ischemia models. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PTD-FNK protein and bined therapy on cerebral infarction. Male SD rats were subjected to 120min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with intraluminal thread. Rats were divided into 4 groups: 1) 37°C vehicle administration (37V); 2) 37°C PTD-FNK administration (37F); 3) 35°C vehicle administration (35V); and 4) 35°C PTD-FNK administration (35F). PTD-FNK protein was intravenously administered 60min after the induction of MCAO. Hypothermia (35°C) was applied during 120min MCAO. Rats were sacrificed 24h later; infarct volumes were measured, and Bax, Bcl-2, TUNEL and caspase-12 immunostaining was evaluated. There was significant infarct volume reduction in 37F, 35V, and 35F pared to 37V. There was also a significant difference between 37F and 35F. This suggests that hypothermia enhanced the effect of PTD-FNK. Similar results were found in neurological symptoms. Caspase-12 and TUNEL staining showed a significant difference between 37F and 35F; however, Bax and Bcl-2 staining failed to show a difference. In this study we showed an additive protective effect of hypothermia on PTD-FNK treatment, and immunohistological results showed that the protective mechanisms might involve the inhibition of apoptotic pathways through caspase-12, but not through Bcl-2.

22099264

The benefits of using anchorage miniplates: are they compatible with everyday orthodontic practice?

Nowadays, it is difficult to ignore the major role played by orthodontic anchorage. Given our convictions and after several years of using these systems, we believe it is time to take stock. Is there any real benefit to using them? And if so, when? What systems should we use? Miniscrews or miniplates? What are the indications for each of these systems? Are patible with everyday orthodontic practice? In a nutshell, are these orthodontic anchorage devices myth or practical reality?