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Numerous Reports (numerous + report)
Selected AbstractsThe role of human papillomavirus in the increased incidence of base of tongue cancerINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 12 2010Per Attner Abstract Numerous reports have shown that the incidence for oropharyngeal cancer is increasing and that human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor. However, few studies have investigated the specific subsites of the oropharynx. Following our previous research on tonsillar cancer, we assessed the increase in the incidence of base of tongue cancer and the prevalence of HPV in this disease. Between 1998 and 2007, 109 patients were diagnosed for base of tongue cancer in Stockholm county. Ninety-five paraffin-embedded diagnostic tumor biopsies from patients were obtained and tested for HPV, both by general HPV PCR and HPV-16/HPV-33 type-specific PCR. Expression of HPV-16 RNA was analyzed to confirm E6 and/or E7 expression. Incidence data were obtained from the Swedish Cancer Registry. An overall increase in the incidence of base of tongue cancer from 0.15/100,000 person-years during 1970,1974 to 0.47/100,000 person-years during 2005,2007 was found in Sweden. The prevalence of HPV in base of tongue cancer in Stockholm county increased from 58% during 1998,2001 to 84% during 2004,2007 (p < 0.05). In the HPV-positive tumors, HPV-16 dominated (86%) but interestingly, HPV33 was detected in as many as 10%. E6 and/or E7 RNA were found in 85% of the samples tested. The incidence of base of tongue cancer, as well as the proportion of HPV-positive tumors, has increased in Sweden during the study period, suggesting that HPV may contribute to this increase. [source] International political marketing: a case study of United States soft power and public diplomacyJOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, Issue 3 2008Henry H. Sun Political marketing can be categorized with three aspects: the election campaign as the origin of political marketing, the permanent campaign as a governing tool and international political marketing (IPM) which covers the areas of public diplomacy, marketing of nations, international political communication, national image, soft power and the cross-cultural studies of political marketing. IPM and the application of soft power have been practiced by nation-states throughout the modern history of international relations starting with the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. Nation-states promote the image of their country worldwide through public diplomacy, exchange mutual interests in their bilateral or multilateral relation with other countries, lobby for their national interests in international organizations and apply cultural and political communication strategies internationally to build up their soft power. In modern international relations, nation-states achieve their foreign policy goals by applying both hard power and soft power. Public diplomacy as part of IPM is a method in the creation of soft power, as well as, in the application of soft power. This paper starts with the definitional and conceptual review of political marketing. For the first time in publication, it establishes a theoretical model which provides a framework of the three aspects of political marketing, that is electoral political marketing (EPM), governmental political marketing (GPM) and IPM. This model covers all the main political exchanges among six inter-related components in the three pairs of political exchange process, that is candidates and party versus voters and interest groups in EPM ; governments, leaders and public servants versus citizens and interest groups in GPM, including political public relations and lobbying which have been categorized as the third aspect of political marketing in some related studies; and governments, interest group and activists versus international organizations and foreign subjects in IPM. This study further develops a model of IPM, which covers its strategy and marketing mix on the secondary level of the general political marketing model, and then, the third level model of international political choice behaviour based the theory of political choice behaviour in EPM. This paper continues to review the concepts of soft power and public diplomacy and defines their relation with IPM. It then reports a case study on the soft power and public diplomacy of the United States from the perspectives of applying IPM and soft power. Under the framework of IPM, it looks at the traditional principles of US foreign policy, that is Hamiltonians, Wilsonians, Jeffersonians and Jacksonians, and the application of US soft power in the Iraq War since 2003. The paper advances the argument that generally all nation states apply IPM to increase their soft power. The decline of US soft power is caused mainly by its foreign policy. The unilateralism Jacksonians and realism Hamiltonians have a historical trend to emphasize hard power while neglecting soft power. Numerous reports and studies have been conducted on the pros and cons of US foreign policy in the Iraq War, which are not the focus of this paper. From the aspect of IPM, this paper studies the case of US soft power and public diplomacy, and their effects in the Iraq War. It attempts to exam the application of US public diplomacy with the key concept of political exchange, political choice behaviour, the long-term approach and the non-government operation principles of public diplomacy which is a part of IPM. The case study confirms the relations among IPM, soft power and public diplomacy and finds that lessons can be learned from these practices of IPM. The paper concludes that there is a great demand for research both at a theoretical as well as practical level for IPM and soft power. It calls for further study on this subject. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The fate of mycotoxins during thermal food processingJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 4 2009Bulent Kabak Abstract Mycotoxins are considered to be heat-stable molecules. Because of their toxic effects, information about their stability in thermal processes and potential inactivation procedures is needed. Numerous reports in the literature over a number of years have described the fate of mycotoxin during thermal food processing, including cooking, boiling, baking, frying, roasting and pasteurization. This review focuses on the effects of various thermal treatments on mycotoxins, while the fate of mycotoxins during extrusion processing, which is one of the most important technologies employed in the food industry, will also be reviewed. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Recombinant human erythropoietin in pediatric oncology: A review,PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 4 2002James Feusner MD Abstract Background Numerous reports on recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO, epoetin alfa) treatment of cancer-related anemia in adult patients have been published to date. These have shown that epoetin increases hemoglobin levels, significantly ameliorates symptoms of anemia, and improves adult patients' quality of life. Unfortunately, less is known about the impact of epoetin on anemia in pediatric cancer patients. Procedure It is the objective of this review to summarize and analyze data of clinical trials of epoetin treatment of anemia in pediatric cancer patients. Results A total of 15 studies were reviewed; eight were considered for detailed analysis and demonstrated important variabilities in study methods. Four of the eight were controlled, randomized trials and four were open label. Conclusions These studies suggested an overall beneficial effect of epoetin alfa for treating anemia in children with cancer. Three large, multicenter clinical trials of the efficacy and safety of epoetin alfa in anemic children with cancer are currently underway, one in Europe and two in North America. Med Pediatr Oncol 2002; 39:463,468. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of aeration in reducing phytotoxicity in anaerobic digestion liquor of swine manureANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2007Dai HANAJIMA ABSTRACT Numerous reports have accumulated concerning the quality of solid compost. In contrast, there are few for the residue of anaerobic digestion. In this study, the fertilizer value of anaerobic digestion liquor (ADL) was evaluated, and the effect of aeration on the reduction of the phytotoxicity was examined by a germination assay. Low or high aeration (100 or 400 mL/min) was added to 3 L of ADL obtained from a mixture of pig manure and garbage by using 5-L jar fermenters under a controlled temperature of 30°C. During the 14-day aeration period, a high aeration rate improved the germination index (GI) score from 5.7% to nearly 80%, while a low aeration rate did not. Although organic matter decomposition, determined as chemical oxygen demand, did not differ with aeration intensity, remarkable differences were observed in the time course of changes in pH, electric conductivity and ammonium-nitrogen (NH4 -N) and total nitrogen (T-N) content. Among these parameters, the NH4 -N concentration correlated highly with the GI score (r = 0.986). The primary phytotoxic element in ADL was considered to be NH4 -N, and the stripping of ammonia (NH3) by high aeration resulted in the improvement of the GI score. Although the ratio of major nutrients N : P2O5 : K2O (1:0.41:0.94) in ADL was at nearly same level as conventional liquid fertilizer, special attention should be paid to the high concentration of NH3 when drawing up a fertilization plan. [source] Self-injurious behavior and the efficacy of naltrexone treatment: A quantitative synthesisDEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEARCH REVIEW, Issue 3 2004Frank J. Symons Abstract People with mental retardation, autism, and related developmental disabilities who self-injure are treated with a wide array of behavioral techniques and psychotropic medications. Despite numerous reports documenting short-term and some long-term changes in self-injury associated with the opiate antagonist naltrexone hydrochloride, no quantitative review of its efficacy has been reported. We conducted a quantitative synthesis of the peer-reviewed published literature from 1983 to 2003 documenting the use of naltrexone for the treatment of self-injurious behavior (SIB). Individual-level results were analyzed given subject and study characteristics. A sample of 27 research articles involving 86 subjects with self-injury was reviewed. Eighty percent of subjects were reported to improve relative to baseline (i.e., SIB reduced) during naltrexone administration and 47% of subjects SIB was reduced by 50% or greater. In studies reporting dose levels in milligrams, males were more likely than females to respond. No significant relations were found between treatment outcomes and autism status or form of self-injury. Results are discussed with respect to future efficacy work related to study outcomes and the pharmacological treatment of self-injury. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. MRDD Research Reviews 2004;10:193,200. [source] ABCG2 (BCRP) expression in normal and malignant hematopoietic cellsHEMATOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 3 2003Brian L. Abbott Abstract ABCG2 (BCRP) is a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family of cell surface transport proteins. ABCG2 expression occurs in a variety of normal tissues, and is relatively limited to primitive stem cells. ABCG2 expression is associated with the side population (SP) phenotype of Hoechst 33342 efflux. The substrate profile of ABCG2 includes the antineoplastic drugs primarily targeting topoisomerases, including anthracyclines and camptothecins. More recently, pheophorbide, a chlorophyll-breakdown product, and protoporhyrin IX have been described as ABCG2 substrates, perhaps indicating a physiologic role of cytoprotection of primitive cells. Also, mice lacking ABCG2 expression have no intrinsic stem cell defects, although there is a remarkable increase in toxicity with antineoplastic drugs that are ABCG2 substrates, and also a photosensitivity resembling protoporphyria. Like other members of the ABC family, such as MDR1 and MRP1, ABCG2 is expressed in a variety of malignancies. Despite numerous reports of ABCG2 expression in AML, there is little evidence that ABCG2 expression is correlated with an adverse clinical outcome. This review will focus on the potential usefulness of ABCG2 as a marker primitive stem cells and possible physiologic roles of ABCG2 in protection of primitive stem cell populations, and potential methods of overcoming ABCG2-associated drug resistance in anticancer therapy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Oxidative stress parameters after combined fluoxetine and acetylsalicylic acid therapy in depressive patientsHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 4 2009Piotr Ga, ecki Abstract Objective There are numerous reports indicating disturbed equilibrium between oxidative processes and antioxidative defense in patients with depression. Moreover, depressive patients are characterized by the presence of elements of an inflammatory process, which is one of the sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In view of the above, it was decided to study both the effect of fluoxetine monotherapy and that of fluoxetine co-administered with acetylsalicylic acid on lipid peroxidation and antioxidative defense in patients with the first depressive episode in their life. Method Seventy seven patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), divided into two groups were included in the study. The first group, consisting of 52 patients, received fluoxetine 20 mg, and the second one, in addition to fluoxetine 20 mg, received 150 mg of acetylsalicylic acid. The activity of antioxidative enzymes, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, SOD1), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPSH-x) and the concentration of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) was determined in erythrocytes, whereas the total antioxidant status (TAS) was determined in the plasma. All parameters were measured before and after three month therapy. Results The obtained results indicate a significant decrease in the activity of SOD1, CAT and GSHP-x, as well as in MDA concentration after the combined therapy. Also a significant TAS increase was observed after the combined therapy. The study demonstrated that combined therapy with fluoxetine and ASA is characterized by the same efficacy and clinical safety as fluoxetine monotherapy, resulting additionally in improvement of oxidative stress parameters in the patients treated for depression. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Myosin Light Chain Kinase as a Multifunctional Regulatory Protein of Smooth Muscle ContractionIUBMB LIFE, Issue 6 2001Ying Gao Abstract Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is a regulatory protein for smooth muscle contraction, which acts by phosphorylating 20-kDa myosin light chain (MLC20) to activate the myosin ATPase activity. Although this mode of action is well-established, there are numerous reports of smooth muscle contraction that is not associated with MLC20 phosphorylation. The kinase activity for the phosphorylation is localized at the central part of MLCK, which is also furnished with actin-binding activity at its N terminal and myosin-binding activity at its C terminal. This article overviews as to how such multifunctional properties of MLCK modify the actin-myosin interaction and presents our observations that the phosphorylation is not obligatory in induction of smooth muscle contraction. [source] Functional magnetic resonance imaging of human cognitive processesJAPANESE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2000Tomohisa Okada Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is now widely accepted as a tool for analyzing human brain function. Since the realization of fMRI in the early 1990s, numerous reports have been published. In this paper, we present three studies. The first examined syntactic processing of Japanese sentences and the results prove that Broca's area is involved in the use of grammar. The second study compared binocular with monocular stereopsis. There were significant activations in the right inferior parietal lobe. The third study concerned the encoding and retrieval processes underlying face recognition. It revealed activations mainly in the right prefrontal areas, which is contrary to the hemispheric encoding and retrieval asymmetry (HERA) theory. fMRI will continue to play an important role in the analysis of human brain function. [source] Internal amplification controls have not been employed in fungal PCR hence potential false negative resultsJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007R.R.M. Paterson Abstract Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is subject to false negative results. Samples of fungi with the genes of interest (e.g. a disease or mycotoxin) may be categorized as negative and safe as a consequence. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that are involved in many fields of human activity such as antibiotic, toxin and food production. Certain taxa are implicated in human, animal and plant diseases. However, fungi are difficult to identify and PCR techniques have been proposed increasingly for this purpose. Internal amplification controls (IACs) will ameliorate the situation and need to become mandatory. These are nucleic acids that posses a sequence which will provide a PCR product (i) using the same primers employed for the target gene, and (ii) that will not coincide on the gel with the product of the target gene. Only one group of workers employed an IAC, to respond to potential inhibition, which was reported in 1995 from this present assessment of numerous reports. Inhibitors in cultures need to be minimized, and secondary metabolites are an obvious source. The fields reviewed herein include medical mycology, mycotoxicology, environmental mycology and plant mycology. The conclusion is that previous reports are compromised because IACs have not been employed in fungal PCR; future research must include this control at an early stage. [source] Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders and risk of malignant lymphomas , an updateJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2008K. E. Smedby Abstract. As specific autoimmune disorders now constitute established risk factors for malignant lymphomas, we describe this association. We review reported risk levels, risk determinants, lymphoma subtypes and biological mechanisms in autoimmunity/inflammation, emphasizing on recent findings. Whilst numerous reports describe average lymphoma risks in large patient groups, there's a recent shift of focus to risk determinants and the role of inflammatory activity. Studies highlight associations with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, apart from lymphoma development in target organs of inflammation. Future studies of high-risk patient subsets using detailed assessments of autoimmunity/inflammation and lymphoma may give important clues to lymphomagenesis. [source] Relationship between smoking status and periodontal conditions: findings from national databases in JapanJOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 6 2006M. Ojima Background and Objective:, The association between cigarette smoking and periodontitis was examined employing two nationally representative samples of adults in Japan. Material and Methods:, Data were derived from the Survey of Dental Diseases (SDD) and the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) in 1999. In the SDD, periodontal conditions were evaluated by calibrated dentists utilizing the Community Periodontal Index (CPI), whereas in the NNS, participants were interviewed on the basis of smoking status by enumerators. Among 6805 records electronically linked via a household identification code, 4828 records of individuals aged 20 yr or older were analyzed. Results:, The prevalence of periodontal disease varied significantly by smoking status (p < 0.0001): 39.3%, 49.5% and 47.3% (CPI , 3), and 7.9%, 11.7% and 12.4% (a more severe form of periodontitis, CPI = 4), for nonsmokers, former smokers and current smokers, respectively. In adults aged ,,40 yr (n = 3493), logistic regression models revealed greater probabilities (approximately 1.4 times higher) of periodontitis [CPI , 3, odds ratio = 1.38 (1.12,1.71), p = 0.0024] and a more severe form of periodontitis [odds ratio = 1.40 (1.04,1.89), p = 0.0288] in current smokers compared with nonsmokers, following adjustment for possible confounding factors. Conclusion:, Based on the findings of this study and other numerous reports, cigarette smoking leads to deterioration of periodontal conditions in Japanese adults. [source] Plant responses to drought and phosphorus deficiency: contribution of phytohormones in root-related processesJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2005Lutz Wittenmayer Abstract Environmental stresses are one of the most limiting factors in agricultural productivity. A large portion of the annual crop yield is lost to pathogens (biotic stress) or the detrimental effects of abiotic-stress conditions. There are numerous reports about chemical characterization of quantitatively significant substrate fluxes in plant responses to stress factors in the root-rhizosphere system, e.g., nutrient mobilization, heavy-metal and aluminum immobilization, or establishment of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) by exudation of organic anions, phytosiderophores, or carbohydrates into the soil, respectively. The hormonal regulation of these responses is not well understood. This paper highlights this complex process, stressing the involvement of phytohormones in plant responses to drought and phosphorus deficiency as examples. Beside ethylene, abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in drought-stress adaptation of plants. This hormone causes morphological and chemical changes in plants, ensuring plant survival under water-limited conditions. For example, ABA induces stomata closure, reduction in leaf surface, and increase in root : shoot ratio and, thus, reduction in transpiration and increase in soil volume for water uptake. Furthermore, it supports water uptake in soil with decreasing water potential by osmotic adjustment. Suitability of hormonal parameters in the selection for improving stress resistance is discussed. Auxins, ethylene, and cytokinins are involved in morphological adaption processes to phosphorus (P) deficiency (increase in root surface, e.g., by the formation of more dense root hairs or cluster roots). Furthermore, indole-3-acetic acid increases root exudation for direct and indirect phosphorus mobilization in soil. Nevertheless, the direct use of the trait "hormone content" of a particular plant organ or tissue, for example the use of the drought-stress-induced ABA content of detached leaves in plant breeding for drought-stress-resistant crops, seems to be questionable, because this procedure does not consider the systemic principle of hormonal regulation in plants. Reaktionen von Pflanzen auf Trockenstress und Phosphormangel: Die Rolle von Phytohormonen in wurzelbezogenen Prozessen Umweltstress stellt den wesentlichsten Limitierungsfaktor für die landwirtschaftliche Produktion dar. Ein erheblicher Teil der jährlichen Ernten geht durch pathogene Organismen (biotischer Stress) oder durch die verheerende Wirkung abiotischer Stressoren verloren (v. a. Trockenstress und Nährstoffmangel). Es gibt zahlreiche Untersuchungen zur stofflichen Charakterisierung der pflanzlichen Stressreaktion an der Wurzel, z.,B. Nährstoffmobilisierung, Schadstoffimmobilisierung oder Etablierung von wachstumsfördernden Rhizobakterien durch Wurzelabscheidungen. Die hormonelle Steuerung dieser Prozesse ist bisher weniger erforscht. Der Artikel geht dieser Problematik am Beispiel von Trockenstress und Phosphormangel unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Phytohormonen nach. Bei der Anpassung von Pflanzen an Wassermangelbedingungen spielt neben Ethylen das Phytohormon Abscisinsäure (ABA) eine wichtige Rolle. Es induziert morphologische und chemische Veränderungen in der Pflanze, die ein Überleben unter Wassermangelbedingungen ermöglichen. Beispielsweise induziert die ABA den Stomataschluss, eine Verringerung der Blattoberfläche sowie eine Erhöhung des Wurzel:Spross-Verhältnisses und bewirkt dadurch eine verringerte Transpiration und Vergrößerung des Bodenvolumens zur Erschließung von Wasservorräten. Darüber hinaus kann eine ABA-induzierte Anreicherung von osmotisch wirksamen Verbindungen zur Wasseraufnahme bei sinkendem Wasserpotential im Boden beitragen. Bei Phosphat (P)-Mangel sind vor allem Auxine, Cytokine und Ethylen an der morphologischen Anpassung der Wurzeln (Vergrößerung der Wurzeloberfläche durch verstärkte Bildung von Wurzelhaaren oder Proteoidwurzeln) beteiligt. Darüber hinaus bewirkt Indolyl-3-Essigäure eine Intensivierung der Abgabe von Wurzelabscheidungen zur direkten oder indirekten P-Mobilisierung in der Rhizosphäre. Trotzdem wird die unmittelbare Verwendung des Indikators "Hormongehalt" eines bestimmten Pflanzenorganes, beispielsweise der trockenstressinduzierte ABA-Gehalt von abgeschnittenen Blättern, für die Züchtung auf Stressresistenz als problematisch angesehen, da sie das systemische Prinzip der Hormonregulation nicht berücksichtigt. [source] Lack of RNA,DNA oligonucleotide (chimeraplast) mutagenic activity in mouse embryosMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2005Aristides D. Tagalakis Abstract There are numerous reports of the use of RNA,DNA oligonucleotides (chimeraplasts) to correct point mutations in vitro and in vivo, including the human apolipoprotein E gene (ApoE). Despite the absence of selection for targeting, high efficiency conversion has been reported. Although mainly used to revert deleterious mutations for gene therapy applications, successful use of this approach would have the potential to greatly facilitate the production of defined mutations in mice and other species. We have attempted to create a point mutation in the mouse ApoE gene by microinjection of chimeraplast into the pronuclei of 1-cell mouse eggs. Following transfer of microinjected eggs we analysed 139 E12.5 embryos, but obtained no evidence for successful conversion. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 71: 140,144, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Extrapyramidal symptoms in Wilson's disease are associated with olfactory dysfunctionMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 9 2006Antje Mueller MD Abstract Wilson's disease is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the accumulation of copper, mainly in the liver and the brain. As copper accumulation in the brain leads to disturbances in basal ganglia function, neurological-type patients typically present with hypo- and hyperkinetic extrapyramidal symptoms, with Parkinsonism being very common. Although there are numerous reports on olfactory deficits in primary neurodegenerative disorders, olfactory function has not been investigated in metabolic disorders presenting with extrapyramidal features. Twenty-four patients with Wilson's disease participated in the investigation. All patients were treated pharmacologically. They comprised patients with liver disease alone (including mild enzyme elevation in asymptomatic individuals; n = 11) and/or neurological symptoms (n = 13) at the time of testing. Twenty-one patients underwent both [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography ([18F]FDG-PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The severity of extrapyramidal symptoms was judged using a clinical score system ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 3 (severe symptoms). In all patients, psychophysical testing was performed using the "Sniffin' Sticks," which involved tests for odor threshold, discrimination, and identification. Results from the present study revealed that Wilson's disease patients with neurological symptoms show a significant olfactory dysfunction compared to hepatic-type patients. Individuals who are more severely neurologically affected also present with a more pronounced olfactory deficit. Of interest, there was no significant effect of long-term treatment with penicillamine on olfactory function. Olfactory function did not correlate significantly with the presence of MRI visible lesions in the basal ganglia or with any regional glucose metabolism as measured by [18]F-FDG-PET. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the underlying pathological alterations with degeneration in the basal ganglia and neuronal loss in association with a marked increase of the copper content in this brain region play a role in the olfactory deficit. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society [source] A well-characterised peak identification list of MALDI MS profile peaks for human blood serumPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 18 2010Ali Tiss Abstract MALDI MS profiling, using easily available body fluids such as blood serum, has attracted considerable interest for its potential in clinical applications. Despite the numerous reports on MALDI MS profiling of human serum, there is only scarce information on the identity of the species making up these profiles, particularly in the mass range of larger peptides. Here, we provide a list of more than 90 entries of MALDI MS profile peak identities up to 10,kDa obtained from human blood serum. Various modifications such as phosphorylation were detected among the peptide identifications. The overlap with the few other MALDI MS peak lists published so far was found to be limited and hence our list significantly extends the number of identified peaks commonly found in MALDI MS profiling of human blood serum. [source] Desmoid Tumor: A Case of Mistaken IdentityTHE BREAST JOURNAL, Issue 1 2005Alicia Privette BS Abstract: Desmoid tumors are rare tumors accounting for only 0.03% of all neoplasms. Mainly occurring in the fourth and fifth decades of life, these tumors originate in musculoaponeurotic tissues of the limbs, neck, trunk, abdominal wall, and mesentery. We present a rare case of a chest wall desmoid tumor that was mistaken for breast cancer on both physical examination and mammography, which highlights the unique risk these tumors present for confusion with other malignant processes. Although past literature contains numerous reports of other misdiagnoses, this case is unique in reporting the potential for misdiagnosis between chest wall desmoid tumors and breast cancer. In cases where suspicious breast findings do not correlate to usual diagnostic measures, such as fine-needle aspiration or core needle biopsy, the possibility of another pathology such as a chest wall desmoid tumor mimicking breast cancer should be considered in the differential diagnosis. [source] Arabidopsis WRKY33 transcription factor is required for resistance to necrotrophic fungal pathogensTHE PLANT JOURNAL, Issue 4 2006Zuyu Zheng Summary Plant WRKY transcription factors are key regulatory components of plant responses to microbial infection. In addition to regulating the expression of defense-related genes, WRKY transcription factors have also been shown to regulate cross-talk between jasmonate- and salicylate-regulated disease response pathways. The two pathways mediate resistance against different types of microbial pathogens, and there are numerous reports of antagonistic interactions between them. Here we show that mutations of the Arabidopsis WRKY33 gene encoding a WRKY transcription factor cause enhanced susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungal pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria brassicicola concomitant with reduced expression of the jasmonate-regulated plant defensin PDF1.2 gene. Ectopic over-expression of WRKY33, on the other hand, increases resistance to the two necrotrophic fungal pathogens. The wrky33 mutants do not show altered responses to a virulent strain of the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, although the ectopic expression of WRKY33 results in enhanced susceptibility to this pathogen. The susceptibility of WRKY33 -over-expressing plants to P. syringae is associated with reduced expression of the salicylate-regulated PR-1 gene. The WRKY33 transcript is induced in response to pathogen infection, or treatment with salicylate or the paraquat herbicide that generates activated oxygen species in exposed cells. WRKY33 is localized to the nucleus of plant cells and recognizes DNA molecules containing the TTGACC W-box sequence. Together, these results indicate that pathogen-induced WRKY33 is an important transcription factor that regulates the antagonistic relationship between defense pathways mediating responses to P. syringae and necrotrophic pathogens. [source] Assessing the long-term impact of Ranavirus infection in wild common frog populationsANIMAL CONSERVATION, Issue 5 2010A. G. F. Teacher Abstract Amphibians are declining worldwide, and one cause of this is infectious disease emergence. Mass mortalities caused by a virus or a group of viruses belonging to the genus Ranavirus have occurred in wild common frogs Rana temporaria in England since the 1980s, and ranaviral disease is widespread in amphibians in North America and Canada, where it can also cause mass die-offs. Although there have been numerous reports of Ranavirus -associated mass mortality events, no study has yet evaluated the long-term impacts of this disease. This study follows up archived records of English common frog mortalities likely caused by Ranavirus. There is a preliminary indication that common frog populations can respond differently to the emergence of disease: emergence may be transient, catastrophic, or persistent with recurrent mortality events. We subsequently focused on populations that had recurring mortality events (n=18), and we report median declines of 81% in the number of adult frogs in these populations from 1996 to 2008. Comparable uninfected populations (n=16) showed no change in population size over the same time period. Regressions show that larger frog populations may be more likely to experience larger declines than smaller populations, and linear models show that percentage population size change is significantly correlated with disease status, but that habitat age (a possible proxy for environmental quality) has no significant effect on population size change. Our results provide the first evidence of long-term localized population declines of an amphibian species which appear to be best explained by the presence of Ranavirus infection. [source] Optimizing the Circuit of a Pulsatile Extracorporeal Life Support System in Terms of Energy Equivalent Pressure and Surplus Hemodynamic EnergyARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 11 2009Choon Hak Lim Abstract:, The nonpulsatile blood flow obtained using standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits is still generally considered an acceptable, nonphysiologic compromise with few disadvantages. However, numerous reports have concluded that pulsatile perfusion during CPB achieves better multiorgan response postoperatively. Furthermore, pulsatile flow during CPB has been consistently recommended in pediatric and high-risk patients. However, most (80%) of the total hemodynamic energy generated by a pulsatile pump is absorbed by the components of the extracorporeal circuit and only a small portion of the pulsatile energy is delivered to the patient. Therefore, we considered that optimizations of CPB unit and extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system circuit components were needed to deliver sufficient pulsatile flow. In addition, energy equivalent pressure, surplus hemodynamic energy, and total hemodynamic energy, calculated using pressure and flow waveforms, were used to evaluate the pulsatilities of pulsatile CPB and ECLS systems. [source] A retrospective analysis of 1000 consecutively placed implants in private practiceAUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009KC Nixon Abstract Background:, There have been numerous reports evaluating clinical outcomes of implants placed in institutional settings, but there are few studies relating to implants placed in private practice. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the clinical outcomes of 1000 consecutively placed Straumann implants in private specialist periodontal practice. Methods:, A hand-search of patient records was undertaken to identify 1000 consecutively placed implants. Data extracted included patient demographics, details of implants placed, implant sites, timing of placement after extraction, hard and soft tissue augmentation procedures, loading protocols, type of prostheses and treatment outcomes (implant survival, implant success and complications). Results:, The majority of implants (71.5 per cent) placed in patients aged 40 to 69, and the majority of patients (88.6 per cent) received 1 or 2 implants. During the period of the study, 9 implants were lost and 45 presented with complications requiring chairside intervention. A life table analysis showed 5 and 10-year cumulative survival rates of 99.2 per cent and 98.4 per cent respectively, and 5 and 10-year cumulative success rates of 93.1 per cent and 90.9 per cent respectively. Conclusions:, With careful treatment planning and adherence to recommended surgical and prosthetic protocols, high implant survival and success rates can be achieved in a private practice setting. [source] Chloride ATPase pumps in nature: do they exist?BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 2 2003GEORGE A. GERENCSER ABSTRACT Five widely documented mechanisms for chloride transport across biological membranes are known: anioncoupled antiport, Na+ and H+ -coupled symport, Cl, channels and an electrochemical coupling process. These transport processes for chloride are either secondarily active or are driven by the electrochemical gradient for chloride. Until recently, the evidence in favour of a primary active transport mechanism for chloride has been inconclusive despite numerous reports of cellular Cl, -stimulated ATPases coexisting, in the same tissue, with uphill ATP-dependent chloride transport. Cl, -stimulated ATPase activity is a ubiquitous property of practically all cells with the major location being of mitochondrial origin. It also appears that plasma membranes are sites of Cl, -stimulated ATPase pump activity. Recent studies of Cl, -stimulated ATPase activity and ATP-dependent chloride transport in the same plasma membrane system, including liposomes, strongly suggest a mediation by the ATPase in the net movement of chloride up its electrochemical gradient across the plasma membrane structure. Contemporary evidence points to the existence of Cl, -ATPase pumps; however, these primary active transporters exist as either P-, F- or V-type ATPase pumps depending upon the tissue under study. [source] The Impact of Trafficking on Children: Psychological and Social Policy PerspectivesCHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES, Issue 1 2008Yvonne Rafferty ABSTRACT,Child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) are egregious crimes, extreme forms of child maltreatment, and major violations of children's human rights. Although empirical research is sorely lacking on the impact of such crimes on children's developmental well-being, numerous reports describe the physical and emotional trauma, humiliation, violence, degradation associated with treatment as a commodity, and unrelenting fear and abuse. This paper provides an overview of the impact of trafficking and CSE on children and the practical implications of related research in the areas of child maltreatment and victimization. Findings suggest that trafficking and CSE present grave risks to the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social,emotional development of young victims. Implications for psychology and social policy, in terms of prevention and psychosocial rehabilitation for children who have been victimized, are also presented. [source] An anatomical study of the muscles that attach to the articular disc of the temporomandibular jointCLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 8 2009Kosuke Matsunaga Abstract The masticatory muscles are generally described as the muscles that originate from the cranium and insert on the mandible. Some of the masticatory muscles also insert into the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint. Although there are numerous reports of studies on the attachment of the fibers to the disc, most reports discuss only one muscle. We have shown that the masticatory muscles are not simply a group of clearly independent muscles, but that these muscles contain various transitional muscle bundles among the major muscles. From this point of view, we carried out minute dissection of the collective muscles and muscle bundles surrounding the temporomandibular joint. We dissected 40 head halves of 20 Japanese cadavers (10 males, 10 females: average 79.6 yr). After complete removal of the bony elements, the structures surrounding the temporomandibular joint were investigated en-block. In all specimens, the superior surface of the upper head of lateral pterygoid and the midmedial muscle bundle were attached to the disc. In some specimens, the discotemporal bundle, zygomaticomandibularis, and masseter were attached to the anterior surface of the disc. The total vector of these muscles pulls the disc anteriorly. In contrast, the vector of the muscles to the condylar processes of the mandible pulls the mandible medially. From these observations, it seems that the fibers, which attach to the disc act to steady the disc against the masticatory movement. Clin. Anat. 22:932,940, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. 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