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['Long noncoding RNA prostate cancer gene antigen 3 (PCA3) is one of the most prostate cancer-specific genes at present. Consequently, the prostate-specific expression and the sharp up-regulation of PCA3 RNA in prostate cancer suggest a unique transcriptional regulation, which possibly can be attributed to promoter polymorphism. In this study, we investigated a short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphism of TAAA in the promoter region of PCA3 gene found in our previous study in prostate cancer (PCa) patients and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) patients, aiming to evaluate the association between the STR and increased risk for PCa.', '120 PCa cases and 120 benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) cases were identified among participants. The region encompassing the TAAA repeat was amplified with a specific primer set we designed and screened by PCR-based cloning and sequencing in paired peripheral blood leukocytes and prostate tissues. Genotype-specific risks were estimated as odds ratios (ORs) associated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and adjusted for age by means of unconditional logistic regression.', '5 PCA3 TAAA STR polymorphisms and 8 genotypes were found in both peripheral blood leukocytes and prostate tissues, the carriers with more TAAA repeats were associated with increased risk for PCa than individuals having less TAAA repeats. Interestingly, 18 (15.0%) of 120 PCa patients had more (TAAA)n repeats in prostate tissues than that in peripheral blood leukocytes, and 3 (2.5%) of 120 had less (TAAA)n repeats in prostate tissues.']
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['We examined the role of thrombus recanalization and ongoing blood flow in the process of thrombus resolution by comparing two murine in vivo models of deep venous thrombosis.', 'In CD1 mice, we performed surgical inferior vena cava ligation (stasis thrombosis), stenosis (thrombosis with recanalization), or sham procedure. We analyzed thrombus weight over time as a measure of thrombus resolution and quantified the messenger RNA and protein levels of membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs) as well as effectors of the plasmin complex at days 4, 8, and 12 after surgery.', 'Despite similar initial thrombus size, the presence of ongoing blood flow (stenosis model) was associated with a 45.91% subsequent improvement in thrombus resolution at day 8 and 12.57% at day 12 compared with stasis thrombosis (ligation model). Immunoblot and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated a difference in MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity at day 8 between the two models (P = .03 and P = .006, respectively) as well as a difference in MT2-MMP gene expression at day 8 (P = .044) and day 12 (P = .03) and MT1-MMP protein expression at day 4 (P = .021). Histologic analyses revealed distinct areas of recanalization in the thrombi of the stenosis model compared with the ligation model as well as the recruitment of inflammatory cells, especially macrophages, and a focal pattern of localized expression of MT1-MMP and MT3-MMP proteins surrounding the areas of recanalization in the stenosis model.']
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['Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (ovine) (CroFab; FabAV) is used in the treatment of symptomatic crotaline envenomations in North America. Unlike Antivenin (Crotalidae) Polyvalent, which is approved for treatment of crotaline envenomation in North and South America, FabAV is manufactured using only venoms from crotaline snakes native to the United States. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of FabAV in the neutralization of venom from 2 South American crotaline snakes: Crotalus durissus terrificus (tropical rattlesnake) and Bothrops atrox (fer-de-lance).', "A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled murine model of intraperitoneal venom injection was used. Venom potency was determined in preliminary median lethal dose (LD 50) dosing studies. Study animals were then divided into 7 groups: (1) C durissus terrificus venom (Sigma-Aldrich Co.)+FabAV, (2) C durissus terrificus venom (Sigma-Aldrich Co.)+0.9% normal saline solution, (3) C durissus terrificus venom (Biotoxins Inc.)+FabAV, (4) C durissus terrificus venom (Biotoxins Inc.)+normal saline solution, (5) B atrox venom+FabAV, (6) B atrox venom+normal saline solution, and (7) FabAV+normal saline solution. Twice the estimated LD 50 was the chosen venom dose, and the amount of FabAV injected was 10 times the amount needed for venom neutralization. Statistical analysis included Fisher's exact test and log-rank testing to compare survival rates and times.", 'The venom LD 50 was found in preliminary studies to be 0.9 mg/kg and 1.35 mg/kg for the C durissus terrificus venom obtained from Sigma-Aldrich Co. and Biotoxins Inc., respectively. The LD 50 for B atrox venom was 5.0 mg/kg. All animals receiving venom only and saline solution died. Animals receiving FabAV together with either venom survived to the end of the 24-hour observation period ( P <.001). Comparison of survival times between groups demonstrated a significant difference in time to death between venom-only control groups and the FabAV+venom groups (P <.001). All animals in the FabAV+normal saline solution group survived to the conclusion of the study.']
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['Anemia is a frequent condition in patients with chronic kidney disease due to a reduction in the production of erythropoietin. Patients with inflammation respond less well to treatment with erythropoietin, possibly because the increased production of hepcidin reduces the availability of iron for hematopoiesis. Some studies suggest that pentoxifylline has anti-inflammatory properties and could be used as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of anemia.', 'The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of pentoxifylline on serum hepcidin in chronic hemodialysis patients with inflammation.', '71 adult patients on hemodialysis with C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥0.5 mg/dl in screening tests; patients were randomized to the treatment group (oral pentoxifylline 400 mg/thrice-weekly) or the control group for 3 months follow-up.', 'During the study, a decrease in hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and hepcidin was observed in both groups. However, these reductions were related to the time and not to the drug. There was no difference in the concentrations of CRP, ferritin, and albumin over time in either group.']
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['Chemotherapy followed by filgrastim is the most common strategy used to mobilize autologous peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Unfortunately, this method does not always lead to adequate PBSC collection in heavily treated patients with relapsed malignancies or if multiple transplants are required. Plerixafor, a hematopoietic stem cell mobilizer that inhibits the CXCR4 chemokine receptor and blocks binding of its cognate ligand, stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α), has been shown to be safe and efficacious in the mobilization of autologous PBSC in adults. Despite its use in adults, little evidence exists to support its use in children.', "We report a retrospective review of 16 consecutive pediatric patients receiving plerixafor as part of their mobilization regimen at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. All patients but one were given 0.24 mg/kg dose of plerixafor and the median number of plerixafor doses received was two (range, one to four doses). One patient received higher doses of plerixafor.", 'An adequate number of CD34+ cells were obtained in 14 of 16 patients (87.5%). The median number of CD34+ cells collected for patients who reached collection goal was 6 × 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (range, 1.6 × 10(6) -12.4 × 10(6) /kg). No acute adverse events were noted to be attributable to plerixafor administration.']
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['Schizophrenia and autism are clinically distinct yet both disorders are characterised by theory of mind (ToM) deficits. Autistic individuals fail to appreciate false beliefs, yet understand the causal connections between behavioural events and simple emotions. Findings of this type have promoted the view that ToM deficits in autism reflect a domain-specific difficulty with appreciating the representational nature of epistemic mental states (i.e., beliefs and intentions and not emotions). This study examines whether the same holds true for schizophrenia.', "A picture-sequencing task assessed capacity to infer false beliefs in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. To assess emotion attribution, participants were shown cartoon strips of events likely to elicit strong emotional reactions in story characters. Characters' faces were blanked out. Participants were instructed to think about how the characters would be feeling in order to match up the cards depicting facial affect appropriately. Participants later named emotions depicted in facial affect cards.", 'Patients were as capable as controls of identifying cartoon facial expressions, yet had greater difficulties with: (a) attributing emotions based on circumstances; and (b) inferring false beliefs.']
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['The mechanisms by which alcohol consumption causes cancer have not been established due to a lack of experimental studies.', 'A chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model that bore human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) was used to determine whether the administration of physiologically relevant doses of ethanol could stimulate tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in tumors. HT1080 cells were inoculated onto the "upper CAM" on Day 8, saline or ethanol was administrated at a dose of 0.25 g/kg per day on the CAM, and the tumors were harvested on Day 17. VEGF mRNA and protein were determined by Northern blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intratumoral vascular volume density (IVVD) was determined by point counting on periodic acid-Schiff-stained sections. Intravasation of HT1080 cells was determined using human-Alu polymerase chain reaction analysis. The effects of ethanol on VEGF expression and cell proliferation were examined in cultured HT1080 cells.', 'Ethanol treatment for 9 days caused a 2.2-fold increase in tumor volume (867 +/- 138 mm(3) vs. 402 +/- 28 mm(3)), a 2.1-fold increase in IVVD (0.021 +/- 0.004 mm(3)/mm(3) vs. 0.010 mm(3)/mm(3) +/- 0.002 mm(3)/mm(3)), and a significant increase in VEGF mRNA or protein expression in tumors compared with a group of control embryos (n = 6 embryos; P < 0.01). Ethanol treatment caused an increase > 8-fold in the intravasated HT1080 cells in the CAM group compared with the control group (n = 6 embryos; P < 0.01). Physiologically relevant levels of ethanol (10 mM and 20 mM) caused a dose-related increase in VEGF mRNA and protein expression in cultured HT1080 cells. The ethanol-HT1080-conditioned media increased the proliferation of endothelial cells, but not of HT1080 cells.']
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['TNF-α has been postulated to be a critical mediator contributing to airway inflammation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of TNF-α in the induction of Th17 and Th2 cells related to asthma pathogenesis.', 'To evaluate detailed mechanisms for the modulation of IL-23 by TNF-α in sensitization period.', 'During sensitization period, 10μg of rat anti-mouse TNF-α mAb was intravenously administrated one hour before the application of OVA and 0.1μg of LPS. To see the relation between TNF-α and associated effectors cytokine, we replenished TNF-α KO mice with IL-23 during sensitization period. To assess cellular resources, CD11c+ cells isolated from lung tissue after sensitization were treated with anti-TNF-α Ab.', 'Treatment of anti-TNF-α mAb during sensitization period significantly reduced airway eosinophilia, serum OVA-specific IgE levels and methacholine AHR compared to isotype Ab. Anti-TNF-α mAb treated mice showed significant reduction in the levels of IL-23 after sensitization in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as well as IL-17A, IL-4 levels in BALF after challenge compared with isotype Ab treated mice. Supplementation of IL-23 in TNF-α KO mice resulted in complete restoration of eosinophilic airway inflammation, AHR, and IL-17A and IL-4 expression in CD4+ T cells. Anti-TNF-α mAb treatment after sensitization significantly diminished the population of IL-23p19-secreting CD11c+ cells in lung.']
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['Chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps with subsequent nasal blocking, anosmia, and relapsing infections are frequent in the rhinological practice. Often, recurrent disease necessitates repetitive conservative therapy and surgical treatment (functional endoscopic sinus surgery). This study was initiated to scrutinize the relationship of wheat and milk allergies to chronic polypoid sinusitis (CPS) and recurrent disease.', 'Blood samples of 50 healthy controls and 50 patients with clinically and radiologically diagnosed CPS and nasal polyposis were screened for common food allergies including wheat and milk allergy. On inclusion into the study, none of the patients reported a symptomatic food allergy.', 'Fifteen of 100 tested subjects (15%) revealed a previously undiagnosed allergy to inhalant (dust, rye, and pollens) and other food allergens (corn and egg white). Six of 50 patients (12%) with CPS exhibited a wheat allergy, and a milk allergy could be identified in 7 patients (14%). In the control group, seven healthy subjects (14%) showed a wheat allergy and no case of milk allergy could be identified (p = 0.0125).']
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['Candida albicans is a human fungal pathogen, able to cause both superficial and serious, systemic diseases and is able to switch from yeast cells to long, tube-like hyphae, depending on the prevailing environmental conditions. Both morphological forms of C. albicans are found in infected tissue, often in combination with Staphylococcus aureus. Although bacterial adhesion to the different morphologies of C. albicans has been amply studied, possible differences in staphylococcal adhesion forces along the length of C. albicans hyphae have never been determined. In this study, we aim to verify the hypothesis that the forces mediating S. aureus NCTC8325-4GFP adhesion to hyphae vary along the length of C. albicans SC5314 and MB1 hyphae, as compared with adhesion to yeast cells.', 'C. albicans hyphae were virtually divided into a "tip" (the growing and therefore youngest part of the hyphae), a "middle" and a so-called "head" region (the yeast cell from which germination started). Adhesion forces between S. aureus NCTC8325-4GFP and the different regions of C. albicans SC5314 hyphae were measured using atomic force microscopy. Strong adhesion forces were found at the tip and middle regions of C. albicans hyphae (-4.1 nN and -4.0 nN, respectively), while much smaller adhesion forces were measured at the head region (-0.3 nN). Adhesion forces exerted by the head region were comparable with the forces arising from budding yeast cells (-0.5 nN). A similar regional dependence of the staphylococcal adhesion forces was found for the clinical isolate involved in this study, C. albicans MB1.']
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['Platelets are involved in various thrombotic events, often by means of platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs). It is likely that platelets are also involved in inflammation. Because inflammatory processes play a central role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we sought to determine whether PMPs are present in this disease.', 'This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 19 RA patients and 10 healthy controls. Nine of the patients had active RA (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] > or =28 mm/hour and/or C-reactive protein [CRP] level > or =28 mg/liter, > or =9 painful joints, and > or =6 swollen joints), and 10 had inactive disease (ESR < or =27 mm/hour, CRP < or =27 mg/liter, no tender joints, and no swollen joints). Platelet counts and PMP numbers were determined using cell counter and flow cytometry, respectively.', 'Platelet counts in the 3 groups were similar. However, levels of PMPs in RA patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (median 616 versus 118 x 10(6)/liter; P = 0.005). PMP levels were higher in patients with active RA than in those with inactive RA (median 2,104 versus 504 x 10(6)/liter; P > 0.05). Moreover, PMP levels correlated with disease activity (r = 0.67, P = 0.05).']
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['Liver stiffness can be measured noninvasively to assess liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. In patients with chronic liver diseases, level of fibrosis predicts liver-related complications and survival. We evaluated the abilities of liver stiffness, results from noninvasive tests for fibrosis, and liver biopsy analyses to predict overall survival or survival without liver-related death with a 5-year period.', 'In a consecutive cohort of 1457 patients with chronic hepatitis C, we assessed fibrosis and, on the same day, liver stiffness, performed noninvasive tests of fibrosis (FibroTest, the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index, FIB-4), and analyzed liver biopsy samples. We analyzed data on death, liver-related death, and liver transplantation collected during a 5-year follow-up period.', 'At 5 years, 77 patients had died (39 liver-related deaths) and 16 patients had undergone liver transplantation. Overall survival was 91.7% and survival without liver-related death was 94.4%. Survival was significantly decreased among patients diagnosed with severe fibrosis, regardless of the noninvasive method of analysis. All methods were able to predict shorter survival times in this large population; liver stiffness and results of FibroTest had higher predictive values. Patient outcomes worsened as liver stiffness and FibroTest values increased. Prognostic values of stiffness (P<.0001) and FibroTest results (P<.0001) remained after they were adjusted for treatment response, patient age, and estimates of necroinflammatory grade.']
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['Prostate cancer (PCa) is a clinically and pathologically heterogeneous disease. The rapid development of sequencing technology has the potential to deliver new biomarkers with emphasis on aggressive disease and to revolutionise personalised cancer treatment. However, a prostate harbouring cancer commonly contains multiple separate tumour foci, with the potential to aggravate tumour sampling. The level of intraprostatic tumour heterogeneity remains to be determined.', 'To determine the level of intraprostatic tumour heterogeneity through genome-wide, high-resolution profiling of multiple tumour samples from the same individual.', 'Multiple tumour samples were obtained from four individuals following radical prostatectomy. One individual (SWE-1) contained >70% cancer cells in all tumour samples, whereas the other three (SWE-2 to SWE-4) required the use of laser capture microdissection for tumour cell enrichment. Subsequently, DNA was extracted from all tissue samples, and exome sequencing was performed. All tumour foci of SWE-1 were also profiled using a high-resolution array for the identification of copy number alterations (CNA).', 'Shared somatic high-frequency single nucleotide variants (SNV) and CNAs were used to infer the level of intraprostatic tumour heterogeneity.']
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['Replication deficient adenoviruses (Ad) vectors are common tools in gene therapy. Since Ad vectors are known to activate innate and adaptive immunity, we investigated whether intratracheal administration of Ad vectors alone is sufficient to induce lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis.', 'We instilled Ad viruses ranging from 107 to 1.625×109 ifu/mouse as well as the same volume of PBS and bleomycin. 14 and 21 days after administration, we collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and mouse lung tissues. We measured the protein concentration, total and differential cell counts, and TGF-β1 production, performed Trichrome staining and Sircol assay, determined gene and protein levels of profibrotic cytokines, MMPs, and Wnt signaling proteins, and conducted TUNEL staining and co-immunofluorescence for GFP and α-SMA staining.', 'Instillation of high dose Ad vectors (1.625×109 ifu/mouse) into mouse lungs induced high levels of protein content, inflammatory cells, and TGF-β1 in BALF, comparable to those in bleomycin-instilled lungs. The collagen content and mRNA levels of Col1a1, Col1a2, PCNA, and α-SMA were also increased in the lungs. Instillation of both bleomycin and Ad vectors increased expression levels of TNFα and IL-1β but not IL-10. Instillation of bleomycin but not Ad increased the expression of IL-1α, IL-13 and IL-16. Treatment with bleomycin or Ad vectors increased expression levels of integrin α1, α5, and αv, MMP9, whereas treatment with bleomycin but not Ad vectors induced MMP2 expression levels. Both bleomycin and Ad vectors induced mRNA levels of Wnt2, 2b, 5b, and Lrp6. Intratracheal instillation of Ad viruses also induced DNA damages and Ad viral infection-mediated fibrosis is not limited to the infection sites.']
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['Elimination of Plasmodium vivax malaria would be greatly facilitated by the development of an effective vaccine. A comprehensive and systematic characterization of antibodies to P. vivax antigens in exposed populations is useful in guiding rational vaccine design.', 'In this study, we investigated antibodies to a large library of P. vivax entire ectodomain merozoite proteins in 2 Asia-Pacific populations, analysing the relationship of antibody levels with markers of current and cumulative malaria exposure, and socioeconomic and clinical indicators. 29 antigenic targets of natural immunity were identified. Of these, 12 highly-immunogenic proteins were strongly associated with age and thus cumulative lifetime exposure in Solomon Islanders (P<0.001-0.027). A subset of 6 proteins, selected on the basis of immunogenicity and expression levels, were used to examine antibody levels in plasma samples from a population of young Papua New Guinean children with well-characterized individual differences in exposure. This analysis identified a strong association between reduced risk of clinical disease and antibody levels to P12, P41, and a novel hypothetical protein that has not previously been studied, PVX_081550 (IRR 0.46-0.74; P<0.001-0.041).']
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We found that strontium stimulated SRE-luc activity in HEK-293 cells transfected with full-length CASR but not in cells expressing the alternatively spliced CASR construct lacking exon 5. In contrast, we found that MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts that lack CASR as well as osteoblasts derived from CASR null mice respond to millimolar concentrations of strontium. The response to strontium in osteoblasts was nonadditive to a panel of extracellular cations, including aluminum, gadolinium, and calcium, suggesting a common mechanism of action. In contrast, neither the CASR agonist magnesium nor the calcimimetic NPS-R568 activated SRE activity in osteoblasts, but the response to these agonists was imparted by transfection of CASR into these osteoblasts, consistent with the presence of distinct cation-sensing mechanisms. Co-expression of the dominant negative Galphaq(305-359) minigene also inhibited cation-stimulated SRE activity in osteoblasts lacking known CASR. These findings are consistent with strontium activation of a novel Galphaq-coupled extracellular cation-sensing receptor in osteoblasts with distinct cation specificity.
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['Transient episodes of ischemia in a remote organ or tissue (remote ischemic preconditioning, RIPC) can attenuate myocardial injury. Myocardial damage is associated with tissue remodeling and the matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2/9) are crucially involved in these events. Here we investigated the effects of RIPC on the activities of heart tissue MMP-2/9 and their correlation with serum concentrations of cardiac troponin T (cTnT), a marker for myocardial damage.', 'In cardiosurgical patients with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) RIPC was induced by four 5\xa0minute\xa0cycles of upper limb ischemia/reperfusion. Cardiac tissue was obtained before as well as after CPB and serum cTnT concentrations were measured. Tissue derived from control patients (N\u2009=\u200917) with high cTnT concentrations (≥0.32\xa0ng/ml) and RIPC patients (N\u2009=\u200918) with low cTnT (≤0.32\xa0ng/ml) was subjected to gelatin zymography to quantify MMP-2/9 activities.', "In cardiac biopsies obtained before CPB, activities of MMP-2/9 were attenuated in the RIPC group (MMP-2: Control, 1.13\u2009±\u20090.13\xa0a.u.; RIPC, 0.71\u2009±\u20090.12\xa0a.u.; P\u2009<\u20090.05. MMP-9: Control, 1.50\u2009±\u20090.16\xa0a.u.; RIPC, 0.87\u2009±\u20090.14\xa0a.u.; P\u2009<\u20090.01), while activities of the pro-MMPs were not altered (P\u2009>\u20090.05). In cardiac biopsies taken after CPB activities of pro- and active MMP-2/9 were not different between the groups (P\u2009>\u20090.05). Spearman's rank tests showed that MMP-2/9 activities in cardiac tissue obtained before CPB were positively correlated with postoperative cTnT serum levels (MMP-2, P\u2009=\u20090.016; MMP-9, P\u2009=\u20090.015)."]
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['In pre-school children suffering from pure non-inflammatory hyperplasia of the tonsils, tonsillotomy has recently been recommended in preference to tonsillectomy. Absence of inflammatory tonsillitis in the previous medical history is accepted as evidence that tonsillotomy is indicated. In this study, we therefore examine whether and to what degree the medical history correlates with the histological findings.', 'In a prospective study 59 children admitted to our department for tonsillectomy were each allocated to one of three groups according to how many episodes of acute tonsillitis they had been suffering from per year prior to admission: group 1, 0 episodes of tonsillitis/year; group 2, 1 or 2 episodes/year; group 3, >2 episodes/year. These groups were then compared with the diagnoses yielded by histological examination of the excised tonsils, which were classified into (1) pure hyperplasia; (2) chronic inflammatory tonsillitis; (3) hyperplasia and chronic inflammatory hyperplasia; and (4) chronic inflammation with peritonsillar scarring.', 'In group 1 (n=23) pure hyperplasia was found in only 2 cases, while the tonsils of all other children were affected by chronic inflammatory tissue changes, either alone or in association with hyperplasia. In groups 2 und 3 most tonsillar specimens showed histological characteristics of chronic inflammation, but non-inflammatory hyperplasia alone was also found in 5 cases.']
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['Family communication is important for delivering high quality end-of-life care in the intensive care unit, yet little research has been conducted to describe and evaluate clinician-family communication with non-English-speaking family members. We assessed clinician-family communication during intensive care unit family conferences involving interpreters and compared it with conferences without interpreters.', 'Cross-sectional descriptive study.', 'Family conferences in the intensive care units of four hospitals during which discussions about withdrawing life support or delivery of bad news were likely to occur.', 'Seventy family members from ten interpreted conferences and 214 family members from 51 noninterpreted conferences. Nine different physicians led interpreted conferences and 36 different physicians led noninterpreted conferences.', 'All 61 conferences were audiotaped. We measured the duration of the time that families, interpreters, and clinicians spoke during the conference, and we tallied the number of supportive statements issued by clinicians in each conference.', "The mean conference time was 26.3 +/- 13 mins for interpreted and 32 +/- 15 mins for noninterpreted conferences (p = 0.25). The duration of clinician speech was 10.9 +/- 5.8 mins for interpreted conferences and 19.6 +/- 10.2 mins for noninterpreted conferences (p = 0.001). The amount of clinician speech as a proportion of total speech time was 42.7% in interpreted conferences and 60.5% in noninterpreted conferences (p = 0.004). Interpreter speech accounted for 7.9 +/- 4.4 mins and 32% of speech in interpreter conferences. Interpreted conferences contained fewer clinician statements providing support for families, including valuing families' input (p = 0.01), easing emotional burdens (p < 0.01), and active listening (p < 0.01)."]
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['Recent studies have indicated the value of increased blood eosinophil counts for the diagnosis of acute cellular rejection (ACR) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, the relationship between eosinophil count and late ACR at more than 6 months after OLT is still unclear.', 'We sought to retrospectively analyzed the ACR predictive value of eosinophil counts. In the day before or the day of biopsy among 40 biopsies performed on 37 patients beyond 6 months after OLT.', 'Relative eosinophil count was significantly higher in the ACR (n = 24) than the non-ACR cohort, albeit with no significant difference in absolute eosinophil count. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed an absolute eosinophil count of 0.145 × 10(9)/L and a relative eosinophil count of 2.3% to show the highest Youden index with area under the ROC curves of 0.746 and 0.813, respectively. When absolute eosinophil count ≥ 0.145 × 10(9)/L or relative eosinophil count ≥ 2.3% was defined to be elevated, the sensitivity and specificity to predict ACR were 45.8% and 87.5%, and 75% and 87.5%, respectively. When the absolute eosinophil count ≥ 0.285 × 10(9)/L or relative eosinophil count ≥ 3% was defined as elevated, the sensitivity and specificity were 25% and 100%, and 50% and 100%, respectively. All patients with an absolute eosinophil count ≥ 0.285 × 10(9)/L showed a relative eosinophil count ≥ 3%.']
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['Collagen anal fistula plug treatment of transsphincteric fistulas produces variable results. The purpose of our study was to determine whether long-tract fistulas (>4 cm) correlated with successful closure.', "All patients undergoing transsphincteric cryptoglandular fistula repair with anal fistula plugs were enrolled in a prospective database. Patients with Crohn's disease were excluded. Fistula tract length was measured intraoperatively by subtracting the remaining plug length from the original plug size. All procedures used standardized techniques and postoperative care pathways. The primary outcome was complete fistula closure assessed through both postoperative outpatient visits and a follow-up telephone questionnaire.", 'Forty-one patients with 42 fistula tracks were enrolled over a 39-month period. Complete closure was achieved in 18 of 42 (43%) fistulas at a mean follow-up of 25 months. Closure was not associated with gender, age, tract location, duration of seton, or length of follow-up. Successful closure was significantly associated with increased tract length, because fistulas longer than 4 cm were nearly 3 times more likely to heal compared with shorter fistulas ((14/23, 61%) vs (4/19, 21%), P = .004; relative risk = 2.8; 95% CI 1.14-7.03).']
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['To determine the value of prostatic length as a predictor of urinary morbidity after brachytherapy for prostate cancer.', 'Between May 2002 and September 2008, 214 consecutive patients received brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer at our institution. A prospective analysis of factors predicting urinary toxicity was carried out for these patients. To evaluate urinary morbidity, the posttreatment International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) at 3, 9, and 18 months together with rates of urinary retention was recorded.', 'The mean patient age was 62 years, and the mean followup period was 24.4 months. The median IPSS before treatment was 5 (range, 0-20). This increased to 15 (0-33) at 3 months, before subsequently falling to 8 (0-31) and 6 (0-35) at 9 and 18 months, respectively. Twenty-six of 214 (12%) patients experienced urinary retention. Both prostatic length (p-value=0.001, <0.001) and volume (p-value=0.002, <0.001) correlated with a higher posttreatment IPSS at 3 and 9 months. In addition, prostate length and volume predicted those patients developing urinary retention requiring catheterization (p-value <0.001, <0.001). Pretreatment IPSS predicted IPSS at 3, 9, and 18 months (p-value <0.001, <0.001, and 0.011) but did not significantly correlate with retention rates. Other factors predicting IPSS at 3 months included radiation dose (D(90)) (p-value=0.01) and number of needles used (p-value=0.01).']
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['We previously reported that the expression of Aurora-A was frequently up-regulated in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues as well as cell lines and the up-regulation contributed to a poor prognosis. In this study, we assessed the possibility of Aurora-A suppression as a therapeutic target for ESCC using ESCC cell lines.', 'We established subclones using vector-based short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Then, we investigated the effect of Aurora-A suppression on proliferation and cell cycle changes in vitro. Next, chemosensitivity against docetaxel was investigated by tetrazolium salt-based proliferation assay (WST assay) and cell number determinations, and furthermore, the type of cell death induced by docetaxel was analyzed by flow cytometry. Finally, to examine the effect of Aurora-A shRNA on proliferation and chemosensitivity against docetaxel in vivo, a s.c. tumor formation assay in nude mice was done.', 'We established two genetically different stable cell lines (510 A and 1440 A) in which levels of Aurora-A were reduced. Cell growth was inhibited by 38.7% in 510 A and by 24.3% in 1440 A in vitro compared with empty vector-transfected controls (510 m and 1440 m), and this growth inhibition was mediated through G(2)-M arrest as confirmed by flow cytometry. Next, in a WST assay, the IC(50) for Aurora-A shRNA-transfected cells was lower than that of empty vector-transfected cells (510 A, 2.7 x 10(-7) mol/L; 510 m, 4.8 x 10(-7) mol/L; 1440 A, 2.6 x 10(-7) mol/L; 1440 m, 4.9 x 10(-7) mol/L). In addition, 0.3 nmol/L docetaxel induced a notable level of apoptosis in Aurora-A shRNA-transfected cells compared with empty vector-transfected cells. In the assay of s.c. tumors in nude mice, tumor growth in 510 A was inhibited by 36.1% compared with that in 510 m, and in tumors treated with docetaxel, the suppression of Aurora-A resulted in 44.0% tumor growth suppression in vivo.']
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['Expression of tissue factor (TF) antigen and activity in platelets is controversial and dependent upon the laboratory and reagents used. Two forms of TF were described: an oxidized functional form and a reduced nonfunctional form that is converted to the active form through the formation of an allosteric disulfide. This study tests the hypothesis that the discrepancies regarding platelet TF expression are due to differential expression of the two forms.', 'Specific reagents that recognize both oxidized and reduced TF were used in flow cytometry of unactivated and activated platelets and western blotting of whole platelet lysates. TF-dependent activity measurements were used to confirm the results.', 'Western blotting analyses of placental TF demonstrated that, in contrast to anti-TF#5, which is directed against the oxidized form of TF, a sheep anti-human TF polyclonal antibody recognizes both the reduced and oxidized forms. Flow cytometric analyses demonstrated that the sheep antibody did not react with the surface of unactivated platelets or platelets activated with thrombin receptor agonist peptide, PAR-1. This observation was confirmed using biotinylated active site-blocked factor (F)VIIa: no binding was observed. Likewise, neither form of TF was detected by western blotting of whole platelet lysates with sheep anti-hTF. Consistent with these observations, no FXa or FIXa generation by FVIIa was detected at the surface of these platelets. Similarly, no TF-related activity was observed in whole blood using thromboelastography.']
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['Survival after pancreatic head adenocarcinoma surgery is determined by tumor characteristics, resection margins, and adjuvant chemotherapy. Few studies have analyzed the long-term impact of postoperative morbidity. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of postoperative complications on long-term survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy for cancer.', 'Of 294 consecutive pancreatectomies performed between January 2000 and July 2011, a total of 101 pancreatic head resections for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative complications were classified on a five-grade validated scale and were correlated with long-term survival. Grade IIIb to IVb complications were defined as severe.', 'Postoperative mortality and morbidity were 5 and 57 %, respectively. Severe postoperative complications occurred in 16 patients (16 %). Median overall survival was 1.4 years. Significant prognostic factors of survival were the N-stage of the tumor (median survival 3.4 years for N0 vs. 1.3 years for N1, p = 0.018) and R status of the resection (median survival 1.6 years for R0 vs. 1.2 years for R1, p = 0.038). Median survival after severe postoperative complications was decreased from 1.9 to 1.2 years (p = 0.06). Median survival for N0 or N1 tumor or after R0 resection was not influenced by the occurrence and severity of complications, but patients with a R1 resection and severe complications showed a worsened median survival of 0.6 vs. 2.0 years without severe complications (p = 0.0005).']
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['This article reports on the relationship between cultural influences on life style, coping style, and sleep in a sample of female Portuguese immigrants living in Germany. Sleep quality is known to be poorer in women than in men, yet little is known about mediating psychological and sociological variables such as stress and coping with stressful life circumstances. Migration constitutes a particularly difficult life circumstance for women if it involves differing role conceptions in the country of origin and the emigrant country.', 'The study investigated sleep quality, coping styles and level of integration in a sample of Portuguese (N = 48) and Moroccan (N = 64) immigrant women who took part in a structured personal interview.', 'Sleep quality was poor in 54% of Portuguese and 39% of Moroccan women, which strongly exceeds reports of sleep complaints in epidemiologic studies of sleep quality in German women. Reports of poor sleep were associated with the degree of adoption of a German life style. Women who had integrated more into German society slept worse than less integrated women in both samples, suggesting that non-integration serves a protective function. An unusually large proportion of women preferred an information-seeking (monitoring) coping style and adaptive coping. Poor sleep was related to high monitoring in the Portuguese but not the Moroccan sample.']
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['Leukocyte recruitment to the site of inflammation is a key event in a variety of cardiovascular pathologies. Infiltrating neutrophils constitute the first line of defense that precedes a second wave of emigrating monocytes reinforcing the inflammatory reaction. The mechanisms initiating this sequential process remained largely obscure.', 'Using advanced in vivo microscopy and in vitro/ex vivo techniques, we identified individual spatiotemporal expression patterns of selectins and their principal interaction partners on neutrophils, resident/inflammatory monocytes, and endothelial cells. Coordinating the intraluminal trafficking of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes to common sites of extravasation, selectins assign different sites to these immune cells for their initial interactions with the microvascular endothelium. Whereas constitutively expressed leukocyte L-selectin/CD62L and endothelial P-selectin/CD62P together with CD44 and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1/CD162 initiate the emigration of neutrophils, de novo synthesis of endothelial E-selectin/CD62E launches the delayed secondary recruitment of inflammatory monocytes. In this context, P-selectin/CD62P and L-selectin/CD62L together with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1/CD162 and CD44 were found to regulate the flux of rolling neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes, whereas E-selectin/CD62E selectively adjusts the rolling velocity of inflammatory monocytes. Moreover, selectins and their interaction partners P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1/CD162 and CD44 differentially control the intraluminal crawling behavior of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes collectively enabling the sequential extravasation of these immune cells to inflamed tissue.']
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['Nitric oxide (NO) regulation of endothelial function is involved in the development of acute lung injury. The role of NO in contrast media-induced increases in pulmonary vascular permeability was investigated in a rat model.', 'Nonionic (iohexol) and ionic (ioxaglate) contrast media were intravenously injected at 1.5 mL/min in rats. Pulmonary vascular permeability was evaluated by measuring the amount of Evans blue dye uptake as a quantitative marker of albumin extravasation in lung tissue.', 'Intravenous injections of contrast media at doses of 4 and 6 g I/kg induced a dose-dependent increase in pulmonary vascular permeability. L-Arginine (an NO synthase substrate) and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) (an NO synthase inhibitor) prevented and aggravated, respectively, the increase in pulmonary vascular permeability induced by the contrast medium. An aggravating action of L-NNA was confirmed by morphological and histological observations, this action being blocked by L-arginine (300 mg/kg) but not by D-arginine. Isosorbide dinitrate (1-20 mg/kg), an NO donor, had a dose-dependent protective effect on ioxaglate-increased vascular permeability.']
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['Survival of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients has remained unchanged over recent years due to its uncontrolled recurrence and local lymph node metastasis. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is an alternative type of blood supplement related to more aggressive tumor biology and increased tumor-related mortality. This study aimed to investigate the unique role of VM in the progression of LSCC.', 'We reviewed clinical pathological data of 203 cases of LSCC both prospectively and retrospectively. VM and endothelium-dependent vessel (EDV) were detected by immunohistochemistry and double staining to compare their different clinical pathological significance in LSCC. Survival analyses were performed to assess their prognostic significance as well.', 'Both VM and EDV existed in LSCC type of blood supply. VM is related to pTNM stage, lymph node metastasis and pathology grade. In contrust, EDV related to location, pTNM stage, T stage and distant metastasis. Univariate analysis showed VM, pTNM stage, T classification, nodal status, histopathological grade, tumor size, and radiotherapy to be related to overall survival (OS). While, VM, location, tumor size and radiotherapy were found to relate to disease free survival (DFS). Multivariate analysis indicated that VM, but not EDV, was an adverse predictor for both OS and DFS.']
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['Chronic excessive food intake leads to energy imbalance, resulting in hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is known to be a pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with chronic inflammation and cancer. Therefore, the relationship between IL-32 and chronic excessive food intake-induced liver disease was investigated.', 'Male IL-32β transgenic and wild-type mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 15 weeks. They were compared with wild-type mice on a standard chow diet. Daily food intake, body and liver weight, serum biochemistry, histopathological analysis of the liver, and hepatic immune response were determined.', 'IL-32β mice on HFD showed lower lipid accumulation, reduced infiltration of immune cells, and lower production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver. The expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) was downregulated and the adenosine 50-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was activated in the liver of IL-32β mice compared to wild-type mice. Furthermore, IL-32β over-expression activated the AMPK pathway and IL-32β downregulation inactivated the AMPK pathway in HepG2 cells under high-glucose conditions.']
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['Regarding the complications associated with short bowel syndrome (SBS), progressive liver failure is one of the most severe complications known to occur: Although several studies have suggested that many factors interactively influence this clinical condition we investigated the relationship between hepatic circulation and hepatic fibrosis using a neonatal piglet SBS model.', 'This study used the following 4 groups of neonatal piglets: a group with an 80% resection of the small bowel (SBS group), a group with a bypass operation of the small bowel (functional SBS group), a group with only a laparotomy as a sham operation (sham group), and a no operative treatment group (control group). We measured the hepatic circulation just before and after the reconstruction of the intestine, as well as on the 7th and 14th postoperative day. In addition, both blood and hepatic tissue samples were collected to investigate them both biochemically and morphologically.', 'Regarding the biochemical liver function and the tissue blood flow of liver, there were no significant differences among all groups on any investigated days. However, on both the 7th and 14th postoperative days, the portal venous flow in the SBS group was significantly lower than that in other groups. According to a histological analysis, only hepatic samples on the 14th postoperative day showed mild hepatic fibrosis in the SBS group. Regarding the alpha-smooth muscle actin staining findings that expresses active stellate cells, numerous positive cells were found to be distributed in the perisinusoidal space on the 14th postoperative day in the SBS group.']
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['Factors which impair fracture healing after intramedullary (IM) nailing of long bone fractures range from surgical and biological factors to mechanical parameters. Mechanical parameters known to prolong bony consolidation are share forces at the site of the fracture. Fracture near press-on interlocking reduces share forces directly at the fracture site and is hypothesised to enhance callus mineralisation. A sheep model of midshaft tibia osteotomies evaluates the technique.', 'Fracture near interlocking was achieved by surfacing a custom made nail with special hutches that enable firm screw seating on top of the nail ("golf ball" structure). Virtual (fine element analysis (FEA)) and biomechanical pilot tests were completed before in vivo application in 12 adult female German black sheep. Midshaft tibia osteotomy was performed creating a subcritical 7 mm gap for delay in union. One group (n=6) was treated with reamed IM nailing employing the custom made nail and in addition to proximal and distal standard interlocking a fracture near press on interlocking was employed. A second group of six sheep without additional press on interlocking served as control. 10 weeks after operation the quality of fracture healing was determined by micro-CT.', 'The FEA showed that axial loading up to 4000N did not lead to implant fatigue. Fracture near press on interlocking led to significantly more callus mineralisation compared to the conventional interlocking procedure (0.567 g/cm(3) ± 0.106 g/cm(3) versus 0.434 g/cm(3) ± 0.0836 g/cm(3), p=0.043).']
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['Assess postpartum changes in the levator ani muscle using magnetic resonance imaging and relate these changes to obstetric events and risk factors associated with pelvic floor dysfunction.', 'A board-certified radiologist specializing in abdominal imaging evaluated 146 pelvic magnetic resonance studies from 57 primiparous women 6 weeks and 6 months after first obstetric delivery and 32 nulliparous women. A yes/no determination of muscle body and insertion integrity, muscle thinning, and measurement of muscle thickness in millimeters was made for each of 4 muscle sites: right and left puborectalis and right and left ileococcygeous. Incidence of muscle abnormality and mean muscle thickness was tested in pairs between (1) nulliparous women and 6-week primiparous women; (2) 6 week and 6 month primiparous pairs; and (3) 3 age/race groups using test of 2 proportions and 1-way analysis of variance.', 'Initial review indicated only 3 subjects not of African American or white race, and only 1 African American primiparous woman of age 30 years or older; therefore, statistical analysis was limited to 45 primiparous women and 25 nulliparous women. Incidence of any abnormality at any of the 4 sites was considered abnormal. In those subjects recovering to normal magnetic resonance by 6 months, an average of nearly 60% increase in right puborectalis muscle thickness compared with that seen at 6 weeks indicated the extent of the injury. Subjects with injury to both the puborectalis and ileococcygeous at 6 weeks did not recover to normal at 6 months, whereas those with injury only to the puborectalis tended to have normal magnetic resonance images at 6 months.']
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['Neurite outgrowth inhibitor proteins (Nogos) comprise a family of three major members and are characterized by a conserved RHD domain. Among all the members, Nogo-B was identified to be significantly elevated and to play an important role in liver cirrhosis while Nogo-C was the shortest one and received little attention. The aim of this study is to investigate the relevance and mechanism of Nogo-C involved in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).', 'The expression of Nogo-C in paired HCC specimens was measured with quantitative RT-PCR. The function of Nogo-C over expressing in SMMC-7721 and WRL-68 HCC cell lines were estimated through cell proliferation assay and colony formation assay. A proteome-wide identification of Nogo-C-binding proteins was performed using affinity purification combined with a highly sensitive mass spectrometric technique. The protein interactions were confirmed using co-IP and immunofluorescence confocal assays.', 'Compared with the neighboring pathologically normal tissues, the expression of Nogo-C mRNA was extremely down-regulated in HCC specimens and was significantly related to greater tumor size and worse prognosis. Overexpression of Nogo-C in HCC cell lines resulted in an inhibition of cell growth. A total of 73 proteins were detected and considered in association with Nogo-C, among which B-raf and Nogo-B were validated.']
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['In a recent study hypnosis has been found to relieve persistent idiopathic orofacial pain. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is widely used to evaluate somatosensory sensitivity, which has been suggested as a possible predictor of management outcome. The objectives of this study were to examine: (1) possible associations between clinical pain relief and baseline somatosensory sensitivity and (2) the effect of hypnosis management on QST parameters.', 'Forty-one patients with persistent idiopathic orofacial pain completed this randomized controlled study in 1 of 2 groups: hypnosis (hypnotic analgesia suggestions) or control (relaxation). QST at 2 intraoral (pain region and contralateral mirror image region) and 3 extraoral (hand and both cheeks) sites was performed at baseline and after the hypnosis/control management, together with pressure pain thresholds and pressure pain tolerance thresholds determined bilaterally at the masseter and temporalis muscles, the temporomandibular joints, and the third finger.', 'Degree of pain relief was negatively correlated with a summary statistic of baseline somatosensory sensitivity (summed z-score), that is, high baseline somatosensory sensitivity was associated with low pain relief (r=-0.372, P=0.020). Hypnosis had no major effect on any QST measure compared with relaxation (P>0.063).']
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['To evaluate the effects of artesunate on organ injury and dysfunction associated with hemorrhagic shock (HS) in the rat.', 'HS is still a common cause of death in severely injured patients and is characterized by impairment of organ perfusion, systemic inflammatory response, and multiple organ failure. There is no specific therapy that reduces organ injury/dysfunction. Artesunate exhibits pharmacological actions beyond its antimalarial activity, such as anticancer, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects.', 'Rats were submitted to HS. Mean arterial pressure was reduced to 30\u200amm Hg for 90\u200aminutes, followed by resuscitation. Rats were randomly treated with artesunate (2.4 or 4.8\u200amg/kg i.v.) or vehicle upon resuscitation. Four hours later, parameters of organ injury and dysfunction were assessed.', 'Artesunate attenuated the multiple organ injury and dysfunction caused by HS. Pathway analysis of RNA sequencing provided good evidence to support an effect of artesunate on the Akt-survival pathway, leading to downregulation of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1. Using Western blot analysis, we confirmed that treatment of HS rats with artesunate enhanced the phosphorylation (activation) of Protein kinase B (Akt) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase and the phosphorylation (inhibition) of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Moreover, artesunate attenuated the HS-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa B and reduced the expression of proinflammatory proteins (inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin 6).']
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['Several in vitro laboratory tests to assess the quality control of platelet concentrates (PC) are available. Some of them have a good correlation with the platelet recovery index. To assess the quality control of standard PC prepared in our blood bank, we measured the blood gas and the degree of platelet activation.', 'SPC were prepared by the PRP method. Fifty-five SPC (45 SPC at day one of storage and 20 SPC at day five of storage) were analysed. Blood gas (pH, PO(2), PCO(2) and bicarbonate concentration) in the SPC were measured by blood gas automate. Platelet activation profile were determined by measuring the percentage of platelet expressing the CD62p (% CD62) and the percentage of platelet-leukocyte aggregate (% PLA).', 'The pH values of all studied SPC were comprised between 7.0 and 7.6. SPC at day 1 of storage have a significantly higher pH than those at day 5 of storage (7.5+/-0.05 versus 7.3+/-0.14; p<0.001). The % CD62p were higher in SPC at day five compared to the SCP at day one without reaching a statistical significance (28.4+/-15% versus 24.3+/-9.7%, p=0.052). The percentage of PLA were higher in SPC at day one compared to SCP at day five although this difference is not statistically significant (22.2+/-7.5% versus 17.9+/-8.0%; p=0.23).']
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['Previous studies dealing with gait after minimally invasive surgery (MIS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are rare and insufficient. It was the purpose of the study to determine in a prospective, comparative setting whether MIS influences the outcome of TKA in terms of typical 3D gait parameters.', 'Patients scheduled for TKA or MIS TKA were invited to participate. MIS TKA was defined as TKA with shorter skin incision, mini-midvastus arthrotomy, special instruments, and avoidance of tibiofemoral dislocation and patella eversion. All other intra- and perioperative aspects were identical for both groups. A 3D gait analysis was performed with a VICON system 1 month preoperative and 8 weeks post-operative. A multivariate analysis of variance was conducted including the main effects time (pre- and post-surgery) and surgical group and the group-by-time interaction effect.', 'Seventeen MIS TKA patients and 20 TKA patients were eligible for the final analysis. We determined neither inter-group differences nor time × group interactions for any gait variables (temporospatial, ground reaction forces, joint angles and joint moments)—except for the varus-valgus knee kinematics. In pre- to post-operative comparison, the maximum valgus sway increased in the MIS group, whereas it decreased in the conventional group (p = 0.001).']
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['Apelin is a novel endogenous peptide with inotropic and vasodilatory properties that is the ligand for the APJ receptor. Apelin and APJ are widely distributed in the vasculature of a number of organs and peripheral venous apelin is reduced in heart failure (HF). The location of apelin production in humans with and without HF was investigated.', 'Plasma apelin and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations in coronary sinus (CS), aorta (Ao), and renal vein (RV) of individuals with HF (n = 9) were compared to subjects with normal structural hearts (n = 8). In HF the concentration of CS apelin was reduced compared with controls (310 pg/mL [interquartile range 290-390] vs. 470 pg/mL [340-570], P < .035) but Ao apelin (330 pg/mL [275-375] vs. 340 pg/mL [230-455], P = .76) and RV apelin (290 pg/mL [280-360] vs. 370 pg/mL [273-410], P = .56) were unchanged. Plasma BNP was increased at all sampling sites in patients with HF as compared with controls. A step down from CS to Ao to RV in all subjects was observed. The step down in apelin from CS to Ao (470 pg/mL [310-595] vs. 320 pg/mL [225-482], P < .04) in control subjects was not apparent in patients with HF.']
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['Although it has been postulated that allergic disease is associated with a predominance of T(H)2 cells, whether IgE levels and asthma might differ in their relation to early-life cytokine production is not known.', 'We sought to assess the relationship between first-year adaptive immune cytokine production with asthma and total IgE levels through age 5 years in a nonselected birth cohort.', 'Mitogen (concanavalin A/phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate)-stimulated IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-γ levels were measured in supernatants from cord blood mononuclear cells and PBMCs at birth, 3 months, and 12 months. Total serum IgE levels and physician-diagnosed active asthma were assessed at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years. Longitudinal models that adjust for both T(H)1 and T(H)2 cytokine production were used to determine relations of outcomes.', 'Relations of cytokines to total IgE levels and asthma were strikingly different. Total IgE levels through age 5 years were positively associated with 12-month IL-4 (P\xa0< .001), IL-5 (P\xa0< .001), and IL-13 (P\xa0= .02) levels when adjusted for IFN-γ levels and inversely associated with 12-month IFN-γ levels after IL-4 adjustment (P\xa0= .01). Active asthma through age 5 years was positively associated with 3-month IL-13 levels adjusted for\xa0IFN-γ (odds ratio, 2.6; P\xa0< .001) and inversely associated with 3-month IFN-γ levels adjusted for IL-13 (odds ratio, 0.5; P\xa0= .001). These relations were strongest for nonatopic asthma.']
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['Bilateral ureteroscopy can be done in 1 sitting, obviating the need for multiple procedures. We analyzed our experience with same session bilateral ureteroscopy to determine its safety and efficacy.', 'In this retrospective study of a 9-year period at Emory University Hospital 1,575 consecutive ureteroscopic procedures were done, of which 95 (6.0%) were done as same session bilateral ureteroscopy, thus constituting our study cohort. Bilateral procedures were performed for urolithiasis in 71 cases, urothelial carcinoma in 9, ureteral stricture in 2 and another indication in 13. Patients were followed at least 1 month postoperatively to evaluate procedural success and assess perioperative complications.', 'Mean age of the 44 male and 40 female patients was 49.8 years. Multiple procedures were done in 9 patients and same session bilateral ureteroscopy was done in 93 of 95 (98%). Intraoperative and postoperative (greater than 1 month) bilateral stone-free rates were 86% and 64%, respectively. The mean change in serum creatinine postoperatively was 0.02 mg/dl (range -0.9 to 1.3). No patient had acute postoperative azotemia. Postoperative complications in 9.7% of patients included pain necessitating an emergency room visit in 4, pyelonephritis/urinary tract infection in 2, and urinary retention, intractable stent pain leading to early removal and urosepsis/death in 1 each.']
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["Lactated Ringer's solution is most widely used in children, but little is known about how children who are scheduled for surgery handle a fluid load when compared to adults. This study explores whether a more cautious regimen for the administration of lactated Ringer's is warranted in children awaiting minor surgery when compared to adults.", "Plasma dilution (based on hemoglobin), urinary excretion, and volume kinetics were used to assess the disposition of an i.v. infusion of 10 ml x kg(-1) of lactated Ringer's solution over 20 min in 14 pediatric patients (4 years of age, average body weight 15 kg) and in 14 adult patients scheduled for similar minor pelvic surgery. Experiments were performed after premedication, but before anesthesia was induced.", "Plasma dilution was less pronounced in the pediatric patients (P < 0.03) who also had excreted more of the infused fluid within 90 min than the adults (43% vs 18%, P < 0.03). After correction for body weight, their plasma clearance was 4 times higher (P < 0.02) and the renal clearance of lactated Ringer's solution 7 times higher (P < 0.001) than those of the adults. The more rapid turnover of fluid in the children might be explained by a shorter period of preoperative fasting (6 vs 10 h) and/or by physiological differences attributable to age."]
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['Hypoxia-induced tubulointerstitial injury caused by loss of peritubular capillary (PTC) blood flow may be associated with progressive renal disease. Therefore, the maintenance of blood flow in PTCs may protect against loss of renal function. A long-acting calcium channel blocker, azelnidipine, has been shown to be useful in the treatment of progressive renal disease. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether azelnidipine maintains PTC blood flow and to compare it to nifedipine in its ability to improve tubulointerstitial injury caused by angiotensin II (AII) infusion in rats.', 'PTC blood flow was initially monitored using a pencil-lens interval microscope before and after intravenous AII (30 ng/kg/min) infusion with or without azelnidipine (10 microg/kg/min). Next, Wistar rats were treated with chronic infusion of AII (500 ng/kg/min) via an osmotic minipump with or without azelnidipine (3 mg/kg/day, orally) or nifedipine (60 mg/kg/day, orally) for 14 days, and tubulointerstitial damage (PTC loss, interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy) was examined.', 'PTC blood flow was reduced after AII infusion but improved after a bolus injection of azelnidipine. Tubulointerstitial damage observed in chronically AII-treated kidneys was associated with hypoxic conditions, as indicated by the measurement of hypoxia biomarkers (intracellular hypoxyprobe-1 adducts). These tubulointerstitial injuries in AII-infused rats were more effectively reduced by azelnidipine than by nifedipine. The area showing hypoxic conditions in the kidney was also more reduced with azelnidipine than nifedipine treatment.']
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['We sought to determine whether the antioxidant vitamin C improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation of forearm resistance vessels in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.', 'Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in patients with diabetes mellitus. Oxidatively mediated degradation of endothelium-derived nitric oxide contributes to abnormal endothelium-dependent vasodilation in animal models of diabetes mellitus.', 'The study group included 10 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 10 age-matched control subjects. Forearm blood flow was determined by venous occlusion plethysmography. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was assessed by intraarterial infusion of methacholine (0.3 to 10 microg/min). Endothelium-independent vasodilation was assessed by intraarterial infusion of nitroprusside (0.3 to 10 microg/min). Forearm blood flow dose-response curves were determined for each drug infusion before and during concomitant infusion of vitamin C (24 mg/min).', 'In diabetic subjects, endothelium-dependent vasodilation was augmented by the concomitant infusion of vitamin C (p = 0.001). Endothelium-independent vasodilation was not affected by the concomitant infusion of vitamin C (p = NS). In control subjects, vitamin C infusion did not affect endothelium-dependent vasodilation (p = NS).']
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['The diagnosis of epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (EHE) is usually straightforward, based on characteristic histological features. However, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate EHE from a variety of other tumours with epithelioid morphology. The WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1-calmodulin-binding transcription activator 1 (WWTR1-CAMTA1) fusion gene, resulting in the overexpression of CAMTA1, is demonstrated in approximately 90% of EHEs, and the yes-associated protein 1-transcription factor E3 (YAP1-TFE3) fusion gene, associated with the strong and diffuse nuclear expression of TFE3, is present in another small subset of EHEs. The aim of our study was to examine CAMTA1 expression in EHEs and a variety of other tumours to evaluate its diagnostic utility, and to analyse TFE3 expression status in EHEs.', 'Immunohistochemistry was performed on 16 EHEs, including five cases with CAMTA1 rearrangement and 276 non-EHE tumours. Fourteen of 16 EHEs and only one case of ductal carcinoma of the breast were positive for CAMTA1 and its expression was focal and weak in the latter (sensitivity 87.5%, specificity 99.6%). TFE3 expression was expressed focally and weakly in three (19%) EHEs (two with the CAMTA1 rearrangement).']
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['Recruitment of brown adipose tissue is a promising strategy to treat obesity and Type 2 diabetes, but the physiological effects of a large amount of metabolically active brown adipose tissue in humans are unknown.', 'In the present paper, we report a case of massive brown adipose tissue infiltration of the visceral adipose tissue depot in a person with Type 2 diabetes with a catecholamine-secreting paraganglioma. The patient was evaluated with [18F]-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography on three occasions: pre-therapy, during α-blockade and postoperatively. During surgery, biopsies of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue were obtained and evaluated for brown adipose tissue. At diagnosis, brown adipose tissue glucose uptake, assessed by [18F]-fludeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography, was massively increased. [18F]-fludeoxyglucose uptake was confined to known locations for brown adipose tissue, with additional uptake in the visceral adipose tissue. As a result of increased thermogenesis, resting energy expenditure was doubled. After surgical removal of the tumour, antidiabetic medicine was no longer needed, despite an 8.2-kg weight gain.']
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['Emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) impacts patient satisfaction and overcrowding. Laboratory turnaround time (TAT) is a major determinant of ED LOS. The authors determined the impact of a Stat laboratory (Stat lab) on ED LOS. The authors hypothesized that a Stat lab would reduce ED LOS for admitted patients by 1 hour.', 'This was a before-and-after study conducted at an academic suburban ED with 75,000 annual patient visits. All patients presenting to the ED during the months of August and October 2006 were considered. A Stat lab located within the central laboratory was introduced in September 2006 to reduce laboratory TAT. The test TATs and ED LOS before (August 2006) and after (October 2006) implementing the Stat lab for all ED patients were the data of interest. ED LOS before and after the Stat lab was introduced was compared with the Mann-Whitney U-test. A sample size of 5,000 patients in each group had 99% power to detect a 1-hour difference in ED LOS.', 'There were 5,631 ED visits before and 5,635 visits after implementing the Stat lab. Groups were similar in age (34 years vs. 36 years) and gender (51% males in both). The percentages of patients with laboratory tests before and after Stat lab implementation were 68.7 and 71.3%, respectively. Test TATs for admitted patients were significantly improved after the Stat lab introduction. Implementation of the Stat lab was associated with a significant reduction in the median ED LOS from 466 (interquartile range [IQR] = minutes before to 402 (IQR = 296-553) minutes after implementing the Stat lab. The effects of the Stat lab on ED LOS were less marked for discharged patients.']
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['The K121Q (rs1044498) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the ENPP1 gene has shown association with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in various ethnic populations. We hypothesised that K121Q may predict the success of lifestyle intervention in terms of improvement of insulin sensitivity.', 'We genotyped 1,563 participants with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes for K121Q and performed correlational analyses with anthropometric data and variables of insulin sensitivity. For metabolic characterisation, all participants underwent an OGTT. A subgroup of 506 participants additionally underwent a euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp. In 342 participants, metabolic traits and anthropometric data were re-evaluated after a 9 month lifestyle intervention.', 'In the overall cohort, K121Q was not associated with measures of obesity, indices of glucose tolerance during OGTT and insulin sensitivity estimated from the OGTT or derived from a euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp after appropriate adjustment. However, K121Q did significantly influence the change in insulin sensitivity during lifestyle intervention after appropriate adjustment (p (additive) = 0.0067, p (dominant) = 0.0027). Carriers of the minor allele had an impaired increase in OGTT-derived insulin sensitivity. A similar trend was obtained for clamp-derived insulin sensitivity, but did not reach significance.']
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['Our purpose was to determine the relationship among plasma oxytocin levels, metabolic clearance rate of oxytocin, and uterine activity in gravid women undergoing labor induction.', 'Ten women receiving oxytocin for labor induction and agreeing to participate had blood sampled before initiation of oxytocin and at different levels of uterine pressure. Samples were analyzed with 200 microliter extracts from 1 ml of plasma with an oxytocin radioimmunoassay. The intraassay coefficient of variation was < 3%. Sensitivity of the assay was 1.5 pg/ml. Pharmacokinetic parameters including plasma levels and metabolic clearance rates were calculated. Data were analyzed with the paired t test and linear and logistic regression.', 'Mean oxytocin levels and metabolic clearance rates were 26.6 pg/ml and 7.97 ml/min. There was no correlation between changes in oxytocin level and metabolic clearance rate. Increases in infusion rates were correlated with increases in oxytocin levels (r = 0.71, p < 0.001). Cervical dilatation and uterine contraction pressures did not correlate with oxytocin levels.']
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['Extracellular ATP is an essential local signaling molecule in all organ systems. In the kidney, purinergic signaling is involved in an array of functions and this review highlights those of relevance for renal tubular transport.', 'Purinergic receptors are expressed in all renal tubular segments and their stimulation generally leads to transport inhibition. Recent evidence has identified the tubular lumen as a restricted space for purinergic signaling. The concentrations of ATP in the luminal fluids are sufficiently high to inflict a tonic inhibition of renal tubular absorption via P2 receptors. The apical P2Y2 receptor plays a crucial role in this process. ATP is released continuously into the tubular lumen. The release is augmented in response to an increase of tubular flow and after stimulation of G-protein-coupled receptors. The primary cilium appears necessary for flow-stimulated luminal ATP release. Tubular ATP secretion may occur via nonjunctional connexin-hemichannels (connexin 30), which are strategically placed in the apical membrane of distal tubular intercalated cells and can be activated by tubular flow.']
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['Inadequate vitamin D status is common within elderly populations and may be implicated in the etiology of autoimmune disease and inflammation. Few studies have investigated the relationship between vitamin D status and age-related immune dysfunction in humans.', 'The aim of this study was to investigate the association between vitamin D status and immune markers of inflammation in a large sample of older adults.', 'An observational investigation of 957 Irish adults (>60 years of age) recruited in Northern Ireland (55°N latitude) as part of the Trinity Ulster Department of Agriculture aging cohort study.', 'We measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and serum cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, and C-reactive protein (CRP) by ELISA.', 'Concentrations of IL-6, CRP, and the ratios of IL-6 to IL-10 and CRP to IL-10 were significantly higher in individuals with deficient (<25 nmol/L) serum 25(OH)D compared with those with sufficient (>75 nmol/L) status after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index (P < .05). Vitamin D status was a significant predictor of the IL-6 to IL-10 cytokine ratio, and those participants defined as deficient were significantly more likely to have an IL-6 to IL-10 ratio >2:1 compared with those defined as sufficient.']
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['introduction: Some of the diseases that can appear in pregnancy (gestational diabetes, hypertension and preeclampsia) are being associated with an increased risk of heart throughout life diseases. This should be present in future assessments of the health of women. One of the most important biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases is the triglyceride level, and that undergoes a significant change during pregnancy.', 'the objective of this review is to analyze the studies that have investigated triglyceride levels during pregnancy as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the last weeks of pregnancy and childbirth.', 'a systematic search was made and 14 specific articles on the subject were selected following the PRISMA guidelines.', 'in normal pregnancy decreased the level of lipids in the first weeks, followed by a gradual increase. Especially high from the 12th week of gestation. This increase in plasma levels of circulating lipids occurs linearly, reaching a peak a few days before delivery. This increase results because of the increased estrogen levels and insulin resistance. It has also been associated with prolactin levels.']
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['The purpose of this study was to sequence and assemble the tobacco mitochondrial transcriptome and obtain a genomic-level view of steady-state RNA abundance. Plant mitochondrial genomes have a small number of protein coding genes with large and variably sized intergenic spaces. In the tobacco mitogenome these intergenic spaces contain numerous open reading frames (ORFs) with no clear function.', 'The assembled transcriptome revealed distinct monocistronic and polycistronic transcripts along with large intergenic spaces with little to no detectable RNA. Eighteen of the 117 ORFs were found to have steady-state RNA amounts above background in both deep-sequencing and qRT-PCR experiments and ten of those were found to be polysome associated. In addition, the assembled transcriptome enabled a full mitogenome screen of RNA C→U editing sites. Six hundred and thirty five potential edits were found with 557 occurring within protein-coding genes, five in tRNA genes, and 73 in non-coding regions. These sites were found in every protein-coding transcript in the tobacco mitogenome.']
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['We aimed at evaluating the relationship between the circadian blood pressure rhythm and UA level in young patients (30-40 years old) with newly diagnosed essential hypertension.', 'The study included 62 essential hypertensive patients and 29 healthy controls (20 men, 35\u2009±\u20093 years) divided into two groups according to 24-hour ABPM results: 30 dippers and 32 nondippers.', 'Nondippers showed significantly higher both serum UA levels compared to dippers and controls (6.1\u2009±\u20090.7, 5.2\u2009±\u20090.9 and 4.1\u2009±\u20090.9\u2009mg/dL, p\u2009<\u20090.001, respectively); and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (4.1\u2009±\u20092.2\u2009mg/L, 3.3\u2009±\u20091.9\u2009mg/L, and 1.4\u2009±\u20090.9\u2009mg/L, p\u2009<\u20090.001, respectively). After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, creatinine levels, hsCRP and comorbidity, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed an independent association between serum UA levels and nondipper pattern (OR 2.44, 95%CIs 1.4-4.1, p\u2009=\u20090.002).']
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['Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA repair genes can alter gene expression and activity and affect response to cancer treatment and, correspondingly, survival. The present study was designed to evaluate the utility of the XRCC1 Arg399Gln and ERCC1 Cys8092Ala SNPs, measured in pretreatment biopsy samples, as predictors of response to radiotherapy in patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).', 'The study included 75 consecutive patients with stage II-IVA-B NPC. XRCC1 Arg399Glu and ERCC1 Cys8092Ala SNPs were identified from paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens via Sanger sequencing. Expression of p53 and pAkt protein was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Potential relationships between genetic polymorphisms and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed by using a Cox proportional hazards model, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test.', 'Multivariate analysis showed that carriers of the ERCC1 8092 Ala/Ala genotype [hazard ratio (HR) 1.882; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.031-3.438; P\u200a=\u200a0.039] and heavy smokers (≥20 pack-years) carrying the XRCC1 Arg/Arg genotype (HR 2.019; 95% CI 1.010-4.036; P\u200a=\u200a0.047) had significantly lower PFS rates. Moreover, combined positive expression of p53 and pAkt led to significantly increased PFS in subgroups carrying the XRCC1 Gln allele (HR 7.057; 95% CI 2.073-24.021; P\u200a=\u200a0.002) or the ERCC1 Cys allele (HR 2.568; 95% CI 1.056-6.248; P\u200a=\u200a0.038).']
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['The most serious complication in haemophilia A (HA) replacement therapy with coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) is neutralizing antibodies, i.e. inhibitors. It has been hypothesized that danger signals generated during a bleed might have an adjuvant effect on the immune response to FVIII in on-demand treatment, increasing the inhibitor risk.', 'To compare the antibody response to treatment with recombinant human FVIII (rhFVIII) in relation to induced knee joint bleeds and treatment without concurrent bleeds in a HA rat model.', 'HA rats were divided into two groups: one group (n = 10) receiving three needle induced knee joint bleeds 14 days apart and a control group (n = 9) receiving three sham procedures. Three hours after each injury/sham 50 IU kg(-1) rhFVIII was administrated intravenously. Subsequently, both groups continued rhFVIII treatment for another 9 weeks. Binding antibodies were analysed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and neutralizing antibodies using a Bethesda-like assay.', 'Rats in the knee-bleed group developed a significantly faster inhibitor response and reached significantly higher inhibitor levels. In the knee-bleed group, 80% developed inhibitors vs. 33% in the control group, demonstrating a 2.4 times higher inhibitor risk when treating concurrent with bleeds.']
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['Hypoxia is a characteristic of many tumors and portends a worse prognosis in lung, cervical, prostate, and rectal cancers. Unlike the others, lung cancers present a unique challenge in measuring hypoxia, with invasive biopsies and higher rates of complications. Noninvasive imaging studies detecting hypoxia using isotopes of copper-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) ((62)Cu-ATSM) have predicted prognosis and treatment outcomes in some small feasibility trials. These images, however, may not identify all areas of hypoxia. Hence, we hypothesize that the addition of another PET imaging agent, copper-pyruvaldehyde-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) ((62)Cu-PTSM), which can detect areas of perfusion, can augment the information obtained in (62)Cu-ATSM PET scans.', 'To characterize tumors on the basis of both perfusion and hypoxia, 10 patients were studied using both (62)Cu-ATSM and (62)Cu-PTSM PET scans. In addition, proteomic arrays looking at specific proangiogenic, survival, and proinflammatory targets were assessed.', 'Six of 10 patients had evaluable PET scans. Our initial experience of characterizing lung tumor hypoxia using (62)Cu-ATSM and (62)Cu-PTSM PET scans showed that visualization of areas with hypoxia normalized for perfusion is feasible. All studied tumors exhibited some hypoxia. Despite the small sample size, a positive relationship was noted between epidermal growth factor levels and (62)Cu-ATSM-detected hypoxia.']
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['Type I gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH-I) agonists have been applied for the treatment of steroid-dependent tumors such as breast carcinoma, ovarian cancer and prostatic carcinoma. But the mechanism has not been clarified yet. There are few reports about the treatment of endometrial carcinoma using GnRH-I agonists. Type II GnRH (GnRH-II) is a new subtype of GnRH. Our aim was to investigate the effects of GnRH-I agonists and GnRH-II on estrogen receptor-negative human endometrial carcinoma cells and the effect from phosphatase and tensin homolog gene (PTEN) to them.', 'A lentiviral vector-mediated RNAi method was used to establish a PTEN-negative HEC-1A cell clone (HEC-1A-ND). MTT and flow cytometry were used to detect the cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of HEC-1A, HEC-1A-NC and HEC-1A-ND cells after treatment with GnRH-I agonist Triptorelin (10(-11) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L) or GnRH-II (10(-11) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L). Western blotting was used to detect AKT and ERK1/2 activation after treatment with different concentrations of Triptorelin or GnRH-II for 30 minutes in the above mentioned three kinds of cells.', 'Triptorelin and GnRH-II induced apoptosis and inhibited proliferation of HEC-1A, HEC-1A-ND and HEC-1A-NC in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was augmented in HEC-1A-ND cells in which PTEN gene was knocked-down. Furthermore, Triptorelin and GnRH-II inhibited the AKT and ERK activity in HEC-1A-ND cells.']
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["Alterations in circadian rhythms and behavioral difficulties likely impact meal consumption patterns in elderly individuals with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite these known changes, the profile of meals provided in the institution parallels the needs of younger, free-living, healthy populations. This investigation examined the impact of food delivery patterns on achieved intakes in elderly individuals with probable AD in a long-term care facility and how this relationship changes depending on time of day, body weight status, behavioral function, and cognitive ability.", 'Twenty-one consecutive days of investigator-weighed food intake and delivery collections were conducted on 25 elderly individuals with probable AD who maintained the ability to self-feed.', 'Energy consumed was positively associated with energy delivered for the majority of subjects, although the strength of this relationship varied across subjects and throughout the day. Energy delivered had the greatest impact on energy consumed at breakfast and the least impact at dinner in those with the greatest behavioral difficulties and cognitive impairment. Although those with low body mass indexes (BMIs) were likely to be delivered more energy, the impact of delivery on intakes decreased as energy delivered increased.']
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['Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels increase with age and varies among different races and communities. The study was aimed at defining the age-specific reference ranges of serum PSA in our environment.', "We evaluated the relationship between age and serum PSA levels and the age-specific reference ranges of serum PSA among civil servants in Lagos, who underwent routine medical checkups. Criteria for inclusion were men who have no lower urinary tract symptoms, normal digital rectal examination and serum PSA ≤ 20 ng/ml. SPSS Statistic 21 was used for data evaluation and the mean, median, 95(th) percentile PSA levels were estimated. Pearson's correlation was used to examine the relationship, and P < 0.05 was considered significant.", '4032 men met the criteria for inclusion in the evaluation. The mean age was 51.6 (range 40-70) years, and there was a strong correlation between serum PSA levels and age (r = 0.097, P < 0.001). PSA ranges of 0-2.5, >2.5-4.0, >4.0-10, and >10 ng/ml were found in 3218 (80%), 481 (12%), 284 (7%), and 52 (1%) men, respectively. The mean, median and the 95(th) percentile PSA for the overall group were 1.84, 1.33, and 5.2 ng/ml respectively. However the 95(th) percentile PSA levels for men aged 40-49, 50-59, and 60-70 years were 4.78, 5.47, and 8.93 ng/ml respectively.']
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['Studying diversity and distribution patterns of species along elevational gradients and understanding drivers behind these patterns is central to macroecology and conservation biology. A number of studies on biogeographic gradients are available for terrestrial ecosystems, but freshwater ecosystems remain largely neglected. In particular, we know very little about the species richness gradients and their drivers in the Himalaya, a global biodiversity hotspot.', "We collated taxonomic and distribution data of fish species from 16 freshwater Himalayan rivers and carried out empirical studies on environmental drivers and fish diversity and distribution in the Teesta river (Eastern Himalaya). We examined patterns of fish species richness along the Himalayan elevational gradients (50-3800 m) and sought to understand the drivers behind the emerging patterns. We used generalized linear models (GLM) and generalized additive models (GAM) to examine the richness patterns; GLM was used to investigate relationship between fish species richness and various environmental variables. Regression modelling involved stepwise procedures, including elimination of collinear variables, best model selection, based on the least Akaike's information criterion (AIC) and the highest percentage of deviance explained (D(2)). This maiden study on the Himalayan fishes revealed that total and non-endemic fish species richness monotonously decrease with increasing elevation, while endemics peaked around mid elevations (700-1500 m). The best explanatory model (synthetic model) indicated that water discharge is the best predictor of fish species richness patterns in the Himalayan rivers."]
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["Pharmacologic disruption of microtubule function may provide effective therapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, as has been observed in clinical trials using taxol. However, the limited availability of taxol and taxol's side effects emphasize a need to develop alternative antimicrotubule agents. Estramustine (EM) inhibits binding of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to microtubules, promotes microtubule disassembly, disrupts spindle formation, and induces metaphase arrest in human prostate carcinoma and glioma cells in culture. We studied the effect of EM on DNA synthesis and on the cell cycle in four human ovarian carcinoma cell lines and examined the cell lines for evidence of MAP-like immunoreactivity.", 'The effect of EM on DNA synthesis and on the cell cycle was determined using [3H]thymidine incorporation assays and flow cytometry, respectively. Microtubule-associated protein-like immunoreactivity was determined using monoclonal antibodies directed against MAP 1A, MAP 1B, and MAP 2(2A + 2B) for Western analysis after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.', 'We demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory response to EM in BIXLER, DK2NMA, and SKOV3. BIX3 showed a dose-dependent inhibitory response to EM concentrations from 25 micrograms/mL to 100 micrograms/mL, but a stimulatory response at 10 micrograms/mL. Estramustine inhibited exponentially growing cells by causing mitotic arrest with subsequent accumulation of cells in G2/M phase of the cell cycle in all four cell lines. We found MAP 1A, MAP 1B, and MAP 2-like immunoreactivity in all four cells lines studied.']
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['Local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It has been reported that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) could inhibit RAS-mediated epithelial injury and fibrogenesis and that ACE2 deficiency could aggravate acute and chronic lung injury. Through research, it could be deduced that ACE2 could protect against pulmonary fibrosis as a therapeutic target.', "Time-course analysis of the pathological characteristics of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis was undertaken in a mouse model, and the effect of exogenous ACE2 on lung fibrosis was studied. Immunohistchemistry (IHC) staining and western blot (WB) testing for AGT and ACE2 were performed to evaluate the regulation of local RAS. TUNEL staining was used to observe epithelial apoptosis. Leukocyte common antigen (LCA) and pulmonary surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A) IHC staining and WB testing were performed to assess the inflammatory response and epithelial regeneration. Masson's staining and a hydroxyproline assay were performed to examine collagen deposition. IHC staining and WB testing for TGF-β1 and α-SMA were performed to investigate the regulation of pro-fibrotic cytokines and the activation of fibroblasts.", 'Exogenous ACE2 attenuated bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis by reversing the reduction of local ACE2 and by suppressing the elevation of AGT. ACE2 decreased the apoptosis index and LCA levels and ameliorated the dynamic change in SP-A level, thus protecting against epithelial injury. Reductions of TGF-β1 and α-SMA were also found in ACE2-treated mice, indicating the inhibition of fibrogenesis.']
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['TSPY is a repeated gene mapped to the critical region harboring the gonadoblastoma locus on the Y chromosome (GBY), the only oncogenic locus on this male-specific chromosome. Elevated levels of TSPY have been observed in gonadoblastoma specimens and a variety of other tumor tissues, including testicular germ cell tumors, prostate cancer, melanoma, and liver cancer. TSPY contains a SET/NAP domain that is present in a family of cyclin B and/or histone binding proteins represented by the oncoprotein SET and the nucleosome assembly protein 1 (NAP1), involved in cell cycle regulation and replication.', 'To determine a possible cellular function for TSPY, we manipulated the TSPY expression in HeLa and NIH3T3 cells using the Tet-off system. Cell proliferation, colony formation assays and tumor growth in nude mice were utilized to determine the TSPY effects on cell growth and tumorigenesis. Cell cycle analysis and cell synchronization techniques were used to determine cell cycle profiles. Microarray and RT-PCR were used to investigate gene expression in TSPY expressing cells.', 'Our findings suggest that TSPY expression increases cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Ectopic expression of TSPY results in a smaller population of the host cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Using cell synchronization techniques, we show that TSPY is capable of mediating a rapid transition of the cells through the G2/M phase. Microarray analysis demonstrates that numerous genes involved in the cell cycle and apoptosis are affected by TSPY expression in the HeLa cells.']
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['2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2), a natural endogenous product of estradiol (E2) metabolism, has been shown to be a selective apoptotic agent for cancer cells but not for normal cells. In this study, we determined that 2ME2 counteracts E2-stimulated cell growth and induces apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma cells. In addition, we demonstrate that 2ME2 induces apoptosis via p38 and phospho-Bcl2 pathway.', '2ME2 and/or E2 were administered to the OVCAR-3 (human ovarian cancer) cell line. Cell growth inhibition was analyzed by [3H] Thymidine incorporation assay and DNA fluorometric assay. Cell apoptosis was tested by DNA fragmentation analysis and FACS. The signaling pathway was determined by a series of biochemical assays.', '2ME2 inhibited estradiol-stimulated cell growth and induced apoptosis in an ovarian carcinoma cell line. MAPK and p38, but not JNK, were found to be critical mediators in this process. Expression of a dominant negative mutant of p38 kinase or p38 specific inhibitor, SB 203580, almost completely blocked the process. Furthermore, Bcl-2 phosphorylation was required for 2ME2-induced effects.']
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['The outermost layer of mycobacterial cell wall is rich in lipids and glycolipids, surface molecules which differ among species. Mycobacterium smegmatis, an attractive model for the study of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic mycobacteria, presents glycopeptidolipids (GPLs). All the genes necessary for the biosynthesis of such molecules are clustered in a single region of 65\xa0kb and among them, the msmeg_0412 gene has not been characterized yet. Here we report the isolation and subsequent analysis of a MSMEG_0412 null mutant strain.', 'The inactivation of the msmeg_0412 gene had a drastic impact on bacterial surface properties which resulted in the lack of sliding motility, altered biofilm formation and enhanced drug susceptibility. The GPLs analysis showed that the observed mutant phenotype was due to GPLs deficiencies on the mycobacterial cell wall. In addition, we report that the expression of the gene is enhanced in the presence of lipidic substrates and that the encoded protein has a membrane localization.']
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['Cell proliferation in all rapidly renewing mammalian tissues follows a circadian rhythm that is often disrupted in advanced-stage tumors. Epidemiologic studies have revealed a clear link between disruption of circadian rhythms and cancer development in humans. Mice lacking the circadian genes Period1 and 2 (Per) or Cryptochrome1 and 2 (Cry) are deficient in cell cycle regulation and Per2 mutant mice are cancer-prone. However, it remains unclear how circadian rhythm in cell proliferation is generated in vivo and why disruption of circadian rhythm may lead to tumorigenesis.', 'Mice lacking Per1 and 2, Cry1 and 2, or one copy of Bmal1, all show increased spontaneous and radiation-induced tumor development. The neoplastic growth of Per-mutant somatic cells is not controlled cell-autonomously but is dependent upon extracellular mitogenic signals. Among the circadian output pathways, the rhythmic sympathetic signaling plays a key role in the central-peripheral timing mechanism that simultaneously activates the cell cycle clock via AP1-controlled Myc induction and p53 via peripheral clock-controlled ATM activation. Jet-lag promptly desynchronizes the central clock-SNS-peripheral clock axis, abolishes the peripheral clock-dependent ATM activation, and activates myc oncogenic potential, leading to tumor development in the same organ systems in wild-type and circadian gene-mutant mice.']
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['The role of religion in mental illness remains understudied. Most prior investigations of this relationship have used measures of religiosity that do not reflect its complexity and/or have examined a small number of psychiatric outcomes. This study used data from a general population sample to clarify the dimensions of religiosity and the relationships of these dimensions to risk for lifetime psychiatric and substance use disorders.', 'Responses to 78 items assessing various aspects of broadly defined religiosity were obtained from 2,616 male and female twins from a general population registry. The association between the resulting religiosity dimensions and the lifetime risk for nine disorders assessed at personal interview was evaluated by logistic regression. Of these disorders, five were "internalizing" (major depression, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and bulimia nervosa), and four were "externalizing" (nicotine dependence, alcohol dependence, drug abuse or dependence, and adult antisocial behavior).', 'Seven factors were identified: general religiosity, social religiosity, involved God, forgiveness, God as judge, unvengefulness, and thankfulness. Two factors were associated with reduced risk for both internalizing and externalizing disorders (social religiosity and thankfulness), four factors with reduced risk for externalizing disorders only (general religiosity, involved God, forgiveness, and God as judge), and one factor with reduced risk for internalizing disorders only (unvengefulness).']
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['Important concerns with regard to in utero platelet transfusions are avoidance of volume overload and the immunomodulatory effects of residual white cells (WBCs). This study evaluated a modification of a leukocyte-reduction system (LRS, Spectra, COBE BCT) for apheresis, which collects high-concentration WBC-reduced platelets (HCPs) for in utero transfusion.', 'The LRS procedure was modified by running the platelet collection pump at specified low flow rates (Q(col)) for the first part of the procedure, collecting HCPs by gently purging them from the LRS chamber into a designated collection bag and then restoring the original LRS procedure settings to collect a second standard apheresis platelet concentrate (PC). Two centers carried out 32 procedures. Platelet yield, residual WBCs, and in vitro platelet function studies were evaluated.', 'Platelet concentrations in 60 mL of HCPs were predictable according to Q(col) (r(2) = 0.735). HCP yields varied from 0.9 to 3.2 x 10(11), depending on the desired final platelet concentrations in 60 mL, with an overall average of 1. 92 x 10(11) (n = 32). Apheresis PCs had a mean platelet yield of 2.9 x 10(11) (1.3-4.4 x 10(11), n = 20) and 3.9 x 10(11) (2.2-5.8 x 10(11), n = 12) at concentrations of 1.3 x 10(12) per L for single-needle and dual- needle procedures, respectively. Median WBC counts were 5.6 x 10(3) for HCPs and 2.0 x 10(4) for apheresis PCs, with >99 percent expected to be less than 1 x 10(6). HCP in vitro characteristics were equivalent to those of apheresis PCs at 24 hours after collection. In vitro performance declined over storage as a function of HCP yield. HCP pH at 22(o)C was maintained at a level of >6.2 for more than 3 days for yields >1.6 x 10(11), less than 2 days for yields 1.6 to 2.2 x 10(11), and less than 24 hours for yields >2.2 x 10(11). HCPs showed good in vitro characteristics and could be stored for 1 to 3 days, depending on the total number of platelets collected.']
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['Early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a clinically distinct form of CRC that is often associated with a poor prognosis. Methylation levels of genomic repeats such as LINE-1 elements have been recognized as independent factors for increased cancer-related mortality. The methylation status of LINE-1 elements in early-onset CRC has not been analyzed previously.', 'We analyzed 343 CRC tissues and 32 normal colonic mucosa samples, including 2 independent cohorts of CRC diagnosed ≤ 50 years old (n=188), a group of sporadic CRC >50 years (MSS n=89; MSI n=46), and a group of Lynch syndrome CRCs (n=20). Tumor mismatch repair protein expression, microsatellite instability status, LINE-1 and MLH1 methylation, somatic BRAF V600E mutation, and germline MUTYH mutations were evaluated.', 'Mean LINE-1 methylation levels (± SD) in the five study groups were early-onset CRC, 56.6% (8.6); sporadic MSI, 67.1% (5.5); sporadic MSS, 65.1% (6.3); Lynch syndrome, 66.3% (4.5) and normal mucosa, 76.5% (1.5). Early-onset CRC had significantly lower LINE-1 methylation than any other group (p<0.0001). Compared to patients with <65% LINE-1 methylation in tumors, those with ≥ 65% LINE-1 methylation had significantly better overall survival (p=0.026, log rank test).']
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['This study aimed to examine the association of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (FABP4) levels with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in obese subjects with varying degrees of the metabolic syndrome (MetS).', 'Fifty morbidly obese subjects with LVDD were selected at random and matched by age (±5 years) and sex with 50 morbidly obese with normal left ventricular (LV) function. In addition, 24 healthy lean subjects were included as controls.', 'Median FABP4 levels (interquartile range) in obese subjects with LVDD were significantly higher (42\u2009ng\u2009ml(-1) (32-53)) than in obese with normal LV function (24\u2009ng\u2009ml(-1) (36-43), P=0.036), and in normal weight controls (13\u2009ng\u2009ml(-1) (10-20), P<0.0001). Increasing FABP4 tertiles were significantly associated with parameters of LVDD, the number of LVDD components, physical performance and epicardial fat thickness. In multivariate regression analysis adjusting for age, sex and adiposity, FABP4 levels remained significantly associated with parameters of diastolic function. The association of FABP4 levels with LVDD was mainly observed in subjects with metabolic complications, but not in metabolically healthy obese.']
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['There is substantial evidence that the risk of spina bifida, a malformation of the caudal neural tube, may be associated with maternal or embryonic disturbances in the folate-homocysteine metabolic axis. Hence, variants of genes that influence this pathway represent an intriguing group of candidate genes for spina bifida and other neural tube defects (NTD). A common variant of the gene for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3 G894T) was recently added to this group of NTD candidate genes, based on a report demonstrating that homozygosity for the T allele of this variant is associated with increased homocysteine levels in normal adult populations.', 'The association between the risk of spina bifida and both the maternal and embryonic genotype for the NOS3 G894T variant was evaluated in data from 301 families by using the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and log-linear modeling.', 'Analyses of these data using the TDT provided no evidence that the risk of spina bifida was significantly related to either the maternal or embryonic NOS3 genotype. However, the log-linear analyses indicated that the risk of spina bifida was significantly associated with the embryonic, but not the maternal, genotype for the NOS3 G894T variant.']
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['To determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of tendinopathy in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) could be used to predict the course of tendon involvement in later disease and specifically the risk of tendon rupture.', 'The occurrence, pattern, and progression of tendinopathy were studied prospectively over 6 years in a cohort of patients who had presented with RA. Of 42 patients enrolled, full MRI and clinical data were available for 31 at 6 years. MRI scans of the dominant wrist were scored for tendinopathy by 2 radiologists using a validated system. These data were compared with MRI synovitis, erosion scores, and disease activity measures. Prognostic factors for tendon inflammation and rupture were sought.', 'Thirty-four patients (81%) had MRI evidence of tendinopathy at baseline, falling to 59% at 1 year and 68% at 6 years. The most commonly affected site was the extensor carpi ulnaris. MRI tendinopathy and synovitis scores were correlated at baseline (r = 0.37, P = 0.01) and 1 year (r = 0.45, P = 0.003) but not at 6 years (r = 0.11, P = 0.5). The strongest predictor of the 6-year tendinopathy score was the 1-year tendinopathy score (R(2) = 0.36, P = 0.0003 [beta = 1.28, SE = 0.31]). In 4 patients, extensor tendon rupture had occurred by 6 years. Their baseline and 1-year tendinopathy scores were higher than in the nonrupture group (medians 2.8 versus 1.0 [P = 0.04] and 4.3 versus 0.8 [P = 0.03], respectively), as were their Health Assessment Questionnaire scores (1.33 versus 0.54 [P = 0.02], 1.18 versus 0.25 [P = 0.03], and 0.98 versus 0.37 [P = 0.01] at 0, 1, and 6 years, respectively). For the group as a whole, the baseline tendinopathy score was predictive of rupture at 6 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.52, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.02-2.32, P = 0.03), as was the 1-year score (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.03-2.04, P = 0.02).']
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['Examine whether false-positive HIV enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test results occur more frequently among pregnant women than among women who are not pregnant and men (others).', 'To obtain a large number of pregnant women and others tested for HIV, we identified specimens tested at a national laboratory using Genetic Systems HIV-1/HIV-2 Plus O EIA from July 2007 to June 2008.', 'Specimens with EIA repeatedly reactive and Western blot-negative or indeterminate results were considered EIA false-positive. We compared the false-positive rate among uninfected pregnant women and others, adjusting for HIV prevalence. Among all reactive EIAs, we evaluated the proportion of false-positives, positive predictive value (PPV), and Western blot bands among indeterminates, by pregnancy status.', 'HIV prevalence was 0.06% among 921,438 pregnant women and 1.34% among 1,103,961 others. The false-positive rate was lower for pregnant women than others (0.14% vs. 0.21%, odds ratio 0.65 [95% confidence interval 0.61, 0.70]). Pregnant women with reactive EIAs were more likely than others (p<0.01) to have Western blot-negative (52.9% vs. 9.8%) and indeterminate results (17.0% vs. 3.7%) and lower PPV (30% vs. 87%). The p24 band was detected more often among pregnant women (p<0.01).']
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['To evaluate the photon and neutron out-of-field dose equivalents from 6- and 18-MV intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and to investigate the impact of the differences on the associated risk of induced second malignancy using a Monte Carlo model.', 'A Monte Carlo model created with MCNPX was used to calculate the out-of-field photon dose and neutron dose equivalent from simulated IMRT of the prostate conducted at beam energies of 6 and 18MV. The out-of-field dose equivalent was calculated at the locations of sensitive organs in an anthropomorphic phantom. Based on these doses, the risk of secondary malignancy was calculated based on organ-, gender-, and age-specific risk coefficients for a 50-year-old man.', 'The Monte Carlo model predicted much lower neutron dose equivalents than had been determined previously. Further analysis illuminated the large uncertainties in the neutron dose equivalent and demonstrated the need for better determination of this value, which plays a large role in estimating the risk of secondary malignancies. The Monte Carlo calculations found that the differences in the risk of secondary malignancies conferred by high-energy IMRT versus low-energy IMRT are minimal and insignificant, contrary to prior findings.']
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['This study sought to determine whether combined continuous ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone acetate, a postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) combination designed to have fewer side effects than cyclical therapies and therapies using medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), could improve vascular endothelial function in postmenopausal women with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).', 'Eighteen postmenopausal women (mean age 62 +/- 11 years) participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design trial of 10 microg estradiol/1 mg norethindrone acetate given once daily for 3 months, with a 1-month washout period between placebo and active treatment phases. Vascular reactivity was assessed at each phase of the study using high-frequency brachial artery ultrasound in response to flow-mediated hyperemia, cold pressor testing, and sublingual nitroglycerin. Markers of cardiovascular risk, including cholesterol levels, inflammatory markers, fibrinolytic markers, and solubilized adhesion molecules, were also measured at each phase.', 'We found no significant difference in vascular reactivity measurements during active treatment with ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone acetate vs. placebo. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increased significantly during active treatment, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels decreased significantly. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels declined during active treatment. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were inversely correlated with flow-mediated hyperemic vascular reactivity, independent of active treatment or placebo phases.']
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['Although standard colonoscopy is considered the optimal test to detect adenomas, it can have a significant adenoma miss rate. A major contributing factor to high miss rates is the inability to visualize adenomas behind haustral folds and at anatomic flexures.', 'To compare the diagnostic yield of balloon-assisted colonoscopy versus standard colonoscopy in the detection of simulated polyps in a colon model.', 'Prospective, cohort study.', 'International gastroenterology meeting.', 'A colon model composed of elastic material, which mimics the flexible structure of haustral folds, allowing for dynamic responses to balloon inflation, with embedded simulated colon polyps (n = 12 silicone "polyps").', 'Fifty gastroenterologists were recruited to identify simulated colon polyps in a colon model, first using standard colonoscopy immediately followed by balloon-assisted colonoscopy.', 'Detection of simulated polyps.', 'The median polyp detection rate for all simulated polyps was significantly higher with balloon-assisted as compared with standard colonoscopy (91.7% vs 45.8%, respectively; P < .0001). The significantly higher simulated polyp detection rate with balloon-assisted versus standard colonoscopy was notable both for non-obscured polyps (100.0% vs 75.0%; P < .0001) and obscured polyps (88.0% vs 25.0%; P < .0001).']
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['Optical Projection Tomography (OPT) is a microscopic technique that generates three dimensional images from whole mount samples the size of which exceeds the maximum focal depth of confocal laser scanning microscopes. As an advancement of conventional emission-OPT, Scanning Laser Optical Tomography (SLOTy) allows simultaneous detection of fluorescence and absorbance with high sensitivity. In the present study, we employ SLOTy in a paradigm of brain plasticity in an insect model system.', 'We visualize and quantify volumetric changes in sensory information procession centers in the adult locust, Locusta migratoria. Olfactory receptor neurons, which project from the antenna into the brain, are axotomized by crushing the antennal nerve or ablating the entire antenna. We follow the resulting degeneration and regeneration in the olfactory centers (antennal lobes and mushroom bodies) by measuring their size in reconstructed SLOTy images with respect to the untreated control side. Within three weeks post treatment antennal lobes with ablated antennae lose as much as 60% of their initial volume. In contrast, antennal lobes with crushed antennal nerves initially shrink as well, but regain size back to normal within three weeks. The combined application of transmission-and fluorescence projections of Neurobiotin labeled axotomized fibers confirms that recovery of normal size is restored by regenerated afferents. Remarkably, SLOTy images reveal that degeneration of olfactory receptor axons has a trans-synaptic effect on second order brain centers and leads to size reduction of the mushroom body calyx.']
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['Recently, long-standing elevations of soluble growth factors released from platelets (PLTs) after contact with artificial surfaces during dialysis were described. They could be jointly responsible for the high frequency of death from cardiovascular diseases in dialysis patients. There are no comparable data on the extent and the duration of a growth factor release by plateletpheresis procedures.', "A total of 37 plateletpheresis procedures were performed with two different devices. PLT-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoform AB, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) were measured in the donors' plasma samples, and PLT activation and function were measured by cytometry and aggregometry before and after plateletpheresis and 1 and 24 hours later.", 'Before apheresis, the following mean plasma levels were found: beta-TG, 98.6 +/- 37.3 IU per mL; PDGF-AB, 71.5 +/- 38.5 pg per mL; and TGF-beta1, 2.24 +/- 0.80 ng per mL. At the end of the apheresis procedures, the mean PDGF-AB level had increased by a factor of 1.8 (p < 0.05). One hour later, the mean PDGF-AB level had normalized again. No significant change in the levels of beta-TG and TGF-beta1 was found by the apheresis procedures. There was no influence of the blood cell separator type on the results.']
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['The unfolded protein response is triggered by the accumulation of misfolded proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum. Previous studies suggest that the unfolded protein response is activated in some cancer cell lines and involved in tumor development. The role of the unfolded protein response during leukemogenesis is unknown thus far.', 'Here, we assessed the induction of key effectors of the unfolded protein response in leukemic cells at diagnosis of 105 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients comprising all subtypes. We determined the formation of the spliced variant of the X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) mRNA, as well as expression levels of calreticulin, GRP78, and CHOP mRNA.', 'The formation of the spliced variant of XBP1s was detectable in 16.2% (17 of 105) of AML patients. Consistent with activated unfolded protein response, this group also had significantly increased expression of calreticulin, GRP78, and CHOP. AML patients with activated unfolded protein response had lower WBC counts, lactate dehydrogenase levels, and more frequently, secondary AML. The incidence of fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutations was significantly lower in patients with activated unfolded protein response. In addition, an association was observed between activated unfolded protein response and deletion of chromosome 7. Finally, the clinical course of AML patients with activated unfolded protein response was more favorable with lower relapse rate (P = 0.0182) and better overall (P = 0.041) and disease-free survival (P = 0.022).']
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['Symptom reduction under antipsychotic agents is incomplete for most schizophrenia patients. In order to enhance outcome, cognitive approaches are increasingly adopted as add-on interventions. The present study aimed to determine the efficacy of group Metacognitive Training (MCT), which targets cognitive biases putatively involved in the pathogenesis of delusions.', 'A two-center, randomized, assessor-blind, controlled trial between MCT group training and cognitive training was carried out (ISRCTN95205723). A total of 150 in- and outpatients with DSM diagnoses of schizophrenia spectrum disorders were enrolled. All patients were concurrently prescribed antipsychotic medication. Assessments were made at baseline, four weeks and six months later. The primary outcome was a delusion score derived from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS) as well as cognitive measures served as secondary outcomes.', 'Completion at follow-up was 86%. According to intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses, patients in the MCT group showed significantly greater symptom reduction on the PANSS delusion subscore (follow-up), PANSS positive score (post-treatment) and PSYRATS delusion score (post-treatment and follow-up). Improvement on the PANSS positive scale at post-treatment and follow-up was positively correlated with the number of attended MCT sessions. No changes were seen for other psychopathological syndromes.']
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["Treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) by infliximab has been associated with the induction of antinuclear (ANA) and anti-double stranded DNA (dsDNA) autoantibodies. As yet, little is known about the effect of the humoral response induced by infliximab on the production of other organ-specific or nonorgan-specific autoantibodies.", 'Thirty-five patients with CD treated with repeated infusions of infliximab were prospectively studied. Thirty-two patients with CD who had never received infliximab served as controls. A large panel of autoantibodies directed against phospholipid, beta2-glycoprotein I, mitochondria, smooth muscle, liver--kidney microsomes, filaggrin, thyroid, adrenals, and rheumatoid factor was tested along with ANA and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies during 1 year of intermittent treatment with infliximab. Autoantibodies were detected using the appropriate methods (i.e., indirect immunofluorescence, a radioimmunological technique, and ELISA assays).', 'Induction of ANA and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies was observed in 53% and 35% of infliximab-treated patients with CD, respectively. Overall, no other organ-specific or nonorgan-specific autoantibodies were detected during follow-up. A single patient who developed ANA and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies showed clinical features consistent with drug-induced lupus, which quickly resolved after discontinuation of infliximab. The other patients with CD receiving infliximab did not develop any clinical symptoms of autoimmunity.']
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['Intestinal microbiota is important in health and disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and fibre-enriched tube feeding on quality of life and intestinal microbiota (faecal Bifidobacteria).', 'Nineteen out of 59 home-living, tube-feeding-dependent, adult patients and matched healthy controls were included in this randomized, double-blind study. After a washout period, patients received either no residue tube feeding (non-FOS group) or FOS and fibre-enriched tube feeding (FOS group). Quality of life as defined by the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) and quantification of faecal Bifidobacteria were determined.', "At baseline, GIQLI scores in controls and patients were 88+/-12 and 67+/-14, respectively (p=0.001). Following 6 weeks' intervention, GIQLI scores remained stable (65+/-14 versus 67+/-17) in the FOS group, whereas the non-FOS group values decreased (68+/-17 versus 64+/-19). Baseline faecal samples contained 2. 1x 10(7)+/-3.5 x 10(7) and 2.1 x 10(6)+/-5.6 x10(6)Bifidobacteria (p=0.002) in controls and patients, respectively, with no differences between patient groups. During the intervention, this number remained stable in the FOS group (0.7 x 10(6)+/-1.3 x 10(6) versus 1.0 x 10(6)+/-1.3 x 10(6) baseline versus end-point), but decreased in the non-FOS group (3.6 x1 0(6)+/-8.0 x 10(6) versus 2.5 x 10(4)+/-4.0 x 10(4)). GIQLI scores were correlated with the number of faecal Bifidobacteria (r=0.41, p=0.007)."]
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['The underlying causes of severe malarial anaemia are multifactorial. In previously reports, Plasmodium vivax was found to be able to directly inhibited erythroid cell proliferation and differentiation. The molecular mechanisms underlying the suppression of erythropoiesis by P. vivax are remarkably complex and remain unclear. In this study, a phosphoproteomic approach was performed to dissect the molecular mechanism of phosphoprotein regulation, which is involved in the inhibitory effect of parasites on erythroid cell development.', 'This study describes the first comparative phosphoproteome analysis of growing erythroid cells (gECs), derived from human haematopoietic stem cells, exposed to lysates of infected erythrocytes (IE)/uninfected erythrocytes (UE) for 24, 48 and 72\xa0h. This study utilized IMAC phosphoprotein isolation directly coupled with LC MS/MS analysis.', 'Lysed IE significantly inhibited gEC growth at 48 and 72\xa0h and cell division resulting in the accumulation of cells in G0 phase. The relative levels of forty four phosphoproteins were determined from gECs exposed to IE/UE for 24-72\xa0h and compared with the media control using the label-free quantitation technique. Interestingly, the levels of three phosphoproteins: ezrin, alpha actinin-1, and Rho kinase were significantly (p\u2009<\u20090.05) altered. These proteins display interactions and are involved in the regulation of the cellular cytoskeleton. Particularly affected was ezrin (phosphorylated at Thr567), which is normally localized to gEC cell extension peripheral processes. Following exposure to IE, for 48-72\xa0h, the ezrin signal intensity was weak or absent. This result suggests that phospho-ezrin is important for actin cytoskeleton regulation during erythroid cell growth and division.']
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['Oxygen-derived free radicals have been suggested as important in degeneration after spinal cord ischemia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether erdosteine has a protective effect against spinal cord ischemia during aortic cross clamping.', 'New Zealand White rabbits (n=21) were divided into three groups. In the ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R) (n=8), the infrarenal aorta of rabbits was cross clamped for 21 min and then reperfused. In erdosteine group, the administration of erdosteine solution (50 mg/kg) was started two days before aortic cross-clamping and rabbits (n=8) were subjected to ischemia and reperfusion. Animals in control group (n=5) underwent a surgical procedure similar to the other groups but the aorta was not clamped. The animals were sacrificed at 72 h and histopathological, and biochemical analyses were carried out on the lumbar spinal cords.', 'Erdosteine treatment was associated with improved neurological function in the postoperative period. Histopathological examination of spinal cord tissues in erdosteine group revealed changes consistent with mild ischemic injury, but rabbits in I/R group with paraplegia had total destruction of the motor neurons. Biochemical analyses of spinal cord tissues, in the I/R group, revealed a significant increase in the superoxide dismutase, xanthine oxidase, adenosine deaminase and myeloperoxidase activities, and a significant depletion in glutathione peroxidase activity when compared to that of control rabbits. Erdosteine treatment prevented the increase of all these enzymes except adenosine deaminase. Ischemia/reperfusion produced a significant increase in the tissue malondialdehyde levels. Ischemia/reperfusion-induced increments in malondialdehyde content of the spinal cord were significantly prevented by erdosteine treatment.']
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['Fish oil (FO) supplementation prevents the development of obesity and insulin resistance, and upregulate the expression of UCP3 in skeletal muscle in rodents. This may represent indirect evidence that FO promotes fat oxidation and/or alter energy efficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether such effects can be observed in humans. The metabolic effects of FO were assessed during exercise in order to obtain a direct measurement of energy efficiency.', 'Eight healthy male volunteers were studied with and without supplementation with 7.2 g/day FO (including 1.1 g/day eicosopentaenoic acid and 0.7 g/day decosahexaenoic acid) during 14 days. Their VO(2 max) was measured on cycle ergometer. Thereafter, energy metabolism (substrate oxidation, energy expenditure and energy efficiency) was assessed during a 30 min cycling exercise at 50% VO(2 max) performed 2 h 30 after a standardized, high carbohydrate breakfast.', 'VO(2 max) was 38.6+/-2.2 after FO and 38.4+/-2.0 (mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) in control conditions (NS). Basal plasma glucose, insulin and NEFA concentrations, and energy metabolism were similar with FO and in controls. During exercise, the increases in plasma NEFA concentrations, energy expenditure, glucose and lipid oxidation, and the decreases in glycaemia and insulinemia were not altered by FO intake. Energy efficiency was 22.4+/-0.6% after FO vs 21.8+/-0.7% in controls. In order to ascertain that the absence of effects of FO was not due to consumption of a carbohydrate meal immediately before exercise, 4 of the 8 subjects were re-studied in fasting conditions, FO also failed to alter energy efficiency in this subset of studies.']
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['BK polyomavirus (BKV) infection remains a significant cause of nephropathy and graft loss. Fluoroquinolones inhibit BKV replication in vitro, and small studies suggest in vivo benefit. A strategy of fluoroquinolone prophylaxis directed specifically against BKV has not been formally tested against a control group in kidney transplant recipients.', 'We retrospectively compared the impact of a change in antibiotic prophylaxis practice from no BKV prophylaxis (Group 1, n=106, July-December 2009) to BKV prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin 250 mg twice daily for 30 days (Group 2, n=130, January-June 2010) on the rate of BKV infection during the first 12 months after kidney transplantation.', 'Baseline demographics, transplant characteristics, induction immunosuppression, and 1-year incidence of acute rejection were similar between groups. Group 1 had fewer patients on maintenance corticosteroids (65.1% vs. 83.2%, P=0.002). At 3 months, Group 1 had a significantly higher risk of developing BK viremia (0.161 vs. 0.065, P=0.0378) and viruria (0.303 vs. 0.146, P=0.0067) compared with Group 2, but this difference disappeared at 12 months for both viremia (0.297 vs. 0.261, P=0.6061) and viruria (0.437 vs. 0.389, P=0.5363). Adjusting for the difference in steroid use did not change the results. There was a trend toward higher incidence of biopsy-proven BKV nephropathy in Group 1 (4.7% vs. 0.8%, P=0.057).']
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['This study was performed in order to assess the potential influence of placental implantation site on transabdominal electromyographic (EMG) assessment of the uterine electrical activity in the middle trimester of pregnancy.', 'In this prospective study 251 unselected, nulliparous asymptomatic women with a singleton pregnancy underwent transabdominal uterine EMG. Uterine electrical activity was recorded using bipolar electrodes placed on the abdominal surface for 20min. Regarding the placental implantation site and presence of action potentials (AP) pregnant women were divided into two groups: the anterior placenta group (APG) and the posterior placenta group (PPG). Outcome measures were differences in the median frequency (MF) and median amplitude (MA) of AP between the two groups.', "Action potentials were detected in 56 women: 33/56 in the APG versus 23/56 in the PPG. The parameters analyzed (MF, p=0.527, Fisher's exact test, and MA, p=0.255, Fisher's exact test) did not produce any statistical significant differences between the two groups."]
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['The purpose of this study is to examine autoantibody profile of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and to establish the correlation between the antibody reactivity and disease activity of LN.', 'Autoantibodies and serological parameters were measured and analyzed in 589 SLE patients. The associations of the co-positivity of anti-dsDNA, -nucleosome and -histone antibodies (3-pos) with clinical, serological and outcome parameters were analyzed.', 'At the study entry, the prevalence for anti-dsDNA (61.52 % vs. 34.11 %, P\u2009<\u20090.0001), anti-nucleosome (56.09 % vs. 37.21 %, P\u2009=\u20090.0002) and anti-histone (49.35 % vs. 33.33 %, P\u2009=\u20090.0013) antibodies in patients with LN were significantly higher than that in patients without LN. Patients with 3-pos had a higher proportion of proliferative renal lesions (class III\u2009+\u2009IV). The incidence of a poor renal outcome (7.14 % vs. 2.52 %, P\u2009=\u20090.0174) in LN patients with 3-pos was significantly higher than those without 3-pos. Moreover, the rate of remission (73.63 % vs. 82.37 %, P\u2009=\u20090.0245) was significantly reduced and recurrence increased (58.90 % vs. 23.44 %, P\u2009<\u20090.0001) in 3-pos patients as compared to that in non 3-pos within the LN group.']
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['There is increasing interest in defining meaningful improvement in patient-reported outcomes. Knowledge of the thresholds and determinants for successful femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) outcomes is evolving.', 'To define preoperative outcome score thresholds and determine clinical/demographic patient factors predictive for achieving the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) after arthroscopic FAI surgery.', 'Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.', 'A prospective institutional hip preservation registry was reviewed to identify patients undergoing arthroscopic FAI surgery. The modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), the Hip Outcome Score (HOS), and the international Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33) were administered at baseline and 1 year postoperatively. The MCID was calculated using a distribution-based method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to calculate cohort-based threshold values predictive of achieving the MCID. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to define predictive ability, with AUC >0.7 considered acceptably predictive. Multivariable analysis identified patient factors associated with achieving the MCID. Sensitivity analysis was performed to derive the MCID by an alternative anchor-based method.', 'There were 364 patients (mean [±SD] age, 32.5 ± 10.3 years), and 57.1% were female. The MCID for the mHHS, HOS-Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), HOS-Sports, and iHOT-33 was 8.2, 8.3, 14.5, and 12.1, respectively. ROC analysis findings (threshold, percentage achieving the MCID, and strength of association) for these tools were as follows: mHHS (60.5, 77.2%, and 0.68, respectively), HOS-ADL (83.3, 68.1%, and 0.85, respectively), HOS-Sports (58.3, 65.9%, and 0.76, respectively), and iHOT-33 (53.9, 81.9%, and 0.65, respectively). The likelihood for achieving the MCID significantly declined above these thresholds. In multivariable analysis, a higher sagittal center-edge angle (CEA) (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08) was a positive predictor of achieving the MCID on the iHOT-33, while a higher Outerbridge grade for the acetabulum was a negative predictor (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.32-0.99) on the mHHS. Sensitivity analysis confirmed these variables and identified relative femoral retroversion as another negative predictor (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.17-0.94).']
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['Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death in the first 6 months after birth in the industrialized world. The genetic contribution to SIDS has been investigated intensively and to date, 14 cardiac channelopathy genes have been associated with SIDS. Newly published data from National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Grand Opportunity (NHLBI GO) Exome Sequencing Project (ESP) provided important knowledge on genetic variation in the background population. Our aim was to identify all variants previously associated with SIDS in ESP to improve the discrimination between plausible disease-causing mutations and variants most likely to be false-positive.', 'The PubMed database was searched to identify SIDS-associated channelopathy variants and the prevalence of these in the ESP population (6500 individuals) were obtained. In silico prediction tools were applied to variants present in ESP and 6 SIDS-associated variants (CAV3 p.C72W, p.T78M; KCNH2 p.R148W, and SCN5A p.S216L, p.V1951L, p.F2004L) were genotyped in our own control population.', 'Nineteen different missense variants previously associated with SIDS were identified in ESP affecting 225 of 6424 alleles. This corresponds to 1:29 individuals in the ESP population being carriers of a SIDS-associated variant. Genotyping of 6 SIDS-associated variants in our own controls revealed frequencies comparable with those found in ESP.']
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['Malignant melanoma is one of the most rapidly increasing cancer types globally, and it is by far the most serious skin cancer. Patients with a melanoma ≥ 1 mm in Breslow thickness are offered sentinel node (SN) biopsy and subsequent radical lymph node dissection if the biopsy is positive. The objective in the present paper was to describe post-operative complications in this group of patients. A standard operation and drainage regime was used.', "This was a retrospective study based on 96 consecutive SN-positive patients with primary cutaneous malignant melanoma who underwent subsequent radical axillary or inguinal lymph node dissection. Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to evaluate associations.", 'In all, 57 patients were male and 39 female. A total of 71 had an axillary and 25 an inguinal operation. The median drainage period was seven days (2-15 days). Forty patients developed seroma which needed puncture; three of these cases were chronic, there was no difference between the two groups. Seroma puncture was only associated with infection in the inguinal group (p = 0.04). 25% in the axillary group were diagnosed with lymph oedema after three months versus 48% in the inguinal group (p = 0.04). A body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 was associated with a slight, but non-significant increase in complications (p = 0.08). No association was found for smoking or co-morbidity.']
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['Interfering with cell proliferation and survival is a critical role for antineoplastic drugs leading to cell death through induction of apoptosis. Alternative treatments with herbal extracts offer insights into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapy. Parthenolide (PTL), an extract from feverfew, induces apoptosis in primary human leukemia stem cells (LSCs) and bulk leukemic cell populations. Osteopontin (OPN) preserves cell viability in response to anticancer agents and its receptors could be utilized for therapeutic targeting of cancer cells.', 'U937 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 with concentrations of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 µM PTL for 20-24 hours for MTT assays. Apoptosis assays were performed with Annexin V-Alexa Fluor-488/PI as Annexin V+/PI- and Annexin V+/PI+ to measure early and late apoptosis, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure OPN gene expression using the 2(-ΔΔCt) method. The PTL-treated cells were stained with FITC-CD38 antibody for flow cytometry analyses. Data were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) by SPSS 19.', 'Parthenolide inhibited growth of U937 cells with IC25 and IC50 values of 4 and 5.8 µM, respectively. Death induction with PTL was apoptotic. Flow cytometry showed a significant decrease in the percentage of CD38+ U937 cells in response to PTL. Osteopontin gene expression decreased in response to PTL.']
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['Propofol is increasingly being used in sedated colonoscopy. This paper assesses the safety and efficacy of nonanesthesiologist-administered propofol in a large series of colonoscopies.', "A prospective registry of consecutive American Society of Anesthetics (ASA) class I and II outpatients undergoing colonoscopy was carried out. Propofol, administered by a nurse under an endoscopist's supervision, was the sole sedative agent used.", 'Of the 1000 patients (563 women/437 men, mean age 57, range 8-89 years) included in the study, 57.4% showed ASA I and 42.6% ASA II characteristics. The cecal intubation rate was 96.9%. 48.2% of the procedures were for therapeutic purposes. The mean propofol dose was 177 mg (range 50-590 mg). Doses correlated inversely with patient age (r=-0.38; P<0.001) and were lower in ASA II patients (P<0.001) and in diagnostic (rather than therapeutic) exams (P<0.001). The average recovery time (from extracting the colonoscope to patient discharge) was 18.6 min (range 4-75) and longer in ASA II patients (P=0.05). A pulse oximetry saturation of less than 90% and a decrease in systolic blood pressure of more than 20 mmHg were observed in 24 (2.4%) and 385 (35.8%) patients, respectively. Both events were more frequent in patients older than 65 years (P<0.05); the latter was more common in ASA II patients.']
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['There is controversy concerning whether exercise during pregnancy may increase preterm delivery risk and type of delivery. The effect of pregnant Latin-American women engaging in vigorous exercise during the second and third trimester was examined regarding type of delivery and gestational age.', "This was a secondary analysis of data from a controlled randomized trial for determining the influence of physical exercise on pregnant women's endothelial function. The study included 35 nulliparous women, gestational week 16-20 attending prenatal care at three tertiary hospitals in Colombia, who were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group engaged in aerobic exercise involving 55 % - 75 % maximum heart rate for 60 min, three times a week for 12 weeks. The control group engaged in their usual physical activity. Maternal weight, height, weight gain, blood pressure and type of delivery were recorded; gender, abdominal and head circumference (cm), weight (g), height (cm), vitality (Apgar score at 1 and 5 min) and gestational age at the time of delivery (in weeks, days) were recorded for the newborn.", 'There was no difference in type of delivery by the end of the 12-week program (p > 0.05), nor regarding newborn anthropometric variables, Apgar score, or maternal variables concerning weight, height, relative weight gain, blood pressure or weeks of gestation (p>0.05).']
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['Recently, the general public opinion is that nutritional recommendations promote obesity rather than prevent it. We created the Recommended Finnish Diet Score (RFDS) that illustrates the Finnish nutrition recommendations and assessed whether this score is associated with BMI, waist circumference (WC) and body fat percentage (BF%).', 'Cross-sectional study included two phases of the National FINRISK 2007 Study. Diet was assessed using a validated FFQ. Height, weight, WC and BF% were measured, and BMI values were calculated. The RFDS was developed based on the national nutrition recommendations.', 'A large representative sample of the Finnish population.', 'Men (n 2190) and women (n 2530) aged 25-74 years.', 'The RFDS was inversely associated with WC in men (OR = 0·48, 95 % CI 0·28, 0·81, P < 0·05) and BF% in both men (OR = 0·44, 95 % CI 0·24, 0·82, P-trend < 0·05) and women (OR = 0·63, 95 % CI 0·37, 1·08, P-trend < 0·05). The inverse association of RFDS and BF% appeared stronger among older age groups (men: OR = 0·21 CI 0·07, 0·64, P-trend < 0·01; women: OR = 0·56, 95 % CI 0·25, 1·27, P-trend < 0·05) and among women with normal BMI (OR = 0·62, 95 % CI 0·36, 1·09, P-trend < 0·05). The RFDS was not associated with BMI.']
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['Few studies have assessed the association between consumption of red meat (RM) and processed red meats (PRM) and the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and results have been inconsistent. We investigated associations between total consumption of meat and its subtypes and incident MetS and estimated the effect of substituting RM or PRM for alternative protein-rich foods.', 'We analyzed 1868 participants (55-80 years-old) recruited into the PREDIMED study who had no MetS at baseline and were followed for a median of 3.2 years. MetS was defined using updated harmonized criteria. Anthropometric variables, dietary habits, and blood biochemistry were determined at baseline and yearly thereafter. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of MetS were estimated for the two upper tertiles (versus the lowest one) of mean consumption of meat and its subtypes during the follow-up as exposure.', 'Comparing the highest vs the lowest tertile of consumption, we observed an increased risk of MetS incidence, with HRs of 1.23 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.45) and 1.46 (CI: 1.22-1.74) for total meat and pooled RM and PRM, respectively. Compared with participants in the lowest tertile, those in the highest tertile of poultry and rabbit consumption had a lower risk of MetS incidence. The risk of MetS was lower when one-serving/day of RM or PRM was replaced by legumes, poultry and rabbit, fish or eggs.']
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['Acute appendicitis in the developing world has a markedly different disease profile to that in the developed world.', 'A retrospective study was undertaken over a four-year period at a university hospital in South Africa to review the disease spectrum and the clinical outcome of acute appendicitis.', 'A total of 1,004 patients (54% male, median age: 18 years) with intraoperatively confirmed appendicitis were reviewed. Over half (56%) were from the urban district within the city of Pietermaritzburg and the remaining 44% were from the rural health district. The median duration of illness from onset to definitive care was 4 days. Sixty per cent of appendices were perforated and associated with intra-abdominal contamination. Forty per cent of patients required reoperation to control intra-abdominal sepsis. Ten per cent required admission to the intensive care unit. The median overall length of hospital stay was 5 days. The mortality rate was 1%. Rural patients had a longer median duration of illness (3 vs 5 days, p<0.001) as well as a more advanced disease profile associated with perforation and severe intra-abdominal sepsis (19% vs 71%, p<0.001). Female patients had a longer median duration of illness (3 vs 4 days, p<0.001), were more likely to present with severe intra-abdominal sepsis (31% vs 54%, p<0.001) and were more likely to require a laparotomy (50% vs 73%, p<0.001). The total cost of managing the entire cohort of 1,004 patients over the 4-year period was £2,060,972.']
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['Helicobacter pylori infection is now accepted as the most common cause of chronic active gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. The etiologies of many infectious diseases have been attributed to specific or clonal strains of bacterial pathogens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA between repetitive DNA sequences, REP elements (REP-PCR), has been utilized to generate DNA fingerprints to examine similarity among strains within a bacterial species.', 'Genomic DNA from H. pylori isolates obtained from 70 individuals (39 duodenal ulcers and 31 simple gastritis) was PCR-amplified using consensus probes to repetitive DNA elements. The H. pylori DNA fingerprints were analyzed for similarity and correlated with disease presentation using the NTSYS-pc computer program.', 'Each H. pylori strain had a distinct DNA fingerprint except for two pairs. Single-colony DNA fingerprints of H. pylori from the same patient were identical, suggesting that each patient harbors a single strain. Computer-assisted cluster analysis of the REP-PCR DNA fingerprints showed two large clusters of isolates, one associated with simple gastritis and the other with duodenal ulcer disease.']
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["To determine the effect of Stokes radius (R(S)) on the diffusion of molecules through Bruch's membrane (BM), and to establish a system suitable for the analysis of diffusion through small (<2 mm(2)) samples of BM.", 'Porcine BM/choroid (BM/Ch) was mounted in a modified Ussing chamber. A concentration gradient was simultaneously established for four tracers with R(S) values ranging from <1.0 to 6.15 nm. Samples were collected from both chambers at various time points up to 36 hours and the amount of each tracer was determined using quantitative gel exclusion chromatography. The integrity of samples was determined using scanning electron microscopy.', 'BM/Ch mounted in the chamber exhibited no obvious damage even after 36 hours in the chamber. Flux was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the BM to Ch direction than that in the Ch to BM direction for only two of the tracers: cytosine and RNase A. Flux also was dependent on R(S); cytosine, the smallest tracer (R(S) < 1 nm), exhibited the greatest flux and ferritin (R(S) = 6.15 nm) the least. Permeability coefficients for each tracer were determined and exhibited a power relationship with R(S).']
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