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Selected AbstractsLipopolysaccharide is a frequent and significant contaminant in microglia-activating factorsGLIA, Issue 1 2008Jonathan R. Weinstein Abstract Lipopolysaccharide (LPS/endotoxin) is a potent immunologic stimulant. Many commercial-grade reagents used in research are not screened for LPS contamination. LPS induces a wide spectrum of proinflammatory responses in microglia, the immune cells of the brain. Recent studies have demonstrated that a broad range of endogenous factors including plasma-derived proteins and bioactive phospholipids can also activate microglia. However, few of these studies have reported either the LPS levels found in the preparations used or the effect of LPS inhibitors such as polymyxin B (PMX) on factor-induced responses. Here, we used the Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay to screen a broad range of commercial- and pharmaceutical-grade proteins, peptides, lipids, and inhibitors commonly used in microglia research for contamination with LPS. We then characterized the ability of PMX to alter a representative set of factor-induced microglial activation parameters including surface antigen expression, metabolic activity/proliferation, and NO/cytokine/chemokine release in both the N9 microglial cell line and primary microglia. Significant levels of LPS contamination were detected in a number of commercial-grade plasma/serum- and nonplasma/serum-derived proteins, phospholipids, and synthetic peptide preparations, but not in pharmaceutical-grade recombinant proteins or pharmacological inhibitors. PMX had a significant inhibitory effect on the microglia-activating potential of a number of commercial-, but not pharmaceutical-grade, protein preparations. Novel PMX-resistant responses to ,2 -macroglobulin and albumin were incidentally observed. Our results indicate that LPS is a frequent and significant contaminant in commercial-grade preparations of previously reported microglia-activating factors. Careful attention to LPS levels and appropriate controls are necessary for future studies in the neuroinflammation field. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Psychopathology and autobiographical memory in stroke and non-stroke hospitalized patientsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 1 2003Mark John Sampson Abstract Background Psychopathology and autobiographical memory were investigated in a cohort of stroke and non-stroke hospitalized patients. Both these cohorts have been identified as having high levels of psychopathology (Katon and Sullivan 1990; Burvill et al., 1995). Difficulties recalling specific autobiographical memories (overgeneral memory) have been identified as important psychological variables in depression and predictors of outcome (Williams and Scott 1988; Brittlebank et al., 1993). Intrusive autobiographical memories have also been found to be associated with depression and overgeneral memory in depressed women (Kuyken and Brewin, 1995) and depressed cancer patients (Brewin et al., 1998a). This study looked at levels of psychopathology and autobiographical memories in stroke and non-stroke hospital patients. Method 417 patients were screened, of the 176 eligible 103 agreed to participate (54 stroke and 49 non-stroke). Participants were assessed for overgenerality using the Autobiographical Memory Test and intrusiveness of memories using the Impact of Events Scale. Also assessed were PTSD-like symptoms (PCL-S), mood (HADS, GHQ-28) and cognitive ability (MMSE, verbal fluency, digit span and estimated pre-morbid IQ). Results No significant differences were found between stroke and non-stroke patients on severity of depression, anxiety, severity of PTSD-like symptoms or autobiographical memories. Backward multivariate regression analyses for combined data (stroke and non-stroke) indicated that overgeneral memory recall, intrusive memories of past events and intrusive memories of illness were significant independent predictors of depression (HADS). Avoidance of intrusive memories and reported childhood distress were not predictors of overgeneral memory recall. Significant predictors of overgeneral memory recall were; Gender, antidepressant medication, and estimated IQ. Conclusion Significant levels of psychopathology were identified in this cohort. However, there were no significant differences in the levels of depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms and autobiographical memory between stroke and non-stroke hospitalized patients. Of particular interest was the finding that PTSD-like symptoms did not appear to be influenced by the nature of the person's illness. In combined data (stroke and non-stroke) autobiographical memories (intrusive images of their illness, intrusive memories of other events and overgeneral memory recall variables) were significant predictors of depression in this cohort. This suggests that psychological intervention of memory processes may be a worthwhile target in psychological intervention for depression in these cohorts. Gender, cognitive impairment, antidepressant medication, and estimated IQ were significant predictors of overgeneral memory recall and further investigation into the validity of these findings are warranted. Suggestions for further research and limitations of the study are also discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Using hospital administrative data to evaluate the knowledge-to-action gap in pressure ulcer preventive careJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2009Pieter Van Herck Msc RN Abstract Rationale, aims and objectives, Issues of overuse, underuse and misuse are paramount and lead to avoidable morbidity and mortality. Although evidence-based practice is advocated, the widespread implementation of this kind of practice remains a challenge. This is also the case for evidence-based practice related to the prevention of pressure ulcers, which varies widely in process and outcome in Belgian hospital care. One major obstacle to bridging this knowledge-to-action gap is data availability. We propose using large-scale hospital administrative data combined with the latest evidence-based methods as part of the solution to this problem. Method, To test our proposal, we applied this approach to pressure ulcer prevention, using an administrative dataset with regard to 6030 patients in 22 Belgian hospitals as a sample of nationally available data. Methods include a systematic review approach, evidence grading, recommendations formulation, algorithm construction, programming of the rule set and application on the database. Results, We found that Belgian hospitals frequently failed to provide appropriate prevention care. Significant levels of underuse, up to 28.4% in pressure ulcer prevention education and 17.5% in the use of dynamic systems mattresses, were detected. Figures for overuse were mostly not significant. Misuse couldn't be assessed. Conclusions, These results demonstrate that this approach can indeed be successfully used to bridge the knowledge-to-action gap in medical practice, by implementing an innovative method to assess underuse and overuse in hospital care. The integrative use of administrative data and clinical applications should be replicated in other patient groups, other datasets and other countries. [source] Chloroplast-derived vaccine antigens confer dual immunity against cholera and malaria by oral or injectable deliveryPLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010Abdoreza Davoodi-Semiromi Summary Cholera and malaria are major diseases causing high mortality. The only licensed cholera vaccine is expensive; immunity is lost in children within 3 years and adults are not fully protected. No vaccine is yet available for malaria. Therefore, in this study, the cholera toxin-B subunit (CTB) of Vibrio cholerae fused to malarial vaccine antigens apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA1) and merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP1) was expressed in lettuce and tobacco chloroplasts. Southern blot analysis confirmed homoplasmy and stable integration of transgenes. CTB-AMA1 and CTB-MSP1 fusion proteins accumulated up to 13.17% and 10.11% (total soluble protein, TSP) in tobacco and up to 7.3% and 6.1% (TSP) in lettuce, respectively. Nine groups of mice (n = 10/group) were immunized subcutaneously (SQV) or orally (ORV) with purified antigens or transplastomic tobacco leaves. Significant levels of antigen-specific antibody titres of immunized mice completely inhibited proliferation of the malarial parasite and cross-reacted with the native parasite proteins in immunoblots and immunofluorescence studies. Protection against cholera toxin challenge in both ORV (100%) and SQV (89%) mice correlated with CTB-specific titres of intestinal, serum IgA and IgG1 in ORV and only IgG1 in SQV mice, but no other immunoglobulin. Increasing numbers of interleukin-10+ T cell but not Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, suppression of interferon-, and absence of interleukin-17 were observed in protected mice, suggesting that immunity is conferred via the Tr1/Th2 immune response. Dual immunity against two major infectious diseases provided by chloroplast-derived vaccine antigens for long-term (>300 days, 50% of mouse life span) offers a realistic platform for low cost vaccines and insight into mucosal and systemic immunity. [source] AN ASSESSMENT OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT RURAL AND REMOTE HEALTH RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIAAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 5 2000Carla Patterson ABSTRACT: A. systematic search was undertaken to ascertain the nature, source and extent of funding awarded to research projects that were directed specifically at aspects of rural health over the past decade. Comment is also made on the challenge of obtaining such information directly from databases. The sources investigated were the conventional research funding bodies, hospital trusts and foundations, university funding schemes and government sources. The results of these searches revealed a crude average of 3 million dollars per year from conventional research funding with the remaining sources adding a similar amount in total. Analysis of the data using a framework modified from the Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research in Australia shows that funding is concentrated in the health services and public health areas with a preponderance of funding being directed towards the description of conditions and interventions. Significant levels of funding have been directed towards the National Health Priority Areas. [source] In vitro susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis: a European multicenter study during 2000,2001CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 7 2003M. E. Jones Objective, To assess the current (2001) activity of respiratory fluoroquinolones and comparator agents against respiratory pathogens isolated in European countries. Methods, During 2000,2001, we prospectively collected 1995 isolates of Haemophilus influenzae, 1870 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and 649 isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis from hospital laboratories in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and the UK. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)-approved broth microdilution antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods and interpretive criteria were used throughout. Results, Of the S. pneumoniae isolates, 99.6% were susceptible to moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin and levofloxacin; the corresponding figure for H. influenzae was 100%. All M. catarrhalis isolates had moxifloxacin MICs ,,0.12 mg/L. For all three pathogens, fluoroquinolone susceptibility remained unchanged from the previous 1997,98 study. The incidence of penicillin non-susceptibility in the S. pneumoniae isolates tested remained similar to or higher than that recorded in previous studies: France, 165/291 (56.7%); Germany, 46/506 (9.1%); Greece, 20/55 (36.4%); Italy, 45/364 (12.4%); Spain, 146/268 (54.5%); and the UK, 26/386 (6.7%). Significant levels of resistance to oral compounds (cefuroxime, cefaclor, cefdinir, clarithromycin, azithromycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim,sulfamethoxazole) were detected among S. pneumoniae isolates. ,-Lactamase production among H. influenzae isolates ranged from 6.2% to 33.1% per country, and ampicillin, clarithromycin or trimethoprim,sulfamethoxazole resistance were the most common phenotypes detected. ,-Lactamase production among M. catarrhalis isolates ranged from 94.1% to 100% per country. Conclusions, With the exception of a few localized reports, resistance to moxifloxacin and other new fluoroquinolones in common respiratory pathogens is a rare occurrence, despite significant resistance to other compound classes. Surveillance will play a key role in tracking changes in fluoroquinolone susceptibility in European countries. [source] Identification of molecular markers that are expressed in discrete anterior,posterior domains of the endoderm from the gastrula stage to mid-gestationDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 7 2007Billie A. Moore-Scott Abstract Little is known about how the endoderm germ layer is patterned along the anterior,posterior (A-P) axis before the formation of a gut tube (embryonic day [e] 7.5,8.5 in mouse), largely due to a paucity of molecular markers of endoderm. In particular, there are few genes that mark posterior domains of endoderm that give rise to the midgut and hindgut. We have identified 8 molecular markers that are expressed in discrete domains of the gastrula stage endoderm (e7.5), suggesting that a significant level of pattern exists in the endoderm before the formation of a gut tube. Three genes Tmprss2, NM_029639, and Dsp are expressed in a presumptive midgut domain overlying the node, a domain for which molecular markers have not previously been identified. Two genes, Klf5 and Epha2 are expressed in posterior endoderm associated with the primitive streak. Expression of these five genes persists in the midgut and/or hindgut at e8.5, 9.5 and 10.5, suggesting that these genes are markers of these domains throughout these stages of development. We have identified three genes Slc39a8, Amot, and Dp1l1, which are expressed in the visceral endoderm at e7.5. Starting at e9.5, Dp1l1 is expressed de novo in the liver, midgut, and hindgut. Our findings suggest that presumptive midgut and hindgut domains are being established at the molecular level by the end of gastrulation, earlier than previously thought, and emphasize the importance of endoderm patterning before the formation of the fetal gut. Developmental Dynamics 236:1997,2003, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Shaking table tests of 1:4 reduced-scale models of masonry infilled reinforced concrete frame buildingsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 6 2001Abstract Two models of masonry infilled reinforced concrete frame buildings were tested at the shaking table. Models were built in the reduced scale 1:4 using the materials produced in accordance to modelling demands of true replica modelling technique. The first model represented a one-storey box-like building and the second one the two-stories building with plan shaped in the form of a letter H. Models were shaken with the series of horizontal sine dwell motions with gradually increasing amplitude. Masonry infills of tested models were constructed of relatively strong bricks laid in weak mortar. Therefore, typical cracks developed and propagated along mortar beds without cracking of bricks or crushing of infill corners. Data collected from tests will be used in future evaluation, verification and development of computational models for prediction of in-plane and out-of-plane behaviour of masonry infills. The responses of tested models can be well compared with global behaviour of real structures using the modelling rules. The similarity of local behaviour of structural elements, e.g. reinforced concrete joints, is less reliable due to limitations in modelling of steel reinforcement properties. The model responses showed that buildings designed according to Eurocodes are able to sustain relatively high dynamic excitations due to a significant level of structural overstrength. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Short-term load forecasting using informative vector machineELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN JAPAN, Issue 2 2009Eitaro Kurata Abstract In this paper, a novel method is proposed for short-term load forecasting, which is one of the important tasks in power system operation and planning. The load behavior is so complicated that it is hard to predict the load. The deregulated power market is faced with the new problem of an increase in the degree of uncertainty. Thus, power system operators are concerned with the significant level of load forecasting. Namely, probabilistic load forecasting is required to smooth power system operation and planning. In this paper, an IVM (Informative Vector Machine) based method is proposed for short-term load forecasting. IVM is one of the kernel machine techniques that are derived from an SVM (Support Vector Machine). The Gaussian process (GP) satisfies the requirements that the prediction results are expressed as a distribution rather than as points. However, it is inclined to be overtrained for noise due to the basis function with N2 elements for N data. To overcome this problem, this paper makes use of IVM that selects necessary data for the model approximation with a posteriori distribution of entropy. That has a useful function to suppress the excess training. The proposed method is tested using real data for short-term load forecasting. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 23, 31, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www. interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20693 [source] Transcriptional readthrough of Hox genes Ubx and Antp and their divergent post-transcriptional control during crustacean evolutionEVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2006Yasuhiro Shiga SUMMARY Hox genes are in principle tandemly arranged in an order colinear with their order of expression along the anterior,posterior axis. Combinations of Hox proteins encode information that specifies the unique characteristics of axial regions in the metazoan body plan. The independent regulation of Hox genes achieved by differential promoter activity is essential for the expression of Hox proteins in distinct territories and thereby creating a full repertoire of Hox codes. Here we report the abundant expression of transcriptional readthrough products of two adjacent Hox genes, Ubx, and Antp, in five crustacean species of Branchiopoda and Malacostraca. Bicistronic mRNA places Antp under the control of the Ubx promoter, which is active in the posterior segments of two branchiopodans Daphnia and Artemia, and would normally reduce the complexity of Hox codes if translated. This does not occur, however, as the translational capability of the bicistronic mRNA is limited. In Daphnia, bicistronic Ubx/Antp mRNA produced no significant level of either UBX or ANTP. In Artemia, on the other hand, the bicistronic mRNA produced only UBX, and replaced the role of monocistronic Ubx mRNA. In this way, multiple post-transcriptional control mechanisms in two extant branchiopodans can be seen as preventing the potentially deleterious consequences of Hox gene fusion. [source] Informed Trading around Merger Announcements: An Empirical Test Using Transaction Volume and Open Interest in Options MarketFINANCIAL REVIEW, Issue 2 2001Narayanan Jayaraman G14/G34 Abstract This paper provides empirical evidence on the level of trading activity in the stock options market prior to the announcement of a merger or an acquisition. Our analysis shows that there is a significant increase in the trading activity of call and put options for companies involved in a takeover prior to the rumor of an acquisition or merger. This result is robust to both the volume of option contracts traded and the open interest. The increased trading suggests that there is a significant level of informed trading in the options market prior to the announcement of a corporate event. In addition, abnormal trading activity in the options market appears to lead abnormal trading volume in the equity market. This finding supports the hypothesis that the options market plays an important role in price discovery. [source] Strategies for Success: Profiling the Effective Learner of GermanFOREIGN LANGUAGE ANNALS, Issue 3 2001Jennifer Bruen The primary objective of this study is to identify the language-learning strategies associated with the achievement of higher levels of oral proficiency in German for 100 Irish students about to complete their second year at Dublin City University. It also investigates the way in which these strategies are used by those with higher and lower levels of proficiency. The methodology combines quantitative assessment (using questionnaires)with in-depth, qualitative interviews. The article begins by explaining key concepts in the field of language learning strategy research and then reviews a selection of relevant studies. An experiment designed to achieve the above objectives is then described. The results indicate that more-proficient students use more language-learning strategies, in particular more cognitive and metacognitive strategies. Furthermore, ten. strategies correlate with higher levels of oral proficiency at a significant level. These provide a tentative strategic profile of the more effective learner of German. Finally, the qualitative findings suggest that more-proficient students use language-learning strategies in a more structured and purposeful manner and apply them to a wider range of situations and tasks. Finally, implications for future research and for the language classroom are discussed. [source] DNA methylation of Sleeping Beauty with transposition into the mouse genomeGENES TO CELLS, Issue 8 2005Chang Won Park The Sleeping Beauty transposon is a recently developed non-viral vector that can mediate insertion of transgenes into the mammalian genome. Foreign DNA elements that are introduced tend to invoke a host-defense mechanism resulting in epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, which may induce transcriptional inactivation of mammalian genes. To assess potential epigenetic modifications associated with Sleeping Beauty transposition, we investigated the DNA methylation pattern of transgenes inserted into the mouse genome as well as genomic regions flanking the insertion sites with bisulfite-mediated genomic sequencing. Transgenic mouse lines were created with two different Sleeping Beauty transposons carrying either the Agouti or eGFP transgene. Our results showed that DNA methylation in the keratin-14 promoter and Agouti transgene were negligible. In addition, two different genomic loci flanking the Agouti insertion site exhibited patterns of DNA methylation similar to wild-type mice. In contrast, high levels of DNA methylation were observed in the eGFP transgene and its ROSA26 promoter. These results indicate that transposition via Sleeping Beauty into the mouse genome may result in a significant level of de novo DNA methylation. This may depend on a number of different factors including the cargo DNA sequence, chromosomal context of the insertion site, and/or host genetic background. [source] Do social inequalities exist in terms of the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, control and monitoring of diabetes?HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 6 2010A systematic review Abstract The major increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has led to the study of social inequalities in health-care. The aim of this study is to establish the possible existence of social inequalities in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, control and monitoring of diabetes in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries which have universal healthcare systems. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for all relevant articles published up to 15 December 2007. We included observational studies carried out in OECD countries with universal healthcare systems in place that investigate social inequalities in the provision of health-care to diabetes patients. Two independent reviewers carried out the critical assessment using the STROBE tool items considered most adequate for the evaluation of the methodological quality. We selected 41 articles from which we critically assessed 25 (18 cross-sectional, 6 cohorts, 1 case-control). Consistency among the article results was found regarding the existence of ethnic inequalities in treatment, metabolic control and use of healthcare services. Socioeconomic inequalities were also found in the diagnosis and control of the disease, but no evidence of any gender inequalities was found. In general, the methodological quality of the articles was moderate with insufficient information in the majority of cases to rule out bias. This review shows that even in countries with a significant level of economic development and which have universal healthcare systems in place which endeavour to provide medical care to the entire population, socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities can be identified in the provision of health-care to DM sufferers. However, higher quality and follow-up articles are needed to confirm these results. [source] N-terminal tail of a viral histone H4 encoded in Cotesia plutellae bracovirus is essential to suppress gene expression of host histone H4INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009W. Gad Abstract An endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae, possesses a symbiotic bracovirus (CpBV), which facilitates parasitism of a specific host, such as larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. A viral histone H4 (CpBV-H4) has been found in the CpBV genome and its gene product plays a role in impairing the host insect cellular immune response. Based on its high similarity to histone H4 of P. xylostella apart from its extended N-terminal tail, it has been suspected to alter host gene expression. Histone subunits were purified from parasitized P. xylostella larvae and found to contain both host and viral H4s, confirming a previous report of a possible epigenetic mode of action. Moreover, this study showed that the host H4 levels in the parasitized larvae clearly decreased during the parasitization period, whereas CpBV-H4 levels maintained a significant level without significant changes. To understand the decrease of host H4 levels, transcription levels of host H4 were monitored by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and showed a significant decrease in parasitized P. xylostella larvae, whereas no significant change of the mRNA level was detected in nonparasitized larvae. This transcriptional control of host H4 expression was also observed by inducing transient expression of CpBV-H4 in nonparasitized P. xylostella. Moreover, co-injection of CpBV-H4 and its specific double-stranded RNA recovered the host H4 expression level. To identify a functional domain of CpBV-H4 involved in the transcriptional control, the extended N-terminal tail of CpBV-H4 was removed by preparing a truncated viral H4 construct in an expression vector by deleting the N-terminal tail of 38 amino acid residues and inducing its expression in nonparasitized P. xylostella larvae. The truncated CpBV-H4 clearly lost its inhibitory effects on host H4 transcription. Moreover, the presence of CpBV-H4 affects the spreading of host haemocytes by an epigenetic effect, which is at least partly restored in larvae expressing the truncated version of CpBV-H4. This study suggests that the viral H4 encoded in CpBV can alter host gene expression with its extended N-terminal tail. [source] Dickkopf-1 is overexpressed in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells and is involved in invasive growthINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 7 2010Nobuyasu Takahashi Abstract The protein products of the Dickkopf (DKK) genes are antagonists of Wnt glycoproteins, which participate in tumor development and progression by binding to frizzled receptors. In this study, the expression of DKK-1 was analyzed in a panel of 43 human cultured carcinoma cell lines. DKK-1 expression was consistently and significantly upregulated in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. Low level of DKK-3 expression was also seen. In contrast, the expression of DKK-2 and -4 was not detectable in most pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. The overexpression of DKK-1 was confirmed in surgically resected human pancreatic cancer tissues, in which the mRNA level was evaluated in paired samples from cancerous and noncancerous pancreatic tissues. In ductal adenocarcinomas (23 cases), DKK-1 mRNA levels were significantly upregulated compared to corresponding noncancerous tissues in a statistically significant level. To test the biological role of DKK-1 in pancreatic carcinoma cells, we performed a knockdown of DKK-1 in SUIT-2 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line and S2-CP8, its metastatic subline, using a retroviral short hairpin RNA expression vector. DKK-1 knockdown resulted in reduced migratory activity of SUIT-2 in vitro. The in vitro growth rate and Matrigel invasion were also suppressed by DKK-1 knockdown in S2-CP8 cells. Collectively, the evidence suggests that, despite of its presumed antagonistic role in Wnt signaling, DKK-1 may have a role in the aggressiveness of pancreatic carcinoma cells and could, therefore, serve as a novel biomarker of pancreatic cancer. [source] Bone weight: new reference values based on a modern Portuguese identified skeletal collectionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 5 2009A. M. Silva Abstract Skeletal weight and/or weight of the different bones of the human skeleton are currently used in a wide range of applications such as archaeological cremations and forensics. Still, few reference values are available that compare the mean weights for the different skeletal parts. In this paper we present new reference values for total skeletal weight, including the weight of the different skeletal bones based on a modern Portuguese Identified Skeletal Collection (CEI) curated in the Museum of Anthropology of the University of Coimbra (Portugal). The mean weight of the entire skeleton for the CEI pooled sample is 3323.8,±,779.6,g. Sex and age differences were investigated. As expected, males display heavier bones, at a statistically significant level. The mean weight of the male skeletons is 3850,g, and 2797.6,g for the female sample. Age differences were found, especially for the female samples in the 29,39 versus 50,59,and/or >60 age groups, probably as a consequence of age-related bone loss in post-menopausal women. For the male sample, no clear age-related trend was observed but for the unexpected result that the second highest bone weight recorded is in the oldest age group (>60 years). This could result from high mechanical loadings and thus greater bone robusticy and amount of cortical bone. The percentage of weight of the different parts of the skeleton was also calculated. These new values can be quite useful in the study of very fragmentary and/or commingled human remains, recovered from historic or forensic contexts, since the complete identification, by side, of the remains is not necessary. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reactions of Enolizable Carbon Pronucleophiles with Formaldehyde and Ethyl GlyoxylateADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 4-5 2007Isao Fukuchi Abstract We herein describe novel catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions of acidic carbon pronucleophiles including ,-keto esters and specific ketones with reactive electrophiles such as formaldehyde and ethyl glyoxylate. In the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral Pd(II)-BINAP complexes, the hydroxymethylation of ,-keto esters with paraformaldehyde or formalin was examined, and the corresponding adducts were obtained in good yields with good to high enantioselectivity (ca. 86,% ee). In some cases, the similar Pt(II) complex also worked well to give the products with better enantioselectivity. Furthermore, these complexes were found to promote the aldol reactions of less acidic ketones, and ethyl glyoxylate underwent reaction with 3-coumaranone and ,-tetralone, affording the aldol products with a significant level of enantioselectivity of up to 83,% ee. [source] A deconvolution method for the reconstruction of underlying profiles measured using large sampling volumesJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2006Y.-S. Xiong A deconvolution method for diffraction measurements based on a statistical learning technique is presented. The radial-basis function network is used to model the underlying function. A full probabilistic description of the measurement is introduced, incorporating a Bayesian algorithm based on an evidence framework. This method allows predictions of both the convolution and the underlying function from noisy measurements. In addition, the method can provide an estimation of the prediction uncertainty, i.e. error-bars. In order to assess the capability of the method, the model was tested first on synthetic data of controllable quality and sparsity; it is shown that the method works very well, even for inaccurately measured (noisy) data. Subsequently, the deconvolution method was applied to real data sets typical of neutron and synchrotron residual stress (strain) data, recovering features not immediately evident in the large-gauge-volume measurements themselves. Finally, the extent to which short-period components are lost as a function of the measurement gauge dimensions is discussed. The results seem to indicate that for a triangular sensor-sensitivity function, measurements are best made with a gauge of a width approximately equal to the wavelength of the expected strain variation, but with a significant level of overlap (,80%) between successive points; this is contrary to current practice for neutron strain measurements. [source] Sequential anaerobic/aerobic biological treatment of olive mill wastewater and municipal wastewaterJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2006Nikolaos Gizgis Abstract This work investigated the efficiency of the combined anaerobic/aerobic biological co-treatment of olive mill wastewater and primary municipal wastewater. A laboratory-scale (6.5 L) upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor received a mixture of olive mill wastewater and primary municipal wastewater at a loading rate ranging between 3 and 7 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD) m,3 day,1. The input COD concentration ranged between 1800 and 4400 mg L,1. The anaerobic reactor was operated at mesophilic conditions (35 °C). The effluent organic load was between 400 and 600 mg COD L,1, while the suspended solids removal efficiency varied between 75 and 95%. Average biogas production ranged between 3 and 4 L g,1 COD removed. The anaerobic reactor effluent was further treated in a laboratory-scale activated sludge treatment plant. Aerobic treatment reduced the organic load even further to 85,175 mg COD L,1. However, the final effluent still retained a significant level of colour. Removal of colour was possible by ozonation or coagulation. Finally, the treated effluent was non-ecotoxic, as indicated by the Daphnia magna toxicity test. This treatment method showed that it is feasible to treat olive mill wastewater in a municipal wastewater treatment plant by means of a high-rate anaerobic reactor located between the primary clarifier and the aeration tank. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Association of the OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism with tooth lossJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 2 2006Yoshinori Hasui Abstract Although tooth loss is a serious health problem for elderly people, little is known about the genetic basis for susceptibility to it. In the present study we aimed to find a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with tooth loss. DNA samples from 119 outpatients (mean age=78.8 years) were genotyped on seven polymorphisms (tumor necrosis factor-, ,1031T/C, interleukin-1, ,511C/T, interleukin-6 ,634C/G, macrophage migration inhibitory factor ,173G/C, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist variable number of tandem repeat in intron 2, matrix metalloproteinase-1 ,16071G/2G, and oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1) Ser326Cys (1245C/G)), and the results were statistically evaluated. Of the seven polymorphisms tested, only OGG1 Ser326Cys was revealed to associate with tooth loss at a statistically significant level (P=0.0086). In addition, a multivariate logistic regression analysis in which age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and ischemic heart disease were included as independent variables indicated that Ser326Cys could be an independent factor affecting tooth loss (OR, 3.191; 95%CI, 1.174,8.672). The data suggest that the OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism may be associated with tooth loss. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 20:47,51, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The effect of a dentifrice and mouth rinse combination containing amine fluoride/stannous fluoride on plaque and gingivitis: a 6-month field studyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 7 2005S. Paraskevas Abstract Aim: To examine the effect of amine fluoride/stannous fluoride (AmF/SnF2)-containing dentifrice and mouth rinse on plaque formation and gingivitis as compared with habitual oral hygiene procedures with a regular sodium fluoride (NaF) dentifrice. Material and Methods: In total, 22 general practices participated in this research project. The participants (N=281) were randomly assigned into two groups: the test group received an AmF/SnF2 dentifrice,mouth rinse combination and the control group received a NaF-containing dentifrice. The patients were requested to brush twice daily for approximately 2 min. The subjects of the test group had to rinse additionally in the evening for 30 s with 10 ml of the mouth rinse. Results: Both groups started with comparable scores of plaque, bleeding and staining. At 6 months, the plaque scores were 0.95 for the AmF/SnF2 group and 0.99 for the NaF group (decrease of 16% and 10%, respectively). Bleeding scores, although significantly different from baseline, did not show differences between the two regimes. At the end of the experimental period, the overall staining was more pronounced in the AmF/SnF2 group (41%) than the NaF group (26%). Both plaque reduction and increase in staining seemed to be correlated to the amount of mouth rinse used in the test group. Conclusion: In instruction-resistant patients recruited from dental practices, the combined use of AmF/SnF2 did not decrease gingivitis at a significant level in comparison with the regular regime of two times daily brushing with an NaF-containing dentifrice. However, the above-mentioned combination resulted in greater plaque reduction than that observed with the use of the conventional dentifrice. When used according to the manufacturer's instructions, this effect on plaque scores was more pronounced. [source] Toward direct determination of conformations of protein building units from multidimensional NMR experiments VI.JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 13 2005Chemical shift analysis of his to gain 3D structure, protonation state information Abstract NMR,chemical shift structure correlations were investigated by using GIAO-RB3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) formalism. Geometries and chemical shifts (CSI values) of 103 different conformers of N,-formyl-L-histidinamide were determined including both neutral and charged protonation forms. Correlations between amino acid torsional angle values and chemical shifts were investigated for the first time for an aromatic and polar amino acid residue whose side chain may carry different charges. Linear correlation coefficients of a significant level were determined between chemical shifts and dihedral angles for CSI[1H,]/,, CSI[13C,]/,, and CSI[13C,]/,. Protonation of the imidazole ring induces the upfield shift of CSI[13C,] for positively charged histidines and an opposite effect for the negative residue. We investigated the correspondence of theoretical and experimental 13C,, 13C,, and 1H, chemical shifts and the nine basic conformational building units characteristic for proteins. These three chemical shift values allow the identification of conformational building units at 80% accuracy. These results enable the prediction of additional regular secondary structural elements (e.g., polyProlineII, inverse ,-turns) and loops beyond the assignment of chemical shifts to ,-helices and ,-pleated sheets. Moreover, the location of the His residue can be further specified in a ,-sheet. It is possible to determine whether the appropriate residue is located at the middle or in a first/last ,-strand within a ,-sheet based on calculated CSI values. Thus, the attractive idea of establishing local residue specific backbone folding parameters in peptides and proteins by employing chemical shift information (e.g., 1H, and 13C,) obtained from selected heteronuclear correlation NMR experiments (e.g., 2D-HSQC) is reinforced. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 26: 1307,1317, 2005 [source] Effect of Storage Temperature and Duration on the Behavior of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Packaged Fresh-Cut Salad Containing Romaine and Iceberg LettuceJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 7 2010Yaguang Luo Abstract:, This study investigated the impact of storage temperature and duration on the fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on commercially packaged lettuce salads, and on product quality. Fresh-cut Romaine and Iceberg lettuce salads of different commercial brands were obtained from both retail and wholesale stores. The packages were cut open at one end, the lettuce salad inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 via a fine mist spray, and resealed with or without an initial N2 flush to match the original package atmospheric levels. The products were stored at 5 and 12 °C until their labeled "Best If Used By" dates, and the microbial counts and product quality were monitored periodically. The results indicate that storage at 5 °C allowed E. coli O157:H7 to survive, but limited its growth, whereas storage at 12 °C facilitated the proliferation of E. coli O157:H7. There was more than 2.0 log CFU/g increase in E. coli O157:H7 populations on lettuce when held at 12 °C for 3 d, followed by additional growth during the remainder of the storage period. Although there was eventually a significant decline in visual quality of lettuce held at 12 °C, the quality of this lettuce was still fully acceptable when E. coli O157:H7 growth reached a statistically significant level. Therefore, maintaining fresh-cut products at 5 °C or below is critical for reducing the food safety risks as E. coli O157:H7 grows at a rapid, temperature-dependent rate prior to significant quality deterioration. Practical Application:, Specific information regarding the effect of temperature on pathogen growth on leafy greens is needed to develop science-based food safety guidelines and practices by the regulatory agencies and produce industry. Temperature control is commonly thought to promote quality of leafy greens, not safety, based at least partially on a theory that product quality deterioration precedes pathogen growth at elevated temperatures. This prevalent attitude results in temperature abuse incidents being frequently overlooked in the supply chain. This study demonstrates that human pathogens, such as E. coli O157:H7, can grow significantly on commercially packaged lettuce salads while the product's visual quality is fully acceptable. Packaged fresh-cut salads are marketed as "ready-to-eat" while lacking an effective pathogen kill step during their preparation. Thus, maintaining storage temperature at 5 °C or below is critical to prevent pathogen proliferation and mitigate food safety risks should pathogen contamination inadvertently occur during crop growth or postharvest fresh-cut processing. [source] Nitrogen-to-Protein Conversion Factors for Some Cereal Products in JapanJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008S. Fujihara ABSTRACT:, To evaluate a practical method of determining more accurately conversion factors for calculating the protein contents of foods from the total nitrogen content, 19 cereal products found in Japan were analyzed for total nitrogen, amino acid nitrogen, and amide nitrogen, and then the nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors were calculated. The average conversion factors were 5.75 for rice, 5.81 for wheat, and 5.95 for others. These values, corresponding to the proportion of the amino acid residue to amino acid nitrogen recovered from 20 amino acids, were lower than the currently applied factors to these foods, except for wheat flour and amaranth. The use of this factor for estimating the protein content results in a considerable difference from the estimate based on amino acid residue concentrations, due to the wide variations in amino acid composition and to the presence of a significant level of nonprotein nitrogen. The distribution of the protein nitrogen recovered from the amino acids to total nitrogen averaged 93%. Adjusted conversion factors corresponding to the proportion of the amino acid residue to total nitrogen averaged 5.26 for rice, 5.47 for wheat, and 5.54 for other cereal products. Protein contents estimated using these factors are in good agreement with the contents defined as amino acid residues. [source] Evaluation of Propofol-Ketamine Anesthesia for Children Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization ProceduresJOURNAL OF INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007F.F.A. (DUBLIN), F.R.C.A. (LOND), Parthasarathi GAYATRI M.D. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the continuous intravenous administration of a combination of propofol and ketamine for children undergoing cardiac catheterization procedures (CCP). Thirty-two children scheduled for CCP in a university teaching hospital were included in this prospective randomized study. Patients in group 1 (n = 15) were given a combination of propofol (25 ,g/kg per minute) and ketamine (25 ,g/kg per minute), whereas patients in group 2 (n = 17) received a combination of propofol (25 ,g/kg per minute) and ketamine (12.5 ,g/kg per minute) for the maintenance of anesthesia. There were no statistically significant differences with age, weight, duration of the procedure, and the number of diagnostic and interventional procedures between the two groups. There was no hemodynamic instability, airway compromise, excessive salivation, or arterial desaturation in either of the two groups. There was more incidence of movements in patients who received less dose of ketamine; however, it did not reach to statistically significant level. The total dose of ketamine used in group 1 was 309.25 ± 90.97 ,g/min, whereas in group 2, it was 148.06 ± 34.05 ,g/min. The time to awakening was significantly less in group 2 (P < 0.05). We conclude that a combination of propofol (25 ,g/kg per minute) and two different doses of ketamine (25 and 12.5 ,g/kg per minute, respectively) are safe and efficacious for CCP in children. Although the time to awaken was more in patients receiving 25 ,g/kg per minute of ketamine compared to those receiving 12.5 ,g/kg per minute of ketamine, it was well within acceptable limits. [source] A peptide-based immunoassay for antibodies against botulinum neurotoxin AJOURNAL OF MOLECULAR RECOGNITION, Issue 1 2007M. Zouhair Atassi Abstract Cervical dystonia (CD) is due to neck-muscle spasms that cause pain and involuntary contractions resulting in abnormal neck movements and posture. Symptoms can be relieved by injecting the affected muscle with a botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT, usually type A or type B). The therapeutic benefits are impermanent and toxin injections need to be repeated every 3,6 months. In a very small percentage of patients (less with BoNT/A than with BoNT/B) the treatment elicits blocking anti-toxin antibodies (Abs), which reduce or terminate the patient's responsiveness to further treatment. We have recently mapped (Dolimbek et al., 2006) the CD sera Ab-binding profile using a panel of 60, 19-residue peptides that encompassed the entire H chain sequence 449,1296 and overlapped consecutively by 5 residues. Abs in CD sera bound to one or more of the peptides N25, C10, C15, C20, and C31. This suggested the possibility that binding to these peptides could be used for assay of Abs in CD sera. Data analysis reported here found that Ab binding to these regions showed very significant deviations from the control responses. Of these four peptides, C10 showed the most significant level of separation between patient and control groups (p,=,5,×,10,7) and the theoretical resolution (i.e., ability to distinguish CD patients from control, see full definition under ,Statistical analysis' in Methods), 84%, was about 4% higher than the least resolved response, C31 (p,=,6,×,10,6, resolution 80%). Since the amounts of Abs bound to a given peptide varied with the patient and not all the patients necessarily recognized all four peptides, there was the possibility that binding to combinations of two or more peptides might give a better discriminatory capability. Using two peptides, C10 plus C31, the resolution improved to 87% (p,=,4,×,10,8). These two peptides appeared to compliment each other and negate the lower resolution of C31. Combination of three peptides gave resolutions that ranged from 85 (N25,+,C15,+,C31; p,=,2,×,10,7) to 88% (C10,+,C15,+,C31; p,=,1,×,10,8). Finally, using the data of all four peptides, N25,+,C10,+,C15,+,C31, gave a resolution of 86% (p,=,1,×,10,7). Although these levels of resolution are somewhat lower than that obtained with whole BoNT/A (resolution 97%; p,=,6,×,10,12), it may be concluded that the two-peptide combination C10,+,C31, or the three-peptide combination C10,+,C15,+,C31 (affording resolutions of 87 and 88%, respectively) provide a good diagnostic, toxin-free procedure for assay of total specific anti-toxin Abs in BoNT/A-treated CD patients. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Ser-59 is the major phosphorylation site in ,B-crystallin accumulated in the brains of patients with Alexander's diseaseJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2001Kanefusa Kato The phosphorylation state of ,B-crystallin accumulated in the brains of two patients with Alexander's disease (one infantile and one juvenile type) was determined by means of SDS-PAGE or isoelectric focusing of soluble and insoluble fractions of brain extracts and subsequent western blot analysis with specific antibodies against ,B-crystallin and each of three phosphorylated serine residues. The level of mammalian small heat shock protein of 25,28 kDa (Hsp27) in the same fraction was also estimated by western blot analysis. The majority of ,B-crystallin was detected in the insoluble fraction of brain homogenates and phosphorylation was preferentially observed at Ser-59 in both cases. A significant level of phosphorylation at Ser-45 but not Ser-19 was also detected. Hsp27 was found at considerable levels in the insoluble fractions. ,B-crystallin and phosphorylated forms were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of patient with the juvenile type. ,B-crystallin and phosphorylated forms were also detectable at considerable levels in the insoluble fraction of brain homogenates from patients with Alzheimer's disease and aged controls. The phosphorylation site was mostly at Ser-59 in all cases. Immunohistochemically, ,B-crystallin was stained in Rosenthal fibers in brains of patients with Alexander's disease and their peripheral portions were immunostained with antibodies recognizing phosphorylated Ser-59. These results indicate that the major phosphorylation site in ,B-crystallin in brains of patients with Alexander's disease or Alzheimer's disease as well as in aged controls is Ser-59. [source] Alterations of p16/MTS1 gene in oral squamous cell carcinomas from TaiwaneseJOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 4 2000Shu-Chun Lin Abstract: To determine the alterations of the p16/MTS1 gene in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we examined in Taiwanese patients the mutation, deletion and methylation of p16/MTS1 in primary OSCCs associated mostly with betel quid (BQ)/tobacco use. Among 110 tumors undergoing mutational analyses, seven (6%) showed mutations in exon 2 or the intron 1/exon 2 splice site. All but one mutation disrupted the encoded proteins. Base transitions represented the vast majority (6/7) of the mutations identified in BQ/tobacco consuming subjects. It was noted that 15/56 (27%) tumors examined by restriction fragment methylation analysis revealed a significant level of methylation in different loci of exon 1 as compared with the respective non-cancerous tissue. Mutation of p16/MTS1 was exclusively identified in carcinomas of buccal mucosa, whereas methylation of the p16/MTS1 promoter region occurred preferentially in carcinomas of the tongue (54%) rather than at other sites (22%). Homozygous deletion was not found in 56 paired samples examined, nor was hemizygous deletion indicated in 12 informative cases. The results indicated aberrant methylation and mutation as the molecular abnormality of p16/MTS1 in the OSCC from Taiwanese. [source] Reversal of multidrug resistance-associated protein-mediated daunorubicin resistance by camptothecinJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 8 2002David Chauvier Abstract The multidrug-resistance (MR) status of camptothecin (CPT) was investigated in colon adenocarcinoma HT29 cells, leukemia K562, and breast carcinoma MCF7 cells expressing P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and/or MR-associated protein (MRP1). The concentration that induced 50% growth inhibition (IC50) against CPT was 0.14 and 0.20 ,M in parental K562/WT and MCF7/WT cells, respectively. The drug resistant subline KH30 and MCF7/VP cells, which both overexpress MRP1, presented IC50 values of 0.63 and 3.10 ,M, respectively. The resulting resistance indexes were 3.80 and 12.50, respectively. However, in KH300 cells, a cell line that preferentially overexpresses Pgp, the IC50 of CPT was 0.08 ,M and thus did not exhibit resistance against CPT. In MCF7/DoX cells, preferentially overexpressing Pgp, but also a significant level of MRP1, the IC50 of CPT was 0.64 ,M and thus presented a resistance index of 3.26 against CPT. The cytotoxic effect of CPT was modulated in cells expressing MRP1 (MCF7/VP, HT29 cells) by the specific MRP1 modulators, probenecid and MK571. These results led us to consider CPT as a substrate for MRP1 and a potential modulator of MRP1 activity. To test this hypothesis, we examined the ability of nontoxic concentrations of CPT to sensitize MRP1-overexpressing cells to daunorubicin (DNR). In MCF7/VP and KH30 cells, nontoxic concentrations of CPT were able to enhance cytotoxicity of DNR and its nuclear accumulation. Sequential and simultaneous associations of CPT (100 nM) and DNR provided complete reversal of resistance, thus showing a synergistic effect in KH30 cells. However, simultaneous association (with 10 or 20 nM CPT) had an additive effect in MCF7/VP. These data suggest that CPT could be proposed as a candidate for the reversal of the MRP1 phenotype at clinically achievable concentrations. © 2002 Wiley-Liss Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 91:1765,1775, 2002 [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||