Medicine by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis: 10/27/15

Τρίτη 27 Οκτωβρίου 2015

Detection of Inorganic Arsenic in Rice Using a Field Test Kit: A Screening Method

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Analytical Chemistry

DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b02386

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Collision Induced Unfolding of Intact Antibodies: Rapid Characterization of Disulfide Bonding Patterns, Glycosylation, and Structures

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Analytical Chemistry

DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b03291

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Correction to Selective Tracking of Lysosomal Cu2+ Ions Using Simultaneous Target- and Location-Activated Fluorescent Nanoprobes

Analytical Chemistry

DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b03860

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Detection of Inorganic Arsenic in Rice Using a Field Test Kit: A Screening Method

TOC Graphic

Analytical Chemistry

DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b02386

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A Simple Device to Rapidly Prepare Whole Mounts of the Mouse Intestine

The use of a simple device to cut and 'roll' mouse intestines to rapidly prepare whole mount preparations is described.

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Evaluation of interventions for informed consent for randomised controlled trials (ELICIT): protocol for a systematic review of the literature and identification of a core outcome set using a Delphi survey

Background: The process of obtaining informed consent for participation in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was established as a mechanism to protect participants against undue harm from research and allow people to recognise any potential risks or benefits associated with the research. A number of interventions have been put forward to improve this process. Outcomes reported in trials of interventions to improve the informed consent process for decisions about trial participation tend to focus on the 'understanding' of trial information. However, the operationalization of understanding as a concept, the tools used to measure it and the timing of the measurements are heterogeneous. A lack of clarity exists regarding which outcomes matter (to whom) and why. This inconsistency between studies results in difficulties when making comparisons across studies as evidenced in two recent systematic reviews of informed consent interventions. As such, no optimal method for measuring the impact of these interventions aimed at improving informed consent for RCTs has been identified.Methods/DesignThe project will adopt and adapt methodology previously developed and used in projects developing core outcome sets for assessment of clinical treatments. Specifically, the work will consist of three stages: 1) A systematic methodology review of existing outcome measures of trial informed consent interventions; 2) Interviews with key stakeholders to explore additional outcomes relevant for trial participation decisions; and 3) A Delphi study to refine the core outcome set for evaluation of trial informed consent interventions. All stages will include the stakeholders involved in the various aspects of RCT consent: users (that is, patients), developers (that is, trialists), deliverers (focusing on research nurses) and authorisers (that is, ethics committees). A final consensus meeting including all stakeholders will be held to review outcomes.DiscussionThe ELICIT study aims to develop a core outcome set for the evaluation of interventions intended to improve informed consent for RCTs for use in future RCTs and reviews, thereby improving the reliability and consistency of research in this area.

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Toxins, Vol. 7, Pages 4381-4389: Quantitative Detection of Shiga Toxins Directly from Stool Specimens of Patients Associated with an Outbreak of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in Japan—Quantitative Shiga toxin detection from stool during EHEC outbreak

Detection of Shiga toxins (Stx) is important for accurate diagnosis of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection. In this study, we quantitatively analyzed Stx protein in nine patients' stool during an outbreak that occurred in Japan. Highly sensitive immunoassay (bead enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bead-ELISA)) revealed that the concentrations of toxins in stool of patients ranged from 0.71 to 10.44 ng/mL for Stx1 and 2.75 to 51.61 ng/mL for Stx2. To our knowledge, this is the first report that reveals the range of Stx protein concentrations in human stools.

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Direct Measurement of Trace Elemental Mercury in Hydrocarbon Matrices by Gas Chromatography with Ultraviolet Photometric Detection

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Analytical Chemistry

DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b02895

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Cesium Speciation in Dust from Municipal Solid Waste and Sewage Sludge Incineration by Synchrotron Radiation Micro-X-ray Analysis

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Analytical Chemistry

DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b03298

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Societies, Vol. 5, Pages 713-733: The Domains of Organizational Learning Practices: An Agency-Structure Perspective

Background: Organizational learning theory has retained considerable attention in the past decades from a wide array of academic disciplines in social sciences. Yet few integrative efforts have satisfactorily offered a comprehensive and systematic articulation of the concept of organizational learning with regards to: (a) its core constitutive dimensions and associated mechanisms; (b) the analytical levels from such mechanisms operate (e.g., workers, teams, organizations); as well as (c) their interplay. Methods: This article builds on a critical synthesis of predominant approaches in organizational learning theory (i.e., structural functionalist, social constructivist and middle range approaches), highlighting the contributions of each approach on the key analytical elements guiding our inquiry (i.e., core dimensions and associated mechanisms, analytical levels, interplay). Drawing from the work of sociologists Anthony Giddens and Margaret Archer on agency-structure theory, we develop a series of theoretical propositions supporting the Organizational Learning Practices (OLP) concept as a unifying heuristic tool. Results: OLP are defined as a set of collectively shared practices held by members of a given organization embedded in normative, political, and semantic dynamics. At the heart of such dynamics lies organizational knowledge as a power resource pivotal to the sustainable development of organizations, as well as that of their members. Conclusion: OLP offer promising answers to on-going debates in organizational learning theory, and we conclude by discussing concrete guidelines to advance research and practice on OLP.

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Polymers, Vol. 7, Pages 2165-2174: Biodegradable Shape Memory Polymeric Material from Epoxidized Soybean Oil and Polycaprolactone

This article deals with the synthesis of plant oil-based shape memory materials from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and polycaprolactone (PCL). PolyESO/PCLs were synthesized by an acid-catalyzed curing in the presence of PCL. During the reaction, PCL scarcely reacted with ESO and the crystallinity of the PCL component decreased to form a semi-interpenetrating network structure. The incorporation of the PCL components improved the maximum stress and strain at break of ESO-based network polymer. The polyESO/PCL was gradually degraded by Pseudomonas cepasia lipase. Furthermore, the polyESO/PCLs exhibited excellent shape memory properties, and the strain fixity depended on the feed ratio of ESO and PCL. The shape memory-recovery behaviors were repeatedly practicable. The resulting materials are expected to contribute to the development of biodegradable intelligent materials.

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Viruses, Vol. 7, Pages 5632-5642: Identification and Application of Neutralizing Epitopes of Human Adenovirus Type 55 Hexon Protein

Human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV55) is a newly identified re-emergent acute respiratory disease (ARD) pathogen with a proposed recombination of hexon gene between HAdV11 and HAdV14 strains. The identification of the neutralizing epitopes is important for the surveillance and vaccine development against HAdV55 infection. In this study, four type-specific epitope peptides of HAdV55 hexon protein, A55R1 (residues 138 to 152), A55R2 (residues 179 to 187), A55R4 (residues 247 to 259) and A55R7 (residues 429 to 443), were predicted by multiple sequence alignment and homology modeling methods, and then confirmed with synthetic peptides by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and neutralization tests (NT). Finally, the A55R2 was incorporated into human adenoviruses 3 (HAdV3) and a chimeric adenovirus rAd3A55R2 was successfully obtained. The chimeric rAd3A55R2 could induce neutralizing antibodies against both HAdV3 and HAdV55. This current study will contribute to the development of novel adenovirus vaccine candidate and adenovirus structural analysis.

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Viruses, Vol. 7, Pages 5619-5631: Exposure to West Nile Virus Increases Bacterial Diversity and Immune Gene Expression in Culex pipiens

Complex interactions between microbial residents of mosquitoes and arboviruses are likely to influence many aspects of vectorial capacity and could potentially have profound effects on patterns of arbovirus transmission. Such interactions have not been well studied for West Nile virus (WNV; Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) and Culex spp. mosquitoes. We utilized next-generation sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA bacterial genes derived from Culex pipiens Linnaeus following WNV exposure and/or infection and compared bacterial populations and broad immune responses to unexposed mosquitoes. Our results demonstrate that WNV infection increases the diversity of bacterial populations and is associated with up-regulation of classical invertebrate immune pathways including RNA interference (RNAi), Toll, and Jak-STAT (Janus kinase-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription). In addition, WNV exposure alone, without the establishment of infection, results in similar alterations to microbial and immune signatures, although to a lesser extent. Multiple bacterial genera were found in greater abundance inWNV-exposed and/or infected mosquitoes, yet the most consistent and notable was the genus Serratia.

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Technologies, Vol. 3, Pages 219-237: A New Compton Camera Imaging Model to Mitigate the Finite Spatial Resolution of Detectors and New Camera Designs for Implementation

An intrinsic limitation of the accuracy that can be achieved with Compton cameras results from the inevitable fact that the detectors, which comprise the camera, cannot have infinitely-accurate spatial resolution. To mitigate this loss of accuracy, a new imaging model is proposed. The implementation of the new imaging model, however, requires new camera designs. The results of a computer simulation indicate that the new imaging model can produce reasonable images, at least when noiseless simulated data are used. In the future, more work is needed to determine if the use of the new imaging model will improve the imaging capabilities of Compton cameras despite the loss of sensitivity caused by the use of the new camera designs. Regardless of the outcome of this work, the results presented here illustrate that new models for imaging from Compton scatters are possible and motivate the development of further models that could be more advantageous than the ones already developed.

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Knowledge seeking behaviours of pre interns and early career doctors in Sri Lanka: a cross sectional study

Background: Use of reference sources for medical knowledge has changed dramatically over the last two decades with the introduction of online sources of information. This study analyses the medical knowledge seeking behaviours of pre interns and early career doctors in Sri Lanka. Methods: This cross sectional survey with a convenience sample was conducted at two sites targeting two groups; pre-intern doctors graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and early career doctors following a postgraduate course at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. The data collection tool was an online self-administered questionnaire (paper based questionnaires used on request) that probed the patterns of using reference sources for medical knowledge.Results and discussionThe respondents comprised of 52 pre-interns and 34 early career doctors. A majority (98 %) had internet access. Early career doctors preferred online resources significantly more than the pre-interns. However, the utilization of online resources for evidence synthesis and planning research was unsatisfactory in both groups. A significant proportion (35 %) responded that they had never read a systematic review. Only one person in the entire sample had co-authored a review article. Conclusion: The use of online resources by participants seems to be satisfactory with a majority shifting to reliable online resources as a reference point for medical knowledge. However, a closer look at the usage patterns reveal that online resources that can be used for more innovative tasks such as evidence synthesis are grossly under-utilized.

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Materials, Vol. 8, Pages 7230-7240: The Effects of Zr Doping on the Optical, Electrical and Microstructural Properties of Thin ZnO Films Deposited by Atomic Layer Deposition

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), with high optical transparency (≥85%) and low electrical resistivity (10−4 Ω·cm) are used in a wide variety of commercial devices. There is growing interest in replacing conventional TCOs such as indium tin oxide with lower cost, earth abundant materials. In the current study, we dope Zr into thin ZnO films grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) to target properties of an efficient TCO. The effects of doping (0–10 at.% Zr) were investigated for ~100 nm thick films and the effect of thickness on the properties was investigated for 50–250 nm thick films. The addition of Zr4+ ions acting as electron donors showed reduced resistivity (1.44 × 10−3 Ω·cm), increased carrier density (3.81 × 1020 cm−3), and increased optical gap (3.5 eV) with 4.8 at.% doping. The increase of film thickness to 250 nm reduced the electron carrier/photon scattering leading to a further reduction of resistivity to 7.5 × 10−4 Ω·cm and an average optical transparency in the visible/near infrared (IR) range up to 91%. The improved n-type properties of ZnO: Zr films are promising for TCO applications after reaching the targets for high carrier density (>1020 cm−3), low resistivity in the order of 10−4 Ω·cm and high optical transparency (≥85%).

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Materials, Vol. 8, Pages 7217-7229: Active Nanofibrous Membrane Effects on Gingival Cell Inflammatory Response

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is involved in normal skin wound healing and also has anti-inflammatory properties. The association of α-MSH to polyelectrolyte layers with various supports has been shown to improve these anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nanofibrous membrane functionalized with α-MSH linked to polyelectrolyte layers on gingival cell inflammatory response. Human oral epithelial cells (EC) and fibroblasts (FB) were cultured on plastic or electrospun Poly-#-caprolactone (PCL) membranes with α-MSH covalently coupled to Poly-L-glutamic acid (PGA-α-MSH), for 6 to 24 h. Cells were incubated with or without Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS). Cell proliferation and migration were determined using AlamarBlue test and scratch assay. Expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) was evaluated using RT-qPCR method. Cell cultures on plastic showed that PGA-α-MSH reduced EC and FB migration and decreased IL-6 and TGF-β expression in Pg-LPS stimulated EC. PGA-α-MSH functionalized PCL membranes reduced proliferation of Pg-LPS stimulated EC and FB. A significant decrease of IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β expression was also observed in Pg-LPS stimulated EC and FB. This study showed that the functionalization of nanofibrous PCL membranes efficiently amplified the anti-inflammatory effect of PGA-α-MSH on gingival cells.

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Resources, Vol. 4, Pages 787-795: Taylor Law in Wind Energy Data

The Taylor power law (or temporal fluctuation scaling), is a scaling relationship of the form σ ~ (P)λ where !! is the standard deviation and hPi the mean value of a sample of a time series has been observed for power output data sampled at 5 min and 1 s and from five wind farms and a single wind turbine, located at different places. Furthermore, an analogy with the turbulence field is performed, consequently allowing the establishment of a scaling relationship between the turbulent production IP and the mean value (P).

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Nutrients, Vol. 7, Pages 8871-8886: Real Time Monitoring of Inhibition of Adipogenesis and Angiogenesis by (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Little is known about the effect of (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on angiogenesis in adipocytes. We aimed to test the effect of EGCG on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in adipocytes. The levels of VEGF secretion, the expression of VEGF message ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and VEGF protein in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. The xCELLigence real time cell analysis system was used to study the growth and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. A coculture system was used to test the effects of 3T3-L1 cells on proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The conditioned media derived from 3T3-L1 cells treated with or without EGCG was used to culture the HUVECs for a tube formation assay. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), two transcription factors related to both adipogenesis and angiogenesis, were examined to explore the potential mechanism. We found that all the three measurements of VEGF expression in adipocytes (mRNA, protein and secretion in media) were reduced after EGCG treatment. The growth of HUVECs co-cultured with 3T3-L1 cells was significantly increased and the conditioned media from EGCG treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes inhibited tube formation in HUVECs. Both PPARγ and C/EBPα expression in adipocytes were decreased with EGCG treatment. In conclusion, findings from this study suggest that EGCG may inhibit angiogenesis by regulating VEGF expression and secretion in adipocytes.

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The GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, contributes to three distinct varieties of amnesia in the human brain

Publication date: Available online 26 October 2015
Source:Cortex
Author(s): Adam Zeman, Serge Hoefeijzers, Fraser Milton, Michaela Dewar, Melanie Carr, Claire Streatfield
We describe a patient in whom long-term, therapeutic infusion of the selective gamma-amino-butyric acid type B (GABAB) receptor agonist, baclofen, into the cerebrospinal fluid gave rise to three distinct varieties of memory impairment: i) repeated, short periods of severe global amnesia, ii) accelerated long-term forgetting, evident over intervals of days and iii) a loss of established autobiographical memories. This pattern of impairment has been reported in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, in particular the subtype of Transient Epileptic Amnesia. The amnesic episodes and accelerated forgetting remitted on withdrawal of baclofen, while the autobiographical amnesia persisted. This exceptional case highlights the occurrence of 'non-standard' forms of human amnesia, reflecting the biological complexity of memory processes. It suggests a role for GABAB signalling in the modulation of human memory over multiple time-scales and hints at its involvement in 'epileptic amnesia'.

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Nanomaterials, Vol. 5, Pages 1782-1809: Enhancing Solar Cell Efficiency Using Photon Upconversion Materials

Photovoltaic cells are able to convert sunlight into electricity, providing enough of the most abundant and cleanest energy to cover our energy needs. However, the efficiency of current photovoltaics is significantly impeded by the transmission loss of sub-band-gap photons. Photon upconversion is a promising route to circumvent this problem by converting these transmitted sub-band-gap photons into above-band-gap light, where solar cells typically have high quantum efficiency. Here, we summarize recent progress on varying types of efficient upconversion materials as well as their outstanding uses in a series of solar cells, including silicon solar cells (crystalline and amorphous), gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, and other types of solar cells. The challenge and prospect of upconversion materials for photovoltaic applications are also discussed

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Cancers, Vol. 7, Pages 2169-2182: The Clinical Relevance of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer

Non-coding RNAs have long been associated with cancer development and progression, and since their earliest discovery, their clinical potential in identifying and characterizing the disease has been pursued. Long non-coding (lncRNAs), a diverse class of RNA transcripts >200 nucleotides in length with limited protein coding potential, has been only modestly studied relative to other categories of non-coding RNAs. However, recent data suggests they too may be important players in cancer. In this article, we consider the value of lncRNAs in the clinical setting, and in particular their potential roles as diagnostic and prognostic markers in cancer. Furthermore, we summarize the most significant studies linking lncRNA expression in human biological samples to cancer outcomes. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and validity of these non-coding RNA transcripts is compared in the various biological compartments in which they have been detected including tumor tissue, whole body fluids and exosomes.

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Metabolites, Vol. 5, Pages 636-658: Advances in Metabolic Engineering of Cyanobacteria for Photosynthetic Biochemical Production

Engineering cyanobacteria into photosynthetic microbial cell factories for the production of biochemicals and biofuels is a promising approach toward sustainability. Cyanobacteria naturally grow on light and carbon dioxide, bypassing the need of fermentable plant biomass and arable land. By tapping into the central metabolism and rerouting carbon flux towards desirable compound production, cyanobacteria are engineered to directly convert CO2 into various chemicals. This review discusses the diversity of bioproducts synthesized by engineered cyanobacteria, the metabolic pathways used, and the current engineering strategies used for increasing their titers.

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Toxins, Vol. 7, Pages 4381-4389: Quantitative Detection of Shiga Toxins Directly from Stool Specimens of Patients Associated with an Outbreak of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in Japan—Quantitative Shiga toxin detection from stool during EHEC outbreak

Mathematics, Vol. 3, Pages 1001-1031: A Cohomology Theory for Commutative Monoids

Extending Eilenberg–Mac Lane's cohomology of abelian groups, a cohomology theory is introduced for commutative monoids. The cohomology groups in this theory agree with the pre-existing ones by Grillet in low dimensions, but they differ beyond dimension two. A natural interpretation is given for the three-cohomology classes in terms of braided monoidal groupoids.

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IJGI, Vol. 4, Pages 2292-2305: Image Segmentation Parameter Optimization Considering Within- and Between-Segment Heterogeneity at Multiple Scale Levels: Test Case for Mapping Residential Areas Using Landsat Imagery

Multi-scale/multi-level geographic object-based image analysis (MS-GEOBIA) methods are becoming widely-used in remote sensing because single-scale/single-level (SS-GEOBIA) methods are often unable to obtain an accurate segmentation and classification of all land use/land cover (LULC) types in an image. However, there have been few comparisons between SS-GEOBIA and MS-GEOBIA approaches for the purpose of mapping a specific LULC type, so it is not well understood which is more appropriate for this task. In addition, there are few methods for automating the selection of segmentation parameters for MS-GEOBIA, while manual selection (i.e., trial-and-error approach) of parameters can be quite challenging and time-consuming. In this study, we examined SS-GEOBIA and MS-GEOBIA approaches for extracting residential areas in Landsat 8 imagery, and compared naïve and parameter-optimized segmentation approaches to assess whether unsupervised segmentation parameter optimization (USPO) could improve the extraction of residential areas. Our main findings were: (i) the MS-GEOBIA approaches achieved higher classification accuracies than the SS-GEOBIA approach, and (ii) USPO resulted in more accurate MS-GEOBIA classification results while reducing the number of segmentation levels and classification variables considerably.

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Future Internet, Vol. 7, Pages 405-428: Dynamical Trust and Reputation Computation Model for B2C E-Commerce

Trust is one of the most important factors that influence the successful application of network service environments, such as e-commerce, wireless sensor networks, and online social networks. Computation models associated with trust and reputation have been paid special attention in both computer societies and service science in recent years. In this paper, a dynamical computation model of reputation for B2C e-commerce is proposed. Firstly, conceptions associated with trust and reputation are introduced, and the mathematical formula of trust for B2C e-commerce is given. Then a dynamical computation model of reputation is further proposed based on the conception of trust and the relationship between trust and reputation. In the proposed model, classical varying processes of reputation of B2C e-commerce are discussed. Furthermore, the iterative trust and reputation computation models are formulated via a set of difference equations based on the closed-loop feedback mechanism. Finally, a group of numerical simulation experiments are performed to illustrate the proposed model of trust and reputation. Experimental results show that the proposed model is effective in simulating the dynamical processes of trust and reputation for B2C e-commerce.

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Diseases, Vol. 3, Pages 282-293: The Role of Environmental Factors in the Development of Celiac Disease: What Is New?

Celiac disease (CD) is a systemic immune-mediated disorder caused by the ingestion of gluten-containing grains in genetically susceptible persons. It is one of the most common lifelong disorders, affecting approximately 1% of the general population. The prevalence of CD has increased in developed countries over recent decades, pointing to the role of additional environmental triggers other than gluten. It has been hypothesized that intestinal infections, the amount and quality of gluten, the intestinal microbiota, and early nutrition are all possible triggers of the switch from tolerance to an immune response to gluten. Two recent randomized controlled trials have been performed to clarify the relationship between the age at which gluten is introduced to a child's diet and the risk of CD, showing that timing of gluten introduction does not modify the risk of CD. Both trials also showed that breastfeeding compared with no breastfeeding or breastfeeding duration or breastfeeding during gluten introduction have no effect on the risk of CD. The two trials, although not designed to address this issue, have shown that intestinal infections seem not to influence the risk of CD. Further studies are still needed to explore the missing environmental factors of CD for future prevention.

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Catalysts, Vol. 5, Pages 1815-1830: On the Effect of Preparation Methods of PdCe-MOR Catalysts as NOx CH4-SCR System for Natural Gas Vehicles Application

In the present work, the effect of several parameters involved in the preparation of PdCe-HMOR catalysts active for NOx selective catalytic reduction with methane (NOx CH4-SCR) was studied. Results show that the catalytic performance of Pd-HMOR is better when palladium is introduced by ion-exchange, namely at room temperature. It was also shown that Pd loading does not influence the formation of cerium species, namely surface Ce4+ (CeO2) species and CeO2 species in interaction with Pd. However, when Ce is introduced before Pd, more surface CeO2 species are stabilized in the support and less CeO2 become in interaction with Pd, which results in a worse NOx CH4-SCR catalytic performance.

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Mathematics, Vol. 3, Pages 1032-1044: A Fast O(N logN) Finite Difference Method for the One-Dimensional Space-Fractional Diffusion Equation

This paper proposes an approach for the space-fractional diffusion equation in one dimension. Since fractional differential operators are non-local, two main difficulties arise after discretization and solving using Gaussian elimination: how to handle the memory requirement of O(N2) for storing the dense or even full matrices that arise from application of numerical methods and how to manage the significant computational work count of O(N3) per time step, where N is the number of spatial grid points. In this paper, a fast iterative finite difference method is developed, which has a memory requirement of O(N) and a computational cost of O(N logN) per iteration. Finally, some numerical results are shown to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the new method.

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High Thyroglobulin Antibody Levels Increase the Risk of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Background. Despite the many studies examining thyroid cancers, the effect of thyroid autoantibodies on differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) remains unclear. Objective. To investigate the association between serologic thyroid autoantibodies (ATAs) and DTC, we retrospectively evaluated data of thyroid nodules obtained from patients who underwent thyroid surgery. Methods. Data of thyroid nodules obtained from 1,638 patients who underwent thyroid surgery were evaluated. Thyroid autoimmunity was assessed by the presence of thyroglobulin (TgAb) or thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb). Results. Among our study cohort, the prevalence of elevated TgAb (≥40 IU/mL) and TPOAb (≥50 IU/mL) was higher in patients with DTC than those with benign nodules. Patients with DTC and elevated TgAb had a higher prevalence of extrathyroidal invasion. In the multivariate analysis, TgAb ≥ 40 IU/mL was significantly associated with DTC (odds ratio [OR] = 2.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40–3.15) compared with TgAb

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Breast Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Characterization and Contribution to the Metastatic Phenotype

The study of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cancer progression is a complex and rapidly evolving field. Whole categories of cellular interactions in cancer which were originally presumed to be due solely to soluble secreted molecules have now evolved to include membrane-enclosed extracellular vesicles (EVs), which include both exosomes and shed microvesicles (MVs), and can contain many of the same molecules as those secreted in soluble form but many different molecules as well. EVs released by cancer cells can transfer mRNA, miRNA, and proteins to different recipient cells within the tumor microenvironment, in both an autocrine and paracrine manner, causing a significant impact on signaling pathways, mRNA transcription, and protein expression. The transfer of EVs to target cells, in turn, supports cancer growth, immunosuppression, and metastasis formation. This review focuses exclusively on breast cancer EVs with an emphasis on breast cancer-derived exosomes, keeping in mind that breast cancer-derived EVs share some common physical properties with EVs of other cancers.

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XiangshaLiujunzi decoction alleviates the symptoms of functional dyspepsia by regulating brain–gut axis and production of neuropeptides

Background: Chinese medicine xiangshaliujunzi decoction (XSLJZD) plays a key role in treating functional dyspepsia (FD), a common clinical gastrointestinal disorder. However, the mechanism of this disease is unclear. Brain–gut axis regulates food intake behaviour, and this regulatory mechanism is mediated by neuropeptides. Brain–gut axis impairment and neuropeptide alteration may be the pathological mechanisms of FD, and brain–gut axis regulation may influence the action of medicine. Methods: In our experiment, the effect of XSLJZD on FD was evaluated in terms of food intake, sucrose preference test and electromyogram. Changes in neuropeptides [ghrelin, cholecystokinin (CCK) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)] were detected through immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR and ELISA. Results: XSLJZD increased food intake and the percentage of sucrose preference (>75 %). However, the response to gastric detention decreased. Furthermore, XSLJZD increased ghrelin, CCK, VIP proteins and genes in the stomach. XSLJZD also increased ghrelin, CCK and VIP proteins in serum. By contrast, XSLJZD decreased the mRNA expression of these neuropeptides in the hypothalamus. Conclusions: XSLJZD alleviated the symptoms of FD by upregulating the production of ghrelin, CCK and VIP and by increasing the levels of these neuropeptides in circulation. This finding can help elucidate the mechanism of FD and can provide further insight into the pharmacokinetics of XSLJZD.

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Editorial Board

Publication date: November 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 96, Issue 11

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Publication date: November 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 96, Issue 11

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Editors' Selections From This Issue: Volume 96 / Number 11 / November 2015

Publication date: November 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 96, Issue 11

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Masthead

Publication date: November 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 96, Issue 11

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Impact of Outpatient Rehabilitation Medicare Reimbursement Caps on Utilization and Cost of Rehabilitation Care After Ischemic Stroke: Do Caps Contain Costs?

Publication date: November 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 96, Issue 11
Author(s): Annie N. Simpson, Heather S. Bonilha, Abby S. Kazley, James S. Zoller, Kit N. Simpson, Charles Ellis
ObjectiveTo estimate the proportion of patients with ischemic stroke who fall within and above the total outpatient rehabilitation caps before and after the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 took effect; and to estimate the cost of poststroke outpatient rehabilitation cost and resource utilization in these patients before and after the implementation of the caps.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingMedicare reimbursement system.ParticipantsMedicare beneficiaries from the state of South Carolina: the 1997 stroke cohort sample (N=2667) and the 2004 stroke cohort sample (N=2679).InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresProportion of beneficiaries with bills within and above the cap before and after the cap was enacted, and total estimated 1-year rehabilitation Medicare payments before and after the cap.ResultsThe proportion of patients with stroke exceeding the cap in 2004 after the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 was enacted was significantly lower (5.8%) than those in 1997 (9.5%) had there been a cap at that time (P=.004). However, when the proportion of individuals exceeding the cap among both the outpatient provider and facility files was examined, there was a greater proportion of patients with stroke in 2004 (64.6%) than in 1997 (31.9%) who exceeded the cap (P<.0001). The estimated average 1-year Medicare payments for rehabilitation services, when examining only the Part B outpatient provider bills, did not differ between the cohorts (P=.12), and in fact, decreased slightly from $1052 in 1997 to $833 in 2004. However, when examining rehabilitation costs using all available outpatient Medicare bills, the average estimated payments greatly increased (P<.0001) from $5691 in 1997 to $9606 in 2004.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that billing practices may have changed after outpatient rehabilitation services caps were enacted by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Rehabilitation services billing may have shifted from Part B provider bills to being more frequently included in facility charges.

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Longitudinal Study of Headache Trajectories in the Year After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Relation to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Publication date: November 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 96, Issue 11
Author(s): Kathryn Sawyer, Kathleen R. Bell, Dawn M. Ehde, Nancy Temkin, Sureyya Dikmen, Rhonda M. Williams, Tiara Dillworth, Jeanne M. Hoffman
ObjectiveTo examine headache trajectories among persons with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) in the year after injury and the relation of headache trajectory to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 1 year postinjury.DesignProspective, longitudinal study.SettingParticipants were recruited through a university medical center and participated in follow-up assessments by telephone.ParticipantsProspectively enrolled individuals (N=212) within 1 week of MTBI who were hospitalized for observation or other system injuries. Participants were assessed at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months postinjury.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresParticipants rated average headache pain intensity using the 0 to 10 numerical rating scale at each assessment period. The PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version was completed at 12 months postinjury.ResultsLatent class growth analysis produced a 4-trajectory group model, with groups labeled resolved, worsening, improving, and chronic. Multivariate regression modeling revealed that younger age and premorbid headache correlated with membership in the worse trajectory groups (worsening and chronic; P<.001). Univariate regression revealed a significant association between PTSD and membership in the worse trajectory groups (P<.001).ConclusionsHeadache is common in the year after MTBI, with younger people, persons who previously had headaches, and persons with PTSD more likely to report chronic or worsening headache. Further research is needed to examine whether PTSD symptoms exacerbate headaches or whether problematic headache symptoms exacerbate PTSD.

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Changes in Cerebellar Activation After Onabotulinumtoxin A Injections for Spasticity After Chronic Stroke: A Pilot Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Publication date: November 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 96, Issue 11
Author(s): Chia-Lin Chang, Douglas J. Weber, Michael C. Munin
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of reducing spasticity via onabotulinumtoxin A (Obtx-A) injection on cerebellar activation after chronic stroke during unilateral gripping.DesignPre-post, case series.SettingOutpatient spasticity clinic.ParticipantsIndividuals with chronic spasticity (N=4).InterventionsUpper-limb Obtx-A injection.Main Outcome MeasuresFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure changes in cerebellar activation before and after upper-limb Obtx-A injection. During fMRI testing, participants performed the same motor task before and after injection, which was 15% and 30% of maximum voluntary isometric gripping measured before Obtx-A injection.ResultsAfter Obtx-A injection, cerebellar activation increased bilaterally during gripping with the paretic hand and during rest. During both pre- and postinjection scans, the paretic hand showed larger cerebellar activation during gripping compared with the nonparetic hand. Cerebellar activation during gripping with the nonparetic hand did not change significantly after Obtx-A injection.ConclusionsReducing spasticity via Obtx-A injection may increase cerebellar activation both during gripping tasks with the paretic hand and during rest. To our knowledge, this is the first study that examines changes in cerebellar activation after spasticity treatment with Obtx-A.

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Effectiveness of a Wheelchair Skills Training Program for Powered Wheelchair Users: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Publication date: November 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 96, Issue 11
Author(s): R. Lee Kirby, William C. Miller, Francois Routhier, Louise Demers, Alex Mihailidis, Jan Miller Polgar, Paula W. Rushton, Laura Titus, Cher Smith, Mike McAllister, Chris Theriault, Kara Thompson, Bonita Sawatzky
ObjectivesTo test the hypothesis that powered wheelchair users who receive the Wheelchair Skills Training Program (WSTP) improve their wheelchair skills in comparison with a control group that receives standard care, and secondarily to assess goal achievement, satisfaction with training, retention, injury rate, confidence with wheelchair use, and participation.DesignRandomized controlled trial.SettingRehabilitation centers and communities.ParticipantsPowered wheelchair users (N=116).InterventionFive 30-minute WSTP training sessions.Main Outcome MeasuresAssessments were done at baseline (t1), posttraining (t2), and 3 months posttraining (t3) using the Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q version 4.1), Goal Attainment Score (GAS), Satisfaction Questionnaire, injury rate, Wheelchair Use Confidence Scale for Power Wheelchair Users (WheelCon), and Life Space Assessment (LSA).ResultsThere was no significant t2–t1 difference between the groups for WST-Q capacity scores (P=.600), but the difference for WST-Q performance scores was significant (P=.016) with a relative (t2/t1 × 100%) improvement of the median score for the intervention group of 10.8%. The mean GAS ± SD for the intervention group after training was 92.8%±11.4%, and satisfaction with training was high. The WST-Q gain was not retained at t3. There was no clinically significant difference between the groups in injury rate and no statistically significant differences in WheelCon or LSA scores at t3.ConclusionsPowered wheelchair users who receive formal wheelchair skills training demonstrate modest, transient posttraining improvements in their WST-Q performance scores, have substantial improvements on individualized goals, and are positive about training.

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Impact of Injection-Guiding Techniques on the Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Focal Spasticity and Dystonia: A Systematic Review

Publication date: November 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 96, Issue 11
Author(s): Anca-Irina Grigoriu, Mickael Dinomais, Olivier Rémy-Néris, Sylvain Brochard
ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review of the impact of different injection-guiding techniques on the effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) for the treatment of focal spasticity and dystonia.Data SourcesMEDLINE via PubMed, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, SpringerLink, Web of Science, EM Premium, and PsycINFO.Study SelectionTwo reviewers independently selected studies based on predetermined inclusion criteria.Data ExtractionData relating to the aim were extracted. Methodological quality was graded independently by 2 reviewers using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database assessment scale for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the Downs and Black evaluation tool for non-RCTs. Level of evidence was determined using the modified Sackett scale.Data SynthesisTen studies were included. Seven were randomized. There was strong evidence (level 1) that instrumented guiding (ultrasonography [US], electrical stimulation [ES], electromyogram [EMG]) was more effective than manual needle placement for the treatment of spasmodic torticollis, upper limb spasticity, and spastic equinus in patients with stroke, and spastic equinus in children with cerebral palsy. Three studies provided strong evidence (level 1) of similar effectiveness of US and ES for upper and lower limb spasticity in patients with stroke, and spastic equinus in children with cerebral palsy, but there was poor evidence or no available evidence for EMG or other instrumented techniques.ConclusionsThese results strongly recommend instrumented guidance of BoNT-A injection for the treatment of spasticity in adults and children (ES or US), and of focal dystonia such as spasmodic torticollis (EMG). No specific recommendations can be made regarding the choice of instrumented guiding technique, except that US appears to be more effective than ES for spastic equinus in adults with stroke.

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Measurement Characteristics and Clinical Utility of the Functional Gait Assessment Among Individuals With Vestibular Impairment

Publication date: November 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 96, Issue 11
Author(s): Karen H. Lambert, Jennifer L. Stoskus, Teresa Rice, Linda B. Horn, Elizabeth Dannenbaum, Matthew R. Scherer

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Effects of neck-specific exercises compared to waiting list for individuals with chronic whiplash associated disorders: a prospective randomized controlled study

Publication date: Available online 26 October 2015
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Anneli Peolsson, Maria Landén Ludvigsson, Ann-Marie Tigerfors, Gunnel Peterson
ObjectiveTo determine, whether 3-months of neck-specific exercises could benefit individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) who were on a waiting list for treatment.DesignA prospective, randomized controlled studySettingPrimary health careParticipants41 individuals (31 women, 10 men; mean age=38 y, SD=11.2) with chronic (6 to 36 months) WAD, grades 2 and 3, were analyzed.InterventionsPatients were randomized to neck-specific exercises (NSE) or no treatment for 3 months.Main outcome measuresNeck-specific disability (Neck Disability Index; NDI), neck pain (Visual Analogue Scale), general pain-related disability (Pain Disability Index; PDI), self-perceived performance ability (the Self-Efficacy Scale; SES), and health-related quality of life (EuroQol five dimensions; EQ-5D) were measured.ResultsNSE significantly improved the NDI, SES, and EQ5D compared to waiting list (<0.01). There was significant improvement (p<0.0001) over time in all outcomes for NSE, and, apart from the PDI, significant worsening (p=0.002 to 0.0002) over time for the untreated group.ConclusionsNSE were more beneficial than no intervention while on a waiting list for individuals with chronic WAD.

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Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 5, Pages 443-460: Age-Related Response Bias in the Decoding of Sad Facial Expressions

Recent studies have found that age is negatively associated with the accuracy of decoding emotional facial expressions; this effect of age was found for actors as well as for raters. Given that motivational differences and stereotypes may bias the attribution of emotion, the aim of the present study was to explore whether these age effects are due to response bias, that is, the unbalanced use of response categories. Thirty younger raters (19–30 years) and thirty older raters (65–81 years) viewed video clips of younger and older actors representing the same age ranges, and decoded their facial expressions. We computed both raw hit rates and bias-corrected hit rates to assess the influence of potential age-related response bias on decoding accuracy. Whereas raw hit rates indicated significant effects of both the actors' and the raters' ages on decoding accuracy for sadness, these age effects were no longer significant when response bias was corrected. Our results suggest that age effects on the accuracy of decoding facial expressions may be due, at least in part, to age-related response bias.

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Agronomy, Vol. 5, Pages 506-518: Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)-Treated Hydroponic Culture Reduces Length and Diameter of Root Hairs of Wheat Varieties

Wheat is an important cereal crop worldwide that often suffers from moisture deficits at the reproductive stage. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-treated hydroponic conditions create negative osmotic potential which is compared with moisture deficit stress. An experiment was conducted in a growth chamber to study the effects of PEG on root hair morphology and associated traits of wheat varieties. Plants of 13 wheat varieties were grown hydroponically and three different doses of PEG 6000 (w/v): 0% (control), 0.3% and 0.6% (less than −1 bar) were imposed on 60 days after sowing for 20 days' duration. A low PEG concentration was imposed to observe how initial low moisture stress might affect root hair development. PEG-treated hydroponic culture significantly decreased root hair diameter and length. Estimated surface area reduction of root hairs at the main axes of wheat plants was around nine times at the 0.6% PEG level compared to the control plants. Decrease in root hair diameter and length under PEG-induced culture decreased "potential" root surface area per unit length of main root axis. A negative association between panicle traits, length and dry weight and the main axis length of young roots indicated competition for carbon during their development. Data provides insight into how a low PEG level might alter root hair development.

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Bioengineering, Vol. 2, Pages 184-203: Converting Sugars to Biofuels: Ethanol and Beyond

To date, the most significant sources of biofuels are starch- or sugarcane-based ethanol, which have been industrially produced in large quantities in the USA and Brazil, respectively. However, the ultimate goal of biofuel production is to produce fuels from lignocellulosic biomass-derived sugars with optimal fuel properties and compatibility with the existing fuel distribution infrastructure. To achieve this goal, metabolic pathways have been constructed to produce various fuel molecules that are categorized into fermentative alcohols (butanol and isobutanol), non-fermentative alcohols from 2-keto acid pathways, fatty acids-derived fuels and isoprenoid-derived fuels. This review will focus on current metabolic engineering efforts to improve the productivity and the yield of several key biofuel molecules. Strategies used in these metabolic engineering efforts can be summarized as follows: (1) identification of better enzymes; (2) flux control of intermediates and precursors; (3) elimination of competing pathways; (4) redox balance and cofactor regeneration; and (5) bypassing regulatory mechanisms. In addition to metabolic engineering approaches, host strains are optimized by improving sugar uptake and utilization, and increasing tolerance to toxic hydrolysates, metabolic intermediates and/or biofuel products.

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Les apnées du sommeil disparaissent-elles une fois l’acromégalie traitée ?

Publication date: Available online 27 October 2015
Source:Revue des Maladies Respiratoires
Author(s): M. Bruyneel, S. Haumont, F. Devuyst
L'acromégalie est une maladie rare liée à une sécrétion excessive d'hormone de croissance qui entraîne des atteintes cardiovasculaires, respiratoires, métaboliques, articulaires, osseuses et néoplasiques, dont le syndrome d'apnées du sommeil. Le devenir du syndrome d'apnées du sommeil est variable sous traitement : amélioration, statu quo ou détérioration. Nous rapportons trois observations cliniques illustrant cette évolution imprévisible.Acromegaly is a rare hormonal disease related to excessive growth hormone secretion. It can result in a range of complications, including cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, articular and neoplastic disorders. Among patients with the condition, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome occurs frequently and the effect of treatment is inconstant: improvement, statu quo or deterioration can be observed. We here report three clinical cases, which illustrate the unpredictable evolution of this condition.

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Sensitivity estimation in time-of-flight list-mode positron emission tomography

Purpose:

An accurate quantification of the images in positron emission tomography (PET) requires knowing the actual sensitivity at each voxel, which represents the probability that a positron emitted in that voxel is finally detected as a coincidence of two gamma rays in a pair of detectors in the PET scanner. This sensitivity depends on the characteristics of the acquisition, as it is affected by the attenuation of the annihilation gamma rays in the body, and possible variations of the sensitivity of the scanner detectors. In this work, the authors propose a new approach to handle time-of-flight (TOF) list-mode PET data, which allows performing either or both, a self-attenuation correction, and self-normalization correction based on emission data only.

Methods:

The authors derive the theory using a fully Bayesian statistical model of complete data. The authors perform an initial evaluation of algorithms derived from that theory and proposed in this work using numerical 2D list-mode simulations with different TOF resolutions and total number of detected coincidences. Effects of randoms and scatter are not simulated.

Results:

The authors found that proposed algorithms successfully correct for unknown attenuation and scanner normalization for simulated 2D list-mode TOF-PET data.

Conclusions:

A new method is presented that can be used for corrections for attenuation and normalization (sensitivity) using TOF list-mode data.

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Assessment of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) Hydrogels: Quality and Bioactivity in Skin Cells

The aim of the study was to design gels with lemon balm extract, assess their quality, and investigate the effect of rosmarinic acid on skin cells in normal conditions and under oxidative stress. Methods. The quantities of rosmarinic acid (RA) released from gels were evaluated by applying the HPLC technique. HaCaT cell viability was assessed by using the MTT method. ROS generation was measured using DCFH-DA dye. The results showed that the gelling material affected the release of RA content from gels. Lower and slower RA content release was determined in carbomer-based gels. After 6 hours of biopharmaceutical research in vitro, at least 4% of RA was released from the gel. The results of the biological studies on HaCaT cells demonstrated that, in the oxidative stress conditions, RA reduced intracellular ROS amounts to 28%; 0.25–0.5 mg/mL of RA increased cell viability by 10–24% and protected cells from the damage caused by H2O2. Conclusions. According to research results, it is appropriate to use a carbomer as the main gelling material, and its concentration should not exceed 1.0%. RA, depending on the concentration, reduces the amount of intracellular ROS and enhances cell viability in human keratinocytes in oxidative stress conditions.

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Medicine

Reconstruction of Rare Skull Metastases Using Free Latissimus Dorsi Flap and the Role of Preoperative Embolization in Hypervascular Skull Tumors.

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοOroFacial Medicine by Alexandros G.SfakianakisΠριν από 2 ώρες

Metastatic tumors are the most common cranial neoplasms in adults. Skull metastases from rare primary tumors, such as cholangiocarcinoma or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, are extremely uncommon and rarely reported. Given the scarcity and variation of these rare skull metastases, treatments and outcomes of such patients are of interest to treating surgeons. The authors describe the treatment algorithm, course, and outcomes of 2 patients with rare gastrointestinal skull metastases. The first patient had intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma metastatic to the skull, while the second patien...περισσότερα »

Interaction of Methanol Spray and Water Deficit Stress on Photosynthesis and Biochemical Characteristics of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Sadry

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΑισθητική ΔερματολογίαΠριν από 2 ώρες

Abstract This study was a factorial experiment with a completely randomized design and three replications. The four levels of methanol spraying were used. Spraying was carried out three times during the growing season at 10 d intervals beginning at 4 wk after sowing. The spraying of solution continued until saturation of droplets on the leaves was achieved. The levels of water deficit stress applied were non-stress, moderate water stress and severe water stress. The results showed there was a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the methanol and water deficit stress treatment... περισσότερα »

Japanese Cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica ) pollen allergen induces elevation of intracellular calcium in human keratinocytes and impairs epidermal barrier function of human skin ex vivo

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΑισθητική ΔερματολογίαΠριν από 2 ώρες

Abstract Cry j1 is the major peptide allergen of Japanese cedar (Sugi), *Cryptomeria japonica*. Since some allergens disrupt epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis, we hypothesized that Cry j1 might have a similar effect. Intracellular calcium level in cultured human keratinocytes was measured with a ratiometric fluorescent probe, Fura-2 AM. Application of Cry j1 significantly increased the intracellular calcium level of keratinocytes, and this increase was inhibited by trypsin inhibitor or a protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) antagonist. We found that Cry j1 itself did not... περισσότερα »

Diversity of pigmented Gram-positive bacteria associated with marine macroalgae from Antarctica

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΛοίμωξηΠριν από 2 ώρες

Little is known about the diversity and roles of Gram-positive and pigmented bacteria in Antarctic environments, especially those associated with marine macroorganisms. This work is the first study about the diversity and antimicrobial activity of culturable pigmented Gram-positive bacteria associated with marine Antarctic macroalgae. A total of 31 pigmented Gram-positive strains were isolated from the surface of six species of macroalgae collected in the King George Island, South Shetland Islands. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities ≥99%, 18 phylotypes were define... περισσότερα »

The Role of Elective Amputation In Patients With Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΚοσμητική και Επανορθωτική ΧειρουργικήΠριν από 2 ώρες

Despite undergoing complex brachial plexus surgical reconstructions and rehabilitation, some patients request an elective amputation. This study evaluates the role of elective amputation after brachial plexus injury. from #Aesthetics via alexandrossfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1S7jNaA via IFTTT

Thin Melanomas (

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΚοσμητική και Επανορθωτική ΧειρουργικήΠριν από 2 ώρες

New melanoma diagnoses numbered 13,348 cases in 2011, with thin melanomas (Breslow thickness < 1mm) accounting for more than half.1,2 Recently published melanoma guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) does not recommend sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for any melanoma ≤1mm Breslow thickness.1 from #Aesthetics via alexandrossfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1PQPuFU via IFTTT

Updated Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) recommendations

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοOtoRhinoLaryngology - Alexandros G. SfakianakisΠριν από 2 ώρες

The current situation of meningococcal disease in Latin America and updated Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) recommendations via ScienceDirect Publication: Vaccine Publication date: Available online 25 October 2015 *Source:*Vaccine Author(s): Marco Aurélio P. Sáfadi, Miguel O’Ryan, Maria Teresa Valenzuela Bravo, Maria Cristina C. Brandileone, Maria Cecília O. Gorla, Ana Paula S. de Lemos, Gabriela Moreno, Julio A. Vazquez, Eduardo L. López, Muhamed-Kheir Taha, Ray Borrow The Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) was established in 2009 and comprises an international team of scient... περισσότερα »

Prevention and treatment of sepsis : Detoxified LPS/group B meningococcal outer membrane protein vaccine with and without synthetic CPG 7909 adjuvant

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοOtoRhinoLaryngology - Alexandros G. SfakianakisΠριν από 2 ώρες

Phase 1 testing of detoxified LPS/group B meningococcal outer membrane protein vaccine with and without synthetic CPG 7909 adjuvant for the prevention and treatment of sepsis via ScienceDirect Publication: Vaccine Publication date: Available online 26 October 2015 *Source:*Vaccine Author(s): Alan S. Cross, Nancy Greenberg, Melissa Billington, Lei Zhang, Christopher DeFilippi, Ryan C. May, Kanwaldeep K. Bajwa BackgroundGram-negative bacteria (GNB) are a leading cause of nosocomial infection and sepsis. Increasing multi-antibiotic resistance has left clinicians with fewer therapeutic opt...περισσότερα »

Antioxidant Supplements as Adjuvant Therapy in Cancer Treatment

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοOtoRhinoLaryngology - Alexandros G. SfakianakisΠριν από 2 ώρες

Efficacy and Interaction of Antioxidant Supplements as Adjuvant Therapy in Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review by Yasueda, A., Urushima, H., Ito, T. via Integrative Cancer Therapies RSS feed -- OnlineFirst Articles Oxidative stress is a key component in carcinogenesis. Although radiation produces reactive oxygen species, some anticancer agents such as alkylating agents, platinum and antitumor antibiotics exert cytotoxicity by generating free radicals. Nonenzymatic exogenous antioxidants such as vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols can quench ROS activity. However, whether antioxidan... περισσότερα »

Hu-Antigen Receptor (HuR) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Expression in Malignant and Benign Thyroid Lesions

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοOtoRhinoLaryngology - Alexandros G. SfakianakisΠριν από 2 ώρες

Clinical Significance of Hu-Antigen Receptor (HuR) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Expression in Human Malignant and Benign Thyroid Lesions via http://link.springer.com/search.rss?facet-content-type=Article&facet-journal-id=12253&channel-name=Pathology+%26+Oncology+Research AbstractHu-antigen R (HuR) is considered to play a crucial role in tumor formation and growth by binding to mRNAs encoding proteins such as Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducing their expression via mRNA stabilization and/or altered translation. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of HuR and ... περισσότερα »

Brimonidine tartrate for the treatment of rosacea

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΑισθητική ΔερματολογίαΠριν από 3 ώρες

Jackson JM, Knuckles M, Minni JP, Johnson SM, Belasco KT from #Dermatology via alexandrossfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1S7v7U4 via IFTTT

Clinical Effectiveness of Mupirocin for Preventing Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Non-Surgical Settings: A Meta-Analysis

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΛοίμωξηΠριν από 3 ώρες

A meta-analysis, conducted to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of decolonization in non-surgical settings, demonstrated reduced risk for *S. aureus* infections among non-dialysis and dialysis patients treated with mupirocin. Studies were observed to be heterogeneous despite conducting subgroup and stratified analyses. from #Infections via alexandrossfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1LYT9zS via IFTTT

Six-week Combination Directly Acting Anti-HCV Therapy Induces Moderate Rates of Sustained Virologic Response in Patients with Advanced Liver Disease

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΛοίμωξηΠριν από 3 ώρες

Fifty treatment naïve and experienced genotype-1 patients with advanced fibrosis were treated for six weeks with LDV/SOF plus a third directly acting antiviral, resulting in a 76% response rate. Significant liver fibrosis remains a limitation of short duration DAA therapy. from #Infections via alexandrossfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1RaJtSY via IFTTT

Cost-effectiveness evaluation of quadrivalent influenza vaccines for seasonal influenza prevention: a dynamic modeling study of Canada and the United Kingdom

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΛοίμωξηΠριν από 3 ώρες

Background: The adoption of quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) to replace trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) in immunization programs is growing worldwide, thus helping to address the problem of influenza B lineage mismatch. However, the price per dose of QIV is higher than that of TIV. In such circumstances, cost-effectiveness analyses provide important and relevant information to inform national health recommendations and implementation decisions. This analysis assessed potential vaccine impacts and cost-effectiveness of a country-wide switch from TIV to QIV, in Canada and the ... περισσότερα »

Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and proteinuria predict severity of acute kidney injury in Puumala virus infection

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΛοίμωξηΠριν από 3 ώρες

Background: Nephropathia epidemica (NE) is a mild form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) that is caused by the Puumala virus. Periodic outbreaks have been described in endemic areas, with a substantial number of previously healthy individuals developing acute kidney injury (AKI). There is a considerable diversity in the clinical course of the disease, and few patients require renal replacement therapy. Methods: We tested whether urinary neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (uNGAL), urine albumin/creatinine ratio (uACR), urine protein/creatinine ratio (uPCR), ur... περισσότερα »

Echinocystic Acid Inhibits IL-1β-Induced COX-2 and iNOS Expression in Human Osteoarthritis Chondrocytes

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΛοίμωξηΠριν από 3 ώρες

Abstract Echinocystic acid (EA), a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from the fruits of *Gleditsia sinensis* Lam, displays a range of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, the effect of EA on IL-1β-stimulated osteoarthritis chondrocyte has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of EA on IL-1β-stimulated human osteoarthritis chondrocyte. Chondrocytes were stimulated with IL-1β in the absence or presence of EA. NO and PGE2 production were measured by Griess reagent and ELISA. The expression of COX-2, iN... περισσότερα »

Public health impact of strain specific immunity to Borrelia burgdorferi

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΛοίμωξηΠριν από 6 ώρες

Background: Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne infection in the United States. Although humans can be infected by at least 16 different strains of B. burgdorferi, the overwhelming majority of infections are due to only four strains. It was recently demonstrated that patients who are treated for early Lyme disease develop immunity to the specific strain of B. burgdorferi that caused their infection. The aim of this study is to estimate the reduction in cases of Lyme disease in the United States that may occur as a result of type specific imm... περισσότερα »

NIAC Seminar: Brian Gordon, PhD

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΝοσολογίαΠριν από 6 ώρες

[image: Brian Gordon, Ph.D., Instructor in Radiology] Brian Gordon, Ph.D., Instructor in Radiology Dr. Brian Gordon is an Instructor in the Department of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine, and was previously a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Illinois in 2010 under the supervision of Drs. Monica Fabiani and Gabriele Gratton. Dr. Gordon is currently working in Dr. Tammie Benzinger's Lab, examining how preclinical Alzheimer's disease pathology leads to alterations in both behavior as ... περισσότερα »

2 faculty, alumna sweep evidence-based dentistry awards

Alexandros G. SfakianakisστοΚοσμητική ΟδοντοΙατρική και ΓναθοΧειρουργικήΠριν από 6 ώρες

Two University of Washington School of Dentistry faculty members and one alumna have received all three of the American Dental Association's (ADA) 2015 Evidence-Based Dentistry (EBD) Faculty and Practice Awards, the ADA has announced. The post 2 faculty, alumna sweep evidence-based dentistry awards appeared first on UW School of Dentistry. from #Dental via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1LXZGdV via IFTTT