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  • PURPOSE To determine the role of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in low-dose radiation-induced radiation pneumonitis (RP) and to assess whether the inhibition or deletion of the NLRP3 inflammasome is critical for conferring protection against RP. MATERIALS AND METHODS THP-1 cells were treated with increasing doses of radiation to assess the activation of NLRP3 by Western blot and ELISA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured by flow cytometry, with or without ROS inhibitor treatment. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Mycophenolate-mofetil-(CellCept).html A mouse thoracic radiation model that received different doses of radiation was used, and the lung tissues of thoracic-irradiated nlrp3-/- and wild-type C57BL/6 **** were examined by H&E and immunofluorescence staining. The concentrations of cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by ELISA and Luminex multiplex assays. LPS was administered intranasally 28 days after thoracic irradiation, and MCC950 was administered intraperitoneally after irradiation at 2 different doses. RESULTS 1. The NLRP3 inflammasome was activated in 2 Gy-irradiated THP-1 cells; NLRP3 and cleaved-caspase-1 levels were not associated with dose escalation. 2. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome was mediated by ROS, and ROS inhibitor treatment decreased the production of IL-1β and IL-18 in vitro. 3. NLRP3 was activated in mouse lungs by irradiation at 2 Gy, 4 Gy, and 16 Gy, and NLRP3 activation was continuous. 4. NLRP3 protects against LPS-mediated monocyte infiltration in the mouse lung. 5. The administration of MCC950 decreased the inflammation score of the **** irradiated with 2 Gy or 16 Gy in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by low-dose irradiation both in vitro and in vivo. The inhibition or deletion of NLRP3 can specifically alleviate the mouse lung inflammation caused by radiation and LPS treatment. This study reveals the mechanism of low-dose radiation therapy-induced RP; furthermore, it offers a possible treatment strategy for patients. Ethanol intoxication can produce marked changes in cognitive function including states in which the ability to learn and remember new information is completely disrupted. These defects likely reflect changes in the synaptic plasticity thought to underlie memory formation. We have studied mechanisms contributing to the adverse effects of ethanol on hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and provided evidence that ethanol-mediated LTP inhibition involves a form of metaplasticity resulting from local metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde and untimely activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), both of which are neuronal stressors. In the present studies, we sought to understand the role of cellular stress in LTP defects, and demonstrate that ethanol's effects on LTP in the CA1 hippocampal region are overcome by agents that inhibit cellular stress responses, including ISRIB, a specific inhibitor of integrated stress responses, and GW3965, an agonist that acts at liver X receptors (LXRs) and dampens cellular stress. The agents that alter LTP inhibition also prevent the adverse effects of acute ethanol on one trial inhibitory avoidance learning. Unexpectedly, we found that the LXR agonist but not ISRIB overcomes effects of ethanol on synaptic responses mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). These results have implications for understanding the adverse effects of ethanol and possibly for identifying novel paths to treatments that can prevent or overcome ethanol-induced cognitive dysfunction. This study examined the effect of prolonged water deprivation, in rat, on 5-HT and TH- immuno-expression in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus (DRN), Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SNc), Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), and Magnus Raphe Nucleus (MRN). In parallel, we evaluated the anxiety state and pain perception in dehydrated rats. Our Findings revealed that dehydrated rats exhibited more preference for the dark compartment, suggesting that prolonged water deprivation is associated to an anxiogenic effect. After one week, 5 H T IR in the DRN of dehydrated rates showed a significant decrease. This was reversed to a significant increase post week 2 of dehydration. Our findings also demonstrated that TH-IR in DRN, MRN, SNc and VTA neuronal systems is significantly and gradually enhanced after 1-and-2-week osmotic stress. In addition, our results proved that all dehydrated rats were characterized by a significant and proportional rise of the reaction time to the nociceptive response in the hot plate test, as water deprivation duration increased, suggesting that dehydration caused a significant decrease in pain perception. Finally, the data described here clearly showed the implication of serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems in the resistance to osmotic stress. Therefore, in this study, such central impairments were traduced by a few peripheral outcomes manifested by changes in mood state and nociception. V.A preliminary observation about resveratrol (RSV) dependent normalization of inflammatory and apoptotic factors in the cortex of hyperammonemic rat model of moderate grade hepatic encephalopathy (MoHE) led us to evaluate whether RSV is ultimately able to confer neuroprotection against MoHE pathogenesis and that it does so by activating its bonafide molecular target SIRT1. The present study compared the profile of relevant neurobehavioral pattern vs neuromorphometry of hippocampal CA1 neurons and SIRT1 activity in the hippocampus of the chronic liver failure (CLF) model of moderate grade HE (MoHE) rats induced by administration of 100 mg/kg body weight of thioacetamide i.p. for 10 days and in the CLF/MoHE rats treated with 10 mg/kg body weight RSV i.p. for 7 days. As compared to the control group rats, the MoHE rats showed significantly deranged pattern of memory and motor functions on MWM and rota rod tests, respectively. These behavioural deficits were associated with a significant reduction in apical dendrite length and number of branching points in the CA1 pyramidal neurons. Interestingly, all these parameters were found to be recovered **** to their normal levels in the MoHE rats treated with RSV. Concordantly, MoHE associated declined SIRT1 activity in the hippocampus could be normalized **** due to RSV treatment to those MoHE rats. Our findings suggest that RSV is able to normalize MoHE associated memory impairments and motor deficits vis a vis reversal of CA1 dendritic atrophy via SIRT1 activation. V.
    PURPOSE To determine the role of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in low-dose radiation-induced radiation pneumonitis (RP) and to assess whether the inhibition or deletion of the NLRP3 inflammasome is critical for conferring protection against RP. MATERIALS AND METHODS THP-1 cells were treated with increasing doses of radiation to assess the activation of NLRP3 by Western blot and ELISA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured by flow cytometry, with or without ROS inhibitor treatment. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Mycophenolate-mofetil-(CellCept).html A mouse thoracic radiation model that received different doses of radiation was used, and the lung tissues of thoracic-irradiated nlrp3-/- and wild-type C57BL/6 mice were examined by H&E and immunofluorescence staining. The concentrations of cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by ELISA and Luminex multiplex assays. LPS was administered intranasally 28 days after thoracic irradiation, and MCC950 was administered intraperitoneally after irradiation at 2 different doses. RESULTS 1. The NLRP3 inflammasome was activated in 2 Gy-irradiated THP-1 cells; NLRP3 and cleaved-caspase-1 levels were not associated with dose escalation. 2. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome was mediated by ROS, and ROS inhibitor treatment decreased the production of IL-1β and IL-18 in vitro. 3. NLRP3 was activated in mouse lungs by irradiation at 2 Gy, 4 Gy, and 16 Gy, and NLRP3 activation was continuous. 4. NLRP3 protects against LPS-mediated monocyte infiltration in the mouse lung. 5. The administration of MCC950 decreased the inflammation score of the mice irradiated with 2 Gy or 16 Gy in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by low-dose irradiation both in vitro and in vivo. The inhibition or deletion of NLRP3 can specifically alleviate the mouse lung inflammation caused by radiation and LPS treatment. This study reveals the mechanism of low-dose radiation therapy-induced RP; furthermore, it offers a possible treatment strategy for patients. Ethanol intoxication can produce marked changes in cognitive function including states in which the ability to learn and remember new information is completely disrupted. These defects likely reflect changes in the synaptic plasticity thought to underlie memory formation. We have studied mechanisms contributing to the adverse effects of ethanol on hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and provided evidence that ethanol-mediated LTP inhibition involves a form of metaplasticity resulting from local metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde and untimely activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), both of which are neuronal stressors. In the present studies, we sought to understand the role of cellular stress in LTP defects, and demonstrate that ethanol's effects on LTP in the CA1 hippocampal region are overcome by agents that inhibit cellular stress responses, including ISRIB, a specific inhibitor of integrated stress responses, and GW3965, an agonist that acts at liver X receptors (LXRs) and dampens cellular stress. The agents that alter LTP inhibition also prevent the adverse effects of acute ethanol on one trial inhibitory avoidance learning. Unexpectedly, we found that the LXR agonist but not ISRIB overcomes effects of ethanol on synaptic responses mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). These results have implications for understanding the adverse effects of ethanol and possibly for identifying novel paths to treatments that can prevent or overcome ethanol-induced cognitive dysfunction. This study examined the effect of prolonged water deprivation, in rat, on 5-HT and TH- immuno-expression in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus (DRN), Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SNc), Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), and Magnus Raphe Nucleus (MRN). In parallel, we evaluated the anxiety state and pain perception in dehydrated rats. Our Findings revealed that dehydrated rats exhibited more preference for the dark compartment, suggesting that prolonged water deprivation is associated to an anxiogenic effect. After one week, 5 H T IR in the DRN of dehydrated rates showed a significant decrease. This was reversed to a significant increase post week 2 of dehydration. Our findings also demonstrated that TH-IR in DRN, MRN, SNc and VTA neuronal systems is significantly and gradually enhanced after 1-and-2-week osmotic stress. In addition, our results proved that all dehydrated rats were characterized by a significant and proportional rise of the reaction time to the nociceptive response in the hot plate test, as water deprivation duration increased, suggesting that dehydration caused a significant decrease in pain perception. Finally, the data described here clearly showed the implication of serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems in the resistance to osmotic stress. Therefore, in this study, such central impairments were traduced by a few peripheral outcomes manifested by changes in mood state and nociception. V.A preliminary observation about resveratrol (RSV) dependent normalization of inflammatory and apoptotic factors in the cortex of hyperammonemic rat model of moderate grade hepatic encephalopathy (MoHE) led us to evaluate whether RSV is ultimately able to confer neuroprotection against MoHE pathogenesis and that it does so by activating its bonafide molecular target SIRT1. The present study compared the profile of relevant neurobehavioral pattern vs neuromorphometry of hippocampal CA1 neurons and SIRT1 activity in the hippocampus of the chronic liver failure (CLF) model of moderate grade HE (MoHE) rats induced by administration of 100 mg/kg body weight of thioacetamide i.p. for 10 days and in the CLF/MoHE rats treated with 10 mg/kg body weight RSV i.p. for 7 days. As compared to the control group rats, the MoHE rats showed significantly deranged pattern of memory and motor functions on MWM and rota rod tests, respectively. These behavioural deficits were associated with a significant reduction in apical dendrite length and number of branching points in the CA1 pyramidal neurons. Interestingly, all these parameters were found to be recovered back to their normal levels in the MoHE rats treated with RSV. Concordantly, MoHE associated declined SIRT1 activity in the hippocampus could be normalized back due to RSV treatment to those MoHE rats. Our findings suggest that RSV is able to normalize MoHE associated memory impairments and motor deficits vis a vis reversal of CA1 dendritic atrophy via SIRT1 activation. V.
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  • Background Recommendations regarding head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGL) have undergone a fundamental reorientation in the last decade as a result of increased understanding of the genetic and pathophysiologic basis of these disorders. Objective We aim to provide an overview of HNPGL and recent discoveries regarding their molecular genetics, along with updated recommendations on workup, treatment, and surveillance, and their implications for otolaryngologists treating patients with these disorders. Results SDHx susceptibility gene mutations, encoding subunits of the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), give rise to the Hereditary Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma Syndromes. SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, and SDHAF2 mutations each result in unique phenotypes with distinct penetrance and risk for variable tumor development as well as metastasis. Genetic and biochemical testing is recommended for every patient with HNPGL. Multifocal disease should be managed in multi-disciplinary fashion. Patients with SDHx mutations require frequent biochemical screening and whole-body imaging, as well as lifelong follow-up with an expert in hereditary pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma syndromes. Conclusion Otolaryngologists are likely to encounter patients with HNPGL. Keeping abreast of the latest recommendations, especially regarding genetic testing, workup for additional tumors, multi-disciplinary approach to care, and need for lifelong surveillance, will help otolaryngologists appropriately care for these patients.Microcirculatory alterations play an important role in the early phase of sepsis. Shedding of the endothelial glycocalyx is regarded as a central pathophysiological mechanism causing microvascular dysfunction, contributing to multiple organ failure and death in sepsis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether endothelial glycocalyx thickness at an early stage in septic patients relates to clinical outcome. We measured the perfused boundary region (PBR), which is inversely proportional to glycocalyx thickness, of sublingual microvessels (5-25 µm) using sidestream dark field imaging. The PBR in 21 patients with sepsis was measured within 24 h of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). In addition, we determined plasma markers of microcirculatory dysfunction and studied their correlation with PBR and mortality. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/sodium-2-1h-indol-3-ylacetate.html Endothelial glycocalyx thickness in sepsis was significantly lower for non-survivors as compared with survivors, indicated by a higher PBR of 1.97 [1.85, 2.19]µm compared with 1.76 [1.59, 1.97] µm, P=0.03. Admission PBR was associated with hospital mortality with an area under the curve of 0.778 based on the receiver operating characteristic curve. Furthermore, PBR correlated positively with angiopoietin-2 (rho=0.532, P=0.03), indicative of impaired barrier function. PBR did not correlate with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV (APACHE IV), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (SOFA score), lactate, syndecan-1, angiopoietin-1 or heparin-binding protein. An increased PBR within the first 24 h after ICU admission is associated with mortality in sepsis. Further research should be aimed at the pathophysiological importance of glycocalyx shedding in the development of multi-organ failure and at therapies attempting to preserve glycocalyx integrity.Frailty assessment in patients admitted to intensive care is often limited using traditional clinical frailty assessment tools. Opportunistic use of contemporary computed tomography (CT) can provide an objective estimate of low skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) as a proxy for frailty. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of sarcopenia in an Australian intensive care unit (ICU) population and to examine the relationship between sarcopenia and clinical outcomes. We undertook a single centre retrospective study of 1085 adult patients admitted to a single ICU over 12 months. Patients with a contemporary CT scan including the L3 vertebral body were included. Patients were categorised as sarcopenic or non-sarcopenic using previously published data. A total of 279 patients with a mean age of 67 years had an eligible CT scan; 163 (58%) were male. Higher 30-day mortality was associated with the use of CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy) during the ICU admission (OR 6.84, P less then 0.001) and also associated with lower cross-sectional muscle area (odds ratio (OR) 0.98, P = 0.004). Sarcopenia was found to be highly prevalent in this particular Australian ICU population (68%) and associated with older age (68 versus 55 years, P less then 0.001), lower body mass index (27 versus 32 kg m-2, P less then 0.001), more comorbidities (3 versus 2, P = 0.009), and longer stays in hospital (279 versus 223 h, P = 0.043). As a continuous predictor, lumbar muscle mass was associated with 30-day mortality with and without adjusting for other covariates.The correlation between intracranial and aortic aneurysms remains elusive. Data in the literature are scattered, and outcome reporting is swamped with heterogeneity and single-center bias. This calamity is adding to confusion on decision-making and delays the instigation of appropriate clinical applications. This literature review delves into the abyss of the lack of clinically driven scientific input, and highlights the trends explored thus far.Noise induced by incipient-propeller tip vortex cavitation (TVC) has a few sources near the propeller tips, which radiate a broadband signal. This article describes a compressive sensing (CS)-based TVC localization technique for coherent multiple-frequency processing, which jointly processes the measured data at multiple frequencies. Block-sparse CS, which groups several single-frequency measurements into blocks, is adopted for coherent multiple-frequency processing. The coherent multiple-frequency processing improves localization performance over that of single-frequency processing. Unlike single-frequency processing using conventional CS, which combines independent single-frequency measurement treatments by averaging, coherent multiple-frequency processing produces accurate localization without requiring a sufficient number of treated frequencies, long-time-sampled data with a time-invariant signal assumption, or even a single cavitation event. The approach is demonstrated on experimental data from a transducer source experiment and a cavitation source experiment.
    Background Recommendations regarding head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGL) have undergone a fundamental reorientation in the last decade as a result of increased understanding of the genetic and pathophysiologic basis of these disorders. Objective We aim to provide an overview of HNPGL and recent discoveries regarding their molecular genetics, along with updated recommendations on workup, treatment, and surveillance, and their implications for otolaryngologists treating patients with these disorders. Results SDHx susceptibility gene mutations, encoding subunits of the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), give rise to the Hereditary Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma Syndromes. SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, and SDHAF2 mutations each result in unique phenotypes with distinct penetrance and risk for variable tumor development as well as metastasis. Genetic and biochemical testing is recommended for every patient with HNPGL. Multifocal disease should be managed in multi-disciplinary fashion. Patients with SDHx mutations require frequent biochemical screening and whole-body imaging, as well as lifelong follow-up with an expert in hereditary pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma syndromes. Conclusion Otolaryngologists are likely to encounter patients with HNPGL. Keeping abreast of the latest recommendations, especially regarding genetic testing, workup for additional tumors, multi-disciplinary approach to care, and need for lifelong surveillance, will help otolaryngologists appropriately care for these patients.Microcirculatory alterations play an important role in the early phase of sepsis. Shedding of the endothelial glycocalyx is regarded as a central pathophysiological mechanism causing microvascular dysfunction, contributing to multiple organ failure and death in sepsis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether endothelial glycocalyx thickness at an early stage in septic patients relates to clinical outcome. We measured the perfused boundary region (PBR), which is inversely proportional to glycocalyx thickness, of sublingual microvessels (5-25 µm) using sidestream dark field imaging. The PBR in 21 patients with sepsis was measured within 24 h of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). In addition, we determined plasma markers of microcirculatory dysfunction and studied their correlation with PBR and mortality. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/sodium-2-1h-indol-3-ylacetate.html Endothelial glycocalyx thickness in sepsis was significantly lower for non-survivors as compared with survivors, indicated by a higher PBR of 1.97 [1.85, 2.19]µm compared with 1.76 [1.59, 1.97] µm, P=0.03. Admission PBR was associated with hospital mortality with an area under the curve of 0.778 based on the receiver operating characteristic curve. Furthermore, PBR correlated positively with angiopoietin-2 (rho=0.532, P=0.03), indicative of impaired barrier function. PBR did not correlate with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV (APACHE IV), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (SOFA score), lactate, syndecan-1, angiopoietin-1 or heparin-binding protein. An increased PBR within the first 24 h after ICU admission is associated with mortality in sepsis. Further research should be aimed at the pathophysiological importance of glycocalyx shedding in the development of multi-organ failure and at therapies attempting to preserve glycocalyx integrity.Frailty assessment in patients admitted to intensive care is often limited using traditional clinical frailty assessment tools. Opportunistic use of contemporary computed tomography (CT) can provide an objective estimate of low skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) as a proxy for frailty. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of sarcopenia in an Australian intensive care unit (ICU) population and to examine the relationship between sarcopenia and clinical outcomes. We undertook a single centre retrospective study of 1085 adult patients admitted to a single ICU over 12 months. Patients with a contemporary CT scan including the L3 vertebral body were included. Patients were categorised as sarcopenic or non-sarcopenic using previously published data. A total of 279 patients with a mean age of 67 years had an eligible CT scan; 163 (58%) were male. Higher 30-day mortality was associated with the use of CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy) during the ICU admission (OR 6.84, P less then 0.001) and also associated with lower cross-sectional muscle area (odds ratio (OR) 0.98, P = 0.004). Sarcopenia was found to be highly prevalent in this particular Australian ICU population (68%) and associated with older age (68 versus 55 years, P less then 0.001), lower body mass index (27 versus 32 kg m-2, P less then 0.001), more comorbidities (3 versus 2, P = 0.009), and longer stays in hospital (279 versus 223 h, P = 0.043). As a continuous predictor, lumbar muscle mass was associated with 30-day mortality with and without adjusting for other covariates.The correlation between intracranial and aortic aneurysms remains elusive. Data in the literature are scattered, and outcome reporting is swamped with heterogeneity and single-center bias. This calamity is adding to confusion on decision-making and delays the instigation of appropriate clinical applications. This literature review delves into the abyss of the lack of clinically driven scientific input, and highlights the trends explored thus far.Noise induced by incipient-propeller tip vortex cavitation (TVC) has a few sources near the propeller tips, which radiate a broadband signal. This article describes a compressive sensing (CS)-based TVC localization technique for coherent multiple-frequency processing, which jointly processes the measured data at multiple frequencies. Block-sparse CS, which groups several single-frequency measurements into blocks, is adopted for coherent multiple-frequency processing. The coherent multiple-frequency processing improves localization performance over that of single-frequency processing. Unlike single-frequency processing using conventional CS, which combines independent single-frequency measurement treatments by averaging, coherent multiple-frequency processing produces accurate localization without requiring a sufficient number of treated frequencies, long-time-sampled data with a time-invariant signal assumption, or even a single cavitation event. The approach is demonstrated on experimental data from a transducer source experiment and a cavitation source experiment.
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  • Traditionally, the choices to balance the grid and meet its peaking power needs are by installing more spinning reserves or perform load shedding when it becomes too ****. This problem becomes worse as more intermittent renewable energy resources are installed, forming a substantial amount of total capacity. Advancements in Energy Storage System (ESS) provides the utility new ways to balance the grid and to meet its peak demand by storing un-used off peak energy for peak usage. Large sized ESS-mega watt (MW) level-are installed by different utilities at their substations to provide the high speed grid stabilization to balance the grid to avoid installing more capacity or triggering any current load shedding schemes. However, such large sized ESS systems and their required inverters are costly to install, require **** space and their efficacy could also be limited due to network fault current limits and impedances. In this paper, we propose a novel approach and trial for 3000+ homes in Singapore of achieving athey were able to control their choices, possibly allowing this design to be the most successful demand management program than any large ESS solution for the utility. The proposed system has the ability to operate in centralized as part of a larger Energy Management System (EMS) Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) that decide what to dispatch as well as in autonomous modes making it simpler to manage than any MW level large ESS setup. With the availability of high-speed sampling at the DB level, it can rely on EMS SCADA dispatch or when disconnected, rely on the decaying of the grid frequency measured at the metering point in the Smart DB. Our simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach for fast grid balancing.The present study aimed to prepare usnic acid (UA)-loaded chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (UA-CS NPs) and evaluate its antibacterial activity against biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria. UA-CS NPs were prepared through simple ionic gelification of UA with CS, and further characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and field-emission transmission electron microscopy. The UA-CS NPs presented a loading capacity (LC) of 5.2%, encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 24%, and a spherical shape and rough surface. The maximum release of UA was higher in pH 1.2 buffer solution as compared to that in pH 6.8 and 7.4 buffer solution. The average size and zeta potential of the UA-CS NPs was 311.5 ± 49.9 nm in diameter and +27.3 ± 0.8 mV, respectively. The newly prepared UA-CS NPs exhibited antibacterial activity against persister cells obtained from the stationary phase in batch culture, mature biofilms, and antibiotic-induced gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Exposure of sub-inhibitory concentrations of UA-CS NPs to the bacterial cells resulted in a change in morphology. The present study suggests an alternative method for the application of UA into nanoparticles. Furthermore, the anti-persister activity of UA-CS NPs may be another possible strategy for the treatment of infections caused by biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria.Many studies have established a relationship between visual function and motor development in toddlers. This is the first report to study two-year-olds via an assessment of their visual and motor skills. The purpose of this study is to describe the possible changes that can occur between visual and motor systems in typical developing toddlers. A total of 116 toddlers were included in this observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Their mean age was 29.57 ± 3.45 months. Motor development variables studied were dominant hand/foot; stationary, locomotion, object manipulation, grasping, visual motor integration percentiles; gross motor, fine motor, and total motor percentiles; and gross motor, fine motor, and total motor quotients. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole.html Visual development variables were assessed including visual acuity, refractive error, ocular alignment, motor fusion and suppression, ocular motility, and stereopsis. Our findings demonstrated that typical developing toddlers with slow gross motor development had higher exophoria and further near point of convergence values compared to toddlers with fast gross motor development (p less then 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in visual acuity and stereopsis between slow and fast gross motor development toddlers.Background and objectives Opinions differ regarding the optimal diagnostic methods for patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) and compare it to pre-operative magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography (****); Materials and Methods In all patients with suspected choledocholithiasis LUS was performed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy to evaluate biliary stones. According to availability, part of the patients had pre-operative ****. Data for diagnostic accuracy and main outcomes were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively; Results Choledocholithiasis was detected in 178 of 297 patients by LUS (59.93%) and in 39 of 87 patients by **** (44.8%), p = 0.041. LUS yielded a sensitivity of 99.4%, a specificity of 94.3%, a positive predictive value of 96.1% and a negative predictive value of 99.1%. However, pre-operative **** had a sensitivity of 61.7%, a specificity of 92.3%, a positive predictive value of 94.9% and a negative predictive value of 51.1%. Moreover, of the 47 patients with no choledocholithiasis by ****, in 23 cases it was later detected by LUS (a false negative **** finding-38.3%), p less then 0.001. Median duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter in patients evaluated without pre-operative ****-8 days (interquartile range - IQR 11-6) vs. 11 days (IQR 14-9), p = 0.001; Conclusions LUS may reduce the role of pre-operative **** and can become a rational alternative to **** as a primary imaging technique for the detection of choledocholithiasis.The main aim of this work is the estimation of health risks arising from exposure to ozone or other air pollutants by different statistical models taking into account delayed health effects. This paper presents the risk of hospitalization due to bronchitis and asthma exacerbation in adult inhabitants of Silesian Voivodeship from 1 January 2016 to 31 August 2017. Data were obtained from the daily register of hospitalizations for acute bronchitis (code J20-J21, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision - ICD-10) and asthma (J45-J46) which is governed by the National Health Fund. Meteorological data and data on tropospheric ozone concentrations were obtained from the regional environmental monitoring database of the Provincial Inspector of Environmental Protection in Katowice. The paper includes descriptive and analytical statistical methods used in the estimation of health risk with a delayed effect Almon Distributed Lag Model, the Poisson Distributed Lag Model, and Distributed Lag Non-Linear Model (DLNM).
    Traditionally, the choices to balance the grid and meet its peaking power needs are by installing more spinning reserves or perform load shedding when it becomes too much. This problem becomes worse as more intermittent renewable energy resources are installed, forming a substantial amount of total capacity. Advancements in Energy Storage System (ESS) provides the utility new ways to balance the grid and to meet its peak demand by storing un-used off peak energy for peak usage. Large sized ESS-mega watt (MW) level-are installed by different utilities at their substations to provide the high speed grid stabilization to balance the grid to avoid installing more capacity or triggering any current load shedding schemes. However, such large sized ESS systems and their required inverters are costly to install, require much space and their efficacy could also be limited due to network fault current limits and impedances. In this paper, we propose a novel approach and trial for 3000+ homes in Singapore of achieving athey were able to control their choices, possibly allowing this design to be the most successful demand management program than any large ESS solution for the utility. The proposed system has the ability to operate in centralized as part of a larger Energy Management System (EMS) Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) that decide what to dispatch as well as in autonomous modes making it simpler to manage than any MW level large ESS setup. With the availability of high-speed sampling at the DB level, it can rely on EMS SCADA dispatch or when disconnected, rely on the decaying of the grid frequency measured at the metering point in the Smart DB. Our simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach for fast grid balancing.The present study aimed to prepare usnic acid (UA)-loaded chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (UA-CS NPs) and evaluate its antibacterial activity against biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria. UA-CS NPs were prepared through simple ionic gelification of UA with CS, and further characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and field-emission transmission electron microscopy. The UA-CS NPs presented a loading capacity (LC) of 5.2%, encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 24%, and a spherical shape and rough surface. The maximum release of UA was higher in pH 1.2 buffer solution as compared to that in pH 6.8 and 7.4 buffer solution. The average size and zeta potential of the UA-CS NPs was 311.5 ± 49.9 nm in diameter and +27.3 ± 0.8 mV, respectively. The newly prepared UA-CS NPs exhibited antibacterial activity against persister cells obtained from the stationary phase in batch culture, mature biofilms, and antibiotic-induced gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Exposure of sub-inhibitory concentrations of UA-CS NPs to the bacterial cells resulted in a change in morphology. The present study suggests an alternative method for the application of UA into nanoparticles. Furthermore, the anti-persister activity of UA-CS NPs may be another possible strategy for the treatment of infections caused by biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria.Many studies have established a relationship between visual function and motor development in toddlers. This is the first report to study two-year-olds via an assessment of their visual and motor skills. The purpose of this study is to describe the possible changes that can occur between visual and motor systems in typical developing toddlers. A total of 116 toddlers were included in this observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Their mean age was 29.57 ± 3.45 months. Motor development variables studied were dominant hand/foot; stationary, locomotion, object manipulation, grasping, visual motor integration percentiles; gross motor, fine motor, and total motor percentiles; and gross motor, fine motor, and total motor quotients. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole.html Visual development variables were assessed including visual acuity, refractive error, ocular alignment, motor fusion and suppression, ocular motility, and stereopsis. Our findings demonstrated that typical developing toddlers with slow gross motor development had higher exophoria and further near point of convergence values compared to toddlers with fast gross motor development (p less then 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in visual acuity and stereopsis between slow and fast gross motor development toddlers.Background and objectives Opinions differ regarding the optimal diagnostic methods for patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) and compare it to pre-operative magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP); Materials and Methods In all patients with suspected choledocholithiasis LUS was performed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy to evaluate biliary stones. According to availability, part of the patients had pre-operative MRCP. Data for diagnostic accuracy and main outcomes were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively; Results Choledocholithiasis was detected in 178 of 297 patients by LUS (59.93%) and in 39 of 87 patients by MRCP (44.8%), p = 0.041. LUS yielded a sensitivity of 99.4%, a specificity of 94.3%, a positive predictive value of 96.1% and a negative predictive value of 99.1%. However, pre-operative MRCP had a sensitivity of 61.7%, a specificity of 92.3%, a positive predictive value of 94.9% and a negative predictive value of 51.1%. Moreover, of the 47 patients with no choledocholithiasis by MRCP, in 23 cases it was later detected by LUS (a false negative MRCP finding-38.3%), p less then 0.001. Median duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter in patients evaluated without pre-operative MRCP-8 days (interquartile range - IQR 11-6) vs. 11 days (IQR 14-9), p = 0.001; Conclusions LUS may reduce the role of pre-operative MRCP and can become a rational alternative to MRCP as a primary imaging technique for the detection of choledocholithiasis.The main aim of this work is the estimation of health risks arising from exposure to ozone or other air pollutants by different statistical models taking into account delayed health effects. This paper presents the risk of hospitalization due to bronchitis and asthma exacerbation in adult inhabitants of Silesian Voivodeship from 1 January 2016 to 31 August 2017. Data were obtained from the daily register of hospitalizations for acute bronchitis (code J20-J21, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision - ICD-10) and asthma (J45-J46) which is governed by the National Health Fund. Meteorological data and data on tropospheric ozone concentrations were obtained from the regional environmental monitoring database of the Provincial Inspector of Environmental Protection in Katowice. The paper includes descriptive and analytical statistical methods used in the estimation of health risk with a delayed effect Almon Distributed Lag Model, the Poisson Distributed Lag Model, and Distributed Lag Non-Linear Model (DLNM).
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  • The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed great demands on many hospitals to maximize their capacity to care for affected patients. The requirement to reassign space has created challenges for obstetric services. We describe the nature of that challenge for an obstetric service in New York City. This experience raised an ethical challenge whether it would be consistent with professional integrity to respond to a public health emergency with a plan for obstetric services that would create an increased risk of rare maternal mortality. We answered this question using the conceptual tools of professional ethics in obstetrics, especially the professional virtue of integrity. A public health emergency requires frameshifting from an individual-patient perspective to a population-based perspective. We show that an individual-patient-based, beneficence-based deliberative clinical judgment is not an adequate basis for organizational policy in response to a public health emergency. Instead, physicians, especially those in leadership positions, must frameshift to population-based clinical ethical judgment that focuses on reduction of mortality as **** as possible in the entire population of patients served by a healthcare organization.The metabolic network is the reconstruction of the metabolic pathway of an organism that is used to represent the interaction between enzymes and metabolites in genome level. Meanwhile, metabolic engineering is a process that modifies the metabolic network of a cell to increase the production of metabolites. However, the metabolic networks are too complex that cause problem in identifying near-optimal knockout genes/reactions for maximizing the metabolite's production. Therefore, through constraint-based modelling, various metaheuristic algorithms have been improvised to optimize the desired phenotypes. In this paper, PSOMOMA was compared with CSMOMA and ABCMOMA for maximizing the production of succinic acid in E. coli. Furthermore, the results obtained from PSOMOMA were validated with results from the wet lab experiment.Background Catechin is one of the secondary metabolites in Camellia sinensis L. that is alternatively produced through in vitro cultures. The in vitro culture product is possibly improved by optimizing the culture medium with the addition of growth regulators and precursors. The purpose of this study was to confirm the success of the secondary catechin metabolite production through the in vitro culture of C. sinensis L in a relatively short time. Methods The secondary catechin metabolite product is obtained in about 40 days. The study was conducted by (1) leaf cutting for inoculation in Murashige and Skoog media with 1 μg/mL of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid growth regulator; (2) the inoculation of callus multiplication on the same medium as a partially modified inoculation media condition with the addition of 1 μg/mL of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2 μg/mL of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid at concentration; (3) callus multiplication developed on a new medium containing phenylalanine precursors (300 μg/mL); (4) testing growth by harvesting the callus and weighing the wet weight of its biomass and (5) identification of the callus qualitatively and quantitatively by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). https://www.selleckchem.com/products/s961.html Results The level of secondary catechin metabolite produced was 2.54 μg/mL and 12.13 μg/mL in solid and suspension media, respectively. Conclusions It is concluded that the method is effective and efficient in producing catechin product from C. sinensis L.Background Experiencing early-life stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. Ferulic acid is a phenolic compound found in some plants which has several pharmacological properties. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. In this study we aimed to assess the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid in a mouse model of maternal separation (MS) stress by focusing on the possible involvement of NMDA receptors. Methods **** were treated with ferulic acid (5 and 40 mg/kg) alone and in combination with NMDA receptor agonist/antagonist. Valid behavioral tests were performed, including open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze test (EPM), while quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate gene expression of NMDA subunits (GluN2A and GluN2B) in the hippocampus. Results Findings showed that treatment of MS **** with ferulic acid increased the time spent in the central zone of the OFT and increased both open arm time and the percent of open arm entries in the EPM. Ferulic acid reduced the expression of NMDA receptor subunit genes. We showed that administration of NMDA receptor agonist (NMDA) and antagonist (ketamine) exerted anxiogenic and anxiolytic-like effects, correspondingly. Results showed that co-administration of a sub-effective dose of ferulic acid plus ketamine potentiated the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid. Furthermore, co-administration of an effective dose of ferulic acid plus NMDA receptor agonist (NMDA) attenuated the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid. Conclusions In deduction, our findings showed that NMDA, partially at least, is involved in the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid in the OFT and EPM tests.Background Lead (Pb) is one of the metals most prevalent in the environment and is known to cause infertility and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation. This study aimed to determine the association between seminal plasma Pb and sperm DNA fragmentation in men investigated for infertility. Methods Male partners (n = 300) of couples investigated for infertility were recruited after informed consent was obtained. Sperm parameters were assessed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Seminal plasma Pb was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after digestion with nitric acid. Results In Pb-positive and -negative groups the sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation were compared using independent sample t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test, respectively. The mean [standard deviation (SD)] age and duration of infertility were 34.8 (5.34) years and 45.7 (35.09) months, respectively, and the mean Pb concentration was 15.7 μg/dL. In Pb positives compared to Pb negatives the means (SD) of sperm count, progressive motility viability and normal morphology were lower (p > 0.
    The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed great demands on many hospitals to maximize their capacity to care for affected patients. The requirement to reassign space has created challenges for obstetric services. We describe the nature of that challenge for an obstetric service in New York City. This experience raised an ethical challenge whether it would be consistent with professional integrity to respond to a public health emergency with a plan for obstetric services that would create an increased risk of rare maternal mortality. We answered this question using the conceptual tools of professional ethics in obstetrics, especially the professional virtue of integrity. A public health emergency requires frameshifting from an individual-patient perspective to a population-based perspective. We show that an individual-patient-based, beneficence-based deliberative clinical judgment is not an adequate basis for organizational policy in response to a public health emergency. Instead, physicians, especially those in leadership positions, must frameshift to population-based clinical ethical judgment that focuses on reduction of mortality as much as possible in the entire population of patients served by a healthcare organization.The metabolic network is the reconstruction of the metabolic pathway of an organism that is used to represent the interaction between enzymes and metabolites in genome level. Meanwhile, metabolic engineering is a process that modifies the metabolic network of a cell to increase the production of metabolites. However, the metabolic networks are too complex that cause problem in identifying near-optimal knockout genes/reactions for maximizing the metabolite's production. Therefore, through constraint-based modelling, various metaheuristic algorithms have been improvised to optimize the desired phenotypes. In this paper, PSOMOMA was compared with CSMOMA and ABCMOMA for maximizing the production of succinic acid in E. coli. Furthermore, the results obtained from PSOMOMA were validated with results from the wet lab experiment.Background Catechin is one of the secondary metabolites in Camellia sinensis L. that is alternatively produced through in vitro cultures. The in vitro culture product is possibly improved by optimizing the culture medium with the addition of growth regulators and precursors. The purpose of this study was to confirm the success of the secondary catechin metabolite production through the in vitro culture of C. sinensis L in a relatively short time. Methods The secondary catechin metabolite product is obtained in about 40 days. The study was conducted by (1) leaf cutting for inoculation in Murashige and Skoog media with 1 μg/mL of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid growth regulator; (2) the inoculation of callus multiplication on the same medium as a partially modified inoculation media condition with the addition of 1 μg/mL of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2 μg/mL of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid at concentration; (3) callus multiplication developed on a new medium containing phenylalanine precursors (300 μg/mL); (4) testing growth by harvesting the callus and weighing the wet weight of its biomass and (5) identification of the callus qualitatively and quantitatively by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). https://www.selleckchem.com/products/s961.html Results The level of secondary catechin metabolite produced was 2.54 μg/mL and 12.13 μg/mL in solid and suspension media, respectively. Conclusions It is concluded that the method is effective and efficient in producing catechin product from C. sinensis L.Background Experiencing early-life stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. Ferulic acid is a phenolic compound found in some plants which has several pharmacological properties. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. In this study we aimed to assess the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid in a mouse model of maternal separation (MS) stress by focusing on the possible involvement of NMDA receptors. Methods Mice were treated with ferulic acid (5 and 40 mg/kg) alone and in combination with NMDA receptor agonist/antagonist. Valid behavioral tests were performed, including open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze test (EPM), while quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate gene expression of NMDA subunits (GluN2A and GluN2B) in the hippocampus. Results Findings showed that treatment of MS mice with ferulic acid increased the time spent in the central zone of the OFT and increased both open arm time and the percent of open arm entries in the EPM. Ferulic acid reduced the expression of NMDA receptor subunit genes. We showed that administration of NMDA receptor agonist (NMDA) and antagonist (ketamine) exerted anxiogenic and anxiolytic-like effects, correspondingly. Results showed that co-administration of a sub-effective dose of ferulic acid plus ketamine potentiated the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid. Furthermore, co-administration of an effective dose of ferulic acid plus NMDA receptor agonist (NMDA) attenuated the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid. Conclusions In deduction, our findings showed that NMDA, partially at least, is involved in the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid in the OFT and EPM tests.Background Lead (Pb) is one of the metals most prevalent in the environment and is known to cause infertility and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation. This study aimed to determine the association between seminal plasma Pb and sperm DNA fragmentation in men investigated for infertility. Methods Male partners (n = 300) of couples investigated for infertility were recruited after informed consent was obtained. Sperm parameters were assessed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Seminal plasma Pb was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after digestion with nitric acid. Results In Pb-positive and -negative groups the sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation were compared using independent sample t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test, respectively. The mean [standard deviation (SD)] age and duration of infertility were 34.8 (5.34) years and 45.7 (35.09) months, respectively, and the mean Pb concentration was 15.7 μg/dL. In Pb positives compared to Pb negatives the means (SD) of sperm count, progressive motility viability and normal morphology were lower (p > 0.
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  • nvironmental association (origin, endemic character, general distribution, substrate, elevation, habitat, local abundance, hygrophilous behavior, conservation status). All these traits were compiled from all the available information sources, resulting in a complete and updated database for Sierra Nevada vascular flora. This data set provides valuable information on plant traits in an outstanding micro-hotspot within the Mediterranean hotspot. This data set can be freely used for non-commercial purposes. This data set is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). When you use this data set, we request that you cite the data and this data paper. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Long non-coding small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (lncRNA SNHG7) was verified to act as an onco-gene in human cancers. Nevertheless, the role of SNHG7 in malignant melanoma remains elusive. The present study showed an increase of SNHG7 expression in malignant melanoma tissues and cell lines. Besides, SNHG7 knockdown inhibited proliferation and migration in malignant melanoma cells. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that SNHG7 functions as a molecular sponge for miR-9 in biological behavior of melanoma cells. And miR-9 could inhibit the expression of PI3KR3 by binding with the 3'-UTR. Furthermore, PI3KR3, pAKT, cyclin D1 and Girdin expression was down-regulated after SNHG7 knockdown by siRNA. In addition, SNHG7 knockdown decreased xenograft growth in vivo. Taken together, this research demonstrated that SNHG7 was an oncogene in malignant melanoma, providing a novel insight for the pathogenesis and new potential therapeutic target for malignant melanoma.INTRODUCTION The allocation and equal distribution of healthcare resources is one of the major challenges of today. Therefore, a framework to analyse the prevalence of illness in the community and the use of various sources of healthcare is crucial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the health-seeking behaviour of 1025 individuals in Switzerland in a 2-month period in 2018. METHODS Population-based, cross-sectional health survey with a multistage, stratified cluster design. The LINK Institute (Luzern, Switzerland, https//www.link.ch/) interviewed a representative sample of the adult Swiss population (age ≥18 years, stratified by language region German-, French- and Italian-speaking, 70, 25 and 5%, respectively) by telephone. There were two interview rounds to account for potential seasonal variations, in May (n = 506) and November 2018 (n = 516). The health-seeking behaviour of these individuals during the previous 2 months was analysed. RESULTS In total, data of 1025 individuals were analysed 51% females,the demand and needs of people in Switzerland. They indicate that general practitioners are the most important healthcare resource in Switzerland. Compared with specialists, they provide twice as **** health advice at less costs. To optimise the health care system in Switzerland, we suggest to allocate resources where they are most needed.The reproductive number in Switzerland was between 1.5 and 2 during the first third of March, and has consistently decreased to around 1. After the announcement of the latest strict measure on 20 March 2020, namely that gatherings of more than five people in public spaces are prohibited, the reproductive number dropped significantly below 1; the authors of this study estimate the reproductive number to be between 0.6 and 0.8 in the first third of April.Acute and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common auto-infectious diseases transmitted from the intestinal tract. They affect the urinary tract either through recurrence or through persistence. The incidence of UTIs increases with age and comorbidities. In this guideline from the Swiss Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SSGO), diagnosis and treatment of UTIs are grouped into uncomplicated and complicated cases. This is to our knowledge the first guideline that specifically considers UTIs in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the prevention of UTIs in the context of urogynaecological diagnosis and surgery. Recommendations are based on observational, retrospective or randomised controlled studies. The level of evidence was rated according to recommendations made by the Oxford Centre of Evidence-based Medicine. In non-pregnant women and women less then 65 years with dysuria, pollakiuria and suprapubic pain, no urine diagnostic testing is needed. If the clinical presentation is unclear, urinary temented by NSAIDs for pain relief. If antibiotics are needed after 48 hours, or in case of direct antibiotic administration in pregnant women, the shortest possible course of treatment should be carried out. There is increasing interest in alternatives or complementary treatments to antibiotic therapy, especially for recurrent UTIs. Different recommendations and alternative medications are summarised. This short and comprehensive guideline provides quick answers for every day clinical questions concerning UTIs, especially for obstetricians and gynaecologists.Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are currently being evaluated as treatment against COVID-19. These drugs are associated with some potential harms, including QTc-interval prolongation, hypoglycaemia, severe skin reactions and psychiatric effects. Use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine should be reserved to current indications or clinical trials, as recommended by several governmental medical products agencies.Coronavirus (CoV) species are very common among animals, especially bats. The last two decades three large CoV outbreaks have appeared among humans; Severe Adult Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-1) in 2003, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012 and SARS-2 in 2019, (COVID19). Also a large epidemic among *****, ***** Acute Diarrhea Syndrome (SADS) appeared in 2017 in China. There is a pool of coronavirus among bats which have the potential to infect humans through the ACE2 receptor, and new human epidemics can be expected. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/sodium-2-1h-indol-3-ylacetate.html Therefore it is of great importance to develop new antivirals and vaccines against CoV as well as to improve the global infectious disease control of these infections.
    nvironmental association (origin, endemic character, general distribution, substrate, elevation, habitat, local abundance, hygrophilous behavior, conservation status). All these traits were compiled from all the available information sources, resulting in a complete and updated database for Sierra Nevada vascular flora. This data set provides valuable information on plant traits in an outstanding micro-hotspot within the Mediterranean hotspot. This data set can be freely used for non-commercial purposes. This data set is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). When you use this data set, we request that you cite the data and this data paper. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Long non-coding small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (lncRNA SNHG7) was verified to act as an onco-gene in human cancers. Nevertheless, the role of SNHG7 in malignant melanoma remains elusive. The present study showed an increase of SNHG7 expression in malignant melanoma tissues and cell lines. Besides, SNHG7 knockdown inhibited proliferation and migration in malignant melanoma cells. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that SNHG7 functions as a molecular sponge for miR-9 in biological behavior of melanoma cells. And miR-9 could inhibit the expression of PI3KR3 by binding with the 3'-UTR. Furthermore, PI3KR3, pAKT, cyclin D1 and Girdin expression was down-regulated after SNHG7 knockdown by siRNA. In addition, SNHG7 knockdown decreased xenograft growth in vivo. Taken together, this research demonstrated that SNHG7 was an oncogene in malignant melanoma, providing a novel insight for the pathogenesis and new potential therapeutic target for malignant melanoma.INTRODUCTION The allocation and equal distribution of healthcare resources is one of the major challenges of today. Therefore, a framework to analyse the prevalence of illness in the community and the use of various sources of healthcare is crucial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the health-seeking behaviour of 1025 individuals in Switzerland in a 2-month period in 2018. METHODS Population-based, cross-sectional health survey with a multistage, stratified cluster design. The LINK Institute (Luzern, Switzerland, https//www.link.ch/) interviewed a representative sample of the adult Swiss population (age ≥18 years, stratified by language region German-, French- and Italian-speaking, 70, 25 and 5%, respectively) by telephone. There were two interview rounds to account for potential seasonal variations, in May (n = 506) and November 2018 (n = 516). The health-seeking behaviour of these individuals during the previous 2 months was analysed. RESULTS In total, data of 1025 individuals were analysed 51% females,the demand and needs of people in Switzerland. They indicate that general practitioners are the most important healthcare resource in Switzerland. Compared with specialists, they provide twice as much health advice at less costs. To optimise the health care system in Switzerland, we suggest to allocate resources where they are most needed.The reproductive number in Switzerland was between 1.5 and 2 during the first third of March, and has consistently decreased to around 1. After the announcement of the latest strict measure on 20 March 2020, namely that gatherings of more than five people in public spaces are prohibited, the reproductive number dropped significantly below 1; the authors of this study estimate the reproductive number to be between 0.6 and 0.8 in the first third of April.Acute and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common auto-infectious diseases transmitted from the intestinal tract. They affect the urinary tract either through recurrence or through persistence. The incidence of UTIs increases with age and comorbidities. In this guideline from the Swiss Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SSGO), diagnosis and treatment of UTIs are grouped into uncomplicated and complicated cases. This is to our knowledge the first guideline that specifically considers UTIs in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the prevention of UTIs in the context of urogynaecological diagnosis and surgery. Recommendations are based on observational, retrospective or randomised controlled studies. The level of evidence was rated according to recommendations made by the Oxford Centre of Evidence-based Medicine. In non-pregnant women and women less then 65 years with dysuria, pollakiuria and suprapubic pain, no urine diagnostic testing is needed. If the clinical presentation is unclear, urinary temented by NSAIDs for pain relief. If antibiotics are needed after 48 hours, or in case of direct antibiotic administration in pregnant women, the shortest possible course of treatment should be carried out. There is increasing interest in alternatives or complementary treatments to antibiotic therapy, especially for recurrent UTIs. Different recommendations and alternative medications are summarised. This short and comprehensive guideline provides quick answers for every day clinical questions concerning UTIs, especially for obstetricians and gynaecologists.Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are currently being evaluated as treatment against COVID-19. These drugs are associated with some potential harms, including QTc-interval prolongation, hypoglycaemia, severe skin reactions and psychiatric effects. Use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine should be reserved to current indications or clinical trials, as recommended by several governmental medical products agencies.Coronavirus (CoV) species are very common among animals, especially bats. The last two decades three large CoV outbreaks have appeared among humans; Severe Adult Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-1) in 2003, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012 and SARS-2 in 2019, (COVID19). Also a large epidemic among swine, Swine Acute Diarrhea Syndrome (SADS) appeared in 2017 in China. There is a pool of coronavirus among bats which have the potential to infect humans through the ACE2 receptor, and new human epidemics can be expected. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/sodium-2-1h-indol-3-ylacetate.html Therefore it is of great importance to develop new antivirals and vaccines against CoV as well as to improve the global infectious disease control of these infections.
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  • This study communicates physicians' barriers when counselling patients at different stages of PA behaviour change and the influence of career status on barrier experience. Developing patient-stage- and career-stage-specific medical training, interventions and policy changes may enhance PA counselling among physicians, and ultimately patient PA behaviour and health outcomes.Prolyl endopeptidases (PEPs) hydrolyze proteins to yield bioactive peptides and are effective in the treatment of celiac disease. However, the catalytic efficiency of PEPs still has the potential to be improved, which could further strengthen their industrial and therapeutic applications. Herein, a novel rational design strategy based on a "near-attack conformation" of the catalytic state of PEP was adopted. Constrained dynamic simulations were applied, followed by the virtual screening of potentially favorable mutants according to their binding free energy. We redesigned Sphaerobacter thermophiles PEP with high-temperature activity/stability, a wide range of pH stabilities, and high proline specificity. As a result, the kcat value of two PEP mutants (I462W and Q560Y) increased by 208.2 and 150.1%, respectively, and the kcat/KM increased by 32.7 and 6.3%, respectively. These data revealed that the PEP mutants had improved catalytic efficiency and that our strategy can be applied for enzyme engineering.Misregulation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin and the kinase PINK1 underlie both inherited and idiopathic Parkinson's disease-associated neurodegeneration. Parkin and PINK1 work together to catalyze the assembly of ubiquitin chains on substrates located on the outer mitochondrial membrane to facilitate autophagic removal of damaged mitochondria through a process termed mitophagy. Quantitative measurements of Parkin-mediated chain assembly, both in vitro and on mitochondria, have revealed that chains are composed of Lys6, Lys11, Lys48, and Lys63 linkages. The combinatorial nature of these chains is further expanded by the ability of PINK1 to phosphorylate individual subunits. The precise architecture of chains produced by the coordinated action of PINK1 and Parkin, however, are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that quantitative middle-down mass spectrometry using uniformly 15N-labeled ubiquitin variants as internal standards informs on the extent of chain branching. We find that Parkin is a prolific branching enzyme in vitro. Quantitative middle-down mass spectrometry also reveals that phospho-Ser65-ubiquitin (pSer65-Ub)-a key activator of Parkin-is not incorporated into chains to a significant extent. Our results suggest that Parkin-mediated chain branching is "on-pathway", and branch points are the principal targets of the deubiquitinase USP30.A detailed investigation was conducted on the reaction of a BINOL-coumarin-based fluorescent probe with amino acids. On the basis of the studies including fluorescence spectroscopy, 1H NMR, UV-Vis, mass spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray analysis and molecular modeling, it was found that the distinctively different fluorescent responses of the probe toward the amino acid at the two excitation wavelengths are due to two different reaction pathways that generate different intermediates and products.No data are available on the serum metabolomics and lipidomics profiles of people with asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis. We explored the characteristic metabolites of individuals with asymptomatic severe intracranial arterial stenosis (asICAS) using untargeted serum metabolomics and lipidomics analyses based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). This case-control study included 25 participants with asICAS and 25 age- and sex-matched controls free of asICAS, who were all diagnosed by using magnetic resonance angiography and derived from the same population-based study. Serum metabolomics and lipidomics profiles were determined using UPLC-HRMS, and possible biomarker metabolites were identified. Compared with the control group, the asICAS group showed higher levels of free choline, glycerophosphocholine, uracil, taurine, and four peptide molecules and lower levels of free fatty acids, hydroxydodecanedioic acid, hydroxy valeryl carnitine, hydroxytetradecanedioic acid, and two sphingomyelin molecules. The serum metabolomics and lipidomics profiles for people with asICAS are characterized by abnormal metabolism of sphingomyelin, taurine/hypotaurine, pyrimidine, and protein (peptide). The biological changes in asICAS may mainly involve taurine/hypotaurine, glycerophospholipid, and sphingolipid metabolism pathways. Biofunctional analysis indicated that these differential metabolites were correlated with metabolic diseases such as early myocardial injury, heart failure, and diabetes.Phosphinidene complexes of a general formula RPM(CO)n (R = an alkyl or aryl group; M = a transition metal) are electrophilic and thermally unstable. Thus, the isolation of these elusive species for structural elucidations remains so far a challenge. Herein, we report the first terminal phosphinidene complexes [(NHC)C(Ph)P]Fe(CO)4 (NHC = IPr = C(NDipp)CH2, 3; Me-IPr = C(NDipp)CMe2, 4; Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3; NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) as red crystalline solids containing a π-donor N-heterocyclic vinyl (NHV) substituent at the phosphorus atom. Calculations reveal the donor-acceptor type bonding between phosphorus and iron atoms in 3 and 4. The P→Fe donation represents ~70 % whereas the Fe→P π-**** donation corresponds to ~15 % of the orbital interaction. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/l-kynurenine.html The phosphorus atom in 3 and 4 carries +0.65e and +0.64e charge, respectively, indicating an electrophilic character of the phosphinidene (NHC)C(Ph)P moiety. Accordingly, 3 reacts with an NHC nucleophile (IMe4) to yield the Lewis adduct [(NHC)C(Ph)P(IMe4)]Fe(CO)4 (5) (IMe4 = C(NMeCMe)2). The coordination of an electron-rich NHC (IMe4) to the phosphorus atom in 5 precludes the π-electron density transfer from the NHV to the phosphorus atom. Thus, the CIPr‒CVinyl and CVinyl‒P bonds of 5 become respectively shorter and longer compared to those of 3.
    This study communicates physicians' barriers when counselling patients at different stages of PA behaviour change and the influence of career status on barrier experience. Developing patient-stage- and career-stage-specific medical training, interventions and policy changes may enhance PA counselling among physicians, and ultimately patient PA behaviour and health outcomes.Prolyl endopeptidases (PEPs) hydrolyze proteins to yield bioactive peptides and are effective in the treatment of celiac disease. However, the catalytic efficiency of PEPs still has the potential to be improved, which could further strengthen their industrial and therapeutic applications. Herein, a novel rational design strategy based on a "near-attack conformation" of the catalytic state of PEP was adopted. Constrained dynamic simulations were applied, followed by the virtual screening of potentially favorable mutants according to their binding free energy. We redesigned Sphaerobacter thermophiles PEP with high-temperature activity/stability, a wide range of pH stabilities, and high proline specificity. As a result, the kcat value of two PEP mutants (I462W and Q560Y) increased by 208.2 and 150.1%, respectively, and the kcat/KM increased by 32.7 and 6.3%, respectively. These data revealed that the PEP mutants had improved catalytic efficiency and that our strategy can be applied for enzyme engineering.Misregulation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin and the kinase PINK1 underlie both inherited and idiopathic Parkinson's disease-associated neurodegeneration. Parkin and PINK1 work together to catalyze the assembly of ubiquitin chains on substrates located on the outer mitochondrial membrane to facilitate autophagic removal of damaged mitochondria through a process termed mitophagy. Quantitative measurements of Parkin-mediated chain assembly, both in vitro and on mitochondria, have revealed that chains are composed of Lys6, Lys11, Lys48, and Lys63 linkages. The combinatorial nature of these chains is further expanded by the ability of PINK1 to phosphorylate individual subunits. The precise architecture of chains produced by the coordinated action of PINK1 and Parkin, however, are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that quantitative middle-down mass spectrometry using uniformly 15N-labeled ubiquitin variants as internal standards informs on the extent of chain branching. We find that Parkin is a prolific branching enzyme in vitro. Quantitative middle-down mass spectrometry also reveals that phospho-Ser65-ubiquitin (pSer65-Ub)-a key activator of Parkin-is not incorporated into chains to a significant extent. Our results suggest that Parkin-mediated chain branching is "on-pathway", and branch points are the principal targets of the deubiquitinase USP30.A detailed investigation was conducted on the reaction of a BINOL-coumarin-based fluorescent probe with amino acids. On the basis of the studies including fluorescence spectroscopy, 1H NMR, UV-Vis, mass spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray analysis and molecular modeling, it was found that the distinctively different fluorescent responses of the probe toward the amino acid at the two excitation wavelengths are due to two different reaction pathways that generate different intermediates and products.No data are available on the serum metabolomics and lipidomics profiles of people with asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis. We explored the characteristic metabolites of individuals with asymptomatic severe intracranial arterial stenosis (asICAS) using untargeted serum metabolomics and lipidomics analyses based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). This case-control study included 25 participants with asICAS and 25 age- and sex-matched controls free of asICAS, who were all diagnosed by using magnetic resonance angiography and derived from the same population-based study. Serum metabolomics and lipidomics profiles were determined using UPLC-HRMS, and possible biomarker metabolites were identified. Compared with the control group, the asICAS group showed higher levels of free choline, glycerophosphocholine, uracil, taurine, and four peptide molecules and lower levels of free fatty acids, hydroxydodecanedioic acid, hydroxy valeryl carnitine, hydroxytetradecanedioic acid, and two sphingomyelin molecules. The serum metabolomics and lipidomics profiles for people with asICAS are characterized by abnormal metabolism of sphingomyelin, taurine/hypotaurine, pyrimidine, and protein (peptide). The biological changes in asICAS may mainly involve taurine/hypotaurine, glycerophospholipid, and sphingolipid metabolism pathways. Biofunctional analysis indicated that these differential metabolites were correlated with metabolic diseases such as early myocardial injury, heart failure, and diabetes.Phosphinidene complexes of a general formula RPM(CO)n (R = an alkyl or aryl group; M = a transition metal) are electrophilic and thermally unstable. Thus, the isolation of these elusive species for structural elucidations remains so far a challenge. Herein, we report the first terminal phosphinidene complexes [(NHC)C(Ph)P]Fe(CO)4 (NHC = IPr = C(NDipp)CH2, 3; Me-IPr = C(NDipp)CMe2, 4; Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3; NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) as red crystalline solids containing a π-donor N-heterocyclic vinyl (NHV) substituent at the phosphorus atom. Calculations reveal the donor-acceptor type bonding between phosphorus and iron atoms in 3 and 4. The P→Fe donation represents ~70 % whereas the Fe→P π-back donation corresponds to ~15 % of the orbital interaction. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/l-kynurenine.html The phosphorus atom in 3 and 4 carries +0.65e and +0.64e charge, respectively, indicating an electrophilic character of the phosphinidene (NHC)C(Ph)P moiety. Accordingly, 3 reacts with an NHC nucleophile (IMe4) to yield the Lewis adduct [(NHC)C(Ph)P(IMe4)]Fe(CO)4 (5) (IMe4 = C(NMeCMe)2). The coordination of an electron-rich NHC (IMe4) to the phosphorus atom in 5 precludes the π-electron density transfer from the NHV to the phosphorus atom. Thus, the CIPr‒CVinyl and CVinyl‒P bonds of 5 become respectively shorter and longer compared to those of 3.
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  • Background Pain of the zygomatic arch region is common among patients with orofacial pain, especially in those with temporomandibular disorder-related pain of a myogenic origin. Since zygomatic arch pain may occur due to various causes other than muscle pain, appropriate diagnosis and treatment planning is essential to ensure its successful management. Unfortunately, zygomatic arch pain has not been handled as an independent clinical feature until now, and studies have mainly focused on pain resulting from trauma and surgical procedures. Case summary We describe 7 independent cases, all of which presented with the identical chief complaint of pain in the zygomatic arch region. However, the underlying causes were different for each, being myofascial pain, myositis, tooth crack, dental caries, sinusitis, neuropathic pain, and salivary gland tumor respectively. In this case report, the clinical features of each case are investigated and diseases to be considered in the diagnostic process are suggested, along with the diagnostic modalities (including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) that can lead to the appropriate final diagnosis. Conclusion Zygomatic arch pain is a common complaint encountered in the orofacial pain clinic but may lead to misdiagnosis. Clinicians must have in-depth knowledge of the possible differential diagnoses and evaluation tools.Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic complex multifactorial joint disease, and a major degenerative form of arthritis. Existing studies on the association between polymorphisms of the IL-17 gene and the risk of OA in different populations have yielded conflicting findings. Aim To investigate the association between polymorphisms of the IL-17 gene and the risk of OA. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis by systematically searching databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar to evaluate this association by calculating pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Moreover, subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity and OA type were also conducted. Results In a total of 6 citations involving 8 studies (2131 cases and 2299 controls), 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified. Of these 4 polymorphisms, 2 (rs2275913, rs763780) were common in five case-control studies. Together, the pooled results revealed that the A allele and genotype AA/GA of the rs2275913 polymorphism, and the C allele and genotype CC of the rs763780 polymorphism in the IL-17 gene increased the risk of OA. Furthermore, stratification analyses by ethnicity and OA type showed that the rs2275913 polymorphism increased the risk of OA among Asians and in knee/hip OA, respectively. In addition, stratification analyses also revealed that the rs763780 polymorphism increased OA risk among both Asians and Caucasians in knee/hip OA. Conclusion The rs763780 polymorphism of the IL-17F gene increased the risk of OA, whereas the rs2275913 polymorphism of the IL-17A gene increased the risk of OA only among Asians. Due to the limitations of this study, these findings should be validated in future studies.Background Hypertension or high blood pressure is considered as a significant contributor and risk factor to many serious conditions, approximately 1.13 billion people have hypertension globally. However, the integrated technologies can upscale health provisions and improve the effectiveness of the healthcare system. WHO has recommended that the digital health interventions (DHIs) and the Health System Challenges should be used in tandem in addressing health. Aim To summarise the outcomes from a range of research which investigated the use of DHI to improve the medication-related quality of care (MRQOC) for hypertensive patients. Methods An integrative literature review was undertaken in October 2019 using the Medline, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus databases for publications in English with no date limit. Results In total, 18433 participants were included in this review from 28 studies meeting the eligibility criteria. There were 19 DHI identified within eight countries re control; maintaining follow-ups appointment and self-management; increasing access to healthcare particularly among patients living in rural area; and reducing adverse events. However, some interventions found no significant effect on hypertensive care. The follow up duration varied between 2 mo and 18 mo with an average attrition rate of 10.1%, ranging from 0.0% to 17.4%. Conclusion Utilising digital health innovation for hypertensive care in different settings with tailored interventions positively impacted on MRQOC leading to an improvement of patient outcomes and their quality of life. Nevertheless, inconclusive findings were found in some interventions, and inconsistent outcomes between DHI were noted. A future research and evidence-based DHI for hypertension or chronic diseases should be developed through the evidence-to-decision framework and guidelines.Background Chronic hepatitis B virus infection remains a major global public health problem. Peginterferon-alpha-2a (PEG-IFN) has direct antiviral and immunoregulatory effects, and it has become one of the first choice drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Cytokines play an important role in immunity, and they directly inhibit viral replication and indirectly determine the predominant pattern of the host immune response. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/taurocholic-acid-sodium-salt-hydrate.html Aim To determine the correlation between cytokine/chemokine expression levels and response to PEG-IFN treatment in patients with CHB. Methods Forty-six kinds of cytokines were analyzed before PEG-IFN therapy and at 24 wk during therapy in 26 CHB patients. Results The monokine induced by INF-γ (CXCL9) and serum interferon-inducible protein 10 ( IP-10) levels at baseline were higher in virological responders than in non-virological responders (NRs) and decreased during treatment, whereas the NRs did not exhibit significant changes. The macrophage inflammatory protein 1d (MIP-1d) levels at baseline and during treatment were significantly higher in the virological responders than in the NRs, while thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) levels at baseline and during treatment were significantly lower in the virological responders than in the NRs. The CXCL9, IP-10, MIP-1d, and TARC baseline levels exhibited the expected effects for interferon treatment. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of CXCL9, IP-10, MIP-1d, and TARC for predicting virological responses were 0.787, 0.799, 0.787, and 0.77 (P = 0.01, 0.013, 0.01, and 0.021), respectively. Conclusion We found that cytokine levels before and during treatment may represent potential biomarkers to select CHB patients who can respond to PEG-IFN. Therefore, cytokines can be used as an indicator of antiviral drug selection before CHB treatment.
    Background Pain of the zygomatic arch region is common among patients with orofacial pain, especially in those with temporomandibular disorder-related pain of a myogenic origin. Since zygomatic arch pain may occur due to various causes other than muscle pain, appropriate diagnosis and treatment planning is essential to ensure its successful management. Unfortunately, zygomatic arch pain has not been handled as an independent clinical feature until now, and studies have mainly focused on pain resulting from trauma and surgical procedures. Case summary We describe 7 independent cases, all of which presented with the identical chief complaint of pain in the zygomatic arch region. However, the underlying causes were different for each, being myofascial pain, myositis, tooth crack, dental caries, sinusitis, neuropathic pain, and salivary gland tumor respectively. In this case report, the clinical features of each case are investigated and diseases to be considered in the diagnostic process are suggested, along with the diagnostic modalities (including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) that can lead to the appropriate final diagnosis. Conclusion Zygomatic arch pain is a common complaint encountered in the orofacial pain clinic but may lead to misdiagnosis. Clinicians must have in-depth knowledge of the possible differential diagnoses and evaluation tools.Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic complex multifactorial joint disease, and a major degenerative form of arthritis. Existing studies on the association between polymorphisms of the IL-17 gene and the risk of OA in different populations have yielded conflicting findings. Aim To investigate the association between polymorphisms of the IL-17 gene and the risk of OA. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis by systematically searching databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar to evaluate this association by calculating pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Moreover, subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity and OA type were also conducted. Results In a total of 6 citations involving 8 studies (2131 cases and 2299 controls), 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified. Of these 4 polymorphisms, 2 (rs2275913, rs763780) were common in five case-control studies. Together, the pooled results revealed that the A allele and genotype AA/GA of the rs2275913 polymorphism, and the C allele and genotype CC of the rs763780 polymorphism in the IL-17 gene increased the risk of OA. Furthermore, stratification analyses by ethnicity and OA type showed that the rs2275913 polymorphism increased the risk of OA among Asians and in knee/hip OA, respectively. In addition, stratification analyses also revealed that the rs763780 polymorphism increased OA risk among both Asians and Caucasians in knee/hip OA. Conclusion The rs763780 polymorphism of the IL-17F gene increased the risk of OA, whereas the rs2275913 polymorphism of the IL-17A gene increased the risk of OA only among Asians. Due to the limitations of this study, these findings should be validated in future studies.Background Hypertension or high blood pressure is considered as a significant contributor and risk factor to many serious conditions, approximately 1.13 billion people have hypertension globally. However, the integrated technologies can upscale health provisions and improve the effectiveness of the healthcare system. WHO has recommended that the digital health interventions (DHIs) and the Health System Challenges should be used in tandem in addressing health. Aim To summarise the outcomes from a range of research which investigated the use of DHI to improve the medication-related quality of care (MRQOC) for hypertensive patients. Methods An integrative literature review was undertaken in October 2019 using the Medline, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus databases for publications in English with no date limit. Results In total, 18433 participants were included in this review from 28 studies meeting the eligibility criteria. There were 19 DHI identified within eight countries re control; maintaining follow-ups appointment and self-management; increasing access to healthcare particularly among patients living in rural area; and reducing adverse events. However, some interventions found no significant effect on hypertensive care. The follow up duration varied between 2 mo and 18 mo with an average attrition rate of 10.1%, ranging from 0.0% to 17.4%. Conclusion Utilising digital health innovation for hypertensive care in different settings with tailored interventions positively impacted on MRQOC leading to an improvement of patient outcomes and their quality of life. Nevertheless, inconclusive findings were found in some interventions, and inconsistent outcomes between DHI were noted. A future research and evidence-based DHI for hypertension or chronic diseases should be developed through the evidence-to-decision framework and guidelines.Background Chronic hepatitis B virus infection remains a major global public health problem. Peginterferon-alpha-2a (PEG-IFN) has direct antiviral and immunoregulatory effects, and it has become one of the first choice drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Cytokines play an important role in immunity, and they directly inhibit viral replication and indirectly determine the predominant pattern of the host immune response. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/taurocholic-acid-sodium-salt-hydrate.html Aim To determine the correlation between cytokine/chemokine expression levels and response to PEG-IFN treatment in patients with CHB. Methods Forty-six kinds of cytokines were analyzed before PEG-IFN therapy and at 24 wk during therapy in 26 CHB patients. Results The monokine induced by INF-γ (CXCL9) and serum interferon-inducible protein 10 ( IP-10) levels at baseline were higher in virological responders than in non-virological responders (NRs) and decreased during treatment, whereas the NRs did not exhibit significant changes. The macrophage inflammatory protein 1d (MIP-1d) levels at baseline and during treatment were significantly higher in the virological responders than in the NRs, while thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) levels at baseline and during treatment were significantly lower in the virological responders than in the NRs. The CXCL9, IP-10, MIP-1d, and TARC baseline levels exhibited the expected effects for interferon treatment. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of CXCL9, IP-10, MIP-1d, and TARC for predicting virological responses were 0.787, 0.799, 0.787, and 0.77 (P = 0.01, 0.013, 0.01, and 0.021), respectively. Conclusion We found that cytokine levels before and during treatment may represent potential biomarkers to select CHB patients who can respond to PEG-IFN. Therefore, cytokines can be used as an indicator of antiviral drug selection before CHB treatment.
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  • Although metastatic disease is responsible for the majority of cancer deaths, tests of novel immunotherapies in mouse tumour models often focus on primary tumours without determining whether these therapies also target metastatic disease. This study examined the impact of depleting Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg), on lung metastases, using a mouse model of breast cancer. After Treg-depletion, generation of an immune response to the primary tumour was a critical determinant for limiting development of metastasis. Indeed, resection of the primary tumour abrogated any effect of Treg-depletion on metastases. In addition, whilst the immune response, generated by the primary tumour, prevented metastases development, it had little impact on controlling established disease. Collectively, the data indicate that metastatic cells in the lung are not controlled by immune responses induced by the primary tumour. These findings indicate that targeting Tregs alone will not suffice for treating lung metastases.In line with the ongoing phase I trial (NCT03784625) dedicated to melanoma targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT), we explore the interplay between immune system and the melanin ligand [131I]ICF01012 alone or combined with immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitors, ICI) in preclinical models. Here we demonstrate that [131I]ICF01012 induces immunogenic cell death, characterized by a significant increase in cell surface-exposed annexin A1 and calreticulin. Additionally, [131I]ICF01012 increases survival in immunocompetent ****, compared to immunocompromised (29 vs. 24 days, p = 0.0374). Flow cytometry and RT-qPCR analyses highlight that [131I]ICF01012 induces adaptive and innate immune cell recruitment in the tumor microenvironment. [131I]ICF01012 combination with ICIs (anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1) has shown that tolerance is a main immune escape mechanism, whereas exhaustion is not present after TRT. Furthermore, [131I]ICF01012 and ICI combination has systematically resulted in a prolonged survival (p less then 0.0001) compared to TRT alone. Specifically, [131I]ICF01012 + anti-CTLA-4 combination significantly increases survival compared to anti-CTLA-4 alone (41 vs. 26 days; p = 0.0011), without toxicity. This work represents the first global characterization of TRT-induced modifications of the antitumor immune response, demonstrating that tolerance is a main immune escape mechanism and that combining TRT and ICI is promising.Humans are extraordinarily skilled in the tactile evaluation of, and differentiation between, surfaces. The chemical and mechanical properties of these surfaces are translated into tactile signals during haptic exploration by mechanoreceptors in our skin, which are specialized to respond to different types of temporal and mechanical stimulation. Describing the effects of measurable physical characteristics on the human response to tactile exploration of surfaces is of great interest to manufacturers of household materials so that the haptic experience can be considered during design, product development and quality control. In this study, methods from psychophysics and materials science are combined to advance current understanding of which physical properties affect tactile perception of a range of furniture surfaces, i.e., foils and coatings, thus creating a tactile map of the furniture product landscape. Participants' responses in a similarity scaling task were analyzed using INDSCAL from which three haptic dimensions were identified. Results show that specific roughness parameters, tactile friction and vibrational information, as characterized by a stylus profilometer, a Forceboard, and a biomimetic synthetic finger, are important for tactile differentiation and preferences of these surface treatments. The obtained dimensions are described as distinct combinations of the surface properties characterized, rather than as 'roughness' or 'friction' independently. Preferences by touch were related to the roughness, friction and thermal properties of the surfaces. The results both complement and advance current understanding of how roughness and friction relate to tactile perception of surfaces.Neural interactions between sensorimotor integration mechanisms play critical roles in voice motor control. We investigated how high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) of the left ventral motor cortex modulates neural mechanisms of sensorimotor integration during voice motor control. HD-tDCS was performed during speech vowel production in an altered auditory feedback (AAF) paradigm in response to upward and downward pitch-shift stimuli. In one experiment, two groups received either anodal or cathodal 2 milliamp (mA) HD-tDCS to the left ventral motor cortex while a third group received sham (placebo) stimulation. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/a-1155463.html In a second experiment, two groups received either 1 mA or 2 mA cathodal HD-tDCS to the left ventral motor cortex. Results of the first experiment indicated that the magnitude of vocal compensation was significantly reduced following anodal and cathodal HD-tDCS only in responses to downward pitch-shift AAF stimuli, with stronger effects associated with cathodal HD-tDCS. However, no such effect was observed following sham stimulation. Results of the second experiment indicate that there is not a differential effect of modulation from 1 mA versus 2 mA. Further, these results replicate the directional finding of the first experiment for vocal compensation in response to downward pitch-shift only. These findings suggest that neurostimulation of the left ventral motor cortex modulates sensorimotor mechanisms underlying voice motor control. We speculate that this effect is associated with the increased contribution of feedforward motor mechanisms, leading to reduced compensatory speech responses to AAF.Synchronous pod maturity is critical for increasing grain yield. The candidate genes involved in synchronous pod maturity were identified through RNA-seq and HPLC. Mungbean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek), an important source of carbohydrate and protein in Asia, is characterized by nonsynchronous pod maturity; consequently, harvesting is labor intensive. Because pod maturity is associated with synthesis and remobilization of sucrose, we examined changes in sucrose levels and transcriptome in leaf (source) tissues after pod (sink) removal using two genotypes, VC1973A and V2984; VC1973A had higher synchronicity in pod maturity than V2984. After pod removal, **** higher number of pods were produced in V2984 than VC1973A. The sucrose content of leaf tissues significantly decreased in V2984 because it continued to utilize assimilates from leaves for producing new pods, but significantly increased in VC1973A because of the loss of sink. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the number of differentially expressed genes was approximately fourfold higher in VC1973A than in those of V2984 after pod removal.
    Although metastatic disease is responsible for the majority of cancer deaths, tests of novel immunotherapies in mouse tumour models often focus on primary tumours without determining whether these therapies also target metastatic disease. This study examined the impact of depleting Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg), on lung metastases, using a mouse model of breast cancer. After Treg-depletion, generation of an immune response to the primary tumour was a critical determinant for limiting development of metastasis. Indeed, resection of the primary tumour abrogated any effect of Treg-depletion on metastases. In addition, whilst the immune response, generated by the primary tumour, prevented metastases development, it had little impact on controlling established disease. Collectively, the data indicate that metastatic cells in the lung are not controlled by immune responses induced by the primary tumour. These findings indicate that targeting Tregs alone will not suffice for treating lung metastases.In line with the ongoing phase I trial (NCT03784625) dedicated to melanoma targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT), we explore the interplay between immune system and the melanin ligand [131I]ICF01012 alone or combined with immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitors, ICI) in preclinical models. Here we demonstrate that [131I]ICF01012 induces immunogenic cell death, characterized by a significant increase in cell surface-exposed annexin A1 and calreticulin. Additionally, [131I]ICF01012 increases survival in immunocompetent mice, compared to immunocompromised (29 vs. 24 days, p = 0.0374). Flow cytometry and RT-qPCR analyses highlight that [131I]ICF01012 induces adaptive and innate immune cell recruitment in the tumor microenvironment. [131I]ICF01012 combination with ICIs (anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1) has shown that tolerance is a main immune escape mechanism, whereas exhaustion is not present after TRT. Furthermore, [131I]ICF01012 and ICI combination has systematically resulted in a prolonged survival (p less then 0.0001) compared to TRT alone. Specifically, [131I]ICF01012 + anti-CTLA-4 combination significantly increases survival compared to anti-CTLA-4 alone (41 vs. 26 days; p = 0.0011), without toxicity. This work represents the first global characterization of TRT-induced modifications of the antitumor immune response, demonstrating that tolerance is a main immune escape mechanism and that combining TRT and ICI is promising.Humans are extraordinarily skilled in the tactile evaluation of, and differentiation between, surfaces. The chemical and mechanical properties of these surfaces are translated into tactile signals during haptic exploration by mechanoreceptors in our skin, which are specialized to respond to different types of temporal and mechanical stimulation. Describing the effects of measurable physical characteristics on the human response to tactile exploration of surfaces is of great interest to manufacturers of household materials so that the haptic experience can be considered during design, product development and quality control. In this study, methods from psychophysics and materials science are combined to advance current understanding of which physical properties affect tactile perception of a range of furniture surfaces, i.e., foils and coatings, thus creating a tactile map of the furniture product landscape. Participants' responses in a similarity scaling task were analyzed using INDSCAL from which three haptic dimensions were identified. Results show that specific roughness parameters, tactile friction and vibrational information, as characterized by a stylus profilometer, a Forceboard, and a biomimetic synthetic finger, are important for tactile differentiation and preferences of these surface treatments. The obtained dimensions are described as distinct combinations of the surface properties characterized, rather than as 'roughness' or 'friction' independently. Preferences by touch were related to the roughness, friction and thermal properties of the surfaces. The results both complement and advance current understanding of how roughness and friction relate to tactile perception of surfaces.Neural interactions between sensorimotor integration mechanisms play critical roles in voice motor control. We investigated how high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) of the left ventral motor cortex modulates neural mechanisms of sensorimotor integration during voice motor control. HD-tDCS was performed during speech vowel production in an altered auditory feedback (AAF) paradigm in response to upward and downward pitch-shift stimuli. In one experiment, two groups received either anodal or cathodal 2 milliamp (mA) HD-tDCS to the left ventral motor cortex while a third group received sham (placebo) stimulation. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/a-1155463.html In a second experiment, two groups received either 1 mA or 2 mA cathodal HD-tDCS to the left ventral motor cortex. Results of the first experiment indicated that the magnitude of vocal compensation was significantly reduced following anodal and cathodal HD-tDCS only in responses to downward pitch-shift AAF stimuli, with stronger effects associated with cathodal HD-tDCS. However, no such effect was observed following sham stimulation. Results of the second experiment indicate that there is not a differential effect of modulation from 1 mA versus 2 mA. Further, these results replicate the directional finding of the first experiment for vocal compensation in response to downward pitch-shift only. These findings suggest that neurostimulation of the left ventral motor cortex modulates sensorimotor mechanisms underlying voice motor control. We speculate that this effect is associated with the increased contribution of feedforward motor mechanisms, leading to reduced compensatory speech responses to AAF.Synchronous pod maturity is critical for increasing grain yield. The candidate genes involved in synchronous pod maturity were identified through RNA-seq and HPLC. Mungbean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek), an important source of carbohydrate and protein in Asia, is characterized by nonsynchronous pod maturity; consequently, harvesting is labor intensive. Because pod maturity is associated with synthesis and remobilization of sucrose, we examined changes in sucrose levels and transcriptome in leaf (source) tissues after pod (sink) removal using two genotypes, VC1973A and V2984; VC1973A had higher synchronicity in pod maturity than V2984. After pod removal, much higher number of pods were produced in V2984 than VC1973A. The sucrose content of leaf tissues significantly decreased in V2984 because it continued to utilize assimilates from leaves for producing new pods, but significantly increased in VC1973A because of the loss of sink. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the number of differentially expressed genes was approximately fourfold higher in VC1973A than in those of V2984 after pod removal.
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  • Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-mediated oxidative stress has been suggested to play an important role in the pathological dysfunction of epileptic brains. However, there is currently no robust brain-imaging tool to detect real-time endogenous hypochlorite (HClO) generation by MPO or a fluorescent probe for rapid high-throughput screening of antiepileptic agents that control the MPO-mediated chlorination stress. Herein, we report an efficient two-photon fluorescence probe (named HCP) for the real-time detection of endogenous HClO signals generated by MPO in the brain of kainic acid (KA)-induced epileptic ****, where HClO-dependent chlorination of quinolone fluorophore gives the enhanced fluorescence response. With this probe, we visualized directly the endogenous HClO fluxes generated by the overexpression of MPO activity in vivo and ex vivo in mouse brains with epileptic behaviors. Notably, by using HCP, we have also constructed a high-throughput screening approach to rapidly screen the potential antiepileptic agents to control MPO-mediated oxidative stress. Moreover, from this screen, we identified that the flavonoid compound apigenin can relieve the MPO-mediated oxidative stress and inhibit the ferroptosis of neuronal cells. Overall, this work provides a versatile fluorescence tool for elucidating the role of HClO generation by MPO in the pathology of epileptic seizures and for rapidly discovering additional antiepileptic agents to prevent and treat epilepsy.Transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression through chromatin where nucleosomes restrict DNA access. To study how TFs bind nucleosome-occupied motifs we focused on the reprogramming factors OCT4 and SOX2. We determined TF engagement throughout a nucleosome at base-pair resolution in vitro, enabling cryo-EM structure determination at two preferred positions. Depending on motif location, OCT4-SOX2 differentially distort nucleosomal DNA. At one position, OCT4-SOX2 removes DNA from Histone H2A/Histone H3 (H2A/H3); however, at an inverted motif, the TFs only induce local DNA distortions. OCT4 uses one of its two DNA binding domains to engage DNA in both structures, reading-out a partial motif. These findings explain site specific nucleosome engagement by the pluripotency factors OCT4-SOX2 and reveal how TFs distort nucleosomes to access chromatinized motifs. Copyright © 2020, American Association for the Advancement of Science.The arabinosyltransferases EmbA, EmbB, and EmbC are involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall synthesis and are recognized as the targets for the anti-tuberculosis drug ethambutol. We have determined cryo-electron microscopy and x-ray crystal structures of mycobacterial EmbA-EmbB and EmbC-EmbC complexes, in the presence of their glycosyl donor and acceptor substrates and with ethambutol. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/L-Adrenaline-Epinephrine.html These structures show how the donor and acceptor substrates bind in the active site and how ethambutol inhibits by binding to the same site as both substrates in EmbB and EmbC. The majority of drug-resistant mutations are located nearby to the ethambutol-binding site. Collectively, our work provides a structural basis for understanding the biochemical function and inhibition of arabinosyltransferases and development of new anti-tuberculosis agents. Copyright © 2020, American Association for the Advancement of Science.The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is involved in energy homeostasis and is an important drug target for syndromic obesity. We report the structure of the antagonist SHU9119-bound human MC4R at 2.8-angstrom resolution. Ca2+ is identified as a cofactor that is complexed with residues from both the receptor and peptide ligand. Extracellular Ca2+ increases the affinity and potency of the endogenous agonist α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone at the MC4R by 37- and 600-fold, respectively. The ability of the MC4R crystallized construct to couple to ion channel Kir7.1, while lacking cyclic adenosine monophosphate stimulation, highlights a heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G protein)-independent mechanism for this signaling modality. MC4R is revealed as a structurally divergent G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), with more similarity to lipidic GPCRs than to the homologous peptidic GPCRs. Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.The global fossil record of marine animals has fueled long-standing debates about diversity change through time and the drivers of this change. However, the fossil record is not truly global. It varies considerably in geographic scope and in the sampling of environments among intervals of geological time. We account for this variability using a spatially explicit approach to quantify regional-scale diversity through the Phanerozoic. Among-region variation in diversity is comparable to variation through time, and **** of this is explained by environmental factors, particularly the extent of reefs. By contrast, influential hypotheses of diversity change through time, including sustained long-term increases, have little explanatory power. Modeling the spatial structure of the fossil record transforms interpretations of Phanerozoic diversity patterns and their macroevolutionary explanations. This necessitates a refocus of deep-time diversification studies. Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.Recent case studies showing substantial declines of insect abundances have raised alarm, but how widespread such patterns are remains unclear. We compiled data from 166 long-term surveys of insect assemblages across 1676 sites to investigate trends in insect abundances over time. Overall, we found considerable variation in trends even among adjacent sites but an average decline of terrestrial insect abundance by ~9% per decade and an increase of freshwater insect abundance by ~11% per decade. Both patterns were largely driven by strong trends in North America and some European regions. We found some associations with potential drivers (e.g., land-use drivers), and trends in protected areas tended to be weaker. Our findings provide a more nuanced view of spatiotemporal patterns of insect abundance trends than previously suggested. Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.
    Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-mediated oxidative stress has been suggested to play an important role in the pathological dysfunction of epileptic brains. However, there is currently no robust brain-imaging tool to detect real-time endogenous hypochlorite (HClO) generation by MPO or a fluorescent probe for rapid high-throughput screening of antiepileptic agents that control the MPO-mediated chlorination stress. Herein, we report an efficient two-photon fluorescence probe (named HCP) for the real-time detection of endogenous HClO signals generated by MPO in the brain of kainic acid (KA)-induced epileptic mice, where HClO-dependent chlorination of quinolone fluorophore gives the enhanced fluorescence response. With this probe, we visualized directly the endogenous HClO fluxes generated by the overexpression of MPO activity in vivo and ex vivo in mouse brains with epileptic behaviors. Notably, by using HCP, we have also constructed a high-throughput screening approach to rapidly screen the potential antiepileptic agents to control MPO-mediated oxidative stress. Moreover, from this screen, we identified that the flavonoid compound apigenin can relieve the MPO-mediated oxidative stress and inhibit the ferroptosis of neuronal cells. Overall, this work provides a versatile fluorescence tool for elucidating the role of HClO generation by MPO in the pathology of epileptic seizures and for rapidly discovering additional antiepileptic agents to prevent and treat epilepsy.Transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression through chromatin where nucleosomes restrict DNA access. To study how TFs bind nucleosome-occupied motifs we focused on the reprogramming factors OCT4 and SOX2. We determined TF engagement throughout a nucleosome at base-pair resolution in vitro, enabling cryo-EM structure determination at two preferred positions. Depending on motif location, OCT4-SOX2 differentially distort nucleosomal DNA. At one position, OCT4-SOX2 removes DNA from Histone H2A/Histone H3 (H2A/H3); however, at an inverted motif, the TFs only induce local DNA distortions. OCT4 uses one of its two DNA binding domains to engage DNA in both structures, reading-out a partial motif. These findings explain site specific nucleosome engagement by the pluripotency factors OCT4-SOX2 and reveal how TFs distort nucleosomes to access chromatinized motifs. Copyright © 2020, American Association for the Advancement of Science.The arabinosyltransferases EmbA, EmbB, and EmbC are involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall synthesis and are recognized as the targets for the anti-tuberculosis drug ethambutol. We have determined cryo-electron microscopy and x-ray crystal structures of mycobacterial EmbA-EmbB and EmbC-EmbC complexes, in the presence of their glycosyl donor and acceptor substrates and with ethambutol. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/L-Adrenaline-Epinephrine.html These structures show how the donor and acceptor substrates bind in the active site and how ethambutol inhibits by binding to the same site as both substrates in EmbB and EmbC. The majority of drug-resistant mutations are located nearby to the ethambutol-binding site. Collectively, our work provides a structural basis for understanding the biochemical function and inhibition of arabinosyltransferases and development of new anti-tuberculosis agents. Copyright © 2020, American Association for the Advancement of Science.The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is involved in energy homeostasis and is an important drug target for syndromic obesity. We report the structure of the antagonist SHU9119-bound human MC4R at 2.8-angstrom resolution. Ca2+ is identified as a cofactor that is complexed with residues from both the receptor and peptide ligand. Extracellular Ca2+ increases the affinity and potency of the endogenous agonist α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone at the MC4R by 37- and 600-fold, respectively. The ability of the MC4R crystallized construct to couple to ion channel Kir7.1, while lacking cyclic adenosine monophosphate stimulation, highlights a heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G protein)-independent mechanism for this signaling modality. MC4R is revealed as a structurally divergent G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), with more similarity to lipidic GPCRs than to the homologous peptidic GPCRs. Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.The global fossil record of marine animals has fueled long-standing debates about diversity change through time and the drivers of this change. However, the fossil record is not truly global. It varies considerably in geographic scope and in the sampling of environments among intervals of geological time. We account for this variability using a spatially explicit approach to quantify regional-scale diversity through the Phanerozoic. Among-region variation in diversity is comparable to variation through time, and much of this is explained by environmental factors, particularly the extent of reefs. By contrast, influential hypotheses of diversity change through time, including sustained long-term increases, have little explanatory power. Modeling the spatial structure of the fossil record transforms interpretations of Phanerozoic diversity patterns and their macroevolutionary explanations. This necessitates a refocus of deep-time diversification studies. Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.Recent case studies showing substantial declines of insect abundances have raised alarm, but how widespread such patterns are remains unclear. We compiled data from 166 long-term surveys of insect assemblages across 1676 sites to investigate trends in insect abundances over time. Overall, we found considerable variation in trends even among adjacent sites but an average decline of terrestrial insect abundance by ~9% per decade and an increase of freshwater insect abundance by ~11% per decade. Both patterns were largely driven by strong trends in North America and some European regions. We found some associations with potential drivers (e.g., land-use drivers), and trends in protected areas tended to be weaker. Our findings provide a more nuanced view of spatiotemporal patterns of insect abundance trends than previously suggested. Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.
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