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['Our study has shown that plasma levels of ghrelin, a stomach-derived peptide, are significantly reduced in sepsis, and that ghrelin administration improves organ blood flow via a nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB-dependent pathway. However, it remains unknown whether ghrelin has any protective effects on severe sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and, if so, whether inhibition of NF-kappaB plays any role in it.', 'To test the hypothesis that ghrelin reduces severe sepsis-induced ALI and mortality through inhibition of NF-kappaB.', 'Sepsis was induced in rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Five hours after CLP, a bolus intravenous injection of 2 nmol of ghrelin was followed by continuous infusion of 12 nmol of ghrelin via a minipump for 15 hours. Samples were harvested 20 hours post-CLP (i.e., severe sepsis). Pulmonary levels of ghrelin and proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. NF-kappaB p65 and IkappaBalpha expression and NF-kappaB activity were measured by Western blot analysis and ELISA, respectively. Pulmonary blood flow was measured with radioactive microspheres. In additional animals, the necrotic cecum was excised 20 hours post-CLP and 10-day survival was recorded.', 'Pulmonary levels of ghrelin decreased significantly 20 hours post-CLP. Ghrelin administration restored pulmonary levels of ghrelin, reduced lung injury, increased pulmonary blood flow, down-regulated proinflammatory cytokines, inhibited NF-kappaB activation, and improved survival in sepsis. Administration of a specific ghrelin receptor antagonist worsened the survival rate after CLP and cecal excision.'] Does ghrelin attenuate sepsis-induced acute lung injury and mortality in rats? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3734281063079834,
-1.332292079925537,
2.71224045753479
] |
['Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has recently been reported to be associated with insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. This study tested the hypothesis that RBP4 is a marker of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes or coronary artery disease (CAD) or in non-diabetic control subjects without CAD.', 'Serum RBP4 was measured in 365 men (126 with type 2 diabetes, 143 with CAD and 96 control subjects) and correlated with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), components of the metabolic syndrome and lipoprotein metabolism. RBP4 was detected by ELISA and validated by quantitative Western blotting.', 'RBP4 concentrations detected by ELISA were shown to be strongly associated with the results gained in quantitative Western blots. There were no associations of RBP4 with HOMA-IR or HbA(1c) in any of the groups studied. In patients with type 2 diabetes there were significant positive correlations of RBP4 with total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, plasma triacylglycerol and hepatic lipase activity. In patients with CAD, there were significant associations of RBP4 with VLDL-cholesterol, plasma triacylglycerol and hepatic lipase activity, while non-diabetic control subjects without CAD showed positive correlations of RBP4 with VLDL-cholesterol and plasma triacylglycerol.'] Is retinol-binding protein 4 associated with components of the metabolic syndrome , but not with insulin resistance , in men with type 2 diabetes or coronary artery disease? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.2007386684417725,
-1.318827509880066,
2.552669048309326
] |
['We compared in vivo changes in liver glycogen concentration during exercise between patients with type 1 diabetes and healthy volunteers.', 'We studied seven men with type 1 diabetes (mean +/- SEM diabetes duration 10 +/- 2 years, age 33 +/- 3 years, BMI 24 +/- 1 kg/m(2), HbA(1c) 8.1 +/- 0.2% and VO(2) peak 43 +/- 2 ml [kg lean body mass](-1) min(-1)) and five non-diabetic controls (mean +/- SEM age 30 +/- 3 years, BMI 22 +/- 1 kg/m(2), HbA(1c) 5.4 +/- 0.1% and VO(2) peak 52 +/- 4 ml [kg lean body mass](-1) min(-1), before and after a standardised breakfast and after three bouts (EX1, EX2, EX3) of 40 min of cycling at 60% VO(2) peak. (13)C Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of liver glycogen was acquired in a 3.0 T magnet using a surface coil. Whole-body substrate oxidation was determined using indirect calorimetry.', 'Blood glucose and serum insulin concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the fasting state, during the postprandial period and during EX1 and EX2 in subjects with type 1 diabetes compared with controls. Serum insulin concentration was still different between groups during EX3 (p < 0.05), but blood glucose concentration was similar. There was no difference between groups in liver glycogen concentration before or after the three bouts of exercise, despite the relative hyperinsulinaemia in type 1 diabetes. There were also no differences in substrate oxidation rates between groups.'] Does hyperinsulinaemia during exercise suppress hepatic glycogen concentrations in patients with type 1 diabetes : a magnetic resonance spectroscopy study? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.4454947710037231,
-1.4301478862762451,
1.9677808284759521
] |
['Changes in cardiac substrate utilisation leading to altered energy metabolism may underlie the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. We studied cardiomyocyte substrate uptake and utilisation and the role of the fatty acid translocase CD36 in relation to in vivo cardiac function in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD).', 'Rats were exposed to an HFD or a low-fat diet (LFD). In vivo cardiac function was monitored by echocardiography. Substrate uptake and utilisation were determined in isolated cardiomyocytes.', 'Feeding an HFD for 8 weeks induced left ventricular dilation in the systolic phase and decreased fractional shortening and the ejection fraction. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and proline-rich Akt substrate 40 phosphorylation were 41% (p < 0.001) and 45% (p < 0.05) lower, respectively, in cardiomyocytes from rats on the HFD. However, long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) uptake was 1.4-fold increased (p < 0.001) and LCFA esterification into triacylglycerols and phospholipids was increased 1.4- and 1.5-fold, respectively (both p < 0.05), in cardiomyocytes from HFD compared with LFD hearts. In the presence of the CD36 inhibitor sulfo-N-succinimidyloleate, LCFA uptake and esterification were similar in LFD and HFD cardiomyocytes. In HFD hearts CD36 was relocated to the sarcolemma, and basal phosphorylation of a mediator of CD36-trafficking, i.e. protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), was increased.'] Is cardiac contractile dysfunction in insulin-resistant rats fed a high-fat diet associated with elevated CD36-mediated fatty acid uptake and esterification? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3790929317474365,
-1.371375560760498,
2.7679433822631836
] |
['The majority of experimentally determined crystal structures of Type II restriction endonucleases (REases) exhibit a common PD-(D/E)XK fold. Crystal structures have been also determined for single representatives of two other folds: PLD (R.BfiI) and half-pipe (R.PabI), and bioinformatics analyses supported by mutagenesis suggested that some REases belong to the HNH fold. Our previous bioinformatic analysis suggested that REase R.Eco29kI shares sequence similarities with one more unrelated nuclease superfamily, GIY-YIG, however so far no experimental data were available to support this prediction. The determination of a crystal structure of the GIY-YIG domain of homing endonuclease I-TevI provided a template for modeling of R.Eco29kI and prompted us to validate the model experimentally.', "Using protein fold-recognition methods we generated a new alignment between R.Eco29kI and I-TevI, which suggested a reassignment of one of the putative catalytic residues. A theoretical model of R.Eco29kI was constructed to illustrate its predicted three-dimensional fold and organization of the active site, comprising amino acid residues Y49, Y76, R104, H108, E142, and N154. A series of mutants was constructed to generate amino acid substitutions of selected residues (Y49A, R104A, H108F, E142A and N154L) and the mutant proteins were examined for their ability to bind the DNA containing the Eco29kI site 5'-CCGCGG-3' and to catalyze the cleavage reaction. Experimental data reveal that residues Y49, R104, E142, H108, and N154 are important for the nuclease activity of R.Eco29kI, while H108 and N154 are also important for specific DNA binding by this enzyme."] Is type II restriction endonuclease R.Eco29kI a member of the GIY-YIG nuclease superfamily? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.206183671951294,
-1.084425687789917,
2.3127894401550293
] |
['RESPIRE, a randomized trial of an improved cookstove, was conducted in Guatemala to assess health effects of long-term reductions in wood smoke exposure. Given the evidence that ambient particles increase blood pressure, we hypothesized that the intervention would lower blood pressure.', 'TWO STUDY DESIGNS WERE USED: a) between-group comparisons based on randomized stove assignment, and b) before-and-after comparisons within subjects before and after they received improved stoves. From 2003 to 2005, we measured personal fine particle (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 microm; PM(2.5)) exposures and systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) among women > 38 years of age from the chimney woodstove intervention group (49 subjects) and traditional open wood fire control group (71 subjects). Measures were repeated up to three occasions.', 'Daily average PM(2.5) exposures were 264 and 102 microg/m(3) in the control and intervention groups, respectively. After adjusting for age, body mass index, an asset index, smoking, secondhand tobacco smoke, apparent temperature, season, day of week, time of day, and a random subject intercept, the improved stove intervention was associated with 3.7 mm Hg lower SBP [95% confidence interval (CI), -8.1 to 0.6] and 3.0 mm Hg lower DBP (95% CI, -5.7 to -0.4) compared with controls. In the second study design, among 55 control subjects measured both before and after receiving chimney stoves, similar associations were observed.'] Does chimney stove intervention to reduce long-term wood smoke exposure lower blood pressure among Guatemalan women? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.7545992136001587,
-1.0556031465530396,
1.8191885948181152
] |
['Increasing evidence suggests that obesity may impart greater susceptibility to adverse effects of air pollution. Particulate matter, especially PM(2.5) (particulate matter with aero-dynamic diameter </=2.5 microm), is associated with increased cardiac events and reduction of heart rate variability (HRV).', 'Our goal was to investigate whether particle-mediated autonomic modulation is aggravated in obese individuals.', 'We examined PM(2.5)-mediated acute effects on HRV and heart rate (HR) using 10 24-hr and 13 48-hr ambulatory electrocardiogram recordings collected from 18 boilermakers (39.5 +/- 9.1 years of age) exposed to high levels of metal particulates. Average HR and 5-min HRV [SDNN: standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (NN); rMSSD: square-root of mean squared-differences of successive NN intervals; HF: high-frequency power 0.15-0.4 Hz] and personal PM(2.5) exposures were continuously monitored. Subjects with body mass index >/= 30 kg/m(2) were classified as obese. Mixed-effect models were used for statistical analyses.', 'Half (50%) of the study subjects were obese. After adjustment for confounders, each 1-mg/m(3) increase in 4-hr moving average PM(2.5) was associated with HR increase of 5.9 bpm [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.2 to 7.7] and with 5-min HRV reduction by 6.5% (95% CI, 1.9 to 11.3%) for SDNN, 1.7% (95% CI, -4.9 to 8.4%) for rMSSD, and 8.8% (95% CI, -3.8 to 21.3%) for HF. Obese individuals had greater PM(2.5)-mediated HRV reductions (2- to 3-fold differences) than nonobese individuals, and had more PM(2.5)-mediated HR increases (9-bpm vs. 4-bpm increase in HR for each 1-mg/m(3) increase in PM(2.5); p < 0.001).'] Is obesity a modifier of autonomic cardiac responses to fine metal particulates? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-0.9529837369918823,
-1.7046120166778564,
1.7338889837265015
] |
['According to previous data on asthma in the English literature, there are some results that show encouraging effects of acupuncture improving pulmonary function in asthma patients. We designed a prospective randomized crossover controlled study to determine the efficacy of acupuncture in asthma patients.', 'Eighteen asthma patients with bronchodilator response >20% improvement of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were initially randomly assigned to receive 1 performance of real acupuncture (RA) or sham acupuncture (SA) in a blinded manner. After a washout period, the patients were crossed over. Spirometry was done and recorded before and after acupuncture.', 'Sixteen of 18 patients completed the study. The mean (+/-SD) FEV1 values before and after RA were 1.52 +/- 0.45L and 1.67 +/- 0.40L, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean (+/-SD) FEV1 values before and after SA were 1.49 +/- 0.40L and 1.49 +/- 0.41L, respectively (p = 0.838, not significant). The percentage change in FEV1 values after RA was better than after SA (RA, 11.57 +/- 8.11%; SA, 0.32 +/- 7.76%; p = 0.003), while the bronchodilator response of FEV1 from simple inhalation bronchodilator was better than that for RA (p < 0.001).'] Does acupuncture therapy result in immediate bronchodilating effect in asthma patients? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-0.5614875555038452,
-1.7653241157531738,
1.3092856407165527
] |
['We have earlier found that the prognosis for several cancers is dependent on season of diagnosis. More recently, both prostate cancer incidence and mortality have been shown to increase with increasing latitude, which probably relates to photosynthesis of vitamin D.', 'The 3 year survival of prostate cancer patients has been analyzed with the Cox regression method for two age groups at different latitudes in Norway.', 'Patients diagnosed during the summer and autumn had the best prognosis (Ralative risk (RR) death 0.8; 95% CI 0.75-0.85). Similar results were observed in three regions of the country that differ with respect to annual fluences of solar UV radiation, incidence rates of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and intake of fish. Furthermore, similar relationship between the season and survival was seen among patients </=65 years and >65 years old, although the younger group had a slightly larger advantage of summer and autumn diagnosis.'] Is prostate cancer survival dependent on season of diagnosis? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.8500031232833862,
0.08958964794874191,
0.8266403079032898
] |
['Senescent Ccl2(-/-) mice are reported to develop cardinal features of human age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Loss-of-function single-nucleotide polymorphisms within CX3CR1 are also found to be associated with AMD. The authors generated Ccl2(-/-)/Cx3cr1(-/-) mice to establish a more characteristic and reproducible AMD model.', 'Single Ccl2- and Cx3cr1-deficient mice were crossbred to obtain Ccl2(-/-)/Cx3cr1(-/-) mice. Funduscopy, histopathology, retinal A2E quantification, proteomics, RT-PCR gene expression assay, immunochemistry, and Western blotting were used to examine the retina and to evaluate gene expression within the retinal tissue.', 'By 6 weeks of age, all Ccl2(-/-)/Cx3cr1(-/-) mice developed AMD-like retinal lesions, including drusen, retinal pigment epithelium alteration, and photoreceptor degeneration. Furthermore, choroidal neovascularization occurred in 15% of the mice. These degenerative lesions progressed with age. A2E, a major lipofuscin fluorophore that accumulated during AMD progression, was significantly higher in the Ccl2(-/-)/Cx3cr1(-/-) retina than in the wild-type retina. Complement cofactor was higher in the Ccl2(-/-)/Cx3cr1(-/-) RPE. Proteomics data indicated that four proteins were differentially expressed in Ccl2(-/-)/Cx3cr1(-/-) retina compared with control. One of these proteins, ERp29, an endoplasmic reticulum protein, functions as an escort chaperone and in protein folding.'] Does murine ccl2/cx3cr1 deficiency result in retinal lesions mimicking human age-related macular degeneration? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.268972635269165,
-1.4198836088180542,
2.7042853832244873
] |
['Id2 (inhibitor of DNA-binding 2), a member of the helix-loop-helix family of transcription regulators, plays important roles in cell proliferation and differentiation. Recent reports have documented that Id2 is up-regulated during vascular lesion formation and overexpression of Id2 promotes vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. However, the transcriptional regulation of Id2 gene expression in VSMC remains unexplored.', 'Using Northern- and Western-blot analyses, we documented that interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) induced Id2 gene expression in VSMC in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Overexpression of early growth response-1 (Egr-1) in VSMC induced Id2 expression while IL-1beta-induced Id2 expression was abrogated in VSMC by the Egr-1 repressor, NGFI-A binding protein 2 (NAB2), expressed from an adenovirus. Overexpression of Egr-1 transactivated the Id2 promoter in reporter assays dependent on the presence of intact putative Egr-1 binding sites as determined by mutagenesis. Finally, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrated that the Egr-1 protein can bind the Egr-1 sites derived from the human Id2 promoter in vitro and chromatin immunoprecipitation identified the putative Egr-1 site between -723 to -712 as the functional Egr-1 binding site in vivo.'] Is interleukin-1 beta-induced Id2 gene expression mediated by Egr-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3458569049835205,
-1.3015943765640259,
2.68900465965271
] |
['We hypothesized that patients who have previously had bariatric surgery and are undergoing revision to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass would have abnormal findings detected by upper endoscopy that could potentially influence patient management. The procedures that are being revised include vertical banded gastroplasty, laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands, nonadjustable gastric bands and previous Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (open and laparoscopic).', 'We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who previously had undergone vertical banded gastroplasty or nonadjustable gastric banding. We preoperatively performed an upper endoscopy on all patients. The endoscopy reports were reviewed and the findings entered into a database.', 'Eighty-five percent of 46 patients undergoing revisional bariatric surgery had an abnormal upper endoscopy. Eleven percent had a gastrogastric fistula. Gastritis and esophagitis were noted in 65% and 37%, respectively. Eleven percent of patients had band erosion, 2 from a nonadjustable band, and 5 from vertical banded gastroplasties. Based on our findings, 65% of our patients required medical treatment.'] Is preoperative upper endoscopy useful before revisional bariatric surgery? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.8007898330688477,
-1.0479698181152344,
1.8700648546218872
] |
['Skin dryness is apparent in several pruritic skin diseases, such as xerosis and atopic dermatitis. Our previous study has demonstrated an increase of nerve fibers in the epidermis of patients with xerosis, suggesting the contribution of nerve fibers to itching.', 'This study was conducted to reveal a direct linkage between dry skin and intraepidermal nerve growth.', 'ICR mice treated with acetone were used as a dry skin model. Time-dependent measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and stratum corneum (SC) hydration was performed on the treated areas. Moreover, both the distribution of intraepidermal nerve fibers and the expression of epidermal nerve growth factor (NGF) and amphiregulin (AR) were examined sequentially with immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR. The same experiments were carried out in control mice treated with sterile water.', 'Enhanced TEWL and decreased SC hydration were observed in the acetone-treated skins during the first hour after the treatment. These parameters gradually returned to the normal range within 48 h. In the acetone-treated mice, we found that there were many nerve fibers in the epidermis between 16 and 48 h after the treatment. No changes of the parameters for barrier disruption and intraepidermal nerve growth were observed in the control skins. Moreover, the expression of epidermal NGF and AR at the protein and mRNA levels was increased before the penetration of nerve fibers into the epidermis.'] Do intraepidermal nerve fibers increase in dry skin of acetone-treated mice? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.5128731727600098,
-1.2384251356124878,
2.7876415252685547
] |
['Although procaterol is used clinically as a beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist to relax airway smooth muscle, it has not yet been clarified whether procaterol has inotropic effects on respiratory muscles.', 'Three intervention groups were investigated: a procaterol inhalation only group; a procaterol inhalation plus endotoxin injection group (in vivo); and a procaterol incubation group (in vitro). The diaphragm muscle in all groups was dissected and measurements of its contractile properties were performed.', 'The effects of procaterol inhalation shifted the force-frequency curves upward at 30 minutes after inhalation, and inhibited the decline of force-frequency curves due to endotoxin injection in vivo. In vitro administration of procaterol resulted in an increase in the force-frequency curves in a dose-dependent manner.'] Does inhalation and incubation with procaterol increase diaphragm muscle contractility in mice? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3967106342315674,
-1.1978950500488281,
2.667266368865967
] |
['As far as paediatric traumatic brain injury is concerned, it is difficult to quantify the extent of the primary insult, to monitor secondary changes and to predict neurological outcomes by means of the currently used diagnostic tools: physical examination, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and computed tomography. For this reason, several papers focused on the use of biochemical markers (S100B, neuron-specific enolase) to detect and define the severity of brain damage and predict outcome after traumatic head injury or cardiac arrest.', 'The aim of this paper is measuring the range of S100B serum concentrations in children affected by traumatic brain injury and describing the possible roles of this protein in the reaction to trauma.', 'Fifteen children aged 1-15 years were included in the study. Traumatic brain injury severity was defined by paediatric GCS score as mild (9 patients), moderate (2 patients) or severe (4 patients). Blood samples for S100B serum measurement were taken at emergency department admission and after 48 h.', 'The serum S100B concentration was higher in the group of severe trauma patients, who scored the lowest on the GCS at admission, and among them, the highest values were reported by the children with concomitant peripheral lesions.'] Is s100B a reliable prognostic index in paediatric TBI? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.071281671524048,
-1.2544986009597778,
2.405583381652832
] |
['We assessed chromogranin A as a tissue biomarker in prostate needle biopsies or as a plasma biomarker, a risk factor for hormone refractory prostate cancer.', 'A total of 211 patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer treated with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogues constituted the study cohort. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess the predictive role of tissue and plasma chromogranin A expression.', 'Chromogranin A expression in less than 30% or in 30% or more tumor cells was significantly associated with a shorter time to hormone refractory disease on univariate analysis (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-3.1 and HR 6.0, 95% CI 2.7-12.9), or on multivariate analysis after adjusting for Gleason score, serum prostate specific antigen and disease stage (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-2.8 and HR 3.9, 95% CI 1.7-9.0), respectively. Plasma chromogranin A measured at baseline (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.8-5.2), and after 1 year (HR 5.8, 95% CI 3.1-10.1) and 2 years (HR 3.5, 95% CI 1.6-7.6), was predictive of hormone refractory risk confirming the tissue results. Plasma as well as tissue chromogranin A expression negatively correlated with overall survival.'] Does chromogranin A expression in patients with hormone naïve prostate cancer predict the development of hormone refractory disease? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.2421798706054688,
-1.3654494285583496,
2.6842920780181885
] |
['The present study was conducted to evaluate serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in newly diagnosed patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).', "Between April 2005 and March 2006, a total of 231 consecutive adult habitual snorers underwent polysomnography (PSG) in the sleep laboratory. Ninety-seven subjects were found suitable for hs-CRP measurement after application of the following exclusion criteria: patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, acromegaly, hypothyroidism, chronic renal failure, congestive cardiac failure, or smoking history, patients who were pregnant, on steroid treatment, on hormone replacement therapy, or with chronic use of drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, oral anticoagulants and lipid-lowering drugs and patients having undergone upper airway surgery. Patients were classified as apneic [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)>5], obese non-apneic [body mass index (BMI)>25, AHI<5] and non-obese non-apneic (BMI<25, AHI<5). C-reactive protein levels were measured in stored sera by high-sensitivity enzyme immunoassay (Biocheck, Inc. Foster City, CA, USA). After checking normality with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and using a square-root transformation, Pearson's and partial correlation coefficients were calculated for identified risk factors and confounders. A multiple linear regression model was used to identify variables that were independently associated with hs-CRP.", "The mean serum levels of hs-CRP were found to be 0.25+/-0.23, 0.58+/-0.55, and 0.51+/-0.37 mg/dl in non-obese non-apneics (n=23), obese non-apneics (n=45) and apneics (obese and non-obese, n=29), respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient of hs-CRP with BMI was found to be 0.25 (p=0.01), and with AHI 0.16 (p=0.12). Partial correlation analysis showed that hs-CRP levels correlated significantly with BMI after adjustment for AHI and age (r=0.22, p=0.03), while correlation with disease severity as assessed by AHI after adjustment for BMI and age was not significant (r=0.10, p=0.33). After stepwise multiple linear regression, only BMI was found to be significantly associated with serum hs-CRP levels (beta=0.02, p=0.01)."] Is obesity , and not obstructive sleep apnea , responsible for increased serum hs-CRP levels in patients with sleep-disordered breathing in Delhi? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.136652946472168,
-1.4079604148864746,
2.596205949783325
] |
['Honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers are characterized by complex social behavior. Their life-history is dominated by a period of within-nest activity followed by a phase of long-distance flights and foraging. General insights into insect metabolism imply that foraging onset is associated with fundamental metabolic changes, and theory on social evolution suggests metabolic adaptations that are advantageous for the colony as a whole.', 'Here we address the life-history characteristics of workers with LC-MS/MS based relative quantification of major proteins. Our approach includes: i. Calculation of a false positive rate for the identifications, ii. Support of relative protein quantification results obtained from spectral count by non-parametric statistics, and iii. Correction for Type 1 error inflation using a bootstrap iteration analysis. Our data are consistent with the use of glucose as the main fuel for honey bee flight. Moreover, the data delivers information on the expression of ATPsynthases/ATPases, and provide new insights into nurse- and forager-specific patterns of protection against oxidative stress.'] Do comparative proteomics reveal characteristics of life-history transitions in a social insect? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.8129985332489014,
0.5266090631484985,
1.4320118427276611
] |
['Human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and is linked to a number of lymphocyte-mediated disorders. HTLV-1 contains both regulatory and accessory genes in four pX open reading frames. pX ORF-II encodes two proteins, p13 and p30, whose roles are still being defined in the virus life cycle and in HTLV-1 virus-host cell interactions. Proviral clones of HTLV-1 with pX ORF-II mutations diminish the ability of the virus to maintain viral loads in vivo. p30 expressed exogenously differentially modulates CREB and Tax-responsive element-mediated transcription through its interaction with CREB-binding protein/p300 and while acting as a repressor of many genes including Tax, in part by blocking tax/rex RNA nuclear export, selectively enhances key gene pathways involved in T-cell signaling/activation.', 'Herein, we analyzed the role of p30 in cell cycle regulation. Jurkat T-cells transduced with a p30 expressing lentivirus vector accumulated in the G2-M phase of cell cycle. We then analyzed key proteins involved in G2-M checkpoint activation. p30 expression in Jurkat T-cells resulted in an increase in phosphorylation at serine 216 of nuclear cell division cycle 25C (Cdc25C), had enhanced checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) serine 345 phosphorylation, reduced expression of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), diminished phosphorylation of PLK1 at tyrosine 210 and reduced phosphorylation of Cdc25C at serine 198. Finally, primary human lymphocyte derived cell lines immortalized by a HTLV-1 proviral clone defective in p30 expression were more susceptible to camptothecin induced apoptosis. Collectively these data are consistent with a cell survival role of p30 against genotoxic insults to HTLV-1 infected lymphocytes.'] Does human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 p30 alter cell cycle G2 regulation of T lymphocytes to enhance cell survival? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.377068519592285,
-1.2226920127868652,
2.6862552165985107
] |
['Liposuction-curettage (LC) is an effective surgical therapy option for axillary hyperhidrosis, with less scarring compared with radical excision of axillary skin. Although this method has proven to be effective, the treatment of nonresponders to minimally invasive surgery has not been previously defined. Whether these patients benefit from a second surgical procedure has not been evaluated so far.', 'To investigate efficacy and side-effects of a second LC with an aggressive rasping cannula in patients with insufficient prior surgery.', "Nineteen nonresponders to prior LC (13 female and six male) underwent a second LC with a rasping cannula. Gravimetry was performed before and 8 months after surgery. Side-effects, patient satisfaction, the surgeons' intraoperative evaluation and the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) before and after surgery were documented.", 'Sweat rates showed a reduction of 69% in 17 (89%) patients. Two patients (11%) did not respond to surgery. Eighty-four per cent of all patients were completely satisfied or satisfied with postoperative results. No severe side-effects were observed. The surgeon reported slightly increased difficulties during dissection of dermis from subcutaneous fat in three patients. Assessment of scars showed an excellent aesthetic outcome (mean VSS 0.79 before vs. 1.1 after surgery).'] Is repeat liposuction-curettage treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis safe and effective? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.1987383365631104,
-1.2945833206176758,
2.527333974838257
] |
['Long-lasting effects of withdrawal from nicotine are hypothesized to contribute to relapse and persistence of tobacco habits, and significant evidence supports a role of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) contained in cigarette smoke as potent modulators of the rewarding effects of tobacco.', 'With quantification of somatic signs of withdrawal and the place aversion conditioning paradigm, we assessed the effects of MAOI pretreatment on both somatic and aversive motivational components of mecamylamine-induced nicotine withdrawal in rats rendered dependent on nicotine by the subcutaneous implantation of osmotic minipumps (vehicle or nicotine tartrate 9 mg/kg/day).', 'In nicotine-infused rats, mecamylamine induced a place aversion that lasted 6 weeks. When nicotine-infused rats were also treated with a MAOI, mecamylamine-induced conditioned place aversion persisted for at least 8 months of abstinence. The MAOI treatment slightly decreased ratings of somatic signs induced by mecamylamine administration but had no effect on the threshold or the magnitude of mecamylamine-induced conditioned place aversion.'] Does monoamine oxidase inhibition dramatically prolong the duration of nicotine withdrawal-induced place aversion? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.58837628364563,
-0.9752626419067383,
2.557086706161499
] |
['Chondrosarcoma is a malignant primary bone tumor that responds poorly to both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of alendronate, a bisphosphonate, on the invasion and migration of human chondrosarcoma cells (JJ012).', 'JJ012 cells were treated with alendronate of various concentrations up to 100 micromol/L for a specified period, and then gelatin zymography and matrigel invasion assay was performed to study the effects of alendronate on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity and the invasion ability of JJ012 cells, respectively.', 'Our data showed that alendronate exerted a dose- and time-dependent inhibitory effect on the invasion and migration of JJ012 cells. Furthermore, gelatin zymography and RT-PCR showed that alendronate treatment decreased the activity and mRNA levels of MMP-2 in a concentration-dependent manner.'] Does alendronate inhibit cell invasion and MMP-2 secretion in human chondrosarcoma cell line? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.462344169616699,
-1.292771577835083,
2.8222436904907227
] |
['To investigate the relationship between 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1), a potential link between obesity and type 2 diabetes, and preadipocyte differentiation.', 'Mouse 11beta-HSD1 siRNA plasmids were transfected into 3T3-L1 preadipocytes (a cell line derived from mouse Swiss3T3 cells that were isolated from mouse embryo), for examination of the effect of targeted 11beta-HSD1 inhibition on differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Differentiation was stimulated with 3-isobutyl-1-methyxanthine, insulin, and dexamethasone. The transcription level of the genes was detected by real-time PCR.', 'Lipid accumulation was significantly inhibited in cells transfected with mouse 11beta-HSD1 siRNA compared with non-transfected 3T3-L1 cells. Fewer lipid droplets were detected in the transfected cells both prior to stimulation and after stimulation with differentiation-inducing reagents. The expression of adipocyte differentiation-associated markers such as lipoprotein lipase and fatty acid synthetase were downregulated in the transfected cells. Similarly, the expression of preadipocyte factor-1, an inhibitor of adipocyte differentiation, was downregulated upon stimulation of differentiation and had no changes in the transfected cells.'] Does 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 promote differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.525041341781616,
-1.1498498916625977,
2.7284746170043945
] |
['Long-term potentiation (LTP) is considered to be a cellular substrate of learning and memory. Indeed, the involvement of LTP-like mechanisms in spatial learning has consistently been demonstrated in the Morris water maze test. We have previously shown that hippocampal LTP in Lewis rats was modulated by cocaine self-administration, although the performance of cocaine-self-administered rats in the Morris water maze was not altered.', 'Given that the ease of the task previously used could have masked any possible effects of the cocaine-induced LTP enhancement on spatial learning, a new and more difficult water maze task was devised to address this issue.', 'Animals self-administered cocaine (1 mg/kg) or saline under a fixed ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement for 22 days. Spatial learning was assessed in a difficult water maze task (four sessions, two trials per session with a 90-min intertrial interval), and spatial memory was also evaluated 48 h after training (a 90-s test). Additionally, reversal learning and perseverance were also studied.', 'There was a reduced latency in finding the hidden platform during training, as well as improved memory of the platform location in cocaine-self-administered rats with respect to animals that self-administered saline. No differences were observed in reversal learning or perseverance between groups.'] Does cocaine self-administration improve performance in a highly demanding water maze task? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.6265366077423096,
-0.4199962019920349,
2.0400218963623047
] |
['Lungs donated after cardiac death (DCD) may significantly reduce current organ shortage. However, the warm ischemic period following circulatory arrest may enhance ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). We investigated the possible therapeutic effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a potent anti-oxidative agent on IRI in a porcine ex vivo lung reperfusion model.', 'NAC (50 mg/kg) was nebulized to pigs (n = 6/group) prior to sacrifice (NAC-DCD). In DCD-NAC, animals received NAC 15 min after death. Control animals did not receive an aerosol (DCD). Interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-8, lactate dehydrogenase activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were measured and cells were counted in broncho-alveolar lavage from the right lung after a 3-h warm plus 1-h cold ischemic interval.', 'There were no differences in cells between groups, however cell death was lower in NAC-DCD (10.3 +/- 1.5%) and DCD-NAC (7.83 +/- 1.8%) compared to DCD (18.0 +/- 3.8%). IL-1beta levels (111.5 +/- 28.8 pg/mL and 92.2 +/- 51.0 pg/mL versus 250.3 +/- 56.6 pg/mL) and lactate dehydrogenase activity (1258.0 +/- 440.9 U/L and 1606.0 +/- 289.0 U/L versus 2848.0 +/- 760.9 U/L) were significantly lower in NAC-DCD and DCD-NAC compared with DCD, respectively. These postischemic inflammatory markers correlated with functional parameters upon reperfusion of the left lung, reported in a previous study.'] Does n-acetyl cysteine attenuate the inflammatory response in warm ischemic pig lungs? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.736714243888855,
-1.5874449014663696,
2.2932214736938477
] |
['Glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta (GSK3B) is a serine/threonine kinase which is directly inhibited by lithium. A -50T/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) localized within the promoter region of the GSK3B gene has previously been shown to be associated with response to lithium prophylaxis in bipolar disorder. This study investigates the association of the GSK3B -50T/C SNP and response to lithium augmentation in acutely depressed antidepressant nonresponders.', 'Eighty-one patients who had not responded to at least one adequate trial of antidepressant monotherapy underwent a standardized trial of lithium augmentation for up to 8 weeks. We genotyped for the GSK3B -50T/C SNP using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods and investigated the association with remission.', 'The allele frequencies in our sample were CC 14.8%, CT 48.2% and TT 37% (no deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium). Carriers of the C-allele of the -50T/C SNP showed a significantly better response to lithium augmentation (hazard ratio: 2.70, p = .007), with a mean remission rate of 56.25% after 4 weeks compared to 31% in patients with the TT-genotype (chi(2) = 4.1; p = .04).'] Is response to lithium augmentation in depression associated with the glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta -50T/C single nucleotide polymorphism? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.0513274669647217,
-1.5004773139953613,
2.5321435928344727
] |
['Activated stellate cells are considered the principal mediators of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis/fibrosis. However the mechanisms of alcohol action on pancreatic stellate cells (PaSCs) are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to determine the presence and role of the NADPH oxidase system in mediating alcohol effects on PaSCs with specific emphasis on proliferation.', 'PaSC NADPH oxidase components mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. The NADPH oxidase activity was measured by detecting the production of reactive oxygen species using lucigenin-derived chemiluminescence assay. PaSC DNA synthesis, a measure of proliferation, was performed by determining the [3H] thymidine incorporation into DNA.', 'mRNA for NADPH oxidase components Nox1, gp91(phox), Nox4, p22(phox), p47(phox) and p67(phox) and protein for NADPH oxidase subunits gp91(phox), p22(phox), p47(phox) and p67(phox) are present in PaSCs. Treatment with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) significantly increased the NADPH oxidase activity and DNA synthesis in cultured PaSCs. Alcohol treatment markedly augmented both the NADPH oxidase activity and the DNA synthesis caused by PDGF, which was prevented by antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine, ROS scavenger tiron, and the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodium. The effects of PDGF on NADPH oxidase activity and DNA synthesis were prevented in PaSCs isolated from the pancreas of mice with a genetic deficiency of p47(phox).'] Does ethanol augment PDGF-induced NADPH oxidase activity and proliferation in rat pancreatic stellate cells? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.539759874343872,
-1.2477633953094482,
2.8095903396606445
] |
['As a part of the Finnish Cardiovascular Study, we tested the hypothesis that T-wave alternans (TWA) predicts mortality in a general population of patients referred for a clinical exercise test.', 'A total of 1037 consecutive patients (mean age+/-SD of 58+/-13 years, 673 men and 364 women) with a clinically indicated exercise test and with technically successful electrocardiographic (ECG) data during a bicycle ergometer test were included in the study. Digital ECGs were recorded and TWA was analysed continuously with the time-domain modified moving average method. The maximum TWA value at heart rate (HR)<125 b.p.m. was derived and its capacity to stratify risk for all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and sudden cardiac death (SCD) was tested. During a follow-up of 44+/-7 months (mean+/-SD), 59 patients died; 34 were due to cardiovascular causes and 20 were due to SCD. In multivariate analysis after adjustment for age, sex, use of beta-blockers, functional class, maximal HR during exercise, previous myocardial infarction, and other common coronary risk factors, the relative risk of TWA>or=65 microV for SCD was 7.4 (95% CI, 2.8-19.4; P<0.001), for cardiovascular mortality 6.0 (95% CI, 2.8-12.8; P<0.001), and for all-cause mortality 3.3 (95% CI, 1.8-6.3; P=0.001).'] Does t-wave alternans predict mortality in a population undergoing a clinically indicated exercise test? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-0.9337669014930725,
-1.739091157913208,
1.5703164339065552
] |
['Monitoring methods for the early diagnosis of one-lung intubation (OLI) are nonspecific and controversial. In this study, we evaluated a new acoustic monitoring system for the detection of OLI.', "Lung sounds were collected from 24 adult surgical patients scheduled for routine surgical procedures. Four piezoelectric microphones attached to the patients' backs were used to sample lung sounds during induction of anesthesia and endotracheal tube positioning. To achieve OLI, the endotracheal tube was inserted and advanced down the airway so that diminished or no breath sounds were heard on the left side of the chest. The tube was then withdrawn stepwise until equal breath sounds were heard. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy confirmed the tube's final position. Acoustic analyses were preformed by a new algorithm which assumes a Multiple Input Multiple Output system, in which a multidimensional Auto-Regressive model relates the input (lungs) and the output (recorded sounds) and a classifier, based on a Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test, indicates the number of ventilated lungs without reconstructing the original lung sounds from the recorded samples.", 'This algorithm achieved an OLI detection probability of 95.2% with a false alarm probability of 4.8%.'] Does acoustic monitoring of lung sound for the detection of one-lung intubation? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3067948818206787,
-1.1926946640014648,
2.606952428817749
] |
['Intravenous (IV) fluid bags made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) often contain the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to make the PVC flexible. Phthalate esters have been reported to inhibit neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which are sensitive to many inhaled anesthetics. This raises the possibility that DEHP might modulate the function of other cys-loop receptors, such as gamma-amino butyric acid type A (GABA(A)) and glycine receptors, and that DEHP-plasticized PVC might interfere with electrophysiologic studies of anesthetic mechanisms on those receptors.', 'alpha(1)beta(2) GABA(A) and alpha(1) glycine receptors were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and studied using two-electrode voltage clamping. We then measured the effect of buffers from IV bags containing DEHP-plasticized PVC, and of buffers saturated with DEHP, on agonist-induced currents.', 'Agonist-induced currents from glycine receptors were enhanced by buffers from IV bags containing DEHP-plasticized PVC by 291.9% +/- 84.5% (mean +/- se) and from saturated solutions of DEHP by 70.8% +/- 16.7%. Agonist-induced currents from alpha(1)beta(2) GABA(A) receptors were inhibited by buffers from IV bags containing DEHP-plasticized PVC by 19.3% +/- 3.2% and by 31.7% +/- 7.0% from buffers saturated with DEHP.'] Does the plasticizer di ( 2-ethylhexyl ) phthalate modulate gamma-aminobutyric acid type A and glycine receptor function? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.188734769821167,
-1.4052362442016602,
2.577732563018799
] |
['Ultrasound is increasingly used to facilitate right internal jugular vein (RIJV) cannulation in children. In children without cardiac disease, position changes and enhancement maneuvers increase RIJV cross-sectional area (CSA) and further facilitate cannulation. We investigated the effect of these maneuvers on RIJV CSA in children with a bidirectional Glenn (BDG) shunt presenting for a Fontan procedure.', 'The CSA (cm(2)) of the RIJV in 21 children with a BDG shunt presenting for a Fontan procedure was assessed by ultrasonic planimetry (SonoSite). Two positions, supine (S) and 15 degrees Trendelenburg (T); and two enhancements maneuvers, manual liver compression (L) and a simulated Valsalva maneuver (V) were utilized in combination. Eight separate measurements (S, S + L, S + V, S + L + V, T, T + L, T + V, T + L + V) were made in each patient. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures and with Tukey post hoc pairwise comparison analysis.', 'No significant change in the RIJV CSA or % change in CSA from baseline (S) was observed.'] Do trendelenburg position , simulated Valsalva maneuver , and liver compression alter the size of the right internal jugular vein in patients with a bidirectional Glenn shunt? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.1826775074005127,
-1.4131059646606445,
2.684581756591797
] |
['The aim was to identify risk factors for postoperative bleeding following skin cancer surgery.', 'This was a prospective study of 5950 skin lesions excised in 2394 patients. No patient stopped taking aspirin or warfarin unless the international normalized ratio (INR) exceeded 3.0.', 'The rate of postoperative bleeding was 0.7 per cent overall and 2.5 per cent in the 320 patients taking warfarin. The rate of bleeding was 1.0 per cent for skin flap repairs, 0.4 per cent for simple excision and closure, and 5.0 per cent for skin grafts. Diabetic patients and smokers were not at increased risk of bleeding. There were four independent factors for bleeding: age 67 years or older (odds ratio (OR) 4.7 (95 per cent confidence interval 1.8 to 12.2); P = 0.002), warfarin therapy (OR 2.9 (1.4 to 6.3); P = 0.006), surgery on or around the ear (OR 2.6 (1.2 to 5.7); P = 0.012) and closure with a skin flap or graft (OR 2.7 (1.4 to 5.3); P = 0.004). Aspirin therapy was not an independent risk factor for bleeding.'] Are bleeding complications in skin cancer surgery associated with warfarin but not aspirin therapy? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.2243551015853882,
-1.2604345083236694,
1.5254101753234863
] |
['We evaluated the potential role of an euctectic mixture of local anesthetic (EMLA) cream application before performing midhumeral block.', 'Sixty patients undergoing surgery distal to the elbow amenable to a humeral block were prospectively recruited for the study. The patients were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups: Group E: topical EMLA cream 60 min before block plus 2 mL IV normal saline 5 min before procedure; Group P: topical sham cream plus 2 mL IV normal saline, and Group S: topical sham cream plus 0.1 microg/kg of sufentanil in 2 mL solution IV. Pain experienced during skin puncture, and overall pain for the whole procedure were rated using a 100-mm visual analog scale (0: no pain to 100: worst pain).', 'Patients in Group E experienced less pain compared with those in Groups P and S (5 +/- 3 mm vs 33 +/- 20 mm and 30 +/- 18 mm, respectively, P < 0.0001). The pain experienced throughout the complete humeral block was more substantial in Group P than in Group E (P = 0.01).'] Does eutectic mixture of local anesthetic ( EMLA ) decrease pain during humeral block placement in nonsedated patients? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.460116982460022,
-1.5957984924316406,
2.0842509269714355
] |
['Spinal anesthesia is increasingly used in adolescents. However, the anesthesia provided by bupivacaine alone may be too short for the planned surgery. The addition of clonidine 2 microg/kg to bupivacaine provides a prolonged anesthetic action but may be associated with hypotension. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of intrathecal clonidine 1 mug/kg in adjunction to bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia in adolescents.', 'Eighty-three adolescents, 51 males, aged 10-15 yr, scheduled for orthopedic surgery were enrolled in this placebo-controlled, randomized study. Patients were given spinal anesthesia either with plain 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine 0.2-0.4 mg/kg or bupivacaine with clonidine 1 microg/kg. The duration of sensory block was the primary outcome measure.', 'Clonidine prolonged the duration of both the sensory and motor block. The time to regression of sensory block by two dermatomes was 136 (mean) (sd, 56) min in the adolescents with clonidine versus 107 min (sd, 42) in the controls (95% CI for diff: 5-53 min, P = 0.02). The time to full recovery of motor block was 251 min (sd, 79) in the adolescents with clonidine versus 181 min (sd, 59) in the controls (95% CI: 39-103 min, P = 0.001). Time to the first dose of rescue analgesia was longer in the adolescents with clonidine, 461 min (sd, 147) versus 330 min (sd, 138) in the controls (95% CI: 53-207 min, P = 0.01). There was no difference in the frequency of hypotension or bradycardia between the groups.'] Is clonidine 1 microg/kg a safe and effective adjuvant to plain bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia in adolescents? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.069053053855896,
-1.800787091255188,
1.8182200193405151
] |
['Gut bacteria trigger colitis in animal models and are suspected to aggravate inflammatory bowel diseases. We have recently reported that Escherichia coli accumulates in murine ileitis and exacerbates small intestinal inflammation via Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling.', 'Because knowledge on shifts in the intestinal microflora during colitis is limited, we performed a global survey of the colon flora of C57BL/10 wild-type (wt), TLR2(-/-), TLR4(-/-), and TLR2/4(-/-) mice treated for seven days with 3.5% dextrane-sulfate-sodium (DSS). As compared to wt animals, TLR2(-/-), TLR4(-/-), and TLR2/4(-/-) mice displayed reduced macroscopic signs of acute colitis and the amelioration of inflammation was associated with reduced IFN-gamma levels in mesenteric lymph nodes, lower amounts of neutrophils, and less FOXP3-positive T-cells in the colon in situ. During acute colitis E. coli increased in wt and TLR-deficient mice (P<0.05), but the final numbers reached were significantly lower in TLR2(-/-), TLR4(-/-) and TLR2/4(-/-) animals, as compared to wt controls (P<0.01). Concentrations of Bacteroides/ Prevotella spp., and enterococci did not increase during colitis, but their numbers were significantly reduced in the colon of DSS-treated TLR2/4(-/-) animals (P<0.01). Numbers of lactobacilli and clostridia remained unaffected by colitis, irrespective of the TLR-genotype of mice. Culture-independent molecular analyses confirmed the microflora shifts towards enterobacteria during colitis and showed that the gut flora composition was similar in both, healthy wt and TLR-deficient animals.'] Does shift towards pro-inflammatory intestinal bacteria aggravate acute murine colitis via Toll-like receptors 2 and 4? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.1055002212524414,
-1.4000496864318848,
2.492384910583496
] |
['The cutaneous silent period (CSP) is a spinal inhibitory reflex mediated by A-delta fibers. The amount of muscle contraction has been reported to influence CSPs, but this has not been confirmed in studies applying clinically feasible stimulus parameters.', 'Fourteen healthy subjects underwent comparison of CSPs while contracting the target muscle at different levels ranging from 10% to 50% of the maximum force, which was continuously monitored with a force transducer. Rectified surface electromyographic (EMG) recordings were obtained from abductor pollicis brevis muscle following ipsilateral recurrent noxious digit 2 and digit 5 stimulation.', 'Group average CSP onset and end latency, CSP duration, and the magnitude of EMG suppression were not influenced by volitional muscle contraction ranging from 10% to 50% of the maximum. In contrast, background EMG levels increased significantly with the amount of muscle force.'] Does muscle force up to 50 % of maximum affect cutaneous silent periods in thenar muscles? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3442885875701904,
-1.2029354572296143,
2.6302175521850586
] |
['To evaluate the diagnostic performance of plasma S100A8, S100A9, and the S100A8/A9 complex as novel markers to discriminate between benign and malignant prostatic diseases as recently suggested for S100A9.', 'The study included 90 prostate cancer (PCa) patients (pN0M0, n = 50; pN1M0, n = 27; M1, n = 13), 50 controls without PCa, and six patients within 72 hr after radical prostatectomy for repeated measurements. The S100 proteins were analyzed with specific ELISAs. Comparisons were made to the prostate-specific antigen (tPSA) and the ratio of free to tPSA (%fPSA).', 'The plasma concentrations of the S100 proteins in controls had either significantly higher values (S100A8; P = 0.020) or the tendency to higher values compared with the results in PCa patients. Differences between the three PCa groups were almost negligible. No correlation could be found between S100 protein levels and PSA concentration (r(s) = -0.110 to 0.433, P = 0.317-0.433) or prostate volume (r(s) = -0.038 to 0.018, P = 0.676-0.844). Tumor stage and tumor grade had no observed effect on S100 protein concentrations. After prostatectomy, there were discordant elimination kinetics for PSA and the S100 proteins, as the S100 proteins partially increased while PSA continuously decreased. Analyses of receiver-operating curves showed that, compared with PSA, S100A8, S100A9, and S100A8/A9 did not improve the differentiation between patients with and without PCa, while the discrimination ability was significantly lower than that of %fPSA.'] Are s100A8 , S100A9 , and the S100A8/A9 complex in circulating blood associated with prostate cancer risk-A re-evaluation study? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.759895920753479,
-1.5511856079101562,
2.331310749053955
] |
['Soluble CD163 (sCD163) is a scavenger receptor shed in serum during inflammatory activation of macrophages. We investigated if sCD163 was increased and predicted outcome in acute liver failure (ALF).', 'Samples from 100 consecutive patients enrolled in the U.S. ALF Study Group for whom sera were available were collected on days 1 and 3, and clinical data were obtained prospectively. sCD163 levels were determined by ELISA.', 'The median level of sCD163 was significantly increased in ALF (21.1mg/l (range 3.6-74.9)) as compared to healthy controls (2.3mg/l (0.65-5.6), p<0.0001) and patients with stable liver cirrhosis (9.8mg/l (3.6-16.9), p=0.0002). sCD163 on day 1 correlated significantly with ALT, AST, bilirubin, and creatinine. sCD163 concentrations on day 3 were elevated in patients with fatal outcome of disease compared to spontaneous survivors, 29.0mg/l (7.2-54.0) vs. 14.6mg/l (3.5-67.2), respectively (p=0.0025). Patients that were transplanted had intermediate levels. Sensitivity and specificity at a cut-off level of 26mg/l was 62% and 81%, respectively.'] Does soluble CD163 from activated macrophages predict mortality in acute liver failure? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.3003138303756714,
-1.491233229637146,
1.8541789054870605
] |
['Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is a hemodynamic parameter representing the increase in normal cerebral artery blood flow in response to a vasodilatory stimulus such as hypercapnia.', 'The aim of the study was to assess CVR using transcranial Doppler ultrasound and the breath-holding test (BHT) in normotensive patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The cerebrovascular response to hypercapnia was evaluated in relation to risk factors for cerebral microangiopathy.', 'The study was carried out in a group of 34 normotensive NIDDM patients and a group of 31 sex- and age-matched normal controls. The NIDDM group was subdivided into 21 patients with microangiopathic complications (Group A, 12 men, 9 women; mean age 58.77 +/- 8.91 years) and 13 patients with no such complications (Group B, 8 men, 5 women; mean age 56.34 +/- 9.83 years). The control group comprised 17 men and 14 women (Group C, mean age 58.43 +/- 6.31 years). Exclusion criteria were hypertension and past or present symptomatic cerebrovascular disease. The BHT consisted of spontaneous hypercapnia induced by holding the breath for 20 seconds. CVR was estimated in relation to the increase in the mean flow velocity (MFV) compared with the basal velocity in both middle cerebral arteries during hypercapnia.', 'In Group A, the CVR was significantly decreased in 71.42% of patients, whereas in Group B only 30.76% of patients presented with mildly to moderately impaired CVR. Predictors for impaired % increase in the MFV during the BHT demonstrated by univariate regression analysis were: duration of diabetes (r = 0.802; P < 0.0001), fibrinogen (r = 0.574; P < 0.0001), C-reactive protein (r = 0.525; P < 0.001), proteinuria (r = 0.924; P < 0.0001) and serum creatinine (r = 0.969; P < 0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis showed as predictors: duration of diabetes (P < 0.0001), proteinuria (P < 0.0001) and serum creatinine (P < 0.0001).'] Is cerebrovascular reactivity impaired in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and microangiopathy? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.9546756744384766,
-1.546011209487915,
2.516849994659424
] |
['High-strength ceramics for dental restoration are used as an understructure (core) that subsequently is covered by veneering ceramic. The veneering process involves a firing procedure at high temperatures at least once, usually two to five times. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these firing procedures affect the mechanical properties of a zirconia ceramic.', 'Thirty-three specimens of an industrially sintered yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic (DC Zircon, DCS Dental AG, Allschwil, Switzerland) were cut into bars (1.2mmx4mmx20mm). One set of specimens (n=13) remained untreated (controls). Another set of specimens (n=10) was heat-treated once, corresponding to the first step of the veneering process. The third set of specimens (n=10) was heat-treated five times to mimic the full veneering process. Flexural strength, microhardness, dimensions and surface roughness were measured. The fracture patterns were assessed by light microscopy.', 'The untreated specimens showed a statistically significant higher flexural strength (20%) and microhardness (9%) than both of the test groups (p< or =0.001). No significant differences were found for fracture patterns, dimensions or surface roughness.'] Does the firing procedure influence properties of a zirconia core ceramic? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.6789095401763916,
-0.9517735838890076,
1.85118567943573
] |
['To examine associations between peer dieting and drive for thinness (DT) in men and women of three age groups and to compare rates of perceived vs. reported peer dieting.', 'Data came from an epidemiological study in which surveys were completed by women (n = 1,468) and men (n = 592) from three age groups: late adolescent (mean +/- SD age: 20.0 +/- 1.6 years), adult (30.0 +/- 1.6), and midlife (40.1 +/- 2.0).', 'Significant associations were found between perceived peer dieting and DT in women and men. For women, associations were strongest in late adolescents for same-sex peers. Associations in men did not differ by age group or peer sex. Expected gender differences in the strength of associations were not found. Reported dieting occurred at or below rates perceived for peers.'] Do gender and age differences in associations between peer dieting and drive for thinness? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 1 | [
-1.738900065422058,
1.5429255962371826,
-0.45559048652648926
] |
['To investigate the effect of determination of human papillomavirus (HPV) subtype on the success of imiquimod therapy in women with vulvar condylomata acuminata.', 'A total of 132 women with biopsy-proven vulvar condylomata acuminata were enrolled in this prospective study. HPV DNA detection and determination of genotype were made through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The women were treated with imiquimod cream 5% in the area of the visible lesions, three times a week at night for 16 weeks.', 'Twelve of the 132 women (9.1%) failed to detect any improvement with this therapy during the 16-week period. However, 80 women (60.6%) experienced total clearance of the lesions, and 20 women (15.2%) observed a partial response. The complete response rates were 76.2% for HPV-6, 66.7% for HPV-11, 35% for HPV-6 plus 11, and 6.3% for unclassified HPV subtypes (other HPV subtypes than HPV 6 and -11).'] Do human papillomavirus-type predict the clinical outcome of imiquimod therapy for women with vulvar condylomata acuminata? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.113793134689331,
-1.3543701171875,
2.560009479522705
] |
['Type VIIcollagen, the major component of anchoring fibrils, has been suggested to be involved with tumor cell invasion in a laminin-5-dependent manner in skin squamous cell carcinoma. However, the significance of type VII collagen expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been unknown to date. Therefore, we examined the expression of type VIIcollagen in ESCC, and confirmed the association between type VIIcollagen expression and clinicopathologic characteristics.', 'We immunohistochemically examined the expression of type VII collagen and laminin-5 gamma2 chain in surgical specimens of primary tumors in 109 patients with ESCC.', 'Positive cytoplasmic expression of type VII collagen was detected in 35%. Significant correlation between the expression of type VII collagen and laminin-5 gamma2 chain expression was observed. In the type VII collagen-negative group, the 5-year survival rate was significantly better than in the positive group. Multivariate analysis indicated that the positive expression of type VII collagen was an independent prognostic factor.'] Is cytoplasmic expression of type VII collagen related to prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.29951548576355,
-1.3555289506912231,
2.7439842224121094
] |
['S100B is produced by glia of the central and peripheral nervous systems and is considered a marker of neurologic injury in the perinatal period. Indeed, increased neonatal urine S100B concentration is associated with adverse neurological outcomes including intraventricular hemorrhage and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, while elevated adult serum concentrations are associated with infectious diseases/sepsis. The objective of this study was to determine whether amniotic fluid (AF) S100B concentrations change with advancing gestational age and intra-amniotic infection (IAI).', 'S100B concentration was measured in the AF of women in midtrimester, at term, and in pregnancies with preterm labor and intact membranes (PTL) or preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), with and without IAI. Placental pathology was performed and neonatal outcomes were analyzed.', '(1) AF S100B concentration did not change during gestation; (2) patients with IAI had significantly higher AF S100B concentration than those without IAI following an episode of PTL or PPROM and; (3) neonates who had morbidity/mortality had had an elevated AF S100B concentration; however, this could be explained by the association with intra-amniotic infection/inflammation. Thus, AF S100B concentration was not an independent predictor of neonatal morbidity or fetal/neonatal death.'] Is the calcium binding protein , S100B , increased in the amniotic fluid of women with intra-amniotic infection/inflammation and preterm labor with intact or ruptured membranes? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.218879222869873,
-1.2919487953186035,
2.6225154399871826
] |
['Lipid saturation and sphingolipids make model membranes less susceptible to oxidation. A human lens epithelial cell line, HLE B-3, was treated with thyroxine to determine whether this treatment increases lipid saturation and membrane sphingolipids, as it does in other tissues, and if so, to see whether the treatment ameliorates the affects of lipid oxidation.', 'One group of HLE B-3 cells was treated with thyroxine, and another group was not. Cells were then grown in a normoxic (20% O(2)), or hyperoxic (80% O(2)), atmosphere. Phospholipid composition was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Cell viability was determined with a trypan blue dye assay. A chromogenic reagent was used to measure the secondary products of lipid oxidation.', 'After 6 days of growth in a hyperoxic atmosphere, the thyroxine-treated cells were 20 times more viable than were the untreated cells. As a result of thyroxine treatment, the phosphatidylcholine (PC)-to-sphingolipid molar ratio decreased significantly (by 52%), and the PCs were eight times more unsaturated than were the sphingomyelins. The decrease in the amount of PCs coupled with a 33% decrease in the average unsaturation of the sphingolipids resulted in a phospholipid membrane with fewer double bonds. Products of lipid oxidation were three times higher in untreated cells after growth in a hyperoxic atmosphere than in untreated cells grown in a normoxic atmosphere. Thyroxine treatment reduced the amount of lipid oxidation products by approximately 60% compared with that in untreated cells. A 100% increase in cardiolipin with thyroxine treatment may contribute to a decrease in reactive oxygen species generated by the mitochondria. The total antioxidant power was not affected by thyroxine. Therefore, thyroxine-induced fluctuations in antioxidant levels are unlikely to influence increased cell viability and a concomitant decrease in the amount of lipid oxidation products in thyroxine-treated cells.'] Does thyroxine ameliorate oxidative stress by inducing lipid compositional changes in human lens epithelial cells? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.203726053237915,
-1.4503567218780518,
2.6587276458740234
] |
['The reported learning curve for laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is 20-100 cases. Our aim was to investigate whether advanced laparoscopic skills could decrease the learning curve for LRYGB with regard to major morbidity.', "The senior author performed all operations in this series. His training included a laparoscopic fellowship without bariatric surgery, six years in surgical practice focusing on upper abdominal laparoscopic surgery, two courses on bariatric surgery at national meetings, one week of observing a bariatric program, and two mentored LRGBY cases. A comprehensive obesity program was put in place before the program began. Data were collected prospectively and reviewed at the series' end. Results are presented as mean +/- standard deviation and standard statistical analysis was applied.", 'Between December 2003 and February 2005, 107 LRYGB operations were performed. Mean operative time decreased significantly with experience (p < 0.0001) and was 154 +/- 29, 132 +/- 40, 127 +/- 29, and 114 +/- 30 min by quartile. Mean length of stay was 2.9 +/- 1.6 days. Mean excess weight loss was 45.3% (n = 41) at six months. There were no conversions to an open procedure, no anastomotic leaks, no pulmonary embolisms, and no bowel obstructions. The five major complications (3 in the first 50 and 2 in the last 57 cases, p = NS) were two cases of biliopancreatic limb obstruction, two cases of significant gastrointestinal bleeding from anastomotic ulcer, and one case of gastric volvulus of the remnant stomach.'] Do advanced laparoscopic skills decrease the learning curve for laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.689937949180603,
-1.3741109371185303,
2.0295419692993164
] |
['Many studies implicate Arf6 activity in Rac-mediated membrane ruffling and cytoskeletal reorganization. Although Arf6 facilitates the trafficking of Rac1 to the plasma membrane and in many cases Arf6 activation leads to the activation of Rac1, the details of how Arf6 influences Rac function remain to be elucidated.', 'We demonstrate in binding assays and by co-immunoprecipitation that GDP-bound Arf6 binds to Kalirin5, a Rho family guanine nucleotide exchange factor, through interaction with the spectrin repeat region. In cells, expression of wild type Arf6 recruits spectrin repeat 5 and Kalirin to the plasma membrane and leads to enhanced Kalirin5-induced ruffling. By contrast, expression of an Arf6 mutant that cannot become activated, Arf6 T27N, still recruits spectrin repeat 5 and Kalirin to membranes but inhibits Kalirin5-induced ruffling in HeLa cells. Kalirin5-induced Rac1 activation is increased by the expression of wild type Arf6 and decreased by Arf6T27N. Furthermore, expression of a catalytically-inactive mutant of Kalirin5 inhibits cytoskeletal changes observed in cells expressing EFA6, an Arf6 guanine nucleotide exchange factor that leads to activation of Rac.'] Does arf6 recruit the Rac GEF Kalirin to the plasma membrane facilitating Rac activation? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3429152965545654,
-1.030625343322754,
2.4141693115234375
] |
['A high level of total homocysteine (tHcy) is a risk marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and is related to inflammation. We wanted to test the effect of homocysteine-lowering B-vitamin therapy, as used in the Western Norway B-vitamin Intervention Trial (WENBIT), on inflammatory markers associated with atherosclerosis.', 'Single centre, prospective double-blind clinical interventional study, randomised in a 2 x 2 factorial design.', 'Ninety patients (21 female) with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), aged 38-80 years, were blindly randomised into one of four groups of daily oral treatment with (A) folic acid (0.8 mg)/vitamin B12 (0.4 mg)/vitamin B6 (40 mg), (B) folic acid/vitamin B12, (C) vitamin B6 alone or (D) placebo. Blood samples were collected before and after 6 months of treatment.', 'Before intervention, median levels of the analytes were: tHcy 11.0 micromol L(-1), neopterin 8.1 nmol L(-1), soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) 3.9 ng mL(-1), interleukin (IL)-6 1.9 pg mL(-1), C-reactive protein (CRP) 1.9 mg L(-1) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol 3.3 mmol L(-1). tHcy was significantly associated with neopterin (r = 0.49, P < 0.001) and with IL-6 (r = 0.29, P = 0.01), but not with CRP or sCD40L. Neither treatment with folic acid/B12 nor with B6 induced significant changes in any of these inflammatory biomarkers (P >or= 0.14). In patients receiving folic acid/B12 (groups A and B), tHcy was reduced with 33% (P < 0.001).'] Does homocysteine-lowering therapy affect inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis in patients with stable coronary artery disease? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.1052262783050537,
-1.5289663076400757,
2.6869428157806396
] |
['(i) To estimate changes in apoB and apoB/apoA-I, reflecting the balance between atherogenic and anti-atherogenic lipoprotein particles, by exercise training and compare with changes in LDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio, and (ii) To compare strengths of relationships between physical fitness and various lipoprotein variables.', 'The study was a 1-year open randomized trial comprising 219 healthy middle-aged subjects aged 40-49 years who were allocated to exercise or no exercise, dietary advice or no advice in a 2 x 2 factorial design. This study includes 188 men who completed the trial, 45 to diet, 48 to exercise, 58 to diet + exercise and 37 to control.', 'Exercise; supervised endurance exercise three times a week. Diet; reduce weight, increase intake of fish and reduce total fat intake.', 'One-year change in apoB and apoB/apoA-I ratio.', 'Exercisers decreased their ApoB and ApoB/ApoA-I values significantly compared to non-exercisers. LDL-C was not, but LDL-C/HDL-C was marginally but statistically significantly reduced by exercise. One-year change in ApoB and ApoB/ApoA-I correlated more strongly to 1-year changes in physical fitness than LDL-C or LDL-C/HDL-C. Adjusting for changes in LDL-C or LDL-C/HDL-C did not influence the correlation between changes in fitness and ApoB or ApoB/ApoA-I. However, adjusting for changes in ApoB or ApoB/ApoA-I wiped out the correlation between change in fitness and LDL-C or LDL-C/HDL-C. Relationships weakened when adjusting for changes in waist circumference, but Apo B or ApoB/ApoA-I still correlated significantly to changes in fitness.'] Is apoB but not LDL-cholesterol reduced by exercise training in overweight healthy men . Results from the 1-year randomized Oslo Diet and Exercise Study? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.4212218523025513,
-1.2852325439453125,
1.7997047901153564
] |
['Among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), evidence of restoration of both normal epicardial arterial flow and myocardial perfusion early after the administration of fibrinolytic agents has been associated with improved clinical outcomes. In STEMI patients treated with fibrinolytic therapy and scheduled for angiography later during hospital admission, however, the association of later indices of flow and perfusion with clinical outcomes has not been assessed.', 'Clopidogrel as Adjunctive Reperfusion Therapy-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (CLARITY-TIMI) 28 enrolled 3,491 STEMI patients treated with fibrinolytic therapy. Angiography was scheduled 48-192 h (median 84) after randomization. The Angiographic Perfusion Score (APS) (the sum of the TIMI Flow Grade and Myocardial Perfusion Grade before and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), range of 0-12) was assessed in the 1,460 patients treated with PCI at late angiography, and its association with morbidity and mortality at 30 days was examined.', 'Full perfusion, defined as an APS of 10-12, was associated with the lowest mortality (0.8%), while partial perfusion (APS 4-9) (2.3%) and failed perfusion (APS 0-3) (18.0%) were associated with a higher incidence of mortality at 30 days (P < 0.001 for full perfusion vs. partial perfusion, P < 0.0001 for overall trend). In addition, full perfusion was associated with a lower incidence of recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), a composite of death and MI, recurrent myocardial ischemia, ventricular tachyarrhythmia, congestive heart failure and shock (P < 0.05 for all trends).'] Is angiographic perfusion score in patients treated with PCI at late angiography following fibrinolytic administration for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction associated with morbidity and mortality at 30 days? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.979246735572815,
-1.5574367046356201,
2.567716598510742
] |
["The analysis of transcriptional levels of the genes involved in protein synthesis and secretion is a key factor to understand the host organism's responses to recombinant protein production, as well as their interaction with the cultivation conditions. Novel techniques such as the sandwich hybridization allow monitoring quantitatively the dynamic changes of specific RNAs. In this study, the transcriptional levels of some genes related to the unfolded protein response (UPR) and central metabolism of Pichia pastoris were analysed during batch and fed-batch cultivations using an X-33-derived strain expressing a Rhizopus oryzae lipase under control of the formaldehyde dehydrogenase promoter (FLD1), namely the alcohol oxidase gene AOX1, the formaldehyde dehydrogenase FLD1, the protein disulfide isomerase PDI, the KAR2 gene coding for the BiP chaperone, the 26S rRNA and the R. oryzae lipase gene ROL.", 'The transcriptional levels of the selected set of genes were first analysed in P. pastoris cells growing in shake flask cultures containing different carbon and nitrogen sources combinations, glycerol + ammonium, methanol + methylamine and sorbitol + methylamine. The transcriptional levels of the AOX1 and FLD1 genes were coherent with the known regulatory mechanism of C1 substrates in P. pastoris, whereas ROL induction lead to the up-regulation of KAR2 and PDI transcriptional levels, thus suggesting that ROL overexpression triggers the UPR. This was further confirmed in fed-batch cultivations performed at different growth rates. Transcriptional levels of the analysed set of genes were generally higher at higher growth rates. Nevertheless, when ROL was overexpressed in a strain having the UPR constitutively activated, significantly lower relative induction levels of these marker genes were detected.'] Does transcriptional response of P. pastoris in fed-batch cultivations to Rhizopus oryzae lipase production reveal UPR induction? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.4953453540802,
-1.1093075275421143,
2.655460834503174
] |
['To analyze the strains of bacteria in burn infection and their resistance to antibiotics in our burn unit in the recent years.', 'Bacteria were isolated from specimens from the wounds, venous lines, blood, urine and feces of the hospitalized burn patients from January 2003 to December 2005 to analyze the vicissitude of bacteria and their drug resistance.', 'The number of Gram-negative bacteria (372 strains) was larger than Gram-positive ones (292 strains). Staphylococcus aureus (accounting for 16.7%) was predominant among Gram-positive bacteria, among which methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounted for 82.5%. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounted for 12.5%, and Escherichia coli accounted for 11.1%. The drug resistant ESPL-producing strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 60.8% and 42.9%, respectively.'] Do [ Analysis of predominant bacteria of burn infection and their resistance to antibiotics in recent years ]? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 1 | [
-2.716745615005493,
1.565678358078003,
0.3809790015220642
] |
['The sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) is a membrane glycoprotein mediating active iodide uptake in the thyroid gland and is the molecular basis for radioiodide imaging and therapeutic ablation of thyroid carcinomas. NIS is expressed in the lactating mammary gland and in many human breast tumors, raising interest in similar use for diagnosis and treatment. However, few human breast tumors have clinically evident iodide uptake ability. We previously identified PI3K signaling as important in NIS upregulation in transgenic mouse models of breast cancer, and the PI3K pathway is commonly activated in human breast cancer.', "NIS expression, subcellular localization, and function were analyzed in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and MCF-7 cells stably or transiently expressing PI3K p110alpha subunit using Western blot of whole cell lysate, cell surface biotinylation Western blot and immunofluorescence, and radioiodide uptake assay, respectively. NIS localization was determined in a human breast cancer tissue microarray using immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and was correlated with pre-existing pAkt IHC data. Statistical analysis consisted of Student's t-test (in vitro studies) or Fisher's Exact Test (in vivo correlational studies).", 'In this study, we demonstrate that PI3K activation in MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells leads to expression of underglycosylated NIS lacking cell surface trafficking necessary for iodide uptake ability. PI3K activation also appears to interfere with cell surface trafficking of exogenous NIS as well as all-trans retinoic acid-induced endogenous NIS. A correlation between NIS expression and upregulation of PI3K signaling was found in a human breast cancer tissue microarray.'] Is pI3K activation associated with intracellular sodium/iodide symporter protein expression in breast cancer? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3977701663970947,
-1.3332934379577637,
2.800145149230957
] |
['To address the role of childhood sun exposure on the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) after controlling for genetic susceptibility, we investigated the association between sun exposure and MS comparing disease-discordant monozygotic (MZ) twins.', 'Twins with MS were sought by yearly newspaper advertisements throughout North America from 1980 to 1992. Diagnosis was verified by updated medical documentation through 2005. This analysis was restricted to 79 disease- and exposure-discordant monozygotic twin pairs who had ranked themselves before 1993 in relation to each of nine childhood sun exposure activities. A sun exposure index (SI) was defined as the sum of those exposures for which one twin ranked higher than his or her co-twin. The SI difference within each twin pair was calculated by subtracting the SI value of the affected twin from the SI value of the unaffected twin (range -9 to +9). The results were then analyzed using conditional logistic models.', 'Each of the nine sun exposure-related activities during childhood seemed to convey a strong protection against MS within MZ twin pairs. Depending on the activity, the odds ratio (OR) ranged from 0.25 to 0.57. For example, the risk of subsequent MS was substantially lower (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.83) for the twin who spent more time suntanning in comparison with the co-twin. For each unit increase in SI, the relative risk of MS decreased by 25%.'] Does childhood sun exposure influence risk of multiple sclerosis in monozygotic twins? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 1 | [
-0.4079776406288147,
-0.21907205879688263,
-0.2946816086769104
] |
['Females demonstrate improved cardiac recovery after ischemia/reperfusion injury compared with males. Attenuation of myocardial dysfunction with preischemic estradiol suggests that estrogen may be an important mediator of this cardioprotection. However, it remains unclear whether post-injury estradiol may have clinical potential in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. We hypothesize that postischemic administration of 17beta-estradiol will decrease myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and improve left ventricular cardiac function.', 'Adult male Sprague Dawley rat hearts (n = 20) (Harlan, Indianapolis, IN) were isolated, perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution via Langendorff model, and subjected to 15 min of equilibration, 25 min of warm ischemia, and 40 min reperfusion. Experimental hearts received postischemic 17beta-estradiol infusion, 1 nm (n = 4), 10 nm (n = 4), 25 nm (n = 4), or 50 nm (n = 4), throughout reperfusion. Control hearts (n = 4) were infused with perfusate vehicle.', 'Postischemic recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was significantly greater with 1 nm (51.6% +/- 7.4%) and 10 nm estradiol (47.7% +/- 8.6%) than with vehicle (37.8% +/- 9.7%) at end reperfusion. There was also greater recovery of the end diastolic pressure with 1 nm (47.8 +/- 4.0 mmHg) and 10 nm estradiol (54.0 +/- 4.0) compared with vehicle (75.3 +/- 7.5). Further, 1 nm and 10 nm estrogen preserved coronary flow after ischemia and decreased coronary effluent lactated dehydrogenase compared with controls. Estrogen at 25 nm and 50 nm did not provide additional benefit in terms of functional recovery. Estrogen at all concentrations increased extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase phosphorylation.'] Does postischemic infusion of 17-beta-estradiol protect myocardial function and viability? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.9643782377243042,
-1.568862795829773,
2.49709153175354
] |
['alpha-Synuclein gene (SNCA) multiplication was found in familial Parkinson disease (PD). We examined SNCA multiplication in patients with familial and sporadic PD and multiple system atrophy (MSA).', 'We screened 1,106 patients with parkinsonism (PD = 906, MSA = 200) for SNCA multiplication by multiplex PCR. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was done to confirm the multiplication. [(123)I]N-omega-Fluoropropyl-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl)-tropane ([(123)I]FP-CIT) SPECT was done in the patients with SNCA multiplication and their family members.', 'Three patients were identified as having SNCA duplication. One patient had a positive family history, and two patients were sporadic. Each patient had asymptomatic carriers in their families. The familial case had early onset parkinsonism with rapidly progressive course, cognitive impairment, and dysautonomia. Sporadic cases were more typical of PD. [(123)I]FP-CIT SPECT was abnormal in the patients and normal in the asymptomatic carriers.'] Is alpha-Synuclein gene duplication present in sporadic Parkinson disease? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.236093759536743,
-1.402883768081665,
2.6841933727264404
] |
['Endurance training may decrease the risk of coronary artery disease. It has been speculated that these effects may be due to an exercise-induced stimulation of angiogenesis. The underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. Therefore, using ELISA, we investigated the plasma level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, angiogenic factor) and endostatin (antiangiogenic factor) in a group of untrained men aged 50-60 years with obesity.', 'All men were randomised into a "running" group (training 3 times/week, 60 min each, n = 7), a "cycling" group ( training 3 times/week, 90 min each, n = 7) and a sedentary control group ( n = 7). Both training groups worked at moderate intensity (2-4 mmol/l lactate). The intervention had a duration of 6 months. Before and after this period, blood samples were taken from the participants at rest and they underwent a medical investigation.', 'Body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and plasma levels of VEGF and endostatin were comparable in all three groups. Endurance training significantly reduced BMI in both exercise groups (mean (SEM) before v after 29.7 (0.7) v 29.1 (0.6) kg/m2 and 31.1 (0.7) v 30.1 (0.9) kg/m2 for the running and cycling groups respectively) but not in the control group (30.0 (1.0) v 30.2 (0.8) kg/m2). Endurance training did not influence VEGF plasma level (before v after 1.3 (0.4) v 1.5 (0.2) ng/ml for the running group; 1.6 (0.3) v 1.5 (0.2) ng/ml for the cycling group; and 2.5 (0.6) v 2.1 (0.7) ng/ml for the control group). Plasma level of endostatin was significantly reduced in both exercise groups (mean (SEM) before v after: 20.9 (1.6 v 17.5 (1.0) ng/ml and 21.3 (1.4 v 18.0 (1.6) ng/ml for the running and cycling groups respectively) but not in controls (19.7 (1.3 v 17.7 (1.1 ng/ml).'] Does long-term endurance exercise decrease antiangiogenic endostatin signalling in overweight men aged 50-60 years? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.3734662532806396,
-1.6174834966659546,
1.958736538887024
] |
['To investigate the mechanism of the action and the target of pyrazinamide (PZA), by examining the effect of nutrient-starved conditions on PZA activity.', 'M. tuberculosis starved in PBS for 3, 5 or 10 days were treated with PZA, and with benzoic acid, salicylic acid or fatty acid in combination with PZA. The activity of PZA against M.tuberculosis was determined by the number of colony-forming unit (CFU). The membrane potential of M.tuberculosis was determined by flow-cytometry with Rhodamine to investigate the mechanism of PZA activity.', "The CFU of M. tuberculosis treated with PZA for 0, 3, 5, 10 days nutrient starvation compared with their respective controls, decreased by 23.08%, 37.75%, 82.32%, 81.03%, respectively. The membrane potential of M. tuberculosis in nutrient-starved cultures declined rapidly over the first 5 days' starvation. The starved bacilli treated with PZA had significantly lower level of membrane potential compared with the control. The effect of PZA on lowering the membrane potential was antagonized by addition of glucose, which provided energy for the bacilli. Fatty acids, benzoic acid and salicylic acid-enhanced PZA activity in both normal and starved bacilli, especially in starved bacilli."] Do [ Nutrient starved incubation conditions enhance pyrazinamide activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis ]? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.6661813259124756,
-0.6835330128669739,
2.454623222351074
] |
['Operative techniques for oncoplastic reconstruction combine oncologic extirpation of the tumor with immediate reconstruction of breast shape and symmetry. These techniques are increasingly being used for breast-conservation therapy of centrally located breast carcinomas. The goal of this study was to provide an overview of the various surgical options for oncoplastic treatment of central breast carcinomas.', 'From September of 1998 through January of 2005, 31 women (median age, 61 years) were treated for 32 centrally located breast carcinomas by breast-conserving therapy. There were 27 invasive tumors (median size, 13.5 mm), and five patients had ductal carcinoma in situ (median size, 39.6 mm). One patient received chemotherapy preoperatively for tumor reduction. A total of 11 patients had a positive lymph-node status, and 21 patients had a free sentinel node.', 'The various surgical techniques included a central lumpectomy with direct closure (n = 6), central lumpectomy with inverted T-closure (n = 2), a circumareolar, Benelli-type closure (n = 2), a modified Grisotti-flap closure (n = 9), and a mammaplasty-type closure with an inferiorly based pedicle (n = 13). In 27 patients, a contralateral procedure was undertaken (bilateral carcinoma or symmetrizing mammaplasty). Two patients required a secondary mastectomy because of ductal carcinoma in situ with positive surgical margins in the final histology. They were treated by immediate reconstruction with an implant and a pedicled myocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap, respectively. In a median follow-up of 33.8 months, there were no local recurrences in the remaining breast or axilla, but two patients developed distant metastases.'] Do oncoplastic techniques allow breast-conserving treatment in centrally located breast cancers? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3278615474700928,
-1.3223319053649902,
2.675467014312744
] |
["Ghrelin is an endogenous hormone expressed predominantly in the stomach. Ghrelin controls growth hormone secretion and also affects the body's energy balance. We analyzed the association of ghrelin variants with body mass index (BMI), albumin as a marker of malnutrition and plasma lipids as risk factors for atherosclerosis in hemodialyzed patients, in whom malnutrition and accelerated atherosclerosis are common complications.", 'Ghrelin variants Arg51>Gln and Leu72> Met were analyzed by PCR-RFLP in 210 hemodialyzed patients, prospectively followed up for 15 months. Changes in body mass index, triglycerides, total cholesterol and albumin over time (after 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 months of dialysis) were analyzed in subgroups divided according to ghrelin genotypes.', 'Carriers of at least one of the Gln51 and Met72 alleles lost body weight more quickly than Arg51Arg/Leu72Leu homozygotes (p<0.01). Carriers of the Gln51 allele were at higher risk of developing high cholesterol levels (p<0.01).'] Do ghrelin variants influence development of body mass index and plasma levels of total cholesterol in dialyzed patients? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.191638469696045,
-1.3078505992889404,
2.5041427612304688
] |
['Recent research has shown that 10 min of moderate intensity exercise reduce smoking withdrawal symptoms and desire to smoke in acutely abstinent smokers. The aim of the current study was to determine whether the reductions are related to participant expectation of these effects.', 'Forty-five sedentary participants who had smoked ten or more cigarettes per day for at least 3 years reported their expectation of the effects of exercise on smoking withdrawal symptoms. Approximately 1 month later, participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups after 11-15 h of overnight smoking abstinence. Each group read either a positive, negative or neutral statement concerning exercise effects on smoking withdrawal symptoms. They rated their expectation again and then completed 10 min of moderate intensity exercise on a stationary bicycle ergometer. Using standardised scales, participants rated smoking withdrawal symptoms and desire to smoke at 10, 5 and 0 min before exercise, then at 5 and 10 min during exercise and 15 and 20 min post-exercise.', 'Expectation of exercise effects on withdrawal were manipulated in the predicted directions. No significant group main effects were found for any symptom. Significant reductions in symptoms and desire to smoke occurred during and after exercise regardless of participant expectation.'] Are acute exercise effects on smoking withdrawal symptoms and desire to smoke related to expectation? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.629879355430603,
0.08406335115432739,
0.6805375814437866
] |
['There is growing interest in probiotics such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB), not only for treatment of T helper type (Th) 1-mediated diseases but also for Th2-mediated diseases, including allergic diseases, since lactic acid bacteria may be able to modulate the Th1/Th2 balance, in addition to having an immunomodulative effect through induction of Th1 bias.', "The effect of oral administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus Strain L-92 (L-92) on ovalbumin (OVA)-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E production was investigated in BALB/c mice. L-92 was orally administered to mice for 8 weeks from 2 weeks after initiation of OVA-immunization. Patterns of cytokine and Ig production in splenocytes and cells from Peyer's patches (PPs) from these mice were examined after restimulation with OVA in vitro.", 'L-92 significantly suppressed serum OVA-specific IgE levels for a long period. Cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 and Igs such as total IgE and OVA-specific IgE were produced at significantly lower levels by splenocytes of L-92-treated mice, compared with those of control mice. In contrast, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and IgA levels produced by PPs from L-92-treated mice were significantly higher than in those from control mice.'] Does lactobacillus Acidophilus strain L-92 regulate the production of Th1 cytokine as well as Th2 cytokines? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3938188552856445,
-1.3473693132400513,
2.7434680461883545
] |
['To measure exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) in New Zealand bars before and after comprehensive smoke-free legislation enacted on 10 December 2004.', 'Cotinine is the main specific metabolite of nicotine and a well-established biomarker for SHS exposure. We measured cotinine levels in saliva of non-smoking volunteers before and after a 3 h visit to 30 randomly selected bars in 3 cities across the country. Two measures of cotinine before the smoke-free law change during winter and spring 2004, and two follow-up measurements in the same volunteers and venues during winter and spring 2005, were included.', 'Before the smoke-free law change, in all bars and in all volunteers, exposure to SHS was evident with an average increase in saliva cotinine of 0.66 ng/ml (SE 0.03 ng/ml). Increases in cotinine correlated strongly with the volunteers\' subjective observation of ventilation, air quality and counts of lit cigarettes. However, even venues that were judged to be "seemingly smoke free" with "good ventilation" produced discernable levels of SHS exposure. After the law change, there remained some exposure to SHS, but at much lower levels (mean saliva cotinine increase of 0.08 ng/ml, SE 0.01 ng/ml). Smoking indoors in bars was almost totally eliminated: in 2005 only one lit cigarette was observed in 30 visits.'] Does legislation reduce exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke in New Zealand bars by about 90 %? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 1 | [
-1.1947609186172485,
0.29799792170524597,
0.09983976185321808
] |
['Long-term exposure to fine-particulate-matter (PM2.5) air pollution may accelerate the development and progression of atherosclerosis. We investigated the associations of long-term residential exposure to traffic and fine particulate matter with the degree of coronary atherosclerosis.', 'We used baseline data on 4494 participants (age 45 to 74 years) from the German Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study, a population-based, prospective cohort study that started in 2000. To assess exposure differences, distances between residences and major roads were calculated, and annual fine particulate matter concentrations, derived from a small-scale dispersion model, were assigned to each address. The main outcome was coronary artery calcification (CAC) assessed by electron-beam computed tomography. We evaluated the association between air pollution and CAC with logistic and linear regression analyses, controlling for individual level risk factors of coronary atherosclerosis. Compared with participants living >200 m away from a major road, participants living within 50, 51 to 100, and 101 to 200 m had odds ratios of 1.63 (95% CI, 1.14 to 2.33), 1.34 (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.79), and 1.08 (95% CI, 0.85 to 1.39), respectively, for a high CAC (CAC above the age- and gender-specific 75th percentile). A reduction in the distance between the residence and a major road by half was associated with a 7.0% (95% CI, 0.1 to 14.4) higher CAC. Fine particulate matter exposure was associated with CAC only in subjects who had not been working full-time for at least 5 years.'] Is residential exposure to traffic associated with coronary atherosclerosis? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.3581291437149048,
-1.5026955604553223,
1.8337255716323853
] |
['To examine the association between sleep duration with type 2 diabetes and abnormal glucose tolerance among middle-aged men and women in Finland.', 'The FIN-D2D survey is a population-based cross-sectional multicentre study in Finland, with 1336 men and 1434 women aged 45-74 participating in the survey during 2004 and 2005. A health examination including an oral glucose tolerance test and sleep questionnaire was performed for all participants.', 'There was an independent association between abnormal sleeping times and type 2 diabetes in middle-aged women. Even after adjustments for age, body mass index, sleep apnea probability, smoking, physical activity, and central nervous system-affecting medication, sleep duration of 6h or less or 8h or longer was independently associated with type 2 diabetes. There was no increase in the prevalence of diabetes in middle-aged men with abnormal sleeping times.'] Is sleep duration associated with an increased risk for the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged women - The FIN-D2D survey? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.7708081007003784,
0.28108885884284973,
0.6952730417251587
] |
['The ability to accurately predict clinical and pathological response and survival in patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy may have a significant impact on treatment strategy for esophageal carcinoma. This study assessed the predictive accuracy of clinical response (CR) and positron emission tomography (PET) scanning in determining pathological downstaging and disease free survival (DFS) after chemotherapy.', 'This is a retrospective review of patients who underwent chemotherapy prior to complete surgical resection for esophageal carcinoma between 1999 and 2005. Clinical response was correlated with pathological downstaging and survival. For PET scanning, the percent reduction in maxSUV after induction therapy was determined and we identified the optimal threshold of percent reduction in maxSUV for predicting clinical response and pathological downstaging.', 'Sixty-two patients (52 men, median age 62.3) were evaluated. Thirty-nine patients (62.9%) had either a partial (n = 32) or complete clinical response (n = 7) to induction therapy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive value of an objective clinical response in predicting downstaging in T and (or) N were 85.7%, 55.9%, 61.5%, and 82.6%, respectively. There was no difference in DFS between responders and nonresponders. The PET sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values for predicting pathologic downstaging were 77.8%, 52.9%, 56.8%, and 75%, respectively. Thirty-seven patients (59.7%) had a 50% or greater reduction in the maxSUV of their primary tumor and had a significant improvement in DFS compared with patients with a less than 50% reduction in maxSUV (median DFS time: 35.5 months vs 17.9 months, respectively, p = 0.03). Significantly, 11 patients had a 100% reduction in maxSUV despite the presence of residual tumor.'] Does positron emission tomographic scanning predict survival after induction chemotherapy for esophageal carcinoma? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.5855236053466797,
-1.5041849613189697,
2.0977730751037598
] |
['C-reactive protein (CRP) represents a promising prognostic variable in patients with sporadic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). It was hypothesized that CRP can improve the prognostic ability of standard RCC-specific mortality (RCC-SM) predictors in patients treated with nephrectomy for all stages of RCC.', 'Radical nephrectomy was performed in 314 patients from 2 European centers. Life table, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression analyses addressed RCC-SM. Covariates included age, gender, TNM stage, tumor size, Fuhrman grade, and histologic subtype.', 'The median survival of the cohort was 19.9 years. Age ranged from 10 to 77 years. Most patients were male (69%). T-stages were distributed as follows: T1-121 (38.7%), T2-45 (14.4%), T3-140 (44.7%), T4-7 (2.2%). CRP values ranged from 1.0 to 358.0 mg/L (mean 40.9, median 11.0 mg/L). In multivariable analyses, CRP was an independent predictor of RCC-SM (P = .003). The consideration of CRP in the multivariable model increased the predictive accuracy by 3.7% (P < .001). Moreover, the model with CRP performed 2.4% and 4.6% better than the UCLA Integrated Staging System (UISS) at, respectively, 2 and 5 years.'] Is c-reactive protein an informative predictor of renal cell carcinoma-specific mortality : a European study of 313 patients? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.6257352828979492,
-1.627805233001709,
2.222151041030884
] |
['Although recent trends in the use of recommended breast and cervical cancer screening have been well documented in the USA, little is known about trends in the prevalence of abnormal screening results.', 'Trends in abnormal screening results for mammography and Papanicolaou (Pap) smear were assessed descriptively using data from the 1987 and 2000 National Health Interview Surveys. Estimates were stratified by sociodemographic characteristics of the populations who reported ever receiving screening. All comparisons were evaluated with two-sided tests of statistical significance.', 'The age-standardized prevalence of abnormal Pap smears increased from 12.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.1-13.8%) of women ever screened in 1987 to 20.3% (95% CI 19.5-21.0%) in 2000, and the age-standardized prevalence of abnormal mammogram results increased from 18.8% (95% CI 17.0-20.7%) to 21.6% (95% CI 20.5-22.7%) of women ever screened over the same period. Among women aged 40 years and older who reported ever receiving both a Pap smear and a mammogram, 29.6% (95% CI: 27.3-32.2%) in 1987 and 35% (95% CI: 33.8-36.2%) in 2000 reported either an abnormal Pap smear or an abnormal mammogram. In 2000, abnormal screening results were positively associated with reported frequency of recent screening (P<0.001).'] Does trends in abnormal cancer screening result in the United States of America? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.7395206689834595,
-0.6403430104255676,
1.467184066772461
] |
['Early evidence suggests that stem cells play a role in normal wound healing. Various impaired wound-healing states might be due to a deficiency in the stem cell repertoire. The authors sought to demonstrate that a new subset of lymphoid progenitor murine hematopoietic stem cells will accelerate wound healing in diabetic mice.', 'Bone marrow cells were harvested from C57Bl6/J femurs and separated into side and main populations based on their ability to efflux the vital dye Hoechst 33342 and the presence or absence of CD7 and CD34 markers. Side or main population cells and control solution were applied once topically to 1-cm full-thickness dorsal excisional wounds in lepr db/db and wild-type mice on the day after wounding (n = 12 in each group). Wound closure was followed by computer planimetry. Wounds were harvested after 7 and 25 days for histological analysis.', 'Topical side population treatment had a significant effect on wound closure in diabetic animals, with a higher percentage of wound closure (35 +/- 7.2 percent) in this group on postoperative day 7 compared with animals treated with either main population cells (16 +/- 4.9 percent) or a vehicle control using saline (14 +/- 6.7 percent) (p < 0.05). When side population cells were given to wild-type mice that already had a normal stem cell repertoire, there was a trend toward better wound closure, but no significant differences were found.'] Do side population hematopoietic stem cells promote wound healing in diabetic mice? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.4214107990264893,
-1.0973948240280151,
2.5562901496887207
] |
['Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) modulates cell growth and metabolism in a variety of physiopathological conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in IGFBP-1 upregulation by ethanol.', 'We studied IGFBP-1 regulation by ethanol at the protein, mRNA and gene promoter levels in the human hepatocarcinoma cell line, HepG2, which does not express significantly ethanol-metabolizing enzymes.', "Ethanol (35-150mM) induced the IGFBP-1 mRNA and protein up to 5-fold in a dose-dependent manner. A similar effect was observed using primary cultures of human hepatocytes. Various inhibitors of ethanol metabolism and the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine did not prevent ethanol effects. While ethanol did not modify the IGFBP-1 gene promoter activity, it elicited a 2- to 3-fold increase in IGFBP-1 mRNA half-life and this stabilization required the 5' and the 3' untranslated mRNA region. Ethanol triggered a rapid activation of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) in HepG2 cells and IGFBP-1 induction was significantly decreased by a specific inhibitor of JNK."] Does stabilization of IGFBP-1 mRNA by ethanol in hepatoma cells involve the JNK pathway? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.4750587940216064,
-1.0317516326904297,
2.4648923873901367
] |
['Many pregnant women continue to smoke, despite a strong association between maternal smoking and neurobehavioral deficits in the offspring. Although gestational nicotine (GN) treatment in rodents is used as the primary animal model of maternal smoking, tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 constituents, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).', 'The aim of this study was to determine whether there are interactions between the effects of gestational exposure to nicotine and MAOIs on cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization in adolescent rats.', 'Pregnant rats were implanted on day 4 of gestation with osmotic minipumps delivering saline, nicotine (3 mg/kg per day), the MAOIs clorgyline and deprenyl (1 and 0.25 mg/kg per day, respectively), or nicotine/clorgyline/deprenyl (GMN). Adolescent female offspring were tested for cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization. Animals were treated with saline or cocaine (5 or 15 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) daily from postnatal (P) days 32-36 and challenged with cocaine (15 mg/kg) on P51 (day 20).', 'Group differences were observed in chronic but not acute effects of cocaine. Whereas gestational MAOI treatment, with or without nicotine, increased ambulatory response to cocaine on day 5, the opposite was found for vertical activity. Different adaptive responses were observed on cocaine challenge day. GNM animals exhibited enhanced locomotor activity in the cocaine-associated environment before cocaine challenge on day 20. In contrast, only GN animals exhibited significant locomotor sensitization to the cocaine challenge.'] Does gestational exposure to nicotine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors influence cocaine-induced locomotion in adolescent rats? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.2546985149383545,
-0.9051613211631775,
2.1549794673919678
] |
['Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum IGF-I level was significantly lower in postmenopausal diabetic women with vertebral fractures than in those without fractures. Serum IGF-I level could be clinically useful for assessing the risk of vertebral fractures independent of BMD in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.', 'We investigated the relationships among serum IGF-I and C-peptide levels, BMD, and vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.', 'A total of 131 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes were consecutively recruited, and radiographic and biochemical characteristics were collected.', 'Either IGF-I or C-peptide was not correlated with BMD at any site or bone metabolic markers, such as osteocalcin (OC) and urinary N-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type-I collagen (uNTX). However, serum IGF-I level was significantly lower in subjects with vertebral fractures than in those without fractures (mean +/- SD: 106.9 +/- 50.0 vs. 142.8 +/- 50.8 ng/ml, p = 0.0006). When multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with the presence of vertebral fractures as a dependent variable and serum IGF-I adjusted for the parameters described above as independent variables, IGF-I was selected as an index affecting the presence of vertebral fractures [odds ratio = 0.436, 95% confidential interval 0.234-0.814 per SD increase, p = 0.0092]. This significance was almost the same after additional adjustment for lumbar BMD or C-peptide.'] Is serum insulin-like growth factor-I level associated with the presence of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.307151436805725,
-1.6705037355422974,
1.9714951515197754
] |
['Central nervous system serotonergic neurotransmission appears to play a role in mood disorders, eating habits, and sleep, and also modulates blood pressure and metabolism. This investigation tested a hypothesized association between central serotonergic functioning and preclinical atherosclerosis.', 'Subjects were 244 adults 30 to 55 years of age and free of clinically evident vascular disease (52% men, 84% white). Central serotonergic responsivity was measured as the rise in serum prolactin concentration (area under the curve) over 2.5 hours, adjusted for baseline prolactin, after citalopram administered intravenously at 0.33 mg/kg lean body weight. Carotid artery morphology served as a marker of preclinical atherosclerosis, and carotid artery intima-media thickness and plaque occurrence were determined by B-mode ultrasonography.', 'In linear regression models including age, gender, race, and citalopram concentration, a 1 SD lower prolactin response was associated with greater maximum intima-media thickness (+0.016 mm; P=0.006) and with greater mean intima-media thickness (+0.009 mm; P=0.03). The odds ratio for carotid artery plaque corresponding to a 1 SD decrease in prolactin response, adjusted for age, race, sex, and citalopram concentration, was 1.47 (95% CI, 0.98 to 2.19; P=0.06). The metabolic syndrome mediated (P<0.01), but did not fully account for, the association between lower prolactin response and greater maximum intima-media thickness.'] Is lower central serotonergic responsivity associated with preclinical carotid artery atherosclerosis? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.9497469663619995,
-1.5367565155029297,
2.497745990753174
] |
['Immunization with heat shock proteins, gp96, elicits specific protective immunity against parent tumors. However, it is marginally effective as a therapeutic tool against established tumors. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and mechanism of immunotherapy with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with tumor-derived gp96 against murine lung cancer.', 'Mice were transplanted subcutaneously with ovalbumin (OVA)-transfected Lewis Lung Cancer (LLC-OVA) cells and immunized with gp96 derived from LLC-OVA, DCs, or DCs pulsed with gp96 derived from LLC-OVA.', 'The antitumor effect was significantly enhanced in the mice immunized with DCs pulsed with gp96 derived from LLC-OVA, compared to mice immunized with gp96 or DCs (P<0.05). The antitumor effect was significantly dependent on natural killer (NK) cells and CD8(+) cells and partially dependent on CD4(+) cells. Analysis by laser confocal microscopy demonstrated that gp96 was shown on the cell surface at 15 min, and after 30 min internalized in the endosomes and not in the endoplasmic reticulum or lysosomes. OVA-specific(+) CD8(+) cells were more readily recruited into the draining lymph nodes and higher CD8(+) cytotoxic T cell activity against LLC-OVA was observed in splenocytes from mice immunized with DCs pulsed with gp96 derived from LLC-OVA. Re-challenge of the surviving mice with LLC-OVA tumors after the initial tumor inoculation showed dramatic retardation in tumor growth.'] Is immunotherapy with dendritic cells pulsed with tumor-derived gp96 against murine lung cancer effective through immune response of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.328415632247925,
-1.4292404651641846,
2.8303871154785156
] |
['A possible correlation of disease progression and tumor stage in colorectal cancer patients with tumor-associated gene expression in disseminated tumor cells (DTC) was evaluated. Detection of DTC and expression of tumor-associated genes might be of clinical value with respect to individual patient prognosis, monitoring of therapy and as a surrogate tumor staging parameter.', "In a multicenter study, a total of 196 peripheral blood samples were collected from 76 patients with tumor stage Dukes' A to D and analyzed using a DTC detection assay consisting of immunomagnetic selection and expression analysis of the tumor-associated genes CEA, EGFR and GA733-2. DTC detection rates were assessed prior to surgery and post surgery in patients with tumor stage Dukes' A, B and C, and compared with results in metastatic patients. CEA serum protein levels were determined and compared with DTC and CEA expression, respectively.", "In a comparison analysis, EGFR and CEA expression was detected in 88% (p = 0.001) and 0% (p = 0.002) prior to surgery, in 66% (p = 0.001) and 20% (p = 0.002) post surgery, as well as in 15% (p < 0.0001) and 66% (p < 0.0001) of blood samples collected from metastatic patients, respectively. Expression of tumor-associated genes in DTC prior to surgery and in follow-up samples indicated an ongoing metastatic process. DTC detection rates in patients with Dukes' A (14%), Dukes' B (13%) and Dukes' C (40%) prior to surgery correlated statistically with the expected recurrence rate. There was no correlation between DTC expressing CEA and elevation of CEA serum protein levels."] Does tumor-associated gene expression in disseminated tumor cells correlate with disease progression and tumor stage in colorectal cancer? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.8532639741897583,
-1.5150511264801025,
2.407212495803833
] |
['Erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment studies do not routinely measure "treatment effectiveness," a function of treatment response (based on efficacy and tolerability) and treatment satisfaction (both patient and partner satisfaction). The ED Treatment Satisfaction Scale (TSS) is a brief, comprehensive self-report measure of patient and partner satisfaction.', 'To measure, for the first time in an ED treatment study, pre- and post-treatment patient and partner satisfaction with the TSS.', 'A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multi-institutional comparison of the efficacy and safety of flexible-dose vardenafil was performed in 229 couples (treated man with ED >6 months and untreated woman partner aged > or =18 years without sexual dysfunction [defined as a total Female Sexual Function Index score >26.55]).', 'Couples completed the TSS throughout the trial. Couples also completed the modified Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire-Quality of Life domain (mSLQQ-QoL) and men completed the International Index of Erectile Function-erectile function domain (IIEF-EF). Analysis of covariance produced least squares (LS) mean domain scores. Post hoc Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated for patient and partner TSS scores, and for TSS scores with other outcomes.', 'TSS domain scores increased from baseline to last observation carried forward (LOCF) in the vardenafil-treated men and untreated women partners, but exhibited little change for the placebo group (P < 0.0001 vs. placebo). For both patients and partners in the vardenafil group, correlations between TSS domains, the IIEF-EF and the mSLQQ-QoL scores at LOCF were moderate to strong.'] Is the Treatment Satisfaction Scale ( TSS ) a sensitive measure of treatment effectiveness for both patients and partners : results of a randomized controlled trial with vardenafil? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.0748167037963867,
-1.324633002281189,
2.476210117340088
] |
['To estimate the cost-effectiveness of an adjuvant treatment course of spa treatment compared with usual care only in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FM).', '134 patients with FM, selected from a rheumatology outpatient department and from members of the Dutch FM patient association were randomly assigned to a 2(1/2) week spa treatment course in Tunisia or to usual care only. Results are expressed as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for a 6-month as well as a 12-month time horizon. Utilities were derived form the Short Form 6D (SF-6D) scores and the visual analogue scale (VAS) rating general health. Costs were reported from societal perspective. Mean incremental cost per patient and the incremental cost utility ratio (ICER) were calculated; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using double-sided bootstrapping.', 'The data of 128 (55 spa and 73 controls) of the 134 patients (96%) could be used for analysis. Improvement in general health was found in the spa group until 6 months of follow-up by both the SF-6D (AUC 0.32 vs 0.30, P < 0.05) and the VAS (AUC 0.23 vs 0.19, P < 0.01). After 1yr no significant between-group differences were found. Mean incremental cost of spa treatment was 1311 Euro per patient (95% CI 369-2439), equalling the cost of the intervention (thalassotherapy including airfare and lodging), or 885 Euro per patient based on a more realistic cost estimate.'] Is cost-effectiveness of Spa treatment for fibromyalgia : general health improvement for free? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
0.4402009844779968,
-1.8815723657608032,
0.4925035834312439
] |
['Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) has been reported to be a gasotransmitter which regulates cardiovascular homeostasis. The present study aims to examine the hypothesis that hydrogen sulfide is able to promote angiogenesis.', 'Angiogenesis was assessed using in vitro parameters (i.e. endothelial cell proliferation, adhesion, transwell migration assay, scratched wound healing and formation of tube-like structure) and in vivo by assessing neovascularization in mice. Phosphorylation of Akt was measured using Western blot analysis.', 'Exogenously administered NaHS (H(2)S donor) concentration-dependently (10-20 micromol/l) increased cell growth, migration, scratched wound healing and tube-like structure formation in cultured endothelial cells. These effects of NaHS on endothelial wound healing and tube-like structure formation were prevented by either the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY 294002 (5 micromol/l) or transfection of a dominant-negative mutant of Akt. NaHS increased Akt phosphorylation and this effect was also blocked by either LY 294002 or wortmannin (25 nmol/l). NaHS did not significantly alter the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, mRNA expression of fibroblast growth factor and angiopoietin-1, or nitric oxide metabolites. NaHS treatment (10 and 50 micromol kg(-1) day(-1)) significantly promoted neovascularization in vivo in mice.'] Is the novel proangiogenic effect of hydrogen sulfide dependent on Akt phosphorylation? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.300950288772583,
-1.4627903699874878,
2.776113510131836
] |
['Epigenetic silencing of the RAS association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) tumor suppressor gene promoter has been demonstrated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as a result of promoter hypermethylation. Contradictory results have been reported for RASSF1A methylation in normal kidney, thus it is not clear whether a significant difference between RASSF1A methylation in normal and tumor cells of the kidney exists. Moreover, RASSF1A expression has not been characterized in tumors or normal tissue as yet.', 'Using combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA) we compared RASSF1A methylation in 90 paired tissue samples obtained from primary kidney tumors and corresponding normal tissue. Bisulfite sequence analysis was carried out using both pooled amplicons from the tumor and normal tissue groups and subclones obtained from a single tissue pair. Expression of RASSF1A was analyzed by the use of tissue arrays and immunohistochemistry. We found significantly increased methylation in tumor samples (mean methylation, 20%) compared to corresponding normal tissues (mean methylation, 11%; P < 0.001). Densely methylated sequences were found both in pooled and individual sequences of normal tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significant reduced expression of RASSF1A in most of the tumor samples. Heterogeneous expression patterns of RASSF1A were detected in a subgroup of histologically normal tubular epithelia.'] Does rASSF1A promoter methylation and expression analysis in normal and neoplastic kidney indicate a role in early tumorigenesis? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.2708957195281982,
-1.3032684326171875,
2.6822662353515625
] |
['Patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) are at a high risk of acquiring blood stream infections. We examined whether SOFA score on ICU admission and on the day of bacteremia can predict the occurrence of bacteremia and the outcome of bacteremic ICU patients.', 'All patients admitted to a multidisciplinary ICU for more than 48 h from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2004, were prospectively studied. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were recorded on admission for all patients and additionally, on the day of the first bacteremic episode for those patients who developed bacteremia. Accordingly, APACHE II and SOFA scores were calculated on the same day.', 'A total of 185 patients developed one or more episodes of bacteremia, giving an incidence of 9.6 per 1,000 ICU days. The ICU mortality rate was 43.9% for bacteremic and 25.8% for the remaining patients (p < 0.001). Admission SOFA score was independently associated with the occurrence of bacteremia (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.11-1.26, p < 0.001). Among bacteremic patients, SOFA score on the day of bacteremia was the only independent prognostic factor for outcome (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.21-1.71, p < 0.001). When all patients were included in the multivariate analysis, admission SOFA (OR = 1.3, CI: 1.16-1.38, p < 0.001), APACHE II (OR = 1.1, CI: 1.02-1.11, p = 0.003) score and the presence of bacteremia (OR = 1.8, CI: 1.1-2.9, p = 0.023) were independently associated with the outcome.'] Do application of the sequential organ failure assessment ( SOFA ) score to bacteremic ICU patients? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-0.24427902698516846,
-1.531976580619812,
0.8457761406898499
] |
['Liddle syndrome is a rare autosomal-dominant monogenic form of hypertension caused by mutations in the C-termini of the epithelial sodium channel beta- or gamma-subunit encoded by SCNN1B and SCNN1G, respectively, and often presenting with a familial history of hypertension. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mutations of SCNN1B or SCNN1G were present in a patient clinically suspected to have Liddle syndrome with no familial history of hypertension.', 'We screened the C-terminus of SCNN1B and SCNN1G in the patient, and also screened for the mutation in his parents, 50 hypertensive patients and 50 controls.', "In this patient, no mutations were found in the C-terminus of SCNN1B. However, we found a frameshift mutation caused by an 'AGCTC' deletion at the 583 codon in SCNN1G. The frameshift resulted in a new termination site at the 585 codon of the gamma-subunit and the deletion of its PY motif. Neither his parents nor 50 randomly selected patients with hypertension nor 50 controls have the mutation, indicating that this is a de novo mutation and not a common genetic polymorphism."] Does a novel epithelial sodium channel gamma-subunit de novo frameshift mutation lead to Liddle syndrome? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.376105785369873,
-1.2269314527511597,
2.6188206672668457
] |
['We conducted a proteome analysis of human articular chondrocytes, in order to identify proteins differentially expressed in chondrocytes during the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) and to characterize the phosphorylation status of these proteins.', 'The proteins of 20 samples of human chondrocytes obtained from the cartilage of human knees (six from healthy cartilage (NoNo), seven from visually intact zones (NoOA) and seven from visually damaged zones (OAOA) of OA cartilage from the same knee joint) were sequentially extracted and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Protein expression patterns were subjected to statistical analysis and protein spots of interest were identified by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.', "We identified several protein spots, showing a differential expression between the sample groups. Cleaved vimentin was upregulated in OAOA samples, this was confirmed by 1-DE and Western blot. The possible impact of vimentin cleavage on the chondrocyte's cytoskeleton was illustrated by confocal microscopy analysis, which revealed a distorted vimentin organization in OA chondrocytes. In contrast, F-actin staining did not reveal differences."] Does differential proteome analysis of normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes reveal distortion of vimentin network in osteoarthritis? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.429489850997925,
-1.2659300565719604,
2.7846732139587402
] |
['We asked if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in inflammatory cytokine genes related to 3-year survival in ill elderly subjects and if genotypes differed between the elderly and a younger control population.', 'Prospective observational study.', 'Two geriatric departments at a university hospital.', 'Eighty three acutely admitted geriatric patients (83 +/- 7 year, 70% women) and 207 young healthy subjects (40 +/- 1 year, 37% women) were included.', 'Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genes of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-308 G/A, interleukin (IL)-1beta-511 C/T, IL-6-174 G/C and IL-10-1082 A/G were analysed. In the geriatric patients SNP in lymphotoxin (LT)-alpha +252 G/A and serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, soluble IL-I receptor(R)II were also determined, as well as the 3-year mortality.', 'The allele distribution did not differ significantly between the elderly and the young. In the female elderly, 3-year survival was doubled (P < 0.05) in those with the high-producing genotypes of IL-6 -174 GG and TNF-alpha -308 GA compared with those with low-producing alleles. In contrast, men with high-producing LT-alpha +252 AA and IL-1beta-511 CT&TT genotypes displayed halved 3-year survival (P < 0.05) compared with those with low-producing genotypes, whereas possession of the high-producing IL-10 -1082 GG genotype favoured survival. Serum IL-10 was higher in the high-producing IL-10 genotype in females.'] Do polymorphisms in cytokine genes influence long-term survival differently in elderly male and female patients? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.7694567441940308,
-1.3323166370391846,
2.13969087600708
] |
["In the light of an emerging role for early-mid treatment 18 F-deoxyfluoroglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) as an important prognostic indicator in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) , we attempted to determine whether a simple parameter, such as the early-mid treatment CRP (C-reactive protein) level, could also be utilized as a significant prognostic factor in aggressive NHL.", 'Serum CRP levels were monitored in 55 patients with aggressive NHL. The lowest value of the early mid-term CRP levels recorded was compared with the interim PET-CT results, as well as with the clinical course and eventual outcome.', 'During chemotherapy, the lowest value of early-mid treatment CRP levels significantly predicted the results of the interim FDG-PET (P = 0.04 with an odds ratio of 1.13). Patients who did not achieve an early-mid treatment CRP level of <5 mg/L, had a shorter time to disease progression or relapse (P = 0.001) as well as a reduced overall survival (OS) (P = 0.016).'] Is early-mid treatment C-reactive protein level a prognostic factor in aggressive non-Hodgkin 's lymphoma? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.136564016342163,
-1.429194688796997,
2.5973594188690186
] |
['In this study, our aim was to investigate how different immunohistochemical techniques may influence the result of BCL6 positivity and categorization in germinal center (GC) and non-GC derived diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), as it has been proposed that classification of DLBCL according to cell-of-origin by immunohistochemistry may be performed as a routine procedure in the diagnostic work-up. However, a number of technical issues need to be solved before introducing this as a standard technique.', 'Tumor specimens from 122 patients with de novo stage II-IV disease, adequately treated with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimens were collected. Immunohistochemical expression of BCL6, CD10, and MUM-1/IRF4 was examined using a tissue microarray (TMA) technique. BCL6 and CD10 were also evaluated on whole tissue sections.', 'Due to profound tissue heterogeneity, BCL6 showed a wide range of positivity, with a high number of false negative results by TMA (25% positive), compared to 53% on whole tissue sections (WTS). CD10 was more homogeneously expressed, and TMA results corresponded better to WTS. Consequently, the results from categorization into GC and non-GC DLBCL differed considerably by use of the two methods, and resulted in very different outcome in terms of overall survival.'] Is tissue microarray inappropriate for analysis of BCL6 expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.433082342147827,
-1.2222917079925537,
2.8028087615966797
] |
['Patients often do not get the information they require from doctors and nurses. To address this problem, interventions directed at patients to help them gather information in their healthcare consultations have been proposed and tested.', 'To assess the effects on patients, clinicians and the healthcare system of interventions which are delivered before consultations, and which have been designed to help patients (and/or their representatives) address their information needs within consultations.', 'We searched: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library (issue 3 2006); MEDLINE (1966 to September 2006); EMBASE (1980 to September 2006); PsycINFO (1985 to September 2006); and other databases, with no language restriction. We also searched reference lists of articles and related reviews, and handsearched Patient Education and Counseling (1986 to September 2006).', 'Randomised controlled trials of interventions before consultations designed to encourage question asking and information gathering by the patient.', 'Two researchers assessed the search output independently to identify potentially-relevant studies, selected studies for inclusion, and extracted data. We conducted a narrative synthesis of the included trials, and meta-analyses of five outcomes.', 'We identified 33 randomised controlled trials, from 6 countries and in a range of settings. A total of 8244 patients was randomised and entered into studies. The most common interventions were question checklists and patient coaching. Most interventions were delivered immediately before the consultations.Commonly-occurring outcomes were: question asking, patient participation, patient anxiety, knowledge, satisfaction and consultation length. A minority of studies showed positive effects for these outcomes. Meta-analyses, however, showed small and statistically significant increases for question asking (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.27 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19 to 0.36)) and patient satisfaction (SMD 0.09 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.16)). There was a notable but not statistically significant decrease in patient anxiety before consultations (weighted mean difference (WMD) -1.56 (95% CI -7.10 to 3.97)). There were small and not statistically significant changes in patient anxiety after consultations (reduced) (SMD -0.08 (95%CI -0.22 to 0.06)), patient knowledge (reduced) (SMD -0.34 (95% CI -0.94 to 0.25)), and consultation length (increased) (SMD 0.10 (95% CI -0.05 to 0.25)). Further analyses showed that both coaching and written materials produced similar effects on question asking but that coaching produced a smaller increase in consultation length and a larger increase in patient satisfaction. Interventions immediately before consultations led to a small and statistically significant increase in consultation length, whereas those implemented some time before the consultation had no effect. Both interventions immediately before the consultation and those some time before it led to small increases in patient satisfaction, but this was only statistically significant for those immediately before the consultation. There appear to be no clear benefits from clinician training in addition to patient interventions, although the evidence is limited.'] Does interventions before consultations for helping patients address their information need? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.9739168882369995,
-0.9027455449104309,
1.9232044219970703
] |
['Twenty per cent of patients with heartburn do not respond to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Many have normal oesophageal acid exposure. We hypothesized that such PPI non-responders have heightened oesophageal sensation, and that oesophageal hypersensitivity is associated with psychiatric features including somatization and anxiety.', 'To compare oesophageal sensation in subjects with heartburn categorized by response to PPI, and to correlate oesophageal sensation with psychiatric features.', 'Twenty-one PPI responders, nine PPI non-responders and 20 healthy volunteers completed questionnaires of psychiatric disorders and gastrointestinal symptoms. Subjects underwent oesophageal sensory testing with acid perfusion and balloon distension.', 'Healthy volunteers displayed higher thresholds for sensation and discomfort from balloon distension than heartburn subjects (sensation P = 0.04, discomfort P = 0.14). Psychiatric disorders were associated with increased intensity of sensation (P = 0.02) and discomfort from acid (P = 0.01). Somatization was associated with increased discomfort from balloon distension (P = 0.006). Features of irritable bowel syndrome were associated with increased sensation and discomfort.'] Is oesophageal hypersensitivity associated with features of psychiatric disorders and the irritable bowel syndrome? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3986737728118896,
-0.6134226322174072,
2.0504422187805176
] |
['To clarify MUC1 patterns in invasive ductal breast carcinoma and to relate them to clinicopathological parameters, coexpression of other biological markers and prognosis.', 'Samples from 243 consecutive patients with primary ductal carcinoma were incorporated into tissue microarrays (TMAs). Slides were stained for MUC1, oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), Her2/neu, p53 and cyclin D1. Apical membrane MUC1 expression was associated with smaller tumours (P = 0.001), lower tumour grades (P < 0.001), PR positivity (P = 0.003) and increased overall survival (OS; P = 0.030). Diffuse cytoplasmic MUC1 expression was associated with cyclin D1 positivity (P = 0.009) and increased relapse-free survival (RFS; P = 0.034). Negativity for MUC1 was associated with ER negativity (P = 0.004), PR negativity (P = 0.001) and cyclin D1 negativity (P = 0.009). In stepwise multivariate analysis MUC1 negativity was an independent predictor of both RFS [hazard ratio (HR) 3.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5, 8.5; P = 0.005] and OS (HR 14.7, 95% CI 4.9, 44.1; P < 0.001).'] Is the expression pattern of MUC1 ( EMA ) related to tumour characteristics and clinical outcome of invasive ductal breast carcinoma? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.8378379344940186,
-1.6185352802276611,
2.4615819454193115
] |
['It has been shown that ventilation-induced pulse pressure variation (PPV) is a better variable than central venous pressure (CVP) or pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) for predicting cardiac output changes after fluid administration. The plethysmographic wave form measured with a fingertip pulse is very similar to the arterial blood pressure curve.', 'We investigated whether this widely used, noninvasive instrument could predict fluid responsiveness by conducting an observational study in 32 patients who had undergone cardiac surgery. We compared PPV, CVP, PAOP, diastolic pulmonary artery pressure, and ventilation-induced plethysmographic variation (VPV) for predicting the cardiac output change after the administration of 500 mL 6% hydroxyethylstarch.', 'We found a good correlation between cardiac output changes and both PPV and VPV (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.937 for PPV and 0.892 for VPV. The optimal thresholds were a variation of 11.3% for both PPV and VPV in predicting a 15% increase in cardiac output.'] Do ventilation-induced plethysmographic variations predict fluid responsiveness in ventilated postoperative cardiac surgery patients? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.0166866779327393,
-1.380687952041626,
2.484572649002075
] |
['Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a devastating and deadly disease, largely because it is diagnosed in late stage. Cure rates, currently at 50%, could increase to >80% with early detection. In this study, we evaluate soluble CD44 (solCD44) as an early detection tool for HNSCC by determining whether it reliably distinguishes HNSCC from benign disease of the upper aerodigestive tract.', 'We carried out the solCD44 ELISA on oral rinses from 102 patients with HNSCC and 69 control patients with benign diseases of upper aerodigestive tract to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the test for differentiating HNSCC from benign disease. Furthermore, we did a pilot study using methylation-specific PCR primers on oral rinses from 11 HNSCC patients with low solCD44 levels and 10 benign disease controls.', 'Mean salivary solCD44 levels were 24.4 +/- 32.0 ng/mL for HNSCC patients (range, 0.99-201 ng/mL) and 9.9 +/- 16.1 ng/mL (range, 0.73-124 ng/mL) for the patients with benign disease (P < 0.0001). Depending on cutoff point and HNSCC site, sensitivity ranged from 62% to 70% and specificity ranged from 75% to 88%. Nine of 11 HNSCC and 0 of 10 controls with low solCD44 levels showed hypermethylation of the CD44 promoter.'] Is soluble CD44 a potential marker for the early detection of head and neck cancer? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.7131218910217285,
-1.5038167238235474,
2.2658886909484863
] |
['To assess the clinical significance of Aurora-A kinase, a centrosome-regulating serine-threonine kinase, in ovarian carcinoma.', 'Aurora-A kinase expression was assessed by Western blot (cell lines) or immunohistochemistry (high-grade epithelial ovarian cancers), and clinical variables were collected by retrospective chart review. Centrosome amplification was assessed by immunofluorescence in cell lines, and by immunohistochemistry in patient samples.', 'All ovarian cancer cell lines exhibited significant Aurora-A kinase protein overexpression, and all except A2780-par had centrosome amplification, a characteristic of mitotic dysregulation leading to genomic instability. Fifty-eight of 70 patient samples (82.8%) exhibited Aurora-A kinase overexpression compared with normal ovarian surface epithelium. High Aurora-A kinase expression was strongly associated with supernumerary centrosome count in tumor cells (P<0.001). Tumors with the greatest Aurora-A overexpression (n=24) had decreased patient survival (median survival, 1.44 versus 2.81 years; P=0.01). High Aurora-A expression and suboptimal surgical cytoreduction remained predictors of poor survival (P<0.05) by multivariate analysis.'] Is overexpression of the centrosomal protein Aurora-A kinase associated with poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer patients? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.388122797012329,
-1.2923681735992432,
2.7448277473449707
] |
['Mammalian heparanase degrades heparan sulfate, the main polysaccharide of the basement membrane. Heparanase is an important determinant in cancer progression, acting via the breakdown of extracellular barriers for invasion, as well as release of heparan sulfate-bound angiogenic and growth-promoting factors. The present study was undertaken to elucidate molecular mechanisms responsible for heparanase overexpression in breast cancer.', 'To characterize heparanase regulation by estrogen and tamoxifen and its clinical relevance for breast tumorigenesis, we applied immunohistochemical analysis of tissue microarray combined with chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, reverse transcription-PCR, and Western blot analysis.', 'A highly significant correlation (P<0.0001) between estrogen receptor (ER) positivity and heparanase overexpression was found in breast cancer. Binding of ER to heparanase promoter accompanied estrogen-induced increase in heparanase expression by breast carcinoma cells. Surprisingly, heparanase transcription was also stimulated by tamoxifen, conferring a proliferation advantage to breast carcinoma cells grown on a naturally produced extracellular matrix. Heparanase overexpression was invariably detected in ER-positive second primary breast tumors, developed in patients receiving tamoxifen for the initial breast carcinoma. The molecular mechanism of the estrogenlike effect of tamoxifen on heparanase expression involves recruitment of transcription coactivator AIB1 to the heparanase promoter.'] Does tamoxifen induce heparanase expression in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.4947259426116943,
-1.2349495887756348,
2.7923645973205566
] |
['We examined whether the response predicted by a 30-gene pharmacogenomic test correlated with the residual cancer burden (RCB) after preoperative chemotherapy with paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (T/FAC).', 'Gene expression profiling was done at diagnosis in 74 patients with stages I to III breast cancer and was used to calculate a pharmacogenomic score and predict response to chemotherapy [pathologic complete response (pCR) or residual disease (RD)]. All patients received 6 months of preoperative T/FAC. Following pathologic review, a RCB score was calculated based on residual tumor and lymph node features. Four RCB classes were assigned; RCB-0 (pCR), RCB-I (near-PCR), RCB-II (moderate RD), and RCB-III (extensive RD). The correlations between the pharmacogenomic score, predicted pathologic response, RCB score, and RCB class were examined.', "Thirty-three patients were predicted to have pCR, and 40 were predicted to have RD. Observed responses were RCB-0: n=20 (27%); RCB-I: n=5 (7%); RCB-II: n=36 (49%); and RCB-III: n=13 (16%) patients. Pharmacogenomic and RCB scores were correlated (Pearson's R=-0.501, P<0.0001). There was no difference between the mean genomic predictor scores for RCB-0/I groups (P=0.94), but these were different from the mean scores of the RCB-II/III groups (P<0.001). Among the 25 patients with RCB-0/I response, 19 (76%) were predicted to achieve pCR. The pharmacogenomic test correctly predicted RD in 92% of the patients with RCB-III, which corresponds to chemotherapy-resistant disease."] Does thirty-gene pharmacogenomic test correlate with residual cancer burden after preoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.0872647762298584,
-1.7273874282836914,
1.7582581043243408
] |
['In Europe, specific immunotherapy is currently conducted with vaccines containing allergen preparations based on intact extracts. In addition to this, chemically modified allergen extracts (allergoids) are used for specific allergy treatment. Reduced allergenicity and thereby reduced risk of side effects in combination with retained ability to activate T cells and induce protective allergen-specific antibody responses has been claimed for allergoids. In the current study, we compared intact allergen extracts and allergoids with respect to allergenicity and immunogenicity.', 'The immunological response to birch allergen extract, alum-adsorbed extract, birch allergoid and alum-adsorbed allergoid was investigated in vitro in human basophil histamine release assay and by stimulation of human allergen-specific T cell lines. In vivo, Bet v 1-specific IgG titers in mice were determined after repetitive immunizations.', 'In all patients tested (n = 8), allergoid stimulations led to reduced histamine release compared to the intact allergen extract. However, the allergoid preparations were not recognized by Bet v 1-specific T cell lines (n = 7), which responded strongly to the intact allergen extract. Mouse immunizations showed a clearly reduced IgG induction by allergoids and a strongly potentiating effect of the alum adjuvant. Optimal IgG titers were obtained after 3 immunizations with intact allergen extracts, while 5 immunizations were needed to obtain maximal response to the allergoid.'] Does chemical modification of birch allergen extract lead to a reduction in allergenicity as well as immunogenicity? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.3140130043029785,
-1.395284652709961,
2.7341160774230957
] |
['Attenuating aldosterone (ALDO) effects may be important in slowing kidney and cardiovascular disease progression. This study tested whether ACE inhibitor (I) therapy achieves lower plasma (p) ALDO levels than angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy when they are used under usual clinical conditions in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.', "Consecutive CKD patients (n = 123) were studied. They were clinically stable and receiving either ACEI (n = 77) or ARB (n = 46) (physician's choice) for > or = 3 months.", 'Mean pALDO in the ACEI cohort was 7.8 +/- 5.7 (SD) ng/dl compared to 12.3 +/- 9.8 ng/dl in the ARB cohort (p = 0.0018, normal ambulatory pALDO 9.4-33.8 ng/dl). The pALDO difference was not explained by differences in age, sex, race, body weight, diagnosis of diabetes; the use of beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers or diuretic; systolic or diastolic blood pressure; plasma renin, serum creatinine, sodium, potassium, or bicarbonate levels; 24-hour urine potassium, sodium, urea or protein excretion; or ACEI or ARB dose.'] Is usual ACE inhibitor therapy in CKD patients associated with lower plasma aldosterone levels than usual angiotensin receptor blocker therapy? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.2029852867126465,
-1.4680765867233276,
2.6818509101867676
] |
['The origin and evolution of viruses is currently a heavily discussed issue. One element in this discussion is the innate viral "self" concept, which suggests that viral structures and functions can be divided into two categories. The first category consists of genetic determinants that are inherited from a viral ancestor and encode the viral "self". The second group consists of another set of structures and functions, the "nonself", which is interchangeable between different viruses and can be obtained via lateral gene transfer. Comparing the structures and sequences of the "self" elements, we have proposed that viruses can be grouped into lineages regardless of which domain of life (bacteria, archaea, eukarya) they infect. It has also been suggested that viruses are ancient and possibly predate modern cells.', 'Here we identified thirteen putative prophages (viral genomes integrated into bacterial chromosome) closely related to the virulent icosahedral tailless lipid-containing bacteriophage PM2. Using the comparative genomics approach, we present evidence to support the viral "self" hypothesis and divide genes of the bacteriophage PM2 and related prophages into "self" and "nonself" categories.'] Are putative prophages related to lytic tailless marine dsDNA phage PM2 widespread in the genomes of aquatic bacteria? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.7747795581817627,
0.8728271126747131,
1.0502619743347168
] |
['Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a potential therapeutic tool to rehabilitate chronic stroke patients. In this study, the safety of high-frequency rTMS in stroke was investigated (Phase I).', 'The safety of 20 and 25 Hz rTMS over the motor cortex (MC) of the affected hemisphere, with intensities of 110-130% of the motor threshold (MT), was evaluated using surface electromyography (EMG) of hand and arm muscles.', 'Brief EMG bursts, possibly representing peripheral manifestations of after discharges, and spread of excitation to proximal muscles are considered to be associated with a high risk of seizure occurrence. These events were recorded after the rTMS trains. Neither increased MC excitability nor improved pinch force dynamometry was found after rTMS.'] Do safety study of high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with chronic stroke? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.5770928859710693,
-1.0314793586730957,
2.697605848312378
] |
['Undertreatment with recommended pharmacotherapy is a common problem in heart failure and may influence prognosis. We studied initiation and persistence of evidence-based pharmacotherapy in 107,092 patients discharged after first hospitalization for heart failure in Denmark from 1995 to 2004.', 'Prescriptions of dispensed medication and mortality were identified by an individual-level linkage of nationwide registers. Inclusion was irrespective of left ventricular function. Treatment with renin-angiotensin inhibitors (eg, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-2 receptor blockers), beta-blockers, spironolactone, and statins was initiated in 43%, 27%, 19%, and 19% of patients, respectively. Patients who did not initiate treatment within 90 days of discharge had a low probability of later treatment initiation. Treatment dosages were in general only 50% of target dosages and were not increased during long-term treatment. Short breaks in therapy were common, but most patients reinitiated treatment. Five years after initiation of treatment, 79% patients were still on renin-angiotensin inhibitors, 65% on beta-blockers, 56% on spironolactone, and 83% on statins. Notably, multiple drug treatment and increased severity of heart failure was associated with persistence of treatment. Nonpersistence with renin-angiotensin inhibitors, beta-blockers, and statins was associated with increased mortality with hazard ratios for death of 1.37 (95% CI, 1.31 to 1.42), 1.25 (95% CI, 1.19 to 1.32), 1.88 (95% CI, 1.67 to 2.12), respectively.'] Is persistent use of evidence-based pharmacotherapy in heart failure associated with improved outcomes? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.199397563934326,
-1.3183350563049316,
2.5512657165527344
] |
['Vitamin D deficiency has been recently associated with the metabolic syndrome. However, it is not known whether this possible association of vitamin D deficiency with the metabolic syndrome is still present at very high degrees of obesity, as in morbidly obese patients.', 'Transversal, observational study that included 73 consecutive morbidly obese patients (body mass index 40 kg/m(2)). In every patient, anthropometric variables were recorded, fasting blood was assayed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, lipid profiles, glucose and insulin levels, and insulin resistance was estimated by homeostasis model assessment.', 'Vitamin D deficiency was present in 37 of the 73 patients (50.7%). As defined by revised Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, 46 of the 73 obese patients (63%) had the metabolic syndrome. Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in morbidly obese patients presenting with the metabolic syndrome, compared with those who did not achieve the criteria for this syndrome (60.9% vs. 33.3% respectively, P = 0.023). When serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were categorized in tertiles, there was an association of the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome with the former (P = 0.038). Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were lower (37.0+/-7.8 mg/dl vs. 44.9+/-8.7 mg/dl, P = 0.003), and triglycerides levels were higher (163.3+/-81.5 mg/dl vs. 95.1+/-24.2 mg/dl, P = 0.001) in the vitamin D-deficient group.'] Is vitamin D deficiency associated with the metabolic syndrome in morbid obesity? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-1.5266233682632446,
-1.5702261924743652,
2.0978827476501465
] |
['Both RhoA (Rho1) and polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) are implicated in the regulation of cytokinesis, a cellular process that marks the division of cytoplasm of a parent cell into daughter cells after nuclear division. Cytokinesis failure is often accompanied by the generation of cells with an unstable tetraploid content, which predisposes it to chromosomal instability and oncogenic transformation. Several studies using lower eukaryotic systems demonstrate that RhoA and Plk1 are essential for mitotic progression and cytokinesis.', 'Physical and functional interactions between RhoA and Plk-1 were analyzed using subcellular localization of RhoA and Plk1 in HeLa cells by immunofluorescence and co-precipitation techniques, followed by Western blotting in RhoA transfected cells.', 'Plk1 localizes to kinetochores as well as to spindle poles during prophase and metaphase; it translocates to the midbody during telophase. RhoA is also enriched at the midbody region during telophase and colocalizes with Plk1. Recombinant RhoA, expressed as a GFP fusion protein, is enriched in the nucleus of HeLa and U2OS cells. Ectopically expressed GFP-RhoA does not cause significant cell death, although there exist a group of cells that appear to exhibit a delay in mitotic exit or in impaired cytokinesis.'] Does polo-like kinase 1 regulate RhoA during cytokinesis exit in human cells? | qiaojin/PubMedQA | 2 | [
-2.5857555866241455,
-0.9734968543052673,
2.588505744934082
] |
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