Effets du Parecoxib dans la Prévention des Adhérences abdominales postopératoires: étude expérimentale randomisée chez les rats

PubMed Central

Arung, Willy; Tshilombo, François; Odimba, Etienne

2015-01-01

Introduction Bien d’études ont été menées sur les adhérences intrapéritonéales, mais aucune unanimité n'est encore acquise sur leur prévention. Le but de notre étude a été d’évaluer le potentiel effet d'un antiinflammatoire, parecoxib dans la prévention des adhérences ainsi que sur la cicatrisation chez des rats. Méthodes Dans un modèle expérimental d'adhérences postopératoires secondaires à des lésions péritonéales par brûlure, 30 rats furent randomisés en trois groupes suivant le mode d'administration de parecoxib (groupe contrôle; intrapéritonéal; intramusculaire. Résultats Le parecoxib a significativement diminué la quantité (p < .05) et la sévérité (p < .01) des adhérences postopératoires dans les deux modèles expérimentaux. Au total, 21 rats ont développé des adhérences, respectivement 9 (100%) dans le groupe A, 5 (50%) dans le groupe B et 7 (70%) dans le groupe C (p = 0.05). Du point de vue de la formation des adhérences au site du traumatisme, dix-neuf rats en ont développé: 9 (100%) dans le groupe A et 5 (50%) pour chacun de deux autres groupes B et C. Une différence significative a été constatée en comparant ces groupes deux à deux: A vs B (p < 0.05); A vs C (p < 0,05). Parecoxib n'a pas compromis la cicatrisation intestinale, ni cutanée. Conclusion Cette étude a montré que le parecoxib pouvait réduire la formation des adhérences postopératoires. La confirmation de la sécurité du parecoxib sur les anastomoses intestinales doit être investiguée au cours d'autres expérimentations. PMID:26966478

Effects of antifreeze proteins on the vitrification of mouse oocytes: comparison of three different antifreeze proteins.

PubMed

Lee, Hyang Heun; Lee, Hee Jun; Kim, Hak Jun; Lee, Jun Hyuck; Ko, Yong; Kim, Sun Mie; Lee, Jung Ryeol; Suh, Chang Suk; Kim, Seok Hyun

2015-09-01

Can antifreeze proteins (AFPs) from three different sources improve the efficacy of mouse oocyte vitrification? Treatment with AFPs can improve both murine oocyte quality and embryo development, and reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in vitrified-warmed oocytes. A previous study discovered that vitrification of immature oocytes and 2-cell stage embryos of mice augmented with antifreeze glycoproteins at 40 mg/ml dramatically improved the morphological integrity of the samples, suggesting that AFPs have the ability to inhibit ice formation and stabilize the plasma membrane. Metaphase II oocytes were obtained from 4-week-old BD-F1 mice. AFPs from bacteria (Flavobacterium frigoris ice-binding protein (FfIBP)), yeast (Glaciozyma sp. ice-binding protein (LeIBP)) and fish (Type III AFP) were added to the vitrification and warming solutions individually. Survival and development, meiotic spindle organization, intracellular ROS, mitochondrial activity, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and repair of damaged DNA were analyzed. Vitrification of oocytes was performed with the CryoTop (equilibration solution: 7.5% ethylene glycol (EG) and 7.5% 1,2-propandiol (PROH) for 5 min; vitrification solution: 15% EG, 15% PROH and 0.5 M sucrose for 1 min). Warming was performed in three steps with decreasing concentrations of sucrose (1.0, 0.5 and 0.25 M sucrose). AFP treatment can improve murine oocyte quality and embryo development. Survival rates, cleavage rates and blastocyst rates (blastocyst per cleaved and per survived oocytes) of oocytes in AFP-treated groups were significantly higher than those in the control group [75.0, 89.0, 90.0 and 85.0% for survival rate (P = 0.012); 58.7, 89.0, 87.8 and 81.2% for cleavage rate (P = 0.003); 52.3, 87.7, 78.5 and 76.8% for blastocyst per cleaved oocytes (P < 0.01); 30.7, 78.0, 68.9 and 62.4% for blastocyst per survived oocytes (P < 0.01) in control, FfIBP, LeIBP and Type III AFP-treated groups, respectively]. The mean (±SD) number of apoptotic blastomeres per blastocyst was significantly lower in AFP-treated groups than in the control group (9.1 ± 1.0, 2.0 ± 1.7, 2.3 ± 1.2 and 2.7 ± 2.4 in control, FfIBP, LeIBP and Type III AFP-treated groups, respectively, P = 0.040). FfIBP treatment was the most effective in maintaining normal meiotic spindle organization and chromosome alignment (52.0, 92.0, 80.0 and 83.0% in control, FfIBP, LeIBP and Type III AFP-treated groups, respectively, P < 0.01). Intracellular ROS levels (mean ± SD) significantly decreased in the AFP-treated groups (17.0 ± 11.2, 8.4 ± 8.2, 10.3 ± 6.4 and 11.6 ± 12.3 in control, FfIBP, LeIBP and Type III AFP-treated groups, respectively, P < 0.01), and the FfIBP and LeIBP groups had significantly lower DNA DSBs, compared with controls (65.2, 30.8, 44.4 and 55.8% in control, FfIBP, LeIBP and Type III AFP-treated groups, respectively, P < 0.01). The origins of FfIBP and LeIBP were bacteria and yeast, respectively. Therefore, treatment of human oocytes and embryos with these AFPs should be tested before clinical application. After further research, AFPs can potentially be applied to human oocyte cryopreservation to improve the efficacy of vitrification. This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Healthcare technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI12C0055). The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Lupus enteritis: clinical characteristics and predictive factors for recurrence.

PubMed

Koo, B S; Hong, S; Kim, Y J; Kim, Y-G; Lee, C-K; Yoo, B

2015-05-01

To compare the clinical characteristics of lupus enteritis (LE) and non-enteric lupus (non-LE) patients and identify predictors of LE recurrence. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 62 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in a tertiary hospital who experienced enteric symptoms and underwent abdominal computed tomography scanning between January 1997 and December 2013. We compared the clinical characteristics between LE and non-LE patients and between recurrent LE and non-recurrent LE cases. Out of 62 SLE patients with enteric symptoms, 46 cases (74%) were compatible with LE based on computed tomography findings. The C4 level was decreased in the LE group compared with the non-LE group (9.0 ± 5.6 vs. 12.3 ± 6.2, p = 0.032). Recurrence of LE was observed in 14 patients (28%). Initial involvement at the colon (79% vs. 41%, p = 0.026) and bladder with/without the ureter was more common in the recurrent group (57% vs. 25%, p = 0.048). By multivariate analysis, the hazard ratios of variables associated with recurrence were 4.689 for colon involvement (95% confidence interval: 1.245-17.659, p = 0.0220] and 5.468 for cystitis with/without ureteritis (95% confidence interval: 1.629-18.360, p = 0.006). Colon and urinary tract involvement in LE patients may be associated with the recurrence of LE. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Effect of early dietary energy restriction and phosphorus level on subsequent growth performance, intestinal phosphate transport, and AMPK activity in young broilers

PubMed Central

Miao, Zhiqiang; Zhang, Guixian; Zhang, Junzhen; Yang, Yu

2017-01-01

We aimed to determine the effect of low dietary energy on intestinal phosphate transport and the possible underlying mechanism to explain the long-term effects of early dietary energy restriction and non-phytate phosphorus (NPP). A 2 × 3 factorial experiment, consisting of 2 energy levels and 3 NPP levels, was conducted. Broiler growth performance, intestinal morphology in 0–21 days and 22–35 days, type IIb sodium-phosphate co-transporter (NaPi-IIb) mRNA expression, adenylate purine concentrations in the duodenum, and phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK-α) activity in 0–21 days were determined. The following results were obtained. (1) Low dietary energy (LE) induced a high feed conversion ratio (FCR) and significantly decreased body weight gain in young broilers, but LE induced significantly higher compensatory growth in low NPP (LP) groups than in the high or medium NPP groups (HP and MP). (2) LE decreased the villus height (VH) in the intestine, and LE-HP resulted in the lowest crypt depth (CD) and the highest VH:CD ratio in the initial phase. However, in the later period, the LE-LP group showed an increased VH:CD ratio and decreased CD in the intestine. (3) LE increased ATP synthesis and decreased AMP:ATP ratio in the duodenal mucosa of chickens in 0–21 days, and LP diet increased ATP synthesis and adenylate energy charges but decreased AMP production and AMP:ATP ratio. (4) LE led to weaker AMPK phosphorylation, higher mTOR phosphorylation, and higher NaPi-IIb mRNA expression. Thus, LE and LP in the early growth phase had significant compensatory and interactive effect on later growth and intestinal development in broilers. The effect might be relevant to energy status that LE leads to weaker AMPK phosphorylation, causing a lower inhibitory action toward mTOR phosphorylation. This series of events stimulates NaPi-IIb mRNA expression. Our findings provide a theoretical basis and a new perspective on intestinal phosphate transport regulation, with potential applications in broiler production. PMID:29240752

Aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid (ALTA) injection as the mainstay of treatment for internal hemorrhoids.

PubMed

Hachiro, Yoshikazu; Kunimoto, Masao; Abe, Tatsuya; Kitada, Masahiro; Ebisawa, Yoshiaki

2011-06-01

Aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid (ALTA) induce noninvasive sclerosis and the involution of hemorrhoids by initiating an inflammatory reaction. We assessed the mid-term outcome after ALTA sclerotherapy for symptomatic hemorrhoids. Between May 2006 and July 2009, 1210 patients with grade III or IV hemorrhoids underwent surgery at Kunimoto Hospital. Our treatment strategy for internal hemorrhoids is first establishing whether ALTA therapy is possible for the type of hemorrhoid, and then performing either ALTA therapy or alternatively, ligation and excision (LE) for those types unsuitable for ALTA therapy. A total of 448 patients were treated with ALTA therapy alone (Group A), 706 patients were treated with a combination of ALTA and LE therapy (Group B), and 56 patients were treated with LE alone (Group C). The overall recurrence rates were 3.6% (16/448) and 0.3% (2/706) in Groups A and B, respectively. There was no recurrence in Group C. Rectal ulcers developed at the injection site in four (0.9%) patients from Group A, but they healed within a few months with conservative therapy. ALTA sclerotherapy is a simple and safe treatment for symptomatic hemorrhoids, with few complications.

Inequalities in healthy life expectancy between ethnic groups in England and Wales in 2001

PubMed Central

Wohland, Pia; Rees, Phil; Nazroo, James; Jagger, Carol

2015-01-01

Objectives. We aim to develop robust estimates of disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) and healthy life expectancy (HLE) for ethnic groups in England and Wales in 2001 and to examine observed variations across ethnic groups. Design. DFLE and HLE by age and gender for five-year age groups were computed for 16 ethnic groups by combining the 2001 Census data on ethnicity, self-reported limiting long-term illness and self-rated health using mortality by ethnic group estimated by two methods: the Standardised Illness Ratio (SIR) method and the Geographically Weighted Method (GWM). Results. The SIR and GWM methods differed somewhat in their estimates of life expectancy (LE) at birth but produced very similar estimates of DFLE and HLE by ethnic group. For the more conservative method (GWM), the range in DFLE at birth was 10.5 years for men and 11.9 years for women, double that in LE. DFLE at birth was highest for Chinese men (64.7 years, 95% CI 64.0–65.3) and women (67.0 years, 95% CI 66.4–67.6). Over half of the ethnic minority groups (men: 10; women: 9) had significantly lower DFLE at birth than White British men (61.7 years, 95% CI 61.7–61.7) or women (64.1 years, 95% CI 64.1–64.2), mostly the Black, Asian and mixed ethnic groups. The lowest DFLE observed was for Bangladeshi men (54.3 years, 95% CI 53.7–54.8) and Pakistani women (55.1 years, 95% CI 54.8–55.4). Notable were Indian women whose LE was similar to White British women but who had 4.3 years less disability-free (95% CI 4.0–4.6). Conclusions. Inequalities in DFLE between ethnic groups are large and exceed those in LE. Moreover, certain ethnic groups have a larger burden of disability that does not seem to be associated with shorter LE. With the increasing population of the non-White British community, it is essential to be able to identify the ethnic groups at higher risk of disability, in order to target appropriate interventions. PMID:24897306

Inequalities in healthy life expectancy between ethnic groups in England and Wales in 2001.

PubMed

Wohland, Pia; Rees, Phil; Nazroo, James; Jagger, Carol

2015-01-01

We aim to develop robust estimates of disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) and healthy life expectancy (HLE) for ethnic groups in England and Wales in 2001 and to examine observed variations across ethnic groups. DFLE and HLE by age and gender for five-year age groups were computed for 16 ethnic groups by combining the 2001 Census data on ethnicity, self-reported limiting long-term illness and self-rated health using mortality by ethnic group estimated by two methods: the Standardised Illness Ratio (SIR) method and the Geographically Weighted Method (GWM). The SIR and GWM methods differed somewhat in their estimates of life expectancy (LE) at birth but produced very similar estimates of DFLE and HLE by ethnic group. For the more conservative method (GWM), the range in DFLE at birth was 10.5 years for men and 11.9 years for women, double that in LE. DFLE at birth was highest for Chinese men (64.7 years, 95% CI 64.0-65.3) and women (67.0 years, 95% CI 66.4-67.6). Over half of the ethnic minority groups (men: 10; women: 9) had significantly lower DFLE at birth than White British men (61.7 years, 95% CI 61.7-61.7) or women (64.1 years, 95% CI 64.1-64.2), mostly the Black, Asian and mixed ethnic groups. The lowest DFLE observed was for Bangladeshi men (54.3 years, 95% CI 53.7-54.8) and Pakistani women (55.1 years, 95% CI 54.8-55.4). Notable were Indian women whose LE was similar to White British women but who had 4.3 years less disability-free (95% CI 4.0-4.6). Inequalities in DFLE between ethnic groups are large and exceed those in LE. Moreover, certain ethnic groups have a larger burden of disability that does not seem to be associated with shorter LE. With the increasing population of the non-White British community, it is essential to be able to identify the ethnic groups at higher risk of disability, in order to target appropriate interventions.

Analyse chronometrique intersexes de la resolution de la tache d'horizontalite des liquides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berthiaume, Francois

D'abondantes recherches ont demontre que la reussite a la tache d'horizontalite des liquides est en moyenne plus elevee chez les individus de sexe masculin que chez ceux de sexe feminin. Deux facteurs principaux ont ete proposes: il s'agit de la connaissance du principe physique de l'invariance de l'orientation des liquides et de certaines habiletes perceptives d'ordre visuel. Le but de la presente recherche est d'etablir la duree detaillee de la resolution de la tache d'horizontalite des liquides chez 185 filles et 180 garcons, ages de 15 a 19 ans et repartis en 8 groupes. Dans une version informatisee, le premier groupe trace la position de la surface de l'eau a l'interieur d'un contenant dans diverses inclinaisons et le deuxieme evalue si l'orientation d'une ligne y represente bien cette position; le troisieme groupe trace une horizontale dans un rectangle et le quatrieme juge si la ligne illustree y est bien horizontale. Quatre autres groupes executent respectivement les memes taches dans la version classique papier-crayon. Le temps accorde a la reflexion avant de commencer le trace, le temps de tracage comme tel et le temps de verification du trace complete sont calcules. Chez les groupes qui evaluent l'orientation d'une ligne sur support informatique, le temps requis pour y parvenir est note. Enfin, un questionnaire estime si les participants connaissent ou non le principe physique d'invariance de l'orientation de la surface d'un liquide. Les resultats revelent que cette connaissance est plus frequente chez les garcons dans l'ensemble des groupes. Dans le cas ou les sujets ont a tracer une ligne, les filles reussissent moins d'essais que les garcons s'il faut, sur support informatique, tracer la surface de l'eau dans un contenant incline ou a l'horizontale. Il en va de meme s'il faut, sur support papier, tracer une horizontale dans un contenant incline. Le trace de la surface de l'eau est plus exact chez les sujets connaissant le principe d'invariance et l'ecart intersexes disparait si l'analyse tient compte de cette connaissance. Sur le plan du temps de reponse, les deux sexes ne se distinguent que lors du trace de la surface de l'eau dans un contenant incline, les garcons reflechissant alors plus longtemps. Le temps mis a produire, puis a verifier un trace, ne differe pas selon le sexe des participants. Dans l'evaluation de l'orientation d'une ligne cependant, les filles ne se distinguent pas des garcons et les participants connaissant le principe d'invariance reussissent mieux que ceux l'ignorant. Par ailleurs, les filles procedent toujours moins rapidement que les garcons. Pour les contenants inclines ou a l'horizontale, si la ligne represente la surface de l'eau, la difference intersexes est annulee quand la connaissance du principe est prise en compte. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

The effect of urban green on small-area (healthy) life expectancy.

PubMed

Jonker, M F; van Lenthe, F J; Donkers, B; Mackenbach, J P; Burdorf, A

2014-10-01

Several epidemiological studies have investigated the effect of the quantity of green space on health outcomes such as self-rated health, morbidity and mortality ratios. These studies have consistently found positive associations between the quantity of green and health. However, the impact of other aspects, such as the perceived quality and average distance to public green, and the effect of urban green on population health are still largely unknown. Linear regression models were used to investigate the impact of three different measures of urban green on small-area life expectancy (LE) and healthy life expectancy (HLE) in The Netherlands. All regressions corrected for average neighbourhood household income, accommodated spatial autocorrelation, and took measurement uncertainty of LE, HLE as well as the quality of urban green into account. Both the quantity and the perceived quality of urban green are modestly related to small-area LE and HLE: an increase of 1 SD in the percentage of urban green space is associated with a 0.1-year higher LE, and, in the case of quality of green, with an approximately 0.3-year higher LE and HLE. The average distance to the nearest public green is unrelated to population health. The quantity and particularly quality of urban green are positively associated with small-area LE and HLE. This concurs with a growing body of evidence that urban green reduces stress, stimulates physical activity, improves the microclimate and reduces ambient air pollution. Accordingly, urban green development deserves a more prominent place in urban regeneration and neighbourhood renewal programmes. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Scapular muscle performance in individuals with lateral epicondylalgia.

PubMed

Day, Joseph M; Bush, Heather; Nitz, Arthur J; Uhl, Tim L

2015-05-01

Descriptive, laboratory-based, cross-sectional study. To describe scapular musculature strength, endurance, and change in thickness in individuals with unilateral lateral epicondylalgia (LE) compared to the uninvolved limb and the corresponding limb of a matched comparison group. Reported poor long-term outcomes for the nonsurgical management of individuals with LE suggest a less-than-optimal rehabilitation process. Knowledge of scapular muscle function in a working population of individuals with LE may help to further refine conservative management of this condition. Twenty-eight patients with symptomatic LE and 28 controls matched by age and sex were recruited to participate in the study. Strength of the middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) was measured with a handheld dynamometer. A scapular isometric muscle endurance task was performed in prone. Changes in muscle thickness of the SA and LT were measured with ultrasound imaging. Analysis-of-variance models were used to determine within- and between-group differences. The involved side of the group with LE had significantly lower values for MT strength (P = .031), SA strength (P<.001), LT strength (P = .006), endurance (P = .003), and change in SA thickness (P = .028) when compared to the corresponding limb of the control group. The involved side of the group with LE had significantly lower strength of the LT (P = .023) and SA (P = .016) when compared to the uninvolved limb; however, these differences were small and of potentially limited clinical significance. When compared to a matched comparison group, there were impairments of scapular musculature strength and endurance in patients with LE, suggesting that the scapular musculature should be assessed and potentially treated in this population. Cause and effect cannot be established, as the weakness of the scapular musculature could be a result of LE.

Dense Accumulation of Lipiodol Emulsion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Nodule during Selective Balloon-occluded Transarterial Chemoembolization: Measurement of Balloon-occluded Arterial Stump Pressure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Irie, Toshiyuki, E-mail: toshiyuki.irie.rq@hitachi.com; Kuramochi, Masashi, E-mail: masashi.kuramochi.sh@hitachi.com; Takahashi, Nobuyuki, E-mail: nbyktakahashiodn@yahoo.co.jp

2013-06-15

Purpose. To reveal the mechanism of dense accumulation of lipiodol emulsion (LE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during selective balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolization (B-TACE). Methods. Balloon-occluded arterial stump pressure (BOASP) at the embolization portion was measured during selective B-TACE for 43 nodules in 42 patients. Fluoroscopy and digital subtraction angiography were prospectively observed during selective B-TACE to note whether dense LE accumulation in HCC occurred. The LE concentration ratio of HCC to embolized liver parenchyma (LECHL ratio) was also calculated for each treatment on the basis of the computed tomographic scan obtained immediately after selective B-TACE. The relationships between degree of LEmore » accumulation and the BOASP, as well as the LECHL ratio, were analyzed. Results. Arterial flow beyond the catheter tip was maintained even after balloon inflation. In 39 of 43 treatments, LE inflow into the nontumorous liver parenchyma ceased immediately after LE droplets were filled in arteries of the nontumorous liver parenchyma while LE inflow into the HCC nodule continued (group 1). More dense LE accumulation in HCC nodule was obtained in these 39 treatments. In four treatments, LE inflow both into the nontumorous liver parenchyma and into the HCC nodule continued, and no dense LE accumulation in HCC nodule was observed (group 2). In these four treatments, thick anastomotic vessels with collateral artery were noted. The BOASP in group 1 was (mean {+-} SD) 33.8 {+-} 12.8 mmHg (range 13-64 mmHg) and that in group 2 was 92.3 {+-} 7.4 mmHg (range 83-100 mmHg). There was a statistically significant difference in BOASP between groups (p = 0.00004, Welch's t test). The LECHL ratio in group 1 was 18.3 {+-} 13.9 (range 2.9-54.2) and that in group 2 was 2.6 {+-} 1.1 (range 1.7-4.2). There was a statistically significant difference in the LECHL ratio between the groups (p = 0.000034, Welch's t test). Conclusion. Selective B-TACE induced dense LE accumulation in HCC nodules in 39 (91 %) of 43 treatments in which BOASP was 64 mmHg or less.« less

Methodology for Assessing Disruptions (MAD) Game Part I: Report and Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-12-01

élaborées dans le Guide de planification fonctionnelle du groupe du SMA(S& T ). Le présent mémorandum technique est principalement destiné au Bureau du...le Guide de planification fonctionnelle du groupe du SMA(S& T ). Le présent mémorandum technique est principalement destiné au Bureau du scientifique en...2010 2012-009 Principal Author Original signed by G . Adlakha-Hutcheon, M. Hazen, P. Hubbard, S. McLelland, K. Sprague G . Adlakha

Interface dermatitis in skin lesions of Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease: a histopathological marker of evolution into systemic lupus erythematosus?

PubMed

Paradela, S; Lorenzo, J; Martínez-Gómez, W; Yebra-Pimentel, T; Valbuena, L; Fonseca, E

2008-12-01

Kikuchi's disease (KD) is a self-limiting histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL). Cutaneous manifestations are frequent and usually show histopathological findings similar to those observed in the involved lymph nodes. HNL with superposed histological features to KD has been described in patients with lupus erythematosus (LE), and a group of healthy patients previously reported as having HNL may evolve into LE after several months. Up to date, features to predict which HNL patients will have a self-limiting disease and which could develop LE have been not identified. In order to clarify the characteristics of skin lesions associated with KD, we report a case of HNL with evolution into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a review of previous reports of KD with cutaneous manifestations. A 17-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of fever and generalised lymphadenopathy. A diagnosis of HNL was established based on a lymph node biopsy. One month later, she developed an erythematoedematous rash on her upper body, with histopathological findings of interface dermatitis. After 8 months, anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) at titre of 1/320, anti-DNA-ds antibodies and marked decrease of complement levels were detected. During the following 2 years, she developed diagnostic criteria for SLE, with arthralgias, pleuritis, aseptic meningitis, haemolytic anaemia and lupus nephritis. To our knowledge, 27 cases of nodal and cutaneous KD have been reported, 9 of which later developed LE. In all these patients, the skin biopsy revealed interface dermatitis. Skin biopsy revealed a pattern of interface dermatitis in all reviewed KD cases, which evolved into LE. Even this histopathological finding was not previously considered significant; it might be a marker of evolution into LE.

Comparison of clomiphene citrate and letrozole for ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective randomized trial.

PubMed

Liu, Chang; Feng, Guimei; Huang, Wei; Wang, Qiuyi; Yang, Shiyuan; Tan, Jing; Fu, Jing; Liu, Dong

2017-11-01

To compare the therapeutic efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC) and letrozole (LE) on ovulation, pregnancy, and live birth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); and to ensure if LE can replace CC as the first-line therapy for ovulation induction in these women. This is a prospectively, randomized, controlled trial in the tertiary hospital. Two-hundred and sixty-eight anovulatory PCOS patients were treated by CC or CC plus metformin and LE or LE plus metformin for three continuous cycles or conception; their ovulation rates, pregnancy rates, and live birth rates were calculated and compared. No significant difference was noted among the four groups regarding to the baseline data of clinical manifestations, serum sex hormone levels, and serum insulin levels. A total of 240 patients completed the therapies. The ovulation rate was significantly higher in the group LE than the group CC; however, no significant difference was noted between the groups LE and CC, CC, and CC + MET, or LE and LE + MET in the pregnancy rate, abortion rate, and live birth rate. No birth defect was found in the total of 63 newborns. CC regimen was still recommended to be the first-line therapy of ovulation induction for PCOS.

[Development of long-term post-tetanic potentiation and changes in S-100 protein contents in hippocampal slices of rats in different functional states].

PubMed

Baĭdo, A I; Shiriaeva, N V; Khichenko, V I; Liuboslavskaia, P N; Starostina, M V

1992-06-01

Male rats of the strains with low (LE) high excitability (HE) of the nervous system have been used in this study. Half of the animals of each strain were neurotized in accordance with the Hecht's scheme. In the hippocampal slices of the non-neurotized LE rats there was a significant increase of the populational spike amplitude during development of LTP as compared with the opposite group of the animals. The LTP formation in the LE strain of rats caused a decrease in the S-100 protein content in the water-soluble, and an increase in the membrane-bound fraction of the protein. Similar results we have observed with the non-inbred Wistar rats but not with the HE strain of the animals. The levels of the water-soluble S-100 protein fraction were also higher in the hippocampuses and entorenal cortices, but not in the cerebellae of the LE strain, as compared with the HE strain of the rats. No differences have been found in the membrane-bound fraction of S-100 protein.

Portage vaginal du streptocoque du groupe B chez la femme enceinte au niveau de la région de Marrakech

PubMed Central

Bassir, Ahlam; Dhibou, Hanane; Farah, Majdi; Mohamed, Lharmis; Amal, Addebous; Nabila, Souraa; Abderahim, Aboulfalah; Asmouki, Hamid; Soummani, Abderraouf

2016-01-01

Introduction Le streptocoque du groupe B est le principal agent impliqué dans les infections materno-fœtales, les septicémies et les méningites du nouveau-né à terme. L'objectif est de déterminer le taux de portage maternel du streptocoque du groupe B (SGB) à terme. Méthodes Un prélèvement vaginal a été réalisé de manière prospective chez 275 parturientes lors de l'entrée en salle d'accouchement sur une période de 06 mois. Résultats Le taux de portage était de 20,2%. Le portage était variable en fonction de l’âge gestationnel, il constitue 57.5% entre 37 et 38 semaines d'aménorrhée. Aucun des facteurs de risque n'a était statistiquement prédictif du portage maternel du SGB. Conclusion Le dépistage doit être réalisé à partir de 37 semaines d'aménorrhée, et comme le portage est intermittent, un prélèvement négatif ne garantirait pas que le portage soit négatif à l'accouchement. PMID:27222693

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study in mice of triptolide-loaded lipid emulsion and accumulation effect on pancreas.

PubMed

Li, Xue; Mao, Yuling; Li, Kai; Shi, Tianyu; Yao, Huimin; Yao, Jianhua; Wang, Shujun

2016-05-01

Triptolide (TP) shows strong anti-tumor activities on various cancer cells, especially on pancreatic cancer. TP inhibits HSP70 expression leading to cell death in pancreatic cancer cells and induces cell death by apoptotic and autophagic pathways. In order to increase the therapeutic index of TP, a novel intravenous TP-loaded delivery system, TP-loaded lipid emulsion (TP-LE), has been developed to treat solid tumor. In the present study, the preparation and characterization of TP-LE were described. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study of TP-LE in mice were also evaluated. Results demonstrated that TP-LE had an average particle size of 154.6 nm, entrapment efficiency (EE%) of 87%, zeta potential of -0.903 mV and autoclaved stability. The pharmacokinetic study showed that blood concentrations of both TP-LE and TP reached a maximum at the end of intravenous administration (1.25 mg/kg) and declined rapidly within the first 10 min with a mean residence time (MRT) of about 10 min. In the tissue distribution study, a preferential accumulation and longer residence time of drug in pancreas were found in TP-LE. The AUC0-60min of TP-LE in pancreas was 2.19 times in comparison to free TP, suggesting that the use of TP-LE conferred improvements in biodistribution, accumulation and therapeutic efficacy in pancreas. Moreover, the concentrations of TP-LE in heart, lung and kidney were lower than that of the TP group, indicating the potential for reduced toxicity of TP-LE. Together, all the results show that TP-LE appears to be a promising formulation for using TP in treating cancer, and more specifically pancreatic cancer.

Alternative lipid emulsions versus pure soy oil based lipid emulsions for parenterally fed preterm infants.

PubMed

Kapoor, Vishal; Glover, Rebecca; Malviya, Manoj N

2015-12-02

The pure soybean oil based lipid emulsions (S-LE) conventionally used for parenteral nutrition (PN) in preterm infants have high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content. The newer lipid emulsions (LE) from alternative lipid sources with reduced PUFA content may improve clinical outcomes in preterm infants. To determine the safety and efficacy of the newer alternative LE compared with the conventional S-LE for PN in preterm infants. We used the standard search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group (CNRG) to search the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; Issue 7), MEDLINE (1946 to 31 July 2015), EMBASE (1947 to 31 July 2015), CINAHL (1982 to 31 July 2015), Web of Science (31 July 2015), conference proceedings, trial registries (clinicaltrials.gov, controlled-trials.com, WHO's ICTRP), and the reference lists of retrieved articles for randomised controlled trials and quasi-randomised trials. Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials in preterm infants (< 37 weeks), comparing newer alternative LE with S-LE. Data collection and analysis conformed to the methods of the CNRG. We assessed the quality of evidence for important outcomes using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, in addition to reporting the conventional statistical significance of results. Fifteen studies (N = 979 infants) are included in this review. Alternative LE including medium chain triglycerides/long chain triglycerides (MCT/LCT) LE (3 studies; n = 108), MCT-olive-fish-soy oil-LE (MOFS-LE; 7 studies; n = 469), MCT-fish-soy oil-LE (MFS-LE; 1 study; n = 60), olive-soy oil-LE (OS-LE; 7 studies; n = 406), and borage-soy oil-LE (BS-LE; 1 study; n = 34) were compared with S-LE. The different LE were also considered together to compare 'all fish oil containing-LE' versus S-LE (7 studies; n = 499) and 'all alternative LE' versus S-LE (15 studies; n = 979). Some studies had multiple intervention arms and were included in more than one comparison. No study compared pure fish oil-LE or structured-LE to S-LE.The GRADE quality of evidence (GRADE QoE) ranged from 'low' to 'very low.' Evidence came mostly from small single centre studies, many focusing on biochemical aspects as their primary outcomes, with optimal information size not achieved for the important clinical outcomes in any comparison.In the primary outcomes of the review there was a pooled effect towards decreased bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in OS-LE vs S-LE (4 studies, n = 261) not reaching statistical significance (typical risk ratio (RR) 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46 to 1.04, I² = 32%; typical risk difference (RD) -0.08, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.00, I² = 76%; GRADE QoE: 'very low'). No difference in BPD was observed in any other comparison. There were no statistically significant differences in the primary outcomes of death, growth rate (g/kg/day) or days to regain birth weight in any comparison.Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) stage 1-2 was reported to be statistically significantly lower in one single centre study (n = 80) in the MOFS-LE group compared with the S-LE group (1/40 vs 12/40, respectively; RR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.61; RD -0.27, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.12; number needed to benefit (NNTB) 4, 95% CI 2 to 8). However there were no statistically significant differences in the secondary outcome of ROP ≥ stage 3 in any of the individual studies or in any comparison (GRADE QoE: 'low' to 'very low'). No other study reported on ROP stages 1 and 2 separately.There were no statistically significant differences in the secondary outcomes of sepsis, PN associated liver disease (PNALD)/cholestasis, ventilation duration, necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) ≥ stage 2, jaundice requiring treatment, intraventricular haemorrhage grade III-IV, periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), hypertriglyceridaemia, and hyperglycaemia in any comparison.No study reported on neurodevelopmental outcomes or essential fatty acid deficiency. All lipid emulsions in this review appeared to be safe and were well tolerated in preterm infants. Compared with the pure soy oil based LE, use of MOFS-LE was associated with a decrease in the early stages (1-2) of ROP in one study. However there were no statistically significant differences in clinically important outcomes including death, growth, BPD, sepsis, ROP ≥ stage 3, and PNALD with the use of newer alternative LE versus the conventional pure soy oil based LE (GRADE QoE ranged from 'low' to 'very low'). Currently there is insufficient evidence to recommend any alternative LE over S-LE or vice versa in preterm infants.Larger randomised studies focusing on important clinical outcomes, targeting specific 'at risk' population subgroups (e.g. extreme prematurity, long term PN, etc), and exploring the effect of different proportions of lipid constituents are required to evaluate the effectiveness of newer lipid emulsions compared with the conventional pure soy based LE in preterm infants.

Effect of egg weight on composition, embryonic growth, and expression of amino acid transporter genes in yolk sac membranes and small intestines of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia).

PubMed

Chen, M X; Li, X G; Yan, H C; Wang, X Q; Gao, C Q

2016-06-01

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of egg weight on the composition of the egg, the growth of the embryo, and the expression of amino acid transporter genes in the yolk sac membranes and small intestines of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia). A total of 240 fertilized eggs were collected and divided into two groups based on the weight of the eggs, light (LE) and heavy (HE). The composition of 20 eggs from each group was measured, and the remaining eggs were weighed and placed in an incubator. On embryonic days (E) 9, 11, 13, and 15 and day of hatch (DOH), 15 embryos/hatchlings from each group were measured for embryonic growth, and samples were collected. The HE had heavier yolk and albumen weights than the LE (P < 0.01). Compared with the LE, the HE had heavier yolk-free embryonic body and yolk sac weights from E13 to DOH (P < 0.05). Additionally, the HE had larger yolk sac membrane weights from E13 to E15 (P < 0.05) and had more residual yolk sac content on DOH than those of the LE (P < 0.01). The yolk absorption was greater for the HE than for the LE from E11 to E13 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the abundance of CAT2 and PepT1 mRNA in the yolk sac membranes was greater in the HE than in the LE on E13 (P < 0.05). Compared with the LE, the gene expression of EAAT2 in the intestine on E13 was greater in the HE, whereas the expression of EAAT3 was lower in the HE (P < 0.05). Taken together, our results suggest that egg weight influenced the composition of the eggs, embryonic development, and expression of amino acid transporter genes in the yolk sac membranes and small intestines of pigeon embryos. © 2016 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Le HELLP syndrome: à propos de 61 cas et revue de la littérature

PubMed Central

Mamouni, Nisrine; Bougern, Hakima; Derkaoui, Ali; Bendahou, Karima; Fakir, Samira; Bouchikhi, Chehrazad; Chaara, Hikmat; Banani, Abdelaziz; Abdelilah, Moulay Melhouf

2012-01-01

Introduction L’objectif de ce travail etait d’étudier et comparer les paramètres épidémiologiques, cliniques, paracliniques et évolutifs des patientes présentant un HELLP syndrome complet et incomplet. (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets count). Méthodes Une enquête rétrospective sur la période du 1er janvier 2005 au 31octobre 2008 et incluant tous les cas de HELLP syndrome colligés au service de Gynécologie obstétrique du CHU HASSAN II de Fès, incluant toutes les patientes ayant présenté un HELLP syndrome. Les patientes ont été classées en deux groupes en fonction de la forme du HELLP syndrome (complète ou incomplète). Résultats 61 patientes ont été incluses, dont 29 ont présenté un HELLP syndrome complet (groupe 1) et 32 ont présenté une forme incomplète de ce syndrome (groupe 2). La moyenne d’âge était de 29,7 ± 7 ans pour le groupe 1 et de 28,5 ± 7 ans pour le groupe 2.La gestité moyenne était de 2,8, Pour le groupe 1et de 2,5 pour le groupe 2.Les complications maternelles ont été notées chez 68,9% des patientes avec HELLP complet et 53% avec HELLP incomplet. On a recensés trois cas de décès maternel dans le groupe HELLP complet contre aucun cas dans la forme incomplète. Conclusion D’après les résultats de notre étude, le HELLP complet n’expose pas les patientes à un risque plus élevé de complications maternelles que dans la forme incomplète. PMID:22514764

Homogeneous purification and characterization of LePGT1--a membrane-bound aromatic substrate prenyltransferase involved in secondary metabolism of Lithospermum erythrorhizon.

PubMed

Ohara, Kazuaki; Mito, Koji; Yazaki, Kazufumi

2013-06-01

Membrane-bound type prenyltransferases for aromatic substrates play crucial roles in the biosynthesis of various natural compounds. Lithospermum erythrorhizon p-hydroxybenzoate: geranyltransferase (LePGT1), which contains multiple transmembrane α-helices, is involved in the biosynthesis of a red naphthoquinone pigment, shikonin. Taking LePGT1 as a model membrane-bound aromatic substrate prenyltransferase, we utilized a baculovirus-Sf9 expression system to generate a high yield LePGT1 polypeptide, reaching ~ 1000-fold higher expression level compared with a yeast expression system. Efficient solubilization procedures and biochemical purification methods were developed to extract LePGT1 from the membrane fraction of Sf9 cells. As a result, 80 μg of LePGT1 was purified from 150 mL culture to almost homogeneity as judged by SDS/PAGE. Using purified LePGT1, enzymatic characterization, e.g. substrate specificity, divalent cation requirement and kinetic analysis, was done. In addition, inhibition experiments revealed that aromatic compounds having two phenolic hydroxyl groups effectively inhibited LePGT1 enzyme activity, suggesting a novel recognition mechanism for aromatic substrates. As the first example of solubilization and purification of this membrane-bound protein family, the methods established in this study will provide valuable information for the precise biochemical characterization of aromatic prenyltransferases as well as for crystallographic analysis of this novel enzyme family. © 2013 The Authors Journal compilation © 2013 FEBS.

Inequality in disability-free life expectancies among older men and women in six countries with developing economies.

PubMed

Santosa, Ailiana; Schröders, Julia; Vaezghasemi, Masoud; Ng, Nawi

2016-09-01

It is unclear whether the increase in life expectancy (LE) globally is coupled with a postponement of morbidity and disability. Evidence on trends and determinants of disability-free life expectancies (DFLEs) are available in high-income countries but less in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study examines the levels of and inequalities in LE, disability and DFLE between men and women across different age groups aged 50 years and over in six countries with developing economies. This study utilised the cross-sectional data (n=32 724) from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation and South Africa in 2007-2010. Disability was measured with the activity of daily living (ADL) instrument. The DFLE was estimated using the Sullivan method based on the standard period life table and ADL-disability proportions. The disability prevalence ranged from 13% in China to 54% in India. The prevalence of disability was highest and occurred at younger age in both sexes in India. Women were more disadvantaged with higher prevalence of disability across all age groups, and the situation was worst among older women in Mexico and the Russian Federation. Though women had higher LE, their proportion of remaining LE free from disability was lower than men. There are inequalities in the levels of disability and DFLE among men and women in different age groups among people aged over 50 years in these six countries. Countermeasures to decrease intercountry and gender gaps in DFLE, including improvements in health promotion and healthcare distribution, with a gender equity focus, are needed. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Effects of lysolecithin supplementation in low-energy diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, viscosity and intestinal morphology of broilers.

PubMed

Papadopoulos, G A; Poutahidis, T; Chalvatzi, S; Di Benedetto, M; Hardas, A; Tsiouris, V; Georgopoulou, I; Arsenos, G; Fortomaris, P D

2018-04-01

1. The study aimed to investigate the effect of lysolecithin supplementation in low-energy diets on growth, nutrient digestibility and intestinal mucosa characteristics of broilers. 2. A total of 800 one-d-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were assigned to 4 dietary treatments consisting of 10 replicates of 20 broilers each. Broilers were fed with 4 different diets: (i) HE: positive control group broilers received a diet with unaltered energy; (ii) LE: negative control group broilers received a diet with lower energy of about 0.27 MJ/kg; (iii) LElys500: broilers received a diet similar to LE supplemented with 500 g/tn lysolecithin product (Lysoforte Booster Dry TM ); and (iv) LElys300: broilers received a diet similar to LE supplemented with 300 g/tn lysolecithin product. The experimental period was 42 d. 3. Body weight gain in treatments HE was higher than LE during the overall experimental period, while LElys500 and LElys300 had intermediate values. Feed conversion ratio was lower in HE and LElys500 than LE group, while the LElys300 had intermediate values. Fat digestibility was improved in both LElys 500 and LElys300 compared to the HE group. Apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn) was higher in HE, LElys500 and LElys300 than LE. Ileum viscosity at 42 d was also affected, being higher in LE group compared to HE. At 28 d mucosal thickness was lower both in LElys500 and LElys300 compared to HE and LE, while no difference occurred between treatment proliferation patterns of duodenal epithelial cells. 4. These findings indicated that lysolecithin supplementation at 500 g/tn of feed in low-energy diets maintained broiler performance. Supplementation of reformulated low-energy diets induced an increase in digesta viscosity. Lysolecithin supplementation resulted in variable alterations in the duodenum mucosal morphology.

Immunogenicity and efficacy of a bivalent DNA vaccine containing LeIF and TSA genes against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Maspi, Nahid; Ghaffarifar, Fatemeh; Sharifi, Zohreh; Dalimi, Abdolhossein; Dayer, Mohammad Saaid

2017-03-01

There is no effective vaccine for the prevention and elimination of leishmaniasis. For this reason, we assessed the protective effects of DNA vaccines containing LeIF, TSA genes alone, or LeIF-TSA fusion against cutaneous leishmaniasis pEGFP-N1 plasmid (empty vector) and phosphate buffer saline (PBS) were used as control groups. Therefore, cellular and humoral immune responses were evaluated before and after the challenge with Leishmania major. Lesion diameter was also measured 3-12 weeks after challenge. All immunized mice with plasmid DNA encoding Leishmania antigens induced the partial immunity characterized by increased IFN-γ and IgG2a levels compared with control groups (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the immunized mice showed significant reduction in mean lesion sizes compared with mice in empty vector and PBS groups (p < 0.05). The reduction in lesion diameter was 29.3%, 34.1%, and 46.2% less in groups vaccinated with LeIF, TSA, and LeIF-TSA, respectively, than in PBS group at 12th week post infection. IFN/IL-4 and IgG2a/IgG1 ratios indicated that group receiving LeIF-TSA fusion had the highest IFN-γ and IgG2a levels. In this study, DNA immunization promoted Th1 immune response characterized by higher IFN-γ and IgG2a levels and also reduction in lesion size. These results showed that a bivalent vaccine containing two distinct antigens may induce more potent immune responses against leishmaniasis. © 2017 APMIS. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The potential for reducing differences in life expectancy between educational groups in five European countries: the effects of obesity, physical inactivity and smoking.

PubMed

Mäki, Netta E; Martikainen, Pekka T; Eikemo, Terje; Menvielle, Gwenn; Lundberg, Olle; Ostergren, Olof; Mackenbach, Johan P

2014-07-01

This study assesses the effects of obesity, physical inactivity and smoking on life expectancy (LE) differences between educational groups in five European countries in the early 2000s. We estimate the contribution of risk factors on LE differences between educational groups using the observed risk factor distributions and under a hypothetically more optimal risk factor distribution. Data on risk factor prevalence were obtained from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe study, and data on mortality from census-linked data sets for the age between 50 and 79 according to sex and education. Substantial differences in LE of up to 2.8 years emerged between men with a low and a high level of education in Denmark, Austria and France, and smaller differences among men in Italy and Spain. The educational differences in LE were not as large among women. The largest potential for reducing educational differences was in Denmark (25% among men and 41% among women) and Italy (14% among men). The magnitude of the effect of unhealthy behaviours on educational differences in LE varied between countries. LE among those with a low or medium level of education could increase in some European countries if the behavioural risk factor distributions were similar to those observed among the highly educated. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Lupus Band Test in Patients with Borderline Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Discoid Lesions.

PubMed

Akarsu, Sevgi; Ozbagcivan, Ozlem; Ilknur, Turna; Semiz, Fatma; Lebe, Banu; Fetil, Emel

2017-04-01

Patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) that have discoid lesions who fulfill the four diagnostic criteria of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with only mucocutaneous findings and antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity were classified as borderline SLE in the literature. Objective of this study was to determine the place of borderline SLE with discoid lesions on the LE spectrum according to the lupus band test (LBT). Lesional and sun-protected non-lesional (SPNL) skin LBTs of 94 patients with LE that had discoid lesions were retrospectively evaluated. Firstly, patients were divided into two main groups: discoid LE (DLE; group A) and SLE (Group B); three subgroups were then classified as DLE (Group A), borderline SLE (Group B1) and SLE (Group B2) using another method. Each group had its own comparisons. Immunoreactant (IR) deposition was observed on the lesional skin in all patients and on the SPNL skin in 42 (44.7%). In patients with borderline SLE, the deposition of IgM was lower on the lesional LBTs, whereas isolated IgG was higher than SLE; thus, it shows similarity with DLE. Additionally, it was also closer to DLE because of the low deposition of C3, multiple IRs, and a double conjugate of IRs on the SPNL skin. However, it showed similarity with SLE in the high percentage of LBT positivity and more immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) deposition on the SPNL skin. The deposition of multiple conjugates on SPNL skin in patients with LE with discoid lesions may reflect systemic involvement. Despite the fact that LBT positivity on SPNL skin in borderline SLE was higher than DLE, less deposition of multiple conjugates compared to SLE indicates that the classification of borderline SLE with discoid lesions in the LE spectrum is questionable.

The effect of oscillating-energy manual therapy on lateral epicondylitis: a randomized, placebo-control, double-blinded study.

PubMed

Nourbakhsh, Mohammad Reza; Fearon, Frank J

2008-01-01

Symptoms of lateral epicondylitis (LE) are attributed to degenerative changes and inflammatory reactions in the common extensor tendon induced by microscopic tears in the tissue after repetitive or overload functions of the wrist and hand extensor muscles. Conventional treatments, provided on the premise of inflammatory basis of LE, have shown 39-80% failure rate. An alternative approach suggests that symptoms of LE could be due to active tender points developed in the origin of hand and wrist extensor muscles after overuse or repetitive movements. Oscillating-energy Manual Therapy (OEMT), also known as V-spread, is a craniosacral manual technique that has been clinically used for treating tender points over the suture lines in the skull. Considering symptoms of LE may result from active tender points, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of OEMT on pain, grip strength, and functional abilities of subjects with chronic LE. Twenty-three subjects with chronic LE (>3mo) between ages of 24 and 72 years participated in this study. Before their participation, all subjects were screened to rule out cervical and other pathologies that could possibly contribute to their lateral elbow pain. Subjects who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into treatment and placebo treatment groups by a second (treating) therapist. Subjects were blinded to their group assignment. Subjects in the treatment group received OEMT for six sessions. During each treatment session, first a tender point was located through palpation. After proper hand placement, the therapist focused the direction of the oscillating energy on the localized tender point. Subjects in the placebo group underwent the same procedure, but the direction of the oscillating energy was directed to an area above or below the tender points, not covering the affected area. Jamar Dynamometer, Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were used to measure grip strength, functional status, and pain intensity and limited activity due to pain, respectively. The screening therapist who was blinded to the subjects' group assignment performed pretest, posttest, and six-month follow-up measurements. Subjects in the treatment group showed both clinically and statistically significant improvement in grip strength (p=0.03), pain intensity (p=0.006), function (p=0.003), and limited activity due to pain (p=0.025) compared with those in the placebo group. Follow-up data, collected after six months, showed no significant difference between posttest and follow-up measurements in functional activity (p=0.35), pain intensity (p=0.72), and activity limitation due to pain (p=0.34). Of all the subjects contacted for follow-up assessment, 91% maintained improved function and 73% remained pain free for at least six months. OEMT seems to be a viable, effective, and efficient alternative treatment for LE.

Computer codes developed and under development at Lewis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chamis, Christos C.

1992-01-01

The objective of this summary is to provide a brief description of: (1) codes developed or under development at LeRC; and (2) the development status of IPACS with some typical early results. The computer codes that have been developed and/or are under development at LeRC are listed in the accompanying charts. This list includes: (1) the code acronym; (2) select physics descriptors; (3) current enhancements; and (4) present (9/91) code status with respect to its availability and documentation. The computer codes list is grouped by related functions such as: (1) composite mechanics; (2) composite structures; (3) integrated and 3-D analysis; (4) structural tailoring; and (5) probabilistic structural analysis. These codes provide a broad computational simulation infrastructure (technology base-readiness) for assessing the structural integrity/durability/reliability of propulsion systems. These codes serve two other very important functions: they provide an effective means of technology transfer; and they constitute a depository of corporate memory.

Design and development of experimental facilities for short duration, low-gravity combustion and fire experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Motevalli, Vahid

1994-01-01

This report contains the results of three projects conducted by undergraduate students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute at the NASA's Lewis Research Center under a NASA Award NCC3-312. The students involved in these projects spent part of the summer of 1993 at the Lewis Research Center (LeRC) under the direction of Dr. Howard Ross, head of the Combustion group and other NASA engineers and scientists. The Principal Investigator at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was Professor Vahid Motevalli. Professor Motevalli served as the principal project advisor for two of the three projects which were in Mechanical Engineering. The third project was advised by Professor Duckworth of Electrical and Computer Engineering, while Professor Motevalli acted as the co-advisor. These projects provided an excellent opportunity for the students to participate in the cutting edge research and engineering design, interact with NASA engineers and gain valuable exposure to a real working environment. Furthermore, the combustion group at LeRC was able to forward their goals by employing students to work on topics of immediate use and interest such as experimental research projects planned for the space shuttle, the future space station, or to develop demonstration tools to educate the public about LeRC activities.

Initial Experience with Balloon-Occluded Trans-catheter Arterial Chemoembolization (B-TACE) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maruyama, Mitsunari, E-mail: mitunari@med-shimane.u.ac.jp; Yoshizako, Takeshi, E-mail: yosizako@med.shimane-u.ac.jp; Nakamura, Tomonori, E-mail: t-naka@med.shimane-u.ac.jp

2016-03-15

PurposeThis study was performed to evaluate the accumulation of lipiodol emulsion (LE) and adverse events during our initial experience of balloon-occluded trans-catheter arterial chemoembolization (B-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with conventional TACE (C-TACE).MethodsB-TACE group (50 cases) was compared with C-TACE group (50 cases). The ratio of the LE concentration in the tumor to that in the surrounding embolized liver parenchyma (LE ratio) was calculated after each treatment. Adverse events were evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) version 4.0.ResultsThe LE ratio at the level of subsegmental showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (tmore » test: P < 0.05). Only elevation of alanine aminotransferase was more frequent in the B-TACE group, showing a statistically significant difference (Mann–Whitney test: P < 0.05). While B-TACE caused severe adverse events (liver abscess and infarction) in patients with bile duct dilatation, there was no statistically significant difference in incidence between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that the significant risk factor for liver abscess/infarction was bile duct dilatation (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe LE ratio at the level of subsegmental showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (t test: P < 0.05). B-TACE caused severe adverse events (liver abscess and infarction) in patients with bile duct dilatation.« less

Further tests of the Scalar Expectancy Theory (SET) and the Learning-to-Time (LeT) model in a temporal bisection task.

PubMed

Machado, Armando; Arantes, Joana

2006-06-01

To contrast two models of timing, Scalar Expectancy Theory (SET) and Learning to Time (LeT), pigeons were exposed to a double temporal bisection procedure. On half of the trials, they learned to choose a red key after a 1s signal and a green key after a 4s signal; on the other half of the trials, they learned to choose a blue key after a 4-s signal and a yellow key after a 16-s signal. This was Phase A of an ABA design. On Phase B, the pigeons were divided into two groups and exposed to a new bisection task in which the signals ranged from 1 to 16s and the choice keys were blue and green. One group was reinforced for choosing blue after 1-s signals and green after 16-s signals and the other group was reinforced for the opposite mapping (green after 1-s signals and blue after 16-s signals). Whereas SET predicted no differences between the groups, LeT predicted that the former group would learn the new discrimination faster than the latter group. The results were consistent with LeT. Finally, the pigeons returned to Phase A. Only LeT made specific predictions regarding the reacquisition of the four temporal discriminations. These predictions were only partly consistent with the results.

Physical exercise enhances protein kinase C delta activity and insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in diabetes-prone psammomys obesus.

PubMed

Heled, Yuval; Shapiro, Yair; Shani, Yoav; Moran, Dani S; Langzam, Leah; Braiman, Liora; Sampson, Sanford R; Meyerovitch, Joseph

2003-08-01

We recently reported that physical exercise prevents the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Psammomys obesus, an animal model of nutritionally induced type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present study we characterized the effect of physical exercise on protein kinase C delta (PKC delta) activity, as a mediator of the insulin-signaling cascade in vivo. Three groups of Psammomys obesus were exposed to a 4-week protocol: high-energy diet (HE/C), high-energy diet and exercise (HE/EX), or low-energy diet (LE/C). None of the animals in the HE/EX group became diabetic, whereas all the animals in the HE/C group became diabetic. After overnight fast, intraperitoneal (IP) insulin (1U) caused a greater reduction in blood glucose levels in the HE/EX and LE/C groups compared to the HE/C group. Tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3 kinase) was significantly higher in the HE/EX and LE/C groups compared with the HE/C group. Finally, IR-associated PKC delta was higher in the HE/EX and LE/C groups compared to the HE/C group. Coprecipitation of PKC delta with IR was higher in the HE/EX and LE/C groups compared to the HE/C group. Thus, we suggest that 4 weeks of physical exercise results in improved insulin-signaling response in Psammomys obesus accompanied by a direct connection between PKC delta and IR. We conclude that this mechanism may be involved in the preventive effect of exercise on type 2 diabetes mellitus in Psammomys obesus.

The effects of bilingualism on stuttering during late childhood.

PubMed

Howell, P; Davis, S; Williams, R

2009-01-01

To examine stuttering by children speaking an alternative language exclusively (LE) or with English (BIL) and to study onset of stuttering, school performance and recovery rate relative to monolingual speakers who stutter (MONO). Clinical referral sample with supplementary data obtained from speech recordings and interviews. South-East England, 1999-2007. Children aged 8-12 plus who stuttered (monolingual and bilingual) and fluent bilingual controls (FB). Participants' stuttering history, SATS scores, measures of recovery or persistence of stuttering. 69 (21.8%) of 317 children were bilingual. Of 38 children who used a language other than English at home, 36 (94.7%) stuttered in both languages. Fewer LE (15/38, 39.5%) than BIL (23/38, 60.5%) children stuttered at first referral to clinic, but more children in the fluent control sample were LE (28/38, 73.7%) than BIL (10/38, 26.3%). The association between stuttering and bilingual group (LE/BIL) was significant by chi(2) test; BIL speakers have more chance of stuttering than LE speakers. Age at stuttering onset and male/female ratio for LE, BIL and MONO speakers were similar (4 years 9 months, 4 years 10 months and 4 years 3 months, and 4.1:1, 4.75:1 and 4.43:1, respectively). Educational achievement was not affected by bilingualism relative to the MONO and FB groups. The recovery rate for the LE and MONO controls together (55%) was significantly higher by chi(2) test than for the BIL group (25%). BIL children had an increased risk of stuttering and a lower chance of recovery from stuttering than LE and MONO speakers.

Coalition Interoperability Measurement Frameworks Literature Survey

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-08-01

National Defence, 2011 © Sa Majesté la Reine (en droit du Canada), telle que représentée par le ministre de la Défense nationale, 2011 Abstract...interarmées élabore actuellement ce cadre et les travaux sont parrainés par le Groupe du Sous- ministre adjoint ( Gestion de l’information). L’intérêt...Groupe du Sous-ministre adjoint ( Gestion de l’information). Le type d’interopérabilité qui nous intéresse : 1. touche les Cinq pays (Australie

Corrupt practices negatively influenced food security and live expectancy in developing countries

PubMed Central

Uchendu, Florence Ngozi; Abolarin, Thaddeus Olatunbosun

2015-01-01

Malnutrition is a global public health problem more prevalent in developing countries than in developed countries. Indicators of malnutrition include household food security and life expectancy. Corruption might be one of socio-political problems fuelling malnutrition in developing countries. The aim of this paper is to compare influence of corruption on food security, live expectancy (LE) and population in developed and developing countries. Thirty two least corrupt countries (LCC) and most corrupt countries (MCC) representing developed and developing countries were systematically selected using Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Countries’ data on population, food security index (FSI) and LE scores were obtained from Global food security index (GFSI) and Population reference bureau. T-test, Multivariate (Wilks’ Lambda), Pearson product moment analysis were performed to determine relationship between CPI, FSI, LE, and population in LCC and MCC at p<.05. Data were presented in tables, means and percentages. Mean CPI, Population, FSI, and LE in LCC and MCC were 71.5% and 24.2%; 34.8 and 41.7million; 75.0% and 37.4%; and 78.4years and 62.4years. There was a significant difference between CPI, FSI and LE in LCC and MCC (p < 0.05). CPI had a significant positive relationship with FSI and LE in LCC not MCC. There was also a significant relationship between FSI and LE in MCC. Low CPI influenced high FSI and LE in LCC while Low LE was associated with low FSI in MCC. Policies discouraging corrupt practices and promoting good governance should be embraced to eradicate malnutrition in developing countries. PMID:26090058

Corrupt practices negatively influenced food security and live expectancy in developing countries.

PubMed

Uchendu, Florence Ngozi; Abolarin, Thaddeus Olatunbosun

2015-01-01

Malnutrition is a global public health problem more prevalent in developing countries than in developed countries. Indicators of malnutrition include household food security and life expectancy. Corruption might be one of socio-political problems fuelling malnutrition in developing countries. The aim of this paper is to compare influence of corruption on food security, live expectancy (LE) and population in developed and developing countries. Thirty two least corrupt countries (LCC) and most corrupt countries (MCC) representing developed and developing countries were systematically selected using Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Countries' data on population, food security index (FSI) and LE scores were obtained from Global food security index (GFSI) and Population reference bureau. T-test, Multivariate (Wilks' Lambda), Pearson product moment analysis were performed to determine relationship between CPI, FSI, LE, and population in LCC and MCC at p < .05. Data were presented in tables, means and percentages. Mean CPI, Population, FSI, and LE in LCC and MCC were 71.5% and 24.2%; 34.8 and 41.7 million; 75.0% and 37.4%; and 78.4 years and 62.4 years. There was a significant difference between CPI, FSI and LE in LCC and MCC (p < 0.05). CPI had a significant positive relationship with FSI and LE in LCC not MCC. There was also a significant relationship between FSI and LE in MCC. Low CPI influenced high FSI and LE in LCC while Low LE was associated with low FSI in MCC. Policies discouraging corrupt practices and promoting good governance should be embraced to eradicate malnutrition in developing countries.

Effects of breeder age and egg weight on morphological changes in the small intestine of chicks during the hatch window.

PubMed

Yalçin, S; Izzetoğlu, G T; Aktaş, A

2013-01-01

1. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of breeder age and egg weight on hatching performance and morphological changes in segments of the small intestine of broiler chicks during a 21 h hatch window. 2. Eggs from Ross broiler breeder flocks aged 29 (young) and 48 weeks (old) were classified as light (LE) or heavy (HE) and incubated at the same conditions. At 475 h of incubation, eggs were checked every 3 h to determine time of external pipping and hatching. The first 42 chicks to emerge from each group were weighed and chick length was measured and 14 chicks from each group were sampled to collect residual yolk and intestine segments. The rest of chicks were placed back in the incubator and chick weight and length were measured individually at 9, 15 and 21 h after chicks hatched. At the end of 21 h, 14 chicks from each group were sampled again and the same procedure was followed. 3. The HE chicks pipped and hatched later than LE, regardless of breeder age. From hatch to the end of the hatch window, chick weight, but not yolk-free chick weight, gradually reduced. Relative residual yolk weight of chicks from both egg weights was similar at hatch, however, yolk sac utilisation was higher for LE chicks during the 21 h post-hatch period. At hatch, jejunum and ileum villus development was very similar for HE and LE chicks but greater development was observed for villus area with an increase in the jejunum villus length, width and goblet cell numbers in HE chicks. 4. The longest jejunum villus and the widest duodenum and jejunum villus were obtained for HE chicks from old breeders indicating that HE chicks from old breeders would have a greater surface area for nutrient absorption.

Nowcasting of meteorological risks during the winter season using the "Integrated Meteorological Observation Network in Castilla y León, (Spain)"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guerrero-Higueras, Ángel Manuel; López, Laura; Merino, Andrés; Sánchez, José Luis; Matía, Pedro; Lorente, José Manuel; Hermida, Lucía; Nafría, David; Ortiz de Galisteo, José Pablo; Marcos, José Luis; García-Ortega, Eduardo

2013-04-01

The location of Castilla y León within the Iberian Peninsula and its territorial extension make its meteorological risks diverse. The integration of various observation networks, both public and private, in the Observation Network of Castilla y León, allows us to follow the risks in real-time. One of the most frequent risks in the winter season is snow precipitation. In the present paper, we compared WRF numerical model predictions of snowfall for Castilla y León with data from the meteorological observation network and observations from the MSG satellite. Furthermore, frosts were more frequent in the area, to the point that there are parts of the study area with frost during the entire year. Thus, the data from the network allows us to determine the area where frost was registered. Finally, the situations with fog, especially with advective and radiative characteristics, are frequent in the center and south of the plateau, especially in the winter season. Additionally, the Observation Network allows us to know the areas with fog in real-time. The Observation Network is managed using a new platform, developed by Group for Atmospheric Physics, known as MeteoNet, which allows for the prompt extraction of a concrete parameter in a specific location, or, the spatial representation of a parameter determined for the entire study area. Furthermore, the management system developed for the data allows for the total representation of data from the WRF prediction model, with satellite images, observation network, radar data, etc., which is converted into a very useful tool for following risks and validating algorithms in Castilla y León. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the Regional Government of Castilla y León for its financial support through the project LE220A11-2.

The effects of bilingualism on stuttering during late childhood

PubMed Central

Howell, P; Davis, S; Williams, R

2009-01-01

Objectives: To examine stuttering by children speaking an alternative language exclusively (LE) or with English (BIL) and to study onset of stuttering, school performance and recovery rate relative to monolingual speakers who stutter (MONO). Design: Clinical referral sample with supplementary data obtained from speech recordings and interviews. Setting: South-East England, 1999–2007. Participants: Children aged 8–12 plus who stuttered (monolingual and bilingual) and fluent bilingual controls (FB). Main outcome measures: Participants’ stuttering history, SATS scores, measures of recovery or persistence of stuttering. Results: 69 (21.8%) of 317 children were bilingual. Of 38 children who used a language other than English at home, 36 (94.7%) stuttered in both languages. Fewer LE (15/38, 39.5%) than BIL (23/38, 60.5%) children stuttered at first referral to clinic, but more children in the fluent control sample were LE (28/38, 73.7%) than BIL (10/38, 26.3%). The association between stuttering and bilingual group (LE/BIL) was significant by χ2 test; BIL speakers have more chance of stuttering than LE speakers. Age at stuttering onset and male/female ratio for LE, BIL and MONO speakers were similar (4 years 9 months, 4 years 10 months and 4 years 3 months, and 4.1:1, 4.75:1 and 4.43:1, respectively). Educational achievement was not affected by bilingualism relative to the MONO and FB groups. The recovery rate for the LE and MONO controls together (55%) was significantly higher by χ2 test than for the BIL group (25%). Conclusions: BIL children had an increased risk of stuttering and a lower chance of recovery from stuttering than LE and MONO speakers. PMID:18782846

Outcome of limbic encephalitis with VGKC-complex antibodies: relation to antigenic specificity.

PubMed

Malter, M P; Frisch, C; Schoene-Bake, J C; Helmstaedter, C; Wandinger, K P; Stoecker, W; Urbach, H; Surges, R; Elger, C E; Vincent, A V; Bien, C G

2014-09-01

In limbic encephalitis (LE) with antibodies (Abs) to the voltage-gated potassium channel complex (VGKC), the Abs are mainly directed to the VGKC-complex proteins, leucine-rich, glioma inactivated 1 protein (LGI1) or contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR-2) or neither. Here, we relate the outcomes of VGKC-LE patients to the presence of Abs to LGI1, CASPR-2 or neither antigen (LGI1/CASPR-2-Ab(-)). Clinical, neuropsychology and MRI data were obtained from patient records for all LE patients from the Bonn Epilepsy Centre positive for VGKC-Abs by radioimmunoprecipitation assay between 2002 and 2011. Eighteen VGKC-LE patients were identified: nine patients (50 %) had LGI1-Abs, three (16 %) had CASPR-2-Abs; and six (33 %) were negative for both LGI1- and CASPR-2-Abs. At first assessment, the groups did not differ clinically or radiologically, but faciobrachial dystonic seizures were only observed in two LGI1-Ab(+) patients. All patients received monthly intravenous methylprednisolone (MP) pulses. At the most recent follow up (median 26 months), thirteen (72 %) were seizure-free, and seizure-freedom rates did not differ between the Ab groups. Hippocampal atrophy had developed in 7/9 LGI1-Ab(+) patients, but in none of the CASPR-2-Ab(+) or LGI/CASPR-2-Ab(-) patients (p = 0.003). While all subgroups improved, memory scores only normalized in six patients (33 %) and LGI1-Ab(+) patients were left with significantly poorer memory than the other two subgroups. Most VGKC-LE patients become seizure-free with pulsed monthly MP, but memory outcome is less favourable. Hippocampal atrophy and poor memory recovery is common in patients with LGI1-Abs and suggests permanent functional damage. More intense immunotherapies could improve outcomes in LGI1-Ab(+)-LE.

The protective effect of lipid emulsion in preventing bupivacaine-induced mitochondrial injury and apoptosis of H9C2 cardiomyocytes.

PubMed

Chen, Zhe; Jin, Zhousheng; Xia, Yun; Zhao, Shishi; Xu, Xuzhong; Papadimos, Thomas J; Wang, Quanguang

2017-11-01

Lipid emulsion (LE) has been shown to be effective in the resuscitation of bupivacaine-induced cardiac arrest, but the precise mechanism of this action has not been fully elucidated. Pursuant to this lack of information on the mechanism in which LE protects the myocardium during bupivacaine-induced toxicity, we explored mitochondrial function and cell apoptosis. H9C2 cardiomyocytes were used in study. Cells were randomly divided in different groups and were cultivated 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. The mitochondria were extracted and mitochondrial ATP content was measured, as was mitochondrial membrane potential, the concentration of calcium ion (Ca2+), and the activity of Ca2+-ATP enzyme (Ca2+-ATPase). Cells from groups Bup1000, LE group, and Bup1000LE were collected to determine cell viability, cell apoptosis, and electron microscopy scanning of mitochondrial ultrastructure (after 24 h). We found that LE can reverse the inhibition of the mitochondrial function induced by bupivacaine, regulate the concentration of calcium ion in mitochondria, resulting in the protection of myocardial cells from toxicity induced by bupivacaine.

Do the filarial lymphoedema patients''3 months recall' on acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (ADLA) correlate with streptococcal serology?

PubMed

De Britto, L J; Das, L K

2012-08-01

The aim of this study was to know the correlation of patients' 3 months recall on acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (ADLA) with anti-streptolysin O (ASO) serology and its application as a tool to know the burden of ADLA in the community. Fifty-nine lymphoedema (LE) patients and 27 age matched controls were clinically assessed for LE and the occurrence of ADLA during the previous 3 months was obtained by recall. After obtaining the informed consent, 2 mL of venous blood sample was collected and ASO was quantified in Olympus AU400 auto-analyzer. When the results were computed as two groups, controls and LE patients with no reported ADLA and LE patients with reported ADLA (by 3 months recall), the ASO positivity and ASO titre was significantly higher in the later group (P < 0.05). When the results were computed as three groups, controls with no reported ADLA, LE patients with no reported ADLA and LE patients with reported ADLA, the ASO titre was significantly higher in LE patients reported ADLA (P < 0.05). As ASO was measured in post-infection phase, we relied on the ASO titre for making conclusion. Patients' 3 months recall on ADLA correlates with the ASO titre and therefore, it could be considered as a tool to measure the burden of ADLA in the community. Multicentre community-based studies are needed to ascertain the findings. © 2011 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2011 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Helicobacter pylori Strains from Duodenal Ulcer Patients Exhibit Mixed babA/B Genotypes with Low Levels of BabA Adhesin and Lewis b Binding.

PubMed

Saberi, Samaneh; Schmidt, Alexej; Eybpoosh, Sana; Esmaili, Maryam; Talebkhan, Yeganeh; Mohajerani, Nazanin; Oghalaie, Akbar; Eshagh Hosseini, Mahmoud; Mohagheghi, Mohammad Ali; Bugaytova, Jeanna; Borén, Thomas; Mohammadi, Marjan

2016-10-01

BabA is a Helicobacter pylori cell surface adhesin, which binds to the ABO/Le(b) histo-blood group antigens (Le(b)) and serves as a virulence factor. H. pylori single colonies were isolated from 156 [non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) = 97, duodenal ulcer (DU) = 34, gastric cancer (GC) = 25)] patients. babA and babB genes were evaluated by gene/locus-specific PCR. BabA protein expression and Le(b) binding activity were determined by immunoblotting and ELISA, respectively. The combined categorization of H. pylori strains based on high, low or no levels of BabA expression and Le(b) binding, produced 4 groups: (I) BabA-high/Le(b)-high (36 %), (II) BabA-low/Le(b)-low (26 %), (III) BabA-neg/Le(b)-low (30 %) and (IV) BabA-neg/Le(b)-neg (8 %) strains. The majority (63 %) of the BabA-low/Le(b)-low strains exhibited mixed babA/B genotypes as compared to merely 18 % of the BabA-high/Le(b)-high, 15 % of the BabA-neg/Le(b)-neg and 11 % of the BabA-neg/Le(b)-low (P = 0.0001) strains. In contrast to NUD strains, the great majority (70 %) of DU strains were BabA-low/Le(b)-low (11 %, P = 0.0001), which compared to NUD strains, enhanced the risk of DU by 18.8-fold. In parallel, infection with babA/B mixed genotype strains amplified the risk of DU by 3.6-fold (vs. babA-positive: P = 0.01) to 6.9-fold (vs. babA-negative: P = 0.007). Here, we show higher prevalence of mixed babA/B genotypes among BabA-low/Le(b)-low clinical strains. Recombination of babA and babB genes across their loci may yield lower BabA expression and lower Le(b) binding activity. We conclude that H. pylori strains with lower Le(b) binding activity are better adapted for colonization of the gastric metaplastic patches in the duodenum and enhance the risk of duodenal ulcers.

Association of Lewis and Secretor gene polymorphisms and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity among Japanese-Brazilians.

PubMed

Oba-Shinjo, Sueli Mieko; Uno, Miyuki; Ito, Lucy Sayuri; Shinjo, Samuel Katsuyuki; Marie, Suely Kazue Nagahashi; Hamajima, Nobuyuki

2004-08-01

Secretor ( Se) and Lewis ( Le) genes are involved in the synthesis of Lewis b (Le(b)) and type I antigens throughout the body, especially in the epithelial cells of gastric mucosa. Helicobacter pylori can attach to the gastric epithelial cells with the blood group antigen-binding adhesin, which binds to Le(b) or H type I carbohydrate structures. In a previous study, a marked association between H. pylori seropositivity and polymorphism of the Se and Le genes was observed among Japanese outpatients of a gastroenterology clinic. The present work aims to investigate the associations between Se and Le gene polymorphisms and H. pylori infection among Japanese-Brazilians. The subjects consisted of 942 healthy volunteer Japanese-Brazilians, who were tested for the presence of anti- H. pylori IgG antibodies and genotyped for Se and Le polymorphisms. The sex-age-adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for H. pylori seropositivity were 0.99 for the Sese genotype relative to the SeSe genotype (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73-1.33), and 1.03 for sese relative to SeSe (95% CI, 0.71-1.48). On the other hand, the aOR for the subjects with the le allele ( Lele or lele) relative to the LeLe genotype was 1.48 (95% CI, 1.07-1.79). When the Se and Le genotypes were analyzed in combination according to risk group, no statistically significant association was observed. These results are inconsistent with previous work and may have been modulated by an external factor or some other unidentified factor. Japanese-Brazilians are genotypically the same as Japanese, but their lifestyle is adapted to that of Brazil. Further investigations are necessary to clarify this influence on susceptibility to H. pylori infection.

The Effect of a Perceptual-Motor Intervention Programme on Learning Readiness of Grade R Learners from South African Deprived Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erasmus, Myrtle; Janse van Rensburg, Ona; Pienaar, Anita E.; Ellis, Suria

2016-01-01

South Africa consists of developed and developing contexts. This article reports on a study undertaken to determine the effect of a Perceptual--motor Intervention Programme in learning readiness of Grade R learners from deprived environments. Le Roux's Group Test for School Readiness was used as baseline assessments to establish the school…

Traitement des séquelles de brûlures de la main dans les pays à ressources limitées ; notre expérience en république démocratique du Congo

PubMed Central

Kibadi, K.; Moutet, F.

2015-01-01

Summary Les séquelles de brûlures de la main sont encore fréquentes dans les pays à ressources limitées. Trente-deux patients, représentant 38 mains, ont été admis et traités, entre le 1er décembre 2010 et le 1er mai 2014 aux Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC). nous avons observé 22 patients (69 %) dans le groupe de jeunes (patients âgés de moins de 18 ans), et 10 patients (31 %) chez les adultes (18 à 59 ans). Aucun patient dans le groupe de seniors (60 ans et plus) n’a été observé. Dans le groupe de jeunes, la tranche d’âge de 1 à 5 ans a été la plus atteinte avec 13 malades (40 %). l’accident à la maison était le plus fréquent (72 %). le mécanisme de la brûlure était le plus souvent thermique par flammes (51 %) ou par liquide chaud (34 %). les rétractions et brides sont les lésions le plus observées (84 %). la rétraction dorsale globale « main en griffe» est observée chez 40 % de patients traités, associée à des cicatrices hypertrophiques et chéloïdiennes dans 84 % de cas. Chez les 32 mains traitées chirurgicalement, des excision-greffes ont été réalisées dans 43,7 %, des lambeaux locaux dans 43,7 % et des lambeaux à distance dans 12,5 % de cas. A la sortie de l’hôpital, 84 % de « bons » résultats ont été observés. le suivi a été de 18 mois. le traitement des séquelles de brûlures de la main est possible dans ces pays, exemple de la rDC. Mais les défis à surmonter dans ces pays sont nombreux : la faible accessibilité aux techniques actuelles de la chirurgie plastique, la prise en charge initiale inadéquate des brûlures, la pauvreté. PMID:26668560

Declinaisons militaires francaises des directives europeennes en matiere d’hemovigilance (French European Military Haemovigilance Guidelines)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-11-03

du groupe sanguin A B O D et d’un dépistage du VIH et du VHC. Sauf exception (donneur originaire de zones endémiques pour le VHB, non contrôlé avant...réalisées les sérologies VIH , VHC et VHB pré-transfusionnelles. Pour fiabiliser cette procédure assez complexe, le CTSA assure la formation...sont contrôlés pour le VIH avant le départ en mission. Enfin, sur le terrain, les aphé- rèses sont pratiquées sur des donneurs réguliers. A

Doppler transcranien au cours de la drépanocytose chez l'enfant Malagasy

PubMed Central

Herinirina, Nicolas Fanantenana; Rajaonarison, Lova Hasina Ny Ony Narindra; Herijoelison, Andry Roussel; Rakoto, Olivat Aimée Alson; Ahmad, Ahmad

2016-01-01

Introduction Le doppler transcrânien est un outil efficace permettant de dépister les enfants drépanocytaires à risque d'AVC. Méthodes Nous avons réalisé une étude descriptive transversale sur des enfants Malagasy âgés entre 24 mois et 15 ans (groupe 1: 57 drépanocytaires, groupe 2: 43 témoins) afin d’évaluer le profil vélocimétrique des artères cérébrales chez les drépanocytaires. Un examen Doppler transcrânien a été réalisé avec étude des flux sanguins cérébraux chez les enfants des deux groupes. Résultats Pour les sujets drépanocytaires, la vitesse moyenne (VM) de l'artère cérébrale moyenne était de 100,9 ± 26,8 cm/s, l'indice de pulsatilité (IP) de 0,73 ± 0,20, la différence entre les artères cérébrales moyennes droite et gauche (ACMr) de 19,8 ± 21,5 cm/s, le rapport des vitesses de l'artère cérébrale antérieure/artère cérébrale moyenne (ACA/ACM) de 0,7 ± 0,2. Pour les enfants non drépanocytaires, VM: 80,6 ± 19,3 cm/s, IP: 0,79 ± 0,14, ACMr: 17 ± 20,1 cm/s, ACA/ACM: 0,8 ± 0,2. La vélocité des enfants drépanocytaires était supérieure au groupe contrôle. Les vitesses ont été corrélées avec le taux d'hémoglobine et l’âge et non pas avec le sexe et le volume globulaire moyen. Conclusion Les vitesses circulatoires cérébrales sont élevées chez les drépanocytaires que les enfants non drépanocytaires et sont influencées par le taux d'hémoglobine et l’âge. PMID:27516829

Fluid or fuel? The context of consuming a beverage is important for satiety.

PubMed

McCrickerd, Keri; Chambers, Lucy; Yeomans, Martin R

2014-01-01

Energy-containing beverages have a weak effect on satiety, limited by their fluid characteristics and perhaps because they are not considered 'food'. This study investigated whether the context of consuming a beverage can influence the satiating power of its nutrients. Eighty participants consumed a lower- (LE, 75 kcal) and higher-energy (HE, 272 kcal) version of a beverage (covertly manipulated within-groups) on two test days, in one of four beverage contexts (between-groups): thin versions of the test-drinks were consumed as a thirst-quenching drink (n = 20), a filling snack (n = 20), or without additional information (n = 20). A fourth group consumed subtly thicker versions of the beverages without additional information (n = 20). Lunch intake 60 minutes later depended on the beverage context and energy content (p = 0.030): participants who consumed the thin beverages without additional information ate a similar amount of lunch after the LE and HE versions (LE = 475 kcal, HE = 464 kcal; p = 0.690) as did those participants who believed the beverages were designed to quench-thirst (LE = 442 kcal, HE = 402 kcal; p = 0.213), despite consuming an additional 197 kcal in the HE beverage. Consuming the beverage as a filling snack led participants to consume less at lunch after the HE beverage compared to the LE version (LE = 506 kcal, HE = 437 kcal; p = 0.025). This effect was also seen when the beverages were subtly thicker, with participants in this group displaying the largest response to the beverage's energy content, consuming less at lunch after the HE version (LE = 552 kcal, HE = 415 kcal; p<0.001). These data indicate that beliefs about the consequences of consuming a beverage can affect the impact of its nutrients on appetite regulation and provide further evidence that a beverage's sensory characteristics can limit its satiating power.

LeMYC2 acts as a negative regulator of blue light mediated photomorphogenic growth, and promotes the growth of adult tomato plants

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Arabidopsis ZBF1/MYC2bHLH transcription factor is a repressor of photomorphogenesis, and acts as a point of cross talk in light, abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways. MYC2 also functions as a positive regulator of lateral root development and flowering time under long day conditions. However, the function of MYC2 in growth and development remains unknown in crop plants. Results Here, we report the functional analyses of LeMYC2 in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). The amino acid sequence of LeMYC2 showed extensive homology with Arabidopsis MYC2, containing the conserved bHLH domain. To study the function of LeMYC2 in tomato, overexpression and RNA interference (RNAi) LeMYC2 tomato transgenic plants were generated. Examination of seedling morphology, physiological responses and light regulated gene expression has revealed that LeMYC2 works as a negative regulator of blue light mediated photomorphogenesis. Furthermore, LeMYC2 specifically binds to the G-box of LeRBCS-3A promoter. Overexpression of LeMYC2 has led to increased root length with more number of lateral roots. The tomato plants overexpressing LeMYC2 have reduced internode distance with more branches, and display the opposite morphology to RNAi transgenic lines. Furthermore, this study shows that LeMYC2 promotes ABA and JA responsiveness. Conclusions Collectively, this study highlights that working in light, ABA and JA signaling pathways LeMYC2 works as an important regulator for growth and development in tomato plants. PMID:24483714

Caloric restriction in lean and obese strains of laboratory rat: effects on body composition, metabolism, growth and overall health.

PubMed

Aydin, C; Jarema, K A; Phillips, P M; Gordon, C J

2015-11-01

What is the central question of this study? How do lean and obese rats respond physiologically to caloric restriction? What is the main finding and its importance? Obese rats show marked benefits compared with lean animals. Reduced body fat is associated with improved longevity with caloric restriction (CR) in rodents. Little is known regarding effects of CR in genetically lean versus obese strains. Long-Evans (LE) and Brown Norway (BN) rats make an ideal comparison for a CR study because the percentage body fat of young adult LE rats is double that of BN rats. Male LE and BN rats were either fed ad libitum (AL) or were calorically restricted to 80 or 90% of their AL weight. The percentages of fat, lean and fluid mass were measured non-invasively at 2- to 4-week intervals. Metabolic rate and respiratory quotient were measured after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of CR. Overall health was scored monthly. The percentage of fat of the LE strain decreased with CR, whereas the percentage of fat of the BN strain remained above the AL group for several months. The percentage of lean mass increased above the AL for both strains subjected to CR. The percentage of fluid was unaffected by CR. The average metabolic rate over 22 h of the BN rats subjected to CR was reduced, whereas that of LE rats was increased slightly above the AL group. The respiratory quotient of BN rats was decreased with CR. Overall health of the CR LE group was significantly improved compared with that of the AL group, whereas health of the CR BN rats was impaired compared with the AL group. Overall, the lean BN and obese LE strains differ markedly in fat utilization and metabolic response to prolonged CR. There appears to be little benefit of CR in the lean strain. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Effect of dietary α-tocopherol on the bioavailability of lutein in laying hen.

PubMed

Islam, K M S; Khalil, M; Männer, K; Raila, J; Rawel, H; Zentek, J; Schweigert, F J

2016-10-01

Lutein and its isomer zeaxanthin have gained considerable interest as possible nutritional ingredient in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in humans. Egg yolk is a rich source of these carotenoids. As an oxidative sensitive component, antioxidants such as α-tocopherol (T) might contribute to an improved accumulation in egg yolk. To test this, chickens were fed lutein esters (LE) with and without α-tocopherol as an antioxidant. After depletion on a wheat-soya bean-based lutein-poor diet for 21 days, laying hens (n = 42) were equally divided into three groups and fed the following diets for 21 days: control (basal diet), a LE group (40 mg LE/kg feed) and LE + T group (40 mg LE plus 100 mg T/kg feed). Eggs and blood were collected periodically. Carotenoids and α-tocopherol in yolk and blood plasma were determined by HPLC. Egg yolk was also analysed for total carotenoids using a one-step spectrophotometric method (iCheck((™)) ). Lutein, zeaxanthin, α-tocopherol and total carotenoids in egg yolk were highest after 14 days of feeding and decreased slightly afterwards. At the end of the trial, eggs of LE + T group contained higher amount of lutein (13.72), zeaxanthin (0.65), α-tocopherol (297.40) and total carotenoids (21.6) compared to the LE group (10.96, 0.55, 205.20 and 18.0 mg/kg, respectively, p < 0.05). Blood plasma values of LE + T group contain higher lutein (1.3), zeaxanthin (0.06) and tocopherol (20.1) compared to LE group (1.02, 0.04 and 14.90 mg/l, respectively, p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary α-tocopherol enhances bioavailability of lutein reflecting higher content in egg yolk and blood plasma. Improved bioavailability might be due to increased absorption of lutein in the presence of tocopherol and/or a greater stability of lutein/zeaxanthin due to the presence of α-tocopherol as an antioxidant. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Oncologic Safety of Local Excision Compared With Total Mesorectal Excision for ypT0-T1 Rectal Cancer: A Propensity Score Analysis.

PubMed

Jung, Sung Min; Yu, Chang Sik; Park, In Ja; Kim, Tae Won; Kim, Jong Hoon; Yoon, Yong Sik; Lim, Seok-Byung; Kim, Jin Cheon

2016-05-01

Good oncologic outcomes, demonstrated by a complete pathologic response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (PCRT), have led to local excision (LE) in selected patients with rectal cancer. We evaluated the oncologic safety of LE compared with total mesorectal excision (TME) in patients with ypT0-T1 rectal cancer.A retrospective review of 304 patients who underwent PCRT, followed by LE or TME, for ypT0-T1 rectal cancer was performed. Propensity scores were computed and used to match groups (LE:TME = 1:1), and analysis of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was made by comparing patients who underwent LE or TME. Prognostic factors of relapse were analyzed for all patients.Tumor categories were ypT0 in 25 (61.9%) cases, ypTis in 6 (14.3%) cases, and ypT1 in 11 (26.2%) cases for the LE group, and ypT0 in 28 (66.7%) cases, ypTis in 4 (9.5%) cases, and ypT1 in 10 (23.8%) cases for the matched TME patients. There was no significant difference between the matched LE and TME groups in relapse (4.8% and 7.14%, respectively; P = 0.646), 5-year DFS (95.2% vs 91.6%; P = 0.33) and 5-year OS (96.6% vs 88.0%; P = 0.238). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, tumor distance from the anal verge (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.616-0.992) and the tumor grade (HR = 4.29; 95% CI = 1.430-12.886) were significantly associated with the recurrence risk.LE results in oncologic outcomes that are comparable to those achieved by TME in selected patients with ypT0-T1 rectal cancer after PCRT.

Comparative Assessment of Induced Immune Responses Following Intramuscular Immunization with Fusion and Cocktail of LeIF, LACK and TSA Genes Against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in BALB/c Mice.

PubMed

Maspi, Nahid; Ghaffarifar, Fatemeh; Sharifi, Zohreh; Dalimi, Abdolhossein; Dayer, Mohammad Saaid

2018-02-01

In the present study, we evaluated induced immune responses following DNA vaccine containing cocktail or fusion of LeIF, LACK and TSA genes or each gene alone. Mice were injected with 100 µg of each plasmid containing the gene of insert, plasmid DNA alone as the first control group or phosphate buffer saline as the second control group. Then, cellular and humoral responses, lesion size were measured for all groups. All vaccinated mice induced Th1 immune responses against Leishmania characterized by higher IFN-γ and IgG2a levels compared with control groups (p < 0.05). In addition, IFN-γ levels increased in groups immunized with fusion and cocktail vaccines in comparison with LACK (p < 0.001) and LeIF (p < 0.01) groups after challenge. In addition, fusion and cocktail groups produced higher IgG2a values than groups vaccinated with a gene alone (p < 0.05). Lesion progression delayed for all immunized groups compared with control groups from 5th week post-infection (p < 0.05). Mean lesion size decreased in immunized mice with fusion DNA than three groups vaccinated with one gene alone (p < 0.05). While, lesion size decreased significantly in cocktail recipient group than LeIF recipient group (p < 0.05). There was no difference in lesion size between fusion and cocktail groups. Overall, immunized mice with cocktail and fusion vaccines showed stronger Th1 response by production of higher IFN-γ and IgG2a and showed smaller mean lesion size. Therefore, use of multiple antigens can improve induced immune responses by DNA vaccination.

Enhanced Antimalarial Activity by a Novel Artemether-Lumefantrine Lipid Emulsion for Parenteral Administration

PubMed Central

Ma, Yufan; Lu, Tingli; Zhao, Wen; Wang, Ying; Chen, Ting; Mei, Qibing

2014-01-01

Artemether and lumefantrine (also known as benflumetol) are difficult to formulate for parenteral administration because of their low aqueous solubility. Cremophor EL as an emulsion excipient has been shown to cause serious side effects. This study reports a method of preparation and the therapeutic efficacies of novel lipid emulsion (LE) delivery systems with artemether, lumefantrine, or artemether in combination with lumefantrine, for parenteral administration. Their physical and chemical stabilities were also evaluated. Furthermore, the in vivo antimalarial activities of the lipid emulsions developed were tested in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Artemether, lumefantrine, or artemether in combination with lumefantrine was encapsulated in an oil phase, and the in vivo performance was assessed by comparison with artesunate for injection. It was found that the lumefantrine lipid emulsion (LUM-LE) and artemether-lumefantrine lipid emulsion (ARM-LUM-LE-3) (1:6) began to decrease the parasitemia levels after only 3 days, and the parasitemia inhibition was 90% at doses of 0.32 and 0.27 mg/kg, respectively, with immediate antimalarial effects greater than those of the positive-control group and constant antimalarial effects over 30 days. LUM-LE and ARM-LUM-LE-3 demonstrated the best performance in terms of chemical and physical stabilities and antiplasmodial efficacy, with a mean particle size of 150 nm, and they have many favorable properties for parenteral administration, such as biocompatibility, physical stability, and ease of preparation. PMID:24982079

[Systemic lupus erythematosus and pregnancy].

PubMed

Basheva, S; Nikolov, A; Stoilov, R; Stoilov, N

2012-01-01

Connective-tissue disorders, also referred to as collagen-vascular disorders, are characterized by autoantibody-mediated connective-tissue abnormalities. These are also called immune-complex diseases because many involve deposition of immune complexes in specific organ or tissue sites. Some of these disorders are characterized by sterile inflammation, especially of the skin, joints, blood vessels, and kidneys, and are referred to as rheumatic diseases. For inexplicable reasons, many rheumatic diseases primarily affect women. Another major category of connective-tissue diseases includes inherited disorders of bone, skin, cartilage, blood vessels. Examples include Marfan syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Lupus erythematosus (LE) is the main and most important disease in the group of systemic connective tissue diseases. It is heterogeneous, multiple organs autoimmune inflammatory disease with complex pathogenesis, which is the result of interaction between the susceptible genes and environmental factors that lead to abnormal immune response. In this review will consider: its incidence, pathogenesis, clinical forms and clinical features and diagnosis set based on generally accepted clinical criteria developed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), the course of pregnancy in patients suffering from LE, the most common complications of LE during pregnancy and antiphospholipid syndrome as part of LE.

Prise en charge des plaies du périnée en post partum: faut-il prescrire systématiquement un antibiotique?

PubMed Central

Fouelifack, Florent Ymele; Eko, Filbert Eko; Ko’A, Claude Odile Vanessa Ebode; Fouedjio, Jeanne Hortence; Mbu, Robinson Enow

2017-01-01

Résumé Introduction L'intégrité des voies génitales n'est pas toujours respectée au cours de l'accouchement. Aucun protocole de prise en charge des plaies périnéales du post-partum (déchirures et épisiotomies) n'existant dans nos services, la prise en charge reste praticien dépendant. Nous avons entrepris cette étude dans le but d'établir l'intérêt de l'antibiotique dans le traitement des plaies périnéales du post-partum. Notre objectif était d'évaluer l'impact de l'antibioprophylaxie sur le processus de cicatrisation et dans la prévention des complications infectieuses après réparation. Méthodes Il s'agissait d'une étude de cohorte prospective sur une durée de 6 mois, soit du 1er janvier au 31 mai 2016, menée dans l'Unité de Gynécologie et Obstétriques de l'Hôpital Central de Yaoundé. Deux groupes A et B d'accouchées avec déchirure périnéale et/ou épisiotomie étaient suivies. Le groupe A était composé de 85 accouchées à qui on avait prescrit le protocole compresse imbibée de Bétadine® (placebo). Le groupe B (ou groupe test) était composé d'accouchées qui en plus du placebo, avaient la prescription d'un antibiotique (association 1000mg d'amoxicilline et 125mg d'acide clavulanique à raison de 1000mg 2fois par jour par voie orale pendant 05 jours). Les 2 groupes étaient suivis à J0, J2 et J9. Nos critères d'évaluation de la prise en charge étaient: la douleur, l'infection, la tuméfaction, la propreté de la plaies et le delai de cicatrisation complete. Les données étaient saisies et analysées à l'aide des logiciels Epidata analysis version 3.2 et STATA version 12.0 (Texas USA 2001). Les corrélations entre les variables étaient recherchées selon le cas par le chi carré, l'Odds ratio et avec la valeur de P (significatif pour toute valeur ≤ 0.05). Résultats La moyenne d'âge était de 26.32 ± 6.5 ans avec des extrêmes de 15 et 43 ans. Les primipares représentaient 55.9% de la population d'étude. La douleur représentait le principal symptôme à J0 post-partum sans prédominance significative d'un groupe (OR = 0.9; IC = 0.14-7.19; P = 1). Les plaies tuméfiées étaient la deuxième plainte sans variation significative dans les deux groupes (OR = 1.69 ; IC = 0.88-3.24 ; P = 0.13). Aucune variation significative n'a été observée à J0, J2 et J9 entre les 2 protocoles en ce qui concerne les indicateurs étudiés : évolution de la douleur, l'infection, la tuméfaction et le délai de cicatrisation. A J9 la guérison était complète dans les deux groupes et les 2 protocoles s'équivalaient au niveau de l'efficacité et la prévention des infections. Conclusion Au terme de cette étude les deux protocoles étaient équivalents. Nous concluons que pour l'intérêt de l'économie de la santé, il n'est pas utile de prescrire les antibiotiques pour la prise en charge des plaies périnéales. PMID:29564033

The Leukocyte Esterase Strip Test has Practical Value for Diagnosing Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Study.

PubMed

Koh, In J; Han, Seung B; In, Yong; Oh, Kwang J; Lee, Dae H; Kim, Tae K

2017-11-01

Leukocyte esterase (LE) was recently reported to be an accurate marker for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) as defined by the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria. However, the diagnostic value of the LE test for PJI after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the reliability of the subjective visual interpretation of the LE test, and the correlation between the LE test results and the current MSIS criteria remain unclear. This study prospectively enrolled 60 patients undergoing revision TKA for either PJI or aseptic failure. Serological marker, synovial fluid, and histological analyses were performed in all cases. The PJI group comprised 38 cases that met the MSIS criteria and the other 22 cases formed the aseptic group. All the LE tests were interpreted using both visual judgment and automated colorimetric reader. When "++" results were considered to indicate a positive PJI, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy were 84, 100, 100, 79, and 90%, respectively. The visual interpretation agreed with the automated colorimetric reader in 90% of cases (Cronbach α = 0.894). The grade of the LE test was strongly correlated with the synovial white blood cell count (ρ = 0.695) and polymorphonuclear leukocyte percentage (ρ = 0.638) and moderately correlated with the serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The LE test has high diagnostic value for diagnosing PJI after TKA. Subjective visual interpretation of the LE test was reliable and valid for the current battery of PJI diagnostic tests according to the MSIS criteria. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Lymphocytic Esophagitis in Non-Achalasia Primary Esophageal Motility Disorders: Improved Criteria, Prevalence, Strength of Association and Natural History

PubMed Central

Putra, Juan; Muller, Kristen E.; Hussain, Zilla H.; Parker, Siddhartha; Gabbard, Scott; Brickley, Elizabeth B.; Lacy, Brian E.; Rothstein, Richard; Lisovsky, Mikhail

2017-01-01

Lymphocytic esophagitis (LE) is a histologic pattern with no established clinical correlates in the majority of patients. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between non-achalasia primary esophageal motility disorders (PMED) and LE. Sixty-nine patients with PMED and esophageal biopsies, including 22 with nutcracker esophagus, 33 with ineffective motility and 14 with diffuse spasm, constituted the study group. The control group consisted of 70 patients with severe dysmotility-negative gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) requiring referral for Nissen fundoplication. To improve the criteria for LE, a lymphocyte reference range at different esophageal levels was first established in 17 healthy volunteers. The cutoffs for normal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), defined as lymphocyte levels not exceeding mean level + 2 standard deviations, were set at 62, 46, and 41 lymphocytes per high power field at 0 to 2 cm, 5 cm, and 10 cm above the gastroesophageal junction, respectively. Predominantly focal peripapillary LE was observed in approximately 40% of patients with nutcracker esophagus or diffuse spasm and 20% of patients with ineffective motility, in comparison to 4% of patients with dysmotility-negative GERD (P < 0.035 versus any subtype of PMED). Overall, LE was strongly associated with PMED in multivariate analysis (adjusted odds ratio, 7.93; 95% CI: 2.26, 27.9; P=0.001). LE had a chronic course in 56% of the patients with follow-up biopsies. In conclusion, LE has a strong association with PMED, suggesting utility of LE in raising the possibility of PMED. PMID:27526295

Elbow flexor and extensor muscle weakness in lateral epicondylalgia.

PubMed

Coombes, Brooke K; Bisset, Leanne; Vicenzino, Bill

2012-05-01

To evaluate whether deficits of elbow flexor and extensor muscle strength exist in lateral epicondylalgia (LE) in comparison with a healthy control population. Cross-sectional study. 150 participants with unilateral LE were compared with 54 healthy control participants. Maximal isometric elbow flexion and extension strength were measured bilaterally using a purpose-built standing frame such that gripping was avoided. The authors found significant side differences in elbow extensor (-6.54 N, 95% CI -11.43 to -1.65, p=0.008, standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.45) and flexor muscle strength (-11.26 N, 95% CI -19.59 to -2.94, p=0.009, SMD -0.46) between LE and control groups. Within the LE group, only elbow extensor muscle strength deficits between sides was significant (affected-unaffected: -2.94 N, 95% CI -5.44 to -0.44). Small significant deficits of elbow extensor and flexor muscle strength exist in the affected arm of unilateral LE in comparison with healthy controls. Notably, comparing elbow strength between the affected and unaffected sides in unilateral epicondylalgia is likely to underestimate these deficits. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12609000051246.

Poling of Microwave Electro-Optic Devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singer, Kenneth D.

1997-01-01

The desire to transmit high frequency, microwave RF signals over fiber optic cables has necessitated the need for electro-optic modulation devices. However, in order to reap these potential benefits, it is necessary to develop the devices and their associated fabrication processes, particularly those processes associated with the poling of the devices. To this end, we entered into a cooperative research agreement with Richard Kunath of NASA LeRC. A graduate student in my group, Tony Kowalczyk, worked closely with the group at NASA to develop processes for construction of a microwave frequency electro-optic modulator. Materials were commercially obtained from Amoco Chemical and in collaboration with Lockheed-Martin. The photolithography processes were developed at NASA LeRC and the electric-field poling process was carried out in our laboratory at CWRU. During the grant period, the poling process conditions were investigated for these multilayer devices. Samples were poled and the resulting nonlinear optical properties were evaluated in our laboratory. Following the grant period, Kowalczyk went to NASA under a NRC fellowship, and I continued to collaborate as a consultant. Publications listed at the end of this report came out of this work. Another manuscript is in preparation and will be submitted shortly.

Case Study on the Use of Microcomputers in Primary Schools in Bar-le-Duc (France).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dieschbourg, Robert

1988-01-01

Examines a project which involves the introduction of computer science into elementary schools to create an awareness of data processing as an intellectual, technological, and socio-cultural phenomenon. Concludes that the early computer experience and group work involved in the project enhances student social and psychological development. (GEA)

Field-expedient screening and injury risk algorithm categories as predictors of noncontact lower extremity injury.

PubMed

Lehr, M E; Plisky, P J; Butler, R J; Fink, M L; Kiesel, K B; Underwood, F B

2013-08-01

In athletics, efficient screening tools are sought to curb the rising number of noncontact injuries and associated health care costs. The authors hypothesized that an injury prediction algorithm that incorporates movement screening performance, demographic information, and injury history can accurately categorize risk of noncontact lower extremity (LE) injury. One hundred eighty-three collegiate athletes were screened during the preseason. The test scores and demographic information were entered into an injury prediction algorithm that weighted the evidence-based risk factors. Athletes were then prospectively followed for noncontact LE injury. Subsequent analysis collapsed the groupings into two risk categories: Low (normal and slight) and High (moderate and substantial). Using these groups and noncontact LE injuries, relative risk (RR), sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were calculated. Forty-two subjects sustained a noncontact LE injury over the course of the study. Athletes identified as High Risk (n = 63) were at a greater risk of noncontact LE injury (27/63) during the season [RR: 3.4 95% confidence interval 2.0 to 6.0]. These results suggest that an injury prediction algorithm composed of performance on efficient, low-cost, field-ready tests can help identify individuals at elevated risk of noncontact LE injury. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The movement patterns used to rise from a supine position by children with developmental delay and age-related differences in these.

PubMed

Hsue, Bih-Jen; Wang, Yun-Er; Chen, Yung-Jung

2014-09-01

The purposes of this study were to determine (1) movement patterns and strategies of children with mild to moderate developmental delay (DD) used to rise up and how they differ from those used by age-matched children with typical development (TD), (2) whether the movement patterns differ with age in children with DD, and (3) to determine the developmental sequences for the UE, AX and LE in children with DD and whether they are different from those used by children with TD. Sixty six children with TD and 31 children with DD aged two to six years were recruited. Peabody Developmental Motor Scale II (PDMS-2) was used to determine the motor performance level. The participants were recorded during rising for at least five repetitions. Two trained pediatric physical therapists viewed each video recording and classified the movement patterns of the upper extremities (UE), trunk/axial (AX) and lower extremities (LE) regions using descriptive categories developed by previous researchers. The DD and TD groups were further divided into four subgroups each using a one-year interval. The percentage of occurrence of the each UE, AX and LE movement was determined and compared across subgroups, and between each age-matched pair of TD and DD groups. The results demonstrated that the participants in the TD group clearly followed the proposed developmental sequence and the children with DD followed the developmental sequences but with different maturation speeds and greater variability, especially at the age of three to five years. The most common movement patterns used by the children in each of the DD subgroups were at least one developmental categorical pattern behind those used by the age-matched children with TD before five years old, except for the LE region. In the DD group, the movement patterns had moderate to high correlation with the child's motor performance level, indicating that the children with better motor performances used more developmentally advanced patterns in comparison with those with lower scores. However, besides motor maturity, numerous other intrinsic/extrinsic factors may affect the child's performance of this task. The information obtained in this study would assist therapists when working with the children with DD, so that they can provide individualized treatment rather than guiding all such children toward a single, mature pattern. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stress exposure and sensitivity in the clinical high-risk syndrome: initial findings from the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS).

PubMed

Trotman, Hanan D; Holtzman, Carrie W; Walker, Elaine F; Addington, Jean M; Bearden, Carrie E; Cadenhead, Kristin S; Cannon, Tyrone D; Cornblatt, Barbara A; Heinssen, Robert K; Mathalon, Daniel H; Tsuang, Ming T; Perkins, Diana O; Seidman, Larry J; Woods, Scott W; McGlashan, Thomas H

2014-12-01

There is inconsistent evidence for increased stress exposure among individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis. Yet similar to patients with a diagnosed psychotic illness, the preponderance of evidence suggests that CHR individuals tend to experience stressful life events (LE) and daily hassles (DH) as more subjectively stressful than healthy individuals. The present study utilizes data from the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study Phase 2 (NAPLS-2) to test the hypotheses that (1) CHR individuals manifest higher self-reported stress in response to both LE and DH when compared to healthy controls (HC), (2) group differences in self-reported stress increase with age, (3) baseline self-reported stress is associated with follow-up clinical status, and (4) there is a sensitization effect of LE on the response to DH. In contrast to some previous research, the present findings indicate that the CHR group (N=314) reported exposure to more LE when compared to the HC group (N=162). As predicted, CHR participants rated events as more stressful, and those who progressed to psychosis reported a greater frequency of LE and greater stress from events compared to those whose prodromal symptoms remitted. There was also some evidence of stress-sensitization; those who experienced more stress from LE rated current DH as more stressful. The results indicate that the "prodromal" phase is a period of heightened stress and stress sensitivity, and elevated cumulative lifetime exposure to stressful events may increase reactions to current stressors. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Caloric Restriction in Lean and Obese Strains of Laboratory ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? How do lean and obese rats respond physiologically to caloric restriction? What is the main finding and its importance? Obese rats show marked benefits compared with lean animals. Reduced body fat is associated with improved longevity with caloric restriction (CR) in rodents. Little is known regarding effects of CR in genetically lean versus obese strains. Long-Evans (LE) and Brown Norway (BN) rats make an ideal comparison for a CR study because the percentage body fat of young adult LE rats is double that of BN rats. Male LE and BN rats were either fed ad libitum (AL) or were caloricallyrestricted to 80 or 90% of their AL weight. The percentages of fat, lean and fluid mass were measured non-invasively at 2- to 4-week intervals. Metabolic rate and respiratory quotient were measured after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of CR. Overall health was scored monthly. The percentage of fat of the LE strain decreased with CR, whereas the percentage of fat of the BN strain remained above the AL group for several months. The percentage of lean mass increased above the AL for both strains subjected to CR. The percentage offluid was unaffected by CR. The average metabolic rate over 22 h of the BN rats subjected to CR was reduced, whereas that of LE rats was increased slightly above the AL group. The respiratory quotient of BN rats wasdecreased with CR. Overall health of the CR LE group was significantly improved compared with t

A study on reducing the absorption of lidocaine from the airway in cats.

PubMed

Chen, Yunfeng; Zeng, Yiming; Zhang, Yin

2017-08-01

To determine if the combination of lidocaine with epinephrine or gamma globulin would decrease the rate or reduce the amount of local absorption of lidocaine through the airway. Twenty adult male cats were randomly and evenly distributed into four groups: 1) Group LG: lidocaine administered with gamma globulin; 2) Group LS: lidocaine administered with physiological saline); 3) Group LE: lidocaine administered with epinephrine; 4) Group C: control group. Invasive blood pressure, heart rate, and concentration of lidocaine were recorded before and after administration. The peak of plasma concentrations appeared difference (Group LG: 1.39 ± 0.23 mg/L; Group LS: 1.47 ± 0.29 mg/L and Group LE: 0.99 ± 0.08 mg/L). Compared to Group C, there were significant differences in the average heart rate of Groups LG, LS, and LE (P < 0.05). The average systolic blood pressures were significantly different when each group was compared to Group C (P < 0.05). The biological half-life, AUC0-120, peak time, and half-life of absorption among the three groups have not presented statistically significant differences (P > 0.05). Administering lidocaine in combination with gamma globulin through airway causes significant decrease the rate and reduce the amount of local absorption of lidocaine in cats.

How Does Ankle-foot Orthosis Stiffness Affect Gait in Patients With Lower Limb Salvage?

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-10

characteristics Group Age (years) Height Mass Months of IDEO use Diagnosis IDEO 1 28 1.92 96.4 3.9 R LE neuropathy 2 21 1.79 95.7 11.3 R paresis 3 30...1.78 97.3 7.5 R LE tissue loss/trauma 4 40 1.81 81.0 9.3 L ankle fracture and osteoarthritis 5 30 1.75 79.1 9.8 L tibia/fibula fracture 6 30 1.76 78.2...11.0 L LE neuropathy, crushed tibia/fibula 7 36 1.78 75.5 4.4 L LE talar fracture, multiple fractures 8 22 1.64 80.3 9.0 R LE tissue loss/trauma 9 27

Enquête internationale sur l'état de l'art et l'état de la pratique en géotechnique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acosta-Martinez, Hugo; Delage, Pierre; Nicks, Jennifer; Day, Peter

2018-05-01

Cet article présente une synthèse des résultats de l'enquête internationale sur l'état de l'art et l'état de la pratique en ingénierie géotechnique lancée par le Groupe présidentiel des entreprises associées et le Comité de supervision technique de la Société internationale de mécanique des sols et de géotechnique en mars 2017. Il résume également les discussions qui ont eu lieu sur le sujet durant le 19e CIMSG à Séoul, le 20 septembre 2017.

[Effect of jian-gan-le on advanced schistosomiasis].

PubMed

He, Zheng-Wen; Wang, You-Bin; Huang, Wen-Jun

2011-06-01

A total of 80 cases of advanced schistosomiasis were selected and divided into an experiment group and a control group, 40 cases each group, by the random sampling method. The patients in the experiment group were administered with Jian-gan-le, and the patients in the control group received compound purple granules. In the experiment group, the curative rate was 25.0%, the improving rate was 70.0%, the inefficacy rate was 5%, and the efficiency rate was 95.0%. In the control group, the curative rate was 12.5%, the improving rate was 75%, the inefficacy rate was 12.5%. There was no statistic difference between the 2 groups (P all > 0.05). The expense was cheaper in the experiment group than in the control group.

Le Fort III Distraction With Internal vs External Distractors: A Cephalometric Analysis.

PubMed

Robertson, Kevin J; Mendez, Bernardino M; Bruce, William J; McDonnell, Brendan D; Chiodo, Michael V; Patel, Parit A

2018-05-01

This study compares the change in midface position following Le Fort III advancement using either rigid external distraction (group 1) or internal distraction (group 2). We hypothesized that, with reference to right-facing cephalometry, internal distraction would result in increased clockwise rotation and inferior displacement of the midface. Le Fort III osteotomies and standardized distraction protocols were performed on 10 cadaveric specimens per group. Right-facing lateral cephalograms were traced and compared across time points to determine change in position at points orbitale, anterior nasal spine (ANS), A-point, and angle ANB. Institutional. Twenty cadaveric head specimens. Standard subcranial Le Fort III osteotomies were performed from a coronal approach and adequately mobilized. The specified distraction mechanism was applied and advanced by 15 mm. Changes of position were calculated at various skeletal landmarks: orbitale, ANS, A-point, and ANB. Group 1 demonstrated relatively uniform x-axis advancement with minimal inferior repositioning at the A-point, ANS, and orbitale. Group 2 demonstrated marked variation in x-axis advancement among the 3 points, along with a significant inferior repositioning and clockwise rotation of the midface ( P < .0001). External distraction resulted in more uniform advancement of the midface, whereas internal distraction resulted in greater clockwise rotation and inferior displacement. External distraction appears to provide increased vector control of the midface, which is important in creating a customized distraction plan based on the patient's individual occlusal and skeletal needs.

Testing the scalar expectancy theory (SET) and the learning-to-time model (LeT) in a double bisection task.

PubMed

Machado, Armando; Pata, Paulo

2005-02-01

Two theories of timing, scalar expectancy theory (SET) and learning-to-time (LeT), make substantially different assumptions about what animals learn in temporal tasks. In a test of these assumptions, pigeons learned two temporal discriminations. On Type 1 trials, they learned to choose a red key after a 1-sec signal and a green key after a 4-sec signal; on Type 2 trials, they learned to choose a blue key after a 4-sec signal and a yellow key after either an 8-sec signal (Group 8) or a 16-sec signal (Group 16). Then, the birds were exposed to signals 1 sec, 4 sec, and 16 sec in length and given a choice between novel key combinations (red or green vs. blue or yellow). The choice between the green key and the blue key was of particular significance because both keys were associated with the same 4-sec signal. Whereas SET predicted no effect of the test signal duration on choice, LeT predicted that preference for green would increase monotonically with the length of the signal but would do so faster for Group 8 than for Group 16. The results were consistent with LeT, but not with SET.

Weaker lower extremity muscle strength predicts traumatic knee injury in youth female but not male athletes.

PubMed

Ryman Augustsson, Sofia; Ageberg, Eva

2017-01-01

The role of lower extremity (LE) muscle strength for predicting traumatic knee injury in youth athletes is largely unknown. The aim was to investigate the influence of LE muscle strength on traumatic knee injury in youth female and male athletes. 225 athletes (40% females) from sport senior high schools in Sweden were included in this case-control study. The athletes recorded any traumatic knee injury that had occurred during their high-school period in a web-based injury form. A one repetition maximum (1RM) barbell squat test was used to measure LE muscle strength. The 1RM was dichotomised to analyse 'weak' versus 'strong' athletes according to the median (weak median vs strong median ). 63 traumatic knee injuries, including 18 ACL injuries, were registered. The majority of injured female athletes were in the weak group compared with the strong group (p=0.0001). The odds of sustaining a traumatic knee injury and an ACL injury was 9.5 times higher and 7 times higher, respectively, in the weak median group compared with the strong median group in females (p ≤0.011). A relative 1RM squat ≤1.05 kg (105% of bodyweight) was established as the best cut-off value to distinguish high versus low risk of injury in female athletes. No strength-injury relationships were observed for the male athletes (p ≥0.348). Weaker LE muscle strength predicted traumatic knee injury in youth female athletes, but not in males. This suggests that LE muscle strength should be included in injury screening in youth female athletes.

LeCTR2, a CTR1-like protein kinase from tomato, plays a role in ethylene signalling, development and defence

PubMed Central

Lin, Zhefeng; Alexander, Lucy; Hackett, Rachel; Grierson, Don

2008-01-01

Arabidopsis AtCTR1 is a Raf-like protein kinase that interacts with ETR1 and ERS and negatively regulates ethylene responses. In tomato, several CTR1-like proteins could perform this role. We have characterized LeCTR2, which has similarity to AtCTR1 and also to EDR1, a CTR1-like Arabidopsis protein involved in defence and stress responses. Protein–protein interactions between LeCTR2 and six tomato ethylene receptors indicated that LeCTR2 interacts preferentially with the subfamily I ETR1-type ethylene receptors LeETR1 and LeETR2, but not the NR receptor or the subfamily II receptors LeETR4, LeETR5 and LeETR6. The C-terminus of LeCTR2 possesses serine/threonine kinase activity and is capable of auto-phosphorylation and phosphorylation of myelin basic protein in vitro. Overexpression of the LeCTR2 N-terminus in tomato resulted in altered growth habit, including reduced stature, loss of apical dominance, highly branched inflorescences and fruit trusses, indeterminate shoots in place of determinate flowers, and prolific adventitious shoot development from the rachis or rachillae of the leaves. Expression of the ethylene-responsive genes E4 and chitinase B was upregulated in transgenic plants, but ethylene production and the level of mRNA for the ethylene biosynthetic gene ACO1 was unaffected. The leaves and fruit of transgenic plants also displayed enhanced susceptibility to infection by the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea, which was associated with much stronger induction of pathogenesis-related genes such as PR1b1 and chitinase B compared with the wild-type. The results suggest that LeCTR2 plays a role in ethylene signalling, development and defence, probably through its interactions with the ETR1-type ethylene receptors of subfamily I. PMID:18346193

Safety and efficacy of loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic ointment 0.5% for the treatment of inflammation and pain following cataract surgery.

PubMed

Comstock, Timothy L; Paterno, Michael R; Singh, Angele; Erb, Tara; Davis, Elizabeth

2011-01-01

To compare the safety and efficacy of loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic ointment 0.5% (LE ointment), a new topical ointment formulation, with vehicle for the treatment of inflammation and pain following cataract surgery. Two randomized, multicenter, double-masked, parallel-group, vehicle-controlled studies were conducted. Patients aged ≥18 years with a combined postoperative anterior chamber cells and flare (ACI) ≥ Grade 3 following uncomplicated cataract surgery participated in seven study visits. Patients self-administered either topical LE ointment or vehicle four times daily for 14 days. Efficacy outcomes included the proportion of patients with complete resolution of ACI and the proportion of patients with no (Grade 0) pain at postoperative day 8. Safety outcomes included the incidence of adverse events, ocular symptoms, changes in intraocular pressure and visual acuity, and biomicroscopy and funduscopy findings. Data from the two studies were combined. The integrated intent-to-treat population consisted of 805 patients (mean [standard deviation] age 69.0 [9.2] years; 58.0% female and 89.7% white). Significantly more LE ointment-treated patients than vehicle-treated patients had complete resolution of ACI (27.7% versus 12.5%) and no pain (75.5% versus 43.1%) at day 8 (P < 0.0001 for both). Fewer LE ointment-treated patients required rescue medication (27.7% versus 63.8%), and fewer had an ocular adverse event (47.2% versus 78.0%, P < 0.0001) while on study treatment. The most common ocular adverse events with LE ointment were anterior chamber inflammation, photophobia, corneal edema, conjunctival hyperemia, eye pain, and iritis. Mean intraocular pressure decreased in both treatment groups. Four patients had increased intraocular pressure ≥10 mmHg (three LE ointment and one vehicle) prior to rescue medication. Visual acuity and dilated funduscopy results were similar between the treatment groups, with the exception of visual acuity at visits 5 and 6, which favored LE ointment. LE ointment was efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of ocular inflammation and pain following cataract surgery.

[Cognitive enrichment in farm animals--the impact of social rank and social environment on learning behaviour of dwarf goats].

PubMed

Baymann, Ulrike; Langbein, Jan; Siebert, Katrin; Nürnberg, Gerd; Manteuffel, Gerhard; Mohr, Elmar

2007-01-01

The influence of social rank and social environment on visual discrimination learning of small groups of Nigerian dwarf goats (Capra hircus, n = 79) was studied using a computer-controlled learning device integrated in the animals' home pen. The experiment was divided into three sections (LE1, LE1 u, LE2; each 14d). In LE1 the goats learned a discrimination task in a socially stable environment. In LE1u animals were mixed and relocated to another pen and given the same task as in LE1. In LE2 the animals were mixed and relocated again and given a new discrimination task. We used drinking water as a primary reinforcer. The rank category of the goats were analysed as alpha, omega or middle ranking for each section of the experiment. The rank category had an influence on daily learning success (percentage of successful trials per day) only in LE1 u. Daily learning success decreased after mixing and relocation of the animals in LE1 u and LE2 compared to LE1. That resulted in an undersupply of drinking water on the first day of both these tasks. We discuss social stress induced by agonistic interactions after mixing as a reason for that decline. The absolute learning performance (trials to reach the learning criterion) of the omega animals was lower in LE2 compared to the other rank categories. Furthermore, their absolute learning performance was lower in LE2 compared to LE1. For future application of similar automated learning devices in animal husbandry, we recommend against the combination of management routines like mixing and relocation with changes in the learning task because of the negative effects on learning performance, particularly of the omega animals.

Decentralisation de l'enseignement: Financements Axes sur la Demande. Le Developpement en Marche. (Decentralization of Education. Demand Side Financing. Directions in Development.)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patrinos, Harry Anthony; Ariasingam, David Lakshmanan

Central governments' supply-side expansions of schooling have not equally benefited all members of society, especially girls, indigenous peoples, tribal groups, disadvantaged minorities, and the poor. Public spending on education is often inefficient, higher education is subsidized at primary education's expense, and costs are becoming…

75 FR 34515 - American Energy Services, Inc., Dynacore Patent Litigation Trust, Earth Sciences, Inc., Empiric...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-17

... Group Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Leasing Solutions, Inc. and Le Bon Table Brand Foods Corp.), Reliance... Solutions, Inc. and Le Bon Table Brand Foods Corp.) because it has not filed any periodic reports since the...

Higher education affects accelerated cortical thinning in Alzheimer's disease: a 5-year preliminary longitudinal study.

PubMed

Cho, Hanna; Jeon, Seun; Kim, Changsoo; Ye, Byoung Seok; Kim, Geon Ha; Noh, Young; Kim, Hee Jin; Yoon, Cindy W; Kim, Yeo Jin; Kim, Jung-Hyun; Park, Sang Eon; Kim, Sung Tae; Lee, Jong-Min; Kang, Sue J; Suh, Mee Kyung; Chin, Juhee; Na, Duk L; Kang, Dae Ryong; Seo, Sang Won

2015-01-01

Epidemiological studies have reported that higher education (HE) is associated with a reduced risk of incident Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, after the clinical onset of AD, patients with HE levels show more rapid cognitive decline than patients with lower education (LE) levels. Although education level and cognition have been linked, there have been few longitudinal studies investigating the relationship between education level and cortical decline in patients with AD. The aim of this study was to compare the topography of cortical atrophy longitudinally between AD patients with HE (HE-AD) and AD patients with LE (LE-AD). We prospectively recruited 36 patients with early-stage AD and 14 normal controls. The patients were classified into two groups according to educational level, 23 HE-AD (>9 years) and 13 LE-AD (≤9 years). As AD progressed over the 5-year longitudinal follow-ups, the HE-AD showed a significant group-by-time interaction in the right dorsolateral frontal and precuneus, and the left parahippocampal regions compared to the LE-AD. Our study reveals that the preliminary longitudinal effect of HE accelerates cortical atrophy in AD patients over time, which underlines the importance of education level for predicting prognosis.

Connecting Instructional and Cognitive Aspects of an LE: A Study of the Global Seminar Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savelyeva, Tamara

2012-01-01

My research problem is based on the lack of unifying conceptual cohesion between the discourses concerning cognitive and instructional aspects of learning environments (LE). I contrast that lack with practical developments of LE studies connected at the level of practical implementation and evaluation. Next, I briefly review the LE boundaries,…

Pharmacokinetics and behavioral effects of liposomal hydromorphone suitable for perioperative use in rhesus macaques

PubMed Central

KuKanich, Butch; Schmidt, Brynn; Heath, Timothy D.; Brown, Carolyn

2011-01-01

Introduction This study aims to evaluate the pharmacokinetic, behavioral, and motor effects of a liposomal preparation of hydromorphone hydrochloride (LE-hydro) in rhesus monkeys. We administered either 2 mg/kg of LE-hydro (n=8) subcutaneous (s.c.) or 0.1 mg/kg of standard pharmaceutical hydromorphone HCl (hydro) preparation either intravenous (i.v.; n=4) or s.c. (n=5). Materials and methods Serial blood samples were drawn after injection and analyzed for serum hydro concentration by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Following s.c. injection of 0.1 mg/kg hydro or 2 mg/kg LE-hydro, behavioral evaluations were conducted in groups of rhesus monkeys (n=10/group) in the presence of a compatible stimulus animal and motor skills were also evaluated (n=10/group). The motor skills test consisted of removing a food reward (carrot ring) from either a straight peg (simple task) or a curved peg (difficult task). Results LE-hydro (MRT0-INF = 105.9 h) demonstrated extended-release pharmacokinetics compared to hydro when administered by either i.v. (MRT0-INF =1.1 h) or s.c. (MRT0-INF =1.3 h) routes. Hydro did not affect motor performance of the simpler task, but the monkeys’ performance deteriorated on the more difficult task at 0.5 and 1 h after injection. LE-hydro had no effect on motor skills in either the simpler or more difficult task. Conclusions The results of these studies indicate that LE-hydro has a pharmacokinetic and behavioral side effects profile consistent with an analgesic that could be tested for surgical use in animals. Our studies also expand the use of rhesus monkeys as a translational behavioral pharmacodynamics model for testing extended-release opioid medication. PMID:21404039

Tolerability of loteprednol/tobramycin versus dexamethasone/tobramycin in healthy volunteers: results of a 4-week, randomized, double-masked, parallel-group study.

PubMed

Bartlett, Jimmy D; Holland, Edward J; Usner, Dale W; Paterno, Michael R; Comstock, Timothy L

2008-08-01

To compare the ocular comfort and tolerability of loteprednol etabonate 0.5%/tobramycin 0.3% (LE/T; Zylet) with dexamethasone 0.1%/tobramycin 0.3% (DM/T; TobraDex) in healthy volunteers. In this multicenter, randomized, double-masked, parallel-group study, healthy volunteers (n = 306) were randomized to receive LE/T or DM/T four times per day for 28 days. Subjects recorded subjective ratings for seven comfort/tolerability parameters using an electronic patient diary (EPD). The primary endpoint was the difference at week 4 from the ratings of an artificial tear at baseline in comfort/tolerability parameters between treatment groups, using a noninferiority paradigm. ClinicalTrials. gov, NCT 00532961. The 97.5% confidence intervals for the lower bound were within -10 for all of the seven comfort/ tolerability parameters evaluated (pain, stinging/burning, irritation, itchiness, foreign-body sensation, dryness, and light sensitivity). Secondary analysis revealed small but significant within-treatment differences in pain favoring LE/T over tears and in light sensitivity favoring tears over DM/T (p < 0.01). Small between-treatment differences in the changes from baseline tear ratings to individual study visits favored LE/T for pain, stinging/burning, irritation, itchiness, foreign-body sensation, and light sensitivity at visit 4 (p < or = 0.04); for pain, stinging/burning, and foreignbody sensation at visit 5 (p < or = 0.03), and for dryness and light sensitivity at visit 6 (p < or = 0.05). LE/T satisfied all conditions of noninferiority to DM/T in comfort and tolerability. Subjects receiving LE/T were more likely to report better ocular comfort/tolerability ratings relative to baseline artificial tears than subjects receiving DM/T. The study population consisted of healthy volunteers.

Le conte: Mille et une facons de dire... (The Story: A Thousand and One Ways to Say...).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cazaux, Henri

1996-01-01

A teacher/storyteller recommends story creation by students to encourage creativity and pleasure in developing language skills. Suggested exercises include combining random nouns (e.g., "le fer et le bois") and creating a proverb about them, creating a story using names of consumer products, and developing a story using only body-language idioms…

Use of Mobile Testing System PeLe for Developing Language Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Titova, Svetlana

2015-01-01

One of the objectives of this paper is to investigate the pedagogical impact of both the mobile testing system PeLe (Norway, HiST) and the enquiry-based learning approach on language skills development in the context of mobile-assisted learning. The research aims to work out a methodological framework of PeLe implementation into the language…

Understanding and Assessing Risk of Intrastate Conflict: Human Development Theory and Practice

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-04-01

R es ou rc es O pp or tu ni ty S ec ur ity V io le nc e Le ve l To ta l R is k R es...ou rc es O pp or tu ni ty S ec ur ity V io le nc e Le ve l To ta l R is k R es ou rc es O pp or tu ni ty S ec ur ity V io le nc e Le ve...l To ta l R is k R es ou rc es O pp or

Structural studies on lipopolysaccharides of serologically non-typable strains of Helicobacter pylori, AF1 and 007, expressing Lewis antigenic determinants.

PubMed

Knirel, Y A; Kocharova, N A; Hynes, S O; Widmalm, G; Andersen, L P; Jansson, P E; Moran, A P

1999-11-01

In contrast to other Helicobacter pylori strains, which have serologically detectable Lewis(x)+ (Le(x)) and Lewis(y)++ (++Le(y)) antigenic determinants in the O-specific polysaccharide chains of the lipopolysaccharides, H. pylori AF1 and 007 were non-typable with anti-Le(x) and anti-Le(y) antibodies. The carbohydrate portions of the lipopolysaccharides were liberated by mild acid hydrolysis and subsequently studied by sugar and methylation analyses, 1H-NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. Compared with each other, and with lipopolysaccharides of strains studied previously, the lipopolysaccharides of both AF1 and 007 showed similarities, but also differences, in the structures of the core region and O-specific polysaccharide chains. The O-specific polysaccharide chains of both strains consisted of a short or long polyfucosylated poly-N-acetyl-beta-lactosamine chains, which were distinguished from those of other strains by a high degree of fucosylation producing a polymeric Le(x)chain terminating with Le(x) or Le(y) units:[sequence: see text] where n = 0 or 1 in strain AF1 and 0 in strain 007, m = 0-2, 6-7 in strain AF1 and m = 0-2, 6-7 or approximately 40 in strain 007, the medium-size species being predominant. Therefore, compared with other strains, the lack of reactivity of lipopolysaccharide of H. pylori AF1 and 007 with anti-Le(x) and anti-Le(y) may reflect the presence of a polymeric Le(x) chain and has important implications for serological and pathogenesis studies. As the substitution pattern of a D-glycero-D-manno-heptose residue in the outer core varied in the two strains, and an extended DD-heptan chain was present in some lipopolysaccharide species but not in others, this region was less conservative than the inner core region. The inner core L-glycero-D-manno-heptose region of both strains carried a 2-aminoethyl phosphate group, rather than a phosphate group, as reported previously for other H. pylori strains.

Systemes Fermioniques a Basse Dimension D'espace: Supraconductivite, Effet Hall Quantique et Statistique Fractionnaire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakhi, Said

Cette these est constituee de trois sujets de recherche distincts. Les deux premiers articles traitent du phenomene de supraconductivite dans un modele bidimensionnel, dans le troisieme article on etudie l'action effective d'un systeme electronique soumis a l'effet d'un champ magnetique (systeme de Hall) et le dernier article examine la quantification d'un systeme de particules identiques en deux dimensions d'espace et la possibilite des anyons. Le modele qu'on analyse dans les deux premiers articles est un systeme fermionique dont les particules chargees et de masse nulle interagissent entre elles avcc un couplage attractif et fort. L'analyse de l'action effective decrivant la physique a basse energie nous permet d'examiner la structure de l'espace de phase. A temperature nulle, le parametre d'ordre du systeme prend une valeur moyenne non nulle. Consequemment, la symetrie continue U(1) du modele est spontanement brisee et il en resulte l'apparition d'un mode de Goldstone. En presence d'un champ electromagnetique externe, ce mode disparait et le champ de jauge acquiert une masse donc l'effet Meissner caracteristique d'un supraconducteur. Bien que le modele ne soit pas renormalisable dans le sens perturbatif, on montre qu'il l'est dans le cadre du developpement en 1/N ou N est le nombre d'especes fermioniques. En outre, on montre que l'inclusion des effets thermiques change radicalement le mecanisme de supraconductivite. En effet, on montre que la brisure spontanee de la symetrie U(1) n'est plus possible a temperature finie a cause de tres severes divergences infrarouges. Par contre, la dynamique des tourbillons (vortex) existant dans le plan devient essentielle. On montre que le phenomene de supraconductivite resulte du confinement de ces objets topologiques et que la temperature critique s'identifie a celle de Kosterlitz -Thouless. Ce mecanisme de supraconductivite presente l'avantage d'aboutir a un rapport gap a la temperature critique plus eleve que celui du modele de BCS et la non violation de la symetrie par renversement du temps et de l'espace contrairement au modele anyonique. Dans le troisieme article, on a developpe une methode systematique pour calculer les determinants fermioniques en presence d'un champ magnetique perpendiculaire au plan de confinement des particules. Aussi bien les effets thermiques que ceux dus aux impuretes sont pris en consideration dans cette methode. La technique est illustree dans le cas du systeme de Hall quantique. Finalement, dans le dernier article, on discute la quantification d'un systeme de particules identiques dans le plan. Apres avoir correctement defini l'espace de phase classique du systeme, l'analyse fait ressortir deux parametres fondamentaux denotes par theta et alpha. Le premier parametre theta est associe a l'intensite du flux magnetique localise au vertex du cone et definit la statistique des particules. Pour des valeurs arbitraires de theta on parle d'anyons. L'autre parametre alpha est associe a l'extension auto-adjointe de l'hamiltonien et ressort de l'unitarite de la theorie. On montre par un exemple explicite que alpha peut etre vu comme le vestige d'une interaction a tres courte distance (haute energie) entre les particules du systeme. Finalement, on montre que le groupe de symetrie du systeme avec extension auto -adjointe n'est plus SO(2,1) car le generateur de dilatation de ce groupe n'est plus compatible avec un parametre alpha arbitraire. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Comparison of saddle, lumbar epidural and caudal blocks on anal sphincter tone: A prospective, randomized study.

PubMed

Shon, Yoon-Jung; Huh, Jin; Kang, Sung-Sik; Bae, Seung-Kil; Kang, Ryeong-Ah; Kim, Duk-Kyung

2016-10-01

Objective To compare the effects of saddle, lumbar epidural and caudal blocks on anal sphincter tone using anorectal manometry. Methods Patients undergoing elective anorectal surgery with regional anaesthesia were divided randomly into three groups and received a saddle (SD), lumbar epidural (LE), or caudal (CD) block. Anorectal manometry was performed before and 30 min after each regional block. The degree of motor blockade of the anal sphincter was compared using the maximal resting pressure (MRP) and the maximal squeezing pressure (MSP). Results The study analysis population consisted of 49 patients (SD group, n = 18; LE group, n = 16; CD group, n = 15). No significant differences were observed in the percentage inhibition of the MRP among the three regional anaesthetic groups. However, percentage inhibition of the MSP was significantly greater in the SD group (83.6 ± 13.7%) compared with the LE group (58.4 ± 19.8%) and the CD group (47.8 ± 16.9%). In all groups, MSP was reduced significantly more than MRP after each regional block. Conclusions Saddle block was more effective than lumbar epidural or caudal block for depressing anal sphincter tone. No differences were detected between lumbar epidural and caudal blocks.

The prevalence of antinuclear antibodies in patients with apparent polymorphic light eruption.

PubMed

Murphy, G M; Hawk, J L

1991-11-01

Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is a very common photosensitive disorder, the most important differential diagnosis of which is lupus erythematosus (LE). One-hundred and forty-two patients with PLE were screened for circulating antinuclear (ANA), Ro and La antibodies over a 2-year period. Results were negative in 66 patients. Sixty-two patients had low-titre ANA of various patterns, ranging from trace to 1/80 without evidence of LE although one later developed subacute cutaneous LE. Fourteen had more significant findings, six with ANA ranging from 1/160 to 1/1280 but no anti-Ro antibodies, four with ANA ranging from 1/160 to 1/1280 and also with anti-Ro antibodies and four patients with anti-Ro antibodies but low-titre ANA, one of whom later developed discoid LE. Three of these 14 patients fulfilled the American Rheumatism Association criteria for the diagnosis of systemic LE, but it was not certain in any of the patients whether the PLE-like rash represented cutaneous LE or coincidental PLE. However the overall 10% incidence of definite or possible LE in patients with suspected PLE suggests that all PLE patients should be screened for LE.

Fiches pratiques: Le circuit de l'herbe; Journal a plusieurs mains; Comment aborder l'economie d'une facon economique; Des articles d'autrefois aux determinants d'aujourd'hui (Practical Ideas: The Path of Grass; Group Diary; Approaching Economics in an Economical Way; From Yesterday's Articles to Today's Determiners).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vever, Daniel; And Others

1991-01-01

Four activities for the French language classroom are described, including a comprehension game based on the cow's digestive system, a group journal exercise using current events, an economics vocabulary development activity, and a grammar exercise focusing on the use of determiners in news articles. (MSE)

Factors of Safety, Historical Development, State of the Art and Future Outlook

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-11-01

The 1.33 value was a common factor used for pressure vessel designs, which was a major design aspect ior many missiles. The apparent intent was to...DISTRIBUTION AND AVAIL ABWLII-Tf ON BACK COVER TL~ - 211T, AGARD-R-661 ORGANISATION DU TRAITE DE L’ATLANTIQUE NORD GROUP CONSULTATIF POURLA RECHERCHE ET LE...Structural and Materials Panel formed an ad hoc Group to condense this discussion. The three pilot papers contained in this report address thedifferent

Weaker lower extremity muscle strength predicts traumatic knee injury in youth female but not male athletes

PubMed Central

Ryman Augustsson, Sofia; Ageberg, Eva

2017-01-01

Background The role of lower extremity (LE) muscle strength for predicting traumatic knee injury in youth athletes is largely unknown. Aims The aim was to investigate the influence of LE muscle strength on traumatic knee injury in youth female and male athletes. Methods 225 athletes (40% females) from sport senior high schools in Sweden were included in this case–control study. The athletes recorded any traumatic knee injury that had occurred during their high-school period in a web-based injury form. A one repetition maximum (1RM) barbell squat test was used to measure LE muscle strength. The 1RM was dichotomised to analyse ‘weak’ versus ‘strong’ athletes according to the median (weakmedian vs strongmedian). Results 63 traumatic knee injuries, including 18 ACL injuries, were registered. The majority of injured female athletes were in the weak group compared with the strong group (p=0.0001). The odds of sustaining a traumatic knee injury and an ACL injury was 9.5 times higher and 7 times higher, respectively, in the weakmedian group compared with the strongmedian group in females (p ≤0.011). A relative 1RM squat ≤1.05 kg (105% of bodyweight) was established as the best cut-off value to distinguish high versus low risk of injury in female athletes. No strength–injury relationships were observed for the male athletes (p ≥0.348). Conclusions Weaker LE muscle strength predicted traumatic knee injury in youth female athletes, but not in males. This suggests that LE muscle strength should be included in injury screening in youth female athletes. PMID:29259807

Fatty Acid Oxidation and Calcium Homeostasis are Involved in the Rescue of Bupivacaine Induced Cardiotoxicity by Lipid Emulsion in Rats

PubMed Central

Partownavid, Parisa; Umar, Soban; Li, Jingyuan; Rahman, Siamak; Eghbali, Mansoureh

2012-01-01

OBJECTIVES Lipid Emulsion (LE) has been shown to be effective in resuscitating bupivacaine-induced cardiac arrest but its mechanism of action is not clear. Here we investigated whether fatty acid oxidation is required for rescue of bupivacaine induced cardiotoxicity by LE in rats. We also compared the mitochondrial function and calcium threshold for triggering of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening in bupivacaine-induced cardiac arrest before and after resuscitation with LE. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, animal study. SETTING University Research Laboratory. SUBJECTS Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS Asystole was achieved with a single dose of bupivacaine (10mg/kg over 20seconds, i.v.) and 20% LE infusion (5ml/kg bolus, and 0.5ml/kg/min maintenance) with cardiac massage started immediately. The rats in CVT group were pretreated with a single dose of fatty acid oxidation inhibitor CVT (0.5, 0.25, 0.125 or 0.0625mg/kg bolus i.v.) 5min prior to inducing asystole by bupivacaine overdose. Heart rate (HR), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), the threshold for opening of mPTP, oxygen consumption and membrane potential were measured. The values are Mean±SEM. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Administration of bupivacaine resulted in asystole. ILP infusion improved the cardiac function gradually as the EF was fully recovered within 5min (EF=64±4% and FS=36±3%, n=6) and heart rate increased to 239±9 beats/min (71% recovery, n=6) within 10min. LE was only able to rescue rats pretreated with low dose of CVT (0.0625mg/kg) (HR=~181±11 beats/min at 10 min, recovery of 56%; EF=50±1%; FS=26±0.6% at 5min, n=3) but was unable to resuscitate rats pretreated with higher doses of CVT (0.5, 0.25 or 0.125mg/kg). The calcium retention capacity in response to Ca2+ overload was significantly higher in cardiac mitochondria isolated from rats resuscitated with 20% LE compared to the group that did not receive ILP after bupivacaine-overdose (330±42 vs. 180±8.2 nmol/mg-mitochondrial protein, p<0.05, n=3 in each group). The mitochondrial oxidative rate and membrane potential were similar in bupivacaine group before and after resuscitation with LE infusion. CONCLUSIONS Fatty acid oxidation is required for successful rescue of bupivacaine induced cardiotoxicity by LE. This rescue action is associated with inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. PMID:22647409

Quality of linear incisions performed by dental students using Er:YAG laser in soft tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novelli, Moacyr Domingos; Vasques, Mayra Torres; Meneguzzo, Daiane Thaís; Aranha, Ana Cecília Corrêa; Corrêa, Luciana

2008-02-01

Introduction: New technologies in dental practice, such as laser, have enabled new strategies to be established in dental education. The aim of this study was to analyze the difficulties that dental students encountered with performing surgical incisions using Er:YAG laser (LE), and the morphology of these incisions. Material and Methods: Sixteen undergraduate dental students and ten dental professionals (DP) enrolled at The Master of Science Program in Laser Dentistry were asked to perform 15 incisions using an LE and 15 with a conventional scalpel. The incisions were compared, based on the shape factor (relation between area and perimeter), which was obtained by a digital image system and by a morphometry software. Data was submitted to statistical analysis of variance (p 0.05). Results: Considering the incisions performed by scalpel, DP showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) in relation to control group (CG). Considering the LE, all groups showed significant differences (p<0.0001) in relation to CG, especially the DP group. The main laser technical failures were performing an incision that was not in a straight line, without defined borders, using an inconstant cutting speed, and absence of suction and water jet appliances. None of the groups performed adequate incisions using LE. Conclusion: Greater emphasis is required in relating laser therapy practice to the physical properties of laser, particularly for dental professionals that specialize in laser.

Enhancement of Cortical Excitability and Lower Limb Motor Function in Patients With Stroke by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation.

PubMed

Chang, Min Cheol; Kim, Dae Yul; Park, Dae Hwan

2015-01-01

Motor dysfunction in the lower limbs is a common sequela in stroke patients. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to determine if applying transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the primary motor cortex helps enhance cortical excitability. Furthermore, we evaluate if combination anodal tDCS and conventional physical therapy improves motor function in the lower limbs. Twenty-four patients with early-stage stroke were randomly assigned to 2 groups: 1) the tDCS group, in which patients received 10 sessions of anodal tDCS and conventional physical therapy; and 2) the sham group, in which patients received 10 sessions of sham stimulation and conventional physical therapy. One day before and after intervention, the motor-evoked potential (MEP) of the affected tibialis anterior muscle was evaluated and motor function was assessed using the lower limb subscale of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-LE), lower limb Motricity Index (MI-LE), Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and gait analysis. The MEPs in the tDCS group became shorter in latency and higher in amplitude after intervention in comparison with the sham group. Improvements in FMA-LE and MI-LE were greater in the tDCS group, but no significant differences in FAC or BBS scores were found. Also, the changes observed on the gait analyses did not significantly differ between the tDCS and sham groups. Combination anodal tDCS and conservative physical therapy appears to be a beneficial therapeutic modality for improving motor function in the lower limbs in patients with subacute stroke. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Reflexive Imperative among High-Achieving Adolescents: A Flemish Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Lancker, Inge

2016-01-01

The socio-cultural conditions of late modernity induce a "reflexive imperative" amongst young people, which also results in metapragmatic and metalinguistic behaviour, as has been demonstrated by linguistic ethnographers (LE). However, recent LE studies on reflexivity in Western European settings have mainly focused on how groups of…

Impact assessment of energy-efficient lighting in patients with lupus erythematosus: a pilot study.

PubMed

Fenton, L; Dawe, R; Ibbotson, S; Ferguson, J; Silburn, S; Moseley, H

2014-03-01

Patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) are often abnormally photosensitive. Ultraviolet (UV) exposure can not only induce cutaneous lesions but may also contribute to systemic flares and disease progression. Various forms of energy-efficient lighting have been shown to emit UV radiation. To determine the effects of these emissions on individuals with LE. This assessment investigated cutaneous responses to repeated exposures from three types of lighting: compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), light-emitting diode (LED) and energy-efficient halogen (EEH). The subjects were 15 patients with LE and a control group of five healthy volunteers. No cutaneous LE lesions were induced by any of the light sources. Delayed skin erythema was induced at the site of CFL irradiation in six of the 15 patients with LE and two of the five healthy subjects. Erythema was increased in severity and more persistent in patients with LE. One patient with LE produced a positive delayed erythema to the EEH. A single patient with LE produced immediate abnormal erythemal responses to the CFL, LED and EEH. Further investigation revealed that this patient also had solar urticaria. All other subjects had negative responses to LED exposure. Compact fluorescent lamps emit UV that can induce skin erythema in both individuals with LE and healthy individuals when situated in close proximity. However, this occurs to a greater extent and is more persistent in patients with LE. EEHs emit UVA that can induce erythema in patients with LE. LEDs provide a safer alternative light source without risk of UV exposure. © 2013 British Association of Dermatologists.

"The Electric City": Sherbrooke et son paysage hydroelectrique (1880--1930)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guillemette, Remi

Ce memoire presente l'imbrication des elements hydroelectrique au sein du paysage de la ville de Sherbrooke entre 1880 et 1930. Nous cherchons a comprendre comment les nouveaux elements energetiques s'integrent a celui-ci et comment la population sherbrookoise se represente ces espaces transformes. Comment le paysage hydroelectrique, en tant qu'espace vu et vecu, interagit-il avec la societe sherbrookoise ? A l'interieur de cette problematique generale, nous chercherons a repondre a trois sous-questions. Quelles sont les transformations physiques et materielles engendrees par l'implantation de cette nouvelle technologie hydroelectrique sur le paysage urbain sherbrookois ? Qu'est-ce que les differents groupes valorisent au sein du paysage ? Quel sens prennent ces nouveaux paysages pour les Sherbrookois ? En effet, l'etude du developpement rapide du potentiel hydroelectrique de la riviere Magog nous amene a demontrer que l'exploitation des ressources energetiques a profondement transforme le paysage de Sherbrooke : vastes modifications du trace des cours d'eau, apparition de batiments specifiques a la production energetique, structures de distributions et infrastructures permettant l'illumination de la ville. Nous avancons aussi que differents groupes d'individus ne valorisent pas les memes elements paysagers. Finalement, nous proposons que le regard porte par les citoyens sur le paysage energetique est tributaire de l'usage qu'ils en font. Comme la fonction des elements energetiques paysagers evolue, le regard qu' ils portent vers ces structures se transforme lui aussi. Mots cles: histoire de Sherbrooke, paysage, hydroelectricite, electricite, transformation de l'espace, histoire environnementale

The distinctive profile of risk factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in comparison with other head and neck cancer types

PubMed Central

Abdulamir, AS; Hafidh, RR; Abdulmuhaimen, N; Abubakar, F; Abbas, KA

2008-01-01

Background Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and other head and neck cancer (HNCA) types show a great epidemiological variation in different regions of the world. NPC has multifactorial etiology and many interacting risk factors are involved in NPC development mainly Epstein Barr virus (EBV). There is a need to scrutinize the complicated network of risk factors affecting NPC and how far they are different from that of other HNCA types. Methods 122 HNCA patients and 100 control subjects were studied in the region of the Middle East. Three types of HNCA were involved in our study, NPC, carcinoma of larynx (CL), and hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC). The risk factors studied were the level of EBV serum IgG and IgA antibodies measured by ELISA, age, sex, smoking, alcohol intake, histology, and family history of the disease. Results EBV serum level of IgG and IgA antibodies was higher in NPC than CL, HPC, and control groups (p < 0.01). NPC was associated with lymphoepithelioma (LE) tumors, males, regular alcohol intake, and regular smoking while CL and HPC were not (p < 0.05). CL and HPC were associated with SCC tumors (p < 0.05). Furthermore, NPC, unlike CL and HPC groups, was not affected by the positive family history of HNCA (p > 0.05). The serum levels of EBV IgG and IgA antibodies were higher in LE tumors, regular smokers, younger patients, and negative family history groups of NPC patients than SCC tumors, non-regular smokers, older patients and positive family history groups respectively (p < 0.05) while this was not found in the regular alcoholics (p > 0.05). Conclusion It was concluded that risk factors of NPC deviate much from that of other HNCA. EBV, smoking, alcohol intake, LE tumors, male patient, and age > 54 years were hot risk factors of NPC while SCC and positive family history of the disease were not. Earlier incidence, smoking, LE tumors, and negative family history of the disease in NPC patients were associated much clearly with EBV. It is proposed that determining the correct risk factors of NPC is vital in assigning the correct risk groups of NPC which helps the early detection and screening of NPC. PMID:19055849

Photometric Evaluation of Soft Tissue Changes in CLP Patients: Le Fort I Advancement Osteotomy (ALO) Versus Anterior Maxillary Distraction (AMD).

PubMed

Paulose, Joby; Markose, Eldho

2014-12-01

This paper is a comparative photometric evaluation of soft tissue changes in patients with CLP associated with maxillary deficiency treated with conventional Le Fort I advancement osteotomy (ALO) and anterior maxillary distraction (AMD). Twenty patients with maxillary hypoplasia associated with cleft lip and palate who had undergone either LeFort I osteotomy or distraction osteogenesis with maxillary advancement were included in this study. Frontal and profile photographs were used to ascertain the changes post-surgically. Photographs were obtained before treatment and 1 year after surgical correction in both groups. Vertical as well as horizontal changes in pronasale was well observed in both groups. A substantial increase in nasal parameters was noted in case of AMD group in comparison to ALO group. Though maxillary advancement was quite evident in AMD and ALO groups, a significant and consistent change was observed in AMD group. Significant vertical and horizontal changes were seen with respect to subnasale and labrale superius in AMD group. The hard and soft tissue changes produced by AMD by intra oral distractors were being evaluated so far. The results of the above studies have proved the excellence of AMD over conventional osteotomies. The present study goes hand in hand with the research outcomes till date.

Catalogue of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) of North America.

PubMed

Bousquet, Yves; Thomas, Donald B; Bouchard, Patrice; Smith, Aaron D; Aalbu, Rolf L; Johnston, M Andrew; Steiner, Warren E

2017-01-01

This catalogue includes all valid family-group (8 subfamilies, 52 tribes, 14 subtribes), genus-group (349 genera, 86 subgenera), and species-group names (2825 species, 215 subspecies) of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) known to occur in North America and their available synonyms. Data on extant, subfossil and fossil taxa are given. For each name the author and year and page number of the description are provided, with additional information (e.g., type species for genus-group names, author of synonymies for invalid taxa) depending on the taxon rank. Several new nomenclatural acts are included. One new genus, Lepidocnemeplatia Bousquet and Bouchard, is described. Spelaebiosis Bousquet and Bouchard [for Ardoinia Özdikmen, 2004], Blapstinus marcuzzii Aalbu [for Blapstinus kulzeri Marcuzzi, 1977], and Hymenorus campbelli Bouchard [for Hymenorus oculatus Doyen and Poinar, 1994] are proposed as new replacement names. Supporting evidence is provided for the conservation of usage of Tarpela micans (Fabricius, 1798) nomen protectum over Tarpela vittata (Olivier, 1793) nomen oblitum . The generic names Psilomera Motschulsky, 1870 [= Stenomorpha Solier, 1836], Steneleodes Blaisdell, 1909 [= Xysta Eschscholtz, 1829], Ooconibius Casey, 1895 and Euconibius Casey, 1895 [= Conibius LeConte, 1851] are new synonyms (valid names in square brackets). The following 127 new synonymies of species-group names, listed in their original combination, are proposed (valid names, in their current combination, placed in square brackets): Bothrasida mucorea Wilke, 1922 [= Pelecyphorus guanajuatensis (Champion, 1884)]; Parasida zacualpanicola Wilke, 1922 [= Pelecyphorus asidoides Solier, 1836]; Stenosides kulzeri Pallister, 1954, Stenosides bisinuatus Pallister, 1954, and Parasida trisinuata Pallister, 1954 [= Pelecyphorus dispar (Champion, 1892)]; Asida favosa Champion, 1884 and Asida similata Champion, 1884 [= Pelecyphorus fallax (Champion, 1884)]; Ologlyptus bicarinatus Champion, 1884 [= Pelecyphorus indutus (Champion, 1884)]; Parasida laciniata Casey, 1912 and Parasida cristata Pallister, 1954 [= Pelecyphorus liratus (LeConte, 1854)]; Parasida esperanzae Wilke, 1922 and Parasida mixtecae Wilke, 1922 [= Pelecyphorus longipennis (Champion, 1884)]; Parasida tolucana Casey, 1912 [= Pelecyphorus scutellaris (Champion, 1884)]; Parasida purpusi Wilke, 1922 [= Pelecyphorus tristis (Champion, 1884)]; Astrotus nosodermoides Champion, 1892 [= Pelecyphorus erosus (Champion, 1892)]; Astrotus seticornis var. humeralis Champion, 1884 [= Pelecyphorus seticornis (Champion, 1884)]; Pactostoma breviuscula Casey, 1912, Pactostoma exoleta Casey, 1912, Pactostoma luteotecta Casey, 1912, Pactostoma monticola Casey, 1912, Pactostoma obtecta Casey, 1912, and Pactostoma sigillata Casey, 1912 [= Pelecyphorus anastomosis (Say, 1824)]; Ologlyptus canus Champion, 1884 and Ologlyptus sinuaticollis Champion, 1884 [= Pelecyphorus graciliformis (Solier, 1836)]; Gonasida elata reducta Casey, 1912, Gonasida elata prolixa Casey, 1912, and Gonasida aucta Casey, 1912 [= Philolithus elatus compar (Casey, 1912)]; Gonasida alaticollis Casey, 1912 [= Philolithus elatus difformis (LeConte, 1854)]; Gonasida gravida Casey, 1912 [= Philolithus elatus elatus (LeConte, 1853)]; Pelecyphorus aegrotus limbatus Casey, 1912 [= Philolithus aegrotus aegrotus (LeConte, 1861)]; Pelecyphorus corporalis Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus reptans Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus socer Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus abscissus Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus fumosus Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus parvus Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus morbillosus pacatus Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus morbillosus sobrius Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus piceus Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus piceus crudelis Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus snowi Casey, 1912, and Pelecyphorus subtenuis Casey, 1912 [= Philolithus morbillosus (LeConte, 1858)]; Bothrasida sanctae-agnae Wilke, 1922 [= Stenomorpha funesta (Champion, 1884)]; Asida flaccida Horn, 1896 [= Stenomorpha embaphionides (Horn, 1894)]; Asida angustula Casey, 1890, Stethasida stricta Casey, 1912, Stethasida muricatula languida Casey, 1912, Stethasida pertinax Casey, 1912, Stethasida socors Casey, 1912, Stethasida angustula inepta Casey, 1912, Stethasida tenax Casey, 1912, and Stethasida vegrandis Casey, 1912 [= Stenomorpha muricatula (LeConte, 1851)]; Stethasida obsoleta expansa Casey, 1912, Stethasida obsoleta opacella Casey, 1912, Stethasida brevipes Casey, 1912, Stethasida torpida Casey, 1912, Stethasida convergens Casey, 1912, Stethasida discreta Casey, 1912, Stethasida longula Casey, 1912, Stethasida adumbrata Casey, 1912, Stethasida occulta Casey, 1912, Stethasida tarsalis Casey, 1912, Stethasida unica Casey, 1912, and Pelecyphorus laevigatus Papp, 1961 [= Stenomorpha obsoleta (LeConte, 1851)]; Trichiasida eremica Wilke, 1922 [= Stenomorpha difficilis (Champion, 1884)]; Trichiasida lineatopilosa Casey, 1912 [= Stenomorpha hirsuta (LeConte, 1851)]; Trichiasida tenella Casey, 1912 [= Stenomorpha hispidula (LeConte, 1851)]; Trichiasida duplex Casey, 1912 [= Stenomorpha villosa (Champion, 1884)]; Alaudes squamosa Blaisdell, 1919, Alaudes testacea Blaisdell, 1919, and Alaudes fallax Fall, 1928 [= Alaudes singularis Horn, 1870]; Edrotes barrowsi Dajoz, 1999 [= Edrotes ventricosus LeConte, 1851]; Nyctoporis tetrica Casey, 1907 and Nyctoporis maura Casey, 1907 [= Nyctoporis aequicollis Eschscholtz, 1831]; Nyctoporis pullata Casey, 1907 [= Nyctoporis sponsa Casey, 1907]; Eleodes tibialis forma oblonga Blaisdell, 1909 [= Eleodes tibialis Blaisdell, 1909]; Eleodes ( manni var.) variolosa Blaisdell, 1917 [= Eleodes constrictus LeConte, 1858]; Eleodes cordata forma sublaevis Blaisdell, 1909, Eleodes cordata forma intermedia Blaisdell, 1909, Eleodes cordata forma oblonga Blaisdell, 1909, Eleodes cordata forma elongata Blaisdell, 1909, and Eleodes ( cordata var.) adulterina Blaisdell, 1917 [= Eleodes cordata Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes hornii var. monticula Blaisdell, 1918 and Eleodes manni sierra Blaisdell, 1925 [= Eleodes fuchsii Blaisdell, 1909]; Eleodes parvicollis var. squalida Blaisdell, 1918 [= Eleodes parvicollis Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes reflexicollis Mannerheim, 1843 and Eleodes parvicollis forma farallonica Blaisdell, 1909 [= Eleodes planata Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes indentata Blaisdell, 1935 [= Eleodes rotundipennis LeConte, 1857]; Eleodes intricata Mannerheim, 1843 [= Eleodes scabrosa Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes horni fenyesi Blaisdell, 1925 [= Eleodes tenebrosa Horn, 1870]; Eleodes cordata var. horrida Blaisdell, 1918 [= Eleodes tuberculata Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes oblonga Blaisdell, 1933 [= Eleodes versatilis Blaisdell, 1921]; Eleodes dentipes marinae Blaisdell, 1921 [= Eleodes dentipes Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes carbonaria forma glabra Blaisdell, 1909 [= Eleodes carbonaria carbonaria (Say, 1824)]; Eleodes granosa forma fortis Blaisdell, 1909 [= Eleodes granosa LeConte, 1866]; Eleodes pilosa forma ordinata Blaisdell, 1909 [= Eleodes pilosa Horn, 1870]; Trogloderus costatus pappi Kulzer, 1960 [= Trogloderus tuberculatus Blaisdell, 1909]; Trogloderus costatus mayhewi Papp, 1961 [= Trogloderus vandykei La Rivers, 1946]; Bolitophagus cristatus Gosse, 1840 [= Bolitotherus cornutus (Fabricius, 1801)]; Eleates explanatus Casey, 1890 [= Eleates depressus (Randall, 1838)]; Blapstinus sonorae Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus brevicollis LeConte, 1851]; Blapstinus falli Blaisdell, 1929 [= Blapstinus castaneus Casey, 1890]; Blapstinus brunneus Casey, 1890 and Blapstinus coronadensis Blaisdell, 1892 [= Blapstinus histricus Casey, 1890]; Blapstinus hesperius Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus intermixtus Casey, 1890]; Blapstinus cinerascens Fall, 1929 [= Blapstinus lecontei Mulsant and Rey, 1859]; Blapstinus niger Casey, 1890 and Blapstinus cribricollis Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus pimalis Casey, 1885]; Blapstinus arenarius Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus pratensis LeConte, 1859]; Blapstinus gregalis Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus substriatus Champion, 1885]; Blapstinus hydropicus Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus sulcatus LeConte, 1851]; Blapstinus hospes Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus vestitus LeConte, 1859]; Notibius reflexus Horn, 1894 [= Conibius opacus (LeConte, 1866)]; Notibius affinis Champion, 1885 [= Conibius rugipes (Champion, 1885)]; Conibius parallelus LeConte, 1851 [= Conibius seriatus LeConte, 1851]; Nocibiotes rubripes Casey, 1895 [= Nocibiotes caudatus Casey, 1895]; Nocibiotes gracilis Casey, 1895 and Nocibiotes acutus Casey, 1895 [= Nocibiotes granulatus (LeConte, 1851)]; Conibius alternatus Casey, 1890 [= Tonibius sulcatus (LeConte, 1851)]; Pedinus suturalis Say, 1824 [= Alaetrinus minimus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1817)]; Menedrio longipennis Motschulsky, 1872 [= Tenebrio obscurus Fabricius, 1792]; Hymenophorus megops Hatch, 1965 and Telesicles magnus Hatch, 1965 [= Hymenorus sinuatus Fall, 1931]; Andrimus concolor Casey, 1891 and Andrimus convergens Casey, 1891 [= Andrimus murrayi (LeConte, 1866)]; Mycetochara marshalli Campbell, 1978 [= Mycetochara perplexata Marshall, 1970]; Phaleria globosa LeConte, 1857 [= Phaleria picta Mannerheim, 1843]. The following subspecies of Trogloderus costatus LeConte, 1879 are given species rank: Trogloderus nevadus La Rivers, 1943, Trogloderus tuberculatus Blaisdell, 1909, and Trogloderus vandykei La Rivers, 1946. The following taxa, previously thought to be junior synonyms, are considered valid: Amphidora Eschscholtz, 1829; Xysta Eschscholtz, 1829; Helops confluens (Casey, 1924). Two new combinations are proposed: Stenomorpha spinimana (Champion, 1892) and Stenomorpha tenebrosa (Champion, 1892) [from the genus Parasida Casey, 1912]. The type species [placed in square brackets] of the following 12 genus-group taxa are designated for the first time: Lagriola Kirsch, 1874 [ Lagriola operosa Kirsch, 1874]; Locrodes Casey, 1907 [ Emmenastus piceus Casey, 1890]; Falacer Laporte, 1840 [ Acanthopus cupreus Laporte, 1840 (= Helops contractus Palisot de Beauvois, 1812)]; Blapylis Horn, 1870 [ Eleodes cordata Eschscholtz, 1829]; Discogenia LeConte, 1866 [ Eleodes scabricula LeConte, 1858]; Metablapylis Blaisdell, 1909 [ Eleodes nigrina LeConte, 1858]; Steneleodes Blaisdell, 1909 [ Eleodes longicollis LeConte, 1851]; Scaptes Champion, 1886 [ Scaptes squamulatus Champion, 1886 (= Asida tropica Kirsch, 1866)]; Aspidius Mulsant and Rey, 1859 [ Blaps punctata Fabricius, 1792]; Cryptozoon Schaufuss, 1882 [ Cryptozoon civile Schaufuss, 1882]; Halophalerus Crotch, 1874 [ Phaleria rotundata LeConte, 1851]; Dignamptus LeConte, 1878 [ Dignamptus stenochinus LeConte, 1878]. Two species previously known from South America [ Nilio lebasi J. Thomson and Platydema erotyloides Chevrolat] are reported for the first time from North America.

Catalogue of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) of North America

PubMed Central

Bousquet, Yves; Thomas, Donald B.; Bouchard, Patrice; Smith, Aaron D.; Aalbu, Rolf L.; Johnston, M. Andrew; Jr., Warren E. Steiner

2018-01-01

Abstract This catalogue includes all valid family-group (8 subfamilies, 52 tribes, 14 subtribes), genus-group (349 genera, 86 subgenera), and species-group names (2825 species, 215 subspecies) of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) known to occur in North America1 and their available synonyms. Data on extant, subfossil and fossil taxa are given. For each name the author and year and page number of the description are provided, with additional information (e.g., type species for genus-group names, author of synonymies for invalid taxa) depending on the taxon rank. Several new nomenclatural acts are included. One new genus, Lepidocnemeplatia Bousquet and Bouchard, is described. Spelaebiosis Bousquet and Bouchard [for Ardoinia Özdikmen, 2004], Blapstinus marcuzzii Aalbu [for Blapstinus kulzeri Marcuzzi, 1977], and Hymenorus campbelli Bouchard [for Hymenorus oculatus Doyen and Poinar, 1994] are proposed as new replacement names. Supporting evidence is provided for the conservation of usage of Tarpela micans (Fabricius, 1798) nomen protectum over Tarpela vittata (Olivier, 1793) nomen oblitum. The generic names Psilomera Motschulsky, 1870 [= Stenomorpha Solier, 1836], Steneleodes Blaisdell, 1909 [= Xysta Eschscholtz, 1829], Ooconibius Casey, 1895 and Euconibius Casey, 1895 [= Conibius LeConte, 1851] are new synonyms (valid names in square brackets). The following 127 new synonymies of species-group names, listed in their original combination, are proposed (valid names, in their current combination, placed in square brackets): Bothrasida mucorea Wilke, 1922 [= Pelecyphorus guanajuatensis (Champion, 1884)]; Parasida zacualpanicola Wilke, 1922 [= Pelecyphorus asidoides Solier, 1836]; Stenosides kulzeri Pallister, 1954, Stenosides bisinuatus Pallister, 1954, and Parasida trisinuata Pallister, 1954 [= Pelecyphorus dispar (Champion, 1892)]; Asida favosa Champion, 1884 and Asida similata Champion, 1884 [= Pelecyphorus fallax (Champion, 1884)]; Ologlyptus bicarinatus Champion, 1884 [= Pelecyphorus indutus (Champion, 1884)]; Parasida laciniata Casey, 1912 and Parasida cristata Pallister, 1954 [= Pelecyphorus liratus (LeConte, 1854)]; Parasida esperanzae Wilke, 1922 and Parasida mixtecae Wilke, 1922 [= Pelecyphorus longipennis (Champion, 1884)]; Parasida tolucana Casey, 1912 [= Pelecyphorus scutellaris (Champion, 1884)]; Parasida purpusi Wilke, 1922 [= Pelecyphorus tristis (Champion, 1884)]; Astrotus nosodermoides Champion, 1892 [= Pelecyphorus erosus (Champion, 1892)]; Astrotus seticornis var. humeralis Champion, 1884 [= Pelecyphorus seticornis (Champion, 1884)]; Pactostoma breviuscula Casey, 1912, Pactostoma exoleta Casey, 1912, Pactostoma luteotecta Casey, 1912, Pactostoma monticola Casey, 1912, Pactostoma obtecta Casey, 1912, and Pactostoma sigillata Casey, 1912 [=Pelecyphorus anastomosis (Say, 1824)]; Ologlyptus canus Champion, 1884 and Ologlyptus sinuaticollis Champion, 1884 [= Pelecyphorus graciliformis (Solier, 1836)]; Gonasida elata reducta Casey, 1912, Gonasida elata prolixa Casey, 1912, and Gonasida aucta Casey, 1912 [= Philolithus elatus compar (Casey, 1912)]; Gonasida alaticollis Casey, 1912 [= Philolithus elatus difformis (LeConte, 1854)]; Gonasida gravida Casey, 1912 [= Philolithus elatus elatus (LeConte, 1853)]; Pelecyphorus aegrotus limbatus Casey, 1912 [= Philolithus aegrotus aegrotus (LeConte, 1861)]; Pelecyphorus corporalis Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus reptans Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus socer Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus abscissus Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus fumosus Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus parvus Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus morbillosus pacatus Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus morbillosus sobrius Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus piceus Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus piceus crudelis Casey, 1912, Pelecyphorus snowi Casey, 1912, and Pelecyphorus subtenuis Casey, 1912 [= Philolithus morbillosus (LeConte, 1858)]; Bothrasida sanctae-agnae Wilke, 1922 [= Stenomorpha funesta (Champion, 1884)]; Asida flaccida Horn, 1896 [= Stenomorpha embaphionides (Horn, 1894)]; Asida angustula Casey, 1890, Stethasida stricta Casey, 1912, Stethasida muricatula languida Casey, 1912, Stethasida pertinax Casey, 1912, Stethasida socors Casey, 1912, Stethasida angustula inepta Casey, 1912, Stethasida tenax Casey, 1912, and Stethasida vegrandis Casey, 1912 [= Stenomorpha muricatula (LeConte, 1851)]; Stethasida obsoleta expansa Casey, 1912, Stethasida obsoleta opacella Casey, 1912, Stethasida brevipes Casey, 1912, Stethasida torpida Casey, 1912, Stethasida convergens Casey, 1912, Stethasida discreta Casey, 1912, Stethasida longula Casey, 1912, Stethasida adumbrata Casey, 1912, Stethasida occulta Casey, 1912, Stethasida tarsalis Casey, 1912, Stethasida unica Casey, 1912, and Pelecyphorus laevigatus Papp, 1961 [= Stenomorpha obsoleta (LeConte, 1851)]; Trichiasida eremica Wilke, 1922 [= Stenomorpha difficilis (Champion, 1884)]; Trichiasida lineatopilosa Casey, 1912 [= Stenomorpha hirsuta (LeConte, 1851)]; Trichiasida tenella Casey, 1912 [= Stenomorpha hispidula (LeConte, 1851)]; Trichiasida duplex Casey, 1912 [= Stenomorpha villosa (Champion, 1884)]; Alaudes squamosa Blaisdell, 1919, Alaudes testacea Blaisdell, 1919, and Alaudes fallax Fall, 1928 [= Alaudes singularis Horn, 1870]; Edrotes barrowsi Dajoz, 1999 [=Edrotes ventricosus LeConte, 1851]; Nyctoporis tetrica Casey, 1907 and Nyctoporis maura Casey, 1907 [= Nyctoporis aequicollis Eschscholtz, 1831]; Nyctoporis pullata Casey, 1907 [= Nyctoporis sponsa Casey, 1907]; Eleodes tibialis forma oblonga Blaisdell, 1909 [= Eleodes tibialis Blaisdell, 1909]; Eleodes (manni var.) variolosa Blaisdell, 1917 [= Eleodes constrictus LeConte, 1858]; Eleodes cordata forma sublaevis Blaisdell, 1909, Eleodes cordata forma intermedia Blaisdell, 1909, Eleodes cordata forma oblonga Blaisdell, 1909, Eleodes cordata forma elongata Blaisdell, 1909, and Eleodes (cordata var.) adulterina Blaisdell, 1917 [= Eleodes cordata Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes hornii var. monticula Blaisdell, 1918 and Eleodes manni sierra Blaisdell, 1925 [= Eleodes fuchsii Blaisdell, 1909]; Eleodes parvicollis var. squalida Blaisdell, 1918 [= Eleodes parvicollis Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes reflexicollis Mannerheim, 1843 and Eleodes parvicollis forma farallonica Blaisdell, 1909 [= Eleodes planata Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes indentata Blaisdell, 1935 [= Eleodes rotundipennis LeConte, 1857]; Eleodes intricata Mannerheim, 1843 [= Eleodes scabrosa Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes horni fenyesi Blaisdell, 1925 [= Eleodes tenebrosa Horn, 1870]; Eleodes cordata var. horrida Blaisdell, 1918 [= Eleodes tuberculata Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes oblonga Blaisdell, 1933 [= Eleodes versatilis Blaisdell, 1921]; Eleodes dentipes marinae Blaisdell, 1921 [= Eleodes dentipes Eschscholtz, 1829]; Eleodes carbonaria forma glabra Blaisdell, 1909 [= Eleodes carbonaria carbonaria (Say, 1824)]; Eleodes granosa forma fortis Blaisdell, 1909 [= Eleodes granosa LeConte, 1866]; Eleodes pilosa forma ordinata Blaisdell, 1909 [= Eleodes pilosa Horn, 1870]; Trogloderus costatus pappi Kulzer, 1960 [= Trogloderus tuberculatus Blaisdell, 1909]; Trogloderus costatus mayhewi Papp, 1961 [= Trogloderus vandykei La Rivers, 1946]; Bolitophagus cristatus Gosse, 1840 [= Bolitotherus cornutus (Fabricius, 1801)]; Eleates explanatus Casey, 1890 [= Eleates depressus (Randall, 1838)]; Blapstinus sonorae Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus brevicollis LeConte, 1851]; Blapstinus falli Blaisdell, 1929 [= Blapstinus castaneus Casey, 1890]; Blapstinus brunneus Casey, 1890 and Blapstinus coronadensis Blaisdell, 1892 [=Blapstinus histricus Casey, 1890]; Blapstinus hesperius Casey, 1890 [=Blapstinus intermixtus Casey, 1890]; Blapstinus cinerascens Fall, 1929 [= Blapstinus lecontei Mulsant and Rey, 1859]; Blapstinus niger Casey, 1890 and Blapstinus cribricollis Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus pimalis Casey, 1885]; Blapstinus arenarius Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus pratensis LeConte, 1859]; Blapstinus gregalis Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus substriatus Champion, 1885]; Blapstinus hydropicus Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus sulcatus LeConte, 1851]; Blapstinus hospes Casey, 1890 [= Blapstinus vestitus LeConte, 1859]; Notibius reflexus Horn, 1894 [= Conibius opacus (LeConte, 1866)]; Notibius affinis Champion, 1885 [=Conibius rugipes (Champion, 1885)]; Conibius parallelus LeConte, 1851 [= Conibius seriatus LeConte, 1851]; Nocibiotes rubripes Casey, 1895 [=Nocibiotes caudatus Casey, 1895]; Nocibiotes gracilis Casey, 1895 and Nocibiotes acutus Casey, 1895 [=Nocibiotes granulatus (LeConte, 1851)]; Conibius alternatus Casey, 1890 [= Tonibius sulcatus (LeConte, 1851)]; Pedinus suturalis Say, 1824 [= Alaetrinus minimus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1817)]; Menedrio longipennis Motschulsky, 1872 [= Tenebrio obscurus Fabricius, 1792]; Hymenophorus megops Hatch, 1965 and Telesicles magnus Hatch, 1965 [= Hymenorus sinuatus Fall, 1931]; Andrimus concolor Casey, 1891 and Andrimus convergens Casey, 1891 [= Andrimus murrayi (LeConte, 1866)]; Mycetochara marshalli Campbell, 1978 [= Mycetochara perplexata Marshall, 1970]; Phaleria globosa LeConte, 1857 [= Phaleria picta Mannerheim, 1843]. The following subspecies of Trogloderus costatus LeConte, 1879 are given species rank: Trogloderus nevadus La Rivers, 1943, Trogloderus tuberculatus Blaisdell, 1909, and Trogloderus vandykei La Rivers, 1946. The following taxa, previously thought to be junior synonyms, are considered valid: Amphidora Eschscholtz, 1829; Xysta Eschscholtz, 1829; Helops confluens (Casey, 1924). Two new combinations are proposed: Stenomorpha spinimana (Champion, 1892) and Stenomorpha tenebrosa (Champion, 1892) [from the genus Parasida Casey, 1912]. The type species [placed in square brackets] of the following 12 genus-group taxa are designated for the first time: Lagriola Kirsch, 1874 [Lagriola operosa Kirsch, 1874]; Locrodes Casey, 1907 [Emmenastus piceus Casey, 1890]; Falacer Laporte, 1840 [Acanthopus cupreus Laporte, 1840 (= Helops contractus Palisot de Beauvois, 1812)]; Blapylis Horn, 1870 [Eleodes cordata Eschscholtz, 1829]; Discogenia LeConte, 1866 [Eleodes scabricula LeConte, 1858]; Metablapylis Blaisdell, 1909 [Eleodes nigrina LeConte, 1858]; Steneleodes Blaisdell, 1909 [Eleodes longicollis LeConte, 1851]; Scaptes Champion, 1886 [Scaptes squamulatus Champion, 1886 (= Asida tropica Kirsch, 1866)]; Aspidius Mulsant and Rey, 1859 [Blaps punctata Fabricius, 1792]; Cryptozoon Schaufuss, 1882 [Cryptozoon civile Schaufuss, 1882]; Halophalerus Crotch, 1874 [Phaleria rotundata LeConte, 1851]; Dignamptus LeConte, 1878 [Dignamptus stenochinus LeConte, 1878]. Two species previously known from South America [Nilio lebasi J. Thomson and Platydema erotyloides Chevrolat] are reported for the first time from North America. PMID:29416389

La prévention de l’infection par le virus respiratoire syncytial

PubMed Central

Samson, L

2009-01-01

L’infection par le virus respiratoire syncytial (VRS) est la principale cause d’infection des voies respiratoires inférieures chez les jeunes enfants et pour cette raison, bon nombre des prématurés et des enfants présentant d’autres facteurs de risque doivent être hospitalisés chaque année au Canada. Le palivizumab, un anticorps monoclonal anti-VRS, peut réduire le taux d’hospitalisation et la gravité de la maladie d’un petit groupe de prématurés ou de nourrissons à haut risque pendant leur première saison de VRS. Le présent document de principes contient une analyse des publications ainsi que des recommandations à l’intention des médecins canadiens au sujet de son utilisation chez les prématurés et les autres nourrissons à risque.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the extracellular domain of LePRK2 from Lycopersicon esculentum.

PubMed

Xu, Anbi; Huang, Laiqiang

2014-02-01

The tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) pollen-specific receptor kinase 2 (LePRK2) is a member of the large receptor-like kinase (RLK) family and is expressed specifically in mature pollen and pollen tubes in L. esculentum. Like other RLKs, LePRK2 contains a characteristic N-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) extracellular domain, the primary function of which is in protein-protein interactions. The LePRK2 LRR is likely to bind candidate ligands from the external environment, leading to a signal transduction cascade required for successful pollination. LePRK2-LRR was purified using an insect-cell secretion expression system and was crystallized using the vapour-diffusion method. The crystals diffracted to a resolution of 2.50 Å and belonged to space group I4(1)22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 93.94, c = 134.44 Å and one molecule per asymmetric unit.

Oxidative DNA damage and oxidative stress in lead-exposed workers.

PubMed

Dobrakowski, M; Pawlas, N; Kasperczyk, A; Kozłowska, A; Olewińska, E; Machoń-Grecka, A; Kasperczyk, S

2017-07-01

There are many discrepancies among the results of studies on the genotoxicity of lead. The aim of the study was to explore lead-induced DNA damage, including oxidative damage, in relation to oxidative stress intensity parameters and the antioxidant defense system in human leukocytes. The study population consisted of 100 male workers exposed to lead. According to the blood lead (PbB) levels, they were divided into the following three subgroups: a group with PbB of 20-35 μg/dL (low exposure to lead (LE) group), a group with a PbB of 35-50 µg/dL (medium exposure to lead (ME) group), and a group with a PbB of >50 μg/dL (high exposure to lead (HE) group). The control group consisted of 42 healthy males environmentally exposed to lead (PbB < 10 μg/dL). A comet assay was used to measure the DNA damage in leukocytes. We measured the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione reductase (GR), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as well as the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), and the value of the total antioxidant capacity. The level of PbB was significantly higher in the examined subgroups than in the control group. The percentage of DNA in the tail was significantly higher in the LE, ME, and HE subgroups than in the control group by 10% ( p = 0.001), 15% ( p < 0.001), and 20% ( p < 0.001), respectively. The activity of GR was significantly lower in the LE and ME subgroups than in the control group by 25% ( p = 0.007) and 17% ( p = 0.028), respectively. The activity of G6PD was significantly lower in the ME subgroup by 25% ( p = 0.022), whereas the activity of GST was significantly higher in the HE subgroup by 101% ( p = 0.001) than in the control group. Similarly, the activity of SOD was significantly higher in the LE and ME subgroups by 48% ( p = 0.026) and 34% ( p = 0.002), respectively. The concentration of MDA was significantly higher in the LE, ME, and HE subgroups than in the control group by 43% ( p = 0.016), 57% ( p < 0.001), and 108% ( p < 0.001), respectively. Occupational lead exposure induces DNA damage, including oxidative damage, in human leukocytes. The increase in DNA damage was accompanied by an elevated intensity of oxidative stress.

Facteurs de risque de l'inobservance thérapeutique chez les patients schizophrènes: étude cas- témoins'

PubMed Central

Aarab, Chadya; Elghazouani, Fatima; Aalouane, Rachid; Rammouz, Ismail

2015-01-01

Les progrès réalisés dans le traitement de la schizophrénie n'ont jusqu'ici pas modifié de manière radicale l'importance de l'adhésion des patients à leur médication. L'objectif de ce travail est d'identifier les facteurs de risque de l'abandon du traitement sur un échantillon marocain de malades schizophrènes. C'est une étude transversale menée au centre psychiatrique universitaire de Fès sur une période de 4 mois. Les malades inclus présentaient une schizophrénie ou un trouble schizo-affectif, sélectionnés en deux groupes observant et non observant. L’évaluation de l'observance a été faite par un hétéro-questionnaire comprenant une liste de causes d'abandon du traitement avec des réponses par oui ou non et à l'aide de l’échelle MARS (Medication Adherence Rating Scale). Le traitement statistique des résultats a été réalisé par le logiciel Epi Info version 3.5.1. On a recruté 164 participants, 112 étaient des malades non observants à leur traitement (cas) et 52 patients bien observants (témoins). L’âge moyen est 31 ans, avec une prédominance masculine. Les facteurs de risque d'inobservance thérapeutique sont: l’âge jeune, le sexe masculin, le célibat, les troubles addictifs. Les principales raisons d'abandon du traitement sont le changement fréquent du médecin, le manque d'informations sur la maladie, un mauvais insight et les effets secondaires des antipsychotiques. Le groupe de schizophrènes non adhérents à leur traitement pharmacologique avait un score élevé à l’échelle MARS dans 80% cas. Ces résultats doivent être pris en considération par le personnel soignant pour optimiser l'observance thérapeutique chez les patients souffrant de schizophrénie. PMID:26161196

AGARD Flight Test Techniques Series. Volume 12. The Principles of Flight Test Assessment of Flight-Safety-Critical Systems in Helicopters (Les Principes de l’Evaluation, dans le Cadre des Essais en Vol, des Systemes Indispensables a la Securite de Vol des Helicopteres)

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-08-01

AGARD-AG-300 Vol. 12 04 ADVISORY GROUP FOR AEROSPACE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT 7 RUE ANCELLE, 92200 NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE AUG 0195 AGARDograph 300...AGARD Flight Test Techniques Series Volume 12 on The Principles of Flight Test Assessment of Flight-Safety-Critical Systems in Helicopters (Les...and Availability on Back Cover AGARD-AG-300 Vol. 12 ADVISORY GROUP FOR AEROSPACE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT 7 RUE ANCELLE, 92200 NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE

Ka-band MMIC array system for ACTS aeronautical terminal experiment (Aero-X)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raquet, Charles A.; Zakrajsek, Robert J.; Lee, Richard Q.; Andro, Monty; Turtle, John P.

1995-01-01

During the summer of 1994, the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) Aeronautical Terminal Experiment (Aero-X) was successfully completed by the NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). 4.8 and 9.6 Kbps duplex voice links were established between the LeRC Learjet and the ACTS Link Evaluation Terminal (LET) in Cleveland, Ohio, via the ACTS. The antenna system used in this demonstration was developed by LeRC and featured LeRC and US Air Force experimental arrays using GaAs MMIC devices at each radiating element for electronic beam steering and distributed power amplification. The antenna system consisted of three arrays mounted inside the LeRC Learjet, pointing out through the windows. An open loop tracking controller developed by LeRC used information from the aircraft position and attitude sensors to automatically steer the arrays toward ACTS during flight JPL ACTS Mobile Terminal (AMT) system hardware was used as transceivers both on the aircraft and at the LET. The single 32 element MMIC transmit array developed by NASA/LeRC and Texas Instruments has an EIRP of 23.4 dBW at boresight. The two 20 GHz MMIC receive arrays were developed in a cooperative effort with the USAF Rome Laboratory/Electronic System Center, taking advantage of existing USAF array development contracts with Boeing and Martin Marietta. The Boeing array has 23 elements and a G/T of 16/6 db/degK at boresight. The Martin Marietta array has 16 elements and a G/T of 16.1 db/degK at boresight. The three proof-of-concept arrays, the array control system and their integration and operation in the Learjet for Aero-X are described.

Detection de la fin de la compaction des anodes par le son

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanogo, Bazoumana

L'objectif de ce projet etait de developper un outil de controle en temps reel du temps de compaction en se servant du son genere par le vibrocompacteur pendant le formage des anodes crues. Ainsi, une application a ete developpee pour l'analyse des sons enregistres. Des essais ont ete realises avec differents microphones pour une meilleure qualite des mesures et un a ete choisi pour la suite du projet. De meme, differents tests ont ete realises sur des anodes de laboratoire ainsi que des anodes a l'echelle industrielle afin de mettre en place une methode pour la detection du temps optimal necessaire au formage des anodes. Les travaux au laboratoire de carbone a l'Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi (UQAC) ont consiste a l'enregistrement de son des anodes fabriquees sur place avec differentes configurations; et a la caracterisation de certaines anodes de l'usine. Les anodes fabriquees au laboratoire sont reparties en deux groupes. Le premier regroupe les anodes pour la validation de notre methode. Ce sont des anodes produites avec des temps de compaction differents. Le laboratoire de carbone a l'UQAC est unique et il est possible de produire des anodes avec les memes proprietes que celles des anodes industrielles. Par consequent, la validation initialement prevue a l'usine a ete effectuee avec les anodes de laboratoire. Le deuxieme groupe a servi a etudier les effets des matieres premieres sur le temps de compaction. Le type de coke et le type de brai ont constitue les differentes variations dans ce deuxieme groupe. Quant aux tests et mesures a l'usine, ils ont ete realises en trois campagnes de mesure. La premiere campagne en juin 2014 a servi a standardiser et a trouver le meilleur positionnement des appareils pour les mesures, a regler le logiciel et a faire les premieres mesures. Une deuxieme campagne en mai 2015 a fait l'objet d'enregistrement de son en classant les anodes selon differents temps de compaction. La troisieme et derniere campagne en decembre 2015 a ete le lieu de tests finaux a l'usine en fabriquant des anodes avec differents criteres (variation du temps de compaction, taux de brai, arret manuel du compacteur, variation de la pression des ballons du haut du compacteur). Ces anodes ont ete ensuite analysees au laboratoire a l'UQAC. En parallele a ces travaux precites, l'amelioration de l'application d'analyse du son a ete faite avec le choix des parametres d'analyse et leur standardisation. Les resultats des premiers tests au laboratoire et ceux de la campagne de juin 2014 ont montre que la formation des anodes se fait suivant trois etapes : rearrangement des particules et du brai, compaction et consolidation et enfin la finition. Ces travaux ont montre en outre que le temps de compaction joue un role tres important dans la definition des proprietes finales des anodes. Ainsi, en plus du type de brai, du taux de brai et du type de coke, il faut tenir compte du temps de sur-compaction et de sous-compaction. En effet, ceci a ete demontre a travers les deux validations qui ont ete realisees. Les resultats de la caracterisation des echantillons (venant des anodes de la campagne de decembre 2015) ont montre qu'une anode compactee a un temps optimal acquiert une bonne resistance a la compression et sa resistivite electrique baisse. En outre, on note que le temps de compaction dans notre cas a baisse legerement avec l'augmentation de la pression des ballons de haut du vibrocompacteur. Ce qui a eu pour effet d'augmenter la densite crue de l'anode. Toutefois, il faut s'abstenir de generaliser ce constat car le nombre d'anodes testees est faible dans notre cas. Par ailleurs, cette etude montre que le temps necessaire pour le formage d'une anode croit avec l'augmentation du taux de brai et baisse legerement avec l'augmentation de la pression des ballons. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

Produce Live News Broadcasts Using Standard AV Equipment: A Success Story from the Le Center High School in Minnesota.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rostad, John

1997-01-01

Describes the production of news broadcasts on video by a high school class in Le Center, Minnesota. Topics include software for Apple computers, equipment used, student responsibilities, class curriculum, group work, communication among the production crew, administrative and staff support, and future improvements. (LRW)

Risk of secondary lymphedema in breast cancer survivors is related to serum phospholipid fatty acid desaturation.

PubMed

Ryu, Eunjung; Yim, Seung Yun; Do, Hyun Ju; Lim, Jae-Young; Yang, Eun Joo; Shin, Min-Jeong; Lee, Seung-Min

2016-09-01

Secondary lymphedema is a common irreversible side effect of breast cancer surgery. We investigated if risk of secondary lymphedema in breast cancer survivors was related to changes in serum phospholipid fatty acid composition. Study subjects were voluntarily recruited into the following three groups: breast cancer survivors who had sentinel lymph node biopsy without lymphedema (SLNB), those who had auxillary lymph node dissection without lymphedema (ALND), and those who had ALND with lymphedema (ALND + LE). Body mass index (BMI), serum lipid profiles, bioimpedance data with single-frequency bioimpedance analysis (SFBIA), and serum phospholipid compositions were analyzed and compared among the groups. BMI, serum total cholesterol (total-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and SFBIA ratios increased only in the ALND + LE. High polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and high C20:4 to C18:2 n-6 PUFAs (arachidonic acid [AA]/linoleic acid [LA]) was detected in the ALND and ALND + LE groups compared to SLNB. The ALND + LE group showed increased activity indices for delta 6 desaturase (D6D) and D5D and increased ratio of AA to eicosapentaenoic acid (AA/EPA) compared to the ALND and SLNB groups. Correlation and regression analysis indicated that D6D, D5D, and AA/EPA were associated with SFBIA ratios. We demonstrated that breast cancer survivors with lymphedema had elevated total PUFAs, fatty acid desaturase activity indices, and AA/EPA in serum phospholipids. Our findings suggested that desaturation extent of fatty acid composition might be related to the risk of secondary lymphedema in breast cancer survivors.

Update on Development of the Potassium-Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE) Instrument for In Situ Geochronology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, Barbara A.; Li, Z.-H.; Miller, J. S.; Brinckerhoff, W. B.; Clegg, S. M.; Mahaffy, P. R.; Swindle, T. D.; Wiens, R. C.

2013-01-01

Absolute dating of planetary samples is an essential tool to establish the chronology of geological events, including crystallization history, magmatic evolution, and alteration. We are addressing this challenge by developing the Potassium (K) -- Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE), building on previous work to develop a K-Ar in situ instrument. KArLE ablates a rock sample, determines the K in the plasma state using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), measures the liberated Ar using quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), and relates the two by the volume of the ablated pit using laser confocal microscopy (LCM). Our goal is for the KArLE instrument to be capable of determining the age of several kinds of planetary samples to address a wide range of geochronolgy problems in planetary science.

Fit and Strong!: bolstering maintenance of physical activity among older adults with lower-extremity osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Hughes, Susan L; Seymour, Rachel B; Campbell, Richard T; Desai, Pankaja; Huber, Gail; Chang, H Justina

2010-01-01

To compare the impact of negotiated vs. mainstreamed follow-up with telephone reinforcement (TR) on maintenance of physical activity (PA) after Fit and Strong! ended. A multisite comparative effectiveness trial with repeated measures. Single group random effects analyses showed significant improvements at 2, 6, 12, and 18 months on PA maintenance, lower-extremity (LE) pain and stiffness, LE function, sit-stand, 6-minute distance walk, and anxiety/depression. Analyses by follow-up condition showed persons in the negotiated with TR group maintained a 21% increase in caloric expenditures over baseline at 18 months, with lesser benefits seen in the negotiated-only, mainstreamed-with-TR, and mainstreamed-only groups. Significant benefits of telephone dose were also seen on LE joint stiffness, pain, and function as well as anxiety and anxiety/depression. The negotiated follow-up contract that Fit and Strong! uses, bolstered by TR, is associated with enhanced long-term PA maintenance and health outcomes.

Two-step deoxygenation at the end of the Paleoproterozoic Lomagundi Event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ossa Ossa, Frantz; Eickmann, Benjamin; Hofmann, Axel; Planavsky, Noah J.; Asael, Dan; Pambo, Florent; Bekker, Andrey

2018-03-01

The ca. 2.1 Ga Francevillian Group of Gabon was deposited in the aftermath of the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) and records the Lomagundi Event (LE), which is the most pronounced and long-lived carbon isotope excursion in the geologic record. Moreover, the sedimentary succession contains putative evidence for the earliest appearance of macro-eukaryotes. An emerging paradigm is that the end of the LE was accompanied by a deoxygenation event that preceded the apparent stability of environmental and redox conditions as well as the carbon cycle characteristic of the Mesoproterozoic. However, the processes that led to deoxygenation some 300 to 200 Ma after the beginning of the GOE are not well understood. Here we present a multi-proxy stable isotope (δ34 S, Δ33 S, Δ36 S, δ98 Mo , δ13Corg, δ13Ccarb, and δ18Ocarb) study of the Francevillian Group. We suggest that sedimentation of the lower part of the Francevillian Group took place during the LE in oxygenated shallow waters with elevated sulfate concentrations. Two episodes of anoxic water shoaling during deposition of the upper Francevillian Group correspond with broader marine deoxygenation and a contraction of the seawater sulfate reservoir. This shoaling of anoxic conditions may be linked to intense submarine hydrothermal and volcanic activity that led to sedimentary manganese deposits. We propose that increased concentrations of aqueous, hydrothermally sourced reductants drove oxygen consumption during the first deoxygenation event and established a sulfidic oxygen-minimum zone at the margin of the shallow shelf. Carbonates with positive δ13Ccarb values characteristic of the LE precipitated during this first stage of deoxygenation. The second deoxygenation, separated from the previous event by a period of well-oxygenated conditions, was marked by a stronger contraction of the seawater sulfate reservoir and coincided with the end of the LE. During this time, widespread euxinic conditions were established in shallow (above storm wave base) marine environments. The presence of a shallow-water redoxcline points to a generally low-oxygen atmosphere-ocean system. Further, the negative co-variation between δ34 S and δ13 C values in sediments of the Francevillian Group and other sedimentary successions of similar age worldwide suggests that the inferred two-step deoxygenation corresponding to the end of the LE reflects global rather than local events that likely occurred between ∼2.1 and 2.05 Ga ago.

Neutrophil oxidative burst activation and the pattern of respiratory physiologic abnormalities in the fulminant post-traumatic adult respiratory distress syndrome.

PubMed

Rivkind, A I; Siegel, J H; Littleton, M; De Gaetano, A; Mamantov, T; Laghi, F; Stoklosa, J C

1991-01-01

The role of neutrophil oxidative burst activation (OBA) in the development of fulminant post-trauma adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was studied in 30 patients. Neutrophil (PMN) chemiluminescence (LE) was used as the index of OBA. Serially, for 8 days post-trauma, patient neutrophils (Pc) were studied in their own serum (Ps) normal serum (Ns), or Gey's solution (G). Ps was checked against normal neutrophils (Nc) for inhibition. LE was initiated by the addition of preopsonized zymosan to 1 x 10(6) PMN, the LE response monitored by luminometer, and the peak of the integral of LE recorded. Seven developed ARDS within the first 4 days; 12 patients developed sepsis (TS) but no ARDS, and 11 patients had uncomplicated trauma (TR). All ARDS showed increased LE (P less than 0.0001), at 48-96 hr. Patients without ARDS showed no significant increase in LE, although their mean injury severity (ISS) was the same. The ARDS LE response was mediated by activation of Pc [74%] with only a small but significant additional effect (6%) by ARDS serum (Ps): LE = 0.672 (Pc) + 0.24 [ARDS(Ps)] + 1343; N = 146, r2 0.733, P less than 0.0001. However, sera (Ps or Ns) was required, as incubation in G inhibited LE; [cells + s] greater than [cells + G], P less than 0.0001. LE is a biologic marker of ARDS, and the delay between injury and the LE indicated that initiation of ARDS may have therapeutic importance. Neutrophil activation in ARDS requires sera, but the ARDS effect appears mainly due to cells with only a small ARDS-specific serum-mediated role. The physiologic response to ARDS was evaluated by serial 8-hr studies of blood gases and pH; the respiratory index (RI) to pulmonary shunt (QS/QT) relationship, compliance (COMPL), and net fluid balance (DFLUID) PMN and platelet (PLAT) counts were also measured. Compared with TR and TS, the ARDS patients at 48-96 hr, showed increased RI, QS/QT, and DFluid requiring increased FiO2 and PEEP as COMPL and PLAT fell and LE rose. These changes were all simultaneously significant (P less than 0.05 to P less than 0.0001) by Bonferroni t-statistic applied to ANOVA. The clinical importance of these physiologic and biochemical responses was emphasized by the significantly (P less than 0.005) increased mortality in the ARDS patients. These data suggest that PMN LE and simple measures of respiratory function are early biologic markers of the development of fulminant post-traumatic ARDS and can be used to predict ARDS severity.

Le domaine des co-infections et des maladies concomitantes du Réseau canadien pour les essais VIH des IRSC : lignes directrices canadiennes pour la prise en charge et le traitement de la co-infection par le VIH et l’hépatite C chez les adultes

PubMed Central

Hull, Mark; Giguère, Pierre; Klein, Marina; Shafran, Stephen; Tseng, Alice; Côté, Pierre; Poliquin, Marc; Cooper, Curtis

2014-01-01

HISTORIQUE : De 20 % à 30 % des Canadiens qui vivent avec le VIH sont co-infectés par le virus de l’hépatite C (VHC), lequel est responsable d’une morbidité et d’une mortalité importantes. La prise en charge du VIH et du VHC est plus complexe en raison de l’évolution accélérée de la maladie hépatique, du choix et des critères d’initiation de la thérapie antirétrovirale et du traitement anti-VHC, de la prise en charge de la santé mentale et des toxicomanies, des obstacles socioéconomiques et des interactions entre les nouvelles thérapies antivirales à action directe du VHC et les antirétroviraux OBJECTIF : Élaborer des normes nationales de prise en charge des adultes co-infectés par le VHC et le VIH dans le contexte canadien. MÉTHODOLOGIE : Le Réseau canadien pour les essais VIH des Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada a réuni un groupe d’experts possédant des compétences cliniques en co-infection par le VIH et le VHC pour réviser les publications à jour ainsi que les lignes directrices et les protocoles en place. Après une vaste sollicitation afin d’obtenir des points de vue, le groupe de travail a approuvé des recommandations consensuelles, qu’il a caractérisées au moyen d’une échelle de qualité des preuves fondée sur la classe (bienfaits par rapport aux préjudices) et sur la catégorie (degré de certitude). RÉSULTATS : Toutes les personnes co-infectées par le VIH et le VHC devraient subir une évaluation en vue de recevoir un traitement du VHC. Les personnes qui ne sont pas en mesure d’entreprendre un traitement du VHC devraient être soignées pour le VIH afin de ralentir l’évolution de la maladie hépatique. La norme de traitement du VHC de génotype 1 est un régime comprenant de l’interféron pégylé et de la ribavirine dosée en fonction du poids, associés à un inhibiteur de la protéase du VHC. Pour les génotypes 2 ou 3, une bithérapie classique est recommandée pendant 24 semaines s’il y a clairance virologique à la semaine 4 ou, pour les génotypes 2 à 6, à 48 semaines. On peut envisager de reporter le traitement chez les personnes ayant une maladie hépatique légère. Le VIH ne devrait pas être considéré comme un obstacle à la transplantation hépatique chez les patients co-infectés. EXPOSÉ : Les recommandations ne se substituent pas au jugement clinique personnel. PMID:24634688

Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Efficacy of Topical Loteprednol Etabonate 0.5% Versus Cyclosporine-A 0.05% for Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

PubMed

Boynton, Grace E; Raoof, Duna; Niziol, Leslie M; Hussain, Munira; Mian, Shahzad I

2015-07-01

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical loteprednol etabonate (LE) 0.5% compared with cyclosporine A (CsA) 0.05% for the prophylaxis and treatment of dry eye syndrome (DES) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Seventy-five patients were randomized to LE (n = 76 eyes of 38 patients) or CsA (n = 74 eyes of 37 patients) pre-HSCT. Lissamine green and fluorescein staining, tear break-up time, tear osmolarity (Osm), Schirmer score (Sch), intraocular pressure, visual acuity, and Ocular Surface Disease Index were assessed pre-HSCT, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-HSCT. There were no differences in DES incidence (P = 0.22; log-rank test) or progression (P = 0.41; log-rank test) between the 2 treatment arms during the course of the study. Among eyes with no DES at enrollment, the Kaplan-Meier analysis yielded a 90% rate of DES development in cyclosporine-treated eyes and a 79% rate of DES development in LE-treated eyes by 12 months post-HSCT. The Kaplan-Meier analysis of eyes with DES at enrollment demonstrated a 38% rate of disease progression among cyclosporine-treated eyes and a 26% rate of disease progression among loteprednol-treated eyes by 12 months. No patient in either group had an elevation of 10 mm Hg or greater from baseline at any study visit, and no patients had their treatment discontinued for elevation in intraocular pressure. Pre-HSCT initiation of LE 0.5% appears to be safe and may be as effective as CsA 0.5% for the treatment and prophylaxis of DES following HSCT.

Real-time, high-resolution ultrasonography of the vocal folds--a prospective pilot study in patients before and after thyroidectomy.

PubMed

Dedecjus, Marek; Adamczewski, Zbigniew; Brzeziński, Jan; Lewiński, Andrzej

2010-09-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate the functionality of vocal folds (VF) by real-time, high-resolution ultrasonography (US) and to correlate the imaged features to results of laryngological examination (LE). The study group comprised 50 patients (41 females and nine males), qualified to thyroidectomy. All the patients had LE and US examination before and 2 days, 2 months, and 3 months after the surgery. We used high-resolution US imaging to identify VFs and, subsequently, a pulsed Doppler and Doppler gate to quantify the tissue displacement velocity in the vibrating VF section. LE revealed unilateral VF paralysis in two patients. VF dysfunction was diagnosed in other four subjects. In simultaneously performed US examination, changes in VF displacement velocity (VFDV) were observed in ten patients. In two subjects, VFDV was below 30 cm/s- patients with VF paralysis, diagnosed in LE. In a further eight cases, we observed VFDV decrease by 50%, comparing to preoperative values. Both US-imaging and LE, performed after the 3-month follow-up, confirmed the transitional character of the above-mentioned pathologies. US imaging of the VFs correlated with LE results, while being a minimally invasive, easily reproducible, and inexpensive method of examining VF functionality. Thanks to many recording options, it may soon become a perfect tool for an early identification of postoperative VF dysfunction with its later monitoring. To our knowledge, it is the first application of US and Doppler gate modes for VFDF quantification; however, an analysis on a larger group of patients is necessary to standardize the technique.

Tandem concentrator photovoltaic array applied to Space Station Freedom evolutionary power requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fisher, Edward M., Jr.

1991-01-01

Additional power is required to support Space Station Freedom (SSF) evolution. Boeing Defense and Space Group, LeRC, and Entech Corporation have participated in the development of efficiency gallium arsenide and gallium antimonide solar cells make up the solar array tandem cell stacks. Entech's Mini-Dome Fresnel Lens Concentrators focus solar energy onto the active area of the solar cells at 50 times one solar energy flux. Development testing for a flight array, to be launched in Nov. 1992 is under way with support from LeRC. The tandem cells, interconnect wiring, concentrator lenses, and structure were integrated into arrays subjected to environmental testing. A tandem concentrator array can provide high mass and area specific power and can provide equal power with significantly less array area and weight than the baseline array design. Alternatively, for SSF growth, an array of twice the baseline power can be designed which still has a smaller drag area than the baseline.

Effect of protein and energy intakes on body composition in non-diabetic maintenance-hemodialysis patients.

PubMed

Ichikawa, Yoko; Hiramatsu, Fumie; Hamada, Hisayo; Sakai, Atsuko; Hara, Keiko; Kogirima, Miho; Kawahara, Kazuhiko; Minakuchi, Jun; Kawashima, Shu; Yamamoto, Shigeru

2007-10-01

This cross sectional study was performed to find the adequate amount and combination of dietary protein and energy for maintaining better nutritional status for stable non-diabetic maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. The body composition including body fat, total body water, body cell mass and body protein were measured by multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis in 200 stable MHD patients without diabetes (124 men, 76 women). Dietary energy intake (DEI) and dietary protein intake (DPI) were assessed by a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ), the DPI value being confirmed by calculating the normalized protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance (nPNA). The nutritional status and the body composition were compared among 4 groups of patients in each gender that were divided by the combination of DEI and DPI; high energy (HE)/high protein (HP), HE/low protein (LP), low energy (LE)/HP and LE/LP groups. The mean DPI ranged between 1.17-1.23 and 0.89-0.95 g/kg IBW/d in the HP and LP groups, respectively for both genders, and the mean DEI was 35-37 and 24-25 kcal/kg IBW/d in HE and LE groups, respectively. BMI and serum albumin concentration were not different among the 4 groups. Body cell mass index (BCMI) was maintained in the HE groups regardless of DPI, and it was significantly higher in the HE/HP group than in the LE/LP group. Multiple regression analysis also showed that the BCMI was more greatly affected by DEI than DPI. These results indicated that a DPI of 0.89-0.95 g/kg IBW/d could be sufficient for maintaining BCMI, if DEI is kept over 35 kcal/kg IBW/d in stable non-diabetic MHD patients. This DPI level is lower than the recommended DPI proposed by dietary guidelines in the US and Japan.

Development of an Assessment Methodology for Demonstrating Usability, Technical Maturity, and Operational Benefits of Advanced Medical Technology (Developpement d’une Methodologie d’Evaluation Permettant de Demontrer la Facilite d’Utilisation, la Maturite Technique et les Avantages Operationnels des Technologies Medicales Evoluees)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-01

de nations, que ce soit au sein de l’Alliance ou dans le cadre du Partenariat pour la paix, ont développé au cours des ...pour l’évacuation des blessés (CASEVAC). Certaines de ces technologies peuvent inclure en temps réel le contrôle de l’état du combattant/patient, la ...localisation du patient, le contrôle de l’état de la logistique médicale, ou encore l’établissement de rapports épidémiologiques. Le

Expression of a GALACTINOL SYNTHASE Gene in Tomato Seeds Is Up-Regulated before Maturation Desiccation and Again after Imbibition whenever Radicle Protrusion Is Prevented1

PubMed Central

Downie, Bruce; Gurusinghe, Sunitha; Dahal, Petambar; Thacker, Richard R.; Snyder, John C.; Nonogaki, Hiroyuki; Yim, Kyuock; Fukanaga, Keith; Alvarado, Veria; Bradford, Kent J.

2003-01-01

Raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) have been implicated in mitigating the effects of environmental stresses on plants. In seeds, proposed roles for RFOs include protecting cellular integrity during desiccation and/or imbibition, extending longevity in the dehydrated state, and providing substrates for energy generation during germination. A gene encoding galactinol synthase (GOLS), the first committed enzyme in the biosynthesis of RFOs, was cloned from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv Moneymaker) seeds, and its expression was characterized in tomato seeds and seedlings. GOLS (LeGOLS-1) mRNA accumulated in developing tomato seeds concomitant with maximum dry weight deposition and the acquisition of desiccation tolerance. LeGOLS-1 mRNA was present in mature, desiccated seeds but declined within 8 h of imbibition in wild-type seeds. However, LeGOLS-1 mRNA accumulated again in imbibed seeds prevented from completing germination by dormancy or water deficit. Gibberellin-deficient (gib-1) seeds maintained LeGOLS-1 mRNA amounts after imbibition unless supplied with gibberellin, whereas abscisic acid (ABA) did not prevent the loss of LeGOLS-1 mRNA from wild-type seeds. The presence of LeGOLS-1 mRNA in ABA-deficient (sitiens) tomato seeds indicated that wild-type amounts of ABA are not necessary for its accumulation during seed development. In all cases, LeGOLS-1 mRNA was most prevalent in the radicle tip. LeGOLS-1 mRNA accumulation was induced by dehydration but not by cold in germinating seeds, whereas both stresses induced LeGOLS-1 mRNA accumulation in seedling leaves. The physiological implications of LeGOLS-1 expression patterns in seeds and leaves are discussed in light of the hypothesized role of RFOs in plant stress tolerance. PMID:12644684

A Model to Estimate the Risk of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: Combinations of Treatment-Related Factors of the Number of Dissected Axillary Nodes, Adjuvant Chemotherapy, and Radiation Therapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Myungsoo; Kim, Seok Won; Lee, Sung Uk

2013-07-01

Purpose: The development of breast cancer-related lymphedema (LE) is closely related to the number of dissected axillary lymph nodes (N-ALNs), chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. In this study, we attempted to estimate the risk of LE based on combinations of these treatment-related factors. Methods and Materials: A total of 772 patients with breast cancer, who underwent primary surgery with axillary lymph node dissection from 2004 to 2009, were retrospectively analyzed. Adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) was performed in 677 patients (88%). Among patients who received radiation therapy (n=675), 274 (35%) received supraclavicular radiation therapy (SCRT). Results: At a median follow-up of 5.1 yearsmore » (range, 3.0-8.3 years), 127 patients had developed LE. The overall 5-year cumulative incidence of LE was 17%. Among the 127 affected patients, LE occurred within 2 years after surgery in 97 (76%) and within 3 years in 115 (91%) patients. Multivariate analysis showed that N-ALN (hazard ratio [HR], 2.81; P<.001), ACT (HR, 4.14; P=.048), and SCRT (HR, 3.24; P<.001) were independent risk factors for LE. The total number of risk factors correlated well with the incidence of LE. Patients with no risk or 1 risk factor showed a significantly lower 5-year probability of LE (3%) than patients with 2 (19%) or 3 risk factors (38%) (P<.001). Conclusions: The risk factors associated with LE were N-ALN, ACT, and SCRT. A simple model using combinations of these factors may help clinicians predict the risk of LE.« less

New parenteral lipid emulsions for clinical use.

PubMed

Waitzberg, Dan L; Torrinhas, Raquel Susana; Jacintho, Thiago Manzoni

2006-01-01

Routine use of parenteral lipid emulsions (LE) in clinical practice began in 1961, with the development of soybean oil (SO) - based LE. Although clinically safe, experimental reports indicated that SO-based LE could exert a negative influence on immunological functions. Those findings were related to its absolute and relative excess of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and the low amount of omega-3 PUFA and also to its high PUFA content with an increased peroxidation risk. This motivated the development of new LE basically designed along the reduction of omega-6 PUFA and the omega-3 PUFA addition in order to obtain balanced levels of the omega-6/omega-3 ratio. The new LE for clinical use (available in Europe and South America) are differentiated by their content in polyunsaturated (omega-6 and omega-3), monounsaturated, and saturated fatty acids (FA), as well as FA source of their origin, including soy, coconut, olive, and fish oil. This article presents the new LE nutrition and energy functions but also its biochemical, metabolic, and immunomodulating aspects, according to their FA content. LE at 20% when infused from 1.0 to 2.0 g/kg body weight/day rates, either alone or in association with amino acids and glucose, are safe and well tolerated in routine clinical practice. LE combining SO with medium-chain triglycerides and/or olive oil have less omega-6 PUFA and are better metabolized, with less inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects than in relation to pure SO-based LE. The omega-3 PUFA used alone or as component of a new and complex LE (soy, MCT, olive and fish oil) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, D.R.

The purpose of the Heavy Vehicle Propulsion System Materials Program is the development of materials: ceramics, intermetallics, metal alloys, and metal and ceramic coatings, to support the dieselization of class 1--3 trucks to realize a 35{percent} fuel-economy improvement over current gasoline-fueled trucks and to support commercialization of fuel-flexible LE-55 low-emissions, high-efficiency diesel engines for class 7--8 trucks. The Office of Transportation Technologies, Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies (OTT OHVT) has an active program to develop the technology for advanced LE-55 diesel engines with 55{percent} efficiency and low emissions levels of 2.0 g/bhp-h NO{sub x} and 0.05 g/bhp-h particulates. The goalmore » is also for the LE-55 engine to run on natural gas with efficiency approaching that of diesel fuel. The LE-55 program is being completed in FY 1997 and, after approximately 10 years of effort, has largely met the program goals of 55{percent} efficiency and low emissions. However, the commercialization of the LE-55 technology requires more durable materials than those that have been used to demonstrate the goals. Heavy Vehicle Propulsion System Materials will, in concert with the heavy-duty diesel engine companies, develop the durable materials required to commercialize the LE-55 technologies.« less

Gene expression analyses in tomato near isogenic lines provide evidence for ethylene and abscisic acid biosynthesis fine-tuning during arbuscular mycorrhiza development.

PubMed

Fracetto, Giselle Gomes Monteiro; Peres, Lázaro Eustáquio Pereira; Lambais, Marcio Rodrigues

2017-07-01

Plant responses to the environment and microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, involve complex hormonal interactions. It is known that abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene may be involved in the regulation of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and that part of the detrimental effects of ABA deficiency in plants is due to ethylene overproduction. In this study, we aimed to determine whether the low susceptibility to mycorrhizal colonization in ABA-deficient mutants is due to high levels of ethylene and whether AM development is associated with changes in the steady-state levels of transcripts of genes involved in the biosynthesis of ethylene and ABA. For that, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) ethylene overproducer epinastic (epi) mutant and the ABA-deficient notabilis (not) and sitiens (sit) mutants, in the same Micro-Tom (MT) genetic background, were inoculated with Rhizophagus clarus, and treated with the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG). The development of AM, as well as the steady-state levels of transcripts involved in ethylene (LeACS2, LeACO1 and LeACO4) and ABA (LeNCED) biosynthesis, was determined. The intraradical colonization in epi, not and sit mutants was significantly reduced compared to MT. The epi mutant completely restored the mycorrhizal colonization to the levels of MT with the application of 10 µM of AVG, probably due to the inhibition of the ACC synthase gene expression. The steady-state levels of LeACS2 and LeACO4 transcripts were induced in mycorrhizal roots of MT, whereas the steady-state levels of LeACO1 and LeACO4 transcripts were significantly induced in sit, and the steady-state levels of LeNCED transcripts were significantly induced in all genotypes and in mycorrhizal roots of epi mutants treated with AVG. The reduced mycorrhizal colonization in sit mutants seems not to be limited by ethylene production via ACC oxidase regulation. Both ethylene overproduction and ABA deficiency impaired AM fungal colonization in tomato roots, indicating that, besides hormonal interactions, a fine-tuning of each hormone level is required for AM development.

Predicting sport and occupational lower extremity injury risk through movement quality screening: a systematic review.

PubMed

Whittaker, Jackie L; Booysen, Nadine; de la Motte, Sarah; Dennett, Liz; Lewis, Cara L; Wilson, Dave; McKay, Carly; Warner, Martin; Padua, Darin; Emery, Carolyn A; Stokes, Maria

2017-04-01

Identification of risk factors for lower extremity (LE) injury in sport and military/first-responder occupations is required to inform injury prevention strategies. To determine if poor movement quality is associated with LE injury in sport and military/first-responder occupations. 5 electronic databases were systematically searched. Studies selected included original data; analytic design; movement quality outcome (qualitative rating of functional compensation, asymmetry, impairment or efficiency of movement control); LE injury sustained with sport or military/first-responder occupation. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. 2 independent authors assessed the quality (Downs and Black (DB) criteria) and level of evidence (Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine model). Of 4361 potential studies, 17 were included. The majority were low-quality cohort studies (level 4 evidence). Median DB score was 11/33 (range 3-15). Heterogeneity in methodology and injury definition precluded meta-analyses. The Functional Movement Screen was the most common outcome investigated (15/17 studies). 4 studies considered inter-relationships between risk factors, 7 reported diagnostic accuracy and none tested an intervention programme targeting individuals identified as high risk. There is inconsistent evidence that poor movement quality is associated with increased risk of LE injury in sport and military/first-responder occupations. Future research should focus on high-quality cohort studies to identify the most relevant movement quality outcomes for predicting injury risk followed by developing and evaluating preparticipation screening and LE injury prevention programmes through high-quality randomised controlled trials targeting individuals at greater risk of injury based on screening tests with validated test properties. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Delayed Influence of Spinal Cord Injury on the Amino Acids of NO• Metabolism in Rat Cerebral Cortex Is Attenuated by Thiamine

PubMed Central

Boyko, Alexandra; Ksenofontov, Alexander; Ryabov, Sergey; Baratova, Lyudmila; Graf, Anastasia; Bunik, Victoria

2018-01-01

Severe spinal cord injuries (SCIs) result in chronic neuroinflammation in the brain, associated with the development of cognitive and behavioral impairments. Nitric oxide (NO•) is a gaseous messenger involved in neuronal signaling and inflammation, contributing to nitrosative stress under dysregulated production of reactive nitrogen species. In this work, biochemical changes induced in the cerebral cortex of rats 8 weeks after SCI are assessed by quantification of the levels of amino acids participating in the NO• and glutathione metabolism. The contribution of the injury-induced neurodegeneration is revealed by comparison of the SCI- and laminectomy (LE)-subjected animals. Effects of the operative interventions are assessed by comparison of the operated (LE/SCI) and non-operated animals. Lower ratios of citrulline (Cit) to arginine (Arg) or Cit to ornithine and a more profound decrease in the ratio of lysine to glycine distinguish SCI animals from those after LE. The data suggest decreased NO• production from both Arg and homoarginine in the cortex 8 weeks after SCI. Both LE and SCI groups show a strong decrease in the level of cortex glutathione. The neurotropic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant actions of thiamine (vitamin B1) prompted us to study the thiamine effects on the SCI-induced changes in the NO• and glutathione metabolism. A thiamine injection (400 mg/kg intraperitoneally) within 24 h after SCI abrogates the changes in the cerebral cortex amino acids related to NO•. Thiamine-induced normalization of the brain glutathione levels after LE and SCI may involve increased supply of glutamate for glutathione biosynthesis. Thus, thiamine protects from sequelae of SCI on NO•-related amino acids and glutathione in cerebral cortex. PMID:29379782

Strength training prior to muscle injury potentiates low-level laser therapy (LLLT)-induced muscle regeneration.

PubMed

Morais, Samuel Rodrigues Lourenço; Goya, Alexandre Ginei; Urias, Úrsula; Jannig, Paulo Roberto; Bacurau, Aline Villa Nova; Mello, Wagner Garcez; Faleiros, Paula Lazilha; Oliveira, Sandra Helena Penha; Garcia, Valdir Gouveia; Ervolino, Edilson; Brum, Patricia Chakur; Dornelles, Rita Cássia Menegati

2017-02-01

We evaluated whether strength training (ST) performed prior to skeletal muscle cryolesion would act as a preconditioning, improving skeletal muscle regeneration and responsiveness to low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Wistar rats were randomly assigned into non-exercised (NE), NE plus muscle lesion (NE + LE), NE + LE plus LLLT (NE + LE + LLLT), strength training (ST), ST + LE, and ST + LE + LLLT. The animals performed 10 weeks of ST (climbing ladder; 3× week; 80% overload). Forty-eight hours after the last ST session, tibialis anterior (TA) cryolesion was induced and LLLT (InGaAlP, 660 nm, 0.035 W, 4.9 J/cm 2 /point, 3 points, spot light 0.028 cm 2 , 14 J/cm 2 ) initiated and conducted daily for 14 consecutive days. The difference between intergroups was assessed using Student's t test and intragroups by two-way analysis of variance. Cryolesion induced massive muscle degeneration associated with inflammatory infiltrate. Prior ST improved skeletal regeneration 14-days after cryolesion and potentiated the regenerative response to LLLT. Cryolesion induced increased TNF-α levels in both NE + LE and ST + LE groups. Both isolated ST and LLLT reduced TNF-α to control group levels; however, prior ST potentiated LLLT response. Both isolated ST and LLLT increased IL-10 levels with no additional effect. In contrast, increased TA IL-6 levels were restricted to ST and ST + LE + LLLT groups. TA myogenin mRNA levels were not changed by neither prior ST or ST + LLLT. Both prior ST and LLLT therapies increased MyoD mRNA levels and, interestingly, combined therapies potentiated this response. Myf5 mRNA levels were increased only in ST groups. Taken together, our data provides evidences for prior ST potentiating LLLT efficacy in promoting skeletal muscle regeneration.

Soft Tissue Changes in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients: Anterior Maxillary Distraction versus Conventional Le-Fort I Osteotomy.

PubMed

Markose, Eldho; Paulose, Joby; Paul, Eldho T

2013-12-01

The purpose of the study was to compare the soft tissue changes after maxillary advancement in patients with maxillary deficiency associated with cleft lip and palate (CLP) by two approaches-anterior maxillary distraction (AMD) and advancement LeFort I osteotomy (ALO). Twenty patients with maxillary hypoplasia associated with cleft lip and palate who had undergone either LeFort I osteotomy or distraction osteogenesis with maxillary advancement were included in this study. Lateral cephalogram taken at various intervals of time were used to evaluate soft tissue and hard tissue changes over time. In both groups, vertical as well as horizontal changes in pronasale was well observed. A substantial increase in nasal parameters was noted in case of AMD group in comparison to ALO. Though maxillary advancement was evident in both the groups, a significant and consistent change was observed in AMD. Significant vertical and horizontal changes were seen with respect to subnasale and labrale superius in AMD group. Soft tissue as well as hard tissue relapse was greater in ALO group than AMD group. Significant soft tissue and hard tissue changes were clearly observed in both the groups, but the treatment results were more consistent in cases treated with AMD. Hence AMD could be considered as a better treatment of choice in cases of maxillary hypoplasia associated with cleft lip and palate.

Lignes directrices simplifiées sur les lipides

PubMed Central

Allan, G. Michael; Lindblad, Adrienne J.; Comeau, Ann; Coppola, John; Hudson, Brianne; Mannarino, Marco; McMinis, Cindy; Padwal, Raj; Schelstraete, Christine; Zarnke, Kelly; Garrison, Scott; Cotton, Candra; Korownyk, Christina; McCormack, James; Nickel, Sharon; Kolber, Michael R.

2015-01-01

Résumé Objectif Produire un guide de pratique clinique comportant une approche simplifiée à la prévention primaire des maladies cardiovasculaires (MCV), en insistant sur l’estimation du risque de MCV et la prise en charge des profils lipidiques à l’intention des cliniciens de soins primaires et leurs équipes; nous avons recherché la contribution de professionnels des soins primaires qui n’avaient que peu ou pas de conflits d’intérêts et nous nous sommes concentrés sur les données probantes de la plus haute qualité accessibles. Méthodes Neuf professionnels de la santé (4 médecins de famille, 2 internistes, 1 infirmière praticienne, 1 infirmière autorisée et 1 pharmacienne) et 1 membre non votant (pharmacienne gestionnaire de projet) formaient le comité principal appelé le Lipid Pathway Committee (le comité). La sélection des membres s’est fondée sur la profession, le milieu de pratique et son emplacement. Les membres ont divulgué tous leurs conflits d’intérêts potentiels ou réels. Le processus d’élaboration des lignes directrices était itératif et s’appuyait sur des affichages en ligne, une révision détaillée des données probantes, des réunions par téléphone et en ligne. Le comité a cerné 12 questions prioritaires à répondre. Le groupe de révision des données probantes a répondu à ces questions. À la suite d’un examen des réponses, les principales recommandations ont été formulées par consensus du comité. Nous avons produit une ébauche des lignes directrices qui a ensuite été peaufinée, distribuée à un groupe de cliniciens (médecins de famille, autres spécialistes, pharmaciens, infirmières et infirmières praticiennes) et à des patients pour obtenir de la rétroaction, la réviser en conséquence et le comité l’a ensuite finalisée. Recommandations Des recommandations sont présentées concernant le dépistage et les analyses, les évaluations du risque, le suivi, de même que le rôle de l’acide acétylsalicylique en prévention primaire. Conclusion Ces lignes directrices simplifiées sur les lipides offrent des recommandations pratiques pour la prévention et le traitement des MCV à l’intention des professionnels des soins primaires. Toutes les recommandations ont pour but d’aider à la prise de décision conjointement avec les patients plutôt que de la dicter.

Driving Skills Training for Older Adults: An Assessment of DriveSharp.

PubMed

Johnston, Katherine A; Borkenhagen, David; Scialfa, Charles T

2015-12-01

RÉSUMÉ Les procédures de formation cognitive informatique visent à augmenter la sécurité en améliorant les compétences relatives à la conduite, comme la vitesse-de-traitement et le Useful Field of View. L'étude actuelle a évalué l'efficacité du DriveSharp dans la formation des conducteurs âgés dans un cadre de classe réaliste. Les participants (n = 24) ont assisté à 10 heures de cours de DriveSharp pendant 5 semaines. Les séances pré- et post-test ont evalués améliorations sur un essai dynamique de la perception du risque, Trails A et Trails B. Un groupe de contrôle (n = 18) a terminé seulement les séances pré- et post-test. En classe, les temps de formation étaient plus bas que prévus. L'amélioration des participants aux jeux ont stabilisée après la première évaluation, et le groupe de DriveSharp n'a pas démontré une amélioration significative des performances sur les tests, par rapport au groupe de contrôle. Parmi plusieurs questions relatives à la facilité d'utilisation, les plus problématiques étaient le malentendudes objectifs de la tâche et la différence entre la formation et l'évaluation. Il y a plusieurs implications pour ceux qui utilisent DriveSharp pour améliorer la sécurité des conducteurs âgés.

Brief and Extended Alcohol Cue Exposure Effects on Craving and Attentional Bias

PubMed Central

Ramirez, Jason J.; Monti, Peter M.; Colwill, Ruth M.

2015-01-01

Past research has shown that underage college student drinkers (UCSDs) report increased subjective craving and exhibit stronger attentional biases to alcohol following alcohol cue exposure. To date, less research has examined whether momentary decreases in alcohol craving are associated with reductions in attentional bias. One experimental manipulation that has been used to produce within-session decreases in alcohol craving is to extend the duration of laboratory-based alcohol cue exposure protocols. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of both brief and extended alcohol cue exposure on subjective craving and attentional bias among UCSDs. Eighty participants were randomized either to a group that received a short in vivo alcohol cue exposure period (Group Short Exposure [SE], two 3-min blocks) or to a group that received a long exposure period (Group Long Exposure [LE], six 3-min blocks). Both groups completed a visual probe task before and after cue exposure to assess changes in attentional bias. Analyses revealed no group differences in mean craving or mean attentional bias before or after cue exposure. Further, exploratory analyses revealed no sex differences in our measures of craving or attentional bias. For Group LE, but not Group SE, within-session changes in craving positively predicted within-session changes in attentional bias. However, further analyses revealed that this relationship was significant only for female participants in the LE Group. Implications for treatments that aim to reduce craving or attentional bias are discussed. PMID:26053323

The acute effects of a caffeine-containing supplement on strength, muscular endurance, and anaerobic capabilities.

PubMed

Beck, Travis W; Housh, Terry J; Schmidt, Richard J; Johnson, Glen O; Housh, Dona J; Coburn, Jared W; Malek, Moh H

2006-08-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of a caffeine-containing supplement on upper- and lower-body strength and muscular endurance as well as anaerobic capabilities. Thirty-seven resistance-trained men (mean +/- SD, age: 21 +/- 2 years) volunteered to participate in this study. On the first laboratory visit, the subjects performed 2 Wingate Anaerobic Tests (WAnTs) to determine peak power (PP) and mean power (MP), as well as tests for 1 repetition maximum (1RM), dynamic constant external resistance strength, and muscular endurance (TOTV; total volume of weight lifted during an endurance test with 80% of the 1RM) on the bilateral leg extension (LE) and free-weight bench press (BP) exercises. Following a minimum of 48 hours of rest, the subjects returned to the laboratory for the second testing session and were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: a supplement group (SUPP; n = 17), which ingested a caffeine-containing supplement, or a placebo group (PLAC; n = 20), which ingested a cellulose placebo. One hour after ingesting either the caffeine-containing supplement or the placebo, the subjects performed 2 WAnTs and were tested for 1RM strength and muscular endurance on the LE and BP exercises. The results indicated that there was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in BP 1RM for the SUPP group, but not for the PLAC group. The caffeine-containing supplement had no effect, however, on LE 1RM, LE TOTV, BP TOTV, PP, and MP. Thus, the caffeine-containing supplement may be an effective supplement for increasing upper-body strength and, therefore, could be useful for competitive and recreational athletes who perform resistance training.

Lactic-fermented egg white reduced serum cholesterol concentrations in mildly hypercholesterolemic Japanese men: a double-blind, parallel-arm design.

PubMed

Matsuoka, Ryosuke; Usuda, Mika; Masuda, Yasunobu; Kunou, Masaaki; Utsunomiya, Kazunori

2017-05-30

Lactic-fermented egg white (LE), produced by lactic acid fermentation of egg white, is an easy-to-consume form of egg white. Here we assessed the effect of daily consumption of LE for 8 weeks on serum total cholesterol (TC) levels. The study followed a double-blind, parallel-arm design and included 88 adult men with mild hypercholesterolemia (mean ± standard error) serum TC levels, 229 ± 1.6 mg/dL; range, 204-259 mg/dL). The subjects were randomly divided into three groups, which consumed LE containing 4, 6, or 8 g of protein daily for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected before starting LE consumption (baseline) and at 4 and 8 weeks to measure serum TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. After 8 weeks of consumption, serum TC levels in the 8 g group decreased by 11.0 ± 3.7 mg/dL, a significant decrease compared to baseline (p < 0.05) and a significantly greater decrease than for the 4 g group (3.1 ± 3.4 mg/dL; p < 0.05). Serum LDL-C levels in the 8 g group decreased by 13.7 ± 3.1 mg/dL, again a significant decrease compared with baseline (p < 0.05) and a significantly greater decrease than that for the 4 g group (2.1 ± 2.9 mg/dL; p < 0.05). Consumption of LE for 8 weeks at a daily dose of 8 g of proteins reduced serum TC and LDL-C levels in men with mild hypercholesterolemia, suggesting this may be effective in helping to prevent arteriosclerotic diseases. This clinical trial was retrospectively registered with the Japan Medical Association Center for Clinical Trials, (JMA-IIA00279; registered on 13/03/2017; https://dbcentre3.jmacct.med.or.jp/JMACTR/App/JMACTRE02_04/JMACTRE02_04.aspx?kbn=3&seqno=6530 ).

Prepubertal ultra-low-dose estrogen therapy is associated with healthier lipid profile than conventional estrogen replacement for pubertal induction in adolescent girls with Turner syndrome: preliminary results.

PubMed

Ruszala, Anna; Wojcik, Malgorzata; Zygmunt-Gorska, Agata; Janus, Dominika; Wojtys, Joanna; Starzyk, Jerzy B

2017-08-01

The metabolic effects of prepubertal low-dose estrogen replacement (LE) therapy in Turner syndrome (TS) have not been fully investigated to date. The present study aimed to compare glucose and lipids metabolism in adolescents with TS on LE and conventional estrogen replacement (CE). In 14 TS (mean age 13.8), LE (17β-estradiol, 62.5 μg daily) was introduced before age 12 (mean age 10.5), and followed by a pubertal induction regimen after age 12, and in 14 CE was started after age 12 (mean 14, SD 1.96). Before, and 3 years after starting 17β-estradiol growth velocity, bone age, BMI, and selected parameters of glucose and lipids metabolism were assessed. There were no significant differences between LE and CE in the mean levels of any parameter before introduction of 17β-estradiol [total cholesterol (TC): 4.1 vs 4.3 mmol/L, LDL cholesterol (LDLc): 2.2 vs 2.4 mmol/L, HDL cholesterol (HDLc): 1.6 vs 1.4 mmol/L, triglycerides: 0.9 vs 1.0 mmol/L, fasting glucose: 4.2 vs 4.4 mmol/L, post-load glucose: 4.8 vs 5.5 mmol/L; fasting insulin: 6.8 vs 8.0 post-load insulin: 21.3 vs 67.0 μIU/mL, HOMA-IR 1.3 vs 1.6]. After three years of treatment, TC and LDLc levels were significantly lower in LE group (3.8 vs 4.4 mmol/L, p = 0.004; 1.9 vs 2.4 mmol/L, p = 0.03). The other parameters did not differ significantly. There was no negative impact on growth course and bone age advancement nor on BMI in LE group. Prepubertal LE is associated with healthier lipid profile than CE in girls with TS.

Midface distraction osteogenesis: internal vs. external devices.

PubMed

Meling, T R; Høgevold, H-E; Due-Tønnessen, B J; Skjelbred, P

2011-02-01

This study compares internal and external distraction devices in the treatment of midface retrusion. 20 patients were treated with midface distraction (12 Crouzon, 4 Apert, 4 others); 12 with internal distraction (MID device), 8 with external distraction (Red or Blue device). The two groups were compared regarding operation time, peroperative blood loss and complications. The groups were comparable regarding patient age, sex, weight and diagnosis. In the MID-group, 7 of 12 patients (58%) underwent Le Fort III, 5 underwent 12 monobloc (32%). In the Blue device group, three of eight patients underwent Le Fort II (38%), three of eight underwent Le Fort III (38%), and two of eight underwent monobloc (25%). Operation time was shorter in the Blue device (mean 298 min) than in the MID group (mean 354 min). Peroperative blood loss and complication rates were similar. The internal distraction device is the 'gold standard' for treating midface retrusion. The use of an external distraction device in midface distraction osteogenesis is associated with a shorter operation time; peroperative blood loss and complications were similar. An external device affords better 3-dimensional control during the distraction process, so external distraction is preferable in patients who will tolerate this treatment. Copyright © 2010 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Performance du GeneXpert MTB/RIF® dans le diagnostic de la tuberculose extra-pulmonaire à Dakar: 2010-2015

PubMed Central

Diallo, Awa Ba; Kollo, Abdoulkader Issifi; Camara, Makhtar; Lo, Seynabou; Ossoga, Gedeon Walbang; Mbow, Moustapha; Karam, Farba; Niang, Mame Yacine Fall; Thiam, Aliou; Diawara, Awa Ndiaye; Mboup, Souleymane; Diallo, Aissatou Gaye

2016-01-01

Introduction Le défi des pays en voie de développement est la disponibilité de méthodes de diagnostic rapide et précis pour le management de la tuberculose. Des techniques moléculaires offrent cet avantage et nous avons utilisé le test GeneXpert MTB/RIF dans le diagnostic de la tuberculose extra-pulmonaire pour évaluer sa performance par rapport aux méthodes conventionnelles. Méthodes Entre 2010 et 2015, 544 échantillons cliniques extra-pulmonaires ont été recueillis et traitées par la microscopie, la culture et le GeneXpert. L'étude de la sensibilité aux antituberculeux a été effectué avec le MGIT 960. Le Génotype MTBDRplus a été utilisé pour confirmer les cas de résistance à la rifampicine détectés par le système GX. Résultats La population d'étude de 544 patients incluait 55,15% d'hommes et 44,85% de femmes. L'âge des patients variait entre 1 à 92 avec la majorité dans le groupe d'âge 18-45 ans. La sensibilité et la spécificité globale de la microscopie étaient de 43,86% et 98,36%, et pour le GeneXpert® 94,74% et 97,95% respectivement avec 95% IC. Deux résultats de résistance à la rifampicine discordants ont été trouvées entre le test GeneXpert et la méthode phénotypique. Les résultats du test MTBDRplus ont montré une concordance de 100% avec ceux du MGIT 960 pour les cas discordants de résistance à la rifampicine. Conclusion Cette étude a montré que le test GeneXpert a une plus grande sensibilité pour le diagnostic de routine de la tuberculose extra-pulmonaire et devrait être utilisé à la place de la microscopie. Les cas de résistance à la rifampicine détectés par le GeneXpert doivent être confirmés par d'autres tests moléculaires avant d'initier un traitement. PMID:28292091

GeneXpert MTB/RIF dans le dépistage de la tuberculose pulmonaire à l’Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, à l’Est de la République Démocratique du Congo: quelles leçons tirées après 10 mois d’utilisation?

PubMed Central

Lupande, David; Kaishusha, David; Mihigo, Carine; Itongwa, Moise; Yenga, Gustave; Katchunga, Philippe

2017-01-01

Introduction En Afrique subsaharienne, les méthodes de diagnostic de la tuberculose sont insuffisantes et reposent essentiellement sur la microscopie. Elles constituent un réel frein pour le contrôle de la tuberculose. La présente étude voudrait évaluer les performances du GeneXpert MTB/RIF vis à vis de la microscopie classique de Ziehl-Neelsen à l’Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, à l’Est de la République Démocratique du Congo après 10 mois d’utilisation. Méthodes Les résultats de la coloration au Ziehl-Neelsen et de la biologie moléculaire sur GeneXpert MTB/RIF de 452 patients suspects de tuberculose ont été colligés. La validité d’un test par rapport à l’autre dans la détection de la tuberculose a été étudiée. Résultats Dans le groupe entier, la fréquence de la tuberculose pulmonaire était de 16.3%. La positivité était significativement plus élevée pour le GeneXpert MTB/RIF que pour le Ziehl-Neelsen dans le groupe entier (15.9% vs 9.3%, p= 0.03) et chez les séropositifs pour le VIH (52.0% vs 24.0%; p = 0.007). Cependant, la sensibilité de GeneXpert MTB/RIF comparé au Ziehl-Neelsen n’était pas maximale (95.2%). Enfin, GeneXpert MTB/RIF a détecté 20.8% de résistance à la rifampicine. Conclusion La présente étude confirme la supériorité de GeneXpert MTB/RIF sur la coloration de Ziehl-Neelsen dans la détection de la tuberculose et dans la prédiction de la multi résistance. Son utilisation systématique couplée au Ziehl-Neelsen permettrait de mieux contrôler la tuberculose en Afrique subSaharienne. PMID:29187929

The LE1 Bacteriophage Replicates as a Plasmid within Leptospira biflexa: Construction of an L. biflexa-Escherichia coli Shuttle Vector

PubMed Central

Girons, Isabelle Saint; Bourhy, Pascale; Ottone, Catherine; Picardeau, Mathieu; Yelton, David; Hendrix, Roger W.; Glaser, Philippe; Charon, Nyles

2000-01-01

We have discovered that LE1, one of the plaque-forming phages previously described as lytic for the Leptospira biflexa saprophytic spirochete (I. Saint Girons, D. Margarita, P. Amouriaux, and G. Baranton, Res. Microbiol. 141:1131–1138, 1990), was indeed temperate. LE1 was found to be unusual, as Southern blot analysis indicated that it is one of the few phages to replicate in the prophage state as a circular plasmid. The unavailability of such small endogenous replicons has hindered genetic experimentation in Leptospira. We have developed a shuttle vector with DNA derived from LE1. Random LE1 DNA fragments were cloned into a pGEM 7Zf(+) derivative devoid of most of the bla gene but carrying a kanamycin resistance marker from the gram-positive bacterium Enterococcus (Streptococcus) faecalis. These constructs were transformed into L. biflexa strain Patoc 1 by electroporation, giving rise to kanamycin-resistant transformants. A 2.2-kb fragment from LE1 was responsible for replication of the vector in L. biflexa. However, a larger region including an intact parA gene homologue was necessary for the stability of the shuttle vector. Direct repeats and AT-rich regions characterized the LE1 origin of replication. Our data indicate that the replicon derived from the LE1 leptophage, together with the kanamycin resistance gene, is a promising tool with which to develop the genetics of Leptospira species. PMID:11004167

Real-time, high-resolution ultrasonography of the vocal folds—a prospective pilot study in patients before and after thyroidectomy

PubMed Central

Adamczewski, Zbigniew; Brzeziński, Jan; Lewiński, Andrzej

2010-01-01

Purpose The aim of the study was to evaluate the functionality of vocal folds (VF) by real-time, high-resolution ultrasonography (US) and to correlate the imaged features to results of laryngological examination (LE). Methods The study group comprised 50 patients (41 females and nine males), qualified to thyroidectomy. All the patients had LE and US examination before and 2 days, 2 months, and 3 months after the surgery. We used high-resolution US imaging to identify VFs and, subsequently, a pulsed Doppler and Doppler gate to quantify the tissue displacement velocity in the vibrating VF section. Results LE revealed unilateral VF paralysis in two patients. VF dysfunction was diagnosed in other four subjects. In simultaneously performed US examination, changes in VF displacement velocity (VFDV) were observed in ten patients. In two subjects, VFDV was below 30 cm/s— patients with VF paralysis, diagnosed in LE. In a further eight cases, we observed VFDV decrease by 50%, comparing to preoperative values. Both US-imaging and LE, performed after the 3-month follow-up, confirmed the transitional character of the above-mentioned pathologies. Conclusions US imaging of the VFs correlated with LE results, while being a minimally invasive, easily reproducible, and inexpensive method of examining VF functionality. Thanks to many recording options, it may soon become a perfect tool for an early identification of postoperative VF dysfunction with its later monitoring. To our knowledge, it is the first application of US and Doppler gate modes for VFDF quantification; however, an analysis on a larger group of patients is necessary to standardize the technique. PMID:20640934

Long-term prognostic impact of CT-Leaman score in patients with non-obstructive CAD: Results from the COronary CT Angiography EvaluatioN For Clinical Outcomes InteRnational Multicenter (CONFIRM) study.

PubMed

Andreini, Daniele; Pontone, Gianluca; Mushtaq, Saima; Gransar, Heidi; Conte, Edoardo; Bartorelli, Antonio L; Pepi, Mauro; Opolski, Maksymilian P; Ó Hartaigh, Bríain; Berman, Daniel S; Budoff, Matthew J; Achenbach, Stephan; Al-Mallah, Mouaz; Cademartiri, Filippo; Callister, Tracy Q; Chang, Hyuk-Jae; Chinnaiyan, Kavitha; Chow, Benjamin J W; Cury, Ricardo; Delago, Augustin; Hadamitzky, Martin; Hausleiter, Joerg; Feuchtner, Gudrun; Kim, Yong-Jin; Kaufmann, Philipp A; Leipsic, Jonathon; Lin, Fay Y; Maffei, Erica; Raff, Gilbert; Shaw, Leslee J; Villines, Todd C; Dunning, Allison; Marques, Hugo; Rubinshtein, Ronen; Hindoyan, Niree; Gomez, Millie; Min, James K

2017-03-15

Non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) identified by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) demonstrated prognostic value. CT-adapted Leaman score (CT-LeSc) showed to improve the prognostic stratification. Aim of the study was to evaluate the capability of CT-LeSc to assess long-term prognosis of patients with non-obstructive (CAD). From 17 centers, we enrolled 2402 patients without prior CAD history who underwent CCTA that showed non-obstructive CAD and provided complete information on plaque composition. Patients were divided into a group without CAD and a group with non-obstructive CAD (<50% stenosis). Segment-involvement score (SIS) and CT-LeSc were calculated. Outcomes were non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and the combined end-point of MI and all-cause mortality. Patient mean age was 56±12years. At follow-up (mean 59.8±13.9months), 183 events occurred (53 MI, 99 all-cause deaths and 31 late revascularizations). CT-LeSc was the only multivariate predictor of MI (HRs 2.84 and 2.98 in two models with Framingham and risk factors, respectively) and of MI plus all-cause mortality (HR 2.48 and 1.94 in two models with Framingham and risk factors, respectively). This was confirmed by a net reclassification analysis confirming that the CT-LeSc was able to correctly reclassify a significant proportion of patients (cNRI 0.28 and 0.23 for MI and MI plus all-cause mortality, respectively) vs. baseline model, whereas SIS did not. CT-LeSc is an independent predictor of major acute cardiac events, improving prognostic stratification of patients with non-obstructive CAD. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Persistent social inequality in life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy: Outlook for a differential pension age in Denmark?

PubMed

Brønnum-Hansen, Henrik; Eriksen, Mette Lindholm; Andersen-Ranberg, Karen; Jeune, Bernard

2017-06-01

The state old-age pension in Denmark increases to keep pace with the projected increase in average life expectancy (LE) without any regard to the social gap in LE and expected lifetime in good health. The purpose of this study was to compare changes in LE and disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) between groups of Danes with high, medium and low levels of education. Nationwide register data on education and mortality were combined with data from the Surveys of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) surveys in 2006-2007, 2010-2011 and 2013-2014 and the DFLE by educational level was estimated by Sullivan's method for each of these three time points. Between 2006-2007 and 2013-2014, LE among 65-year-old men and women with a low educational level increased by 1.3 and 1.0 years, respectively, and by 1.4 and 1.3 years for highly educated men and women. The gap in LE between people with high and low levels of education remained more than 2 years. In 2006-2007, 65-year-old men with a high level of education could expect 3.2 more years without disability than men of the same age with a low level of education. In 2013-2014, the difference was 2.9 years. For women, the results were 3.7 and 3.4 years, respectively. With the persistent social inequality in LE of more than 2 years and the continuous gap between high and low educational groups in DFLE of about 3 years, a differential pension age is recommended.

PubMed

Black, Amanda; Guilbert, Edith; Costescu, Dustin; Dunn, Sheila; Fisher, William; Kives, Sari; Mirosh, Melissa; Norman, Wendy V; Pymar, Helen; Reid, Robert; Roy, Geneviève; Varto, Hannah; Waddington, Ashley; Wagner, Marie-Soleil; Whelan, Anne Marie

2017-04-01

Mettre à la disposition des fournisseurs de soins des lignes directrices concernant le recours à des méthodes contraceptives pour prévenir la grossesse et la promotion d'une sexualité saine. Efficacité globale des méthodes contraceptives citées : évaluation de l'innocuité, des effets indésirables et de la baisse du taux de grossesse; effet des méthodes contraceptives citées sur la santé sexuelle et le bien-être général; disponibilité des méthodes contraceptives citées au Canada. RéSULTATS: Des recherches ont été effectuées dans MEDLINE et la base de données Cochrane afin d'en tirer les articles en anglais publiés entre janvier 1994 et décembre 2015 traitant de sujets liés à la contraception, à la sexualité et à la santé sexuelle, dans le but de mettre à jour le consensus canadien sur la contraception paru de février à avril 2004. Nous avons également passé en revue les publications pertinentes du gouvernement canadien, ainsi que les déclarations de principes issues d'organisations compétentes vouées à la santé et à la planification familiale. La qualité des résultats a été évaluée au moyen des critères décrits par le Groupe d'étude canadien sur les soins de santé préventifs. Les recommandations quant à la pratique sont classées en fonction de la méthode décrite dans le rapport du Groupe. DéCLARATIONS SOMMAIRES: RECOMMANDATIONS. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Luminal epithelium in endometrial fragments affects their vascularization, growth and morphological development into endometriosis-like lesions in mice.

PubMed

Feng, Dilu; Menger, Michael D; Wang, Hongbo; Laschke, Matthias W

2014-02-01

In endometriosis research, endometriosis-like lesions are usually induced in rodents by transplantation of isolated endometrial tissue fragments to ectopic sites. In the present study, we investigated whether this approach is affected by the cellular composition of the grafts. For this purpose, endometrial tissue fragments covered with luminal epithelium (LE(+)) and without luminal epithelium (LE(-)) were transplanted from transgenic green-fluorescent-protein-positive (GFP(+)) donor mice into the dorsal skinfold chamber of GFP(-) wild-type recipient animals to analyze their vascularization, growth and morphology by means of repetitive intravital fluorescence microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry during a 14-day observation period. LE(-) fragments developed into typical endometriosis-like lesions with cyst-like dilated endometrial glands and a well-vascularized endometrial stroma. In contrast, LE(+) fragments exhibited a polypoid morphology and a significantly reduced blood perfusion after engraftment, because the luminal epithelium prevented the vascular interconnection with the microvasculature of the surrounding host tissue. This was associated with a markedly decreased growth rate of LE(+) lesions compared with LE(-) lesions. In addition, we found that many GFP(+) microvessels grew outside the LE(-) lesions and developed interconnections to the host microvasculature, indicating that inosculation is an important mechanism in the vascularization process of endometriosis-like lesions. Our findings demonstrate that the luminal epithelium crucially affects the vascularization, growth and morphology of endometriosis-like lesions. Therefore, it is of major importance to standardize the cellular composition of endometrial grafts in order to increase the validity and reliability of pre-clinical rodent studies in endometriosis research.

Anesthetic duration of lidocaine with 10% dextran is comparable to lidocaine with 1:160 000 epinephrine after intraosseous injection in the rabbit.

PubMed

Ito, Emiko; Ichinohe, Tatsuya; Shibukawa, Yoshiyuki; Aida, Hidetaka; Kaneko, Yuzuru

2007-09-01

To compare the effects of 10% dextran and epinephrine on intraosseous injection with lidocaine in rabbits. Twenty male Japanese white rabbits were used. The effect of intraosseous injection was evaluated using an electromyogram (EMG) of the digastric muscle after electrical pulp stimulation. Two percent lidocaine alone (L), 2% lidocaine containing 1:80000 epinephrine (LE8), 2% lidocaine containing 1:160 000 epinephrine (LE16), and 2% lidocaine containing 10% dextran (LD) were tested. Electromyogram recordings were repeated before and 30 seconds, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, and 20 minutes after the intraosseous injection. Thereafter, recordings were repeated every 5 minutes until the EMG recovered to the control value. There was no difference in the onset time between the 4 groups. The order of the duration of maximum effect was LE8 >LE16 = LD >or=L. The order of the duration of anesthesia was LE8 >LE16 = LD >L. Ten percent dextran potentiates local anesthetic effects of 2% lidocaine in intraosseous injection. The potency of 10% dextran is comparable to 1:160 000 epinephrine.

Validity of the lower extremity functional movement screen in patients with chronic ankle instability.

PubMed

Choi, Ho-Suk; Shin, Won-Seob

2015-06-01

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to provide evidence of construct validity for the lower extremity functional movement screen (LE-FMS) based on hypothesis testing in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). [Subjects] The subjects were 20 healthy subjects and 20 patients with CAI who had a history of ankle sprain with pain for more than 1 day. [Methods] All participants were measured using the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) and evaluated with the LE-FMS. The screen included the deep squat, the hurdle step (HS) and the in-line lunge (ILL). The symmetry ratios (RS) were accurately measured during the deep squat trial. [Results] Between the two groups, there were significant differences in scores on the LE-FMS, HS, ILL, RS, FADI, and FADI-sport. The FADI was strongly correlated with both LE-FMS score (r=0.807) and ILL score (r=0.896). There was a strong relationship (r=0.818) between LE-FMS score and FADI-sport. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the LE-FMS may be used to detect deficits related to CAI. Additionally, this instrument is reliable in detecting functional limitations in patients with CAI.

On the Interpretation of Supernova Light Echo Profiles and Spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rest, A.; Sinnott, B.; Welch, D. L.; Foley, R. J.; Narayan, G.; Mandel, K.; Huber, M. E.; Blondin, S.

2011-05-01

The light echo (LE) systems of historical supernovae in the Milky Way and local group galaxies provide an unprecedented opportunity to reveal the effects of asymmetry on observables, particularly optical spectra. Scattering dust at different locations on the LE ellipsoid witnesses the supernova from different perspectives, and the light consequently scattered toward Earth preserves the shape of line profile variations introduced by asymmetries in the supernova photosphere. However, the interpretation of supernova LE spectra to date has not involved a detailed consideration of the effects of outburst duration and geometrical scattering modifications due to finite scattering dust filament dimension, inclination, and image point-spread function and spectrograph slit width. In this paper, we explore the implications of these factors and present a framework for future-resolved supernova LE spectra interpretation, and test it against Cas A and SN 1987A LE spectra. We conclude that the full modeling of the dimensions and orientation of the scattering dust using the observed LEs at two or more epochs is critical for the correct interpretation of LE spectra. Indeed, without doing so one might falsely conclude that differences exist when none are actually present.

Taxonomy and distribution of the series pia of the Lutzomyia verrucarum group (Diptera: Psychodidae), with a description of Lutzomyia emberai n. sp.

PubMed

Bejarano, Eduar Elías; Duque, Patricia; Vélez, Iván Darío

2004-09-01

A new species of phlebotomine sand fly, Lutzomyia emberai n. sp, is described and illustrated from specimens collected in a dwelling of the Emberá Indian community, situated in the foothills of the Serranía del Baudól on the Colombian Pacific coast. The morphological characteristics of L. emberai n. sp. suggest that it belongs to the series pia of the group verrucarum, easily differentiated from the other members of this group by diagnostic characters on the palps, labro-pharynx, thorax, and spermathecal ducts. The discovery of this new phlebotomine raises to seven the number of species in the series pia, including Lutzomyia pia (Fairchild & Hertig, 1961); Lutzomyia reclusa Fernandez & Rogers, 1991; Lutzomyia suapiensis Le Pont, Torrez-Espejo & Dujardin, 1997; Lutzomyia tihuiliensis Le Pont, Torrez-Espejo & Dujardin, 1997; Lutzomyia tocaniensis Le Pont, Torrez-Espejo & Dujardin, 1997; Lutzomyia limafalcaoae (Wolff & Galati, 2002); and Lutzomyia emberai Bejarano, Duque & Velez, 2004, n. sp. The taxonomy, distribution, and medical importance of this series are reviewed.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of jasmonic acid dependent but salicylic acid independent LeWRKY1.

PubMed

Lu, M; Wang, L F; Du, X H; Yu, Y K; Pan, J B; Nan, Z J; Han, J; Wang, W X; Zhang, Q Z; Sun, Q P

2015-11-30

Various plant genes can be activated or inhibited by phytohormones under conditions of biotic and abiotic stress, especially in response to jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). Interactions between JA and SA may be synergistic or antagonistic, depending on the stress condition. In this study, we cloned a full-length cDNA (LeWRKY1, GenBank accession No. FJ654265) from Lycopersicon esculentum by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Sequence analysis showed that this gene is a group II WRKY transcription factor. Analysis of LeWRKY1 mRNA expression in various tissues by qRT-PCR showed that the highest and lowest expression occurred in the leaves and stems, respectively. In addition, LeWRKY1 expression was induced by JA and Botrytis cinerea Pers., but not by SA.

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PERIOD OF SENSITIVITY OF FETAL MALE SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT TO VINCLOZOLIN

EPA Science Inventory

Characterization of the period of sensitivity of fetal male sexual development to vinclozolin.

Wolf CJ, LeBlanc GA, Ostby JS, Gray LE Jr.

Endocrinology Branch, MD 72, Reproductive Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U....

Hippocampal subfield volumes in short- and long-term lithium-treated patients with bipolar I disorder.

PubMed

Simonetti, Alessio; Sani, Gabriele; Dacquino, Claudia; Piras, Fabrizio; De Rossi, Pietro; Caltagirone, Carlo; Coryell, William; Spalletta, Gianfranco

2016-06-01

Patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BP) may experience hippocampal atrophy. Lithium exposure has been associated with increased hippocampal volumes. However, its effects on hippocampal subfields remain to be clarified. We investigated the effects of short- and long-term lithium exposure on the hippocampus and its subfields in patients affected by bipolar I disorder (BP-I). Hippocampal subfields and total hippocampal volumes were measured in 60 subjects divided into four groups: 15 patients with BP-I who were never exposed to lithium [no-exposure group (NE)], 15 patients with BP-I exposed to lithium for < 24 months [short-exposure group (SE)], 15 patients with BP-I exposed to lithium for > 24 months [long-exposure group (LE)], and 15 healthy control subjects (HC). The SE and NE groups showed smaller total hippocampal volumes and smaller bilateral cornu ammonis CA2-3, CA4-dentate gyrus (DG), presubiculum, and subiculum volumes compared with HC. The LE group showed larger total hippocampal volumes and bilateral CA2-3, left CA4-DG, left presubiculum, and right subiculum volumes compared with the NE group, and larger volumes of the right CA2-3, left CA4-DG, left presubiculum, and right subiculum compared with the SE group. No differences were found between the LE group and HC or between the SE and NE groups. Long-term, but not short-term, exposure to lithium treatment may exert neuroprotective effects on specific hippocampal subfields linked to disease progression. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Atypical lupus erythematosus panniculitis progressing to antinuclear antibody-negative systemic lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Pandhi, Deepika; Verma, Prashant; Singal, Archana; Sharma, Sonal; Tondon, Anupama

2012-01-01

Lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEp) is an uncommon but distinctive subset of lupus erythematosus (LE). It may develop in patients with discoid or systemic LE or may occur as an isolated phenomenon. We describe a case of LEp affecting unusual sites: the parotid gland, eyelid, and scalp. Subsequently, the patient progressed to antinuclear antibody-negative systemic LE.

Limbic encephalitis presenting as a post-partum psychiatric condition.

PubMed

Gotkine, Marc; Ben-Hur, Tamir; Vincent, Angela; Vaknin-Dembinsky, Adi

2011-09-15

We describe a woman who presented with a psychiatric disorder post-partum and subsequently developed seizures and cognitive dysfunction prompting further investigation. A diagnosis of limbic encephalitis (LE) was made and antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channel complex (VGKC) detected. These antibodies are found in many non-paraneoplastic patients with LE. Although antibody-mediated conditions tend to present or relapse post-partum, VGKC-LE in the post-partum period has not been described. Case report. Clinical and imaging data were consistent with limbic encephalitis. High titres of anti-VGKC-complex antibodies confirmed the diagnosis of VGKC-LE. The similarities between the psychiatric symptomatology of VGKC-LE and post-partum psychiatric disorders raise the possibility that some instances of post-partum psychiatric conditions are manifestations of immune-mediated, non-paraneoplastic LE. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Intramolecular charge transfer of 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile probed by time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption: No evidence for two ICT states and a {pi}{sigma}{sup *} reaction intermediate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zachariasse, Klaas A.; Druzhinin, Sergey I.; Senyushkina, Tamara

2009-12-14

For the double exponential fluorescence decays of the locally excited (LE) and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) states of 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile (DMABN) in acetonitrile (MeCN) the same times {tau}{sub 1} and {tau}{sub 2} are observed. This means that the reversible LE<-->ICT reaction, starting from the initially excited LE state, can be adequately described by a two state mechanism. The most important factor responsible for the sometimes experimentally observed differences in the nanosecond decay time, with {tau}{sub 1}(LE)<{tau}{sub 1}(ICT), is photoproduct formation. By employing a global analysis of the LE and ICT fluorescence response functions with a time resolution of 0.5 ps/channel inmore » 1200 channels reliable kinetic and thermodynamic data can be obtained. The arguments presented in the literature in favor of a {pi}{sigma}* state with a bent CN group as an intermediate in the ICT reaction of DMABN are discussed. From the appearance of an excited state absorption (ESA) band in the spectral region between 700 and 800 nm in MeCN for N,N-dimethylanilines with CN, Br, F, CF{sub 3}, and C(=O)OC{sub 2}H{sub 2} p-substituents, it is concluded that this ESA band cannot be attributed to a {pi}{sigma}{sup *} state, as only the C-C{identical_to}N group can undergo the required 120 deg. bending.« less

La plastie tricuspide: annuloplastie de Carpentier versus technique de De VEGA

PubMed Central

Charfeddine, Salma; Hammami, Rania; Triki, Faten; Abid, Leila; Hentati, Mourad; Frikha, Imed; Kammoun, Samir

2017-01-01

L'atteinte de la valve tricuspide a été longtemps négligée aussi bien par cardiologue que par le chirurgien, mais depuis quelques années, la fuite tricuspidienne a été démontrée comme un facteur pronostic dans l'évolution des patients opérés d'une valvulopathie du c'ur gauche. Plusieurs techniques de plastie tricuspide ont été développées et les études publiées divergent sur les résultats de ces techniques; Nous avons mené ce travail afin d'évaluer les résultats de plastie tricuspide dans une population caractérisée par une forte prévalence de la maladie rhumatismale et de comparer les techniques d'annuloplastie de carpentier versus la plastie de DeVEGA. Etude rétrospective menée sur une période de 25 ans ayant inclus les patients traités par plastie tricuspide dans le service de cardiologie de SFAX. Nous avons comparé les résultats de groupe 1 (annuloplastie de Carpentier) vs groupe 2 (plastie de DeVEGA) 91 patients étaient inclus dans notre étude, avec 45 patients dans le groupe 1et 46 patients dans le groupe 2. La plupart des patients avaient une IT moyenne ou importante (83%) avant la chirurgie, une dilatation de l'anneau a été observée chez 90% des patients sans qu'il y ait une différence significatives entre le groupe 1 et 2. Les résultats immédiats étaient comparables entre les deux techniques mais au cours de suivi une insuffisance récurrente au moins moyenne a été plus significativement fréquente dans le groupe de plastie de DeVEGA. Les facteurs prédictifs d'IT récurrente significative au long cours étaient en étude multivariée la technique de DeVEGA (OR=3.26 (1.12-9.28)) et la pression artérielle pulmonaire systolique préoperatoire (OR=1.06 (1.01-1.12)). La plastie tricuspide avec anneau de Carpentier semble garantir de meilleurs résultats que la plastie de DeVEGA, par contre une PAPS préopératoire élevée est prédictive de récurrence de la fuite tricuspidienne même après plastie d'où l'intérêt d'opérer les malades à un stade précoce. PMID:28819539

Progress in Military Airlift (Les Progres Realises dans le Domaine du Transport Aerien Militaire)

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-05-01

transformation of the flight deck, with both visible and concealed changes. This crew/ airplane interface modification has resulted in an evolution of ...300 ADVISORY GROUP FOR AEROSPACE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT 7 RUE ANCELLE 92200 NEUILLY SUR SEINE FRANCE AGARD ADVISORY REPOW 300 Technical Evaluation...Advisory Report was prepared at the request of the ’ Flight Mechanics Panel of AGARD. _ North Atlantic Treaty Organization Organisation du Trait de

Differential Expression of Two Novel Members of the Tomato Ethylene-Receptor Family

PubMed Central

Tieman, Denise M.; Klee, Harry J.

1999-01-01

The phytohormone ethylene regulates many aspects of plant growth, development, and environmental responses. Much of the developmental regulation of ethylene responses in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) occurs at the level of hormone sensitivity. In an effort to understand the regulation of ethylene responses, we isolated and characterized tomato genes with sequence similarity to the Arabidopsis ETR1 (ethylene response 1) ethylene receptor. Previously, we isolated three genes that exhibit high similarity to ETR1 and to each other. Here we report the isolation of two additional genes, LeETR4 and LeETR5, that are only 42% and 40% identical to ETR1, respectively. Although the amino acids known to be involved in ethylene binding are conserved, LeETR5 lacks the histidine within the kinase domain that is predicted to be phosphorylated. This suggests that histidine kinase activity is not necessary for an ethylene response, because mutated forms of both LeETR4 and LeETR5 confer dominant ethylene insensitivity in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Expression analysis indicates that LeETR4 accounts for most of the putative ethylene-receptor mRNA present in reproductive tissues, but, like LeETR5, it is less abundant in vegetative tissues. Taken together, ethylene perception in tomato is potentially quite complex, with at least five structurally divergent, putative receptor family members exhibiting significant variation in expression levels throughout development. PMID:10318694

Involvement of scalp and nails in lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Trüeb, R M

2010-08-01

Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a systemic autoimmune disorder associated with polyclonal B-cell activation resulting in diverse patterns of autoantibody production and a heterogeneous clinical expression constituting a spectrum extending from limited cutaneous disease to life-threatening systemic manifestations. For daily clinical practice, the characteristics of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) have been well defined in terms of morphology, and clinical and laboratory criteria are available for the classification as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The many different types of skin lesions encountered in patients with LE have been classified into those that are histologically specific for LE and those that are not. While LE non-specific skin lesions on their own do not enable a diagnosis of LE, they can be important reflections of underlying SLE disease activity. This also applies to the involvement of the scalp and nails. Finally, it must be kept in mind that LE patients may also develop drug-related, or other unrelated common disorders of the hair and nails that do not reflect LE disease activity.

An Applied-Scientific Approach to Field Assessments - Try It Out - A Field Guide for Practitioners (Une approche scientifique des evaluations de terrain - Essayer le - Un guide de terrain a destination des praticiens)

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

settings – be it field trials, field experiments, tests or evaluations . This guide is based on experience of the the NATO STO Task Group (HFM-211...practice by the Task Group. Feedback from defence colleges and Training and Evaluation staffs is highly welcomed. ES - 2 STO-TR-HFM-211 Une... evaluation programs have been setup to analyse and demonstrate the added value and effectiveness of new developments such as new operational concepts, new

Decreased Proportion of Dementia-Free Life Expectancy in Hong Kong SAR.

PubMed

Cheung, Siu-Lan Karen; Yip, Siu-Fai Paul; Branch, Laurence G; Robine, Jean-Marie

2015-01-01

Estimations of life expectancies (LE) in health and ill health are important for planning future health care support. This study aimed at quantifying whether an increased LE is accompanied by an increase in the duration of life with dementia (DemLE) in Hong Kong SAR. Two parameters from a logistic model were used to fit the overall trend of the weighted prevalence of dementia. Abridged age- and sex-specific life tables and Sullivan's method were used to calculate dementia-free LE (DemFLE) for 1998 and 2013. In 2013, among elderly individuals in Hong Kong aged 65 years, men had lived with dementia for 1.8 years and women for 3.6 years. These values are similar to those for subjects aged ≥85 years, while the proportion of DemLE was much greater at advanced ages. Elderly female individuals tend to experience a greater number of years with dementia than males. Our results indicate although LE has increased for all older age groups over time, the increase in DemFLE has not been greater than the gain in LE, suggesting an absolute expansion of the burden of dementia to the community between 1998 and 2013. The results suggest that more caregiving resources and manpower will be needed in the future as the population ages. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Specificity of dermal mucin in the diagnosis of lupus erythematosus: comparison with other dermatitides and normal skin.

PubMed

Vincent, Jeremy G; Chan, May P

2015-10-01

Increased dermal mucin is a feature of lupus erythematosus (LE); however, its amount and distribution have not been well characterized. The differentiation of LE from other forms of dermatitis can be challenging when other features of LE are subtle or equivocal. One hundred and thirty-five skin specimens showing LE, graft vs. host disease, erythema multiforme/fixed drug eruption, lichen planus, polymorphous light eruption (PMLE), urticaria, eczematous dermatitis and psoriasis and normal skin with and without photodamage were collected. The amounts of mucin in the papillary, superficial reticular and deep reticular dermis were scored from 0 to 3 on hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and alcian blue (AB) stains, and compared between groups. The mean scores in the reticular dermis were significantly higher in LE than in other categories except PMLE and eczematous dermatitis. A combined H&E + AB score of ≥5 in the superficial reticular dermis gave an overall specificity of 85.7% for LE. Mucin in the papillary dermis failed to distinguish among entities. Normal photodamaged skin showed significantly more mucin in the superficial reticular dermis compared to non-photodamaged skin. While LE is associated with increased mucin deposition, scant to moderate amount of mucin alone has limited specificity and is common in other dermatitides or photodamaged skin. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

L-selectin-carbohydrate interactions: relevant modifications of the Lewis x trisaccharide.

PubMed

Sanders, W J; Katsumoto, T R; Bertozzi, C R; Rosen, S D; Kiessling, L L

1996-11-26

Protein-carbohydrate interactions are known to mediate cell-cell recognition and adhesion events. Specifically, three carbohydrate binding proteins termed selectins (E-, P-, and L-selectin) have been shown to be essential for leukocyte rolling along the vascular endothelium, the first step in the recruitment of leukocytes from the blood into inflammatory sites or into secondary lymphoid organs. Although this phenomenon is well-established, little is known about the molecular-level interactions on which it depends. All three selectins recognize sulfated and sialylated derivatives of the Lewis x [Le(x):Gal beta 1-->4(Fuc alpha 1-->3)GlcNAc] and Lewis a [Le(a): Gal beta 1-->3(Fuc alpha 1-->4)GlcNAc] trisaccharide cores with affinities in the millimolar range, and it is believed that variants of these structures are the carbohydrate determinants of selectin recognition. Recently it was shown that the mucin GlyCAM-1, a secreted physiological ligand for L-selectin, is capped with sulfated derivatives of sialyl Lewis x [sLe(x): Sia alpha 2-->3Gal beta 1-->4(Fuc alpha 1-->3)GlcNAc] and that sulfation is required for the high-affinity interaction between GlyCAM-1 and L-selectin. To elucidate the important sites of sulfation on Le(x) with respect to L-selectin recognition, we have synthesized six sulfated Le(x) analogs and determined their abilities to block binding of a recombinant L-selectin-Ig chimera to immobilized GlyCAM-1. Our results suggest that 6-sulfo sLe(x) binds to L-selectin with higher affinity than does sLe(x) or 6'-sulfo sLe(x) and that sulfation of sLe(x) capping groups on GlyCAM-1 at the 6-position is important for L-selectin recognition.

Development of a clinical prediction model to calculate patient life expectancy: the measure of actuarial life expectancy (MALE).

PubMed

Clarke, M G; Kennedy, K P; MacDonagh, R P

2009-01-01

To develop a clinical prediction model enabling the calculation of an individual patient's life expectancy (LE) and survival probability based on age, sex, and comorbidity for use in the joint decision-making process regarding medical treatment. A computer software program was developed with a team of 3 clinicians, 2 professional actuaries, and 2 professional computer programmers. This incorporated statistical spreadsheet and database access design methods. Data sources included life insurance industry actuarial rating factor tables (public and private domain), Government Actuary Department UK life tables, professional actuarial sources, and evidence-based medical literature. The main outcome measures were numerical and graphical display of comorbidity-adjusted LE; 5-, 10-, and 15-year survival probability; in addition to generic UK population LE. Nineteen medical conditions, which impacted significantly on LE in actuarial terms and were commonly encountered in clinical practice, were incorporated in the final model. Numerical and graphical representations of statistical predictions of LE and survival probability were successfully generated for patients with either no comorbidity or a combination of the 19 medical conditions included. Validation and testing, including actuarial peer review, confirmed consistency with the data sources utilized. The evidence-based actuarial data utilized in this computer program design represent a valuable resource for use in the clinical decision-making process, where an accurate objective assessment of patient LE can so often make the difference between patients being offered or denied medical and surgical treatment. Ongoing development to incorporate additional comorbidities and enable Web-based access will enhance its use further.

Radiation Therapy Risk Factors for Development of Lymphedema in Patients Treated With Regional Lymph Node Irradiation for Breast Cancer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandra, Ravi A.; Miller, Cynthia L.; Skolny, Melissa N.

2015-03-15

Purpose: We previously evaluated the risk of breast cancer-related lymphedema (LE) with the addition of regional lymph node irradiation (RLNR) and found an increased risk when RLNR is used. Here we analyze the association of technical radiation therapy (RT) factors in RLNR patients with the risk of LE development. Methods and Materials: From 2005 to 2012, we prospectively screened 1476 women for LE who underwent surgery for breast cancer. Among 1507 breasts treated, 172 received RLNR and had complete technical data for analysis. RLNR was delivered as supraclavicular (SC) irradiation (69% [118 of 172 patients]) or SC plus posterior axillarymore » boost (PAB) (31% [54 of 172]). Bilateral arm volume measurements were performed pre- and postoperatively. Patients' RT plans were analyzed for SC field lateral border (relative to the humeral head), total dose to SC, RT fraction size, beam energy, and type of tangent (normal vs wide). Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze associated risk factors for LE. Results: Median postoperative follow-up was 29.3 months (range: 4.9-74.1 months). The 2-year cumulative incidence of LE was 22% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15%-32%) for SC and 20% (95% CI: 11%-37%) for SC plus PAB (SC+PAB). None of the analyzed variables was significantly associated with LE risk (extent of humeral head: P=.74 for <1/3 vs >2/3, P=.41 for 1/3 to 2/3 vs >2/3; P=.40 for fraction size of 1.8 Gy vs 2.0 Gy; P=.57 for beam energy 6 MV vs 10 MV; P=.74 for tangent type wide vs regular; P=.66 for SC vs SC+PAB). Only pretreatment body mass index (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04-1.15, P=.0007) and the use of axillary lymph node dissection (HR: 7.08, 95% CI: 0.98-51.40, P=.05) were associated with risk of subsequent LE development. Conclusions: Of the RT parameters tested, none was associated with an increased risk of LE development. This study underscores the need for future work investigating alternative RLNR risk factors for LE.« less

Discordance gradient-surface dans le rétrécissement mitral: le gradient moyen transmitral est-il un critère de sévérité ou un indice de tolérance du rétrécissement mitral serré?

PubMed Central

Najih, Hayat; Arous, Salim; Laarje, Aziza; Baghdadi, Dalila; Benouna, Mohamed Ghali; Azzouzi, Leila; Habbal, Rachida

2016-01-01

Le rétrécissement mitral (RM) rhumatismal demeure une valvulopathie fréquente dans les pays en voie de développement. Cependant, les pays industrialisés ont vu l'émergence ces dernières années de nouvelles étiologies de RM; notamment l'origine médicamenteuse et/ou toxique responsable de valvulopathies restrictives aussi bien sténosantes que régurgitantes. Pour cette raison, l'évaluation échocardiographique du RM et surtout, la définition de critères objectifs pour conclure au caractère serré du RM reste toujours d'actualité. Les objectifs du travail sont: évaluer l'existence ou non d'une corrélation directe entre le gradient moyen transmitral (GMT) et la sévérité du RM chez les patients porteurs d'un RM serré ou très serré (critère primaire) et analyser les différents paramètres qui conditionnent le gradient moyen transmitral (GMT) (Critère secondaire). Il s'agit d'une étude transversale monocentrique incluant tous les patients admis au service de Cardiologie du CHU Ibn Rochd de Casablanca pour un RM serré ou très serré, sur une période d'une année (Janvier 2014 à Décembre 2014). Nous avons analysés séparément deux groupes de patients : ceux avec un gradient moyen transmitral<10 mmHg (groupe 1) et ceux avec un gradient>10mmHg (groupe2). 50 patients porteurs d'un RM serré ou très serré ont été inclus. L'âge moyen de nos patients est de 41,7 ans avec prédominance féminine (sex ratio: 0,25). 64% de nos patients avaient un RM serré et 36% avaient un RM très serré. 52% (26 patients) avaient un GMT <10mmHg et 48% (24 patients) avaient un gradient moyen >10mmHg, ce qui suggère l'absence de corrélation directe entre la sévérité du RM et le GMT (coefficient de Pearson R: -0,137). Pour la dyspnée, 80% des patients du groupe 1 étaient dyspnéiques stade II de la NYHA et 70% des patients du groupe 2 étaient dyspnéiques stade III (41%) ou IV (29%) de la NYHA, ce qui signifie l'existence d'une corrélation significative entre le GMT et la sévérité de la dyspnée (R: 0,586 et p: 0,001). L'étude analytique de la fréquence cardiaque et la présence d'une décompensation cardiaque par rapport au gradient moyen transmitral a montré une corrélation significative. En effet, parmi les patients du groupe 1, 96% avaient une FC entre 60 et 100 bpm et aucun patient n'était en décompensation cardiaque. Dans le groupe 2,54% (13 patients) avaient une FC >100 bpm et 7 parmi eux (53%) étaient en décompensation cardiaque gauche. L'étude de la pression artérielle pulmonaire systolique dans les deux groupes de l'étude a révélé l'existence dans notre série d'une corrélation statistiquement significative (R : 0,518 et P : 0,001) entre la PAPS et le GMT. La régularité du rythme et la fonction ventriculaire droite n'étaient pas corrélées au GMT (R : 0,038 et R :-0,002 respectivement). Le gradient moyen transmitral est un bon indicateur de la tolérance du rétrécissement mitral, mais il reflète imparfaitement sa sévérité vue qu'il dépend de plusieurs paramètres hémodynamiques. D'authentiques rétrécissements mitraux très serrés peuvent exister avec des gradients moyens transmitraux <10 mm Hg, c'est pour cette raison que la valeur du GMT ne doit jamais être interprétée isolément. PMID:28292038

Correlations between internal and external ocular factors and macular pigment optical density.

PubMed

Tudosescu, Ruxandra; Alexandrescu, Cristina Mihaela; Istrate, Sânziana Luminiţa; Vrapciu, Alexandra Diana; Ciuluvică, Radu Constantin; Voinea, Liliana

2018-01-01

To assess the relationship between the macular pigment optical density and blue-light issued by computers, glare sensibility, with iris color, age, sex, or refractive errors. 83 patients (166 eyes) were enrolled in a prospective observational study. They were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (study group) - computer using patients (time spent in front of the computer for minimum 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, 2 years) - 43 patients and group 2 (control group) - 40 patients. The following investigations were conducted in all the selected cases: visual acuity, refraction, biomicroscopy, measurement of the MPOD, glare sensitivity, assessment of eye color. 51.81% of the patients were included in group 1, while the rest, 48.19%, were in group 2. Thus, the MPOD had a mean value of (+/ -SD) 0.42+/ -0.13 (t = -1.08, p = 0.28) in group 1, and 0.44+/ -0.16 on the LE. The results showed a MPOD mean value of 0.51+/ - 0.16 in group 2 and 0.51+/ -0 .16. (t = 0.49, p = 0 .62) on the LE. 55.77% of the patients with light colored iris and 56.14% of those with dark iris had a low MPOD. The data from our study failed to illustrate a significant correlation between MPOD and blue-light issued by computers. Furthermore, a statistic significant relationship regarding iris color, refractive errors, glare, and MPOD was not observed. L = lutein, Z = zeaxanthin, MZ = meso-zeaxanthin, AMD = age related macular degeneration, MPOD = macular pigment optical density, MP = macular pigment, HFP = Heterochromatic Flicker Photometry, RE = right eye, LE = left eye.

Efficacy of peloid therapy in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis: a randomized, controlled, single blind study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ökmen, Burcu Metin; Eröksüz, Rıza; Altan, Lale; Aksoy, Meliha Kasapoğlu

2017-11-01

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of peloid on pain, functionality, daily life activities, and quality of life of lateral epicondylitis (LE) patients. In this randomized, controlled, single-blind study, 75 patients who were diagnosed with chronic LE were enrolled to the study. Patients were randomized into two groups using the random number table. The patients in the first group (group 1) ( n = 33), were given lateral epicondylitis band (LEB) (during the day for 6 weeks) + peloid therapy (five consecutive days a week for 2 weeks), and the second group (group 2) ( n = 32), received LEB treatment alone. The patients were assessed by using Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). The data were obtained before treatment (W0), immediately after treatment (W2), and 1 month after treatment (W6). In analysis of the collected data, the Wilcoxon signed rank test for intra-group comparisons and Mann-Whitney U test for comparisons between groups were used. Both in groups 1 and 2, there was a statistically significant improvement in all the evaluation parameters at W2 and W6 when compared to W0 ( p < 0.05). In comparison of difference scores between groups, although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at W2 when compared to W0 ( p > 0.05), a statistically significant difference was found in favor of group 1 for all the evaluation parameters at W6 ( p < 0.05). Our results have shown that peloid treatment could be effective in providing improvement in pain relief, function, daily life activities, and quality of life in LE patients.

Weight loss without losing muscle mass in pre-obese and obese subjects induced by a high-soy-protein diet.

PubMed

Deibert, P; König, D; Schmidt-Trucksaess, A; Zaenker, K S; Frey, I; Landmann, U; Berg, A

2004-10-01

To determine change of weight, body composition, metabolic and hormonal parameters induced by different intervention protocols. Randomized, controlled study including participants exhibiting a BMI between 27.5 and 35. Three different interventions containing lifestyle education (LE-G), or a substitutional diet containing a high-soy-protein low-fat diet with (SD/PA-G) or without (SD-G) a guided physical activity program. A total of 90 subjects (mean weight 89.9 kg; mean BMI 31.5), randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. Change in body weight, fat mass and lean body mass measured with the Bod Pod device at baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months; change in metabolic and hormonal parameters. In all, 83 subjects completed the 6-months study. BMI dropped highly significantly in all groups (LE-G: -2.2+/-1.43 kg/m(2); SD-G: -3.1+/-1.29 kg/m(2); SD/PA-G: -3.0+/-1.29 kg/m(2)). Subjects in the SD-G and in the SD/PA-G lost more weight during the 6-months study (-8.9+/-3.9; -8.9+/-3.9 kg) than did those in the LE-G (-6.2+/-4.2 kg), and had a greater decrease in fat mass (-8.8+/-4.27; -9.4+/-4.54 kg) than those in the LE-G (-6.6+/-4.59 kg). In contrast, no significant intraindividual or between-group changes in the fat-free mass were seen. In all groups, metabolic parameters showed an improvement in glycemic control and lipid profile. Our data suggest that a high-soy-protein and low-fat diet can improve the body composition in overweight and obese people, losing fat but preserving muscle mass.

Differential Gene Expression Profiling of Mouse Uterine Luminal Epithelium During Periimplantation

PubMed Central

Xiao, Shuo; Diao, Honglu; Zhao, Fei; Li, Rong; He, Naya

2014-01-01

Uterine luminal epithelium (LE) is critical for establishing uterine receptivity. Microarray analysis of gestation day 3.5 (D3.5, preimplantation) and D4.5 (postimplantation) LE from natural pregnant mice identified 382 upregulated and 245 downregulated genes in the D4.5 LE. Gene Ontology annotation grouped 186 upregulated and 103 downregulated genes into 22 and 15 enriched subcategories, respectively, in regulating DNA-dependent transcription, metabolism, cell morphology, ion transport, immune response, apoptosis, signal transduction, and so on. Signaling pathway analysis revealed 99 genes in 21 significantly changed signaling pathways, with 14 of these pathways involved in metabolism. In situ hybridization confirmed the temporal expression of 12 previously uncharacterized genes, including Atp6v0a4, Atp6v0d2, F3, Ggh, Tmprss11d, Tmprss13, Anpep, Fxyd4, Naip5, Npl, Nudt19, and Tpm1 in the periimplantation uterus. This study provides a comprehensive picture of the differentially expressed genes in the periimplantation LE to help understand the molecular mechanism of LE transformation upon establishment of uterine receptivity. PMID:23885106

Automated Software Generation Approaches for the Design and Development of Guidance and Control Systems Software (Les Differentes Approches Generation pour la Conception et le Developpement de Logiciels de Guidage et de Pilotage)

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-03-01

de Logiciels") etaient en cours de developpement pour resoudre des problimes similaires dans le monde de la gestion . le Panel... gestion des sp cifications, d’algorithmes et de reprtsentations. Techniques et Sciences Informatiques, 4(3), 1985. 4-21 R. Jacquart, M. Lemoine, and G...Guidance and Control Systems Software (Les Diff~rentes Approches "G6neration" pour la Conception et le D~veloppement de Logiciels de Guidage et de

Abnormal mural cell recruitment in lymphatic capillaries: a common pathological feature in chronic lymphedematous skin?

PubMed

Yu, Zi-You; Sun, Di; Luo, Yi; Liu, Ning-Fei

2016-10-01

This study aimed to explore the structural and functional characteristics of dermal lymphatic capillaries in patients with chronic LE, specifically focused on the mural cells that are associated with skin lymphatics. Forty-four patients (30 primary LE and 14 secondary LE) and eight healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Genetic analysis of the FOXC2 was performed in 18 patients with primary LE. Full-thickness skin was excised and immunohistologically stained for podoplanin and α-SMA. The proportions of α-SMA + Lv (α-SMA + Lv%) were calculated. Lymphatic vascular function was assessed by indocyanine green lymphography. Analysis of FOXC2 revealed two mutations in two patients with LDs. Histologically, thirty-nine patients exhibited increased α-SMA + mural cell coverage of lymphatic capillaries. The α-SMA + Lv% values in the superficial and deep dermis in patients with primary and secondary LE were significantly higher than in the control group. Compared with imaging findings in healthy limbs, in which the collecting lymphatics were clearly visualized, lymphedematous extremities all exhibited dermal backflow. Abnormal recruitment of mural cells in dermal lymphatic capillaries is a common pathological event in chronic LE, and may play a role in disease evolution. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Transport de paires EPR dans des structures mesoscopiques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dupont, Emilie

Dans cette these, nous nous sommes particulierement interesses a la propagation de paires EPR1 delocalisees et localisees, et a l'influence d'un supraconducteur sur le transport de ces paires. Apres une introduction de cette etude, ainsi que du cadre scientifique qu'est l'informatique quantique dans lequel elle s'inscrit, nous allons dans le chapitre 1 faire un rappel sur le systeme constitue de deux points quantiques normaux entoures de deux fils supraconducteurs. Cela nous permettra d'introduire une methode de calcul qui sera reutilisee par la suite, et de trouver egalement le courant Josephson produit par ce systeme transforme en SQUID-dc par l'ajout d'une jonction auxiliaire. Le SQUID permet de mesurer l'etat de spin (singulet ou triplet), et peut etre forme a partir d'autres systemes que nous etudierons ensuite. Dans le chapitre 2, nous rappellerons l'etude detaillee d'un intricateur d'Andreev faite par un groupe de Bale. La matrice T, permettant d'obtenir le courant dans les cas ou les electrons sont separes spatialement ou non, sera etudiee en detail afin d'en faire usage au chapitre suivant. Le chapitre 3 est consacre a l'etude de l'influence du bruit sur le fonctionnement de l'intricateur d'Andreev. Ce bruit modifie la forme du courant jusqu'a aboutir a d'autres conditions de fonctionnement de l'intricateur. En effet, le bruit present sur les points quantiques peut perturber le transport des paires EPR par l'intermediaire des degres de liberte. Nous montrerons que, du fait de l'"intrication" entre la charge de la paire et le bruit, la paire est detruite pour des temps longs. Cependant, le resultat le plus important sera que le bruit perturbe plus le transport des paires delocalisees, qui implique une resonance de Breit-Wigner a deux particules. Le transport parasite n'implique pour sa part qu'une resonance de Breit-Wigner a une particule. Dans le chapitre 4, nous reviendrons au systeme constitue de deux points quantiques entoures de deux fils supraconducteurs, mais ici, les deux points quantiques seront aussi supraconducteurs. On obtiendra alors l'hamiltonien effectif de la meme maniere que precedemment ainsi que la forme du courant. Dans le cas ou la tension entre les deux fils est nulle, nous ferons une comparaison avec l'experience et nous verrons que les resultats obtenus sont plus en accord avec celle-ci si on fait l'hypothese de la presence d'un bain, qui va modeliser le bruit sur l'un des fils. Enfin, dans le dernier chapitre, nous utiliserons a la fois un qubit de charge et un qubit de spin entoures par deux fils supraconducteurs. Nous pourrons alors mesurer l'influence du supraconducteur et voir s'il est possible de creer ici des paires d'electrons intriques et d'aboutir a un pendule quantique. 1Il existe des systemes qui produisent des paires de particules ejectees simultanement dans des directions opposees et qui permettent de tester le paradoxe d' Einstein, Podolsky, Rosen. Chaque particule de la paire est dans un etat indetermine. Si on mesure les etats respectifs des deux particules, on obtient systematiquement des resultats complementaires, soit de facon aleatoire: 0-1 ou 1-0. La mecanique quantique explique que les deux particules ainsi produites constituent un seul systeme, une paire EPR.

Benchmarking life expectancy and cancer mortality: global comparison with cardiovascular disease 1981-2010

PubMed Central

Bray, Freddie; Beltrán-Sánchez, Hiram; Ginsburg, Ophira; Soneji, Samir; Soerjomataram, Isabelle

2017-01-01

Objective To quantify the impact of cancer (all cancers combined and major sites) compared with cardiovascular disease (CVD) on longevity worldwide during 1981-2010. Design Retrospective demographic analysis using aggregated data. Setting National civil registration systems in member states of the World Health Organization. Participants 52 populations with moderate to high quality data on cause specific mortality. Main outcome measures Disease specific contributions to changes in life expectancy in ages 40-84 (LE40-84) over time in populations grouped by two levels of Human Development Index (HDI) values. Results Declining CVD mortality rates during 1981-2010 contributed to, on average, over half of the gains in LE40-84; the corresponding gains were 2.3 (men) and 1.7 (women) years, and 0.5 (men) and 0.8 (women) years in very high and medium and high HDI populations, respectively. Declines in cancer mortality rates contributed to, on average, 20% of the gains in LE40-84, or 0.8 (men) and 0.5 (women) years in very high HDI populations, and to over 10% or 0.2 years (both sexes) in medium and high HDI populations. Declining lung cancer mortality rates brought about the largest LE40-84 gain in men in very high HDI populations (up to 0.7 years in the Netherlands), whereas in medium and high HDI populations its contribution was smaller yet still positive. Among women, declines in breast cancer mortality rates were largely responsible for the improvement in longevity, particularly among very high HDI populations (up to 0.3 years in the United Kingdom). In contrast, losses in LE40-84 were observed in many medium and high HDI populations as a result of increasing breast cancer mortality rates. Conclusions The control of CVD has led to substantial gains in LE40-84 worldwide. The inequality in improvement in longevity attributed to declining cancer mortality rates reflects inequities in implementation of cancer control, particularly in less resourced populations and in women. Global actions are needed to revitalize efforts for cancer control, with a specific focus on less resourced countries. PMID:28637656

Bilan de santé chez l’adulte

PubMed Central

Ridley, Jane; Ischayek, Amanda; Dubey, Vinita; Iglar, Karl

2016-01-01

Résumé Objectif Décrire les mises à jour apportées à Soins préventifs - Fiche de contrôle© pour aider les médecins à se tenir au fait des plus récentes recommandations en matière de soins de santé préventifs. Qualité des données Une recension dans la base de données Ovid MEDLINE a été effectuée à l’aide de mots-clés et d’autres paradigmes pertinents au bilan de santé périodique. Des sources secondaires, comme le Groupe d’étude canadien sur les soins de santé préventifs, l’Agence de la santé publique du Canada, la base de données Trip et l’Infobanque de l’Association médicale canadienne, ont aussi fait l’objet d’une recherche. Nous avons révisé les recommandations relatives aux soins préventifs pour des adultes à risque moyen. Les recommandations de bonne qualité et passables sont présentées respectivement en caractères gras et italiques. Message principal La fiche de contrôle a été mise à jour en fonction des recommandations du Groupe d’étude canadien sur les soins de santé préventif relatives au dépistage de l’obésité (2015), du cancer du col (2013), de la dépression (2013), de l’ostéoporose (2013), de l’hypertension (2012), du diabète (2012, 2013) et du cancer du sein (2011). D’autres mises à jour se fondent sur les recommandations d’autres organisations canadiennes concernant le dépistage du VIH (2013), le dépistage des infections transmises sexuellement (2013), les immunisations (2012 à 2014), le dépistage de la dyslipidémie (2012), le counseling en fertilité chez la femme (2011, 2012) et le dépistage du cancer colorectal (2010). Certaines recommandations antérieures ont été éliminées et d’autres, peu étayées par des données probantes, n’ont pas été incluses. Conclusion Soins préventifs - Fiche de contrôle a été mise à jour pour inclure les recommandations récentes afin de permettre aux médecins de famille d’offrir des soins complets et fondés sur des données probantes aux patients durant les bilans de santé périodiques.

Quel effet de l’euro sur le commerce europeen des produits forestiers? Académie d’Agriculture de France, Notes Académiques

Treesearch

Joseph Buongiorno

2015-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the monetary union on the trade of forest products between euro-using countries. A differential gravity model of bilateral trade flows was developed and estimated with data for the bilateral trade between 12 euro countries from 1988 to 2013, for commodity groups HS44 (wood and articles of wood), HS47 (pulp of...

Expression of the le Mutation in Young Ovaries of Pisum sativum and Its Effect on Fruit Development.

PubMed Central

Santes, C. M.; Hedden, P.; Sponsel, V. M.; Reid, J. B.; Garcia-Martinez, J. L.

1993-01-01

The effect of the le mutation on the growth and gibberellin (GA) content of developing fruits was investigated using the near-isogenic lines of Pisum sativum L. 205+ (LeLe) and 205- (lele). Although stem elongation is known to be reduced in 205- plants by approximately 65%, the growth of pods and seeds was unaffected by the le mutation. GA1, GA3, and GA20 stimulated parthenocarpic development of unpollinated ovaries on both 205+ and 205- plants. GA20 was less active on 205- ovaries than on 205+, whereas GA1 had similar, high activity in both lines. The activity of GA3 was even higher than that of GA1 in both lines. Decapitation of 205+ plants induced parthenocarpic development of unpollinated ovaries, but this treatment was much less effective on 205- plants. The contents of GA1 and GA8 in entire ovaries 6 d after anthesis, as well as in the pod and fertilized ovules, were substantially lower in 205- than in 205+ plants, whereas the reverse was true for the levels of GA20 and GA29. These results suggest that 3[beta]-hydroxylation of GA20 to GA1 is reduced in ovaries as well as in vegetative tissues. Thus, the le mutation appears to be expressed in young reproductive organs of the 205- line, even though it does not affect the fruit phenotype. Because the content of GA3 in the ovary was similar in the two lines, one explanation for the normal fruit size in the 205- line is that GA3 is the native regulator of pod growth. Alternatively, sufficient GA1 may still be produced in 205- fruits to maintain normal pod growth. PMID:12231727

The International Development Research Centre: A Guide for the Canadian University Research Community = Le Centre de recherches pour le developpement international: guide a l'intention des scientifiques des universites Canadiennes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tillman, George; Wasilewski, Ania, Ed.

Written in both English and French this is a manual for the Canadian research community. It describes the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and its operations. The main objective of the IDRC is to assist scientists in developing countries to identify and conduct research into long term practical solutions to development problems.…

Tooth-borne distraction osteogenesis versus conventional Le Fort I in maxillary advancement of cleft lip and palate patients.

PubMed

Jamilian, Abdolreza; Showkatbakhsh, Rahman; Behnaz, Mohammad; Ghassemi, Alireza; Kamalee, Zinat; Perillo, Letizia

2018-01-31

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is rapidly becoming a mainstream surgical technique for correction of maxillary deficiency. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a newly designed tooth-borne osteogenic distraction device with conventional LeFort 1 osteotomy in maxillary advancement of cleft lip and palate patients. The DO group consisted of 10 subjects (7 males, 3 females) with a mean age of 21.2 (SD 4.2) years. In these patients, the newly designed distraction device which exerted force anteroposteriorly was cemented after mobilization of the maxilla. After a latency period of 7 days, the distractor was activated twice daily by a total amount of 0.5 mm per day. The activation was continued for 3 weeks. After an 8-week consolidation period, the distraction appliance was removed. Cephalograms of DO patients were obtained at the start of distraction and at the end of consolidation. The LeFort 1 group consisted of 11 subjects (6 males, 5 females) with a mean age of 22.3 (SD 3.7) years. Pre and post-surgery lateral cephalograms were obtained. T-Test and paired T-test were used to evaluate the data. At the end of treatment, the SNA angle of LeFort 1 patients increased by 5.5° (SD 2.3) (P<0.001) and the SNA angle of DO patients increased by 3.4° (SD 2) (P<0.001). Current evidence suggests that both conventional LeFort 1 and tooth-borne osteogenic distraction device can effectively advance the maxilla forward in patients with cleft lip.

Adverse cardiac events in 56,000 orthopaedic trauma patients: Does anatomic area make a difference?

PubMed

Lee, Adam K; Dodd, Ashley C; Lakomkin, Nikita; Yarlagadda, Mahesh; Jahangir, A Alex; Collinge, Cory A; Sethi, Manish K

2016-08-01

Postoperative cardiac events in orthopaedic trauma patients constitute severe morbidity and mortality. It is therefore increasingly important to determine patient risk factors that are predictive of postoperative myocardial infarctions and cardiac arrests. This study sought to assess if there is an association between anatomic area and cardiac complications in the orthopaedic trauma patient. From 2006-2013, a total of 361,402 orthopaedic patients were identified in the NSQIP database using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Of these, 56,336 (15.6%) patients were identified as orthopaedic trauma patients broken down by anatomic region: 11,905 (21.1%) upper extremity patients (UE), 29,009 (51.5%) hip/pelvis patients (HP), and 15,422 (27.4%) lower extremity patients (LE) using CPT codes. Patients were defined as having adverse cardiac events if they developed myocardial infarctions or cardiac arrests within 30days after surgery. Chi-squared analysis was used to determine if there was an association between anatomic area and rates of cardiac events. Multivariate logistical analysis was used with over 40 patient characteristics including age, gender, history of cardiac disease, and anatomic region as independent predictors to determine whether anatomic area significantly predicted the development of cardiac complications. There were significant differences in baseline demographics among the three groups: HP patients had the greatest average age (77.6 years) compared to 54.8 years for UE patients and 54.1 years in LE patients (p<0.001). HP patients also had the highest average ASA score (3.0) (p<0.001). There was a significant difference in adverse cardiac events based on anatomic area: 0.27% (32/11,905) UE patients developed cardiac complications compared to 2.15% (623/29,009) HP patients and 0.61% (94/15,422) LE patients. After multivariate analysis, HP patients were significantly more likely to develop cardiac complications compared to both UE patients (OR: 6.377, p=0.014) and LE patients (OR: 2.766, p=0.009). There is a significant difference in adverse cardiac events following orthopaedic trauma based on anatomic region. Hip/Pelvis surgery appeared to be a significant risk factor in developing an adverse cardiac event. Further studies should investigate why hip/pelvic patients are at a higher risk of adverse cardiac events. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Verb Familiarity on Finiteness Marking in Children With Specific Language Impairment

PubMed Central

Rice, Mabel L.; Bontempo, Daniel E.

2015-01-01

Purpose Children with specific language impairment (SLI) have known deficits in the verb lexicon and finiteness marking. This study investigated a potential relationship between these 2 variables in children with SLI and 2 control groups considering predictions from 2 different theoretical perspectives, morphosyntactic versus morphophonological. Method Children with SLI, age-equivalent, and language-equivalent (LE) control children (n = 59) completed an experimental sentence imitation task that generated estimates of children's finiteness accuracy under 2 levels of verb familiarity—familiar real verbs versus unfamiliar real verbs—in clausal sites marked for finiteness. Imitations were coded and analyzed for overall accuracy as well as finiteness marking and verb root imitation accuracy. Results Statistical comparisons revealed that children with SLI did not differ from LE children and were less accurate than age-equivalent children on all dependent variables: overall imitation, finiteness marking imitation, and verb root imitation accuracy. A significant Group × Condition interaction for finiteness marking revealed lower levels of accuracy on unfamiliar verbs for the SLI and LE groups only. Conclusions Findings indicate a relationship between verb familiarity and finiteness marking in children with SLI and younger controls and help clarify the roles of morphosyntax, verb lexicon, and morphophonology. PMID:25611349

Les tumeurs annexielles cutanées: étude anatomopathologique à propos de 96 cas

PubMed Central

El Ochi, Mohamed Réda; Boudhas, Adil; Allaoui, Mohammed; Rharrassi, Issam; Chahdi, Hafsa; Bouzidi, Abderrahman Al; Oukabli, Mohammed

2015-01-01

Les tumeurs annexielles cutanées sont des tumeurs primitives cutanées à la fois rares et hétérogènes. Elles sont le plus souvent bénignes et rarement malignes. Elles sont dominées du point de vu morphologique par leur polymorphisme lésionnel. Le but de cette étude est de relever le profil épidémiologique et les différents aspects anatomopathologiques de ce groupe de tumeurs dans une cohorte de population marocaine et de les comparer avec les données de la littérature. Il s'agit d'une étude rétrospective de 96 cas de tumeurs annexielles cutanées colligées au service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologique de l'Hôpital Militaire d'Instruction Mohammed V de rabat durant une période de 6 ans, de Janvier 2009 à Décembre 2014. Le pic de fréquence est situé entre 31 et 40 ans. L’âge moyen est de 36 ans avec une prédominance masculine (63,5%). Le siège de prédilection est la région de la tête et cou (47,9%). Les tumeurs bénignes (97,9%) sont plus fréquentes que les tumeurs malignes. La différenciation est folliculaire dans 51% des cas, eccrine/apocrine dans 44,8% des cas et sébacée dans 4,2% des cas. Le type histologique le plus fréquent est le pilomatrixome (33,4%) suivi par l'hidradénome (12,5%) et le spiradénome eccrine (11,5%). Les tumeurs annexielles cutanées sont rares et très variées. Le profil épidémiologique et les aspects anatomopathologiques qui ressortent sont globalement superposables à ceux rapportés dans la littérature. Elles sont majoritairement bénignes, à prédominance masculine et dominées par le pilomatrixome et l'hidradénome nodulaire. Les tumeurs malignes sont rares, agressives et surviennent à un âge plus avancé. PMID:26185579

Effect of neuromuscular warm-up on injuries in female soccer and basketball athletes in urban public high schools: cluster randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

LaBella, Cynthia R; Huxford, Michael R; Grissom, Joe; Kim, Kwang-Youn; Peng, Jie; Christoffel, Katherine Kaufer

2011-11-01

To determine the effectiveness of coach-led neuromuscular warm-up on reducing lower extremity (LE) injuries in female athletes in a mixed-ethnicity, predominantly low-income, urban population. Cluster randomized controlled trial. Chicago public high schools. Of 258 coaches invited to participate, 95 (36.8%) enrolled (1558 athletes). Ninety coaches and 1492 athletes completed the study. We randomized schools to intervention and control groups. We trained intervention coaches to implement a 20-minute neuromuscular warm-up. Control coaches used their usual warm-up. Coach compliance was tracked by self-report and direct observation. Coaches reported weekly athlete exposures (AEs) and LE injuries causing a missed practice or game. Research assistants interviewed injured athletes. Injury rates were compared between the control and intervention groups using χ(2) and Fisher exact tests. Significance was set at P < .05. Poisson regression analysis adjusted for clustering and covariates in an athlete subset reporting personal information (n = 855; 57.3%). There were 28 023 intervention AEs and 22 925 control AEs. Intervention coaches used prescribed warm-up in 1425 of 1773 practices (80.4%). Intervention athletes had lower rates per 1000 AEs of gradual-onset LE injuries (0.43 vs 1.22, P < .01), acute-onset noncontact LE injuries (0.71 vs 1.61, P < .01), noncontact ankle sprains (0.25 vs 0.74, P = .01), and LE injuries treated surgically (0 vs 0.17, P = .04). Regression analysis showed significant incidence rate ratios for acute-onset noncontact LE injuries (0.33; 95% CI, 0.17-0.61), noncontact ankle sprains (0.38; 95% CI, 0.15-0.98), noncontact knee sprains (0.30; 95% CI, 0.10-0.86), and noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries (0.20; 95% CI, 0.04-0.95). Coach-led neuromuscular warm-up reduces noncontact LE injuries in female high school soccer and basketball athletes from a mixed-ethnicity, predominantly low-income, urban population. TRIAL REGISTRATION CLINICALTRIALS.ORG IDENTIFIER: NCT01092286.

Profil épidémiologique de l'infection à VIH au cours d'une campagne de sensibilisation à Yaoundé au Cameroun

PubMed Central

Mbopi-Keou, Francois-Xavier; Nguefack-Tsague, Georges; Kalla, Ginette Claude Mireille; Viche, Lade; Noubom, Michel

2013-01-01

Introduction L'objectif de ce travail était de déterminer le profil épidémiologique de l'infection à VIH/SIDA au cours d'une campagne de sensibilisation à Yaoundé au Cameroun. Méthodes Après avoir obtenu le consentement éclairé des participants, le dépistage de l'infection par le VIH a été effectué selon l'algorithme de dépistage en série de l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS). En outre, un questionnaire socio-comportemental a été proposé à chaque participant. Résultats Au total, 911 personnes ont été dépistées. La prévalence de l'infection par le VIH était de 2.6%. Elle était 3 fois plus élevée parmi les femmes (RC = 3.22, IC (1.26 - 8.18). Les prévalences les plus élevées ont été observées chez les personnes de plus de 45 ans (p = 0.01), les personnes sans emploi (p < 0.001) et les veufs/veuves (p = 0.02). Plus de 80% des participants trouvaient le test de dépistage nécessaire et 76,2% l'avaient déjà effectué au moins une fois auparavant. Il s'agissait principalement de femmes (p = 0.02), d'étudiants (p < 0.001) et des personnes âgées de 25 à 34 ans (p < 0.001). Les personnes séropositives avaient moins tendance à retirer leur résultat (p = 0.01). Conclusion Il apparait urgent d'intensifier les campagnes de dépistage de l'infection par le VIH en ciblant davantage des groupes particuliers tels que les élèves, les personnes âgées et les veufs/veuves, tout en recherchant les facteurs pouvant favoriser la propagation de l'infection dans ces groupes. PMID:24255725

Long-term spatial distributions and trends of the latent heat fluxes over the global cropland ecosystem using multiple satellite-based models

PubMed Central

Feng, Fei; Yao, Yunjun; Liu, Meng

2017-01-01

Estimating cropland latent heat flux (LE) from continental to global scales is vital to modeling crop production and managing water resources. Over the past several decades, numerous LE models were developed, such as the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer LE (MOD16) algorithm, revised remote sensing-based Penman–Monteith LE algorithm (RRS), the Priestley–Taylor LE algorithm of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (PT-JPL) and the modified satellite-based Priestley-Taylor LE algorithm (MS-PT). However, these LE models have not been directly compared over the global cropland ecosystem using various algorithms. In this study, we evaluated the performances of these four LE models using 34 eddy covariance (EC) sites. The results showed that mean annual LE for cropland varied from 33.49 to 58.97 W/m2 among the four models. The interannual LE slightly increased during 1982–2009 across the global cropland ecosystem. All models had acceptable performances with the coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.4 to 0.7 and a root mean squared error (RMSE) of approximately 35 W/m2. MS-PT had good overall performance across the cropland ecosystem with the highest R2, lowest RMSE and a relatively low bias. The reduced performances of MOD16 and RRS, with R2 ranging from 0.4 to 0.6 and RMSEs from 30 to 39 W/m2, might be attributed to empirical parameters in the structure algorithms and calibrated coefficients. PMID:28837704

Predicting Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infection using risk scores, physical examination, microscopy, and leukocyte esterase urine dipsticks among asymptomatic women attending a family planning clinic in Kenya.

PubMed

Tyndall, M W; Kidula, N; Sande, J; Ombette, J; Temmerman, M

1999-09-01

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to exert a tremendous health burden on women in developing countries. Poor socioeconomic status, inadequate knowledge, lack of diagnostic facilities, and shortages of effective treatment all contribute to the high incidence of STIs. The use of clinical algorithms for the detection and management of STIs has gained widespread acceptance in settings where there are limited resources. Evaluation of these algorithms have been few, especially in women who are not recognized as members of high-risk groups. To develop a simple scoring system based on historical and demographic data, physical findings, microscopy, and leukocyte esterase (LE) urine dipsticks to predict cervical gonococcal and chlamydial infection among asymptomatic women. One thousand and forty-eight women attending an urban family planning clinic in Nairobi were randomly selected to participate. After the identification of factors that were associated with infection, we assigned one point each for: age 25 or younger, single status, two or more sex partners in the past year, cervical discharge, cervical swab leukocytes, and a positive LE urine dipstick. Identification of any one of these six factors gave a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 30% for the detection of cervical infections. A positive LE urine dipstick had a sensitivity of 63 % and a specificity of 47% when used alone and did not contribute to the identification of infection if a physical examination was performed. The application of existing clinical algorithms to this population performed poorly. The use of risk scores, physical examination, microscopy, and the urine LE dipstick, used alone or in combination, as predictors of gonococcal or chlamydial cervical infection was of limited utility in low-risk, asymptomatic women. Accurate diagnostic testing is necessary to optimize treatment.

Developmental changes in face visual scanning in autism spectrum disorder as assessed by data-based analysis

PubMed Central

Amestoy, Anouck; Guillaud, Etienne; Bouvard, Manuel P.; Cazalets, Jean-René

2015-01-01

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present reduced visual attention to faces. However, contradictory conclusions have been drawn about the strategies involved in visual face scanning due to the various methodologies implemented in the study of facial screening. Here, we used a data-driven approach to compare children and adults with ASD subjected to the same free viewing task and to address developmental aspects of face scanning, including its temporal patterning, in healthy children, and adults. Four groups (54 subjects) were included in the study: typical adults, typically developing children, and adults and children with ASD. Eye tracking was performed on subjects viewing unfamiliar faces. Fixations were analyzed using a data-driven approach that employed spatial statistics to provide an objective, unbiased definition of the areas of interest. Typical adults expressed a spatial and temporal strategy for visual scanning that differed from the three other groups, involving a sequential fixation of the right eye (RE), left eye (LE), and mouth. Typically developing children, adults and children with autism exhibited similar fixation patterns and they always started by looking at the RE. Children (typical or with ASD) subsequently looked at the LE or the mouth. Based on the present results, the patterns of fixation for static faces that mature from childhood to adulthood in typical subjects are not found in adults with ASD. The atypical patterns found after developmental progression and experience in ASD groups appear to remain blocked in an immature state that cannot be differentiated from typical developmental child patterns of fixation. PMID:26236264

Mid-Infrared Fiber Lasers (Les fibres laser infrarouge moyen)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-01

Marcel Poulain, Université de Rennes / Le Verre Fluoré, France Fluoride Fiber Sources: Problems and Prospects Prof. Marcel Poulain from Rennes...University and Le Verre Fluoré, France, presented the problems and prospects of fluoride glass fiber sources. After some comments on pioneering...wavelength, etc. can be adjusted. Le Verre Fluoré has developed a commercialized supercontinuum source emitting from ∼0.7 µm to ∼4 µm Issues concerning

Molecular and biochemical characterization of tomato farnesyl-protein transferase.

PubMed

Schmitt, D; Callan, K; Gruissem, W

1996-10-01

The prenylation of membrane-associated proteins involved in the regulation of eukaryotic cell growth and signal transduction is critically important for their subcellular localization and biological activity. In contrast to mammalian cells and yeast, however, the function of protein prenylation in plants is not well understood and only a few prenylated proteins have been identified. We partially purified and characterized farnesyl-protein transferase from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, LeFTase) to analyze its biochemical and molecular properties. Using Ras- and G gamma-specific peptide substrates and competition assays we showed that tomato protein extracts have both farnesyl-protein transferase and geranylgeranyl-protein transferase 1 activities. Compared with the heterologous synthetic peptide substrates, the plant-specific CaaX sequence of the ANJ1 protein is a less efficient substrate for LeFTase in vitro. LeFTase activity profiles and LeFTase beta-subunit protein (LeFTB) levels differ significantly in various tissues and are regulated during fruit development. Partially purified LeFTase requires Zn2+ and Mg2+ for enzymatic activity and has an apparent molecular mass of 100 kD Immunoprecipitation experiments using anti-alpha LeFTB antibodies confirmed that LeFTB is a component of LeFTase but not of tomato geranylgeranyl-protein transferase 1. Based on their conserved bio-chemical activities, we expect that prenyltransferases are likely integrated with the sterol biosynthesis pathway in the control of plant cell growth.

Tethered cord release: a long-term study in 114 patients.

PubMed

Bowman, Robin M; Mohan, Avinash; Ito, Joy; Seibly, Jason M; McLone, David G

2009-03-01

All children born with a myelomeningocele at the authors' institution undergo aggressive treatment to maintain or improve functional outcome. Consequently, when any neurological, orthopedic, and/or urological changes are noted, a search for the cause is initiated. The most common cause of decline in a child born with a myelomeningocele is shunt malfunction. The second most common cause is tethering of the distal spinal cord at the site of the original back closure. In this report, the authors review the indicators of symptomatic spinal cord tethering and discuss the surgical interventions and outcomes in the children with myelomeningocele who underwent treatment at Children's Memorial Hospital from 1975 to 2008. Among the 502 children who underwent original closure at Children's Memorial Hospital, a symptomatic tethered spinal cord developed in 114 (23%). Eighty-one patients (71%) have undergone 1 untethering procedure, and 33 patients (29%) have undergone multiple untetherings, for a total of 163 total surgeries. The indicators of symptomatic spinal cord tethering include scoliosis, decline in lower-extremity (LE) motor strength, LE contractures, LE spasticity, gait change, urinary changes, and pain. Pain has shown the best response to surgical untethering, with 100% of children experiencing postoperative improvement. The results of long-term follow-up (average 12 years, range 1 month-23.3 years) in this cohort demonstrated scoliosis progression after surgical untethering in 52% of patients, with 28% requiring spinal fusion. On the 3-month postoperative manual muscle test, 70% of patients showed improved LE muscle strength compared to preoperatively. Gait was also similarly improved after untethering as evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon. Spasticity improved in two-thirds of the cohort, and as expected, LE contractures were stable (78%) postoperatively, as assessed by orthopedic and rehabilitation medicine specialists. Urologically, 64% of patients showed improvements on postoperative bladder evaluation. Although this is a clinical outcome study with no control group, the authors' experience has been that tethered cord release is beneficial in maintaining neurological, urological, and orthopedic functioning in children born with a myelomeningocele.

Results of Space Experiments in Physiology and Medicine and Informal Briefings by the F-16 Medical Working Group, Conference Proceedings, Aerospace Medical Panel Symposium Held at Istanbul, Turkey on 25-27 September 1984

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-03-01

corps (face, tronc,....), et pout Atre 6galement une augmentation de volume liquidien dans le cerveau et le poumon. La rtimula- tion des capteurs contraux...dimensions, contrac- tivitd, fraction d’GJection) et les d~bits locaux ( cerveau , membres) -tester la rdponse dynamique du coeur en nicrogravitd lorsqu’on

West Europe Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-04-18

72 FRANCE Giraud Views Mitterrand’s Defense Policies ( Andre Giraud; LE MONDE, 12 Feb 86) 74 NORWAY Women’s Groups Lobby for Larger Female Role in...038 18 April 1986 MILITARY FRANCE GIRAUD VIEWS MITTERRAND’S DEFENSE POLICIES Paris LE MONDE in French 12 Feb 86 p 2 [Article by Andre Giraud...industries started is downright ludicrous, and joining in the election campaign by writing that "thanks to the administration of the Mauroy and Fabius

A Quantitative MR Imaging Assessment of Leukoencephalopathy in Children Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia without Irradiation

PubMed Central

Reddick, Wilburn E.; Glass, John O.; Helton, Kathleen J.; Langston, James W.; Li, Chin-Shang; Pui, Ching-Hon

2008-01-01

PURPOSE Intravenous methotrexate (IV-MTX), an effective treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), has a significant toxic effect on the central nervous system, with leukoencephalopathy (LE) being the most common form. The purpose of this study was to use objective quantitative MR imaging to prospectively assess the temporal evolution of LE extent and intensity. METHODS Forty-five children (low-risk, 10 mol/L/12F; mean age, 5.0 years at diagnosis; standard/high-risk, 11 mol/L/12F; mean age, 9.2 years at diagnosis) treated for ALL on a single institutional protocol were evaluated longitudinally to assess the extent of LE (proportion of white matter impacted) through tissue segmentation and the relative intensity of LE through relative elevations in T1 and T2 relaxation rates. One-sided Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests were used to assess differences in quantitative measures at 4 different points in therapy both within and between risk arms. RESULTS The proportion of white matter affected in both patient groups increased significantly with additional courses of IV-MTX, whereas the intensity of LE also increased steadily; however, both the intensity and extent of LE declined significantly ∼1.5 years after completion of IV-MTX. Increases in the T1 and T2 relaxation rates above normal-appearing white matter were significantly correlated with each other and were dependent on the proportion of white matter affected. CONCLUSION Higher doses and more courses of IV-MTX were associated with increased intensity and extent of LE. There was a significant reduction in both the intensity and extent of LE after completion of therapy. The impact of these changes on neurocognitive functioning and quality of life in survivors remains to be determined. PMID:16219848

Life events and quality of life in female patients with dermatitis artefacta: a comparative study with siblings and controls.

PubMed

El Kissi, Yousri; Chhoumi, Maha; Nakhli, Jaafar; Kenani, Nesrine; Denguezli, Mohamed; Nouira, Rafiaa; Ben Hadj Ali, Bechir

2014-10-01

If the severity of dermatitis artefacta (DA) is accepted by most authors, few published studies have sought to clarify its etiology and impact. It is in this context that this work aimed to compare Life Events (LE) and quality of life (QoL) scores in patients with DA, in their siblings and in control patients with other chronic dermatological diseases. This is a descriptive and comparative cross-sectional study carried out in the dermatology department of Farhat Hached hospital in Sousse, Tunisia. Thirty female patients diagnosed with DA according to DSM-IV criteria were retrospectively recruited. For each patient with DA, one of her sisters, the closest in age, was enrolled in the siblings group. The control group consisted of thirty female patients with other chronic dermatological diseases, matched with DA patients for age and duration of disease progression. Assessment was based on Paykel inventory for LE and on SF-36 for QoL. Compared to both control groups, DA patients reported more LE with more objective negative impact of these events and had a lower score and more often impaired mean global score of QoL. LE would have a role in the pathogenesis of DA which seems to alter the QoL of patients. These results could help to improve the understanding of DA and incite clinicians to focus not only on the diagnosis and treatment of DA but also on the impact of this disease. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sex and the city: differences in disease- and disability-free life years, and active community participation of elderly men and women in 7 cities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

PubMed

Rose, Angela M C; Hennis, Anselm J; Hambleton, Ian R

2008-04-21

The world's population is ageing, and four of the top 10 most rapidly ageing developing nations are from the region of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Although an ageing population heralds likely increases in chronic disease, disability-related dependence, and economic burden, the societal contribution of the chronically ill or those with disability is not often measured. We calculated country-specific prevalences of 'disability' (difficulty with at least one activity of daily living), 'disease' and 'co-morbidity' (presence of at least one, and at least two, of seven chronic diseases/conditions, respectively), and 'active community engagement' (using five levels of community participation, from less than weekly community contact to voluntary or paid work) in seven LAC cities. We estimated remaining life expectancy (LE) with and without disability, disease and co-morbidity, and investigated age, sex, and regional variations in disability-free LE. Finally, we modeled the association of disease, co-morbidity and disability with active community participation using an ordinal regression model, adjusted for depression. Overall, 77% of the LAC elderly had at least one chronic disease/condition, 44% had co-morbidity and 19% had a disability. The proportion of disability-free LE declined between the youngest (60-64 years) and the eldest (90 years and over) age-groups for both men (from 85% to 55%) and women (from 75% to 45%). Disease-free and co-morbidity-free LE, however, remained at approximately 30% and 62%, respectively, for men (20% and 48% for women), until 80-84 years of age, then increased. Only Bridgetown's participants had statistically significantly longer disability-free LE than the regional average (IRR = 1.08; 95%CI 1.05-1.10; p < 0.001). Only Santiago's participants had disability-free LE which was shorter than the regional average (IRR = 0.94; 95%CI 0.92-0.97; p < 0.001). There was 75% active community participation overall, with more women than men involved in active help (49% vs 32%, respectively) and more men involved in voluntary/paid work (46% vs 25%, respectively). There was either no, or borderline significance in the association between having one or more diseases/conditions and active community engagement for both sexes. These associations were limited by depression (odds ratio [OR] reduced by 15-17% for men, and by 8-11% for women), and only remained statistically significant in men. However, disability remained statistically significantly associated with less community engagement after adjusting for depression (OR = 0.58, 95%CI 0.49-0.69, p < 0.001 for women and OR = 0.50, 95%CI 0.47-0.65, p < 0.001 for men). There is an increasing burden of disease and disability with older age across the LAC region. As these nations cope with resulting social and economic demands, governments and civic societies must continue to develop and maintain opportunities for community participation by this increasingly frail, but actively engaged group.

Sex and the city: Differences in disease- and disability-free life years, and active community participation of elderly men and women in 7 cities in Latin America and the Caribbean

PubMed Central

Rose, Angela MC; Hennis, Anselm J; Hambleton, Ian R

2008-01-01

Background The world's population is ageing, and four of the top 10 most rapidly ageing developing nations are from the region of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Although an ageing population heralds likely increases in chronic disease, disability-related dependence, and economic burden, the societal contribution of the chronically ill or those with disability is not often measured. Methods We calculated country-specific prevalences of 'disability' (difficulty with at least one activity of daily living), 'disease' and 'co-morbidity' (presence of at least one, and at least two, of seven chronic diseases/conditions, respectively), and 'active community engagement' (using five levels of community participation, from less than weekly community contact to voluntary or paid work) in seven LAC cities. We estimated remaining life expectancy (LE) with and without disability, disease and co-morbidity, and investigated age, sex, and regional variations in disability-free LE. Finally, we modeled the association of disease, co-morbidity and disability with active community participation using an ordinal regression model, adjusted for depression. Results Overall, 77% of the LAC elderly had at least one chronic disease/condition, 44% had co-morbidity and 19% had a disability. The proportion of disability-free LE declined between the youngest (60–64 years) and the eldest (90 years and over) age-groups for both men (from 85% to 55%) and women (from 75% to 45%). Disease-free and co-morbidity-free LE, however, remained at approximately 30% and 62%, respectively, for men (20% and 48% for women), until 80–84 years of age, then increased. Only Bridgetown's participants had statistically significantly longer disability-free LE than the regional average (IRR = 1.08; 95%CI 1.05–1.10; p < 0.001). Only Santiago's participants had disability-free LE which was shorter than the regional average (IRR = 0.94; 95%CI 0.92–0.97; p < 0.001). There was 75% active community participation overall, with more women than men involved in active help (49% vs 32%, respectively) and more men involved in voluntary/paid work (46% vs 25%, respectively). There was either no, or borderline significance in the association between having one or more diseases/conditions and active community engagement for both sexes. These associations were limited by depression (odds ratio [OR] reduced by 15–17% for men, and by 8–11% for women), and only remained statistically significant in men. However, disability remained statistically significantly associated with less community engagement after adjusting for depression (OR = 0.58, 95%CI 0.49–0.69, p < 0.001 for women and OR = 0.50, 95%CI 0.47–0.65, p < 0.001 for men). Conclusion There is an increasing burden of disease and disability with older age across the LAC region. As these nations cope with resulting social and economic demands, governments and civic societies must continue to develop and maintain opportunities for community participation by this increasingly frail, but actively engaged group. PMID:18426599

The prozone effect exerted by the complement-binding anti-Lea on anti-D.

PubMed

Joshi, Sanmukh R; Parekh, Kamlesh H

2017-01-01

Prozone phenomenon is seen with very high-titer antibodies in an immune serum. The prozone effect on anti-D by a low-titer anti-Le a was investigated associated with neonatal jaundice. Standard methods were used in investigations. The child was born at full-term developed mild jaundice. With weak direct antiglobulin test+, her indirect serum bilirubin was progressed to 27.5 mg/dL in 48 h. Anti-D and anti-Le a were detected in the mother. Both these antibodies were detected in the child's serum though the eluate from red blood cells (RBCs) contained only anti-D. Mother's anti-D was masked by anti-Le a if the RBCs possessed both the antigens together. Anti-D was revealed only with D-positive RBCs lacking Le a or if the serum was modified by mixing with Le a+ saliva or was heated at 56°C or fortified with citrate solution. An anti-D showed prozone effect exerted by the complement-fixing anti-Le a in the test.

MMIC Phased Array Demonstrations with ACTS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raquet, Charles A. (Compiler); Martzaklis, Konstantinos (Compiler); Zakrajsek, Robert J. (Compiler); Andro, Monty (Compiler); Turtle, John P.

1996-01-01

Over a one year period from May 1994 to May 1995, a number of demonstrations were conducted by the NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) in which voice, data, and/or video links were established via NASA's advanced communications technology satellite (ACTS) between the ACTS link evaluation terminal (LET) in Cleveland, OH, and aeronautical and mobile or fixed Earth terminals having monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) phased array antenna systems. This paper describes four of these. In one, a duplex voice link between an aeronautical terminal on the LeRC Learjet and the ACTS was achieved. Two others demonstrated duplex voice (and in one case video as well) links between the ACTS and an Army vehicle. The fourth demonstrated a high data rate downlink from ACTS to a fixed terminal. Array antenna systems used in these demonstrations were developed by LeRC and featured LeRC and Air Force experimental arrays using gallium arsenide MMIC devices at each radiating element for electronic beam steering and distributed power amplification. The single 30 GHz transmit array was developed by NASA/LeRC and Texas Instruments. The three 20 GHz receive arrays were developed in a cooperative effort with the Air Force Rome Laboratory, taking advantage of existing Air Force array development contracts with Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The paper describes the four proof-of-concept arrays and the array control system. The system configured for each of the demonstrations is described, and results are discussed.

High-intensity interval training (swimming) significantly improves the adverse metabolism and comorbidities in diet-induced obese mice.

PubMed

Motta, Victor F; Aguila, Marcia B; Mandarim-DE-Lacerda, Carlos A

2016-05-01

Controlling obesity and other comorbidities in the population is a challenge in modern society. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) combines short periods of high-intensity exercise with long recovery periods or a low-intensity exercise. The aim was to assess the impact of HIIT in the context of diet-induced obesity in the animal model. C57BL/6 mice were fed one of the two diets: standard chow (lean group [LE]) or a high-fat diet (obese group [OB]). After twelve weeks, the animals were divided into non-trained groups (LE-NT and OB-NT) and trained groups (LE-T and OB-T), and began an exercise protocol. For biochemical analysis of inflammatory and lipid profile, we used a colorimetric enzymatic method and an automatic spectrophotometer. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis of the experimental groups with Holm-Sidak post-hoc Test. Two-way ANOVA analyzed the interactions between diet and HIIT protocol. HIIT leads to significant reductions in body mass, blood glucose, glucose tolerance and hepatic lipid profile in T-groups compared to NT-groups. HIIT was able to reduce plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, HIIT improves the insulin immunodensity in the islets, reduces the adiposity and the hepatic steatosis in the T-groups. HIIT improves beta-oxidation and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha and reduces lipogenesis and PPAR-gamma levels in the liver. In skeletal muscle, HIIT improves PPAR-alpha and glucose transporter-4 and reduces PPAR-gamma levels. HIIT leads to attenuate the adverse effects caused by a chronic ingestion of a high-fat diet.

High-intensity interval training (swimming) significantly improves the adverse metabolism and comorbidities in diet-induced obese mice.

PubMed

Motta, V F; Aguila, M B; Mandarim-De-Lacerda, C A

2015-02-10

Controlling obesity and other comorbidities in the population is a challenge in modern society. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) combines short periods of high-intensity exercise with long recovery periods or a low-intensity exercise. The aim was to assess the impact of HIIT in the context of diet-induced obesity in the animal model. C57BL/6 mice were fed one of the two diets: standard chow (Lean group - LE) or a high--fat diet (Obese group - OB). After twelve weeks, the animals were divided into non-trained groups (LE--NT and OB-NT) and trained groups (LE-T and OB--T), and began an exercise protocol. For biochemical analysis of inflammatory and lipid profile, we used a colorimetric enzymatic method and an automatic spectrophotometer. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis of the experimental groups with Holm-Sidak pos hoc test. Two-way ANOVA analyzed the interactions between diet and HIIT protocol. HIIT leads to significant reductions in body mass, blood glucose, glucose tolerance and hepatic lipid profile in T-groups compared to NT-groups. HIIT was able to reduce plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, HIIT improves the insulin immunodensity in the islets, reduces the adiposity and the hepatic steatosis in the T-groups. HIIT improves beta--oxidation and peroxisome proliferator--activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha and reduces lipogenesis and PPAR--gamma levels in the liver. In skeletal muscle, HIIT improves PPAR--alpha and glucose transporter-4 and reduces PPAR--gamma levels. HIIT leads to attenuate the adverse effects caused by a chronic ingestion of a high-fat diet.

Analysis of Urban Terrain Data for Use in the Development of an Urban Camouflage Pattern

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-02-01

the entire lightness gamut , but concentrated in the red, orange, yellow and neutral regions of color space. 20. DISTRIBUTION I AVAILABILITY OF...le·nents grouped by color. ) Summary of Scenes Filmed for Urban Camouflage Study. 01Jtirnum Number of Do·nains Separated by Type; Sele:::ted CIELAB ...Values for All Urban Scenes. Selected CIELAB Values for Type I Urban Scenes. Selected CIELAB Values for Type II Urban Scenes. v Page 3 6 7 8 9

Chemical Inventory Management at NASA Lewis Research Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kraft, Shirley S.; Homan, Joseph R.; Bajorek, Michael J.; Dominguez, Manuel B.; Smith, Vanessa L.

1997-01-01

The Chemical Management System (CMS) is a client/server application developed with Power Builder and Sybase for the Lewis Research Center (LeRC). Power Builder is a client-server application development tool, Sybase is a Relational Database Management System. The entire LeRC community can access the CMS from any desktop environment. The multiple functions and benefits of the CMS are addressed.

The effect of hydroxychloroquine on lupus erythematosus-like skin lesions in MRL/lpr mice.

PubMed

Shimomatsu, Tatsuya; Kanazawa, Nobuo; Mikita, Naoya; Nakatani, Yumi; Li, Hong-Jin; Inaba, Yutaka; Ikeda, Takaharu; Kondo, Toshikazu; Furukawa, Fukumi

2016-09-01

To evaluate the effect and safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on lupus erythematosus (LE)-like skin lesions in the MRL/lpr mouse, a model for systemic LE (SLE). We divided the MRL/lpr mice into three groups that were given: (1) drinking water, (2) HCQ at a dose of 4 mg/kg/d, or (3) HCQ at a dose of 40 mg/kg/d. The HCQ was administered to examine the effect and safety of HCQ on skin lesions and the number of infiltrating cells including mast cells in the dermis. Six of 13 mice in the group given drinking water, 3 of 11 mice in the group administered low-dose HCQ (4 mg/kg/d), and 1 of 10 mice in the group administered high-dose HCQ (40 mg/kg/d) presented the skin lesions. The average number of mast cells was 81, 50, and 12 (magnification, ×100), the mortality rate was 24%, 8%, and 9% and the mean body weight gain was 4.6 g, 8.0 g and 5.1 g, respectively. HCQ was demonstrated to decrease the appearance of LE-like lesions and the number of mast cells in the dermis. Furthermore, there were no obvious systemic adverse effects. This study provides evidence that suggests benefits in human patients.

Plans for the development of cryogenic engines for space exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, James R.; Shaw, Loretta M.; Aukerman, Carl A.

1991-01-01

The NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) is conducting a broad range of basic research and focused technology development activities in both aeronautical and space propulsion. By virtue of the successful conduct of these programs, LeRC is strongly qualified to lead Advanced Development and subsequent development programs on cryogenic space propulsion systems on support of the Space Exploration Initiative. A review is provided of technology status, including recent progress in the ongoing activities, and a top level description of the proposed program.

Post-Deployment Reintegration Measure: Psychometric Replication and Preliminary Validation Results

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-02-01

soudain au pays et la reprise des fonctions et activités « normales » peuvent engendrer un stress significatif chez le personnel militaire. Notre...Contexte : Après un séjour prolongé outre-mer, le retour soudain aux fonctions et activités normales peut engendrer un stress significatif chez...Johnson et al ., 1997; Wilson & Krause, 1985). For instance, participants in a focus group study of Canadian Forces (CF) personnel indicated that it

Post-deployment Reintegration Measure: Psychometric Replication and Preliminary Validation Results

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-02-01

soudain au pays et la reprise des fonctions et activités « normales » peuvent engendrer un stress significatif chez le personnel militaire. Notre...Contexte : Après un séjour prolongé outre-mer, le retour soudain aux fonctions et activités normales peut engendrer un stress significatif chez...Johnson et al ., 1997; Wilson & Krause, 1985). For instance, participants in a focus group study of Canadian Forces (CF) personnel indicated that it

Welcome to the Ohio Aerospace Institute

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

The mission and various programs administered by the Ohio Aerospace Institute, a consortium made up of 9 Ohio Universities, LeRC, and members of the Aerospace Industry are described. The video highlights the following: programs to bring aerospace research to K-12 classrooms; programs to allow graduate students access to laboratory equipment at LeRC; the creation of a statewide television network to link researchers in industry and academia; and focus groups to encourage collaboration between companies in aerospace research.

Developement of the Potassium-Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE) for In Situ Geochronology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, Barbara A.

2012-01-01

Absolute dating of planetary samples is an essential tool to establish the chronology of geological events, including crystallization history, magmatic evolution, and alteration. Thus far, radiometric geochronology of planetary samples has only been accomplishable in terrestrial laboratories on samples from dedicated sample return missions and meteorites. In situ instruments to measure rock ages have been proposed, but none have yet reached TRL 6, because isotopic measurements with sufficient resolution are challenging. We have begun work under the NASA Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program (PIDDP) to develop the Potassium (K) - Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE), a novel combination of several flight-proven components that will enable accurate KAr isochron dating of planetary rocks. KArLE will ablate a rock sample, measure the K in the plasma state using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), measure the liberated Ar using quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), and relate the two by measuring the volume of the abated pit using a optical methods such as a vertical scanning interferometer (VSI). Our preliminary work indicates that the KArLE instrument will be capable of determining the age of several kinds of planetary samples to 100 Myr, sufficient to address a wide range of geochronology problems in planetary science. Additional benefits derive from the fact that each KArLE component achieves analyses common to most planetary surface missions.

Control of Lower Extremity Edema in Patients with Diabetes: Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Efficacy of Mild Compression Diabetic Socks

PubMed Central

Wu, Stephanie C.; Crews, Ryan T.; Skratsky, Melissa; Overstreet, Julia; Yalla, Sai V.; Winder, Michelle; Ortiz, Jacquelyn; Andersen, Charles A.

2017-01-01

Aims Persons with diabetes frequently present with lower extremity (LE) edema; however, compression therapy is generally avoided for fear of compromising arterial circulation in a population with a high prevalence of peripheral arterial disease. This double blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessed whether diabetic socks with mild compression could reduce LE edema in patients with diabetes without negatively impacting vascularity. Methods Eighty subjects with LE edema and diabetes were randomized to receive either mild-compression knee high diabetic socks (18–25mmHg) or non-compression knee high diabetic socks. Subjects were instructed to wear the socks during all waking hours. Follow-up visits occurred weekly for four consecutive weeks. Edema was quantified through midfoot, ankle, and calf circumferences and cutaneous fluid measurements. Vascular status was tracked via ankle brachial index (ABI), toe brachial index (TBI), and skin perfusion pressure (SPP). Results Seventy-seven subjects (39 controls and 38 mild-compression subjects) successfully completed the study. No statistical differences between the two groups in terms of age, body mass index, gender, and ethnicity. Repeated measures analysis of variance and Sidak corrections for multiple comparisons were used for data analyses. Subjects randomized to mild-compression diabetic socks demonstrated significant decreases in calf and ankle circumferences at the end of treatment as compared to baseline. LE circulation did not diminish throughout the study with no significant decreases in ABI, TBI or SPP for either group. Conclusions Results of this RCT suggest that mild compression diabetic sock may be effectively and safely used in patients with diabetes and LE edema. PMID:28315576

Control of lower extremity edema in patients with diabetes: Double blind randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of mild compression diabetic socks.

PubMed

Wu, Stephanie C; Crews, Ryan T; Skratsky, Melissa; Overstreet, Julia; Yalla, Sai V; Winder, Michelle; Ortiz, Jacquelyn; Andersen, Charles A

2017-05-01

Persons with diabetes frequently present with lower extremity (LE) edema; however, compression therapy is generally avoided for fear of compromising arterial circulation in a population with a high prevalence of peripheral arterial disease. This double blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessed whether diabetic socks with mild compression could reduce LE edema in patients with diabetes without negatively impacting vascularity. Eighty subjects with LE edema and diabetes were randomized to receive either mild-compression knee high diabetic socks (18-25mmHg) or non-compression knee high diabetic socks. Subjects were instructed to wear the socks during all waking hours. Follow-up visits occurred weekly for four consecutive weeks. Edema was quantified through midfoot, ankle, and calf circumferences and cutaneous fluid measurements. Vascular status was tracked via ankle brachial index (ABI), toe brachial index (TBI), and skin perfusion pressure (SPP). Seventy-seven subjects (39 controls and 38 mild-compression subjects) successfully completed the study. No statistical differences between the two groups in terms of age, body mass index, gender, and ethnicity. Repeated measures analysis of variance and Sidak corrections for multiple comparisons were used for data analyses. Subjects randomized to mild-compression diabetic socks demonstrated significant decreases in calf and ankle circumferences at the end of treatment as compared to baseline. LE circulation did not diminish throughout the study with no significant decreases in ABI, TBI or SPP for either group. Results of this RCT suggest that mild compression diabetic socks may be effectively and safely used in patients with diabetes and LE edema. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Petrology and chemistry of Permian coals from the Paraná Basin: 1. Santa Terezinha, Leão-Butiá and Candiota Coalfields, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kalkreuth, W.; Holz, M.; Kern, M.; Machado, G.; Mexias, A.; Silva, M.B.; Willett, J.; Finkelman, R.; Burger, H.

2006-01-01

Hierarchical cluster analysis identified three groups of major minerals and seven groups of trace elements based on similarity levels. On a regional scale, the coalfields can be separated by the differences in rank (Candiota and Leão-Butiá versus Santa Terezinha) and by applying discriminant analysis based on 4 trace elements (Li, As, Sr, Sb). Highest Rb and Sr values occur at Candiota and are linked to syngenetic volcanism of the area, whereas high Y and Sr values at Santa Terezinha can be related to the frequent diabase intrusions in that area.

Validity of Five Satellite-Based Latent Heat Flux Algorithms for Semi-arid Ecosystems

DOE PAGES

Feng, Fei; Chen, Jiquan; Li, Xianglan; ...

2015-12-09

Accurate estimation of latent heat flux (LE) is critical in characterizing semiarid ecosystems. Many LE algorithms have been developed during the past few decades. However, the algorithms have not been directly compared, particularly over global semiarid ecosystems. In this paper, we evaluated the performance of five LE models over semiarid ecosystems such as grassland, shrub, and savanna using the Fluxnet dataset of 68 eddy covariance (EC) sites during the period 2000–2009. We also used a modern-era retrospective analysis for research and applications (MERRA) dataset, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Fractional Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) from the moderate resolutionmore » imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) products; the leaf area index (LAI) from the global land surface satellite (GLASS) products; and the digital elevation model (DEM) from shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM30) dataset to generate LE at region scale during the period 2003–2006. The models were the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer LE (MOD16) algorithm, revised remote sensing based Penman–Monteith LE algorithm (RRS), the Priestley–Taylor LE algorithm of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (PT-JPL), the modified satellite-based Priestley–Taylor LE algorithm (MS-PT), and the semi-empirical Penman LE algorithm (UMD). Direct comparison with ground measured LE showed the PT-JPL and MS-PT algorithms had relative high performance over semiarid ecosystems with the coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.6 to 0.8 and root mean squared error (RMSE) of approximately 20 W/m 2. Empirical parameters in the structure algorithms of MOD16 and RRS, and calibrated coefficients of the UMD algorithm may be the cause of the reduced performance of these LE algorithms with R2 ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 and RMSE ranging from 20 to 35 W/m 2 for MOD16, RRS and UMD. Sensitivity analysis showed that radiation and vegetation terms were the dominating variables affecting LE Fluxes in global semiarid ecosystem.« less

Validity of Five Satellite-Based Latent Heat Flux Algorithms for Semi-arid Ecosystems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng, Fei; Chen, Jiquan; Li, Xianglan

Accurate estimation of latent heat flux (LE) is critical in characterizing semiarid ecosystems. Many LE algorithms have been developed during the past few decades. However, the algorithms have not been directly compared, particularly over global semiarid ecosystems. In this paper, we evaluated the performance of five LE models over semiarid ecosystems such as grassland, shrub, and savanna using the Fluxnet dataset of 68 eddy covariance (EC) sites during the period 2000–2009. We also used a modern-era retrospective analysis for research and applications (MERRA) dataset, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Fractional Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) from the moderate resolutionmore » imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) products; the leaf area index (LAI) from the global land surface satellite (GLASS) products; and the digital elevation model (DEM) from shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM30) dataset to generate LE at region scale during the period 2003–2006. The models were the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer LE (MOD16) algorithm, revised remote sensing based Penman–Monteith LE algorithm (RRS), the Priestley–Taylor LE algorithm of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (PT-JPL), the modified satellite-based Priestley–Taylor LE algorithm (MS-PT), and the semi-empirical Penman LE algorithm (UMD). Direct comparison with ground measured LE showed the PT-JPL and MS-PT algorithms had relative high performance over semiarid ecosystems with the coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.6 to 0.8 and root mean squared error (RMSE) of approximately 20 W/m 2. Empirical parameters in the structure algorithms of MOD16 and RRS, and calibrated coefficients of the UMD algorithm may be the cause of the reduced performance of these LE algorithms with R2 ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 and RMSE ranging from 20 to 35 W/m 2 for MOD16, RRS and UMD. Sensitivity analysis showed that radiation and vegetation terms were the dominating variables affecting LE Fluxes in global semiarid ecosystem.« less

Development of a Dynamic Biomechanical Model for Load Carriage: Phase V: Development of the Biomechanical Model by Means of the Portable Measurement System

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-05-01

Résumé La performance opérationnelle des soldats dépend d’un certain nombre de facteurs, dont la charge de travail physiologique, les effets ...particulièrement à la charge de travail physiologique et aux effets biomécaniques, et à perfectionner la mise au point d’un modèle biomécanique dynamique (DBM...on a créé une couche de peau possédant des propriétés appropriées pour le modèle de torse et on a réalisé la modélisation de tous les composants

Spaceflight Safety on the North Coast of America

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ciancone, Michael L.; Havenhill, Maria T.; Terlep, Judith A.

1996-01-01

Spaceflight Safety (SFS) engineers at NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) are responsible for evaluating the microgravity fluids and combustion experiments, payloads and facilities developed at NASA LeRC which are manifested for spaceflight on the Space Shuttle, the Russian space station Mir, and/or the International Space Station (ISS). An ongoing activity at NASA LeRC is the comprehensive training of its SFS engineers through the creation and use of safety tools and processes. Teams of SFS engineers worked on the development of an Internet website (containing a spaceflight safety knowledge database and electronic templates of safety products) and the establishment of a technical peer review process (known as the Safety Assurance for Lewis Spaceflight Activities (SALSA) review).

Development of Measures of Effectiveness and Performance from Cognitive Work Analysis Products

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

la Reine (en droit du Canada), telle que représentée par le ministre de la Défense nationale, 2012 DRDC Atlantic CR 2011...le nouveau concept du système. Ce rapport vise à déterminer si les résultats du travail de conception peuvent aider à élaborer des mesures de ...l’information (IIDS). Le contrat actuel comportait deux objectifs : élaborer des mesures de l’efficacité (MOE) et du rendement (MOP) pour

Étude comparative de l’innocuité de deux vaccins commerciaux contre la babésiose canine provoquée par Babesia canis

PubMed Central

Freyburger, L.; Lemaitre, L.; Médaille, C.; Oberli, F.; Fanchon, L.; Bergamo, P.

2011-01-01

L’innocuité de deux vaccins commercialisés en France contre la babésiose canine – Nobivac Piro® (NP) et Pirodog® (P) – a été étudiée. Leur impact local, général et biochimique a été comparé, en conditions expérimentales maîtrisées, sur un groupe témoin (T) et deux groupes vaccinés deux fois à 21 jours d’intervalle. Tous les chiens ont présenté une réaction locale modérée. Cependant, le groupe NP a présenté une réaction locale significativement plus intense que le groupe P. Ceci est objectivé par les paramètres cliniques et biologiques. Aucune différence statistiquement significative n’est mise en évidence entre les évolutions des groupes P et T. PMID:22091461

Lupus erythematosus cells in bone marrow: the only clue to a previously unsuspected diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Pujani, Mukta; Kushwaha, Shivani; Sethi, Neha; Beniwal, Anu; Shukla, Shailaja

2013-01-01

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune multisystem disease characterized by the development of antinuclear antibodies. Nowadays considered outdated, lupus erythematosus (LE) cell preparation served as a screening test for SLE for decades. However, the importance of discovering LE cells on routine cytology cannot be overemphasized. We report the case of a 30-year-old female in whom bone marrow aspiration (BMA) was performed during an investigative workup for pyrexia of unknown origin. The observation of LE cells in direct bone marrow smears (without the use of an anticoagulant) raised the suspicion of SLE, which was later confirmed by antinuclear antibody testing. In the present case, LE cells were observed on BMA performed for the investigation of fever of unknown origin. The unexpected observation of LE cells in BMA smears emphasizes the fact that good morphological observation of marrow aspirates can provide crucial clues to a previously unsuspected diagnosis.

PNacPNacE: (E = Ga, In, Tl) - monomeric group 13 metal(i) heterocycles stabilized by a sterically demanding bis(iminophosphoranyl)methanide.

PubMed

Sindlinger, Christian P; Lawrence, Samuel R; Acharya, Shravan; Ohlin, C André; Stasch, Andreas

2017-12-12

The salt metathesis reaction of the sterically demanding bis(iminophosphoranyl)methanide alkali metal complexes LM (L - = HC(Ph 2 P[double bond, length as m-dash]NDip) 2 - , Dip = 2,6- i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 ; M = Li, Na, K) with "GaI", InBr or TlBr afforded the monomeric group 13 metal(i) complexes LE:, E = Ga (1), In (2) and Tl (3) in moderate yields, and small quantities of LGaI 2 4 in the case of Ga, respectively. The molecular structures of LE: 1-3 from X-ray single crystal diffraction show them to contain puckered six-membered rings with N,N'-chelating methanide ligands and two-coordinated metal(i) centres. Reduction reactions of LAlI 2 5, prepared by iodination of LAlMe 2 , were not successful and no aluminium(i) congener could be prepared so far. DFT studies on LE:, E = Al-Tl, were carried out and support the formulation as an anionic, N,N'-chelating methanide ligand coordinating to group 13 metal(i) cations. The HOMOs of the molecules for E = Al-In show a dominant contribution from a metal-based lone pair that is high in s-character.

X-ray Lobster Eye all-sky monitor for rocket experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dániel, V.; Inneman, A.; Pína, L.; Zadražil, V.; Báča, T.; Stehlíková, V.; Nentvich, O.; Urban, M.; Maršíková, V.; McEntaffer, R.; Tutt, J.; Schulz, T.

2017-05-01

This paper presents a Lobster Eye (LE) X-ray telescope developed for the Water Recovery X-ray Rocket (WRX-R) experiment. The primary payload of the rocket experiment is a soft X-ray spectroscope developed by the Pennsylvania State University (PSU), USA. The Czech team participates by hard LE X-ray telescope as a secondary payload. The astrophysical objective of the rocket experiment is the Vela Supernova of size about 8deg x 8deg. In the center of the nebula is a neutron star with a strong magnetic field, roughly the mass of the Sun and a diameter of about 20 kilometers forming the Vela pulsar. The primary objective of WRX-R is the spectral measurement of the outer part of the nebula in soft X-ray and FOV of 3.25deg x 3.25deg. The secondary objective (hard LE X-ray telescope) is the Vela neutron star observation. The hard LE telescope consists of two X-ray telescopes with the Timepix detector. First telescope uses 2D LE Schmidt optics (2DLE- REX) with focal length over 1m and 4 Timepix detectors (2x2 matrix). The telescope FOV is 1.5deg x 1.5deg with spectral range from 3keV to 60keV. The second telescope uses 1D LE Schmidt optics (1D-LE-REX) with focal length of 25 cm and one Timepix detector. The telescope is made as a wide field with FOV 4.5deg x 3.5deg and spectral range from 3keV to 40keV. The rocket experiment serves as a technology demonstration mission for the payloads. The LE X-ray telescopes can be in the future used as all-sky monitor/surveyor. The astrophysical observation can cover the hard X-ray observation of astrophysical sources in time-domain, the GRBs surveying or the exploration of the gravitational wave sources.

Characterization of a Tomato Xyloglucan Endotransglycosylase Gene That Is Down-Regulated by Auxin in Etiolated Hypocotyls1

PubMed Central

Catalá, Carmen; Rose, Jocelyn K.C.; York, William S.; Albersheim, Peter; Darvill, Alan G.; Bennett, Alan B.

2001-01-01

The reorganization of the cellulose-xyloglucan matrix is proposed to serve as an important mechanism in the control of strength and extensibility of the plant primary cell wall. One of the key enzymes associated with xyloglucan metabolism is xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET), which catalyzes the endocleavage and religation of xyloglucan molecules. As with other plant species, XETs are encoded by a gene family in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv T5). In a previous study, we demonstrated that the tomato XET gene LeEXT was abundantly expressed in the rapidly expanding region of the etiolated hypocotyl and was induced to higher levels by auxin. Here, we report the identification of a new tomato XET gene, LeXET2, that shows a different spatial expression and diametrically opposite pattern of auxin regulation from LeEXT. LeXET2 was expressed more abundantly in the mature nonelongating regions of the hypocotyl, and its mRNA abundance decreased dramatically following auxin treatment of etiolated hypocotyl segments. Analysis of the effect of several plant hormones on LeXET2 expression revealed that the inhibition of LeXET2 mRNA accumulation also occurred with cytokinin treatment. LeXET2 mRNA levels increased significantly in hypocotyl segments treated with gibberellin, but this increase could be prevented by adding auxin or cytokinin to the incubation media. Recombinant LeXET2 protein obtained by heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris exhibited greater XET activity against xyloglucan from tomato than that from three other species. The opposite patterns of expression and differential auxin regulation of LeXET2 and LeEXT suggest that they encode XETs with distinct roles during plant growth and development. PMID:11706197

Astym treatment vs. eccentric exercise for lateral elbow tendinopathy: a randomized controlled clinical trial

PubMed Central

Stegink-Jansen, Caroline W.

2015-01-01

Introduction. Patients with chronic lateral elbow (LE) tendinopathy, commonly known as tennis elbow, often experience prolonged symptoms and frequent relapses. Astym treatment, evidenced in animal studies to promote the healing and regeneration of soft tissues, is hypothesized to improve outcomes in LE tendinopathy patients. This study had two objectives: (1) to compare the efficacy of Astym treatment to an evidence-based eccentric exercise program (EE) for patients with chronic LE tendinopathy, and (2) to quantify outcomes of subjects non-responsive to EE who were subsequently treated with Astym treatment. Study Design. Prospective, two group, parallel, randomized controlled trial completed at a large orthopedic center in Indiana. Inclusion criteria: age range of 18–65 years old, with clinical indications of LE tendinopathy greater than 12 weeks, with no recent corticosteriod injection or disease altering comorbidities. Methods. Subjects with chronic LE tendinopathy (107 subjects with 113 affected elbows) were randomly assigned using computer-generated random number tables to 4 weeks of Astym treatment (57 elbows) or EE treatment (56 elbows). Data collected at baseline, 4, 8, 12 weeks, 6 and 12 months. Primary outcome measure: DASH; secondary outcome measures: pain with activity, maximum grip strength and function. The treating physicians and the rater were blinded; subjects and treating clinicians could not be blinded due to the nature of the treatments. Results. Resolution response rates were 78.3% for the Astym group and 40.9% for the EE group. Astym subjects showed greater gains in DASH scores (p = 0.047) and in maximum grip strength (p = 0.008) than EE subjects. Astym therapy also resolved 20/21 (95.7%) of the EE non-responders, who showed improvements in DASH scores (p < 0.005), pain with activity (p = 0.002), and function (p = 0.004) following Astym treatment. Gains continued at 6 and 12 months. No adverse effects were reported. Conclusion. This study suggests Astym therapy is an effective treatment option for patients with LE tendinopathy, as an initial treatment, and after an eccentric exercise program has failed. Registration/Funding. Ball Memorial Hospital provided limited funding. Trial registration was not required by FDAAA 801. Known about the Subject. Under the new paradigm of degenerative tendinopathy, eccentric exercise (EE) is emerging as a first line conservative treatment for LE tendinopathy. EE and Astym treatment are among the few treatment options aiming to improve the degenerative pathophysiology of the tendon. In this trial, Astym therapy, which has shown success in the treatment of tendinopathy, is compared to EE, which has also shown success in the treatment of tendinopathy. Clinical Relevance. There is a need for more effective, conservative treatment options. Based on the current efficacy study, Astym therapy appears to be a promising, non-invasive treatment option. PMID:26038722

Le Figaro. Revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crawford, Linda

These instructional materials are designed for students with some French reading skills and vocabulary in late beginning or early intermediate senior high school French. The objectives are to introduce students to a French newspaper, "Le Figaro," and develop reading skills for skimming, gathering specific information, and relying on cognates. The…

The NASA Lewis Research Center: An Economic Impact Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Austrian, Ziona

1996-01-01

The NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC), established in 1941, is one of ten NASA research centers in the country. It is situated on 350 acres of land in Cuyahoga County and occupies more than 140 buildings and over 500 specialized research and test facilities. Most of LeRC's facilities are located in the City of Cleveland; some are located within the boundaries of the cities of Fairview Park and Brookpark. LeRC is a lead center for NASA's research, technology, and development in the areas of aeropropulsion and selected space applications. It is a center of excellence for turbomachinery, microgravity fluid and combustion research, and commercial communication. The base research and technology disciplines which serve both aeronautics and space areas include materials and structures, instrumentation and controls, fluid physics, electronics, and computational fluid dynamics. This study investigates LeRC's economic impact on Northeast Ohio's economy. It was conducted by The Urban Center's Economic Development Program in Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs. The study measures LeRC's direct impact on the local economy in terms of jobs, output, payroll, and taxes, as well as the indirect impact of these economic activities when they 'ripple' throughout the economy. To fully explain LeRC's overall impact on the region, its contributions in the areas of technology transfer and education are also examined. The study uses a highly credible and widely accepted research methodology. First, regional economic multipliers based on input-output models were used to estimate the effect of LERC spending on the Northeast Ohio economy. Second, the economic models were complemented by interviews with industrial, civic, and university leaders to qualitatively assess LeRC's impact in the areas of technology transfer and education.

Development of Isaacs' syndrome following complete recovery of voltage-gated potassium channel antibody-associated limbic encephalitis.

PubMed

Takahashi, Hirokatsu; Mori, Masahiro; Sekiguchi, Yukari; Misawa, Sonoko; Sawai, Setsu; Hattori, Takamichi; Kuwabara, Satoshi

2008-12-15

Autoantibodies against voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKC-Abs) are associated with acquired neuromyotonia (Isaacs' syndrome) and related disorders such as Morvan's syndrome and some cases of limbic encephalitis. The mechanisms underlying the various phenotypes induced by VGKC-Abs are not fully understood. Recently, we reported a case of LE with VGKC-Abs accompanied by severe intestinal pseudo-obstruction and thymoma. Thymectomy and immunosuppressive therapy induced dramatic clinical improvement of LE symptoms, and VGKC-Abs titers decreased from 1254 pM to 549 pM (normal>100 pM). Seventeen months later, the patient developed progressive generalized muscle cramping, paresthesias in his lower extremities, excessive sweating, and severe constipation. There was no recurrence of the LE. Electromyography showed fasciculation potentials and myokymic discharges, and the plasma VGKC-Abs titer was again elevated to 879 pM. Here we report a case of Isaacs' syndrome after complete remission of LE with VGKC-Abs that may provide an insight into a possible link among VGKC-Abs associated syndromes.

[Finite element study of maxillary Le Fort-I osteotomy with rigid internal fixation].

PubMed

Zhou, Jian; Sun, Geng-Lin; Wu, Wei; Xu, Chong-Tao; Wang, Peng-Lin

2010-05-01

To study the biomechanical characteristic of maxillary Le fort- I osteotomy with rigid internal fixation (RIF) , so as to choose best fixation method. The 3-dimensional finite element models of maxillary Le Fort-I osteotomy with 9 kinds of RIF methods were established. Then the models were divided into three groups to calculate the stress distribution of the maxilla and the displacement of bone segment under 3 kinds of occlusion condition. The fixation stability of the different RIF methods was evaluated. Under the incisor occlusion condition, the stress of the cranio maxillary complex transmits mainly along the nasal-maxillary buttress. Under the premolar and molar occlusion condition, the stress transmits along the alveolar process first, then turns to the nasal-maxillary and zygomatic-maxillary buttress. The focused stress position of the internal fixation system is at the connection between the screws and the plate and at the plate near the osteotomy line. Under the premolar occlusion condition, the displacement of bone segment with different RIF methods was (in a decreasing order) 0.396509 mm (with bio-absorbable plate), 0.148393 mm (with micro-plate ), 0.078436 mm (with mini-plate) in group 1; 0.188791 mm (fixing at the nasal-maxillary buttress), 0.121718 mm (fixing at the zygomatic-maxillary buttress), 0.078436 mm (fixing at the both buttress) in group 2; 0.091023 mm (with straight plate), 0.078436 mm (with L shape plate), 0.072450 mm (with Y shape plate), 0.065617 mm (with T shape plate) in group 3. The fixation stability of using the bio-absorbable plate in Le Fort-I osteotomy is less stable than using the titanium plate. Fixing at the zygomatic-maxillary buttress is more stable than at the naso-maxillary buttress. The fixation stability is different by using different shapes of plates.

Harbour Siren: Technical Recommendations Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-01

de recommandations et une feuille de route à court terme pour l’interopérabilité dans la gestion des urgences (IGU) et l’interopérabilité du système...Majesté la Reine (en droit du Canada), telle que représentée par le ministre de la Défense nationale, 2011 DRDC Atlantic CR 2010-179 i...maritime du Groupe de travail interministériel sur la sûreté maritime (GTISM). Le document présente un ensemble d’observations et de

Building Resilient Communities Workshop Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-01

Reine (en droit du Canada), telle que représentée par le ministre de la Défense nationale, 2014 CSSP-2013-CD-1120...EMBC) [ Gestion des urgences Colombie-Britannique], le Programme canadien pour la sûreté et la sécurité (PCSS) et Recherche et développement pour la ...comptes rendus de la mise à jour du rapport du RCERD sur la résilience des communautés autochtones. L’événement a aussi donné une tribune pour un groupe

Latitude of residence and position in time zone are predictors of cancer incidence, cancer mortality, and life expectancy at birth.

PubMed

Borisenkov, Mikhail F

2011-03-01

According to the hypothesis of circadian disruption, external factors that disturb the function of the circadian system can raise the risk of malignant neoplasm and reduce life span. Recent work has shown that the functionality of the circadian system is dependent not only on latitude of residence but also on the region's position in the time zone. The purpose of the present research was to examine the influence of latitude and time zone on cancer incidence, cancer mortality, and life expectancy at birth. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was carried out on residents of 59 regions of the European part of the Russian Federation (EPRF) using age-standardized parameters (per 100,000) of cancer incidence (CI), cancer mortality (CM), and life expectancy at birth (LE, yrs) as dependent variables. The geographical coordinates (latitude and position in the time zone) of the regions were used as independent variables, controlling for the level of economic development in the regions. The same analysis was carried out for LE in 31 regions in China. Latitude was the strongest predictor of LE in the EPRF population; it explained 48% and 45% of the variability in LE of women and men, respectively. Position within the time zone accounted for an additional 4% and 3% variability of LE in women and men, respectively. The highest values for LE were observed in the southeast of the EPRF. In China, latitude was not a predictor of LE, whereas position in the time zone explained 15% and 18% of the LE variability in women and men, respectively. The highest values of LE were observed in the eastern regions of China. Both latitude and position within the time zone were predictors for CI and CM of the EPRF population. Latitude was the best predictor of stomach CI and CM; this predictor explained 46% and 50% of the variability, respectively. Position within the time zone was the best predictor of female breast CM; it explained 15% of the variability. In most cases, CI and CM increased with increasing latitude of residence, from the eastern to the western border of the time zone, and with increasing level of economic development within the region. The dependence of CI, CM, and LE on the geographical coordinates of residence is in agreement with the hypothesis of circadian disruption.

Estimating the global public health implications of electricity and coal consumption.

PubMed

Gohlke, Julia M; Thomas, Reuben; Woodward, Alistair; Campbell-Lendrum, Diarmid; Prüss-Üstün, Annette; Hales, Simon; Portier, Christopher J

2011-06-01

The growing health risks associated with greenhouse gas emissions highlight the need for new energy policies that emphasize efficiency and low-carbon energy intensity. We assessed the relationships among electricity use, coal consumption, and health outcomes. Using time-series data sets from 41 countries with varying development trajectories between 1965 and 2005, we developed an autoregressive model of life expectancy (LE) and infant mortality (IM) based on electricity consumption, coal consumption, and previous year's LE or IM. Prediction of health impacts from the Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) integrated air pollution emissions health impact model for coal-fired power plants was compared with the time-series model results. The time-series model predicted that increased electricity consumption was associated with reduced IM for countries that started with relatively high IM (> 100/1,000 live births) and low LE (< 57 years) in 1965, whereas LE was not significantly associated with electricity consumption regardless of IM and LE in 1965. Increasing coal consumption was associated with increased IM and reduced LE after accounting for electricity consumption. These results are consistent with results based on the GAINS model and previously published estimates of disease burdens attributable to energy-related environmental factors, including indoor and outdoor air pollution and water and sanitation. Increased electricity consumption in countries with IM < 100/1,000 live births does not lead to greater health benefits, whereas coal consumption has significant detrimental health impacts.

Estimating the Global Public Health Implications of Electricity and Coal Consumption

PubMed Central

Thomas, Reuben; Woodward, Alistair; Campbell-Lendrum, Diarmid; Prüss-üstün, Annette; Hales, Simon; Portier, Christopher J.

2011-01-01

Background: The growing health risks associated with greenhouse gas emissions highlight the need for new energy policies that emphasize efficiency and low-carbon energy intensity. Objectives: We assessed the relationships among electricity use, coal consumption, and health outcomes. Methods: Using time-series data sets from 41 countries with varying development trajectories between 1965 and 2005, we developed an autoregressive model of life expectancy (LE) and infant mortality (IM) based on electricity consumption, coal consumption, and previous year’s LE or IM. Prediction of health impacts from the Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) integrated air pollution emissions health impact model for coal-fired power plants was compared with the time-series model results. Results: The time-series model predicted that increased electricity consumption was associated with reduced IM for countries that started with relatively high IM (> 100/1,000 live births) and low LE (< 57 years) in 1965, whereas LE was not significantly associated with electricity consumption regardless of IM and LE in 1965. Increasing coal consumption was associated with increased IM and reduced LE after accounting for electricity consumption. These results are consistent with results based on the GAINS model and previously published estimates of disease burdens attributable to energy-related environmental factors, including indoor and outdoor air pollution and water and sanitation. Conclusions: Increased electricity consumption in countries with IM < 100/1,000 live births does not lead to greater health benefits, whereas coal consumption has significant detrimental health impacts. PMID:21339091

Development of a non-settling gel formulation of 0.5% loteprednol etabonate for anti-inflammatory use as an ophthalmic drop

PubMed Central

Coffey, Martin J; DeCory, Heleen H; Lane, Stephen S

2013-01-01

The eye has protective barriers (ie, the conjunctival and corneal membranes) and defense mechanisms (ie, reflex tearing, blinking, lacrimal drainage) which present challenges to topical drug delivery. Topical ocular corticosteroids are commonly used in the treatment of anterior segment diseases and inflammation associated with ocular surgery, and manufacturers continually strive to improve their characteristics. We describe the development of a novel ophthalmic gel formulation of loteprednol etabonate (LE), a C-20 ester-based corticosteroid with an established safety profile, in the treatment of ocular inflammatory conditions. The new LE gel formulation is non-settling, eliminating the need to shake the product to resuspend the drug, has a pH close to that of tears, and a low preservative concentration. The rheological characteristics of LE gel are such that the formulation is instilled as a drop and transitions to a fluid upon instillation in the eye, yet retains sufficient viscosity to prolong ocular surface retention. The new formulation provides consistent, uniform dosing as evidenced by dose extrusion studies, while pharmacokinetic studies in rabbits demonstrated rapid and sustained exposure to LE in ocular tissues following instillation of LE gel. Finally, results from two clinical studies of LE gel in the treatment of postoperative inflammation and pain following cataract surgery indicate that it was safe and effective. Most patients reported no unpleasant drop sensation upon instillation, and reports of blurred vision were rare. PMID:23430378

Traitements didactiques preventifs d'un type de conceptions erronees en sciences physiques chez des eleves du secondaire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blondin, Andre

Dans un contexte constructiviste, les connaissances anterieures d'un individu sont essentielles a la construction de nouvelles connaissances. Quelle qu'en soit la source (certaines de ces connaissances ont ete elaborees en classe, d'autres ont ete elaborees par interaction personnelle de l'individu avec son environnement physique et social), ces connaissances, une fois acquises, constituent les matieres premieres de l'elaboration des nouvelles conceptions de cet individu. Generalement, cette influence est consideree comme positive. Cependant, dans un milieu scolaire ou l'apprentissage de certaines conceptions enchassees dans un programme d'etudes et enterinees par l'ensemble d'une communaute est obligatoire, certaines connaissances anterieures peuvent entraver la construction des conceptions exigees par la communaute. La litterature abonde de tels exemples. Cependant, certaines connaissances anterieures, en soi tout a fait conformes a l'Heritage, peuvent aussi, parce qu'utilisees de facon non pertinente, entraver la construction d'une conception exigee par la communaute. Ici, la litterature nous donne peu d'exemples de ce type, mais nous en fournirons quelques-uns dans le cadre theorique, et ce sera un d'entre eux qui servira de base a nos propos. En effet, une grande proportion d'eleves inscrits a un cours de sciences physiques de la quatrieme secondaire, en reponse a un probleme deja solutionne durant l'annee et redonne lors d'un examen sommatif, "Pourquoi la Lune nous montre-t-elle toujours la meme face?", attribue principalement la cause de ce phenomene a la rotation de la Terre sur son axe. En tant que responsable de l'enseignement de ce programme d'etudes, plusieurs questions nous sont venues a l'esprit, entre autres, comment, dans un contexte constructiviste, est-il possible de reduire chez un eleve, l'impact de cette connaissance anterieure dans l'elaboration de la solution et ainsi prevenir la construction d'une conception erronee? Nous avons teste nos hypotheses avec la cohorte suivante d'eleves chez qui se repetaient les memes conditions d'apprentissage. Nous avons utilise le design de recherche "posttest only" de Campbell et Stanley. En mai, apres le moment prevu dans la planification du programme pour donner le probleme aux eleves, nous avons suggere deux facons differentes de reviser la solution de ce probleme. Les eleves du premier groupe experimental ont revise sans que soit activee la connaissance anterieure apprehendee de la rotation de la Terre. Les eleves du deuxieme groupe experimental ont ete confrontes, par des questions et une simulation, au fait que la rotation de la Terre n'est pas une connaissance pertinente pour resoudre le probleme. Les groupes temoins et les groupes experimentaux ont ete choisis au hasard dans le bassin des ecoles secondaires de la commission scolaire. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Effects of hydroformylation treatment on the storage time and blood group antigen expressions of reagent red blood cells.

PubMed

Yu, Yang; Sun, Xiaolin; Guan, Xiaozhen; Zhang, Xiaojuan; Ma, Chunya; Chen, Linfeng; Wang, Deqing

2014-06-01

To evaluate the effects of hydroformylation treatment on the storage time and blood group antigen expressions of reagent red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs from healthy donors were treated by using various final concentrations of paraformaldehyde (0.01%, 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5% and 1.0%) and glutaraldehyde (0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5% and 1.0%), and one aliquot was used as control (untreated with aldehydes). Supernatant free hemoglobin (FHb) levels in all groups stored at 4 °C were detected every week, and the optimal procedure was selected. Expression of blood group antigens on RBCs treated by the optimal procedure was determined, and the total scores of blood group antigens were calculated. 0.2%, 0.5% and 1.0% Glutaraldehyde groups were ruled out directly due to serious crosslinking and aggregation of RBCs. As the extension of time, FHb levels in other 11 groups gradually increased (p<0.01 or p<0.05). FHb level in 0.025% glutaraldehyde group was significantly lower than that in other groups after 13 weeks (p<0.01), and the antigen strength of Fy(b), Jk(b), and Le(b) decreased slightly compared with those before treatment and storage (p<0.05), and there was no significant change for antigen strength of A, B, D, C, E, c, e, M, N, S, s, k, P1, Fy(a), Jk(a), and Le(a) (p>0.05). 0.025% Glutaraldehyde treatment can provide optimal protection for the membrane of RBCs and keep hemolysis at a low level after 13 weeks storage, and the majority of blood group antigen systems are not significantly affected, and the slight decline of Fy(b), Jk(b), and Le(b) antigen strength was acceptable for classical serological tests. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Récidive après dix ans de tumeur de granulosa de l’ovaire: à propos de deux cas et revue de la littérature

PubMed Central

Majdoul, Soufya; Tawfiq, Nezha; Bourhaleb, Zouhour; Naqos, Nora; Taleb, Amina; Bouchbika, Zineb; Benchakroun, Nadia; Jouhadi, Hassan; Sahraoui, Souha; Benider, Abdelatif

2016-01-01

Les tumeurs à cellules de la granulosa (TG) de l’ovaire sont des tumeurs rares appartenant au groupe des tumeurs des cordons sexuels et du stroma. Elles représentent 0,6 à 3 % de l’ensemble des tumeurs de l’ovaire et 5 % des tumeurs malignes On distingue deux types: le type juvénile (TGJ) qui se caractérise par son agressivité et le type adulte (TGA) qui est le type le moins agressif et le plus fréquent. Les rechutes de TG de l'ovaire surviennent généralement dans les cinq ans, elles sont rarement sous forme de métastases péritonéales ou locales. Bien que, des options de traitement y compris la chirurgie avec ou sans chimiothérapie et ou radiothérapie ont été rapportés pour le traitement des récidives des TG, il n'y a aucune prise en charge standardisée de récidive de cette maladie. Ici, nous rapportons notre stratégie thérapeutique dans la prise en charge des récidives tardives, après dix ans, de la TG sous forme de carcinose péritonéale pour deux patientes avec une revue de la littérature. PMID:28154722

Behavioral and physiological indicators of stress coping styles in larval zebrafish.

PubMed

Tudorache, Christian; ter Braake, Anique; Tromp, Mara; Slabbekoorn, Hans; Schaaf, Marcel J M

2015-01-01

Different individuals cope with stressors in different ways. Stress coping styles are defined as a coherent set of individual behavioral and physiological differences in the response to a stressor which remain consistent across time and context. In the present study, we have investigated coping styles in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) at 8 days post-fertilization. Larvae were separated into two groups, according to the emergence sequence from a darkened into a novel well-lit environment, early (EE) and late (LE) emergers. We used brief periods of netting as a stressor. Swimming behavior and kinematics before and after netting stress were analyzed, as were whole-body cortisol levels before and at 10, 30 and 60 min after the stress event. The results show that general swimming activity was different between EE and LE larvae, with lower baseline cumulative distance and more erratic swimming movements in EE than in LE larvae. EE larvae showed a faster recovery to baseline levels after stress than LE larvae. Cortisol baseline levels were not different between EE and LE larvae, but peak levels after stress were higher and the recovery towards basal levels was faster in EE than in LE larvae. This study shows that coping styles are manifest in zebrafish larvae, and that behavior and swimming kinematics are associated with different cortisol responses to stress. A better understanding of the expression of coping styles may be of great value for medical applications, animal welfare issues and conservation.

Interdire aux enfants et aux adolescents de moins de 18 ans l’accès aux établissements commerciaux de bronzage

PubMed Central

Taddeo, Danielle; Stanwick, Richard

2012-01-01

RÉSUMÉ Le nombre de mélanomes cutanés malins a plus que triplé depuis 35 ans. Puisque les dommages sont cumulatifs, l’exposition aux rayonnements ultraviolets tôt dans la vie accroît le risque, qui augmente davantage avec l’utilisation de sources artificielles de rayonnements ultraviolets. Il peut falloir des années pour évaluer les répercussions et l’étendue complètes des dommages causés par le bronzage artificiel à longueur d’année, compte tenu de la longue période de latence de la plupart des cancers de la peau. Les adolescents fréquentent souvent les salons de bronzage, les filles s’y rendant davantage et de manière soutenue. L’industrie du bronzage conteste la classification de cancérigène physique de groupe 1 qu’attribuent au bronzage artificiel l’Organisation mondiale de la santé et le Centre international de recherche sur le cancer. Les salons de bronzage cherchent à établir et à maintenir une clientèle chez les adolescents. Par conséquent, la Société canadienne de pédiatrie s’ajoute à d’autres organismes de santé réputés pour appuyer l’interdiction des établissements commerciaux de bronzage aux enfants et adolescents de moins de 18 ans.

Diagnostic ultrasound imaging for lateral epicondylalgia: a case-control study.

PubMed

Heales, Luke James; Broadhurst, Nathan; Mellor, Rebecca; Hodges, Paul William; Vicenzino, Bill

2014-11-01

Lateral epicondylalgia (LE) is clinically diagnosed as pain over the lateral elbow that is provoked by gripping. Usually, LE responds well to conservative intervention; however, those who fail such treatment require further evaluation, including musculoskeletal ultrasound. Previous studies of musculoskeletal ultrasound have methodological flaws, such as lack of assessor blinding and failure to control for participant age, sex, and arm dominance. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic use of blinded ultrasound imaging in people with clinically diagnosed LE compared with that in a control group matched for age, sex, and arm dominance. Participants (30 with LE and 30 controls) underwent clinical examination as the criterion standard test. Unilateral LE was defined as pain over the lateral epicondyle, which was provoked by palpation, resisted wrist and finger extension, and gripping. Controls without symptoms were matched for age, sex, and arm dominance. Ultrasound investigations were performed by two sonographers using a standardized protocol. Grayscale images were assessed for signs of tendon pathology and rated on a four-point ordinal scale. Power Doppler was used to assess neovascularity and rated on a five-point ordinal scale. The combination of grayscale and power Doppler imaging revealed an overall sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 47%. The positive and negative likelihood ratios for combined grayscale and power Doppler imaging were 1.69 and 0.21, respectively. Although ultrasound imaging helps confirm the absence of LE, when findings are negative for tendinopathic changes, the high prevalence of tendinopathic changes in pain-free controls challenges the specificity of the measure. The validity of ultrasound imaging to confirm tendon pathology in clinically diagnosed LE requires further study with strong methodology.

Infection par le VIH chez les patientes atteintes de cancer du sein en Guinée (Afrique de l'Ouest)

PubMed Central

Traore, Bangaly; Diane, Solomana; Sow, Mamadou Saliou; Keita, Mamady; Conde, Mamoudou; Traore, Fodé Amara; Kourouma, Tidiane

2015-01-01

L'objectif était de déterminer la prévalence de l'infection à VIH chez les patientes atteintes de cancer du sein et de comparer les caractéristiques anatomocliques et thérapeutiques de ces cancers du sein par rapports aux patientes non infectées par le VIH. Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective et analytique comparant les dossiers de patientes atteintes de cancers du sein histologiquement confirmés, infectées ou non par le VIH à l'unité de chirurgie oncologique de Donka, CHU de Conakry, de 2007 à 2012. Nous avons colligé 278 patientes présentant un cancer du sein dont 14 (5,0%) infectées par le VIH et 264 (95,0%) non infectées par le VIH. Les différences observées entre ces deux groupes de patientes étaient respectivement: âge médian (36,8 vs 49,0 ans), la ménopause (21,4% vs 53,4%), le nombre des patientes traitées (50,0% contre 77,1%) et la survenue de décès (78,6% vs 50,8%). Aucune différence n'a été notée dans la présentation clinique, histologique et le retard de consultation. Dans notre étude, la prévalence de l'infection à VIH chez les patients atteints de cancer du sein est élevée. L’âge jeune des patients, la faible accessibilité au traitement et la mortalité élevée doivent être confirmés par une étude sur un échantillon plus large. PMID:26523196

[Use of local estrogenotherapy in urology and pelviperineology: A systematic review].

PubMed

Benoit, T; Leguevaque, P; Roumiguié, M; Beauval, J B; Malavaud, B; Soulié, M; Rischmann, P; Gourdy, P; Arnal, J F; Game, X

2015-09-01

To conduct a literature review of the efficiency of vaginal local estrogenotherapy (LE) on genitourinary disorders related to menopause and those side effects. A literature review was conducted using Pubmed database using the keywords vaginal estrogen, urinary incontinence, urgency, urinary tract infection, vulvar and vaginal atrophy, dyspareunia, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, thrombosis. The most relevant articles were selected and analyzed. The LE demonstrates its efficiency on preventing urinary tract infections, treatment of overactive bladder and vaginal disorders of postmenopausal women in controlled studies or meta-analysis level of evidence 1. Local side effects (discharge, erythema, vaginal bleeding, etc.) are rare. The systemic diffusion of low dose LE is limited and allowed to prescribe it to postmenopausal women without special supervision. However, using LE might be avoided in women with a history of oncological breast due to the lack of controlled studies evaluating the risk of developing breast cancer under LE. Except for high-risk women, LE does not increase the risk of thrombosis. Vaginal administration of low dose of estrogen is an effective and safe treatment in the management of postmenopausal genitourinary disorders. However, using LE for women with history of breast cancer or high risk of thrombisis should be avoided. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Exacerbation of Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2E neuropathy following traumatic nerve injury

PubMed Central

Villalon, Eric; Dale, Jeffrey M.; Jones, Maria; Shen, Hailian; Garcia, Michael L.

2018-01-01

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. CMT disease signs include distal limb neuropathy, abnormal gait, sensory defects, and deafness. We generated a novel line of CMT2E mice expressing hNF-LE397K, which displayed muscle atrophy of the lower limbs without denervation, proximal reduction in large caliber axons, and decreased nerve conduction velocity. In this study, we challenged wild type, hNF-L, and hNF-LE397K mice with crush injury to the sciatic nerve. We analyzed functional recovery by measuring toe spread and analyzed gaitusing the Catwalk system. hNF-LE397K mice demonstrated reduced recovery from nerve injury consistent with increased susceptibility to neuropathy observed in CMT patients. In addition, hNF-LE397K developed a permanent reduction in their ability to weight bear, increased mechanical allodynia, and premature gait shift in the injured limb, which led to increasingly disrupted interlimb coordination in hNF-LE397K. Exacerbation of neuropathy after injury and identification of gait alterations in combination with previously described pathology suggests that hNF-LE397K mice recapitulate many of clinical signs associated with CMT2. Therefore, hNF-LE397K mice provide a model for determining the efficacy of novel therapies. PMID:26423936

Test results of a 20 GHz, low noise downconverter for USAT applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fujikawa, Gene; Svoboda, James S.

1995-01-01

A key component in the development of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) ultra small aperture terminal (USAT) earth station is the low noise downconverter (NLD). NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) has tested a version of an LND designed by Electrodyne Systems Corporation. A number of tests were conducted to characterize the radio frequency performance of the LND over temperature. The test results presented in this paper are frequency response, noise figure, gain, group delay, power transfer characteristics, image rejection, and spurious product suppression. The LND was one of several critical microwave subsystems developed and tested for the ACTS USAT earth stations.

Letrozole versus clomiphene citrate in polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PubMed

Hu, Shifu; Yu, Qiong; Wang, Yingying; Wang, Mei; Xia, Wei; Zhu, Changhong

2018-05-01

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disturbance affecting women in the reproductive age group. The present study aimed to compare the effects of letrozole (LE) and clomiphene citrate (CC) for ovulation induction in women with PCOS. The PUBMED, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were screened systematically for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from database inception to July 2017. Eleven RCTs involving 2255 patients were included, and data were independently extracted and analyzed using 95% risk ratios (RRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) based on a random- or fixed-effect model (as appropriate). Meta-analyses of nine RCTs comparing LE and CC ovulation induction, followed by timed intercourse, indicated that the former significantly increased the ovulation rate (RR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.03-1.36, P = 0.01), pregnancy rate (RR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.09-1.64, P = 0.006), and live birth rate (RR = 1.55; 95% CI 1.28-1.88, P < 0.00001). However, LE and CC did not differ significantly in terms of the multiple pregnancy and abortion rates. Furthermore, LE for ovulation induction significantly improved the pregnancy rate after IUI. LE is superior to CC for ovulation induction in patients with PCOS.

[Development of Engineering Systems for Space Station Freedom

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1995-01-01

From January, 1990 through September, 1995, Cleveland State University (CSU) and Lewis Research Center (LeRC) participated in a research cooperative agreement. Extensive study and experimentation were done by CSU on research technologies, methods, and techniques employed by the Space Station Freedom (SSF) project and, later, the Space Experiments Division (SED). In spite of many problems occasioned by the virtual cancellation of Space Station Freedom at LeRC, and organizational and financial problem at LeRC, CSU was able to do valuable work in the study and improvement of research operating methods there.

Severely Crusted Cheilitis as an Initial Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

PubMed

Chan, Wai Man Mandy; Pang, Shiu Ming; Ng, See Ket

2017-01-01

Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disease which may initially present solely with lip lesions. Due to a wide spectrum of presentation, these features may initially be misdiagnosed as other oral diseases such as lichen planus, erythema multiforme (EM), and actinic cheilitis, leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. We discuss a case of severely crusted cheilitis which was initially diagnosed as EM, with subsequent development of subacute cutaneous LE, and progression to systemic LE. We will discuss the clinical and histological features of lupus cheilitis.

From Interactive Open Learner Modelling to Intelligent Mentoring: STyLE-OLM and Beyond

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dimitrova, Vania; Brna, Paul

2016-01-01

STyLE-OLM (Dimitrova 2003 "International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education," 13, 35-78) presented a framework for interactive open learner modelling which entails the development of the means by which learners can "inspect," "discuss" and "alter" the learner model that has been jointly…

No 129-L'exercice physique pendant la grossesse et le postpartum.

PubMed

Davies, Gregory A L; Wolfe, Larry A; Mottola, Michelle F; MacKinnon, Catherine

2018-02-01

Énoncer une directive canadienne visant à informer les fournisseurs de soins obstétricaux des répercussions, pour la mère, le fœtus et le nouveau-né, des exercices de conditionnement aerobique et musculaire pendant la grossesse. RéSULTATS ATTENDUS: Effets sur la morbidité maternelle, fœtale et néonatale et mesures de la forme physique maternelle. Une recherche sur MEDLINE des articles, publiés en anglais de 1966 à 2002, appartenant aux catégories suivantes : études sur le conditionnement aérobique et musculaire chez des femmes ne faisant pas jusque-là d'exercice et chez des femmes actives avant leur grossesse, ainsi que des études sur les répercussions du conditionnement aérobique et musculaire sur les issues précoces et tardives de la grossesse ou sur les issues néonatales; rapports de synthèse et méta-analyses portant sur l'exercice pendant la grossesse. Les résultats recueillis ont été revus par la Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada (Comité de la pratique clinique - obstétrique), avec la participation de la Société canadienne de physiologie de l'exercice, et ils ont été classés suivant les critères d'évaluation des preuves établis par le Groupe de travail canadien sur l'examen de santé périodique. VALIDATION: Cette directive a été approuvée par le Comité de pratique clinique - obstétrique de la SOGC, par le Comité exécutif et par le Conseil de la SOGC, ainsi que par le Conseil d'administration de la Société canadienne de physiologie de l'exercice. PARRAINé PAR: la Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada et par la Société canadienne de physiologie de l'exercice. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

La pelade par plaques

PubMed Central

Spano, Frank; Donovan, Jeff C.

2015-01-01

Résumé Objectif Présenter aux médecins de famille des renseignements de base pour faire comprendre l’épidémiologie, la pathogenèse, l’histologie et l’approche clinique au diagnostic de la pelade par plaques. Sources des données Une recension a été effectuée dans PubMed pour trouver des articles pertinents concernant la pathogenèse, le diagnostic et le pronostic de la pelade par plaques. Message principal La pelade par plaques est une forme de perte pileuse auto-immune dont la prévalence durant une vie est d’environ 2 %. Des antécédents personnels ou familiaux de troubles auto-immuns concomitants, comme le vitiligo ou une maladie de la thyroïde, peuvent être observés dans un petit sous-groupe de patients. Le diagnostic peut souvent être posé de manière clinique en se fondant sur la perte de cheveux non cicatricielle et circulaire caractéristique, accompagnée de cheveux en « point d’exclamation » en périphérie chez ceux dont le problème en est aux premiers stades. Le diagnostic des cas plus complexes ou des présentations inhabituelles peut être facilité par une biopsie et un examen histologique. Le pronostic varie largement et de mauvais résultats sont associés à une apparition à un âge précoce, une perte importante, la variante ophiasis, des changements aux ongles, des antécédents familiaux ou des troubles auto-immuns concomitants. Conclusion La pelade par plaques est une forme auto-immune de perte de cheveux périodiquement observée en soins primaires. Les médecins de famille sont bien placés pour identifier la pelade par plaques, déterminer la gravité de la maladie et poser le diagnostic différentiel approprié. De plus, ils sont en mesure de renseigner leurs patients à propos de l’évolution clinique de la maladie ainsi que du pronostic général selon le sous-type de patients.

Effects of Corticosterone and Dietary Energy on Immune Function of Broiler Chickens

PubMed Central

Sheikhahmadi, Ardashir; Wang, Yufeng; Li, Congcong; Jiao, Hongchao; Lin, Hai; Song, Zhigang

2015-01-01

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary energy level on the performance and immune function of stressed broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). A total of 96 three-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross × Ross) were divided into two groups. One group received a high energy (HE) diet and the other group received a low energy (LE) diet for 7 days. At 5 days of age, the chickens from each group were further divided into two sub-groups and received one of the following two treatments for 3 days: (1) subcutaneous injection of corticosterone, twice per day (CORT group; 2 mg of CORT/kg BW in corn oil) and (2) subcutaneous injection of corn oil, twice per day (Control/Sham treatment group). At 10 days of age, samples of blood, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were obtained. Compared with the other three groups, the LE group treated with CORT had the lowest average daily gain (ADG) and the poorest feed conversion ratio (FCR, P < 0.05). Furthermore, CORT treatment decreased the relative weight (RW) of the bursa independent of the dietary energy level, but it decreased the RW of the thymus only in the chickens fed the LE diet. By contrast, CORT administration decreased the RW of the spleen only in the chickens fed the HE diet (P < 0.05). The plasma total protein, albumin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 2 and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were affected by the CORT treatment (P < 0.05); however, these factors were not significantly affected by the dietary energy level. Toll-like receptor-5 mRNA level was down-regulated by CORT injection in the duodenum and ileum (P < 0.05) and showed a trend of down-regulation in the jejunum (P=0.0846). The present study showed that CORT treatment induced immunosuppressive effects on the innate immune system of broiler chickens, which were ameliorated by consumption of higher dietary energy. PMID:25803644

Exposure of children to arsenic in drinking water in the Tharparkar region of Sindh, Pakistan.

PubMed

Brahman, Kapil Dev; Kazi, Tasneem Gul; Afridi, Hassan Imran; Baig, Jameel Ahmed; Arain, Sadaf Sadia; Talpur, Farah Naz; Kazi, Atif Gul; Ali, Jamshed; Panhwar, Abdul Haleem; Arain, Muhammad Balal

2016-02-15

Humans can be exposed to arsenic (As) through air, drinking water, and food. The aim of this study was to calculate the hazard quotient (HQ) of As, based on its concentration in drinking water and the scalp hair of children (males) belonging to two age groups (5-10 and 11-14 years) who consumed water contaminated with different concentrations of As. The water samples were collected from As-exposed and nonexposed areas, which were classified as low-exposed (LE), high-exposed (HE), and nonexposed (NE) areas. The total concentration of inorganic As (iAs) and its species (As(III) and As(V)) in water samples of all selected areas was determined by advanced extraction methods. For purposes of comparison, the total As level was also determined in all water samples. The resulting data indicated that the predominant inorganic As species in groundwater samples was arsenate (As(V)). The As concentrations in drinking water of LE and HE areas were found to be 2.6-230-fold higher than the permissible limit for drinking water established by the World Health Organization (2004). However, the As levels in drinking water of the NE area was within the permissible limit (<10 μg/L). The As levels in the scalp hair samples from boys of NE, LE, and HE areas ranged from 0.16 to 0.36, 0.36 to 0.83, and 11.5 to 31.9 mg/kg, respectively. A significant, positive correlation was observed between the As levels in drinking water and scalp hair samples of children from the HE area, compared with the other two groups (p>0.01). The As toxicity risk assessment based on HQ for the NE, LE, and HE areas corresponded to <10, ≥ 10, and >10, respectively. These HQ values indicated the noncarcinogenic, less carcinogenic, and highly carcinogenic exposure risks faced by children from the NE, LE, and HE areas, respectively. It can be concluded that children consuming the groundwater of the LE (Khairpur Mir's) and HE (Tharparkar) areas of Pakistan are at a potential risk of chronic As toxicity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Renaud Paulian et le programme du CNRS sur les hautes montagnes à Madagascar: étage vs domaine

PubMed Central

Guillaumet, Jean-Louis; Betsch, Jean-Marie; Callmander, Martin W.

2011-01-01

Résumé Le programme intitulé « Étude des écosystémes montagnards dans la région malgache» (RCP 225/CNRS; responsable: Recteur Renaud Paulian) avait pour ambition de dégager leurs caractères généraux, l'origine des éléments constitutifs et de tester la validité d'un Domaine malgache des Hautes Montagnes proposé par Humbert dès 1951. De 1970 à 1973, trois campagnes (Andringitra; Chaînes anosyennes et Ankaratra; Itremo, Ibity et Marojejy) ont permis une caractérisation écologique des milieux particuliers ainsi que des analyses de systématique sur certains taxa connus pour leur intérêt biogéographique. La succession altitudinale des formations végétales, définies par des critères physionomiques et structuraux, est précisée par massif. Le dernier étage caractérisé par le fourré éricoïde et ses groupements associés ne correspond pas à l'Étage des Hautes Montagnes de l'Est africain. Des groupes de la faune (invertébrés hexapodes: Collemboles et Dermaptères) indiquent une disjonction entre les massifs du Nord (Tsaratanana, Marojejy), ceux du Centre et du Sud; des éléments de la flore (Pandanaceae, Araliaceae, Asteraceae) sont en cours d'analyse dans le même sens. Le Domaine des Hautes montagnes à Madagascar est une réalité écologique mais ne peut être défini floristiquement; chaque massif montagneux est une entité phytogéographique d'étages de végétation interdépendants inclus dans les différents Sous-Domaines du Centre. Les groupes peu mobiles de la faune indiquent globalement une dépendance trophique et bioclimatique (effet tampon du climat intraforestier) vis-à-vis des étages de végétation, mais peuvent réagir à des microclimats locaux par des décalages à leurs limites. PMID:21731422

Lentiviral gene ontology (LeGO) vectors equipped with novel drug-selectable fluorescent proteins: new building blocks for cell marking and multi-gene analysis.

PubMed

Weber, K; Mock, U; Petrowitz, B; Bartsch, U; Fehse, B

2010-04-01

Vector-encoded fluorescent proteins (FPs) facilitate unambiguous identification or sorting of gene-modified cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Exploiting this feature, we have recently developed lentiviral gene ontology (LeGO) vectors (www.LentiGO-Vectors.de) for multi-gene analysis in different target cells. In this study, we extend the LeGO principle by introducing 10 different drug-selectable FPs created by fusing one of the five selection marker (protecting against blasticidin, hygromycin, neomycin, puromycin and zeocin) and one of the five FP genes (Cerulean, eGFP, Venus, dTomato and mCherry). All tested fusion proteins allowed both fluorescence-mediated detection and drug-mediated selection of LeGO-transduced cells. Newly generated codon-optimized hygromycin- and neomycin-resistance genes showed improved expression as compared with their ancestors. New LeGO constructs were produced at titers >10(6) per ml (for non-concentrated supernatants). We show efficient combinatorial marking and selection of various cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, simultaneously transduced with different LeGO constructs. Inclusion of the cytomegalovirus early enhancer/chicken beta-actin promoter into LeGO vectors facilitated robust transgene expression in and selection of neural stem cells and their differentiated progeny. We suppose that the new drug-selectable markers combining advantages of FACS and drug selection are well suited for numerous applications and vector systems. Their inclusion into LeGO vectors opens new possibilities for (stem) cell tracking and functional multi-gene analysis.

Garde a l'enfance: Etude sur la remuneration et les conditions de travail dans le domaine de la garde a l'enfance au Canada. Rapport final (Caring for a Living: A Study on Wages and Working Conditions in Canadian Child Care. Final Report).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Canadian Child Care Federation, Ottawa (Ontario).

Between November 1990 and August 1992, a study examined wages and working conditions of child care staff in both licensed group centers and family day care homes in Canada. Three instruments were developed for the study, a short telephone interview for center directors, a follow-up director's questionnaire, and a staff questionnaire. The study…

Advances in Air-Launched Weapon Guidance and Control, Proceedings of the Guidance and Control Panel Symposium (44th) Held in Athens (Greece) on 5-8 May 1987.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-12-01

2007 Kjeller 92320 Chitillon PORTUGAL Portuguese National Coordinator to AGARD GERMANY Gabinete de Estudos e Programas Fachinformationszentrum...OPI: DTIC-TID MAR 85~ AGARD-CP-4 31 NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION ADVISORY GROUP FOR AEROSPACE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (ORGANISATION DU TRAITE DE ...et Pilotage avait organis6 A EGLIN (Floride), une conference sur le theme des "Missiles Tactiques Air-Sol et Air-Air". Depuis lors, de nombreux progres

Development of the Potassium-Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE) Instrument for In Situ Geochronology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, Barbara A.; Li, Z.-H.; Miller, J. S.; Brinckerhoff, W. B.; Clegg, S. M.; Mahaffy, P. R.; Swindle, T. D.; Wiens, R. C.

2012-01-01

Absolute dating of planetary samples is an essential tool to establish the chronology of geological events, including crystallization history, magmatic evolution, and alteration. Traditionally, geochronology has only been accomplishable on samples from dedicated sample return missions or meteorites. The capability for in situ geochronology is highly desired, because it will allow one-way planetary missions to perform dating of large numbers of samples. The success of an in situ geochronology package will not only yield data on absolute ages, but can also complement sample return missions by identifying the most interesting rocks to cache and/or return to Earth. In situ dating instruments have been proposed, but none have yet reached TRL 6 because the required high-resolution isotopic measurements are very challenging. Our team is now addressing this challenge by developing the Potassium (K) - Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE) under the NASA Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program (PIDDP), building on previous work to develop a K-Ar in situ instrument [1]. KArLE uses a combination of several flight-proven components that enable accurate K-Ar isochron dating of planetary rocks. KArLE will ablate a rock sample, determine the K in the plasma state using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), measure the liberated Ar using quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), and relate the two by the volume of the ablated pit using an optical method such as a vertical scanning interferometer (VSI). Our preliminary work indicates that the KArLE instrument will be capable of determining the age of several kinds of planetary samples to +/-100 Myr, sufficient to address a wide range of geochronology problems in planetary science.

The strain index and TLV for HAL: risk of lateral epicondylitis in a prospective cohort.

PubMed

Garg, Arun; Kapellusch, Jay M; Hegmann, Kurt T; Thiese, Matthew S; Merryweather, Andrew S; Wang, Ying-Chih; Malloy, Elizabeth J

2014-03-01

This study's objective was to quantify exposure-response relationships between job physical exposure (JPE) and incidence of lateral epicondylitis (LE). A cohort of 536 workers was enrolled from 10 manufacturing facilities and followed monthly for 6 years to ascertain changes in JPE and health status. JPE was individually measured and quantified using the Strain Index (SI) and TLV for HAL. Worker demographics, medical history, psychosocial factors, and current musculoskeletal disorders were obtained. Fifty-six workers developed LE. In multivariate models JPE, age, family problems, and swimming were associated with increased risk of LE. SI showed an exposure-response relationship with maximum hazard ratio (HR) of 4.5(P = 0.04). TLV for HAL showed a non-statistically significant trend for increased risk of LE (P = 0.19). JPE is associated with increased risk of LE. The SI and TLV for HAL are useful metrics for estimating JPE. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor improves proliferation of endometrial epithelial cells by inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress during early pregnancy.

PubMed

Lim, Whasun; Bae, Hyocheol; Bazer, Fuller W; Song, Gwonhwa

2017-12-01

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family binds to two transmembrane receptors; neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (NTRK2) with high affinity and p75 with low affinity. Although BDNF-NTRK2 signaling in the central nervous system is known, signaling in the female reproductive system is unknown. Therefore, we determined effects of BDNF on porcine endometrial luminal epithelial (pLE) cells isolated from Day 12 of pregnancy, as well as expression of BDNF and NTRK2 in endometria of cyclic and pregnant pigs. BDNF-NTRK2 genes were expressed in uterine glandular (GE) and luminal (LE) epithelia during early pregnancy. In addition, their expression in uterine GE and LE decreased with increasing parity of sows. Recombinant BDNF increased proliferation in pLE cells in a dose-dependent, as well as expression of PCNA and Cyclin D1 in nuclei of pLE cells. BDNF also activated phosphorylation of AKT, P70S6K, S6, ERK1/2, JNK, P38 proteins in pLE cells. In addition, cell death resulting from tunicamycin-induced ER stress was prevented when pLE cells were treated with the combination of tunicamycin and BDNF which also decreased cells in the Sub-G 1 phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, tunicamycin-induced unfolded protein response genes were mostly down-regulated to the basal levels as compared to non-treated pLE cells. Our finding suggests that BDNF acts via NTRK2 to induce development of pLE cells for maintenance of implantation and pregnancy by activating cell signaling via the PI3K and MAPK pathways and by inhibiting ER stress. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Glycoconjugates reveal diversity of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).

PubMed

Kandasamy, Majury; Roll, Lars; Langenstroth, Daniel; Brüstle, Oliver; Faissner, Andreas

2017-06-01

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to self-renew and to differentiate into various cell types of the central nervous system. This potential can be recapitulated by human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in vitro. The differentiation capacity of hiPSCs is characterized by several stages with distinct morphologies and the expression of various marker molecules. We used the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 487 LeX , 5750 LeX and 473HD to analyze the expression pattern of particular carbohydrate motifs as potential markers at six differentiation stages of hiPSCs. Mouse ESCs were used as a comparison. At the pluripotent stage, 487 LeX -, 5750 LeX - and 473HD-related glycans were differently expressed. Later, cells of the three germ layers in embryoid bodies (hEBs) and, even after neuralization of hEBs, subpopulations of cells were labeled with these surface antibodies. At the human rosette-stage of NSCs (hR-NSC), LeX- and 473HD-related epitopes showed antibody-specific expression patterns. We also found evidence that these surface antibodies could be used to distinguish the hR-NSCs from the hSR-NSCs stages. Characterization of hNSCs FGF-2/EGF derived from hSR-NSCs revealed that both LeX antibodies and the 473HD antibody labeled subpopulations of hNSCs FGF-2/EGF . Finally, we identified potential LeX carrier molecules that were spatiotemporally regulated in early and late stages of differentiation. Our study provides new insights into the regulation of glycoconjugates during early human stem cell development. The mAbs 487 LeX , 5750 LeX and 473HD are promising tools for identifying distinct stages during neural differentiation.

Reversible dementia: two nursing home patients with voltage-gated potassium channel antibody-associated limbic encephalitis.

PubMed

Reintjes, Wesley; Romijn, Marloes D M; Hollander, Daan; Ter Bruggen, Jan P; van Marum, Rob J

2015-09-01

Voltage-gated potassium channel antibody-associated limbic encephalitis (VGKC-LE) is a rare disease that is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for medical practitioners. Two patients with VGKC-LE, both developing dementia are presented. Following treatment, both patients showed remarkable cognitive and functional improvement enabling them to leave the psychogeriatric nursing homes they both were admitted to. Patients with VGKC-LE can have a major cognitive and functional improvement even after a diagnostic delay of more than 1 year. Medical practitioners who treat patients with unexplained cognitive decline, epileptic seizures, or psychiatric symptoms should be aware of LE as an underlying rare cause. Copyright © 2015 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Protect sensitive data with lightweight memory encryption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Hongwei; Yuan, Jinhui; Xiao, Rui; Zhang, Kai; Sun, Jingyao

2018-04-01

Since current commercial processor is not able to deal with the data in the cipher text, the sensitive data have to be exposed in the memory. It leaves a window for the adversary. To protect the sensitive data, a direct idea is to encrypt the data when the processor does not access them. On the observation, we have developed a lightweight memory encryption, called LeMe, to protect the sensitive data in the application. LeMe marks the sensitive data in the memory with the page table entry, and encrypts the data in their free time. LeMe is built on the Linux with a 3.17.6 kernel, and provides four user interfaces as dynamic link library. Our evaluations show LeMe is effective to protect the sensitive data and incurs an acceptable performance overhead.

The Liouville equation for flavour evolution of neutrinos and neutrino wave packets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hansen, Rasmus Sloth Lundkvist; Smirnov, Alexei Yu., E-mail: rasmus@mpi-hd.mpg.de, E-mail: smirnov@mpi-hd.mpg.de

We consider several aspects related to the form, derivation and applications of the Liouville equation (LE) for flavour evolution of neutrinos. To take into account the quantum nature of neutrinos we derive the evolution equation for the matrix of densities using wave packets instead of Wigner functions. The obtained equation differs from the standard LE by an additional term which is proportional to the difference of group velocities. We show that this term describes loss of the propagation coherence in the system. In absence of momentum changing collisions, the LE can be reduced to a single derivative equation over amore » trajectory coordinate. Additional time and spatial dependence may stem from initial (production) conditions. The transition from single neutrino evolution to the evolution of a neutrino gas is considered.« less

Physiological and molecular evidence for Pi uptake via the symbiotic pathway in a reduced mycorrhizal colonization mutant in tomato associated with a compatible fungus.

PubMed

Poulsen, Katrine H; Nagy, Réka; Gao, Ling-Ling; Smith, Sally E; Bucher, Marcel; Smith, F Andrew; Jakobsen, Iver

2005-11-01

A Lycopersicon esculentum mutant (rmc) is resistant to colonization by most arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), but one Glomus intraradices isolate (WFVAM 23) develops arbuscules and vesicles in the rmc cortex. It is unknown whether the symbiotic phosphate (Pi)-uptake pathway is operational in this interaction. Hyphal uptake of (32)Pi and expression of plant Pi transporter genes were investigated in the rmc mutant and its wild-type progenitor (76R) associated with three AMF. Hyphae transferred (32)Pi in all symbioses with 76R and in the rmc-G. intraradices WFVAM 23 symbiosis. The other AMF did not colonize rmc. The Pi transporter-encoding LePT1 and LePT2 were expressed constitutively or in P-starved roots, respectively. The mycorrhiza-inducible Pi transporters LePT3 and LePT4 were expressed only in plants with AMF colonization and symbiotic (32)Pi transfer. LePT3 and LePT4 transcripts were reliable markers for a functional mycorrhizal uptake pathway in rmc. Our novel approach to the physiology and molecular biology of P transport can be applied to other arbuscular-mycorrhizal symbioses, irrespective of the size of plant responses.

Helen Primrose LeVesconte: occupational therapy clinician, educator, and maker of history.

PubMed

Friedland, Judith; Rais, Hadassah

2005-06-01

The Canadian history of our profession is not well known and our identity is thought to suffer as a result. Helen Primrose LeVesconte (7896-1982) is one pioneer in our development whose story has not been told. Our purpose is to explore LeVesconte's life and work in order to expand knowledge of our roots and thereby strengthen our identity. Using interpretive biography methods we draw on LeVesconte's own writings, articles written about her, and archival documents to describe turning point moments in her life and to display meaningful patterns in her work. LeVesconte's work as a clinician and her role and reputation as an educator, show her to have been a strong and visionary leader. Her views on the client's role, the importance of the therapist-client relationship, prevention, community-based programs, and vocational rehabilitation are of particular interest. Because LeVesconte educated over 1,850 students while director of the occupational therapy program at the University of Toronto, her influence has been felt throughout the country. Her perspective is compared to current practice; and questions are raised as to aspects of her legacy and philosophy that might now be reconsidered.

Spherical Joint Piston and Connecting Rod Developed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

Under an interagency agreement with the Department of Energy, the NASA Lewis Research Center manages a Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Technology (HDET) research program. The overall program objectives are to reduce fuel consumption through increased engine efficiency, reduce engine exhaust emissions, and provide options for the use of alternative fuels. The program is administered with a balance of research contracts, university research grants, and focused in-house research. The Cummins Engine Company participates in the HDET program under a cost-sharing research contract. Cummins is researching and developing in-cylinder component technologies for heavy-duty diesel engines. An objective of the Cummins research is to develop technologies for a low-emissions, 55-percent thermal efficiency (LE-55) engine. The best current-production engines in this class achieve about 46-percent thermal efficiency. Federal emissions regulations are driving this technology. Regulations for heavy duty diesel engines were tightened in 1994, more demanding emissions regulations are scheduled for 1998, and another step is planned for 2002. The LE-55 engine emissions goal is set at half of the 1998 regulation level and is consistent with plans for 2002 emissions regulations. LE-55 engine design requirements to meet the efficiency target dictate a need to operate at higher peak cylinder pressures. A key technology being developed and evaluated under the Cummins Engine Company LE-55 engine concept is the spherical joint piston and connecting rod. Unlike conventional piston and connecting rod arrangements which are joined by a pin forming a hinged joint, the spherical joint piston and connecting rod use a ball-and-socket joint. The ball-and-socket arrangement enables the piston to have an axisymmetric design allowing rotation within the cylinder. The potential benefits of piston symmetry and rotation are reduced scuffing, improved piston ring sealing, improved lubrication, mechanical and thermal load symmetry, reduced bearing stresses, reduced running clearances, and reduced oil consumption. The spherical joint piston is a monolithic, squeeze-cast, fiber-reinforced aluminum piston. The connecting rod has a ball end that seats on a spherical saddle within the piston and is retained by a pair of aluminum bronze holder rings. The holder rings are secured by a threaded ring that mates with the piston. As part of the ongoing research and development activity, the Cummins Engine Company successfully completed a 100-hr test of the spherical joint piston and connecting rod at LE- 55 peak steady-state engine conditions. In addition, a 100-hr transient cycle test that varied engine conditions between LE-55 no-load and LE-55 full-load was successfully completed.

Blood-flow change and recovery of sensibility in the maxillary dental pulp during and after maxillary distraction: a pilot study.

PubMed

Harada, Kiyoshi; Sato, Masaru; Omura, Ken

2004-11-01

To examine the change in blood flow and recovery of sensibility in the maxillary dental pulp during and after maxillary distraction. The subjects included 5 patients undergoing high Le Fort I osteotomy and maxillary distraction (D-group) and a reference group of 14 patients who underwent a common single-segment Le Fort I osteotomy, 1-stage maxillary advancement, and mandibular setback surgery (C-group). Eleven (D-group) and 54 (C-group) maxillary incisors were assessed preoperatively and at 1-7 days, 14 days, and 3 months postoperatively. Pulpal blood flow (PBF) was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry, and pulpal sensibility (PS) was investigated by electrodiagnostics. From postoperative days 1 to 5 (the latency period), the PBF tended to be higher in the D-group than in the C-group. From day 6 to 3 months postoperatively (during and after maxillary distraction), the PBF values of the 2 groups were similar. The PS remained negative up to 14 days postoperatively in both groups. However, at 3 months after the operation, a higher proportion (90.9%) of teeth in the D-group was positive for PS. These results suggest that maxillary distraction is a favorable technique for maintenance of PBF and recovery of PS in the maxillary teeth after surgery.

The NASA LeRC regenerative fuel cell system testbed program for goverment and commercial applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maloney, Thomas M.; Prokopius, Paul R.; Voecks, Gerald E.

1995-01-01

The Electrochemical Technology Branch of the NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) has initiated a program to develop a renewable energy system testbed to evaluate, characterize, and demonstrate fully integrated regenerative fuel cell (RFC) system for space, military, and commercial applications. A multi-agency management team, led by NASA LeRC, is implementing the program through a unique international coalition which encompasses both government and industry participants. This open-ended teaming strategy optimizes the development for space, military, and commercial RFC system technologies. Program activities to date include system design and analysis, and reactant storage sub-system design, with a major emphasis centered upon testbed fabrication and installation and testing of two key RFC system components, namely, the fuel cells and electrolyzers. Construction of the LeRC 25 kW RFC system testbed at the NASA-Jet Propulsion Labortory (JPL) facility at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) is nearly complete and some sub-system components have already been installed. Furthermore, planning for the first commercial RFC system demonstration is underway.

Cloning, Characterization and Effect of TmPGRP-LE Gene Silencing on Survival of Tenebrio Molitor against Listeria monocytogenes Infection

PubMed Central

Tindwa, Hamisi; Patnaik, Bharat Bhusan; Kim, Dong Hyun; Mun, Seulgi; Jo, Yong Hun; Lee, Bok Luel; Lee, Yong Seok; Kim, Nam Jung; Han, Yeon Soo

2013-01-01

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are a family of innate immune molecules that recognize bacterial peptidoglycan. PGRP-LE, a member of the PGRP family, selectively binds to diaminopimelic acid (DAP)-type peptidoglycan to activate both the immune deficiency (Imd) and proPhenoloxidase (proPO) pathways in insects. A PGRP-LE-dependent induction of autophagy to control Listeria monocytogenes has also been reported. We identified and partially characterized a novel PGRP-LE homologue, from Tenebrio molitor and analyzed its functional role in the survival of the insect against infection by a DAP-type PGN containing intracellular pathogen, L. monocytogenes. The cDNA is comprised of an open reading frame (ORF) of 990 bp and encodes a polypeptide of 329 residues. TmPGRP-LE contains one PGRP domain, but lacks critical residues for amidase activity. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed a broad constitutive expression of the transcript at various stages of development spanning from larva to adult. RNAi mediated knockdown of the transcripts, followed by a challenge with L. monocytogenes, showed a significant reduction in survival rate of the larvae, suggesting a putative role of TmPGRP-LE in sensing and control of L. monocytogenes infection in T. molitor. These results implicate PGRP-LE as a defense protein necessary for survival of T. molitor against infection by L. monocytogenes. PMID:24240808

Cloning, characterization and effect of TmPGRP-LE gene silencing on survival of Tenebrio molitor against Listeria monocytogenes infection.

PubMed

Tindwa, Hamisi; Patnaik, Bharat Bhusan; Kim, Dong Hyun; Mun, Seulgi; Jo, Yong Hun; Lee, Bok Luel; Lee, Yong Seok; Kim, Nam Jung; Han, Yeon Soo

2013-11-14

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are a family of innate immune molecules that recognize bacterial peptidoglycan. PGRP-LE, a member of the PGRP family, selectively binds to diaminopimelic acid (DAP)-type peptidoglycan to activate both the immune deficiency (Imd) and proPhenoloxidase (proPO) pathways in insects. A PGRP-LE-dependent induction of autophagy to control Listeria monocytogenes has also been reported. We identified and partially characterized a novel PGRP-LE homologue, from Tenebrio molitor and analyzed its functional role in the survival of the insect against infection by a DAP-type PGN containing intracellular pathogen, L. monocytogenes. The cDNA is comprised of an open reading frame (ORF) of 990 bp and encodes a polypeptide of 329 residues. TmPGRP-LE contains one PGRP domain, but lacks critical residues for amidase activity. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed a broad constitutive expression of the transcript at various stages of development spanning from larva to adult. RNAi mediated knockdown of the transcripts, followed by a challenge with L. monocytogenes, showed a significant reduction in survival rate of the larvae, suggesting a putative role of TmPGRP-LE in sensing and control of L. monocytogenes infection in T. molitor. These results implicate PGRP-LE as a defense protein necessary for survival of T. molitor against infection by L. monocytogenes.

Biophysical and medical safety basis of laser emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paltsev, Yu.; Levina, A.

1996-01-01

Laser equipment may inflict serious losses to human health if safety norms established by relevant standards and other documentation are not properly observed. It is explained by physical properties of laser emission (LE) which differs from general light sources by quantitative behavior of such parameters as the degrees of coherence, monochromaticity, brightness, polarization. Thus, biological effects due to laser emission, as a rule, are more expressed comparing with other types of emission from other spontaneous light sources. LE effects biological tissues through the density of energy flow and impulse duration. It is common knowledge nowadays that LE biological action is assessed by two criteria: physical parameters and absorptive properties of tissues exposed to rays. LE causes the greatest danger to the eyes due to their specific structure. The next target organ vulnerable to LE is skin. Pathological changes of skin depend on the LE power, time of exposure, wave length, and the extent of skin pigmentation. Along with different kinds of damage directly in the tissues exposed to rays, LE may cause changes in organs and body systems subject to indirect exposure. It is important that these changes may develop due to low intensity levels of LE that do not cause local damage. National and international standards on LE safety are based on maximum allowable levels (MAL) of exposure. It has been generally accepted that the main MAL criterion is LE threshold minimal exposure which causes damage to retina, eyes, and skin. As distinct from foreign safety standards, hygienic norms and regulations are in force in the Russian Federation where additional co-efficients along with standard generally accepted MAL values have been introduced for the persons who are subject to occupational regular exposure to lasers. This approach has been chosen after the results of follow-up and health studies of these occupational contingents have been analyzed, and experiments on laboratory animals assessed.

Evaluation of toxic risk assessment of arsenic in male subjects through drinking water in southern Sindh Pakistan.

PubMed

Baig, Jameel Ahmed; Kazi, Tasneem Gul; Shah, Abdul Qadir; Afridi, Hassan Imran; Khan, Sumaira; Kolachi, Nida Fatima; Kandhro, Ghulam Abbas; Wadhwa, Sham Kumar; Shah, Faheem

2011-11-01

The arsenic (As) hazardous quotient was estimated based on concentration of As in drinking water and scalp hair of male subjects of two age groups (n=360) consuming As contaminated water at different levels and non-contaminated drinking water. The total As concentrations in drinking water of less-exposed (LE) and high-exposed (HE) areas was found to be 3- to 30-fold higher than the permissible limit of the World Health Organization (2004) for drinking water, while the levels of As in drinking water of non-exposed (NE) areas was within the permissible limit. The levels of As in scalp hair samples of male subjects of two age groups belonging to NE, LE, and HE areas ranged from 0.01 to 0.27, 0.11-1.31, and 0.36-6.80 μg/g, respectively. A significant correlation between As contents of drinking water and As concentration in scalp hair was observed in sub-district Gambit (r=0.825-0.852, p<0.001) as compared to those subjects belonging to LE sub-district Thari Mirwah. A toxicity risk assessment provides a hazard quotient corresponding to <10 that indicates non-carcinogenic exposure risk of understudy areas.

Humoral response against sialyl-Le(a) glycosylated protein species in esophageal cancer: Insights for immunoproteomic studies.

PubMed

Fernandes, Elisabete; Peixoto, Andreia; Neves, Manuel; Afonso, Luís Pedro; Santos, Lúcio Lara; Ferreira, José Alexandre

2015-12-01

Esophageal cancers (ECs) show poor prognosis and decreased overall survival due to late diagnosis and ineffective therapeutics, urging the introduction of novel biomarkers to aid disease management. The levels of sialyl-Lewis(a) antigen (sLe(a) ) are frequently increased in digestive tumours, which has been explored in serological non-invasive prognostication (CA19-9 test); however, with low sensitivity and specificity. Autoantibodies against cancer antigens are considered the next generation biomarkers, as they are present in circulation long before tumour-associated proteins. Based on these observations we have mined the serum of EC patients (n = 7) for antibodies against sLe(a) -glycosylated protein species. All EC were positive for sLe(a) , irrespectively of their histological nature but only two patients showed elevated CA19-9. Moreover, IgG titers, with emphasis on IgG1, were elevated in EC patients in comparison to the control group. SLe(a) -glycoproteins were then extracted from tumours of patients with negative CA19-9, isolated by immunoprecipitation and blotted with patients IgG. Autoantibodies against sLe(a) -glycosylated proteins were detected in all cases. Different SLe(a) -glycoproteins were observed for tumours of distinct histological natures, which now require identification and validation in larger patient sets. This preliminary data suggests that antoantibodies against sLe(a) glycosylated proteins hold potential for non-invasive diagnosis in CA19-9 negative cases and sets the rational for future immunoproteomic studies envisaging highly specific EC biomarkers. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Stress Distribution and Displacement of the Maxilla Following Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion with Tooth- and Bone-Borne Devices.

PubMed

Dalband, Mohsen; Kashani, Jamal; Hashemzehi, Hadi

2015-04-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the displacement and stress distribution during surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion under different surgical conditions with tooth- and bone-borne devices. Three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of a maxilla was constructed and an expansion force of 100 N was applied to the left and right molars and premolars with tooth-borne devices and the left and right of mid-palatal sutures at the first molar level with bone-borne devices. Five computer-aided design (CAD) models were simulated as follows and surgical procedures were used: G1: control group (without surgery); G2: Le Fort I osteotomy; G3: Le Fort I osteotomy and para-median osteotomy; G4: Le Fort I osteotomy and pterygomaxillary separation; and G5: Le Fort I osteotomy, para-median osteotomy, and pterygomaxillary separation. Maxillary displacement showed a gradual increase from G1 to G5 in all three planes of space, indicating that Le Fort I osteotomy combined with para-median osteotomy and pterygomaxillary separation produced the greatest displacement of the maxilla with both bone- and tooth-borne devices. Surgical relief and bone-borne devices resulted in significantly reduced stress on anchored teeth. Combination of Le Fort I and para-median osteotomy with pterygomaxillary separation seems to be an effective procedure for increasing maxillary expansion, and excessive stress side effects are lowered around the anchored teeth with the use of bone-borne devices.

Advanced Modulation and Coding Technology Conference

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

The objectives, approach, and status of all current LeRC-sponsored industry contracts and university grants are presented. The following topics are covered: (1) the LeRC Space Communications Program, and Advanced Modulation and Coding Projects; (2) the status of four contracts for development of proof-of-concept modems; (3) modulation and coding work done under three university grants, two small business innovation research contracts, and two demonstration model hardware development contracts; and (4) technology needs and opportunities for future missions.

Heavy vehicle propulsion system materials program: Semiannual progress report, April 1996--September 1996

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, D.R.

1997-04-01

The purpose of the Heavy Vehicle Propulsion System Materials Program is the development of materials: ceramics, intermetallics, metal alloys, and metal and ceramic coatings, to support the dieselization of class 1-3 trucks to realize a 35% fuel-economy improvement over current gasoline-fueled trucks and to support commercialization of fuel-flexible LE-55 low-emissions, high-efficiency diesel engines for class 7-8 trucks. The Office of Transportation Technologies, Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies (OTT OHVT) has an active program to develop the technology for advanced LE-55 diesel engines with 55% efficiency and low emissions levels of 2.0 g/bhp-h NO{sub x} and 0.05 g/bhp-h particulates. The goalmore » is also for the LE-55 engine to run on natural gas with efficiency approaching that of diesel fuel. The LE-55 program is being completed in FY 1997 and, after approximately 10 years of effort, has largely met the program goals of 55% efficiency and low emissions. However, the commercialization of the LE-55 technology requires more durable materials than those that have been used to demonstrate the goals. Heavy Vehicle Propulsion System Materials will, in concert with the heavy duty diesel engine companies, develop the durable materials required to commercialize the LE-55 technologies. OTT OHVT also recognizes a significant opportunity for reduction in petroleum consumption by dieselization of pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles. Application of the diesel engine to class 1, 2, and 3 trucks is expected to yield a 35% increase in fuel economy per vehicle. The foremost barrier to diesel use in this market is emission control. Once an engine is made certifiable, subsequent challenges will be in cost; noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH); and performance. Separate abstracts have been submitted to the database for contributions to this report.« less

Surgical management of patients with a history of early Le Fort III advancement after they have attained skeletal maturity.

PubMed

Caterson, E J; Shetye, Pradip R; Grayson, Barry H; McCarthy, Joseph G

2013-10-01

The classic Le Fort III procedure was recommended in syndromic craniosynostotic children to reduce exorbitism, improve airway function, and decrease dysmorphism. This study reports on a cohort of syndromic craniosynostosis patients who have undergone early primary subcranial (classic Tessier) Le Fort III advancement and who have been followed longitudinally through skeletal maturity and beyond. In this study, the Le Fort III advancements all occurred between the ages of 3 to 5 years, with a mean age of 4.6 years. Subsequently, these early Le Fort III patients were followed throughout development with longitudinal dental, medical, radiographic, and photographic evaluations conducted through skeletal maturity and beyond. For study inclusion, the patients had to have preoperative medical photographs and cephalometric studies at 6 months and 1, 5, and 10 years postoperatively after the primary Le Fort III advancement as well as cephalometric documentation 6 months and 1 year after the secondary midface advancement after skeletal maturity. After early or primary Le Fort III advancement, there was no evidence of relapse and only minimal anterior or horizontal postoperative growth of the midface. However, there was also a return of occlusal disharmony from "anticipated" mandibular growth, approaching a maximum at skeletal maturity. The dysmorphic concave facial profile and malocclusion, and airway and ocular considerations, provided the impetus for secondary midface surgery after skeletal maturity was attained. The data demonstrate that early Le Fort III advancement performed before the age of mixed dentition does not obviate the need for a secondary advancement after skeletal maturity is reached. Therapeutic, IV.

Extended Le Chatelier's formula for carbon dioxide dilution effect on flammability limits.

PubMed

Kondo, Shigeo; Takizawa, Kenji; Takahashi, Akifumi; Tokuhashi, Kazuaki

2006-11-02

Carbon dioxide dilution effect on the flammability limits was measured for various flammable gases. The obtained values were analyzed using the extended Le Chatelier's formula developed in a previous study. As a result, it has been found that the flammability limits of methane, propane, propylene, methyl formate, and 1,1-difluoroethane are adequately explained by the extended Le Chatelier's formula using a common set of parameter values. Ethylene, dimethyl ether, and ammonia behave differently from these compounds. The present result is very consistent with what was obtained in the case of nitrogen dilution.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Korean Toronto Extremity Salvage Score for extremity sarcoma.

PubMed

Kim, Han-Soo; Yun, JiYeon; Kang, Seungcheol; Han, Ilkyu

2015-07-01

A Korean version of Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), a widely used disease-specific patient-reported questionnaire for assessing physical function of sarcoma patients, has not been developed. 1) to translate and cross-culturally adapt the TESS into Korean, and 2) to examine its comprehensibility, reliability and validity. TESS was translated into Korean, then translated back into English, and reviewed by a committee to develop the consensus version of the Korean TESS. The Korean TESS was administered to 126 patients to examine its comprehensibility, reliability, and validity. Comprehensibility was high, as the patients rated questions as "easy" or "very easy" in 96% for the TESS lower extremity (LE) and in 97% for the TESS upper extremity (UE). Test-retest reliability with intraclass coefficient (0.874 for LE and 0.979 for UE) and internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha (0.978 for LE and 0.989 for UE) were excellent. Korean TESS correlated with the MSTS score (r = 0.772 for LE and r = 0.635 for UE), and physical functioning domain of EORTC-CLQ C30 (r = 0.840 for LE and r = 0.630 for UE). Our study suggests that Korean version of the TESS is a comprehensible, reliable, and valid instrument to measure patient-reported functional outcome in patients with extremity sarcoma. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor two (FGFR2) regulates uterine epithelial integrity and fertility in mice.

PubMed

Filant, Justyna; DeMayo, Franco J; Pru, James K; Lydon, John P; Spencer, Thomas E

2014-01-01

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) regulate luminal epithelial (LE) cell proliferation in the adult mouse uterus. This study tested the hypothesis that FGFR2 has a biological role in postnatal development and function of the uterus by conditionally deleting Fgfr2 after birth using progesterone receptor (Pgr)-Cre mice. Adult Fgfr2 mutant female mice were initially subfertile and became infertile with increasing parity. No defects in uterine gland development were observed in conditional Fgfr2 mutant mice. In the adult, Fgfr2 mutant mice possessed a histologically normal reproductive tract with the exception of the uterus. The LE of the Fgfr2 mutant uterus was stratified, but no obvious histological differences were observed in the glandular epithelium, stroma, or myometrium. Within the stratified LE, cuboidal basal cells were present and positive for basal cell markers (KRT14 and TRP63). Nulliparous bred Fgfr2 mutants contained normal numbers of blastocysts on Day 3.5 postmating, but the number of embryo implantation sites was substantially reduced on Day 5.5 postmating. These results support the idea that loss of FGFR2 in the uterus after birth alters its development, resulting in LE stratification and peri-implantation pregnancy loss.

An example of auto-anti-A1 agglutinins.

PubMed

Wright, J; Lim, F C; Freedman, J

1980-10-01

The serum of an elderly man, group A, Le(a+b-), contained an IgM antibody that agglutinated his own cells and the cells of random group A1 donors. Over a period of 5 months, the titre of these auto-anti-A1 agglutinins was 4 at 22 degrees C.

Binding ability of impromidine, a potent H2 agonist of histamine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anouar, A.; Lhadi, E.; Decock, P.; Kozlowskyinst4, H.

1999-09-01

Impromidine (fig.1) is a potent and selective histamine H2 receptor agonist and its structure comprises a strongly basic guanidine group containing two different imidazole-containing side chains. The present work deals with the study of coordination equilibria between impromidine and Cu(II) and Ni(II) in aqueous solution at 25 circC. Potentiometric, UV-Visible and EPR studies on Cu(II) complexes with impromidine have shown that this anti-ulcerogenic drug is a very potent chelating agent. This drug is found to be a very effective ligand for Ni(II) ions also. The effective coordination of impromidine to metal ions may have significant biological implications. L'impromidine est un agoniste H2 de l'histamine, sa structure possède un groupement guanidinique de forte basicité et dont l'environne ment des deux groupements imidazoliques est différent. Le présent travail consiste en l'étude de la coordination de l'impromidine avec le Cu(II) et le Ni(II) en milieu aqueux à 25 circC. La potentiométrie, LíUV-Visible et la RPE montrent que le cuivre se coordine très fortement avec l'impromidine. Nous avons trouvé que ce médicament se coordine aussi fortement avec le nickel(II). La coordination de l'impromidine avec les métaux pourrait avoir des applications importantes en médecine.

[Effects of nootropic drugs on hippocampal and cortical BDNF levels in mice with different exploratory behavior efficacy].

PubMed

Firstova, Iu Iu; Dolotov, O V; Kondrakhin, e A; Dubynina, E V; Grivennikov, I A; Kovalev, G I

2009-01-01

The influence of subchronic administration of nootropic drugs (piracetam, phenotropil, meclophenoxate, pantocalcine, semax, nooglutil) on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) content in hippocampal and cortical tissues in mice with different exploratory behavior--high efficacy (HE) against low efficacy (LE)--in cross-maze test has been studied. The initial BDNF concentration in hippocamp (but not in cortex) of control HE mice was higher than that in LE mice (LE, 0.091 +/- 0.005 pg/microg; HE, 0.177 +/- 0.005 pg/microg; p < 0.0005). After drug administration, changes in the BDNF level were only observed in the hippocamp of LE mice, where it reached (pg/microg) 0.115 +/- 0.004 (for piracetam); 0.119 +/- 0.006 (for phenotropil); 0.123 +/- 0.007 (for semax); and 0.122 +/- 0.009 (for meclophenoxate). In the LE mice cortex, the BDNF content increased only after piracetam and semax injections (to 0.083 +/- 0.003 and 0.093 +/- 0.008, respectively, vs. 0.071 +/- 0.003 pg/microg in the control group; p < 0.0005). No changes were observed in the cortex of HE mice. Thus, the obtained results demonstrate that clinically used drugs piracetam, phenotropil, meclophenoxate, and semax realize their nootrope effects, at least partially, via increase in hippocampal BDNF level, which is achieved only under conditions of cognitive deficiency.

Macrosomie fœtale à Lubumbashi: facteurs de risque et pronostic maternel et périnatal

PubMed Central

Luhete, Prosper Kakudji; Mukuku, Olivier; Kiopin, Patrick Mubinda; Tambwe, Albert Mwembo; Kayamba, Prosper Kalenga Muenze

2016-01-01

Introduction La macrosomie fœtale est habituellement définie par un poids de naissance supérieur ou égal à 4000 grammes. L'objectif de cette étude est de déterminer la fréquence de la macrosomie, d'identifier les facteurs étiologiques et d’évaluer le pronostic maternel et périnatal. Méthodes Il s'agit d'une étude cas-témoins menéeau sein des maternités de 10 hôpitaux généraux de référence de la ville de Lubumbashi en République Démocratique du Congoentre le 1er décembre 2013 et le 31 mars 2014. Les accouchées ont été réparties en deux groupes, en fonction du poids de naissance de leurs nouveau-nés: groupe I (≥4000 grammes ou plus) et groupe II (2500 à 3500 grammes). Les caractéristiques maternelles, l'environnement obstétrical ainsi que le pronostic maternel et périnatal ont été étudiés et comparés dans les deux groupes. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide du logiciel Épi info version 7.1. Les différences étaient jugées significatives pour un seuil de p<0,05. Résultats Au total, 668 mères et leurs nouveau-nés ont été inclus dont 167 macrosomes et 501témoins. L'incidence de la macrosomie fœtale était de 5,7%. Comparativement aux mères de témoins, nous avons trouvé que les mères des nouveau-nés macrosomes étaient plus âgées, multipares, multigestes, obèses, diabétiques et avaient antérieurement donné naissance à un macrosome. Les taux de césarienne et de délivrance pathologique étaient significativement élevés chez les mères de macrosomes que chez celles de témoins. Lesexe masculin était significativement plus prédominant chez macrosomes que chez les témoins. La dystocie des épaules étaitenregistrée uniquement dans le groupe des macrosomes. Conclusion La prévalence de l'accouchement d'un macrosome à Lubumbashi est de 5,7%. La macrosomie est souvent à l'origine de complications maternelles et périnatales. La réduction de ces dernières passe par une meilleure connaissance des facteurs de risque et un dépistage précoce. PMID:27303582

Cavernous hemangioma of the orbit: an unusual acute presentation

PubMed Central

Louisraj, Sophia; Ponnudurai, Thendral; Rodriguez, Dominic; Thomas, Philip A; Nelson Jesudasan, Christadoss Arul

2017-01-01

We report an unusual presentation of an orbital cavernous hemangioma in a 26-year-old female, who noted sudden redness and swelling of the left eye (LE) on waking up. At presentation, upper eyelid edema with periorbital ecchymosis and subconjunctival hemorrhage were noted in the LE. Although there was transient symptomatic relief with topical medications, blurring of vision developed in the LE. When seen 10 days later, the patient’s LE showed axial proptosis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intraconal soft tissue mass in the superomedial quadrant of the left orbit. Superior orbitotomy with mass excision was done; histopathological examination of the excised mass revealed a cavernous hemangioma. The patient had complete visual recovery following surgery. To our knowledge, an acute presentation of an orbital cavernous hemangioma with subconjunctival hemorrhage and periorbital ecchymosis has not previously been reported. PMID:28769595

Prognostic value of intraventricular bleeding in spontaneous intraparenchymal cerebral hemorrhage of small volume: a prospective cohort study.

PubMed

Fortes Lima, Telmo Tiburcio; Prandini, Mirto Nelso; Gallo, Pasquale; Cavalheiro, Sérgio

2012-04-01

The literature is controversial on whether intraventricular bleeding has a negative impact on the prognosis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Nevertheless, an association between intraventricular bleeding and spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage volumes has been consistently reported. To evaluate the prognostic value of intraventricular bleeding in deep intraparenchymal hypertensive spontaneous hemorrhage with a bleeding volume <30 cm(3). Of the 320 patients initially evaluated, 33 met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in this prospective study. The volume of intraparenchymal hemorrhage was calculated by brain computed tomography (CT) image analysis, and the volume of intraventricular bleeding was calculated by the LeRoux scale. Clinical data, including neurological complications, were collected daily during hospitalization. Neurological outcome was evaluated 30 days after the event by using the Glasgow outcome scale. Patients were assigned to 1 of 3 groups according to intraventricular bleeding: Control, no intraventricular bleeding; LR 1, intraventricular bleeding with LeRoux scale scores of 1 to 8; or LR 2, intraventricular bleeding with LeRoux scale scores >8. There were no significant differences among groups concerning age, mean blood pressure, and time from onset to brain CT scan. Patients with greater intraventricular bleeding presented lower initial Glasgow coma scale scores, increased ventricular index and width of temporal horns, increased number of clinical and neurological complications, and longer hospitalization. Furthermore, their relative risk for unfavorable clinical outcome was 1.9 (95% confidence interval 1.25-2.49). Intraventricular bleeding with a LeRoux scale score >8 appears to have a negative effect on deep spontaneous intraparenchymal cerebral hemorrhage of small volume.

Anal canal squamous cell cancer: are surgical alternatives to chemoradiation just as effective?

PubMed

Suradkar, Kunal; Pappou, Emmanouil E; Lee-Kong, Steven A; Feingold, Daniel L; Kiran, Ravi P

2018-02-01

The purpose of this paper is to study long-term oncologic outcomes after different treatment strategies for anal canal cancer (SCAC). Patients with SCAC (2004-2013) were identified from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Patients undergoing radiation (RT) were compared to those undergoing local excision (LE), abdominoperineal resection (APR), and abdominoperineal resection after radiation (RT + APR). Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) data were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression. Two thousand seven hundred and seventy-two (83.8%) patients underwent RT, 382 (11.6%) LE, 77 (2.3%) APR, 76 (2.3%) RT + APR. Median age for the four groups was 60, 57, 64, and 56 years and 32, 49.7, 53.2, and 39.5% were male, respectively, while median tumor size was 4.4, 2.6, 5.3, and 5.5 cm, respectively. Five-year OS of RT, LE, APR, and RT + APR groups was 63.7, 79.6, 25.8, and 41.8% while CSS was 79.6, 92.5, 75.6, and 58.8%, respectively, (p < 0.001). Adjusted hazard ratios for OS for LE, APR, and RT + APR with RT as reference were 1.007 (0.702-1.444), 2.311 (1.367-3.906), and 2.072 (1.016-4.228), respectively. These data suggest that APR does not provide better outcomes in treatment of SCAC. Chemoradiation remains the gold standard treatment for majority of patients. Local excision is associated with favorable outcomes in some circumstances.

Substitution of a single amino acid residue in the aromatic/arginine selectivity filter alters the transport profiles of tonoplast aquaporin homologs.

PubMed

Azad, Abul Kalam; Yoshikawa, Naoki; Ishikawa, Takahiro; Sawa, Yoshihiro; Shibata, Hitoshi

2012-01-01

Aquaporins are integral membrane proteins that facilitate the transport of water and some small solutes across cellular membranes. X-ray crystallography of aquaporins indicates that four amino acids constitute an aromatic/arginine (ar/R) pore constriction known as the selectivity filter. On the basis of these four amino acids, tonoplast aquaporins called tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs) are divided into three groups in Arabidopsis. Herein, we describe the characterization of two group I TIP1s (TgTIP1;1 and TgTIP1;2) from tulip (Tulipa gesneriana). TgTIP1;1 and TgTIP1;2 have a novel isoleucine in loop E (LE2 position) of the ar/R filter; the residue at LE2 is a valine in all group I TIPs from model plants. The homologs showed mercury-sensitive water channel activity in a fast kinetics swelling assay upon heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris. Heterologous expression of both homologs promoted the growth of P. pastoris on ammonium or urea as sole sources of nitrogen and decreased growth and survival in the presence of H(2)O(2). TgTIP1;1- and TgTIP1;2-mediated H(2)O(2) conductance was demonstrated further by a fluorescence assay. Substitutions in the ar/R selectivity filter of TgTIP1;1 showed that mutants that mimicked the ar/R constriction of group I TIPs could conduct the same substrates that were transported by wild-type TgTIP1;1. In contrast, mutants that mimicked group II TIPs showed no evidence of urea or H(2)O(2) conductance. These results suggest that the amino acid residue at LE2 position is critical for the transport selectivity of the TIP homologs and group I TIPs might have a broader spectrum of substrate selectivity than group II TIPs. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cost-Effectiveness of a Biodegradable Compared to a Titanium Fixation System in Maxillofacial Surgery: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

van Bakelen, N. B.; Vermeulen, K. M.; Buijs, G. J.; Jansma, J.; de Visscher, J. G. A. M.; Hoppenreijs, Th. J. M.; Bergsma, J. E.; Stegenga, B.; Bos, R. R. M.

2015-01-01

Background Biodegradable fixation systems could reduce/delete the problems associated with titanium plate removal. This means less surgical discomfort, and a reduction in costs. Aim The aim of the present study was to compare the cost-effectiveness between a biodegradable and a titanium system in Maxillofacial surgery. Materials and Methods This multicenter RCT was performed in the Netherlands from December 2006 to July 2009. Included were 230 patients who underwent a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO), a Le Fort-I osteotomy, or a bi-maxillary osteotomy and those treated for fractures of the mandible, maxilla, or zygoma. The patients were randomly assigned to a titanium group (KLS Martin) or to a biodegradable group (Inion CPS). Costs were assessed from a societal perspective. Health outcomes in the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were bone healing (8 weeks) and plate removal (2 years). Results In 25 out of the 117 patients who were randomized to the biodegradable group, the maxillofacial surgeon made the decision to switch to the titanium system intra-operatively. This resulted in an Intention-To-Treat (ITT-)analysis and a Treatment-Received (TR-) analysis. Both analyses indicated that operations performed with titanium plates and screws had better health outcomes. In the TR-analysis the costs were lower in the biodegradable group, in the ITT-analysis costs were lower in the titanium group. Conclusion and Discussion The difference in costs between the ITT and the TR analyses can be explained by the intra-operative switches: In the TR-analysis the switches were analysed in the titanium group. In the ITT-analysis they were analysed in the biodegradable group. Considering the cost-effectiveness the titanium system is preferable to the biodegradable system in the regular treatment spectrum of mandibular, Le Fort-I, and zygomatic fractures, and BSSO’s, Le Fort-I osteotomies and bimaxillary osteotomies. Trial Registration Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN 44212338 PMID:26192813

Initiatives: The Escher Dilemma; Lowering the Bar or Helium Pole; Phillippe le Basquette (Fill the Basket); Concentration Point; Who Done It?/the Lie Game; A Missing Piece; Mindfulness Meditation; Untying Knots: Bending on Teamwork; Triangle Tag for Church Groups.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butler, Steve; Gass, Mike; Schoel, Jim; Murphy, Morgan; Murray, Mark; White, Will; Loggers, Otto; Renaker, Paul

1999-01-01

Describes nine group problem-solving and communication initiatives used in adventure- and experiential-education settings. Includes target group, group size, time and space requirements, activity level, props, instructions, and tips for post-activity group reflection and processing. Activities emphasize teamwork, communication skills, and a…

Development of a Dynamic Biomechanical Model for Load Carriage: Phase II Part A: Initial Development of a Novel Strap Tension Sensor

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-08-01

substantielle » et pourrait de ce fait être breveté. D’autres avenues (que le brevetage) sont possibles pour la commercialisation du dispositif en...breveté. D’autres avenues (que le brevetage) sont possibles pour la commercialisation du dispositif en protégeant certains de ses aspects au moyen...information: 1. INVENTOR(S) A. University Name Dept. Faculty Phone Susan A. Reid, School of Physical and Health Education

Using a graphical programming language to write CAMAC/GPIB instrument drivers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zambrana, Horacio; Johanson, William

1991-01-01

To reduce the complexities of conventional programming, graphical software was used in the development of instrumentation drivers. The graphical software provides a standard set of tools (graphical subroutines) which are sufficient to program the most sophisticated CAMAC/GPIB drivers. These tools were used and instrumentation drivers were successfully developed for operating CAMAC/GPIB hardware from two different manufacturers: LeCroy and DSP. The use of these tools is presented for programming a LeCroy A/D Waveform Analyzer.

Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A) of Federations (Verification, validation et accreditation (VV&A) des federations)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-04-01

le manque de modèle universel pour la Vérification, la Validation et l’Accréditation des fédérations à cause des perspectives et besoins nationaux...federation application will depend on a number of factors, including the quality of the requirements information and the resources allocated to the VV&A...required) allocating the required functionality to federates, and developing a detailed plan for federation development and implementation. Step 4

Symetries et integrabilite des equations aux differences finies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lafortune, Stephane

2000-09-01

La présente thèse porte sur l'étude des symétries et des propriétés d'intégrabilité des équations aux différences finies. Dans le chapitre 1, le groupe de symétrie ponctuelle d'un système couplé à deux équations différentielles aux différences est étudié. On montre que dans certains cas, la dimension du groupe peut être infinie. Les équations peuvent décrire l'interaction de deux longues chaînes moléculaires, chacune étant composée d'atomes d'un même type. Dans le chapitre 2, une classe de théories de champs avec interaction exponentielle est introduite. L'interaction dépend de deux matrices de ``couplage'' et est suffisamment générale pour inclure toutes les théories de champs de Toda existant dans la littérature. Les symétries de Lie ponctuelles sont obtenues pour les cas où l'on a un nombre fini, infini ou semi-infini de champs. Une attention spéciale est accordée à la présence de l'invariance conforme. Dans le chapitre 3, nous procédons à la classification et à l'étude d'équations linéarisables. Nous examinons tout d'abord l'équation de Gambier continue qui contient, comme réductions, toutes les équations de deuxième ordre intégrables par linéarisation. Nous introduisons par la suite la forme discrète de cette équation et obtenons les conditions d'intégrabilité à l'aide du confinement des singularités. Nous étudions aussi les différentes réductions du cas discret. De plus, nous obtenons des transformations de Schlesinger pour les équations de Gambier discrète et continue. Dans la dernière partie du chapitre, nous étudions une famille d'équations discrètes du deuxième ordre incluant des équations résolubles par linéarisation. Plusieurs cas intégrables sont obtenus. Dans le cas discret, l'étude de l'intégrabilité est faite à l'aide du confinement des singularités. Dans le chapitre 4, nous étudions un autre critère d'intégrabilité: l'entropie algébrique. Nous montrons que les résultats obtenus avec ce critère pour les équations linéarisables sont les mêmes que ceux obtenus avec le confinement des singularités. Nous obtenons de plus une méthode algorithmique pour la détection de la linéarisabilité. Le chapitre 5 est consacré à l'étude d'équations du troisième ordre. Nous obtenons des équations intégrables par des couplages d'équations du premier et du deuxième ordre. Les équations continues sont étudiées à l'aide de l'analyse de Painlevé et le confinement des singularités est utilisé dans le cas discret.

Differentiation of patients with leprosy from non-infected individuals by the chemokine eotaxin/CCL11.

PubMed

Mendonça, Vanessa A; Malaquias, Luiz C; Brito-Melo, Gustavo E; Castelo-Branco, Alexandre; Antunes, Carlos M; Ribeiro, Antonio L; Teixeira, Mauro M; Teixeira, Antonio L

2007-09-01

Diagnosis of leprosy is usually made clinically and there are no tests available for the routine laboratory diagnosis of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of chemokines as biologic markers of disease activity. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure chemokines in plasma of patients with leprosy (LE) and non-infected (NI) individuals. There were significantly greater concentrations of the chemokines CCL3 and CCL11 in plasma of LE patients than in NI individuals. When the use of CCL11 to differentiate LE patients versus NI individuals was evaluated, the area under the receiver-operator-characteristic curve was 0.95 +/- 0.03 (P < 0.0001). In a group of selected individuals, CCL11 was useful in diagnosis of leprosy, thereby suggesting that measurement of this chemokine may be useful as an aid in diagnosing leprosis.

Persistent anterograde amnesia following limbic encephalitis associated with antibodies to the voltage-gated potassium channel complex.

PubMed

Butler, Christopher R; Miller, Thomas D; Kaur, Manveer S; Baker, Ian W; Boothroyd, Georgie D; Illman, Nathan A; Rosenthal, Clive R; Vincent, Angela; Buckley, Camilla J

2014-04-01

Limbic encephalitis (LE) associated with antibodies to the voltage-gated potassium channel complex (VGKC) is a potentially reversible cause of cognitive impairment. Despite the prominence of cognitive dysfunction in this syndrome, little is known about patients' neuropsychological profile at presentation or their long-term cognitive outcome. We used a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery to evaluate cognitive function longitudinally in 19 patients with VGKC-LE. Before immunotherapy, the group had significant impairment of memory, processing speed and executive function, whereas language and perceptual organisation were intact. At follow-up, cognitive impairment was restricted to the memory domain, with processing speed and executive function having returned to the normal range. Residual memory function was predicted by the antibody titre at presentation. The results show that, despite broad cognitive dysfunction in the acute phase, patients with VGKC-LE often make a substantial recovery with immunotherapy but may be left with permanent anterograde amnesia.

Performance and Accuracy of Lightweight and Low-Cost GPS Data Loggers According to Antenna Positions, Fix Intervals, Habitats and Animal Movements

PubMed Central

Forin-Wiart, Marie-Amélie; Hubert, Pauline; Sirguey, Pascal; Poulle, Marie-Lazarine

2015-01-01

Recently developed low-cost Global Positioning System (GPS) data loggers are promising tools for wildlife research because of their affordability for low-budget projects and ability to simultaneously track a greater number of individuals compared with expensive built-in wildlife GPS. However, the reliability of these devices must be carefully examined because they were not developed to track wildlife. This study aimed to assess the performance and accuracy of commercially available GPS data loggers for the first time using the same methods applied to test built-in wildlife GPS. The effects of antenna position, fix interval and habitat on the fix-success rate (FSR) and location error (LE) of CatLog data loggers were investigated in stationary tests, whereas the effects of animal movements on these errors were investigated in motion tests. The units operated well and presented consistent performance and accuracy over time in stationary tests, and the FSR was good for all antenna positions and fix intervals. However, the LE was affected by the GPS antenna and fix interval. Furthermore, completely or partially obstructed habitats reduced the FSR by up to 80% in households and increased the LE. Movement across habitats had no effect on the FSR, whereas forest habitat influenced the LE. Finally, the mean FSR (0.90 ± 0.26) and LE (15.4 ± 10.1 m) values from low-cost GPS data loggers were comparable to those of built-in wildlife GPS collars (71.6% of fixes with LE < 10 m for motion tests), thus confirming their suitability for use in wildlife studies. PMID:26086958

Implementation of a virtual link between power system testbeds at Marshall Spaceflight Center and Lewis Research Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doreswamy, Rajiv

1990-01-01

The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) owns and operates a space station module power management and distribution (SSM-PMAD) testbed. This system, managed by expert systems, is used to analyze and develop power system automation techniques for Space Station Freedom. The Lewis Research Center (LeRC), Cleveland, Ohio, has developed and implemented a space station electrical power system (EPS) testbed. This system and its power management controller are representative of the overall Space Station Freedom power system. A virtual link is being implemented between the testbeds at MSFC and LeRC. This link would enable configuration of SSM-PMAD as a load center for the EPS testbed at LeRC. This connection will add to the versatility of both systems, and provide an environment of enhanced realism for operation of both testbeds.

Le groupe de recherches transfusionnelles d’Afrique francophone: bilan des cinq premières années

PubMed Central

Tagny, Claude Tayou; Murphy, Edward L.; Lefrère, Jean-Jacques

2016-01-01

Les travaux de recherches sur la sécurité transfusionnelle en Afrique sub-saharienne sont peu nombreux, souvent limités à des initiatives locales avec des conclusions difficilement représentatives de cette région. Le Groupe de recherches transfusionnelles en Afrique sub-saharienne francophone a été créé en mai 2007 avec pour objectif de développer des stratégies globales d’amélioration de la sécurité transfusionnelle mais adaptables à la situation de chaque pays. Les activités du Groupe à ce jour ont porté essentiellement sur l’obtention de données épidémiologiques et de laboratoire sur la transfusion sanguine et à proposer des stratégies de sécurité transfusionnelle dans le domaine des infections transmissibles par la transfusion. Pour mener à bien ces activités de recherche, le Groupe travaille en étroite collaboration avec les Centres nationaux de transfusion sanguine (CNTS), les Centres régionaux de transfusion sanguine (CRTS), les banques de sang hospitalières (BSH) et les postes de collecte de sang. Pour les 5 premières années, quatre priorités de recherche ont été identifiées: (i) des études descriptives sur les caractéristiques des donneurs de sang et des centres de transfusion; (ii) une estimation du risque résiduel post-transfusionnel des principales infections virales transmissibles par la transfusion; (iii) une analyse des stratégies de sélection médicale des donneurs de sang; et (iv) une description des stratégies de dépistage des ITT et une description du système d’assurance qualité externe existant. Durant cette période, sept projets ont été mis en œuvre au niveau national et publiés et cinq études multicentriques ont été réalisées et publiées. La présente étude rapporte les principales observations et recommandations de ces études. PMID:24360798

Postoperative Walking Ability of Non-ambulatory Cervical Myelopathy Patients.

PubMed

Takeoka, Yoshiki; Kaneyama, Shuichi; Sumi, Masatoshi; Kasahara, Koichi; Kanemura, Aritetsu; Takabatake, Masato; Hirata, Hiroaki; Tsubosaka, Masanori

2018-02-16

A retrospective analysis. The aim of this study was to clarify the postoperative improvement of walking ability and prognostic factors in nonambulatory patients with cervical myelopathy. Many researchers have reported the surgical outcome in compressive cervical myelopathy. However, regarding severe gait disturbance,, it has not been clarified yet how much improvement can be expected. One hundred thirty-one nonambulatory patients with cervical myelopathy were treated surgically and followed for an average of 3 years. Walking ability was graded according to the lower-extremity function subscore (L/E subscore) in Japanese Orthopedic Association score. We divided patients based on preoperative L/E subscores: group A, L/E subscore of 1 point (71 patients); and group B, 0 or 0.5 point (60 patients). The postoperative walking ability was graded by L/E subscore: excellent, ≥2 points; good, 1.5 points; fair, 1 point; and poor, 0.5 or 0 points. We compared preoperative and postoperative scores. The cutoff value of disease duration providing excellent improvement was investigated. Overall, 50 patients were graded as excellent (38.2%), and 21 patients were graded as good (16.0%). In group B, 17 patients (28.3%) were graded as excellent. Seventeen patients who were graded as excellent had shorter durations of myelopathic symptoms and/or gait disturbance (7.9 and 3.8 months respectively) than the others (29.5 and 8.9 months, respectively) (P < 0.05). Receiver-operating characteristic curve showed that the optimal cutoff values of the duration of myelopathic symptoms and gait disturbance providing excellent improvement were 3 and 2 months, respectively. Even if the patients were nonambulatory, 28.3% of them became able to walk without support after operation. If a patient becomes nonambulatory within 3 months from the onset of myelopathy or 2 months from the onset of gait disturbance, surgical treatment should be performed immediately to raise the possibility to improve stable gait. 3.

Safety of contemporary percutaneous peripheral arterial interventions in the elderly insights from the BMC2 PVI (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium Peripheral Vascular Intervention) registry.

PubMed

Plaisance, Benjamin R; Munir, Khan; Share, David A; Mansour, M Ashraf; Fox, James M; Bove, Paul G; Riba, Arthur L; Chetcuti, Stanley J; Gurm, Hitinder S; Grossman, P Michael

2011-06-01

This study sought to evaluate the effect of age on procedure type, periprocedural management, and in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing lower-extremity (LE) peripheral vascular intervention (PVI). Surgical therapy of peripheral arterial disease is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the elderly. There are limited data related to the influence of advanced age on the outcome of patients undergoing percutaneous LE PVI. Clinical presentation, comorbidities, and in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing LE PVI in a multicenter, multidisciplinary registry were compared between 3 age groups: < 70 years, between 70 and 80 years, and ≥ 80 years (elderly group). In our cohort, 7,769 patients underwent LE PVI. The elderly patients were more likely to be female and to have a greater burden of comorbidities. Procedural success was lower in the elderly group (74.2% for age ≥ 80 years vs. 78% for age 70 to < 80 years and 81.4% in patients age < 70 years, respectively; p < 0.0001). Unadjusted rates of procedure-related vascular access complications, post-procedure transfusion, contrast-induced nephropathy, amputation, and major adverse cardiac events were higher in elderly patients. After adjustment for baseline covariates, the elderly patients were more likely to experience vascular access complications; however, advanced age was not found to be associated with major adverse cardiac events, transfusion, contrast-induced nephropathy, or amputation. Contemporary PVI can be performed in elderly patients with high procedural and technical success with low rates of periprocedural complications including mortality. These findings may support the notion of using PVI as a preferred revascularization strategy in the treatment of severe peripheral arterial disease in the elderly population. Copyright © 2011 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The challenge of linguistic and cultural diversity: Does length of experience affect South African speech-language therapists' management of children with language impairment?

PubMed

Southwood, Frenette; Van Dulm, Ondene

2015-02-10

South African speech-language therapists (SLTs) currently do not reflect the country's linguistic and cultural diversity. The question arises as to who might be better equipped currently to provide services to multilingual populations: SLTs with more clinical experience in such contexts, or recently trained SLTs who are themselves linguistically and culturally diverse and whose training programmes deliberately focused on multilingualism and multiculturalism? To investigate whether length of clinical experience influenced: number of bilingual children treated, languages spoken by these children, languages in which assessment and remediation can be offered, assessment instrument(s) favoured, and languages in which therapy material is required. From questionnaires completed by 243 Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)-registered SLTs who treat children with language problems, two groups were drawn:71 more experienced (ME) respondents (20+ years of experience) and 79 less experienced (LE) respondents (maximum 5 years of experience). The groups did not differ significantly with regard to (1) number of children(monolingual or bilingual) with language difficulties seen, (2) number of respondents seeing child clients who have Afrikaans or an African language as home language, (3) number of respondents who can offer intervention in Afrikaans or English and (4) number of respondents who reported needing therapy material in Afrikaans or English. However, significantly more ME than LE respondents reported seeing first language child speakers of English, whereas significantly more LE than ME respondents could provide services, and required therapy material, in African languages. More LE than ME SLTs could offer remediation in an African language, but there were few other significant differences between the two groups. There is still an absence of appropriate assessment and remediation material for Afrikaans and African languages, but the increased number of African language speakers entering the profession may contribute to better service delivery to the diverse South African population.

The challenge of linguistic and cultural diversity: Does length of experience affect South African speech-language therapists’ management of children with language impairment?

PubMed Central

Southwood, Frenette; van Dulm, Ondene

2015-01-01

Background South African speech-language therapists (SLTs) currently do not reflect the country's linguistic and cultural diversity. The question arises as to who might be better equipped currently to provide services to multilingual populations: SLTs with more clinical experience in such contexts, or recently trained SLTs who are themselves linguistically and culturally diverse and whose training programmes deliberately focused on multilingualism and multiculturalism? Aims To investigate whether length of clinical experience influenced: number of bilingual children treated, languages spoken by these children, languages in which assessment and remediation can be offered, assessment instrument(s) favoured, and languages in which therapy material is required. Method From questionnaires completed by 243 Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)-registered SLTs who treat children with language problems, two groups were drawn: 71 more experienced (ME) respondents (20+ years of experience) and 79 less experienced (LE) respondents (maximum 5 years of experience). Results The groups did not differ significantly with regard to (1) number of children (monolingual or bilingual) with language difficulties seen, (2) number of respondents seeing child clients who have Afrikaans or an African language as home language, (3) number of respondents who can offer intervention in Afrikaans or English and (4) number of respondents who reported needing therapy material in Afrikaans or English. However, significantly more ME than LE respondents reported seeing first language child speakers of English, whereas significantly more LE than ME respondents could provide services, and required therapy material, in African languages. Conclusion More LE than ME SLTs could offer remediation in an African language, but there were few other significant differences between the two groups. There is still an absence of appropriate assessment and remediation material for Afrikaans and African languages, but the increased number of African language speakers entering the profession may contribute to better service delivery to the diverse South African population. PMID:26304212

Obésité abdominale et autres biomarqueurs de risque cardiométabolique: influence du niveau socioéconomique et du mode de vie dans deux populations noires apparentées, Cotonou (Bénin) et Port-au-Prince (Haïti)

PubMed Central

Mabchour, Asma EL; Delisle, Hélène; Vilgrain, Colette; Larco, Phillipe; Sodjinou, Roger

2016-01-01

Introduction L’augmentation du risque cardio-métabolique (RCM) dans les pays à faible et à moyen revenu résulte pour large part d’une transition nutritionnelle rapide. Cette étude est réalisée dans deux groupes de population apparentés mais vivant dans des environnements différents. Elle vise à cerner la relation entre le mode de vie et les biomarqueurs de RCM, ainsi qu’entre l’obésité abdominale (OA) et les autres biomarqueurs. Méthodes L’étude porte sur 200 Béninois de Cotonou et 252 Haïtiens de Port-au-Prince (PAP) âgés de 25 à 60 ans et apparemment en bonne santé. L’OA est définie spécifiquement par un tour de taille (TT) ≥ 88cm (hommes) et ≥ 95cm (femmes). Les autres biomarqueurs les plus fréquents sont considérés: un ratio cholestérol total/HDL-cholestérol élevé, une tension artérielle élevée et la résistance à l’insuline d’après HOMA (Homeostasis Model Assessement). Le niveau socio-économique (NSE), l’alimentation, la consommation d’alcool et de tabac sont documentés par questionnaire. Deux schémas alimentaires ressortent de l’analyse typologique, l’un traditionnel et l’autre « transitionnel », avec une fréquence accrue d’aliments occidentaux. Résultats Le NSE, la consommation d’alcool et le tabagisme sont associés au RCM, mais non le schéma alimentaire. L’OA est associée aux autres biomarqueurs de RCM, sans effet marqué du NSE et des variables du mode de vie. Conclusion Les valeurs-seuilsspécifiques de TT se confirment. Aussi, le NSE et le mode de vie influencent le RCM mais non la relation entre l’OA et les autres biomarqueurs de RCM. PMID:28154661

Activités physiques libres ou encadrées et condition physique liée à la santé chez des adultes burundais: étude transversale

PubMed Central

Bizimana, Jean Berchmans; Lawani, Mansourou Mohamed; Akplogan, Barnabé; Gaturagi, Charles

2016-01-01

Introduction l’activité physique régulière a un impact positif sur la santé. Cette étude a pour objet de comparer la condition physique liée à la santé des adultes qui s’exercent librement avec celle des adultes bénéficiant d’un encadrement professionnel. Elle tente aussi d’établir une relation entre le niveau d’activité physique et les paramètres de la condition liée à la santé. Méthodes nous avons évalué le niveau d’activité physique et les paramètres de la condition physique liée à la santé. Par le test t pour échantillons indépendants, nous avons comparé les moyennes et avons par le calcul du coefficient de corrélation r de Pearson analysé la relation entre le niveau d’activité physique et les paramètres de la condition physique. Résultats des écarts significatifs (p < 0,05) de niveau d’activité physique, de souplesse, de V˙O2max et de la FC de repos ont été enregistrés en faveur du groupe encadré. Le niveau d’activité physique est positivement corrélé (p < 0,05) au V˙O2max et à la force de préhension mais négativement corrélé à la FC de repos et au cholestérol LDL. La prévalence des facteurs de risque cardiovasculaire n’est pas élevée excepté pour le cholestérol HDL. Conclusion les résultats de cette étude montrent que l’activité physique libre est aussi efficace que l’activité physique encadrée dans le maintien des profils lipidique et physiologique favorables à la santé chez l’adulte burundais. Cependant, l’activité physique encadrée apporte des bénéfices supplémentaires pour le V˙O2max, la fréquence cardiaque de repos, la souplesse antérieure et la détente verticale PMID:28203315

Limbic encephalitis associated with anti-NH2-terminal of α-enolase antibodies

PubMed Central

Kishitani, Toru; Matsunaga, Akiko; Ikawa, Masamichi; Hayashi, Kouji; Yamamura, Osamu; Hamano, Tadanori; Watanabe, Osamu; Tanaka, Keiko; Nakamoto, Yasunari; Yoneda, Makoto

2017-01-01

Abstract Several types of autoantibodies have been reported in autoimmune limbic encephalitis (LE), such as antibodies against the voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex including leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1). We recently reported a patient with autoimmune LE and serum anti-NH2-terminal of α-enolase (NAE) antibodies, a specific diagnostic marker for Hashimoto encephalopathy (HE), who was diagnosed with HE based on the presence of antithyroid antibodies and responsiveness to immunotherapy. This case suggests that LE patients with antibodies to both the thyroid and NAE could be diagnosed with HE and respond to immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinicoimmunological features and efficacy of immunotherapy in LE associated with anti-NAE antibodies to determine whether the LE is a clinical subtype of HE. We examined serum anti-NAE antibodies in 78 LE patients with limbic abnormality on magnetic resonance imaging and suspected HE based on positivity for antithyroid antibodies. Nineteen of the 78 patients had anti-NAE antibodies; however, 5 were excluded because they were double positive for antibodies to the VGKC complex including LGI1. No antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), contactin-associated protein 2 (Caspr2), γ-aminobutyric acid-B receptor (GABABR), or α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) were detected in the 19 patients. Among the remaining 14 who were positive only for anti-NAE antibodies, the median age was 62.5 (20–83) years, 9 (64%) were women, and 8 (57%) showed acute onset, with less than 2 weeks between onset and admission. Consciousness disturbance (71%) and memory disturbance (64%) were frequently observed, followed by psychiatric symptoms (50%) and seizures (43%). The frequency of these symptoms significantly differed between the acute- and subacute-onset groups. Abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid and electroencephalogram were commonly observed (92% for both). Tumors were not identified in any cases. All patients responded to immunotherapy or spontaneously remitted, thereby fulfilling the criteria of HE. This study demonstrated that LE associated with anti-NAE antibodies is a nonparaneoplastic LE and various limbic symptoms that depend on the onset type. Favorable therapeutic efficacy suggests that this LE can be considered a clinical subtype of HE and that anti-NAE antibodies may be a promising indicator of the need for immunotherapy. PMID:28272206

Limbic encephalitis associated with anti-NH2-terminal of α-enolase antibodies: A clinical subtype of Hashimoto encephalopathy.

PubMed

Kishitani, Toru; Matsunaga, Akiko; Ikawa, Masamichi; Hayashi, Kouji; Yamamura, Osamu; Hamano, Tadanori; Watanabe, Osamu; Tanaka, Keiko; Nakamoto, Yasunari; Yoneda, Makoto

2017-03-01

Several types of autoantibodies have been reported in autoimmune limbic encephalitis (LE), such as antibodies against the voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex including leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1). We recently reported a patient with autoimmune LE and serum anti-NH2-terminal of α-enolase (NAE) antibodies, a specific diagnostic marker for Hashimoto encephalopathy (HE), who was diagnosed with HE based on the presence of antithyroid antibodies and responsiveness to immunotherapy. This case suggests that LE patients with antibodies to both the thyroid and NAE could be diagnosed with HE and respond to immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinicoimmunological features and efficacy of immunotherapy in LE associated with anti-NAE antibodies to determine whether the LE is a clinical subtype of HE.We examined serum anti-NAE antibodies in 78 LE patients with limbic abnormality on magnetic resonance imaging and suspected HE based on positivity for antithyroid antibodies. Nineteen of the 78 patients had anti-NAE antibodies; however, 5 were excluded because they were double positive for antibodies to the VGKC complex including LGI1. No antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), contactin-associated protein 2 (Caspr2), γ-aminobutyric acid-B receptor (GABABR), or α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) were detected in the 19 patients. Among the remaining 14 who were positive only for anti-NAE antibodies, the median age was 62.5 (20-83) years, 9 (64%) were women, and 8 (57%) showed acute onset, with less than 2 weeks between onset and admission. Consciousness disturbance (71%) and memory disturbance (64%) were frequently observed, followed by psychiatric symptoms (50%) and seizures (43%). The frequency of these symptoms significantly differed between the acute- and subacute-onset groups. Abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid and electroencephalogram were commonly observed (92% for both). Tumors were not identified in any cases. All patients responded to immunotherapy or spontaneously remitted, thereby fulfilling the criteria of HE.This study demonstrated that LE associated with anti-NAE antibodies is a nonparaneoplastic LE and various limbic symptoms that depend on the onset type. Favorable therapeutic efficacy suggests that this LE can be considered a clinical subtype of HE and that anti-NAE antibodies may be a promising indicator of the need for immunotherapy.

Isolation, characterization, and expression of Le-msx, a maternally expressed member of the msx gene family from the glossiphoniid leech, Helobdella.

PubMed

Master, V A; Kourakis, M J; Martindale, M Q

1996-12-01

The msx gene family is one of the most highly conserved of the nonclustered homeobox-containing genes. We have isolated an msx homolog (Le-msx) from the glossiphoniid leech, Helobdella robusta, and characterized its pattern of expression by whole mount in situ hybridization. In situ expression and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) data results show that Le-msx is a maternal transcript initially uniformly distributed in the cortex of immature oocytes that becomes asymmetrically localized to the polar regions of the uncleaved zygote. This is the earliest reported expression for the msx gene family and the first maternally expressed homeodomain-containing transcription factor reported in annelids. During embryonic development, Le-msx is expressed in all 10 embryonic stem cells and their segmental founder cell descendants. At midembryonic stages, Le-msx is expressed in the expanding germinal plate. Le-msx is confined to the central nervous system and nephridia at late (stage 9) stages and subsequently disappears from nephridia. In addition, we present a phylogenetic hypothesis for the evolution of the msx gene family, including the identification of a putative C. elegans msx homolog and the realignment of the sponge msx homolog to the NK class of homeodomain genes.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection With Percutaneous Needling for Recalcitrant Lateral Epicondylitis: Comparison of Tenotomy and Fenestration Techniques.

PubMed

Gaspar, Michael P; Motto, Michael A; Lewis, Sarah; Jacoby, Sidney M; Culp, Randall W; Lee Osterman, A; Kane, Patrick M

2017-12-01

Recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis (LE) is a common debilitating condition, with numerous treatment options of varying success. An injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been shown to improve LE, although it is unclear whether the method of needling used in conjunction with a PRP injection is of clinical importance. To determine whether percutaneous needle tenotomy is superior to percutaneous needle fenestration when each is combined with a PRP injection for the treatment of recalcitrant LE. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. A total of 93 patients with recalcitrant LE were treated with a PRP injection and percutaneous needle fenestration (n = 45) or percutaneous needle tenotomy (n = 48) over a 5-year study interval. Preoperative patient data, including visual analog scale for pain (VAS-P), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH), and Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) scores and grip strength, were obtained from a chart review and compared with postoperative values obtained prospectively. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of complications, need for additional interventions, return to work, and patient satisfaction. At a mean follow-up of 40 months, significant improvements in VAS-P (mean, -6.1; 95% CI, -6.8 to -5.5; P < .0001), QuickDASH (mean, -46; 95% CI, -52 to -40; P < .0001), and PRTEE (mean, -57; 95% CI, -64 to -50; P < .0001) scores and grip strength (mean, +6.1 kg; 95% CI, 4.9 to 7.3; P < .0001) were observed across the entire study cohort, with no significant differences noted between the fenestration and tenotomy groups. Nine of 45 patients (22%) underwent additional procedures to treat recurrent symptoms in the fenestration group compared with 5 of 48 patients (10%) in the tenotomy group ( P = .05). No complications occurred in any patients, and no patients expressed dissatisfaction with their treatment course. A PRP injection with concomitant percutaneous needling is an effective treatment for recalcitrant LE, with sustained improvements in pain, strength, and function demonstrated at a mean follow-up of longer than 3 years. Although the method of concomitant needling does not appear to have a significant effect on treatment outcomes, more aggressive needle tenotomy is less likely to require conversion to open tenotomy than needle fenestration in the short term to midterm.

Les campagnes communautaires de promotion du depistage VIH en Afrique de l’Ouest : perceptions des usagers au Burkina Faso

PubMed Central

Desclaux, Alice; Ky-Zerbo, Odette; Somé, Jean-François; Makhlouf-Obermeyer, Carla

2014-01-01

Résumé La politique actuelle de lutte contre le sida qui repose sur l’extension de l’accès aux traitements et à la prévention exige qu’une proportion élevée de la population connaisse son statut en matière de VIH. Pour cela, l’OMS a proposé le développement de stratégies communautaires délivrant le dépistage et le conseil au-delà des services de soins, comme le test à domicile ou les campagnes de sensibilisation et dépistage de grande envergure, appliqués en Afrique australe et de l’Est. Pour définir les stratégies pertinentes dans des régions de basse prévalence comme l’Afrique de l’Ouest, les expériences communautaires de promotion du dépistage doivent y être évaluées. Cet article présente une évaluation des campagnes au Burkina Faso du point de vue des usagers. Dans le cadre d’un projet sur les pratiques et l’éthique du dépistage dans quatre pays africains (MATCH), une enquête qualitative spécifique a été menée pendant la campagne de 2008, auprès de personnes ayant fait le test pendant la campagne, ayant fait le test hors campagne ou n’ayant pas fait le test. Les appréciations sont globalement très favorables aux campagnes, notamment à cause de l’information dispensée, l’accessibilité des sites, la gratuité du test, la qualité des services et l’effet d’entrainement. Les limites ou critiques sont essentiellement liées à l’affluence ou à la crainte de ne pas être soutenu en cas de résultat positif. La démarche de recours au test ne fait plus l’objet de suspicion, au moins pendant la campagne. Cette « normalisation » du recours au test et la mobilisation collective facilitent des pratiques en groupe, ce qui peut rendre difficile de garder son statut VIH secret. L’évaluation des campagnes par les usagers les présente comme une opportunité pour accéder facilement au test et pour communiquer à ce sujet dans divers espaces sociaux à partir des informations délivrées sur le VIH. PMID:24755264

A putative role for the plasma membrane potential in the control of the expression of the gene encoding the tomato high-affinity potassium transporter HAK5.

PubMed

Nieves-Cordones, Manuel; Miller, Anthony J; Alemán, Fernando; Martínez, Vicente; Rubio, Francisco

2008-12-01

A chimeric CaHAK1-LeHAK5 transporter with only 15 amino acids of CaHAK1 in the N-terminus mediates high-affinity K(+) uptake in yeast cells. Kinetic and expression analyses strongly suggest that LeHAK5 mediates a significant proportion of the high-affinity K(+) uptake shown by K(+)-starved tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. The development of high-affinity K(+) uptake, putatively mediated by LeHAK5, was correlated with increased LeHAK5 mRNA levels and a more negative electrical potential difference across the plasma membrane of root epidermal and cortical cells. However, this increase in high-affinity K(+) uptake was not correlated with the root K(+) content. Thus, (i) growth conditions that result in a hyperpolarized root plasma membrane potential, such as K(+) starvation or growth in the presence of NH(4) (+), but which do not decrease the K(+) content, lead to increased LeHAK5 expression; (ii) the presence of NaCl in the growth solution, which prevents the hyperpolarization induced by K(+) starvation, also prevents LeHAK5 expression. Moreover, once the gene is induced, depolarization of the plasma membrane potential then produces a decrease in the LeHAK5 mRNA. On the basis of these results, we propose that the plant membrane electrical potential plays a role in the regulation of the expression of this gene encoding a high-affinity K(+) transporter.

Airborne pollen and spores of León (Spain)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández-González, Delia; Suarez-Cervera, María; Díaz-González, Tomás; Valencia-Barrera, Rosa María

1993-06-01

A qualitative and quantitative analysis of airborne pollen and spores was carried out over 2 years (from September 1987 to August 1989) in the city of León. Slides were prepared daily using a volumetric pollen trap, which was placed on the Faculty of Veterinary Science building (University of León) 12m above ground-level. Fifty-one pollen types were observed; the most important of these were: Cupressaceae during the winter, Pinus and Quercus in spring, and Poaceae, Leguminosae and Chenopodiaceae in the summer. The results also showed the existence of a rich mould spore assemblage in the atmosphere. The group of Amerospores ( Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium) as well as Dictyospores ( Alternaria) were the most abundant; Puccinia was common in the air in August. Fluctuations in the total pollen and spores m3 of air were compared with meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity and rainfall). From the daily sampling of the atmosphere of León, considering the maximum and minimum temperature and duration of rainfall, the start of the pollen grain season was observed generally to coincide with a rise in temperature in the absence of rain.

Effect of protonation of the N-acetyl neuraminic acid residue of sialyl Lewis(X): a molecular orbital study with insights into its binding properties toward the carbohydrate recognition domain of E-selectin.

PubMed

Pichierri, Fabio; Matsuo, Yo

2002-08-01

Semiempirical molecular orbital (MO) calculations with an implicit treatment of the water environment were employed in order to assess whether the sialyl Lewis(X) (sLe(X)) tetrasaccharide binds to E-selectin in the anionic or neutral (i.e., protonated) state. The analysis of the frontier molecular orbitals, electrostatic potential surfaces, and conformational behavior of the sugar indicates that its neutral form possesses the necessary characteristics for binding. In particular, the LUMO level of the neutral sLe(X) molecule is localized both on the carboxylic group of the N-acetyl neuraminic acid (NeuNAc) residue and on the nearby glycosidic linkage. These two moieties interact with the Arg97 residue of E-selectin, as revealed by a recent crystal structure analysis of the E-selectin/sLe(X) complex. The energetics of this specific interaction was investigated with the aid of ab initio Hartree-Fock MO calculations, which resulted in a BSSE-corrected binding energy of 16.63 kcal/mol. Our observations could open up new perspectives in the design of sLe(X) mimics.

Comparison of removal torques between laser-etched and modified sandblasted acid-etched Ti implant surfaces in rabbit tibias

PubMed Central

Al Awamleh, Abdel Ghani Ibrahim

2018-01-01

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of two different implant surface treatments on initial bone connection by comparing the Removal Torque Values (RTQs) at 7 and 10 days after chemically modified, sandblasted, large-grit and acid-etched (modSLA), and Laser-etched (LE) Ti implant placements. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty modSLA and 20 LE implants were installed on the left and right tibias of 20 adult rabbits. RTQs were measured after 7 and 10 days in 10 rabbits each. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs of the two implants were observed by using Quanta FEG 650 from the FEI company (Hillsboro, OR, USA). Analyses of surface elements and components were conducted using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS, Horiba, Kyoto, Japan). RESULTS The mean RTQs were 12.29 ± 0.830 and 12.19 ± 0.713 Ncm after 7 days (P=.928) and 16.47 ± 1.324 and 16.17 ± 1.165 Ncm after 10 days (P=.867) for LE and modSLA, respectively, indicating no significant inter-group differences. Pore sizes in the LE were 40 µm and consisted of numerous small pores, whereas pore sizes in the modSLA were 5 µm. In the EDS analysis, Ti, O, and C were the only three elements found in the LE surfaces. Na, Ca, Cl, and K were also observed in modSLA, in addition to Ti, O, and C. CONCLUSION The implants showed no significant difference in biomechanical bond strength to bone in early-stage osseointegration. LE implant can be considered an excellent surface treatment method in addition to the modSLA implant and can be applied to the early loading of the prosthesis clinically. PMID:29503717

Lupus erythematosus and nutrition: a review of the literature.

PubMed

Brown, A C

2000-10-01

The purpose of this review was to search the scientific literature for dietary compounds that alleviate or exacerbate symptoms of lupus erythematosus (LE) in both animal and human models. A detailed literature review was undertaken to find articles showing a relationship between LE and nutrition by using MEDLINE/INDEX MEDICUS (1950-March 2000) for English-language articles, followed by cross-referencing. Aggravating substances appear to include excess calories, excess protein, high fat (especially saturated and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids), zinc, iron, and L-canavanine found in alfalfa tablets. Possible beneficial dietary compounds include vitamin E, vitamin A (beta-carotene), selenium, fish oils (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids), evening primrose oil, flaxseed, a plant herb (Tripterygium wilfordii), dehydroepiandrosterone, and calcium plus vitamin D (if taking corticosteroids). Some people with systemic LE placed on food allergy elimination diets reported improvement in their LE symptoms; however, this may be related to a decrease of other substances in the diet. Also, although no direct evidence was reported on the beneficial effects of either bromelain or a vegetarian diet (possibly allowing fish), it is suggested that they might be beneficial. Limitations to this research are that the findings are based on relatively few studies, many of which were without control groups or extrapolated from animal models. No large-scale studies have been performed with LE patients to substantiate the benefit, if any, of these individual dietary interventions, and if they were conducted, the remission and exacerbation pattern of LE may interfere with elucidating their effectiveness. Also, dietary changes should not be attempted without a physician's approval/monitoring. Copyright 2000 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.

Le syndrome des jambes sans repos: fréquence et facteurs de risque chez l'hémodialysé

PubMed Central

Soumeila, Illiassou; Keita, Salia; Elhassani, Anis; Sidibé, Mohamed; Alaoui, Khadija; Kabbali, Nadia; Arrayhani, Mohamed; Sqalli, Tarik

2015-01-01

Le syndrome des jambes sans repos (SJSR) ou syndrome d'impatience musculaire est un trouble moteur caractérisé par des sensations désagréables dans les jambes. Les causes sont mal connues et sa fréquence est estimée entre 25% et 75% chez les hémodialysés. Il s'agit d'une étude transversale monocentrique menée au centre d'hémodialyse du CHU Hassan II de Fès (hôpital Al Ghassani) entre décembre 2012 et janvier 2013. Nous avons défini le syndrome de jambes sans repos selon la définition de l'international restless legs study group de 2003 reposant sur 4 critères essentiels au diagnostic. L'international restless legs syndrome scale (IRLES) a été coté par un même néphrologue pour mesurer la sévérité du syndrome des jambes sans repos. 84 hémodialysés ont répondu au questionnaire avec 41,7% de cas de SJSR dont 6,6% de formes graves. Nous avons retrouvé une association entre le SJSR et la carence martiale p(0,018), la néphropathie initiale p(0,041), l'HTA p(0,026) et le sexe féminin p(0,024). Dans notre série, il ressort que la carence martiale et l'HTA sont les principaux facteurs de risque modifiables de ce syndrome chez nos patients. Les facteurs traditionnels comme le tabagisme, l’âge supérieur à 50 ans et la dialyse inadéquate ne sont pas associés à ce trouble dans notre série. PMID:26015849

The cholesterol-dependent cytolysins pneumolysin and streptolysin O require binding to red blood cell glycans for hemolytic activity

PubMed Central

Shewell, Lucy K.; Harvey, Richard M.; Higgins, Melanie A.; Day, Christopher J.; Hartley-Tassell, Lauren E.; Chen, Austen Y.; Gillen, Christine M.; James, David B. A.; Alonzo, Francis; Torres, Victor J.; Walker, Mark J.; Paton, Adrienne W.; Paton, James C.; Jennings, Michael P.

2014-01-01

The cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) pneumolysin (Ply) is a key virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Membrane cholesterol is required for the cytolytic activity of this toxin, but it is not clear whether cholesterol is the only cellular receptor. Analysis of Ply binding to a glycan microarray revealed that Ply has lectin activity and binds glycans, including the Lewis histo-blood group antigens. Surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that Ply has the highest affinity for the sialyl LewisX (sLeX) structure, with a Kd of 1.88 × 10−5 M. Ply hemolytic activity against human RBCs showed dose-dependent inhibition by sLeX. Flow cytometric analysis and Western blots showed that blocking binding of Ply to the sLeX glycolipid on RBCs prevents deposition of the toxin in the membrane. The lectin domain responsible for sLeX binding is in domain 4 of Ply, which contains candidate carbohydrate-binding sites. Mutagenesis of these predicted carbohydrate-binding residues of Ply resulted in a decrease in hemolytic activity and a reduced affinity for sLeX. This study reveals that this archetypal CDC requires interaction with the sLeX glycolipid cellular receptor as an essential step before membrane insertion. A similar analysis conducted on streptolysin O from Streptococcus pyogenes revealed that this CDC also has glycan-binding properties and that hemolytic activity against RBCs can be blocked with the glycan lacto-N-neotetraose by inhibiting binding to the cell surface. Together, these data support the emerging paradigm shift that pore-forming toxins, including CDCs, have cellular receptors other than cholesterol that define target cell tropism. PMID:25422425

The cholesterol-dependent cytolysins pneumolysin and streptolysin O require binding to red blood cell glycans for hemolytic activity.

PubMed

Shewell, Lucy K; Harvey, Richard M; Higgins, Melanie A; Day, Christopher J; Hartley-Tassell, Lauren E; Chen, Austen Y; Gillen, Christine M; James, David B A; Alonzo, Francis; Torres, Victor J; Walker, Mark J; Paton, Adrienne W; Paton, James C; Jennings, Michael P

2014-12-09

The cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) pneumolysin (Ply) is a key virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Membrane cholesterol is required for the cytolytic activity of this toxin, but it is not clear whether cholesterol is the only cellular receptor. Analysis of Ply binding to a glycan microarray revealed that Ply has lectin activity and binds glycans, including the Lewis histo-blood group antigens. Surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that Ply has the highest affinity for the sialyl LewisX (sLeX) structure, with a K(d) of 1.88 × 10(-5) M. Ply hemolytic activity against human RBCs showed dose-dependent inhibition by sLeX. Flow cytometric analysis and Western blots showed that blocking binding of Ply to the sLeX glycolipid on RBCs prevents deposition of the toxin in the membrane. The lectin domain responsible for sLeX binding is in domain 4 of Ply, which contains candidate carbohydrate-binding sites. Mutagenesis of these predicted carbohydrate-binding residues of Ply resulted in a decrease in hemolytic activity and a reduced affinity for sLeX. This study reveals that this archetypal CDC requires interaction with the sLeX glycolipid cellular receptor as an essential step before membrane insertion. A similar analysis conducted on streptolysin O from Streptococcus pyogenes revealed that this CDC also has glycan-binding properties and that hemolytic activity against RBCs can be blocked with the glycan lacto-N-neotetraose by inhibiting binding to the cell surface. Together, these data support the emerging paradigm shift that pore-forming toxins, including CDCs, have cellular receptors other than cholesterol that define target cell tropism.

Detection of Expansin Proteins and Activity during Tomato Fruit Ontogeny1

PubMed Central

Rose, Jocelyn K.C.; Cosgrove, Daniel J.; Albersheim, Peter; Darvill, Alan G.; Bennett, Alan B.

2000-01-01

Expansins are plant proteins that have the capacity to induce extension in isolated cell walls and are thought to mediate pH-dependent cell expansion. J.K.C. Rose, H.H. Lee, and A.B. Bennett ([1997] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94: 5955–5960) reported the identification of an expansin gene (LeExp1) that is specifically expressed in ripening tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit where cell wall disassembly, but not cell expansion, is prominent. Expansin expression during fruit ontogeny was examined using antibodies raised to recombinant LeExp1 or a cell elongation-related expansin from cucumber (CsExp1). The LeExp1 antiserum detected expansins in extracts from ripe, but not preripe tomato fruit, in agreement with the pattern of LeExp1 mRNA accumulation. In contrast, antibodies to CsExp1 cross-reacted with expansins in early fruit development and the onset of ripening, but not at a later ripening stage. These data suggest that ripening-related and expansion-related expansin proteins have distinct antigenic epitopes despite overall high sequence identity. Expansin proteins were detected in a range of fruit species and showed considerable variation in abundance; however, appreciable levels of expansin were not present in fruit of the rin or Nr tomato mutants that exhibit delayed and reduced softening. LeExp1 protein accumulation was ethylene-regulated and matched the previously described expression of mRNA, suggesting that expression is not regulated at the level of translation. We report the first detection of expansin activity in several stages of fruit development and while characteristic creep activity was detected in young and developing tomato fruit and in ripe pear, avocado, and pepper, creep activity in ripe tomato showed qualitative differences, suggesting both hydrolytic and expansin activities. PMID:10938374

PREFACE: The 15th International Couette-Taylor Worskhop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mutabazi, Innocent; Crumeyrolle, Olivier

2008-07-01

The 15th International Couette-Taylor Worskhop (ICTW15) was held in Le Havre, France from 9-12 July 2007. This regular international conference started in 1979 in Leeds, UK when the research interest in simple models of fluid flows was revitalized by systematic investigation of Rayleigh-Bénard convection and the Couette-Taylor flow. These two flow systems are good prototypes for the study of the transition to chaos and turbulence in closed flows. The workshop themes have been expanded from the original Couette-Taylor flow to include other centrifugal instabilities (Dean, Görtler, Taylor-Dean), spherical Couette flows, thermal convection instabilities, MHD, nonlinear dynamics and chaos, transition to turbulence, development of numerical and experimental techniques. The impressive longevity of the ICTW is due to the close interaction and fertile exchanges between international research groups from different disciplines: Physics and Astrophysics, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering. The present workshop was attended by 100 participants, the program included over 83 contributions with 4 plenary lectures, 68 oral communications and 17 posters. The topics include, besides the classical Couette-Taylor flows, the centrifugal flows with longitudinal vortices, the shear flows, the thermal convection in curved geometries, the spherical Couette-Taylor flow, the geophysical flows, the magneto-hydrodynamic effects including the dynamo effect, the complex flows (viscoelasticity, immiscible fluids, bubbles and migration). Selected papers have been processed through the peer review system and are published in this issue of the Journal of Physics: Conference Series. The Workshop has been sponsored by Le Havre University, the Region Council of Haute-Normandie, Le Havre City Council, CNRS (ST2I, GdR-DYCOEC), and the European Space Agency through GEOFLOW program. The French Ministry of Defense (DGA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Research and the University Association of Mechanics have provided some support. Innocent Mutabazi and Olivier Crumeyrolle Proceedings editors Le Havre, France 15 July 2008

How Science Students Can Learn about Unobservable Phenomena Using Computer-Based Analogies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trey, L.; Khan, S.

2008-01-01

A novel instructional computer simulation that incorporates a dynamic analogy to represent Le Chatelier's Principle was designed to investigate the contribution of this feature to students' understanding. Two groups of 12th grade Chemistry students (n=15) interacted with the computer simulation during the study. Both groups did the same…

Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Reality in Surgical Training-A Randomized Control Trial.

PubMed

Pulijala, Yeshwanth; Ma, Minhua; Pears, Matthew; Peebles, David; Ayoub, Ashraf

2018-05-01

Surgical training methods are evolving with the technological advancements, including the application of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality. However, 28 to 40% of novice residents are not confident in performing a major surgical procedure. VR surgery, an immersive VR (iVR) experience, was developed using Oculus Rift and Leap Motion devices (Leap Motion, Inc, San Francisco, CA) to address this challenge. Our iVR is a multisensory, holistic surgical training application that demonstrates a maxillofacial surgical technique, the Le Fort I osteotomy. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of using VR surgery on the self-confidence and knowledge of surgical residents. A multisite, single-blind, parallel, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed. The participants were novice surgical residents with limited experience in performing the Le Fort I osteotomy. The primary outcome measures were the self-assessment scores of trainee confidence using a Likert scale and an objective assessment of the cognitive skills. Ninety-five residents from 7 dental schools were included in the RCT. The participants were randomly divided into a study group of 51 residents and a control group of 44. Participants in the study group used the VR surgery application on an Oculus Rift with Leap Motion device. The control group participants used similar content in a standard PowerPoint presentation on a laptop. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance was applied to the data to assess the overall effect of the intervention on the confidence of the residents. The study group participants showed significantly greater perceived self-confidence levels compared with those in the control group (P = .034; α = 0.05). Novices in the first year of their training showed the greatest improvement in their confidence compared with those in their second and third year. iVR experiences improve the knowledge and self-confidence of the surgical residents. Copyright © 2017 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evolution of Exchangeable Copper and Relative Exchangeable Copper through the Course of Wilson's Disease in the Long Evans Cinnamon Rat

PubMed Central

Schmitt, Françoise; Podevin, Guillaume; Poupon, Joël; Roux, Jérôme; Legras, Pierre; Trocello, Jean-Marc; Woimant, France; Laprévote, Olivier; NGuyen, Tuan Huy; Balkhi, Souleiman El

2013-01-01

Background Wilson's disease (WD) is an inherited disorder of copper metabolism leading to liver failure and/or neurological impairment. Its diagnosis often remains difficult even with genetic testing. Relative exchangeable copper (REC) has recently been described as a reliable serum diagnostic marker for WD. Methodology/Principal Findings The aim of this study was to validate the use of REC in the Long Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rat, an animal model for WD, and to study its relevance under different conditions in comparison with conventional markers. Two groups of LEC rats and one group of Long-Evans (LE) rats were clinically and biologically monitored from 6 to 28 weeks of age. One group of LEC rats was given copper-free food. The other groups had normal food. Blood samples were collected each month and different serum markers for WD (namely ceruloplasmin oxidase activity, exchangeable copper (CuEXC), total serum copper and REC) and acute liver failure (serum transaminases and bilirubinemia) were tested. Every LEC rat under normal food developed acute liver failure (ALF), with 40% global mortality. Serum transaminases and bilirubinemia along with total serum copper and exchangeable copper levels increased with the onset of acute liver failure. A correlation was observed between CuEXC values and the severity of ALF. Cut-off values were different between young and adult rats and evolved because of age and/or liver failure. Only REC, with values >19%, was able to discriminate LEC groups from the LE control group at every time point in the study. REC sensitivity and specificity reached 100% in adults rats. Conclusions/Significance REC appears to be independent of demographic or clinical data in LEC rats. It is a very simple and reliable blood test for the diagnosis of copper toxicosis owing to a lack of ATP7B function. CuEXC can be used as an accurate biomarker of copper overload. PMID:24358170

Serology and immunoglobulin profile in rheumatoid arthritis.

PubMed

Adhya, S; Chakraborty, G; Hajra, B; Bhattacharya, S; Sikdar, P K; Sinha, S; Banerjee, P P; Ghosh, E; Chakraborty, P

1998-01-01

One hundred and twenty cases of clinically diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis, 80 non-rheumatoid cases suffering from various other diseases and 40 healthy individuals were investigated for the presence of rheumatoid factor, quantitation of serum immunoglobulin, demonstration of ANA and LE cell phenomenon. Microlatex agglutination test of serum for rheumatoid factor showed 56.6% positivity in rheumatoid group and 3.7% positivity in non-rheumatoid group. All three serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) were raised in serum in significant titre in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, whereas only IgA lever was elevated in the group of non-rheumatoid diseases. ANA and LE cell phenomenon were observed in 11.7% and 4.4% cases of rheumatoid arthritis who had severe underlying disease. In non-rheumatoid group, only one of 6 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus showed rheumatoid factor and that too in an insignificant titre (less than 1:20). Synovium and synovial fluid contained plenty of plasma cells and lymphocytes. It has been observed that RF appears first in synovial fluid and it may take several months to a year to attain detectable level in serum.

Volume Measurements of Laser-generated Pits for in Situ Geochronology Using KArLE (Potassium-Argon Laser Experiment)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

French, R. A.; Cohen, B. A.; Miller, J. S.

2014-01-01

KArLE (Potassium-­-Argon Laser Experiment) has been developed for in situ planetary geochronology using the K - Ar (potassium-­-argon) isotope system, where material ablated by LIBS (Laser-­-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) is used to calculate isotope abundances. We are determining the accuracy and precision of volume measurements of these pits using stereo and laser microscope data to better understand the ablation process for isotope abundance calculations. If a characteristic volume can be determined with sufficient accuracy and precision for specific rock types, KArLE will prove to be a useful instrument for future planetary rover missions.

Gender inequality and the gender gap in life expectancy in the European Union.

PubMed

Kolip, Petra; Lange, Cornelia

2018-05-14

The gender gap in life expectancy (GGLE) varies substantially in EU 28 Member States. This paper addresses the question of whether gender inequality affects the GGLE as well as life expectancy (LE) in both genders. We conducted an ecological study and used the gender inequality index (GII) developed by the United Nations as well as the gender difference in LE in 2015. We found a correlation between GGLE and GII (r2=0.180) and between GII and LE of 0.418 (women) and 0.430 (men). Gender equality policies are still necessary and will have an effect on women's as well as men's health.

Systematic palaeontology of the Perisphinctoidea in the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary interval at Le Chouet (Drôme, France), and its implications for biostratigraphy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frau, Camille; Bulot, Luc G.; Wimbledon, William A. P.; Ifrim, Christina

2016-06-01

This study describes ammonite taxa of the Perisphinctoidea in the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary interval at Le Chouet (Drôme, France). Emphasis is placed on new and poorly known Himalayitidae, Neocomitidae and Olcostephanidae from the lower part of the Jacobi Zone auctorum. Significant results relate the introduction of Lopeziceras gen. nov., grouping himalayitid-like forms with two rows of tubercles, and Praedalmasiceras gen. nov., grouping the early Berriasian Dalmasiceras taxa. Study of the ontogenetic sequences of both genera show that they were derived from late Tithonian Himalayitidae. This supports the distinction between the subfamilies Himalayitinae and Dalmasiceratidae subfam. nov. Content, variation, dimorphism and vertical range of the Neocomitidae Berriasella, Pseudoneocomites, Elenaella and Delphinella are discussed. A conservative use of the Olcostephanidae Proniceras is followed herein.

Numerical investigation of laminar forced convection in Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows in eccentric annuli

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Pingping

1998-12-01

An extended numerical investigation of fully developed, forced convective laminar flows with heat transfer in eccentric annuli has been carried out. Both Newtonian and non-Newtonian (power-law or Ostwald-de Waele) fluids are studied, representing typical applications in petrochemical, bio-chemical, personal care products, polymer/plastic extrusion and food industries. For the heat transfer problem, with an insulated outer surface, two types of thermal boundary conditions have been considered: Constant wall temperature (T), and uniform axial heat flux with constant peripheral temperature (H1) on the inner surface of the annulus. The governing differential equations for momentum and energy conservation are solved by finite-difference methods. Velocity and temperature distributions in the flow cross section, the wall shear-stress distribution, and isothermal f Re, Nu i,T and Nu i,H1 values for different eccentric annuli (0/leɛ/*/le0.6,/ 0.2/le r/sp/*/le0.8) are presented. In Newtonian flows, the eccentricity is found to have a very strong influence on the flow and temperature fields. In an annulus with relatively large inner cylinder eccentricity, the flow tends to stagnate in the narrow section and has higher peak velocities in the wide section of the annulus. There is considerable flow maldistribution in the azimuthal direction, which in turn produces greater nonuniformity in the temperature field and a consequent degradation in the average heat transfer. Also, the H1 wall condition sustains higher heat transfer coefficients relative to the T boundary condition on the inner surface. For viscous, power-law type non-Newtonian flows, both shear thinning (n<1) and shear thickening (n>1) fluids are considered. Here, the non-linear shear behavior of the fluid is found to further aggravate the flow and temperature maldistribution, and once again the eccentricity is seen to exhibit a very strong influence on the friction and heat transfer behavior. Finally, the hydrodynamic characteristics of fully developed axial laminar flow of Newtonian fluids in eccentric annuli with a rotating inner cylinder are investigated. These are of significant importance to the design and operation of oil and gas drilling wells. Using finite-difference method to solve the governing flow equations in bipolar coordinates, computational results for a wide range of annulus geometry (0/le r/sp/*/le1,/ 0/le/varepsilon/sp/*/le0.8), and rotational Reynolds number (0/le Rer/le150) are presented, where the rotational speeds are restricted to the sub-critical Taylor number regime. The results delineate the effects of annuli r/sp/* and ɛsp/*, and inner cylinder rotation speed on the flow structure and frictional losses.

Optimal damping profile ratios for stabilization of perfectly matched layers in general anisotropic media

DOE PAGES

Gao, Kai; Huang, Lianjie

2017-11-13

Conventional perfectly matched layers (PML) can be unstable for certain kinds of anisotropic media. Multi-axial PML removes such instability using nonzero damping coe cients in the directions tangential with the PML interface. While using non-zero damping pro le ratios can stabilize PML, it is important to obtain the smallest possible damping pro le ratios to minimize arti cial re ections caused by these non-zero ratios, particularly for 3D general anisotropic media. Using the eigenvectors of the PML system matrix, we develop a straightforward and e cient numerical algorithm to determine the optimal damping pro le ratios to stabilize PML inmore » 2D and 3D general anisotropic media. Numerical examples show that our algorithm provides optimal damping pro le ratios to ensure the stability of PML and complex-frequency-shifted PML for elastic-wave modeling in 2D and 3D general anisotropic media.« less

The NASA research and technology program on batteries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, Gary L.

1990-01-01

The NASA research and technology program on batteries is being carried out within the Propulsion, Power and Energy Division (Code RP) of NASA's Office of Aeronautics, Exploration and Technology (OAET). The program includes development of high-performance, long-life, cost-effective primary and secondary (rechargeable) batteries. The NASA OAET battery program is being carried out at Lewis Research Center (LeRC) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). LeRC is focusing primarily on nickel-hydrogen batteries (both individual pressure vessel or IPV and bipolar). LeRC is also involved in a planned flight experiment to test a sodium-sulfur battery design. JPL is focusing primarily on lithium rechargeable batteries, having successfully transferred its lithium primary battery technology to the U.S. Air Force for use on the Centaur upper stage. Both LeRC and JPL are studying advanced battery concepts that offer even higher specific energies. The long-term goal is to achieve 100 Wh/kg.

Optimal damping profile ratios for stabilization of perfectly matched layers in general anisotropic media

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Kai; Huang, Lianjie

Conventional perfectly matched layers (PML) can be unstable for certain kinds of anisotropic media. Multi-axial PML removes such instability using nonzero damping coe cients in the directions tangential with the PML interface. While using non-zero damping pro le ratios can stabilize PML, it is important to obtain the smallest possible damping pro le ratios to minimize arti cial re ections caused by these non-zero ratios, particularly for 3D general anisotropic media. Using the eigenvectors of the PML system matrix, we develop a straightforward and e cient numerical algorithm to determine the optimal damping pro le ratios to stabilize PML inmore » 2D and 3D general anisotropic media. Numerical examples show that our algorithm provides optimal damping pro le ratios to ensure the stability of PML and complex-frequency-shifted PML for elastic-wave modeling in 2D and 3D general anisotropic media.« less

Achieving Generality over Conditions: Combining the Multitrait Multimethod Matrix and the Representative Design of Experiments.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-08-02

We take that aim to have been achieved in principle (no one has challenged it), if not in practice. We aim therefore to build upon that achievement by...NJ + (J + C~ C + 2 C EU E E 4-)C o.C ~ ~+ (NJ + (N Er E o - ~.. ~____ U) C fl - C C C CE E le E0 I0 U.- E EEa E - Ui Ei . U (alKE E E E 2 2- 2 E Ca...RESEARCH Engineering Psychology Group • TECHNICAL REPORTS DISTRIBUTION LIST OSD Department of the Nay CAPT Paul R. Chatelier Tactical Development

The Interface Design and the Usability Testing of a Fossilization Web-Based Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Shiang-Kwei; Yang, Chiachi

2005-01-01

This article describes practical issues related to the design and the development of a Web-Based Learning Environment (Web-LE) for high school students. The purpose of the Fossilization Web-LE was to help students understand the process of fossilization, which is a complex phenomenon and is affected by many factors. The instructional design team…

Biomarker and Phenotypic Risk Factors for Breast Cancer Lymphedema | Division of Cancer Prevention

Cancer.gov

Lymphedema (LE) following treatment for breast cancer is the most common form of secondary LE in the industrialized world. It occurs in 20% to 87% of patients following treatment for breast cancer and results in significant disability. At the present time, the definitive phenotypic, genotypic and epigenotypic predictors that place patients at highest risk for the development

The NASA LeRC regenerative fuel cell system testbed program for goverment and commercial applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maloney, T.M.; Prokopius, P.R.; Voecks, G.E.

1995-01-25

The Electrochemical Technology Branch of the NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) has initiated a program to develop a renewable energy system testbed to evaluate, characterize, and demonstrate fully integrated regenerative fuel cell (RFC) system for space, military, and commercial applications. A multi-agency management team, led by NASA LeRC, is implementing the program through a unique international coalition which encompasses both government and industry participants. This open-ended teaming strategy optimizes the development for space, military, and commercial RFC system technologies. Program activities to date include system design and analysis, and reactant storage sub-system design, with a major emphasis centered upon testbedmore » fabrication and installation and testing of two key RFC system components, namely, the fuel cells and electrolyzers. Construction of the LeRC 25 kW RFC system testbed at the NASA-Jet Propulsion Labortory (JPL) facility at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) is nearly complete and some sub-system components have already been installed. Furthermore, planning for the first commercial RFC system demonstration is underway. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}« less

Analyzing Aeroelasticity in Turbomachines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reddy, T. S. R.; Srivastava, R.

2003-01-01

ASTROP2-LE is a computer program that predicts flutter and forced responses of blades, vanes, and other components of such turbomachines as fans, compressors, and turbines. ASTROP2-LE is based on the ASTROP2 program, developed previously for analysis of stability of turbomachinery components. In developing ASTROP2- LE, ASTROP2 was modified to include a capability for modeling forced responses. The program was also modified to add a capability for analysis of aeroelasticity with mistuning and unsteady aerodynamic solutions from another program, LINFLX2D, that solves the linearized Euler equations of unsteady two-dimensional flow. Using LINFLX2D to calculate unsteady aerodynamic loads, it is possible to analyze effects of transonic flow on flutter and forced response. ASTROP2-LE can be used to analyze subsonic, transonic, and supersonic aerodynamics and structural mistuning for rotors with blades of differing structural properties. It calculates the aerodynamic damping of a blade system operating in airflow so that stability can be assessed. The code also predicts the magnitudes and frequencies of the unsteady aerodynamic forces on the airfoils of a blade row from incoming wakes. This information can be used in high-cycle fatigue analysis to predict the fatigue lives of the blades.

Staining of E-selectin ligands on paraffin-embedded sections of tumor tissue.

PubMed

Carrascal, Mylène A; Talina, Catarina; Borralho, Paula; Gonçalo Mineiro, A; Henriques, Ana Raquel; Pen, Cláudia; Martins, Manuela; Braga, Sofia; Sackstein, Robert; Videira, Paula A

2018-05-02

The E-selectin ligands expressed by cancer cells mediate adhesion of circulating cancer cells to endothelial cells, as well as within tissue microenvironments important for tumor progression and metastasis. The identification of E-selectin ligands within cancer tissue could yield new biomarkers for patient stratification and aid in identifying novel therapeutic targets. The determinants of selectin ligands consist of sialylated tetrasaccharides, the sialyl Lewis X and A (sLe X and sLe A ), displayed on protein or lipid scaffolds. Standardized procedures for immunohistochemistry make use of the antibodies against sLe X and/or sLe A . However, antibody binding does not define E-selectin binding activity. In this study, we developed an immunohistochemical staining technique, using E-selectin-human Ig Fc chimera (E-Ig) to characterize the expression and localization of E-selectin binding sites on paraffin-embedded sections of different cancer tissue. E-Ig successfully stained cancer cells with high specificity. The E-Ig staining show high reactivity scores in colon and lung adenocarcinoma and moderate reactivity in triple negative breast cancer. Compared with reactivity of antibody against sLe X/A , the E-Ig staining presented higher specificity to cancer tissue with better defined borders and less background. The E-Ig staining technique allows the qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of E-selectin binding activity on cancer cells. The development of accurate techniques for detection of selectin ligands may contribute to better diagnostic and better understanding of the molecular basis of tumor progression and metastasis.

Direct numerical simulations of temporally developing hydrocarbon shear flames at elevated pressure: effects of the equation of state and the unity Lewis number assumption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korucu, Ayse; Miller, Richard

2016-11-01

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of temporally developing shear flames are used to investigate both equation of state (EOS) and unity-Lewis (Le) number assumption effects in hydrocarbon flames at elevated pressure. A reduced Kerosene / Air mechanism including a semi-global soot formation/oxidation model is used to study soot formation/oxidation processes in a temporarlly developing hydrocarbon shear flame operating at both atmospheric and elevated pressures for the cubic Peng-Robinson real fluid EOS. Results are compared to simulations using the ideal gas law (IGL). The results show that while the unity-Le number assumption with the IGL EOS under-predicts the flame temperature for all pressures, with the real fluid EOS it under-predicts the flame temperature for 1 and 35 atm and over-predicts the rest. The soot mass fraction, Ys, is only under-predicted for the 1 atm flame for both IGL and real gas fluid EOS models. While Ys is over-predicted for elevated pressures with IGL EOS, for the real gas EOS Ys's predictions are similar to results using a non-unity Le model derived from non-equilibrium thermodynamics and real diffusivities. Adopting the unity Le assumption is shown to cause misprediction of Ys, the flame temperature, and the mass fractions of CO, H and OH.

The History of Otolaryngology In New Orleans.

PubMed

Lyons, George D

2016-01-01

George D. Lyons, MD, now becoming "an elder statesman," he decided summarize the early history of otolaryngology as it developed in New Orleans. Francis LeJeune, MD, Sr., a much admired and loved otolaryngologist, has afforded a great insight through his memoirs in the early development of our specialty in his report of Otolaryngology in the South. Dr. LeJune, Sr. began his brief paper just before his death. Excerpts from this paper have been used by the American Laryngological Association. There will be no bibliography. Most of this information was obtained from Dr. LeJeune's memoirs, history departments of the Academy, Touro Infirmary, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat (EENT) archives and interviews with descendants of our early leaders. A special thanks to them for their time, research, and generosity of information. There has been some debate regarding the precision of some of the dates, but they are as chronologically accurate as possible.

Occurrence of oligosaccharides in feces of breast-fed babies in their first six months of life and the corresponding breast milk.

PubMed

Albrecht, Simone; Schols, Henk A; van den Heuvel, Ellen G H M; Voragen, Alphons G J; Gruppen, Harry

2011-11-29

The characterization of oligosaccharides in the feces of breast-fed babies is a valuable tool for monitoring the gastrointestinal fate of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). In the present study we monitored fecal oligosaccharide profiles together with the HMO-profiles of the respective breast milks up to six months postpartum, by means of capillary electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence detection and mass spectrometry. Eleven mother/child pairs were included. Mother's secretor- and Lewis-type included all combinations [Le(a-b+), Le(a+b-), Le(a-b-)]. The fecal HMO-profiles in the first few months of life are either predominantly composed of neutral or acidic HMOs and are possibly effected by the HMO-fingerprint in the respective breast milk. Independent of the initial presence of acidic or neutral fecal HMOs, a gradual change to blood-group specific oligosaccharides was observed. Their presence pointed to a gastrointestinal degradation of the feeding-related HMOs, followed by conjugation with blood group specific antigenic determinants present in the gastrointestinal mucus layer. Eleven of these 'hybrid'-oligosaccharides were annotated in this study. When solid food was introduced, no HMOs and their degradation- and metabolization products were recovered in the fecal samples. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Licorice and Roasted Licorice Extracts on TPA-Induced Acute Inflammation and Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Mice

PubMed Central

Kim, Ki Rim; Jeong, Chan-Kwon; Park, Kwang-Kyun; Choi, Jong-Hoon; Park, Jung Han Yoon; Lim, Soon Sung; Chung, Won-Yoon

2010-01-01

The anti-inflammatory activity of licorice (LE) and roated licorice (rLE) extracts determined in the murine phorbol ester-induced acute inflammation model and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model of human rheumatoid arthritis. rLE possessed greater activity than LE in inhibiting phorbol ester-induced ear edema. Oral administration of LE or rLE reduced clinical arthritis score, paw swelling, and histopathological changes in a murine CIA. LE and rLE decreased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in serum and matrix metalloproteinase-3 expression in the joints. Cell proliferation and cytokine secretion in response to type II collagen or lipopolysaccharide stimulation were suppressed in spleen cells from LE or rLE-treated CIA mice. Furthermore, LE and rLE treatment prevented oxidative damages in liver and kidney tissues of CIA mice. Taken together, LE and rLE have benefits in protecting against both acute inflammation and chronic inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis. rLE may inhibit the acute inflammation more potently than LE. PMID:20300198

The deviations of the Al6Li3Cu quasicrystal from icosahedral symmetry : a reminiscence of a cubic crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donnadieu, Patricia

1994-05-01

The (Al6Li3Cu) (T2) quasicrystals are known to exhibit large deviations from the icosahedral symmetry. Series of electron diffraction patterns are used to investigate these imperfections in as-cast T, samples. A detailed analysis of the 5-fold and 3-fold symmetry diffraction patterns shows that they are compatible with the m3 point group instead of the m35 icosahedral group. This symmetry reduction is interprétéd as reminiscent of the cubic approximant phase (R-Al5Li3Cu) rather than of higher order approximant phases. This interpretation is supported by previous observations on crystal/quasicrystal phase transformation in the AlLiCu system. Les quasicristaux de phase T2(Al6Li3Cu) montrent d'importantes déviations à la symétrie icosaédrique. Ces imperfections sont mises en évidence par diffraction électronique dans des échantillons de phase T2 brut de coulée. Un examen détaillé des diagrammes de diffraction de symétrie d'ordre 3 et 5 révèle qu'ils sont compatibles avec le groupe ponctuel m3 au lieu du groupe de l'icosaèdre (m35). Cette réduction de symétrie est interprétée comme une réminiscence de la phase cubique approximante (R-Al5Li3Cu) et non l'apparition d'approximant d'ordre plus élevé. Cette interprétation est suggérée par des observations antérieures sur la transformation cristal/quasicristal dans le système AlLiCu.

Continued Development of in Situ Geochronology for Planetary Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Devismes, D.; Cohen, B. A.

2015-01-01

The instrument 'Potassium (K) Argon Laser Experiment' (KArLE) is developed and designed for in situ absolute dating of rocks on planetary surfaces. It is based on the K-Ar dating method and uses the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy - Laser Ablation - Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (LIBSLA- QMS) technique. We use a dedicated interface to combine two instruments similar to SAM of Mars Science Laboratory (for the QMS) and ChemCam (for the LA and LIBS). The prototype has demonstrated that KArLE is a suitable and promising instrument for in situ absolute dating.

Municipal distribution and trends in bladder cancer incidence in health area of León, Spain (1996-2010).

PubMed

del Canto, M; García-Martínez, L; Fernández-Villa, T; Molina, A J; Campanario, F; García-Sanz, M; López-Abente, G; Honrado, E; Martín-Sánchez, V

2015-01-01

Spain is a country where bladder cancer incidence and mortality rates are some of the highest in the world. The aim of this study is to know the incidence, trends and geographical distribution of bladder cancer in the health area of León. the new cases of bladder cancer (CIE-188) in patients residing in the health area of León and registered in the Hospital Tumor Registry of the Centro Asistencial Universitario in León (Spain) between 1996-2010 were included in this study. Triennial crude incidence and adjusted incidence rates to the worldwide and European population were calculated. Population data of the municipalities of Leon (Spain) were obtained from National Institute of Statistic of Spain (INE, Instituto Nacional de Estadística). Data were disaggregated by sex-groups and five-year age groups. Spatial distribution of smoothed municipal relative risks (RR) of bladder cancer was carried out using a Besag, York and Mollié model. Bayesian model were used to calculate the posterior probability (PP) of RR greater than one. 1.573 cases were included. Incidence rates standardized to European population increased among men from 20,8/100.000 (1996-98) to 33,1/100.000 (2006-2008) and among women these rates increased from 1,9/100.000 to 5,9/100.000 for the same period of time. No relevant differences were found in the municipal distribution of the incidences. bladder cancer incidence rates are high in the European context. Rising trends in incidence in both sexs, particularly in women are observed. Copyright © 2014 AEU. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Adolescent archaics or adult moderns? Le Moustier 1 as a model for estimating the age at death of fragmentary supraorbital fossils in the modern human origins debate.

PubMed

Ahern, J C M; Smith, F H

2004-01-01

This study documents and examines selected implications of the adolescent supraorbital anatomy of the Le Moustier 1 Neandertal. Le Moustier's supraorbital morphology conforms to that expected of an adolescent Neandertal but indicates that significant development of the adult Neandertal torus occurs late in ontogeny. As the best preserved adolescent from the Late Pleistocene, Le Moustier 1's anatomy is used to help distinguish adolescent from adult anatomy in two cases of fragmentary supraorbital fossils, the Vindija late Neandertals and KRM 16425 from Klasies River Mouth (South Africa). It has been suggested that the modern-like aspects of the Vindija and Klasies supraorbital fossils are a function of developmental age rather than evolution. Although Le Moustier 1's anatomy does indicate that two of the Vindija fossils are adolescent; these two fossils have already been excluded from studies that demonstrate transitional aspects of the Vindija adult supraorbitals. Results of an analysis of KRM 16425 in light of Le Moustier 1 are more ambiguous. KRM 16425 is clearly not a Neandertal, but its morphology suggests that it may be an adolescent form of such late archaic Africans like Florisbad or Ngaloba. Both the Vindija and Klasies River Mouth cases highlight the need to be wary of confusing adolescent anatomy with modernity.

A gap-filling model for eddy covariance latent heat flux: Estimating evapotranspiration of a subtropical seasonal evergreen broad-leaved forest as an example

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yi-Ying; Chu, Chia-Ren; Li, Ming-Hsu

2012-10-01

SummaryIn this paper we present a semi-parametric multivariate gap-filling model for tower-based measurement of latent heat flux (LE). Two statistical techniques, the principal component analysis (PCA) and a nonlinear interpolation approach were integrated into this LE gap-filling model. The PCA was first used to resolve the multicollinearity relationships among various environmental variables, including radiation, soil moisture deficit, leaf area index, wind speed, etc. Two nonlinear interpolation methods, multiple regressions (MRS) and the K-nearest neighbors (KNNs) were examined with random selected flux gaps for both clear sky and nighttime/cloudy data to incorporate into this LE gap-filling model. Experimental results indicated that the KNN interpolation approach is able to provide consistent LE estimations while MRS presents over estimations during nighttime/cloudy. Rather than using empirical regression parameters, the KNN approach resolves the nonlinear relationship between the gap-filled LE flux and principal components with adaptive K values under different atmospheric states. The developed LE gap-filling model (PCA with KNN) works with a RMSE of 2.4 W m-2 (˜0.09 mm day-1) at a weekly time scale by adding 40% artificial flux gaps into original dataset. Annual evapotranspiration at this study site were estimated at 736 mm (1803 MJ) and 728 mm (1785 MJ) for year 2008 and 2009, respectively.

Validating module network learning algorithms using simulated data.

PubMed

Michoel, Tom; Maere, Steven; Bonnet, Eric; Joshi, Anagha; Saeys, Yvan; Van den Bulcke, Tim; Van Leemput, Koenraad; van Remortel, Piet; Kuiper, Martin; Marchal, Kathleen; Van de Peer, Yves

2007-05-03

In recent years, several authors have used probabilistic graphical models to learn expression modules and their regulatory programs from gene expression data. Despite the demonstrated success of such algorithms in uncovering biologically relevant regulatory relations, further developments in the area are hampered by a lack of tools to compare the performance of alternative module network learning strategies. Here, we demonstrate the use of the synthetic data generator SynTReN for the purpose of testing and comparing module network learning algorithms. We introduce a software package for learning module networks, called LeMoNe, which incorporates a novel strategy for learning regulatory programs. Novelties include the use of a bottom-up Bayesian hierarchical clustering to construct the regulatory programs, and the use of a conditional entropy measure to assign regulators to the regulation program nodes. Using SynTReN data, we test the performance of LeMoNe in a completely controlled situation and assess the effect of the methodological changes we made with respect to an existing software package, namely Genomica. Additionally, we assess the effect of various parameters, such as the size of the data set and the amount of noise, on the inference performance. Overall, application of Genomica and LeMoNe to simulated data sets gave comparable results. However, LeMoNe offers some advantages, one of them being that the learning process is considerably faster for larger data sets. Additionally, we show that the location of the regulators in the LeMoNe regulation programs and their conditional entropy may be used to prioritize regulators for functional validation, and that the combination of the bottom-up clustering strategy with the conditional entropy-based assignment of regulators improves the handling of missing or hidden regulators. We show that data simulators such as SynTReN are very well suited for the purpose of developing, testing and improving module network algorithms. We used SynTReN data to develop and test an alternative module network learning strategy, which is incorporated in the software package LeMoNe, and we provide evidence that this alternative strategy has several advantages with respect to existing methods.

Archaebacterial Involvement in Microbial Metal Corrosion

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-03-19

viand /or + I A󈧅-o- - iP’ " ’ I m I I | | A more complete study using a wider range of sizes of organo groups is currently being completed to further...replaced with Dr. Boopathy, who comes from the University of Missouri. Through Dr. Rajogopal’s visit last year to work with the French-Georgia group ( Le

Les recommandations thérapeutiques relatives aux effets secondaires extrapyramidaux associés à l’utilisation d’antipsychotiques de deuxième génération chez les enfants et les adolescents

PubMed Central

Pringsheim, Tamara; Doja, Asif; Belanger, Stacey; Patten, Scott

2012-01-01

HISTORIQUE ET OBJECTIF : L’utilisation d’antipsychotiques augmente chez les enfants. Le présent article visait à orienter les cliniciens quant à la prise en charge clinique des effets secondaires extrapyramidaux des antipsychotiques de deuxième génération. MÉTHODOLOGIE : Les publications, les entrevues avec des informateurs clés et des échanges avec les membres d’un groupe de discussion et les partenaires ont permis de déterminer les principaux secteurs cliniques d’orientation et les préférences quant à la structure des présentes recommandations. Les membres responsables des lignes directrices ont reçu le projet de recommandations, ont évalué l’information recueillie grâce à une analyse bibliographique systématique et ont utilisé un processus de groupe nominal pour parvenir à un consensus quant aux recommandations thérapeutiques. Les lignes directrices contiennent une description des anomalies neurologiques souvent observées avec l’utilisation d’antipsychotiques ainsi que les recommandations sur le moyen d’examiner et de quantifier ces anomalies. Une démarche séquentielle sur la prise en charge des anomalies neurologiques est présentée. RÉSULTATS : On peut observer plusieurs types de symptômes extrapyramidaux attribuables à l’utilisation d’antipsychotiques chez les enfants, y compris la dystonie aiguë, l’akathisie, le parkinsonisme et la dyskinésie tardive, toutes induites par les neuroleptiques, de même que la dystonie tardive, l’akathisie tardive et les dyskinésies de sevrage. La forte majorité des données probantes sur le traitement des troubles du mouvement induits par les antipsychotiques proviennent de patients adultes atteints de schizophrénie. Étant donné le peu de données pédiatriques, les recommandations découlent de publications portant tant sur des adultes que sur des enfants. Compte tenu des limites de généralisation des données provenant de sujets adultes pour des enfants, il faudrait évaluer ces recommandations d’après les avis d’experts plutôt que d’après les données probantes. CONCLUSION : Les cliniciens doivent savoir que les antipsychotiques de deuxième génération ont le potentiel d’induire des effets secondaires neurologiques et devraient faire preuve d’une extrême vigilance lorsqu’ils en prescrivent. PMID:24082814

Estimation of Ravine Sediment production using MIKE 11 model, in the lower Le Sueur Watershed, Minnesota

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azmera, L. A.; Miralles-Wilhelm, F. R.; Melesse, A. M.; Belmont, P.; Jennings, C. E.; Thomas, A.; Khalif, F.

2008-12-01

A study of sediment dynamics in the Le Sueur River basin, southern Minnesota has been initiated with the goal of developing an integrated sediment budget. Preliminary analysis of the sediment load to the Minnesota River has shown that the Le Sueur River contributes substantial amount of the sediment transport and deposition. Many deeply incised ravines exist, especially towards the lower Le Sueur River. The ravines are believed to be one of the major sediment producing sources in the river basin. Hence the ravine sediment production should be accounted for in the sediment budget. This study concentrates on the hydrology of the ravines and evaluates the sediment budget at the ravine scale. Field observations from summer 2008 show that most of the bluffs along the main stem of both ravines are actively eroding. Also, landsliding of the steep ravine valley walls and rapid incision of the fluvial channels within the ravine are producing sediment. Several large fill terraces are present along the main stem, towards the mouth of the ravines. Recent incision through these extensive fill terraces may be another sediment producing source. Sediment storage in the ravines also occurs, behind woody debris jams as well as in locations where local baselevel has been raised by the insertion of a culvert. The sediment budget of the ravines would be quantified as the difference between the storage of sediment and the sum of sediments loads derived from the uplands, as well as the bluffs and terraces inside the ravines. Primary locations of major bluffs, terraces, gullies and drainage tiles in the gauged ravines were mapped using GPS. A database of major bluff, terraces, and drainage tiles was built in ArcGIS. Sediment samples from ravine heads, bluffs, terraces and ravine mouth were collected to study the grain size distribution and stratigraphy of major bluffs along the ravines. Sediment transport in the ravines will be modeled using MIKE 11 (DHI group), a dynamic, one-dimensional modeling tool. The model will use data on sediment grain diameter and standard deviation of grain size, soil cover, precipitation and the high resolution LiDAR digital elevation model of the ravines, to quantify the total sediment transport. Key words: Le Sueur River, sediment budget, ravine, Mike11, GIS, Minnesota

Overview on the history of organofluorine chemistry from the viewpoint of material industry

PubMed Central

Okazoe, Takashi

2009-01-01

Fluorine (from “le fluor”, meaning “to flow”) is a second row element of Group 17 in the periodic table. When bound to carbon it forms the strongest bond in organic chemistry to give organofluorine compounds. The scientific field treating them, organofluorine chemistry, started before elemental fluorine itself was isolated. Applying the fruits in academia, industrial organofluorine chemistry has developed over 80 years via dramatic changes during World War II. Nowadays, it provides various materials essential for our society. Recently, it utilizes elemental fluorine itself as a reagent for the introduction of fluorine atoms to organic molecules in leading-edge industries. This paper overviews the historical development of organofluorine chemistry especially from the viewpoint of material industry. PMID:19838009

Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis and Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion Associated with Lamotrigine-induced Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome.

PubMed

Ozisik, Lale; Tanriover, Mine Durusu; Saka, Esen

2016-01-01

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe drug hypersensitivity reaction characterized by rash, fever and multi-organ failure. Limbic encephalitis (LE) is a rare disorder characterized by cognitive dysfunction with memory disturbance, seizures and psychiatric symptoms. We herein present an unusual case of DRESS syndrome due to lamotrigine with reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus, which developed autoimmune LE and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. Discontinuation of lamotrigine, administration of methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin led to improvement. The LE in this case might have been caused by an autoimmune inflammatory mechanism associated with DRESS syndrome.

Computer-aided diagnosis of leukoencephalopathy in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glass, John O.; Li, Chin-Shang; Helton, Kathleen J.; Reddick, Wilburn E.

2005-04-01

The purpose of this study was to use objective quantitative MR imaging methods to develop a computer-aided diagnosis tool to differentiate white matter (WM) hyperintensities as either leukoencephalopathy (LE) or normal maturational processes in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with intravenous high dose methotrexate. A combined imaging set consisting of T1, T2, PD, and FLAIR MR images and WM, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid a priori maps from a spatially normalized atlas were analyzed with a neural network segmentation based on a Kohonen Self-Organizing Map. Segmented regions were manually classified to identify the most hyperintense WM region and the normal appearing genu region. Signal intensity differences normalized to the genu within each examination were generated for two time points in 203 children. An unsupervised hierarchical clustering algorithm with the agglomeration method of McQuitty was used to divide data from the first examination into normal appearing or LE groups. A C-support vector machine (C-SVM) was then trained on the first examination data and used to classify the data from the second examination. The overall accuracy of the computer-aided detection tool was 83.5% (299/358) with sensitivity to normal WM of 86.9% (199/229) and specificity to LE of 77.5% (100/129) when compared to the readings of two expert observers. These results suggest that subtle therapy-induced leukoencephalopathy can be objectively and reproducibly detected in children treated for cancer using this computer-aided detection approach based on relative differences in quantitative signal intensity measures normalized within each examination.

D-A type sensor array for differentiation and identification of white wine varieties based on specific solvent effect activated by CT-LE transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Jingqi; Zhang, Xin; Li, Hao; Hou, Yue; Hou, Jingdan; Li, Zhongfeng; Yang, Feng; Liu, Yang; Han, Tianyu

2018-02-01

In this work, we synthesize a series of compounds with electron donor (D) and acceptor (A) units. They show general solvent effect in aprotic solvents, suggesting a charge transfer (CT) process. While in protic solvents including water, ethanol and methanol, the spectra exert no polarity-dependence but a remarkable hypochromatic shift together with the fading of CT band. Dynamic analysis implies that intermolecular hydrogen bond will be formed between carboxylic acid and protic solvent, boosting another deactivation pathway that jumps off a bigger energy gap, in other words, favoring the locally excited (LE) state emission. The CT-LE transition involves variations in both absorption and emission spectra, and further poses competition with other mechanisms including activated/restricted intramolecular rotation (IR/RIR). Inspired by the cross-reactivity, we turn our attention to the development of sensor array, in order to identify white wine varieties. The differential spectral responses are recorded, generating multiple factors including absorption wavelength (λab), emission wavelength (λem), absorbance (Abs.) and emission intensity (Int.). These factors are processed with principal component analysis (PCA), creating a three-dimensional fingerprint data base for white wines. The data points in the coordinate system are clustered into 10 different groups, demonstrating a clear differentiation of all the white wines. More importantly, as our final test for whether the sensor array can identify the counterfeits, an adulterated liquor sample, which is provided by police officers, is fingerprinted on the three-dimensional diagram. Its canonical factors fall into an area distinct from the adulterated wine, indicating a clear identification.

Ledantevirus: A Proposed New Genus in the Rhabdoviridae Has A Strong Ecological Association with Bats

PubMed Central

Blasdell, Kim R.; Guzman, Hilda; Widen, Steven G.; Firth, Cadhla; Wood, Thomas G.; Holmes, Edward C.; Tesh, Robert B.; Vasilakis, Nikos; Walker, Peter J.

2015-01-01

The Le Dantec serogroup of rhabdoviruses comprises Le Dantec virus from a human with encephalitis and Keuriliba virus from rodents, each isolated in Senegal. The Kern Canyon serogroup comprises a loosely connected set of rhabdoviruses many of which have been isolated from bats, including Kern Canyon virus from California, Nkolbisson virus from Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Cote d'Ivoire, Kolente virus from Guinea, Mount Elgon bat and Fikirini viruses from Kenya, and Oita virus from Japan. Fukuoka virus isolated from mosquitoes, midges, and cattle in Japan, Barur virus from a rodent in India and Nishimuro virus from pigs in Japan have also been linked genetically or serologically to this group. Here, we analyze the genome sequences and phylogenetic relationships of this set of viruses. We show that they form three subgroups within a monophyletic group, which we propose should constitute the new genus Ledantevirus. PMID:25487727

Le traumatisme du colon: l'expérience du CHU Hassan II de Fès

PubMed Central

Benjelloun, El Bachir; Hafid, Hasnai; Karim, Ibnmajdoub; Ousadden, Abdelmalek; Mazaz, Khalid; Taleb, Kahlid Ait

2012-01-01

Introduction Les traumatismes du colon sont associés à un risque majeur de complications septiques et de mortalité. Le but de notre étude est d’évaluer les circonstances, la prise en charge, le suivi et les facteurs pronostic de morbidité postopératoire des malades victimes d'un traumatisme colique. Méthodes Il s'agit d'une étude rétrospective sur une série de 49 patients opérés pour des plaies coliques aux services de chirurgie viscérale du CHU HASSAN II de Fès sur une période de 8 ans de juillet 2003 à juillet 2011. Résultats L’âge moyen de nos patients était de 25ans (16-70) avec une nette prédominance masculine (93.8%). Les plaies coliques secondaires à un traumatisme par arme blanche représentent 85% des cas (42 patients), suivi par les plaies iatrogènes au cours d'une coloscopie chez 6 patients (13%), puis les contusions abdominales chez 1 patient (2%). Les parties du cadre colique les plus touchées étaient le colon transverse chez 19 patients (38%) et le colon descendant chez 12 patients (24, 5%). Le colon sigmoïde était le segment le plus touché au cours d'une coloscopie4/6. Quarante-deux patients (85%) ont eu une suture primaire des plaies coliques, six patients (13%) une diversion fécale et un patient (2%) une résection-anastomose. Deux patients (4%) sont décédés suite à un choc septique. La morbidité globale était de 38,7% dominé essentiellement par l'infection de la paroi chez 14 patients et une péritonite post opératoire chez 3 patients. L'analyse univarié a montré une différence significatif en terme d'infection de la paroi entre le groupe colostomie versus suture simple (50% vs 20,9% p<0,05). L'atteinte du colon gauche et la réalisation d'une colostomie sont associés à un risque plus élevés de complications postopératoires. Conclusion La suture primaire peut être effectuée avec un faible taux de complications postopératoire chez la majorité des patients suite à un traumatisme du colon. PMID:23346275

Racquet string tension directly affects force experienced at the elbow: implications for the development of lateral epicondylitis in tennis players

PubMed Central

Mohandhas, Badri R; Makaram, Navnit; Drew, Tim S; Wang, Weijie; Arnold, Graham P

2016-01-01

Background Lateral epicondylitis (LE) occurs in almost half of all tennis players. Racket-string tension is considered to be an important factor influencing the development of LE. No literature yet exists that substantiates how string-tension affects force transmission to the elbow, as implicated in LE development. We establish a quantitative relationship between string-tension and elbow loading, analyzing tennis strokes using rackets with varying string-tensions. Methods Twenty recreational tennis players simulated backhand tennis strokes using three rackets strung at tensions of 200 N, 222 N and 245 N. Accelerometers recorded accelerations at the elbow, wrist and racket handle. Average peak acceleration was determined to correlate string-tension with elbow loading. Results Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed when average peak acceleration at the elbow at 200 N string-tension (acceleration of 5.58 m/s2) was compared with that at 222 N tension (acceleration of 6.83 m/s2) and 245 N tension (acceleration of 7.45 m/s2). The 200 N racket induced the least acceleration at the elbow. Conclusions Although parameters determining force transmission to the elbow during a tennis stroke are complex, the present study was able to control these parameters, isolating the effect of string-tension. Lower string-tensions transmit less force to the elbow in backhand strokes. Reducing string-tension should be considered favourably with respect to reducing the risk of developing LE. PMID:27583017

PubMed

Guillaumet, Jean-Louis; Betsch, Jean-Marie; Callmander, Martin W

2008-01-01

Le programme intitulé « Étude des écosystémes montagnards dans la région malgache» (RCP 225/CNRS; responsable: Recteur Renaud Paulian) avait pour ambition de dégager leurs caractères généraux, l'origine des éléments constitutifs et de tester la validité d'un Domaine malgache des Hautes Montagnes proposé par Humbert dès 1951. De 1970 à 1973, trois campagnes (Andringitra; Chaînes anosyennes et Ankaratra; Itremo, Ibity et Marojejy) ont permis une caractérisation écologique des milieux particuliers ainsi que des analyses de systématique sur certains taxa connus pour leur intérêt biogéographique. La succession altitudinale des formations végétales, définies par des critères physionomiques et structuraux, est précisée par massif. Le dernier étage caractérisé par le fourré éricoïde et ses groupements associés ne correspond pas à l'Étage des Hautes Montagnes de l'Est africain. Des groupes de la faune (invertébrés hexapodes: Collemboles et Dermaptères) indiquent une disjonction entre les massifs du Nord (Tsaratanana, Marojejy), ceux du Centre et du Sud; des éléments de la flore (Pandanaceae, Araliaceae, Asteraceae) sont en cours d'analyse dans le même sens. Le Domaine des Hautes montagnes à Madagascar est une réalité écologique mais ne peut être défini floristiquement; chaque massif montagneux est une entité phytogéographique d'étages de végétation interdépendants inclus dans les différents Sous-Domaines du Centre. Les groupes peu mobiles de la faune indiquent globalement une dépendance trophique et bioclimatique (effet tampon du climat intraforestier) vis-à-vis des étages de végétation, mais peuvent réagir à des microclimats locaux par des décalages à leurs limites.

Seminar Andrej Sacharov

ScienceCinema

None

2017-12-09

A l'occasion de son 63me anniversaire 2 orateurs rendent hommage à A.Sacharov, physicien russe et né à Moscou, pour ses accomplissements scientifiques et son courage. A.Sacharov a dénoncé les dangers de la radioactivité et a tenté de persuader les autorités soviétiques de supprimer une série de test après le developpement de la bombe atomique en 1949 et la bombe à hydrogène en 1953 par un groupe de chercheurs soviétiques. Il a obtenu le prix Nobel en 1975.

Processing-in-Memory Technology for Knowledge Discovery Algorithms

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-07-01

e MP EG 2-d ist1 EP IC -u nq ua nti ze GS M- Ca lcu lat ion Sp ee du p ov er b as el in e MIT-SLP SLP SLPCF SLPCF+SLL 15 8 our infrastructure...to non-threat groups as well. Figure 15: Summary of ARDA/Eagle Data Sets. D at as et #o f N od es (P eo pl e ) #o f L in ks A vg . F an ou t Ph...on e C al ls Te le co ns Te le co n R es po nd en ts A vg . T el ec on Pa rt

Quantitative MRI assessments of white matter in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reddick, Wilburn E.; Glass, John O.; Helton, Kathleen J.; Li, Chin-Shang; Pui, Ching-Hon

2005-04-01

The purpose of this study was to use objective quantitative MR imaging methods to prospectively assess changes in the physiological structure of white matter during the temporal evolution of leukoencephalopathy (LE) in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The longitudinal incidence, extent (proportion of white matter affect), and intensity (elevation of T1 and T2 relaxation rates) of LE was evaluated for 44 children. A combined imaging set consisting of T1, T2, PD, and FLAIR MR images and white matter, gray matter and CSF a priori maps from a spatially normalized atlas were analyzed with a neural network segmentation based on a Kohonen Self-Organizing Map (SOM). Quantitative T1 and T2 relaxation maps were generated using a nonlinear parametric optimization procedure to fit the corresponding multi-exponential models. A Cox proportional regression was performed to estimate the effect of intravenous methotrexate (IV-MTX) exposure on the development of LE followed by a generalized linear model to predict the probability of LE in new patients. Additional T-tests of independent samples were performed to assess differences in quantitative measures of extent and intensity at four different points in therapy. Higher doses and more courses of IV-MTX placed patients at a higher risk of developing LE and were associated with more intense changes affecting more of the white matter volume; many of the changes resolved after completion of therapy. The impact of these changes on neurocognitive functioning and quality of life in survivors remains to be determined.

Myocardial Fibrosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Volumetric Assessment of Late Enhancement Provided by Cardiac Computed Tomography.

PubMed

Langer, Christoph; Schaefer, Philipp; Lutz, Matthias; Eden, Matthias; Hohnhorst, Mirko; Harders, Hauke; Faber, Lothar; Jansen, Olav; Both, Marcus; Frey, Norbert

2015-01-01

With subgroups of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) confers a 4% to 5% risk for adverse prognosis. Besides left-ventricular muscle mass (LV-MM) myocardial fibrosis (MF) assessable by late gadolinium enhancement in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) has been related to that. Myocardial fibrosis can also be demonstrated by late enhancement (LE) in late-enhanced multislice computed tomography (leMDCT). This analysis investigates leMDCT whether to enable quantification of LE load in terms of LE mass by percent LV-MM in HCM. In a prospective validation study, we included 30 consecutive patients with HCM who underwent leMDCT (64 slice) and LGE-CMR (1.5 T). The leMDCT scan was performed 7 minutes after injection of iodine contrast (Iopromid). Endocardial and epicardial planimetry served for the assessment of LV-MM. Visually detectable LE was quantified using the manual quantification method resulting in LE by percent LV-MM (%LE). The LGE-CMR data served for validation. Mean (SD) age was 64.1 (13.9) years. Myocardial fibrosis prevalence was 63.3% (19/30 patients indentified by both leMDCT and LGE-CMR). In leMDCT, tissue density in LE areas compared with normal myocardium was higher (138.2 [23.9] HU vs 98.4 [16.5] HU, P < 0.001) but lower than in the LV cavity (138.2 [23.9] HU vs 169.2 [35.9] HU, P < 0.001). Late enhancement mass in leMDCT seemed to be 7.9 (8.5) g LE versus 8.6 [11] g LGE in CMR (P = 0.497, r = 0.95) resulting in a leMDCT/LGE-CMR relation of 1.2. Referring LE mass to LV-MM gave an LE proportion measured by leMDCT of 4 (3.9) %LE versus 3.9 (4.1) %LGE in LGE-CMR (r = 0.88, P = 0.75). Intraobserver/interobserver reliability of LE mass assessment showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99 and 0.97. In patients with HCM, leMDCT provides volumetric assessment of LE mass-absolutely and by percent LV-MM.

LeEix1 functions as a decoy receptor to attenuate LeEix2 signaling.

PubMed

Bar, Maya; Sharfman, Miya; Avni, Adi

2011-03-01

The receptors for the fungal elicitor EIX (LeEix1 and LeEix2) belong to a class of leucine-rich repeat cell-surface glycoproteins with a signal for receptor-mediated endocytosis. Both receptors are able to bind the EIX elicitor while only the LeEix2 receptor mediates defense responses. We show that LeEix1 acts as a decoy receptor and attenuates EIX induced internalization and signaling of the LeEix2 receptor. We demonstrate that BAK1 binds LeEix1 but not LeEix2. In plants where BAK1 was silenced, LeEix1 was no longer able to attenuate plant responses to EIX, indicating that BAK1 is required for this attenuation. We suggest that LeEix1 functions as a decoy receptor for LeEix2, a function which requires the kinase activity of BAK1.

A functional glycoproteomics approach identifies CD13 as a novel E-selectin ligand in breast cancer.

PubMed

Carrascal, M A; Silva, M; Ferreira, J A; Azevedo, R; Ferreira, D; Silva, A M N; Ligeiro, D; Santos, L L; Sackstein, R; Videira, P A

2018-05-17

The glycan moieties sialyl-Lewis-X and/or -A (sLe X/A ) are the primary ligands for E-selectin, regulating subsequent tumor cell extravasation into distant organs. However, the nature of the glycoprotein scaffolds displaying these glycans in breast cancer remains unclear and constitutes the focus of the present investigation. We isolated glycoproteins that bind E-selectin from the CF1_T breast cancer cell line, derived from a patient with ductal carcinoma. Proteins were identified using bottom-up proteomics approach by nanoLC-orbitrap LTQ-MS/MS. Data were curated using bioinformatics tools to highlight clinically relevant glycoproteins, which were validated by flow cytometry, Western blot, immunohistochemistry and in-situ proximity ligation assays in clinical samples. We observed that the CF1_T cell line expressed sLe X , but not sLe A and the E-selectin reactivity was mainly on N-glycans. MS and bioinformatics analysis of the targeted glycoproteins, when narrowed down to the most clinically relevant species in breast cancer, identified CD44 glycoprotein (HCELL) and CD13 as key E-selectin ligands. Additionally, the co-expression of sLe X -CD44 and sLe X -CD13 was confirmed in clinical breast cancer tissue samples. Both CD44 and CD13 glycoforms display sLe X in breast cancer and bind E-selectin, suggesting a key role in metastasis development. Such observations provide a novel molecular rationale for developing targeted therapeutics. While HCELL expression in breast cancer has been previously reported, this is the first study indicating that CD13 functions as an E-selectin ligand in breast cancer. This observation supports previous associations of CD13 with metastasis and draws attention to this glycoprotein as an anti-cancer target. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Corticosteroid injection in early treatment of lateral epicondylitis.

PubMed

Newcomer, K L; Laskowski, E R; Idank, D M; McLean, T J; Egan, K S

2001-10-01

To analyze whether a corticosteroid injection in combination with rehabilitation early in the course of lateral epicondylitis (LE) alters the outcome up to 6 months after injection compared with a control injection and rehabilitation. Randomized, controlled, double-blind study. Sports medicine center in a tertiary care center. Subjects with a diagnosis of LE whose symptoms had been present less than 4 weeks were included. Subjects were recruited by word of mouth and through advertising. The 39 subjects who were recruited were 18 to 65 years old. 19 subjects were randomized to receive rehabilitation and a sham injection, and 20 were randomized to receive rehabilitation and a corticosteroid injection. At 4 and 8 weeks, they were reevaluated and their treatment programs were modified, if indicated. Outcome measurements were performed at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months, and included a functional pain questionnaire and a visual analogue pain scale. Painless grip strength on the affected side and maximal grip strength bilaterally were measured at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. There were no significant differences in outcome between the two groups with the exception of an improvement in the visual analogue pain scale in the corticosteroid group from 8 weeks to 6 months. Outcome measurements in both groups improved significantly over time; more than 80% of subjects reported improvements from baseline to 6 months for all scales. A corticosteroid injection does not provide a clinically significant improvement in the outcome of LE, and rehabilitation should be the first line of treatment in patients with a short duration of symptoms.

Cutaneous manifestations of lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Parodi, A; Cozzani, E

2014-10-01

Cutaneous involvement in case of lupus erythematosus (LE) is very frequent and can present both specific or non-specific manifestations. LE specific lesions can be classified in acute, subacute and chronic cutaneous LE lesions. All of them can be localized and generalized. The LE non specific lesions are not exclusive to LE disease but are often seen in patients with active systemic LE. All the cutaneous lesions are often induced or aggravated by ultraviolet light, in fact they are usually localized in sun-exposed areas. Acute cutaneous LE is associated with systemic disease, subacute cutaneous LE has been considered a subset of its own since 1979 when it was first described, chronic cutaneous LE is the most common subtype of LE. Although less frequently also the chronic cutaneous lesions can be an aspect of systemic LE (25%).

Distinct human α(1,3)-fucosyltransferases drive Lewis-X/sialyl Lewis-X assembly in human cells.

PubMed

Mondal, Nandini; Dykstra, Brad; Lee, Jungmin; Ashline, David J; Reinhold, Vernon N; Rossi, Derrick J; Sackstein, Robert

2018-05-11

In humans, six α(1,3)-fucosyltransferases (α(1,3)-FTs: FT3/FT4/FT5/FT6/FT7/FT9) reportedly fucosylate terminal lactosaminyl glycans yielding Lewis-X (Le X ; CD15) and/or sialyl Lewis-X (sLe X ; CD15s), structures that play key functions in cell migration, development, and immunity. Prior studies analyzing α(1,3)-FT specificities utilized either purified and/or recombinant enzymes to modify synthetic substrates under nonphysiological reaction conditions or molecular biology approaches wherein α(1,3)-FTs were expressed in mammalian cell lines, notably excluding investigations using primary human cells. Accordingly, although significant insights into α(1,3)-FT catalytic properties have been obtained, uncertainty persists regarding their human Le X /sLe X biosynthetic range across various glycoconjugates. Here, we undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the lactosaminyl product specificities of intracellularly expressed α(1,3)-FTs using a clinically relevant primary human cell type, mesenchymal stem cells. Cells were transfected with modified mRNA encoding each human α(1,3)-FT, and the resultant α(1,3)-fucosylated lactosaminyl glycoconjugates were analyzed using a combination of flow cytometry and MS. The data show that biosynthesis of sLe X is driven by FTs-3, -5, -6, and -7, with FT6 and FT7 having highest potency. FT4 and FT9 dominantly biosynthesize Le X , and, among all FTs, FT6 holds a unique capacity in creating sLe X and Le X determinants across protein and lipid glycoconjugates. Surprisingly, FT4 does not generate sLe X on glycolipids, and neither FT4, FT6, nor FT9 synthesizes the internally fucosylated sialyllactosamine VIM-2 (CD65s). These results unveil the relevant human lactosaminyl glycans created by human α(1,3)-FTs, providing novel insights on how these isoenzymes stereoselectively shape biosynthesis of vital glycoconjugates, thereby biochemically programming human cell migration and tuning human immunologic and developmental processes. © 2018 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Deriving fractional rate of degradation of logistic-exponential (LE) model to evaluate early in vitro fermentation.

PubMed

Wang, M; Sun, X Z; Tang, S X; Tan, Z L; Pacheco, D

2013-06-01

Water-soluble components of feedstuffs are mainly utilized during the early phase of microbial fermentation, which could be deemed an important determinant of gas production behavior in vitro. Many studies proposed that the fractional rate of degradation (FRD) estimated by fitting gas production curves to mathematical models might be used to characterize the early incubation for in vitro systems. In this study, the mathematical concept of FRD was developed on the basis of the Logistic-Exponential (LE) model, with initial gas volume being zero (LE0). The FRD of the LE0 model exhibits a continuous increase from initial (FRD 0) toward final asymptotic value (FRD F) with longer incubation time. The relationships between the FRD and gas production at incubation times 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 h were compared for four models, in addition to LE0, Generalization of the Mitscherlich (GM), c th order Michaelis-Menten (MM) and Exponential with a discrete LAG (EXPLAG). A total of 94 in vitro gas curves from four subsets with a wide range of feedstuffs from different laboratories and incubation periods were used for model testing. Results indicated that compared with the GM, MM and EXPLAG models, the FRD of LE0 model consistently had stronger correlations with gas production across the four subsets, especially at incubation times 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 h. Thus, the LE0 model was deemed to provide a better representation of the early fermentation rates. Furthermore, the FRD 0 also exhibited strong correlations (P < 0.05) with gas production at early incubation times 2, 4, 6 and 8 h across all four subsets. In summary, the FRD of LE0 model provides an alternative to quantify the rate of early stage incubation, and its initial value could be an important starting parameter of rate.

Ligand efficiency based approach for efficient virtual screening of compound libraries.

PubMed

Ke, Yi-Yu; Coumar, Mohane Selvaraj; Shiao, Hui-Yi; Wang, Wen-Chieh; Chen, Chieh-Wen; Song, Jen-Shin; Chen, Chun-Hwa; Lin, Wen-Hsing; Wu, Szu-Huei; Hsu, John T A; Chang, Chung-Ming; Hsieh, Hsing-Pang

2014-08-18

Here we report for the first time the use of fit quality (FQ), a ligand efficiency (LE) based measure for virtual screening (VS) of compound libraries. The LE based VS protocol was used to screen an in-house database of 125,000 compounds to identify aurora kinase A inhibitors. First, 20 known aurora kinase inhibitors were docked to aurora kinase A crystal structure (PDB ID: 2W1C); and the conformations of docked ligand were used to create a pharmacophore (PH) model. The PH model was used to screen the database compounds, and rank (PH rank) them based on the predicted IC50 values. Next, LE_Scale, a weight-dependant LE function, was derived from 294 known aurora kinase inhibitors. Using the fit quality (FQ = LE/LE_Scale) score derived from the LE_Scale function, the database compounds were reranked (PH_FQ rank) and the top 151 (0.12% of database) compounds were assessed for aurora kinase A inhibition biochemically. This VS protocol led to the identification of 7 novel hits, with compound 5 showing aurora kinase A IC50 = 1.29 μM. Furthermore, testing of 5 against a panel of 31 kinase reveals that it is selective toward aurora kinase A & B, with <50% inhibition for other kinases at 10 μM concentrations and is a suitable candidate for further development. Incorporation of FQ score in the VS protocol not only helped identify a novel aurora kinase inhibitor, 5, but also increased the hit rate of the VS protocol by improving the enrichment factor (EF) for FQ based screening (EF = 828), compared to PH based screening (EF = 237) alone. The LE based VS protocol disclosed here could be applied to other targets for hit identification in an efficient manner. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Cultural Heritage Protection Issues In Leśnica, The Settlement Of Wrocław

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kononowicz, Alena

2015-09-01

Leśnica, today the settlement on the western edge of Wrocław, formerly was an independent town, located on a previously wooded area, with a linear street system. It developed in the Middle Ages around the castle and church playing a service role for the Silesian Piast court on their way to Legnica and during hunting. In the thirteenth century it received city rights, and lost them in the eighteenth century. After the Piast dynasty had died out, it was sold by John of Luxembourg, and repeatedly changed its owners. In the nineteenth century it developed thanks to the industry, tourism and a convenient railway connection to Wrocław as well as hotel and restaurant facilities. In 1928, Leśnica was incorporated into Wrocław. After the Second World War, it lost its cultural continuity. In the 1970's, middle-heigh and high prefabricated buildings were built in the vicinity of a residential district. At the end of the twentieth and early twenty-first century, local industries were liquidated, and intensive land development started, causing the systematic blurring of its small-town character and its urban space started to acquire a character of a big city. In 2004, the old part of Leśnica was entered in the Register of Monuments. Also a ring road was planned, moving the cumbersome and dangerous transit traffic away from historic Średzka Street beyond the southern border of the settlement.

Clausa, a Tomato Mutant with a Wide Range of Phenotypic Perturbations, Displays a Cell Type-Dependent Expression of the Homeobox Gene LeT6/TKn21

PubMed Central

Avivi, Yigal; Lev-Yadun, Simcha; Morozova, Nadya; Libs, Laurence; Williams, Leor; Zhao, Jing; Varghese, George; Grafi, Gideon

2000-01-01

Class I knox genes play an important role in shoot meristem function and are thus involved in the ordered development of stems, leaves, and reproductive organs. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the expression pattern of these homeobox genes, we studied a spontaneous tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) mutant that phenotypically resembles, though is more extreme than, transgenic plants misexpressing class I knox genes. This mutant was found to carry a recessive allele, denoted clausa:shootyleaf (clau:shl)—a newly identified allele of clausa. Mutant plants exhibited abnormal leaf and flower morphology, epiphyllus inflorescences, fusion of organs, calyx asymmetry, and navel-like fruits. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy revealed that such fruits carried ectopic ovules, various vegetative primordia, as well as “forests” of stalked glandular trichomes. In situ RNA hybridization showed a peculiar expression pattern of the class I knox gene LeT6/TKn2; expression was restricted to the vascular system and palisade layer of mature leaves and to the inner part of ovules integuments. We conclude that CLAUSA regulates various aspects of tomato plant development, at least partly, by rendering the LeT6/TKn2 gene silent in specific tissues during development. Considering the expression pattern of LeT6/TKn2 in the clausa mutant, we suggest that the control over a given homeobox gene is maintained by several different regulatory mechanisms, in a cell type-dependent manner. PMID:11027705

Retour vers le futur: l'expérience des patients et le lien avec la qualité, la sécurité et le rendement financier.

PubMed

Cochrane, Bonnie S; Hagins, Mitch; King, John A; Picciano, Gino; McCafferty, Maureen M; Nelson, Brian

2015-11-01

Au Canada, l'amélioration de l'expérience des patients est devenue une priorité des politiques de santé. Le perfectionnement et la normalisation des outils et systèmes pour surveiller les mesures de l'expérience des patients augmentent, tandis que la tendance vers une plus grande reddition de compte sur des améliorations durables et abordables se confirme. Pour de nombreux professionnels de la santé, ce phénomène fait foi d'un intérêt renouvelé pour les besoins et priorités fondamentaux des patients, après des décennies où les changements structurels et technologiques ont dominé les programmes de santé. Pour les leaders en santé canadiens, l'amélioration de l'expérience des patients comporte actuellement de grands défis et de belles possibilités. À cet égard, l'expérience des organisations partenaires du groupe Studer au Canada est à la fois pertinente et instructive. Ces organisations ont adopté un modèle, du nom de Evidence-Based Leadership (EBL, ou leadership fondé sur des données probantes), qui favorise et soutient l'harmonisation de l'ensemble des activités et des comportements, conformément à des objectifs organisationnels précis, y compris des améliorations mesurables de l'expérience des patients. Le présent article expose des études de cas d'organisations qui ont adopté l'EBL. Ces organisations ont réalisé des progrès rapides en matière d'indicateurs de l'expérience des patients, ainsi que dans des secteurs essentiels comme les résultats cliniques, la sécurité et le rendement financier. Les données émergentes sur les facteurs et processus qui sous-tendent ces améliorations sont également abordées. © 2015 Collège canadien des leaders en santé

Les bisphosphonates dans le traitement de l’ostéoporose

PubMed Central

Brown, Jacques P.; Morin, Suzanne; Leslie, William; Papaioannou, Alexandra; Cheung, Angela M.; Davison, Kenneth S.; Goltzman, David; Hanley, David Arthur; Hodsman, Anthony; Josse, Robert; Jovaisas, Algis; Juby, Angela; Kaiser, Stephanie; Karaplis, Andrew; Kendler, David; Khan, Aliya; Ngui, Daniel; Olszynski, Wojciech; Ste-Marie, Louis-Georges; Adachi, Jonathan

2014-01-01

Résumé Objectif Exposer l’efficacité et les risques du traitement par les bisphosphonates dans la prise en charge de l’ostéoporose et décrire les patients qui seraient de bons candidats aux congés thérapeutiques. Qualité des données Une recherche dans MEDLINE (PubMed, jusqu’au 31 décembre 2012) a permis de relever les publications pertinentes pour l’inclusion. La plupart des données probantes citées sont de niveau II (tirées d’essais non randomisés, de cohorte et d’autres essais comparatifs). Message principal L’efficacité des bisphosphonates de premier recours homologués pour la prévention des fractures a été éprouvée dans le cadre d’essais cliniques randomisés et contrôlés. Cependant, l’usage clinique répandu et prolongé des bisphosphonates a donné lieu à des rapports de manifestations indésirables rares, mais graves. L’ostéonécrose maxillaire et les fractures atypiques sous-trochantériennes ou diaphysaires du fémur seraient liées à l’emploi des bisphosphonates dans le traitement de l’ostéoporose, mais ces manifestations sont extrêmement rares et lorsqu’elles surviennent, elles sont accompagnées d’autres comorbidités ou de l’emploi concomitant de médicaments. Les congés thérapeutiques ne peuvent être envisagés que chez les patients à faible risque et dans un groupe restreint de patients dont le risque de fracture est modéré après un traitement de 3 à 5 ans. Conclusion Lorsque les bisphosphonates sont prescrits à des patients dont le risque de fracture est élevé, leur effet de prévention des fractures l’emporte de loin sur leurs torts potentiels. Chez les patients qui prennent des bisphosphonates depuis 3 à 5 ans, il faut réévaluer le besoin de poursuivre le traitement.

An investigation into constraints to sustainable vehicle ownership : a focus group study.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-03-01

Though most Americans hold pro-environmental attitudes, an attitudes-behavior gap exists with respect to vehicle ownership. Significant constraints appear to prevent most people with environmental concerns from buying smaller, more fuel-efficient, le...

Effects of Anti-diarrhoeal Herbs on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Meat Quality in Pigs

PubMed Central

Cho, J. H.; Zhang, S.; Kim, I. H.

2012-01-01

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effects of anti-diarrhoeal herbs on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and meat quality in pigs. In Exp 1, 150 weanling-growing piglets (average BW = 7.5±0.24 kg, average age = 27±1 d) were allotted into one of the five dietary treatments, including: i) CON, basal diet, ii) DP, basal diet+1 g/kg date pits, iii) JH, basal diet+0.5 g/kg Japanese-honeysuckle, iv) HCT, basal diet+1 g/kg houttuynia cordata thunb, and v) LE, basal diet+1 g/kg laquer tree extract. From wk 0 to 5, the JH, HCT and LE groups presented higher (p<0.05) ADFI, ADG and gain/feed ratio (G/F) than CON and DP groups. During wk 5 to 10, Pigs fed JH, HCT and LE diets indicated higher (p<0.05) ADG and ADFI than the pigs fed CON and DP diets. During the entire experimental period, a significant increase of ADG appeared in JH, HCT and LE (p<0.05). Pigs fed JH, HCT and LE diets got a higher (p<0.05) ADFI than the pigs fed CON and DP diets. Pigs fed diets with supplementations of herb additives revealled lower (p<0.05) score of diarrhea pigs during d 2 to d 6 compared with pigs fed CON diet. In Exp 2, 60 growing-finishing barrows and gilts (average BW = 54.10±1.20 kg, average age = 54±3 d) were allotted to three treatments: i) CON, basal diet; ii) YG, basal diet+1 g/kg yellow ginger and iii) HR, basal dietary+1 g/kg hoantchy root, respectively. From wk 0 to 5, Dietary supplementation of YG and HR enhanced (p<0.05) ADG. No difference was found between YG and HR treatments. During, wk 5 to 10, ADG also was observed higher in YG and HR treatments than CON group (p<0.05). Additional, YG had the highest ADG (p<0.05) among treatments. There was always an increase of ADG in YG and HR (p<0.05) through all periods. HR treatment showed a lower (p<0.05) score of diarrhoeal pigs on d 1and d 2 compared with CON treatment. Pigs fed YG and HR diets had a higher (p<0.05) longissimus muscle area (LMA) than pigs fed CON diet. In conclusion, anti-diarrhoeal herbs can improve growth performance, and prevent diarrhea incidence in pigs, it can also increase LMA in finishing pigs. PMID:25049522

Energy exchange of an alpine grassland on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shang, Lunyu; Zhang, Yu; Lv, Shihua; Wang, Shaoying

2014-05-01

The seasonal variability in the surface energy exchange of an alpine grassland on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau was investigated using eddy covariance measurements. Based on the change of air temperature and the seasonal distribution of precipitation, a winter season and wet season were identified, which were separated by transitional periods. For each period, the surface energy exchange exhibited distinct patterns. Daily mean net radiation (Rn) was almost always positive throughout the year. Sensible heat flux (H) was almost always greater than latent heat flux (LE) during the winter season, and LE was always greater than H during the wet season. Ground heat flux (G0) was relatively low throughout the year. The annual mean net radiation was about 39% of the annual mean solar radiation (Rs). Rn was relatively low during the winter season (21% of Rs) compared to the wet season (55% of Rs), which can be explained by the difference in surface albedo and moisture condition between the two seasons. H and LE had different roles during different periods of the year. Annually, the main consumer of net radiation was LE. During the winter season, H was dominant because of the frozen soil condition and lack of precipitation. During the wet season LE was dominant due to increased temperature and sufficient rainfall coupling with vegetation development. LE was strongly controlled by Rn from June to August though surface conductance (gc) and soil water content (θv) were high. During the transitional periods, H and LE were nearly equally partitioned in the energy balance. The results also suggested that the freeze-thaw condition of soil and the seasonal distribution of precipitation had important impacts on the energy exchange in this alpine grassland.

Increased levels of fucosyltransferase IX and carbohydrate Lewis(x) adhesion determinant in human NT2N neurons.

PubMed

Brito, Catarina; Escrevente, Cristina; Reis, Celso A; Lee, Virginia M-Y; Trojanowski, John Q; Costa, Júlia

2007-05-01

The expression of the fucosylated carbohydrate Lewis(x) (Le(x)) determinant (Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc-R) has been found in glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycolipids from the nervous system. Evidence suggests its association with cell-cell recognition, neurite outgrowth, and neuronal migration during central nervous system development. In the present work, we detected increased levels of Le(x) in differentiated human NT2N neurons cultured in vitro. To identify which fucosyltransferase (FUT) synthesized the Le(x) in NT2N neurons, RT-PCR, FUT substrate specificity and Western blot analysis were carried out. Strong activity toward acceptors Galbeta4GlcNAc-O-R and Fucalpha2Galbeta4GlcNAc-O-R [R = -(CH(2))(3)NHCO(CH(2))(5)NH-biotin], together with strong FUT9 detection by Western blot and presence of transcripts showed that FUT9 was the enzyme associated with Le(x) biosynthesis in NT2N neurons. Le(x) was detected at the plasma membrane of NT2N neurons, in lysosomes marked with lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP-1), and it was found for the first time to colocalize with the tetanus neurotoxin-insensitive vesicle-associated membrane protein (TI-VAMP) that defines the TI-VAMP exocytic compartment that is involved in neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, incubation with anti-Le(x) monoclonal antibody L5 led to impaired adhesion of NT2N neurons to the surface matrix and inhibited neurite initiation. In conclusion, FUT9 and its product Le(x) are detected specifically in human NT2N neurons and our results indicate that they underlie cell differentiation, cell adhesion, and initiation of neurite outgrowth in those neurons. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Leveraging the Trinity: A Clausewitzian Framework for Genocide Prevention

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-22

not mother-wit that is accumulated.”54 Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud agreed with Le Bon’s thesis and expanded upon it with his concept of the...Freedman, Lawrence. Deterrence. Cambridge, UK; Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2004. Freud , Sigmund . Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego. Translated by...primal horde, an explanatory model for group behavior under a leader.55 Freud explained that groups are dominated by the unconscious, and an

Mast cells in systemic and cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Kaczmarczyk-Sekuła, Karolina; Dyduch, Grzegorz; Kostański, Marcin; Wielowieyska-Szybińska, Dorota; Szpor, Joanna; Białas, Magdalena; Okoń, Krzysztof

2015-12-01

Mast cells (MCs) are known to be regulators of inflammation and immunity, due to the released mediators and expressed cell surface molecules. Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a group of diseases which can be systemic or limited to the skin. Due to the fact that cytokines and chemokines produced by inflammatory cells contribute to the pathogenesis of LE, we quantified the number of mast cells present in the skin. The aim of the study was to compare the chymase-positive and tryptase-positive mast cell counts within skin biopsies from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE). The material consisted of 45 skin biopsies: 6 with SLE, 34 with DLE and 5 with SCLE. Chymase- and tryptase-positive cells were stained by immunohistochemistry and counted. The mean count of chymase-positive mast cells was 85.14 hpf for the whole group, 35.83 for SLE, 88.48 for DLE and 121.6 for SCLE. The mean count of tryptase-positive cells was 120.05 hpf for the entire group, 59.17 for SLE, 126.42 for DLE and 149.8 for SCLE. The differences between groups were significant for chymase- and tryptase-positive cells.

Gestion de la douleur chronique par les infirmières des Groupes de médecine de famille

PubMed Central

Bergeron, Dave A; Bourgault, Patricia; Gallagher, Frances

2015-01-01

INTRODUCTION : Des milliers de personnes souffrent actuellement de douleur chronique (DC) pour laquelle la prise en charge s’avère souvent inadéquate. Au Québec, les infirmières qui oeuvrent dans les Groupes de médecine de famille (GMF) jouent un rôle clé dans le suivi des personnes aux prises avec des problèmes de santé chroniques dont la DC. OBJECTIFS : Cette étude a pour objectifs de décrire les activités réalisées par les infirmières œuvrant en GMF en lien avec la gestion de la douleur chez la clientèle souffrant de DC, ainsi que les barrières à ces activités. MÉTHODE : Un dispositif descriptif corrélationnel transversal de type enquête postale a été utilisé. La population accessible à l’étude comprend les infirmières qui figurent sur la liste des membres de l’Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec travaillant en GMF. L’ensemble des infirmières figurant sur cette liste ayant consenti à être contactées à leur domicile pour des fins de recherche ont été contactées. Un questionnaire postal auto-administré (Pain Management Activities Questionnaire) a été complété par 53 infirmières travaillant en GMF. RÉSULTATS : Les trois activités le plus souvent réalisées par les infirmières sont d’établir une relation thérapeutique avec le client; de discuter avec le médecin de l’efficacité des mesures thérapeutiques et de faire un enseignement personnalisé au client. Les infirmières ont la perception qu’elles rencontrent en moyenne 2,68 personnes par semaine qui souffrent de DC. La méconnaissance des interventions possibles en douleur (71,7%) et la non-disponibilité de l’information sur la gestion de la douleur (52,8%) constituent les principales barrières selon les infirmières sondées. CONCLUSION : Les infirmières au sein des GMF font actuellement peu d’activités en gestion de la DC probablement en raison du manque de reconnaissance de la DC. PMID:25848847

Transgenic studies reveal the positive role of LeEIL-1 in regulating shikonin biosynthesis in Lithospermum erythrorhizon hairy roots.

PubMed

Fang, Rongjun; Zou, Ailan; Zhao, Hua; Wu, Fengyao; Zhu, Yu; Zhao, Hu; Liao, Yonghui; Tang, Ren-Jie; Pang, Yanjun; Yang, Rongwu; Wang, Xiaoming; Qi, Jinliang; Lu, Guihua; Yang, Yonghua

2016-05-26

The phytohormone ethylene (ET) is a key signaling molecule for inducing the biosynthesis of shikonin and its derivatives, which are secondary metabolites in Lithospermum erythrorhizon. Although ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3)/EIN3-like proteins (EILs) are crucial transcription factors in ET signal transduction pathway, the possible function of EIN3/EIL1 in shikonin biosynthesis remains unknown. In this study, by targeting LeEIL-1 (L. erythrorhizon EIN3-like protein gene 1) at the expression level, we revealed the positive regulatory effect of LeEIL-1 on shikonin formation. The mRNA level of LeEIL-1 was significantly up-regulated and down-regulated in the LeEIL-1-overexpressing hairy root lines and LeEIL-1-RNAi hairy root lines, respectively. Specifically, LeEIL-1 overexpression resulted in increased transcript levels of the downstream gene of ET signal transduction pathway (LeERF-1) and a subset of genes for shikonin formation, excretion and/or transportation (LePAL, LeC4H-2, Le4CL-1, HMGR, LePGT-1, LeDI-2, and LePS-2), which was consistent with the enhanced shikonin contents in the LeEIL-1-overexpressing hairy root lines. Conversely, LeEIL-1-RNAi dramatically repressed the expression of the above genes and significantly reduced shikonin production. The results revealed that LeEIL-1 is a positive regulator of the biosynthesis of shikonin and its derivatives in L. erythrorhizon hairy roots. Our findings gave new insights into the molecular regulatory mechanism of ET in shikonin biosynthesis. LeEIL-1 could be a crucial target gene for the genetic engineering of shikonin biosynthesis.

Thiolated Eudragit nanoparticles for oral insulin delivery: preparation, characterization and in vivo evaluation.

PubMed

Zhang, Yan; Wu, Xiaorong; Meng, Lingkuo; Zhang, Yu; Ai, Ruiting; Qi, Na; He, Haibing; Xu, Hui; Tang, Xing

2012-10-15

In the present study thiolated Eudragit L100 (Eul) based polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) were employed to develop an oral insulin delivery system. Sulfydryl modification was achieved by grafting cysteine to the carboxylic acid group of Eudragit L100, which displayed maximum conjugate level of 390.3±13.4 μmol thiol groups per gram. Eudragit L100-cysteine (Eul-cys) and Eul nanoparticles were prepared by the precipitation method, in which reversible swelling of pH-sensitive material was used for insulin loading and release. Nanoparticles were characterized in terms of their particle size, morphology, loading efficiency (LE%) and in vitro insulin release behavior. The NPs had an average size of 324.2±39.0 nm and 308.8±35.7 nm, maximal LE% of 92.2±1.7% and 96.4±0.5% for Eul-cys and Eul, respectively. The release profile of NPs in vitro showed pH-dependent behavior. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy analysis proved that the secondary structure of the insulin released from NPs was unchanged compared with native insulin. The mucoadhesion study in vitro showed that Eul-cys NPs produced a 3-fold and 2.8-fold increase in rat jejunum and ileum compared with unmodified polymer NPs, respectively, which was due to the immobilization of thiol groups on Eudragit L100. Oral administration of insulin-loaded Eul-cys NPs produced a higher and prolonged hypoglycemic action, and the corresponding relative bioavailability of insulin was found to be 7.33±0.33%, an increase of 2.8-fold compared with Eul NPs (2.65±0.63%). This delivery system is a promising novel tool to improve the absorption of protein and peptide drugs in the intestinal tract. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Estimation of nonpaternity in the Mexican population of Nuevo Leon: a validation study with blood group markers.

PubMed

Cerda-Flores, R M; Barton, S A; Marty-Gonzalez, L F; Rivas, F; Chakraborty, R

1999-07-01

A method for estimating the general rate of nonpaternity in a population was validated using phenotype data on seven blood groups (A1A2BO, MNSs, Rh, Duffy, Lutheran, Kidd, and P) on 396 mother, child, and legal father trios from Nuevo León, Mexico. In all, 32 legal fathers were excluded as the possible father based on genetic exclusions at one or more loci (combined average exclusion probability of 0.694 for specific mother-child phenotype pairs). The maximum likelihood estimate of the general nonpaternity rate in the population was 0.118 +/- 0.020. The nonpaternity rates in Nuevo León were also seen to be inversely related with the socioeconomic status of the families, i.e., the highest in the low and the lowest in the high socioeconomic class. We further argue that with the moderately low (69.4%) power of exclusion for these seven blood group systems, the traditional critical values of paternity index (PI > or = 19) were not good indicators of true paternity, since a considerable fraction (307/364) of nonexcluded legal fathers had a paternity index below 19 based on the seven markers. Implications of these results in the context of genetic-epidemiological studies as well as for detection of true fathers for child-support adjudications are discussed, implying the need to employ a battery of genetic markers (possibly DNA-based tests) that yield a higher power of exclusion. We conclude that even though DNA markers are more informative, the probabilistic approach developed here would still be needed to estimate the true rate of nonpaternity in a population or to evaluate the precision of detecting true fathers.

Combined exposure to big endothelin-1 and mechanical loading in bovine sternal cores promotes osteogenesis

PubMed Central

Meyer, Luisa A.; Johnson, Michael G.; Cullen, Diane M.; Vivanco, Juan F.; Blank, Robert D.; Ploeg, Heidi-Lynn; Smith, Everett L.

2016-01-01

Increased bone formation resulting from mechanical loading is well documented; however, the interactions of the mechanotransduction pathways are less well understood. Endothelin-1, a ubiquitous autocrine/paracrine signaling molecule promotes osteogenesis in metastatic disease. In the present study, it was hypothesized that exposure to big endothelin-1 (big ET1) and/or mechanical loading would promote osteogenesis in ex vivo trabecular bone cores. In a 2×2 factorial trial of daily mechanical loading (−2000 με, 120 cycles daily, “jump” waveform) and big ET1 (25 ng/mL), 48 bovine sternal trabecular bone cores were maintained in bioreactor chambers for 23 days. The bone cores’ response to the treatment stimuli was assessed with percent change in core apparent elastic modulus (ΔEapp), static and dynamic histomorphometry, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion. Two-way ANOVA with a post hoc Fisher’s LSD test found no significant treatment effects on ΔEapp (p=0.25 and 0.51 for load and big ET1, respectively). The ΔEapp in the “no load + big ET1” (CE, 13±12.2%, p=0.56), “load + no big ET1” (LC, 17±3.9%, p=0.14) and “load + big ET1” (LE, 19±4.2%, p=0.13) treatment groups were not statistically different than the control group (CC, 3.3%±8.6%). Mineralizing surface (MS/BS), mineral apposition (MAR) and bone formation rates (BFR/BS) were significantly greater in LE than CC (p=0.037, 0.0040 and 0.019, respectively). While the histological bone formation markers in LC trended to be greater than CC (p=0.055, 0.11 and 0.074, respectively) there was no difference between CE and CC (p=0.61, 0.50 and 0.72, respectively). Cores in LE and LC had more than 50% greater MS/BS (p=0.037, p=0.055 respectively) and MAR (p=0.0040, p=0.11 respectively) than CC. The BFR/BS was more than two times greater in LE (p=0.019) and LC (p=0.074) than CC. The PGE2 levels were elevated at 8 days post-osteotomy in all groups and the treatment groups remained elevated compared to the CC group on days 15, 19 and 23. The data suggest that combined exposure to big ET1 and mechanical loading results in increased osteogenesis as measured in biomechanical, histomorphometric and biochemical responses. PMID:26855374

Combined exposure to big endothelin-1 and mechanical loading in bovine sternal cores promotes osteogenesis.

PubMed

Meyer, Luisa A; Johnson, Michael G; Cullen, Diane M; Vivanco, Juan F; Blank, Robert D; Ploeg, Heidi-Lynn; Smith, Everett L

2016-04-01

Increased bone formation resulting from mechanical loading is well documented; however, the interactions of the mechanotransduction pathways are less well understood. Endothelin-1, a ubiquitous autocrine/paracrine signaling molecule promotes osteogenesis in metastatic disease. In the present study, it was hypothesized that exposure to big endothelin-1 (big ET1) and/or mechanical loading would promote osteogenesis in ex vivo trabecular bone cores. In a 2×2 factorial trial of daily mechanical loading (-2000με, 120cycles daily, "jump" waveform) and big ET1 (25ng/mL), 48 bovine sternal trabecular bone cores were maintained in bioreactor chambers for 23days. The bone cores' response to the treatment stimuli was assessed with percent change in core apparent elastic modulus (ΔEapp), static and dynamic histomorphometry, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion. Two-way ANOVA with a post hoc Fisher's LSD test found no significant treatment effects on ΔEapp (p=0.25 and 0.51 for load and big ET1, respectively). The ΔEapp in the "no load + big ET1" (CE, 13±12.2%, p=0.56), "load + no big ET1" (LC, 17±3.9%, p=0.14) and "load + big ET1" (LE, 19±4.2%, p=0.13) treatment groups were not statistically different than the control group (CC, 3.3%±8.6%). Mineralizing surface (MS/BS), mineral apposition (MAR) and bone formation rates (BFR/BS) were significantly greater in LE than CC (p=0.037, 0.0040 and 0.019, respectively). While the histological bone formation markers in LC trended to be greater than CC (p=0.055, 0.11 and 0.074, respectively) there was no difference between CE and CC (p=0.61, 0.50 and 0.72, respectively). Cores in LE and LC had more than 50% greater MS/BS (p=0.037, p=0.055 respectively) and MAR (p=0.0040, p=0.11 respectively) than CC. The BFR/BS was more than two times greater in LE (p=0.019) and LC (p=0.074) than CC. The PGE2 levels were elevated at 8days post-osteotomy in all groups and the treatment groups remained elevated compared to the CC group on days 15, 19 and 23. The data suggest that combined exposure to big ET1 and mechanical loading results in increased osteogenesis as measured in biomechanical, histomorphometric and biochemical responses. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Serodiagnosis and immune profile in rheumatoid arthritis.

PubMed

Chakraborty, P; Bhattacharya, S; Chakraborty, M; Pal, B

1997-11-01

One hundred and seventy-five cases of clinically diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis, 82 non-rheumatoid cases suffering from various other diseases and 40 healthy normal controls were investigated for detection of rheumatoid factor, quantitation of serum immunoglobulin, demonstration of antinuclear antibody (ANA) and LE cell phenomenon. Microlatex agglutination test of serum for rheumatoid factor (RF) showed 64% positivity in rheumatoid group and 1.2% positivity in non-rheumatoid group. All three immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) were found to be raised in serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas only IgA level was elevated in serum of patients with non-rheumatoid diseases. ANA and LE cell phenomenon were observed in 3.4% and 2.8% cases respectively in cases of clinically diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis who had been suffering from severe active rheumatoid arthritis. In non-rheumatoid group RF was positive in significant titre in only one case of leprosy. Synovial fluid and synovium were found to be heavily infiltrated by plasma cells and lymphocytes. RF appears first in synovial fluid and then in serum. Hence RF titre in blood may not attain significant level for the first several months.

Divergent mortality trends by ethnicity in Fiji.

PubMed

Taylor, Richard; Carter, Karen; Naidu, Shivnay; Linhart, Christine; Azim, Syed; Rao, Chalapati; Lopez, Alan D

2013-12-01

To examine trends in infant mortality rate (IMR), adult mortality and life expectancy (LE) in the two major Fijian ethnic groups since 1975. Estimates of IMR, adult mortality (15-59 years) and LE by ethnicity are calculated from previously unreported Fiji Ministry of Health data and extracted from published sources. Over 1975-2008: IMR decreased from 33 to 20 deaths/1,000 live births in i-Taukei (Fiji Melanesians); and 38 to 18 in Fijians of Indian descent. Increased adult male mortality among i-Taukei and decline among Fijians of Indian descent led to an equal probability of dying in 2007 of 29%; while in female adults the probability trended upwards in i-Taukei to 25%, and declined in Fijians of Indian descent to 17%. Life expectancy in both ethnicities increased until 1985 (to 64 years for males; 68 for females) then forming a plateau in males of both ethnicities, and Fijian females of Indian descent, but declining in i-Taukei females to 66 years in 2007. Despite IMR declines over 1975-2008, LE for i-Taukei and Fijians of Indian descent has not increased since 1985, and has actually decreased in i-Taukei women, consistent with trends in adult mortality (15-59 years). Mortality analyses in Fiji that consider the entire population mask divergent trends in the major ethnic groups. This situation is most likely a consequence of non-communicable disease mortality, requiring further assessment and a strengthened response.

Quand le malheur frappe les bénéficiaires de la sécurité du revenu. Sur qui peuvent-ils s’appuyer ?

PubMed Central

Tousignant, Michel; Caron, Jean

2013-01-01

Cette étude analyse les conditions de réalisation du soutien social dans les quartiers de Saint-Henri et de la Pointe Saint-Charles, en comparant un groupe de 61 prestataires de la sécurité du revenu avec un échantillon de 21 personnes de la population vivant au-dessus du seuil de la pauvreté, et en fonction du degré de détresse dans chaque groupe. Elle vise également à décrire comment une adversité vécue par les prestataires avec ou sans détresse vient briser ou modifier le réseau de soutien. Les résultats indiquent que le réseau social est moins fiable en présence de détresse qu’en son absence, que les personnes en détresse se sont vues plus fréquemment refuser du soutien ou être abandonnées et qu’elles ont davantage de personnes nuisibles dans leur entourage. De plus, les événements vécus comportent souvent une atteinte à leur réputation, des menaces, des trahisons et des refus à un droit légitime. Les personnes en détresse sont aussi davantage isolées. PMID:16505926

Design principles for nickel hydrogen cells and batteries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thaller, L. H.

1985-01-01

Nickel hydrogen cells, and more recently, bipolar batteries have been built by a variety of organizations. The design principles that have been used by the technology group at the Lewis Research Center draw upon their extensive background in separator technology, alkaline fuel cell technology, and several alkaline cell technology areas. These design principles have been incorporated into both the more contemporary individual pressure vessel (IPV) designs that were pioneered by other groups, as well as the more recent bipolar battery designs using active cooling that are being developed at LeRC and their contractors. These principles are rather straightforward applications of capillary force formalisms, coupled with the slowly developing data base resulting from careful post test analyses. The objective of this overall effort is directed towards the low Earth orbit (LEO) application where the cycle life requirements are much more severe than the geosynchronous orbit (GEO) application. Nickel hydrogen cells have already been successfully flown in an increasing number of GEO missions.

[Dépistage précoce des retards du développement moteur: Outil de dépistage axé sur la famille].

PubMed

Harris, Susan R

2016-08-01

Décrire le test HINT (Harris Infant Neuromotor Test), un test d'évaluation du développement neuromoteur chez les nourrissons publié en 2010, qui s'appuie sur les normes canadiennes et peut être utilisé pour dépister les retards du développement moteur durant la première année de la vie. QUALITÉ DES DONNÉES: D'abondantes recherches ont été publiées sur la fiabilité intra-évaluateur, inter-évaluateur et test-retest ainsi que sur la validité convergente, prédictive, du contenu et des groupes connus du test HINT, de même que sur la sensibilité, la spécificité et les valeurs prédictives négatives et positives des inquiétudes des parents, telles qu'évaluées par le test HINT. La plupart des données probantes sont de niveau II. Il est important de diagnostiquer les retards du développement moteur durant la première année de vie, car ils sont souvent le signe de retards du développement généralisés ou de déficiences précises, telles que la paralysie cérébrale. Les inquiétudes des parents quant au développement moteur de leur enfant sont une valeur prédictive robuste de diagnostics subséquents de retard du développement moteur. Seul le dépistage précoce des retards du développement moteur, initialement par l'entremise d'outils de dépistage comme le test HINT, permet de recommander le patient à une intervention précoce qui profiterait tant à l'enfant qu'à sa famille. Copyright© the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Computerized Adaptive Tests Detect Change Following Orthopaedic Surgery in Youth with Cerebral Palsy.

PubMed

Mulcahey, M J; Slavin, Mary D; Ni, Pengsheng; Vogel, Lawrence C; Kozin, Scott H; Haley, Stephen M; Jette, Alan M

2015-09-16

The Cerebral Palsy Computerized Adaptive Test (CP-CAT) is a parent-reported outcomes instrument for measuring lower and upper-extremity function, activity, and global health across impairment levels and a broad age range of children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study was performed to examine whether the Lower Extremity/Mobility (LE) CP-CAT detects change in mobility following orthopaedic surgery in children with CP. This multicenter, longitudinal study involved administration of the LE CP-CAT, the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) Transfer/Mobility and Sports/Physical Functioning domains, and the Timed "Up & Go" test (TUG) before and after elective orthopaedic surgery in a convenience sample of 255 children, four to twenty years of age, who had CP and a Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level of I, II, or III. Standardized response means (SRMs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for all measures at six, twelve, and twenty-four months following surgery. SRM estimates for the LE CP-CAT were significantly greater than the SRM estimates for the PODCI Transfer/Mobility domain at twelve months, the PODCI Sports/Physical Functioning domain at twelve months, and the TUG at twelve and twenty-four months. When the results for the children at GMFCS levels I, II, and III were grouped together, the improvements in function detected by the LE CP-CAT at twelve and twenty-four months were found to be greater than the changes detected by the PODCI Transfer/Mobility and Sports/Physical Functioning scales. The LE CP-CAT outperformed the PODCI scales for GMFCS levels I and III at both of these follow-up intervals; none of the scales performed well for patients with GMFCS level II. The results of this study showed that the LE CP-CAT displayed superior sensitivity to change than the PODCI and TUG scales after musculoskeletal surgery in children with CP. Copyright © 2015 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.

Dépistage précoce des retards du développement moteur

PubMed Central

Harris, Susan R.

2016-01-01

Résumé Objectif Décrire le test HINT (Harris Infant Neuromotor Test), un test d’évaluation du développement neuromoteur chez les nourrissons publié en 2010, qui s’appuie sur les normes canadiennes et peut être utilisé pour dépister les retards du développement moteur durant la première année de la vie. Qualité des données D’abondantes recherches ont été publiées sur la fiabilité intra-évaluateur, inter-évaluateur et test-retest ainsi que sur la validité convergente, prédictive, du contenu et des groupes connus du test HINT, de même que sur la sensibilité, la spécificité et les valeurs prédictives négatives et positives des inquiétudes des parents, telles qu’évaluées par le test HINT. La plupart des données probantes sont de niveau II. Message principal Il est important de diagnostiquer les retards du développement moteur durant la première année de vie, car ils sont souvent le signe de retards du développement généralisés ou de déficiences précises, telles que la paralysie cérébrale. Les inquiétudes des parents quant au développement moteur de leur enfant sont une valeur prédictive robuste de diagnostics subséquents de retard du développement moteur. Conclusion Seul le dépistage précoce des retards du développement moteur, initialement par l’entremise d’outils de dépistage comme le test HINT, permet de recommander le patient à une intervention précoce qui profiterait tant à l’enfant qu’à sa famille. PMID:27521405

Maritime Analytics Prototype: Final Development Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-01

access management platform OpenAM , support for multiple instances of the same type of widget and support for installation specific configuration files to...et de la gestion de l’accès OpenAM , le support pour plusieurs instances du même type de widget et le support des fichiers d’installation de...open source authentication and access management platform OpenAM , support for multiple instances of the same type of widget and support for

Information Processing in Mammalian Visual Cortex.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-02-26

cortex (VI). We used contours from the same hemisphere that had previously been mapped by LeVay et al. (1985) using our standard manual procedure...hardware being constructed by engineer Herb Adams and the software developed by Dave Bilitch. The major system components include: 1) a rat head-holding...Edelman et al.), Neurosci. Res. Found., pp. 585-612. Kirkpatrick et al. (1983) Science 200: 671-680. LeVay , S., M. Connolly, J. Houde, and D. C. Van

Profil anatomopathologique du cancer du sein dans le cap bon tunisien

PubMed Central

Sahraoui, Ghada; Khanchel, Fatma; Chelbi, Emna

2017-01-01

Le cancer du sein est le cancer le plus fréquent de la femme en Tunisie et dans le monde. Dans le Cap Bon tunisien, les particularités anatomopathologiques de ce cancer n'ont pas été précisées auparavant. Leur connaissance est nécessaire pour l'adaptation des systèmes de prévention et de soins dans la région. Le but de notre étude était de déterminer le profil anatomopathologique des carcinomes mammaires dans l'unique laboratoire d'anatomie pathologique publique de la région. Il s'agissait d'une étude descriptive rétrospective des carcinomes mammaires diagnostiqués chez 116 malades dans notre laboratoire sur une période de 5 ans de Juillet 2010 à Juillet 2015. Notre étude a inclus 116 patientes. L'âge moyen était de 51 ans. La taille tumorale histologique moyenne était de 31 mm. Le diagnostic initial était posé sur pièce de tumorectomie dans 83% des cas. Le carcinome infiltrant de type non spécifique était le type histologique le plus fréquent. Le grade SBR III était majoritaire. L'invasion lympho-vasculaire était présente dans 33% des cas. Le curage axillaire était positif dans 72% des cas. Les récepteurs hormonaux étaient positifs dans 73% des cas. Les récepteurs de l'Her2-Neu étaient surexprimés dans 19% des cas. Le ki67 était ≥ 14% dans 38%. Le sous-type moléculaire le plus fréquent était le luminal A. Le carcinome mammaire dans la région du Cap Bon se caractérise par sa survenue à un âge jeune, son importante taille tumorale et la fréquence de facteurs histopronostiques péjoratifs. PMID:28450990

Preoperative and Postoperative CT Scan Assessment of Pterygomaxillary Junction in Patients Undergoing Le Fort I Osteotomy: Comparison of Pterygomaxillary Dysjunction Technique and Trimble Technique-A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Dadwal, Himani; Shanmugasundaram, S; Krishnakumar Raja, V B

2015-09-01

To determine the rate of complications and occurrence of pterygoid plate fractures comparing two techniques of Le Fort I osteotomy i.e., Classic Pterygomaxillary Dysjunction technique and Trimble technique and to know whether the dimensions of pterygomaxillary junction [determined preoperatively by computed tomography (CT) scan] have any influence on pterygomaxillary separation achieved during surgery. The study group consisted of eight South Indian patients with maxillary excess. A total of 16 sides were examined by CT. Preoperative CT was analyzed for all the patients. The thickness and width of the pterygomaxillary junction and the distance of the greater palatine canal from the pterygomaxillary junction was noted. Pterygomaxillary dysjunction was achieved by two techniques, the classic pterygomaxillary dysjunction technique (Group I) and Trimble technique (Group II). Patients were selected randomly and equally for both the techniques. Dysjunction was analyzed by postoperative CT. The average thickness of the pterygomaxillary junction on 16 sides was 4.5 ± 1.2 mm. Untoward pterygoid plate fractures occurred in Group I in 3 sides out of 8. In Trimble technique (Group II), no pterygoid plate fractures were noted. The average width of the pterygomaxillary junction was 7.8 ± 1.5 mm, distance of the greater palatine canal from pterygomaxillary junction was 7.4 ± 1.6 mm and the length of fusion of pterygomaxillary junction was 8.0 ± 1.9 mm. The Le Fort I osteotomy has become a standard procedure for correcting various dentofacial deformities. In an attempt to make Le Fort I osteotomy safer and avoid the problems associated with sectioning with an osteotome between the maxillary tuberosity and the pterygoid plates, Trimble suggested sectioning across the posterior aspect of the maxillary tuberosity itself. In our study, comparison between the classic pterygomaxillary dysjunction technique and the Trimble technique was made by using postoperative CT scan. It was found that unfavorable pterygoid plate fractures occurred only in dysjunction group and not in Trimble technique group. Preoperative CT scan assessment was done for all the patients to determine the dimension of the pterygomaxillary region. Preoperative CT scan proved to be helpful in not only determining the dimensions of the pterygomaxillary region but we also found out that thickness of the pterygomaxillary junction was an important parameter which may influence the separation at the pterygomaxillary region. No untoward fractures of the pterygoid plates were seen in Trimble technique (Group II) which makes it a safer technique than classic dysjunction technique. It was noted that pterygoid plate fractures occurred in patients in whom the thickness of the pterygomaxillary junction was <3.6 mm (preoperatively). Therefore, preoperative evaluation is important, on the basis of which we can decide upon the technique to be selected for safer and acceptable separation of pterygomaxillary region.

Smoking is highly associated with discoid lupus erythematosus and lupus erythematosus tumidus: analysis of 405 patients.

PubMed

Böckle, B C; Sepp, N T

2015-06-01

Environmental factors appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of lupus erythematosus (LE). To determine the association between cigarette smoking and various types of cutaneous LE. Retrospective descriptive study at a dermatology clinic of a tertiary referral hospital. All patients diagnosed with cutaneous and/or systemic LE from January 2000 to December 2012 at the outpatient clinic for dermatological autoimmune diseases were analyzed. 405 patients were diagnosed with LE. Smokers were more common among patients with cutaneous LE, especially those with LE tumidus or discoid LE. The frequency of cigarette smokers was not significantly higher among patients with other LE-specific skin lesions and patients with systemic LE compared to the general population. Smoking at the onset of disease was associated with LE tumidus (odds ratio OR 4.5), discoid LE (OR 2.05), the male gender (OR 3.31), age < 50 years (OR 1.03), and photosensitivity (OR 2.07). A retrospective descriptive study at a tertiary referral hospital. Smoking is highly associated with cutaneous LE, but not systemic LE. Various risk factors appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous and systemic LE. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

The Potassium-Argon Laser Experiment (KarLE): In Situ Geochronology for Mars and Beyond

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, Barbara A.

2014-01-01

The search for life in the solar system depends upon discovering the right moments in planetary evolution: when habitable environments existed, when they declined, and when geologic processes operated to preserve traces of life after death. However, an incomplete knowledge of absolute Martian geochronology limits our ability to understand the timing of Martian evolutionary milestones, major climate changes, and stratigraphic epochs [1, 2]. Absolute dating relates these habitability markers to planetarywide geologic, atmospheric, and climate history places, and ties their occurrence to the history of the solar system, especially the Earth-Moon system and the timescale of evolution of life on Earth. KArLE is being developed to anchor the relative timeline of geological events to an absolute chronology that puts Mars into a wider solar system context. KArLE makes its measurements on rock samples that can be obtained by landers or rovers and inserted into a small, mechanically simple chamber. KArLE interrogates the samples using laser-induced breakdown spectrocopy (LIBS), mass spectrometry, and optical imaging. The KArLE experiment is flexible enough to accommodate any partner providing these instrument components, a creative approach that extends the ability of mission payloads to accomplish an additional highly-desirable science measurement for low cost and risk and minimal extra hardware.

Environmental exposure to lead induces oxidative stress and modulates the function of the antioxidant defense system and the immune system in the semen of males with normal semen profile

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kasperczyk, Aleksandra; Dobrakowski, Michał; Czuba, Zenon P.

We investigated the associations between environmental exposure to lead and a repertoire of cytokines in seminal plasma of males with normal semen profile according to the WHO criteria. Based on the median lead concentration in seminal plasma, 65 samples were divided into two groups: low (LE) and high exposure to lead (HE). Differences in semen volume and the pH, count, motility and morphology of sperm cells were not observed between the examined groups. The total oxidant status value and the level of protein sulfhydryl groups as well as the activities of manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly higher inmore » the HE group, whereas the total antioxidant capacity value and the activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase were depressed. IL-7, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the HE group compared with the LE group. Environmental exposure to lead is sufficient to induce oxidative stress in seminal plasma and to modulate antioxidant defense system. - Highlights: • Lead induces oxidative stress in seminal plasma in human. • Lead modulates antioxidant defense system in seminal plasma in human. • Lead does not change a Th1/Th2 imbalance in seminal plasma in human.« less

CrossTalk: The Journal of Defense Software Engineering. Volume 20, Number 11, November 2007

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-11-01

methodologies, work breakdown struc- tures, and risk management. (Any impo- sition of managerial or group expectation or norm is also accessing the Conforming...was a young nav- igator, and he felt green along side the more seasoned pilots on his very first mission. They headed for their destina- tion with a...oter 2 3 2 1 2 l : i l r i l t l reat re 1 2 3 4 5 tal tes 1 2 2 5 3 2 3 3 3 14 a le 4: xa le f ltiv ti take l er tal a keat re 1 2 3 4 5 6 tes 0 - 3

Modélisation des conséquences possibles de la future demande bioénergétique mondiale pour le bois et les forêts en France

Treesearch

Joseph Buongiorno; Ronald Raunikar; Shusuai Zhu

2011-01-01

L’accroissement de la demande mondiale et du coût correspondant de l’énergie a conduit à de nombreuses propositions pour augmenter l’utilisation de la biomasse renouvelable. Une étude récente (Raunikar et al., 2010) a examiné les conséquences mondiales pour le bois et pour les forêts de la demande en bioénergie impliquée par les scénarios du Groupe d’experts...

Heavy Vehicle Propulsion System Materials Program Semiannual Progress Report for April 2000 Through September 2000

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, DR

2000-12-11

The purpose of the Heavy Vehicle Propulsion System Materials Program is the development of materials: ceramics, intermetallics, metal alloys, and metal and ceramic coatings, to support the dieselization of class 1-3 trucks to realize a 35% fuel-economy improvement over current gasoline-fueled trucks and to support commercialization of fuel-flexible LE-55 low-emissions, high-efficiency diesel engines for class 7-8 trucks. The Office of Transportation Technologies, Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies (OTT OHVT) has an active program to develop the technology for advantages LE-55 diesel engines with 55% efficiency and low emissions levels of 2.0 g/bhp-h NOx and 0.05 g/bhp-h particulates. The goal ismore » also for the LE-55 engine to run on natural gas with efficiency approaching that of diesel fuel. The LE-55 program is being completed in FY 1997 and, after approximately 10 years of effort, has largely met the program goals of 55% efficiency and low emissions. However, the commercialization of the LE-55 technology requires more durable materials than those that have been used to demonstrate the goals. Heavy Vehicle Propulsion System Materials will, in concert with the heavy duty diesel engine companies, develop the durable materials required to commercialize the LE-55 technologies. OTT OHVT also recognizes a significant opportunity for reduction in petroleum consumption by dieselization of pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles. Application of the diesel engine to class 1, 2, and 3 trucks is expected to yield a 35% increase in fuel economy per vehicle. The foremost barrier to diesel use in this market is emission control. Once an engine is made certifiable, subsequent challenges will be in cost; noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH); and performance. The design of advanced components for high-efficiency diesel engines has, in some cases, pushed the performance envelope for materials of construction past the point of reliable operation. Higher mechanical and tribological stresses and higher temperatures of advanced designs limit the engine designer; advanced materials allow the design of components that may operate reliably at higher stresses and temperatures, thus enabling more efficient engine designs. Advanced materials also offer the opportunity to improve the emissions, NVH, and performance of diesel engines for pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles.« less

Internal Blast in a Compartment-type Vessel. Part 1: Finite Element Modeling Investigation

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-11-01

données expérimentales devraient aussi être utilisées pour valider le modèle. DRDC Valcartier TM 2012-222 iii Executive summary Internal...pour simuler adéquatement le souffle d’explosion, incluant le choc et ses réflexions, à l’intérieur d’une large structure et le besoin de remédier à...terme, le développement et la validation d’un ‘raytracer’ et son couplage avec LS-DYNA seront étudiés pour modéliser le choc dans le compartiment

Preoperative radiotherapy and local excision of rectal cancer: Long-term results of a randomised study.

PubMed

Wawok, Przemysław; Polkowski, Wojciech; Richter, Piotr; Szczepkowski, Marek; Olędzki, Janusz; Wierzbicki, Ryszard; Gach, Tomasz; Rutkowski, Andrzej; Dziki, Adam; Kołodziejski, Leszek; Sopyło, Rafał; Pietrzak, Lucyna; Kryński, Jacek; Wiśniowska, Katarzyna; Spałek, Mateusz; Pawlewicz, Konrad; Polkowski, Marcin; Kowalska, Teresa; Paprota, Krzysztof; Jankiewicz, Małgorzata; Radkowski, Andrzej; Chalubińska-Fendler, Justyna; Michalski, Wojciech; Bujko, Krzysztof

2018-06-01

It is uncertain whether local control is acceptable after preoperative radiotherapy and local excision (LE). An optimal preoperative dose/fractionation schedule has not yet been established. In a phase III study, patients with cT1-2N0M0 or borderline cT2/T3N0M0 < 4 cm rectal adenocarcinomas were randomised to receive either 5 × 5 Gy plus 1 × 4 Gy boost or chemoradiation: 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions plus 3 × 1.8 Gy boost and 5-fluorouracil with leucovorin bolus. LE was performed 6-8 weeks later. Patients with ypT0-1R0 disease were observed. Completion total mesorectal excision (CTME) was recommended for poor responders, i.e. ypT1R1/ypT2-3. Of 61 randomised patients, 10 were excluded leaving 51 for analysis; 29 in the short-course group and 22 in the chemoradiation group. YpT0-1R0 was observed in 66% of patients in the short-course group and in 86% in the chemoradiation group, p = 0.11. CTME was performed only in 46% of patients with ypT1R1/ypT2-3. The median follow-up was 8.7 years. Local recurrence incidences and overall survival at 10 years were respectively for the short-course group vs. the chemoradiation group 35% vs. 5%, p = 0.036 and 47% vs. 86%, p = 0.009. In total, local recurrence at 10 years was 79% for ypT1R1/T2-3 without CTME. This trial suggests that in the LE setting, both local recurrence and survival are worse after short-course radiotherapy than after chemoradiation. Because of the risk of bias, a confirmatory study is desirable. Lack of CTME is associated with an unacceptably high local recurrence rate. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Increased extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) expression in the conjunctival epithelium exposed to antiglaucoma treatments.

PubMed

Labbé, Antoine; Gabison, Eric; Brignole-Baudouin, Françoise; Riancho, Luisa; Menashi, Suzanne; Baudouin, Christophe

2015-01-01

To analyze the effect of preserved antiglaucoma eye drops on the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) in conjunctival epithelial cells. A total of 18 patients treated for primary open-angle glaucoma with benzalkonium chloride (BAK) preserved eye drops and eight age-matched controls were included in this study. Glaucoma patients were divided into two groups according to their daily exposure to BAK: high-exposure (HE) group and low-exposure (LE) group. HLA-DR and EMMPRIN were quantified on conjunctival impression cytology specimens using flow cytometry. In parallel, IOBA-NHC conjunctival epithelial cells were exposed to different BAK concentrations, in the presence or absence of cyclosporine A (CsA), and their total and surface expressions of EMMPRIN were assessed by flow cytometry and results are given in relative fluorescence intensities (RFIs). Compared to the control group (1.71 ± 0.39 RFI), EMMPRIN was significantly increased in the HE (4.19 ± 1.50 RFI, p < 0.001) and LE groups (2.55 ± 0.40 RFI, p = 0.029). Similar increase was observed in HLA-DR expression in the HE (4.58 ± 1.38 RFI, p < 0.001) and LE groups (2.52 ± 0.47 RFI, p = 0.046) as compared to control subjects (1.75 ± 0.27 RFI). Across all subjects enrolled in the study, there was a significant correlation between HLA-DR and EMMPRIN (R(2) = 0.875, p < 0.0001). IOBA-NHC cells exposed to BAK presented a significant increase in EMMPRIN, which was proportional to the concentration of BAK. The surface expression of EMMPRIN was inhibited by CsA. The increased expression of EMMPRIN in patients topically treated with multiple antiglaucoma BAK-preserved eye drops suggests a matrix metalloproteinase-related modification of conjunctival ECM remodeling. In vitro results suggest that CsA has the potential to limit BAK effects on EMMPRIN.

Remarques sur le Passif (suite) (Remarks on the Passive, Continued)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pinchon, Jacqueline

1977-01-01

The continuation of articles on the passive voice appearing in the "Grammaire vivante" section of the periodical. The production of the passive sentence is considered under two headings: the simple verb and the complex verbal group. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

Perceived thickness and creaminess modulates the short-term satiating effects of high-protein drinks.

PubMed

Bertenshaw, Emma J; Lluch, Anne; Yeomans, Martin R

2013-08-28

Previous research suggests that increasing beverage protein content enhances subsequent satiety, but whether this effect is entirely attributable to post-ingestive effects of protein or is partly caused by the distinct sensory characteristics imparted by the presence of protein remains unclear. To try and discriminate nutritive from sensory effects of added protein, we contrasted effects of three higher-energy (about 1·2 MJ) and one lower-energy (LE: 0·35 MJ) drink preloads on subsequent appetite and lunch intake. Two higher-energy drinks had 44% of energy from protein, one with the sensory characteristics of a juice drink (HP2, low-sensory protein) and the second a thicker and creamier (HPþ, high-sensory protein) drink. The high-carbohydrate preload (HCþ, high-sensory carbohydrate) was matched for thickness and creaminess to the HPþ drink. Participants (healthy male volunteers, n 26) consumed significantly less at lunch after the HPþ(566 g) and HCþ(572 g) than after HP2 (623 g) and LE (668 g) drinks, although the compensation for drink energy accounted for only 50% of extra energy at best. Appetite ratings indicated that participants felt significantly less hungry and more full immediately before lunch in HPþ and HCþ groups compared with LE, with HP2 being intermediate. The finding that protein generated stronger satiety in the context of a thicker creamier drink (HPþ but not HP2) and that an isoenergetic carbohydrate drink (HCþ), matched in thickness and creaminess to the HPþ drink, generated the same pattern of satiety as HPþ, both suggest an important role for these sensory cues in the development of protein-based satiety.

Long-term stability of peri-implant tissues after bone or soft tissue augmentation. Effect of zirconia or titanium abutments on peri-implant soft tissues. Summary and consensus statements. The 4th EAO Consensus Conference 2015.

PubMed

Sicilia, Alberto; Quirynen, Marc; Fontolliet, Alain; Francisco, Helena; Friedman, Anton; Linkevicius, Tomas; Lutz, Rainer; Meijer, Henny J; Rompen, Eric; Rotundo, Roberto; Schwarz, Frank; Simion, Massimo; Teughels, Wim; Wennerberg, Ann; Zuhr, Otto

2015-09-01

Several surgical techniques and prosthetic devices have been developed in the last decades, aiming to improve aesthetic, hygienic and functional outcomes that may affect the peri-implant tissues, such as procedures of bone and soft tissue augmentation and the use of custom-made abutments of titanium and zirconium. Three systematic reviews, based on randomized clinical trials and prospective studies covering the above reported topics were analysed, and the detected evidence was exposed to interactive experts' discussion during the group's and general assembly's meetings of the 4th EAO Consensus Conference. The results are reported using the following abbreviations: S-T: short-term evidence, M-T: medium-term evidence; L-T: long-term evidence; LE: limited evidence. Soft tissue augmentation procedures may be indicated for the increase of soft tissue thickness and keratinized tissue, the reduction of interproximal peri-implant bone loss, and the coverage of shallow peri-implant soft tissue recessions (S-T, LE), L-T is lacking. Guided bone regeneration approaches (GBR) showed efficacy when used for ridge reconstruction after the complete healing of the soft tissues (S-T & L-T), and the stability of the augmented bone may play a role in the maintenance of the soft tissue position and dimensions (LE). No significant differences were observed between titanium and zirconia abutments when evaluating probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, marginal bone levels and mucosal recessions. Zirconia abutments were associated with more biological complications but demonstrated superiority in terms of achieving natural soft tissue colour (S-T). © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Le consentement libre et éclairé aux soins en psychiatrie

PubMed Central

Neilson, Grainne; Chaimowitz, Gary

2015-01-01

Résumé Le patient a le droit d’être informé sur les soins de santé qui lui sont proposés et de participer activement à la prise de décisions relativement à ces soins. Le respect de la dignité et de l’autonomie de la personne passe par le respect de son droit de prendre des décisions à propos de ses soins psychiatriques, notamment de refuser un traitement, pour autant qu’elle soit apte à prendre des décisions. Il importe que le psychiatre connaisse les fondements éthiques du consentement libre et éclairé et les exigences prévues par le droit en cette matière, y compris la jurisprudence. Le consentement n’est pas immuable, pouvant changer avec le temps, au fil de l’évolution des conditions et des circonstances. Par conséquent, le consentement doit être un processus continu.

Le lupus systémique juvénile familial: à propos de deux familles

PubMed Central

Krich, Sanaa; Inani, Kawtar; Meziane, Mariame; Souilmi, Fatima Zohta; Atmani, Samir; Hida, Mustapha; Harmouch, Taoufik; Amarti, Afaf; Mernissi, Fatima Zohra

2015-01-01

Le lupus érythémateux systémique (LES) juvénile est une connectivite rare, d’évolution plus sévère que chez l'adulte. Les cas familiaux sont exceptionnels. Il s'agissait de deux familles (5 patients atteints), chez qui on a objectivé un LES juvénile chez deux sæurs âgées de 14 ans et 6 ans respectivement chez la première famille, deux frères, âgés de 20 ans et 6 ans respectivement plus une sæur âgée de 10 ans chez la deuxième famille. Dans tout les cas le diagnostic de lupus systémique a été posé selon les nouveaux critères du groupe du SLICC (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics). Tous les patients ont été mis sous photoprotection, dermocorticoïdes et antipaludéens de synthèse sauf dans deux cas où la corticothérapie a été administrée. L’évolution a été favorable après le traitement dans la majorité des cas. Nous rapportons ces cas afin de discuter les particularités épidémiologiques, physiopathologiques, cliniques, paracliniques et thérapeutiques. PMID:26301023

Measurement of evapotranspiration with combined reflective and thermal infrared radiance observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hope, Allen S.

1993-01-01

The broad goal of the research summarized in this report was 'To facilitate the evaluation of regional evapotranspiration (ET) through the combined use of solar reflective and thermal infrared radiance observations.' The specific objectives stated by Goward and Hope (1986) were to: (1) investigate the nature of the relationship between surface temperature (T(sub S)) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and develop an understanding of this relationship in terms of energy exchange processes, particularly latent flux heat (LE); (2) develop procedures to estimate large area LE using combined T(sub S) and NDVI observations obtained from AVHRR data; and (3) determine whether measurements derived from satellite observations relate directly to measurements made at the surface or from aircraft platforms. Both empirical and modeling studies were used to develop an understanding of the T(sub S)-NDVI relationship. Most of the modeling was based on the Tergra model as originally proposed by Goward. This model, and modified versions developed in this project, simulates the flows of water and energy in the soil-plant-atmosphere system using meteorological, soil and vegetation inputs. Model outputs are the diurnal course of soil moisture, T(sub S), LE and the other individual components of the surface energy balance.

The Elbow-EpiTrainer: a method of delivering graded resistance to the extensor carpi radialis brevis. Effectiveness of a prototype device in a healthy population.

PubMed

Navsaria, Rishi; Ryder, Dionne M; Lewis, Jeremy S; Alexander, Caroline M

2015-03-01

Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylopathy (LE) is experienced as the lateral elbow has a reported prevalence of 1.3%, with symptoms lasting up to 18 months. LE is most commonly attributed to tendinopathy involving the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) tendon. The aim of tendinopathy management is to alleviate symptoms and restore function that initially involves relative rest followed by progressive therapeutic exercise. To assess the effectiveness of two prototype exercises using commonly available clinical equipment to progressively increase resistance and activity of the ECRB. Eighteen healthy participants undertook two exercise progressions. Surface electromyography was used to record ECRB activity during the two progressions, involving eccentric exercises of the wrist extensors and elbow pronation exercises using a prototype device. The two progressions were assessed for their linearity of progression using repeated ANOVA and linear regression analysis. Five participants repeated the study to assess reliability. The exercise progressions led to an increase in ECRB electromyographic (EMG) activity (p<0.001). A select progression of exercises combining the two protocols increased EMG activity in a linear fashion (p<0.001). The ICC values indicated good reliability (ICC>0.7) between the first and second tests for five participants. Manipulation of resistance and leverage with the prototype exercises was effective in creating significant increases of ECRB normalised EMG activity in a linear manner that may, with future research, become useful to clinicians treating LE. In addition, between trial reliability for the device to generate a consistent load was acceptable. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Development of a Dynamic Biomechanical Model for Load Carriage: Phase 4, Parts A and B: Development of a Dynamic Biomechanical Model Version 2 of Human Load Carriage

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-08-01

de charge et de comprendre les effets des caractéristiques de conception de systèmes de transport de charge sur la santé et la mobilité humaines...supérieur et le torse inférieur et la force totale de contact. Les travaux sont en cours en vue de l’intégration d’une couche de peau , ce qui...permettrait d’examiner en détail l’interaction au niveau de l’interface équipement- peau . Le but consiste à évaluer les risques de

Aging Mechanisms and Control. Symposium Part A - Developments in Computational Aero- and Hydro-Acoustics. Symposium Part B - Monitoring and Management of Gas Turbine Fleets for Extended Life and Reduced Costs (Les mecanismes vieillissants et le controle) (Symposium Partie A - Developpements dans le domaine de l’aeroacoustique et I’hydroacoustique numeriques) (Symposium Partie B - Le suivi et la gestion des turbomoteurs en vue du prolongement de l

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-02-01

Stromingsmechanica Industriale Pleinlaan, 2 Universita Roma Tre B-1050 Brussel via della Vasca Navale 79 em: hirsch@stro10.vub.ac.be 00146 Roma em...the flow and noise in the diffuser of an industrial gas turbine engine. A steady RANS CFD calculation and experiments were used to identify the gross...finally, defence industry was restructuring demanding that we review our relationship with them. (SYA) KN1-5 Ministers agreed that changes were

Validation of ethnopharmacology of ayurvedic sarasvata ghrita and comparative evaluation of its neuroprotective effect with modern alcoholic and lipid based extracts in β-amyloid induced memory impairment.

PubMed

Shelar, Madhuri; Nanaware, Sadhana; Arulmozhi, S; Lohidasan, Sathiyanarayanan; Mahadik, Kakasaheb

2018-06-12

Sarasvata ghrita (SG), a polyherbal formulation from ayurveda, an ancient medicinal system of India, has been used to improve intelligence and memory, treat speech delay, speaking difficulties and low digestion power in children. Study aimed to validate the ethno use of SG in memory enhancement through systematic scientific protocol. The effect of SG and modern extracts of ingredients of SG was compared on cognitive function and neuroprotection in amyloid-β peptide 25-35(Aβ25-35) induced memory impairment in wistar rats. Further the underlying mechanism for neuroprotective activity was investigated. SG was prepared as per traditional method, ethanolic extract (EE) was prepared by conventional method and lipid based extract was prepared by modern extraction method. All extracts were standardised by newly developed HPLC method with respect to marker compounds. SG, EE and LE were administered orally to male Wistar rats at doses of 100,200 and 400 mg/kg Body Weight by feeding needle for a period of 21 days after the intracerebroventricular administration of Aβ25-35 bilaterally. Spatial memory of rats was tested using Morris water maze (MWM) and Radial arm maze (RAM) test. The possible underlying mechanisms for the cognitive improvement exhibited by SG, EE and LE was investigated through ex-vivo brain antioxidant effect, monoamine level estimation, acetylcholine esterase (AchE) inhibitory effect and Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels estimation. SG, EE and LE were analyzed by HPLC method, results showed that EE extract has high percent of selected phytoconstituents as compared with SG and LE. SG and LE decrease escape latency and searching distance in a dose dependant manner during MWM test. In case of RAM significant decrease in number of errors and increase in number of correct choices indicate an elevation in retention and recall aspects of learning and memory after administration of SG an LE. SG and LE extract can efficiently prevent accumulation of β-amyloid plaque in hippocampus region. There was increase in SOD, GSH, CAT and NO level and decrease in MDA levels in SG and LE administered animals. SG and LE have found to exhibit AchE inhibitiory activity and significant dose-dependant increase in BDNF level in the plasma. SG and LE significantly increased the levels of noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the brain. The study validated the neuroprotective activity of SG. The study concludes the extraction efficiency of SG for selected phytoconstituents is less than modern methods. However the neuroprotective activity of SG and LE was found to be greater than EE. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Quatrième conférence consensuelle sur le diagnostic et le traitement de la démence

PubMed Central

Moore, Ainsley; Patterson, Christopher; Lee, Linda; Vedel, Isabelle; Bergman, Howard

2014-01-01

Résumé Objectif Revoir les stratégies diagnostiques de la maladie d’Alzheimer, actualiser les recommandations concernant le traitement des symptômes de démence et proposer une approche thérapeutique à la démence d’apparition précoce et d’évolution rapide. Composition du comité Des spécialistes et des délégués de diverses régions du Canada et représentant diverses disciplines pertinentes ont discuté et se sont mis d’accord sur les révisions à apporter aux lignes directrices de 2006. Méthodologie On a eu recours au système GRADE (grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation) pour évaluer le consensus concernant les recommandations, lequel était défini comme suit : lorsque 80 % ou plus des participants ont voté en faveur de la recommandation. La cote des données probantes est rapportée lorsque cela est possible. Rapport important pour les médecins de famille, malgré les progrès effectués dans les domaines des biomarqueurs liquidiens et de la neuro-imagerie, le diagnostic de démence au Canada demeure fondamentalement clinique. De nouveaux critères cliniques essentiels de diagnostic de la maladie d’Alzheimer en reconnaissent dorénavant les formes moins fréquentes et non amnestiques. La démence précoce, une affection rare, mais importante, devrait inciter les médecins à aiguiller les patients vers un spécialiste ayant accès à des conseillers en génétique. La démence d’évolution rapide, mal définie dans la littérature, faciliterait le dépistage de cette affection rare, mais importante. Les inhibiteurs de la cholinestérase sont maintenant indiqués pour le traitement d’affections autres que la maladie d’Alzheimer. Des lignes directrices concernant l’arrêt du traitement, lesquelles n’existaient pas auparavant, sont également apparues. De nouvelles données probantes sur le recours à la mémantine, aux antidépresseurs et à d’autres agents psychotropes dans le traitement de la démence sont aussi présentées. Conclusion Plusieurs recommandations de la Quatrième conférence consensuelle sur le diagnostic et le traitement de la démence intéresseront les médecins de famille. Pour assurer l’utilité des lignes directrices, les médecins de famille devraient participer à toutes les étapes du processus de formulation continu, y compris à la sélection des sujets.

Gauging events that influence students' perceptions of the medical school learning environment: findings from one institution.

PubMed

Shochet, Robert B; Colbert-Getz, Jorie M; Levine, Rachel B; Wright, Scott M

2013-02-01

The medical school learning environment (LE), encompassing the physical, social, and psychological context for learning, holds significant influence on students' professional development. Among these myriad experiences, the authors sought to gauge what students judge as influencing their perceptions of the LE. Fourth-year medical students at Johns Hopkins University participated in this cohort survey study before their 2010 graduation. A list of 55 events was iteratively revised and pilot-tested before being administered online. Responses assessed whether students experienced each event and, if so, the degree of impact on perceptions of the LE. A calculated mean impact score (MIS) provided a means to compare the relative impact of events. Of 119 students, 84 (71%) completed the survey. Students rated the overall LE as exceptional (29/84; 35%), good (36/84; 43%), fair (17/84; 20%), or poor (2/84; 2%). Eighty percent of students experienced at least 41 of the 55 events. MIS values ranged from 2.00 to 3.76 (highest possible: 4.00). Students rated positive events as having the highest impact. Few significant differences were found across gender, age, or surgical/nonsurgical specialty choice. MIS distributions differed between those perceiving the LE as exceptional or fair to poor for 22 (40%) of 55 events. This study attempted to identify the discrete events that medical students perceive as most affecting their sense of the LE. Knowing the phenomena that most strongly influence student perceptions can inform how settings, relationships, and interactions can be shaped for meaningful learning and professional formation.

Action spectrum and mechanisms of UV radiation-induced injury in lupus erythematosus

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kochevar, I.E.

1985-07-01

Photosensitivity associated with lupus erythematosus (LE) is well established. The photobiologic basis for this abnormal response to ultraviolet radiation, however, has not been determined. This paper summarizes the criteria for elucidating possible photobiologic mechanisms and reviews the literature relevant to the mechanism of photosensitivity in LE. In patients with LE, photosensitivity to wavelengths shorter than 320 nm has been demonstrated; wavelengths longer than 320 nm have not been adequately evaluated. DNA is a possible chromophore for photosensitivity below 320 nm. UV irradiation of skin produces thymine photodimers in DNA. UV-irradiated DNA is more antigenic than native DNA and the antigenicitymore » of UV-irradiated DNA has been proposed, but not proven, to be involved in the development of clinical lesions. UV irradiation of mice previously injected with anti-UV-DNA antibodies produces Ig deposition and complement fixation that appears to be similar to the changes seen in lupus lesions. Antibodies to UV-irradiated DNA occur in the serum of LE patients although a correlation between antibody titers and photosensitivity was not observed. Defective repair of UV-induced DNA damage does not appear to be a mechanism for the photosensitivity in LE. Other mechanisms must also be considered. The chromophore for photosensitivity induced by wavelengths longer than 320 nm has not been investigated in vivo. In vitro studies indicate that 360-400 nm radiation activates a photosensitizing compound in the lymphocytes and serum of LE patients and causes chromosomal aberrations and cell death. The mechanism appears to involve superoxide anion.« less

[Design and validation of the scales for the assessment of the psychological impact of past life events: the role of ruminative thought and personal growth].

PubMed

Fernández-Fernández, Virginia; Márquez-González, María; Losada-Baltar, Andrés; García, Pablo E; Romero-Moreno, Rosa

2013-01-01

Older people's emotional distress is often related to rumination processes focused on past vital events occurred during their lives. The specific coping strategies displayed to face those events may contribute to explain older adults' current well-being: they can perceive that they have obtained personal growth after those events and/or they can show a tendency to have intrusive thoughts about those events. This paper describes the development and analysis of the psychometric properties of the Scales for the Assessment of the Psychological Impact of Past Life Events (SAPIPLE): the past life events-occurrence scale (LE-O), ruminative thought scale (LE-R) and personal growth scale (LE-PG). Participants were 393 community dwelling elderly (mean age=71.5 years old; SD=6.9). In addition to the SAPIPLE scales, depressive symptomatology, anxiety, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, physical function and vitality have been assessed. The inter-rater agreement's analysis suggests the presence of two factors in the LE-O: positive and negative vital events. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) supported this two-dimensional structure for both the LE-R and the LE-PG. Good internal consistency indexes have been obtained for each scale and subscale, as well as good criterion and concurrent validity indexes. Both ruminative thoughts about past life events and personal growth following those events are related to older adults' current well-being. The SAPIPLE presents good psychometric properties that justify its use for elderly people. Copyright © 2012 SEGG. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Comprendre l'influence des facteurs contextuels sur la participation communautaire à la santé : une étude de cas dans le district sanitaire de Tenkodogo, au Burkina Faso.

PubMed

Sombié, Issa; Ilboudo, David O S; Soubeiga, André Kamba; Samuelsen, Helle

2017-09-01

Le Burkina Faso met en œuvre depuis plusieurs années la stratégie de la participation communautaire. Des comités de gestion (CoGes) ont été mis en place dans les centres de santé de la première ligne et doivent participer aux prises de décisions. L'objectif principal de cette stratégie est de favoriser l'utilisation des services de santé et une adhésion massive des communautés aux activités de promotion de la santé. Seulement, on constate que les résultats escomptés par les autorités sanitaires tardent à se réaliser. Le présent article convoque les facteurs liés au contexte socioculturel du district sanitaire, pour analyser le phénomène de la participation communautaire. L'étude s'est déroulée dans le district sanitaire de Tenkodogo, situé dans la région administrative du Centre-est, à environ 190 km de la capitale. Cette étude exclusivement qualitative, a utilisé deux méthodes de collecte : les entretiens individuels et les focus groups. Les participants à l'étude sont les chefs de ménage ( n = 48), les membres des CoGes ( n = 10), les agents de santé ( n = 8) et les agents de santé communautaire ( n = 24). La méthode de l'analyse de contenu a été utilisée pour l'analyse des données. Les résultats de l'étude montrent que plusieurs facteurs socioculturels influencent la dynamique de la participation communautaire dans le district. Ce sont les conditions économiques, la perception négative des services de santé, les inégalités sociales de sexe et d'âge, le faible ancrage social des organisations communautaires, les rivalités inter-villages et les conflits coutumiers. L'étude relève également que les communautés ne perçoivent pas leur implication dans le processus décisionnel des services de santé comme une priorité. Leurs principales attentes s'orientent vers la disponibilité de soins de qualité et à coût réduit.

Effets du stress familial lié au diabète sur le contrôle glycémique chez les jeunes diabétiques de type 1

PubMed Central

Tsiouli, Elina; Alexopoulos, Evangelos C.; Stefanaki, Charikleia; Darviri, Christina; Chrousos, George P.

2013-01-01

Objectif Examiner la façon dont le stress familial influence le contrôle glycémique chez les patients diabétiques de moins de 18 ans. Sources des données Une recherche des études pertinentes publiées depuis 1990 a été réalisée dans PubMed et Scopus à l'aide des mots-clés suivants en anglais: diabetes type 1, glycemic control, family stress, family conflict et family function. Sélection des études La recension initiale a permis de cerner un total de 1 478 articles. La synthèse finale portrait sur 6 études de cohortes, 3 études transversales et 1 étude qualitative dans lesquelles le stress familial était évalué à l'aide d'instruments de mesure des conflits spécifiquement reliés au diabète et le contrôle glycémique était mesuré en fonction de l'hémoglobine glycosylée. Synthèse Dans la plupart des études, il existait une corrélation négative entre le stress familial et le contrôle glycémique des patients. Le bon fonctionnement familial était fortement relié à un bon contrôle glycémique des patients, tandis que les conflits familiaux étaient associés à un mauvais contrôle glycémique. Les familles dont la situation socioéconomique était défavorisée, celles ayant des adolescents atteints de diabète et les familles monoparentales étaient plus enclines à vivre un stress relié au diabète et étaient, par conséquent, plus susceptibles de connaître un moins bon contrôle glycémique. Conclusion Les interventions psychologiques thérapeutiques et les programmes éducatifs peuvent aider à atténuer le stress familial relié au diabète et amélioreront probablement le contrôle glycémique.

Fluid or Fuel? The Context of Consuming a Beverage Is Important for Satiety

PubMed Central

McCrickerd, Keri; Chambers, Lucy; Yeomans, Martin R.

2014-01-01

Energy-containing beverages have a weak effect on satiety, limited by their fluid characteristics and perhaps because they are not considered ‘food’. This study investigated whether the context of consuming a beverage can influence the satiating power of its nutrients. Eighty participants consumed a lower- (LE, 75 kcal) and higher-energy (HE, 272 kcal) version of a beverage (covertly manipulated within-groups) on two test days, in one of four beverage contexts (between-groups): thin versions of the test-drinks were consumed as a thirst-quenching drink (n = 20), a filling snack (n = 20), or without additional information (n = 20). A fourth group consumed subtly thicker versions of the beverages without additional information (n = 20). Lunch intake 60 minutes later depended on the beverage context and energy content (p = 0.030): participants who consumed the thin beverages without additional information ate a similar amount of lunch after the LE and HE versions (LE = 475 kcal, HE = 464 kcal; p = 0.690) as did those participants who believed the beverages were designed to quench-thirst (LE = 442 kcal, HE = 402 kcal; p = 0.213), despite consuming an additional 197 kcal in the HE beverage. Consuming the beverage as a filling snack led participants to consume less at lunch after the HE beverage compared to the LE version (LE = 506 kcal, HE = 437 kcal; p = 0.025). This effect was also seen when the beverages were subtly thicker, with participants in this group displaying the largest response to the beverage’s energy content, consuming less at lunch after the HE version (LE = 552 kcal, HE = 415 kcal; p<0.001). These data indicate that beliefs about the consequences of consuming a beverage can affect the impact of its nutrients on appetite regulation and provide further evidence that a beverage’s sensory characteristics can limit its satiating power. PMID:24945526

Caractéristiques cliniques des jeunes déprimés en pédopsychiatrie

PubMed Central

Breton, Jean-Jacques; Labelle, Réal; Huynh, Christophe; Berthiaume, Claude; St-Georges, Marie; Guilé, Jean-Marc

2012-01-01

Résumé Objectif Décrire le profil clinique de jeunes déprimés selon le groupe d’âge et le sexe. Méthodologie L’étude a été réalisée à l’aide d’une grille d’analyse sur 75 dossiers de jeunes de 6–17 ans enregistrés en pédopsychiatrie en 2002–2003 et présentant un diagnostic de trouble dépressif. Des statistiques descriptives et des tests d’association pour comparer les garçons 6–11 ans, les garçons 12–17 ans et les filles 12–17 ans ont été complétés. Résultats Un jeune sur deux à l’adolescence a doublé une année scolaire. Près de 60% des garçons de 6–11 ans déprimés sont dirigés en pédopsychiatrie pour des difficultés comportementales et 71% des garçons de ce groupe d’âge présentent un trouble dépressif en comorbidité avec un trouble du comportement perturbateur. Les filles et garçons à l’adolescence présentent en plus grande proportion une symptomatologie intériorisée. Les idées suicidaires sont cependant aussi présentes chez les enfants (71%) que chez les adolescents (72%) et les adolescentes (85%). Les problèmes parent-enfant se retrouvent chez la majorité des jeunes, particulièrement chez les adolescentes. Conclusion Il est tout aussi important d’évaluer la dépression et l’idéation suicidaire chez les jeunes garçons avec troubles de comportement que chez les adolescents et les adolescentes et la dimension familiale est importante à considérer dans l’évaluation et le traitement. PMID:22299011

Recommandations pour le dépistage de l’hypertension chez les adultes canadiens

PubMed Central

Lindsay, Patrice; Gorber, Sarah Connor; Joffres, Michel; Birtwhistle, Richard; McKay, Donald; Cloutier, Lyne

2013-01-01

Résumé Objectif Présenter des recommandations concernant le dépistage de l’hypertension chez les adultes de 18 ans et plus qui n’ont pas reçu antérieurement de diagnostic d’hypertension. Qualité des données Les données probantes sont tirées d’une recension systématique dans MEDLINE, EMBASE et la base de données des synthèses systématiques de la Collaboration Cochrane (EBM Reviews), de janvier 1985 à septembre 2011. Les types d’études retenues se limitaient aux études randomisées contrôlées, aux synthèses systématiques et aux études observationnelles avec groupes témoins. Message principal Trois fortes recommandations se sont dégagées de données probantes de qualité modérée. Il est recommandé de mesurer la pression artérielle à toutes les consultations appropriées en soins primaires, conformément aux techniques actuelles décrites dans les recommandations du Programme éducatif canadien sur l’hypertension pour la mesure de la pression artérielle en cabinet et en soins ambulatoires. Les critères du Programme éducatif canadien sur l’hypertension pour l’évaluation et le diagnostic de l’hypertension devraient s’appliquer aux personnes chez qui on observe une pression artérielle élevée. Conclusion À la suite d’un examen des plus récentes données probantes, le Groupe d’étude canadien sur les soins de santé préventifs continue de recommander la mesure de la pression artérielle lors des consultations périodiques auprès du médecin.

Mise à jour sur la prévention et le dépistage selon l’âge à l’intention des médecins de soins primaires canadiens

PubMed Central

Shimizu, Tawnya; Bouchard, Manon; Mavriplis, Cleo

2016-01-01

Résumé Objectif Faire la synthèse des meilleures lignes directrices fondées sur des données probantes concernant la prévention et le dépistage chez les adultes canadiens selon l’âge. Qualité des données Les recommandations du Groupe d’étude canadien sur les soins de santé préventifs représentent la source principale des renseignements et sont complétées par les recommandations pertinentes du Preventive Services Task Force des États-Unis lorsque celles du Groupe d’étude canadien étaient inaccessibles ou désuètes. Les guides de pratique des principales organisations nationales axées spécifiquement sur une maladie ou une spécialité ont aussi fait l’objet d’une révision pour prendre en compte les données factuelles les plus récentes. Message principal Les interventions de dépistage recommandées selon l’âge et le sexe sont présentées dans un tableau de synthèse où est mise en évidence la qualité des données à l’appui de ces recommandations. Un exemple de modèle à suivre dans les dossiers médicaux électroniques ou sur papier est aussi proposé. Conclusion Qu’il s’agisse d’une visite consacrée à la prévention ou d’une occasion saisie autrement de faire du counseling et du dépistage de prévention chez leurs patients, les médecins de soins primaires peuvent se servir de cette synthèse des recommandations fondées sur des données probantes pour maximiser leur efficience et prévenir d’importantes omissions ou des dépistages inutiles.

Ledantevirus: a proposed new genus in the Rhabdoviridae has a strong ecological association with bats.

PubMed

Blasdell, Kim R; Guzman, Hilda; Widen, Steven G; Firth, Cadhla; Wood, Thomas G; Holmes, Edward C; Tesh, Robert B; Vasilakis, Nikos; Walker, Peter J

2015-02-01

The Le Dantec serogroup of rhabdoviruses comprises Le Dantec virus from a human with encephalitis and Keuriliba virus from rodents, each isolated in Senegal. The Kern Canyon serogroup comprises a loosely connected set of rhabdoviruses many of which have been isolated from bats, including Kern Canyon virus from California, Nkolbisson virus from Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Cote d'Ivoire, Kolente virus from Guinea, Mount Elgon bat and Fikirini viruses from Kenya, and Oita virus from Japan. Fukuoka virus isolated from mosquitoes, midges, and cattle in Japan, Barur virus from a rodent in India and Nishimuro virus from pigs in Japan have also been linked genetically or serologically to this group. Here, we analyze the genome sequences and phylogenetic relationships of this set of viruses. We show that they form three subgroups within a monophyletic group, which we propose should constitute the new genus Ledantevirus. © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Lea blood group antigen on human platelets.

PubMed

Dunstan, R A; Simpson, M B; Rosse, W F

1985-01-01

One- and two-stage radioligand assays were used to determine if human platelets possess the Lea antigen. Goat IgG anti-Lea antibody was purified by multiple adsorptions with Le(a-b-) human red blood cells, followed by affinity chromatography with synthetic Lea substance and labeling with 125I. Human IgG anti-Lea antibody was used either in a two stage radioassay with 125I-labeled mouse monoclonal IgG anti-human IgG as the second antibody or, alternatively, purified by Staph protein A chromatography, labeled with 125I, and used in a one-stage radioassay. Platelets from donors of appropriate red blood cell phenotypes were incubated with the antisera, centrifuged through phthalate esters, and assayed in a gamma scintillation counter. Dose response and saturation curve analysis demonstrate the presence of Lewis a antigen on platelets from Lea+ donors. Furthermore, platelets from an Le(a-b-) donor incubated in Le (a+b-) plasma adsorb Lea antigen in a similar manner to red blood cells. The clinical significance of these antigens in platelet transfusion remains undefined.

Car Talk: Ethnic And Religious Identity In The Central African Republic

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

Republic and Democracy (APRD) began conducting raids on army positions. Ange-Felix Patassé controlled the APRD from his exile in Togo and the group was...Séléka forces razed villages to the ground. As it became apparent Djotodia could not or would not control the Séléka even more groups took up the Séléka...largest groups , the Rassemblement Patriotique pour le Renouveau de la Centrafrique (RPRC), the Front Populaire pour la Reniasance de la Centrafrique

Simultaneous transgenic suppression of LePG and LeExp1 influences fruit texture and juice viscosity in a fresh market tomato variety.

PubMed

Powell, Ann L T; Kalamaki, Mary S; Kurien, Philip A; Gurrieri, Sergio; Bennett, Alan B

2003-12-03

Tomatoes are grown for fresh consumption or for processing of the fruit. Some ripening-associated processes of the fruit can either contribute to or degrade attributes associated with both fresh and processing quality. For example, cell wall disassembly is associated with loss of fresh fruit firmness as well as with loss of processed tomato product viscosity. Several enzymes contribute to cell wall polysaccharide disassembly. Polygalacturonase (PG, poly[1,4-alpha-d-galactouronide] glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.15) is among the most abundant polysaccharide hydrolases in ripening tomato fruit and is the major contributor to pectin depolymerization. Expansin (LeExp1) is also abundant in ripening fruit and is proposed to contribute to cell wall disassembly by nonhydrolytic activity, possibly by increasing substrate accessibility to other enzymes. Suppression of either LePG or LeExp1 expression alone results in altered softening and/or shelf life characteristics. To test whether simultaneous suppression of both LePG and LeExp1 expression influences fruit texture in additive or synergistic ways, transgenic Lycopersicon esculentum var. Ailsa Craig lines with reduced expression of either LePG or LeExp1 were crossed. Fruits from the third generation of progeny, homozygous for both transgenic constructs, were analyzed for firmness and other quality traits during ripening on or off the vine. In field-grown transgenic tomato fruit, suppression of LeExp1 or LePG alone did not significantly increase fruit firmness. However, fruits suppressed for both LePG and LeExp1 expression were significantly firmer throughout ripening and were less susceptible to deterioration during long-term storage. Juice prepared from the transgenic tomato fruit with reduced LePG and LeExp1 expression was more viscous than juice prepared from control fruit.

Detection of urinary tract infection (UTI) in long-term care setting: Is the multireagent strip an adequate diagnostic tool?

PubMed

Arinzon, Zeev; Peisakh, Alexander; Shuval, Ishay; Shabat, Shay; Berner, Yitshal N

2009-01-01

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most commonly diagnosed and treated infection in elderly residents of long-term care (LTC) setting, and most of them are asymptomatic. Early diagnosis and treatment especially in this group of patients is very important because even a brief delay contributes to mortality as well as to reduce functional and cognitive decline. The purpose of the present study was to determine the validity of multireagent strips (Multistix 10 SG, Bayer, UK) compared with standard urinalysis for the early detection of UTI in LTC elderly patients. Urine specimens were examined for the presence of leukocyte esterase (LE) activity as an indicator of pyuria, nitrite production as an indicator of bacteriuria, erythrocytes (RBC), and protein. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, kappa agreement, and likelihood ration were determined for each of the four dipstick parameters measurement separately, and in four combinations were calculated against the urine culture for the diagnosis of UTI and asymptomatic bacteriuria. Ninety-six patients aged 65 years and older with symptomatic UTI were compared with similar number, age, sex and comorbidity status matched patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria. In both groups, urinary culture results were compared with the results of multireagent strips. The multireagent strips results were evaluated for the presence of LE activity as an indicator of pyuria, nitrite production as an indicator of bacteriuria, RBC, and protein. All positive sticks results were evaluated as single parameter and in combination of them. Positive urine cultures were found in 71% (68/96) of the patients with symptomatic and in 60% (58/96; p>0.05) of patients with asymptomatic UTI. In patients with UTI, using multireagent strips kappa agreement for LE was 0.53, for nitrite was 0.14, and in combination of them was 0.31. Similar results were reported in patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria, 0.35, 0.23, and 0.35m. The detection of RBC and protein, as single parameter or in combination with other parameters, decreases accuracy of the tests. Positive dipstick tests for LE and/or nitrite are not specific indicators of UTI, and are not suitable for screening of LTC inpatients for UTI because of high false-negative rates of the LE and nitrite.

Energy levels, wavelengths, and radiative transition probabilities for the Na-like ions with 38 [le] Z [le] 45

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ying Zhang; Qiren Zhu; Shoufu Pan

1992-11-01

The investigation by Z.-Q Zhang et al. (Acta Optica Sinica 11, 193, 1991) shows that it is possible to realize soft X-ray lasing in the water window 23.3-43.8 [Angstrom] with the Na-like recombination scheme, which requires a lower pumping power at a high-power laser facility than that with other schemes. The fine-structure levels with n [le] 15 and l [le] 6 in Na-like ions with 38 [le] Z [le] 45 and the probabilities for radiative transitions between these levels are calculated using the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock approach. The calculations show that the wavelengths of the anticipated laser transitions 6 f-4d andmore » 6g-4f in the Na-like ions with 38 [le] Z [le] 43 and 5f-4d and 5g-4f in the Na-like ions with 40 [le] Z [le] 45 lie in the region of the water window.« less

Gibberellin 3-oxidase Gene Expression Patterns Influence Gibberellin Biosynthesis, Growth, and Development in Pea1[W][OPEN

PubMed Central

Reinecke, Dennis M.; Wickramarathna, Aruna D.; Ozga, Jocelyn A.; Kurepin, Leonid V.; Jin, Alena L.; Good, Allen G.; Pharis, Richard P.

2013-01-01

Gibberellins (GAs) are key modulators of plant growth and development. PsGA3ox1 (LE) encodes a GA 3β-hydroxylase that catalyzes the conversion of GA20 to biologically active GA1. To further clarify the role of GA3ox expression during pea (Pisum sativum) plant growth and development, we generated transgenic pea lines (in a lele background) with cauliflower mosaic virus-35S-driven expression of PsGA3ox1 (LE). PsGA3ox1 transgene expression led to higher GA1 concentrations in a tissue-specific and development-specific manner, altering GA biosynthesis and catabolism gene expression and plant phenotype. PsGA3ox1 transgenic plants had longer internodes, tendrils, and fruits, larger stipules, and displayed delayed flowering, increased apical meristem life, and altered vascular development relative to the null controls. Transgenic PsGA3ox1 overexpression lines were then compared with lines where endogenous PsGA3ox1 (LE) was introduced, by a series of backcrosses, into the same genetic background (BC LEle). Most notably, the BC LEle plants had substantially longer internodes containing much greater GA1 levels than the transgenic PsGA3ox1 plants. Induction of expression of the GA deactivation gene PsGA2ox1 appears to make an important contribution to limiting the increase of internode GA1 to modest levels for the transgenic lines. In contrast, PsGA3ox1 (LE) expression driven by its endogenous promoter was coordinated within the internode tissue to avoid feed-forward regulation of PsGA2ox1, resulting in much greater GA1 accumulation. These studies further our fundamental understanding of the regulation of GA biosynthesis and catabolism at the tissue and organ level and demonstrate that the timing/localization of GA3ox expression within an organ affects both GA homeostasis and GA1 levels, and thereby growth. PMID:23979969

Gibberellin 3-oxidase gene expression patterns influence gibberellin biosynthesis, growth, and development in pea.

PubMed

Reinecke, Dennis M; Wickramarathna, Aruna D; Ozga, Jocelyn A; Kurepin, Leonid V; Jin, Alena L; Good, Allen G; Pharis, Richard P

2013-10-01

Gibberellins (GAs) are key modulators of plant growth and development. PsGA3ox1 (LE) encodes a GA 3β-hydroxylase that catalyzes the conversion of GA20 to biologically active GA1. To further clarify the role of GA3ox expression during pea (Pisum sativum) plant growth and development, we generated transgenic pea lines (in a lele background) with cauliflower mosaic virus-35S-driven expression of PsGA3ox1 (LE). PsGA3ox1 transgene expression led to higher GA1 concentrations in a tissue-specific and development-specific manner, altering GA biosynthesis and catabolism gene expression and plant phenotype. PsGA3ox1 transgenic plants had longer internodes, tendrils, and fruits, larger stipules, and displayed delayed flowering, increased apical meristem life, and altered vascular development relative to the null controls. Transgenic PsGA3ox1 overexpression lines were then compared with lines where endogenous PsGA3ox1 (LE) was introduced, by a series of backcrosses, into the same genetic background (BC LEle). Most notably, the BC LEle plants had substantially longer internodes containing much greater GA1 levels than the transgenic PsGA3ox1 plants. Induction of expression of the GA deactivation gene PsGA2ox1 appears to make an important contribution to limiting the increase of internode GA1 to modest levels for the transgenic lines. In contrast, PsGA3ox1 (LE) expression driven by its endogenous promoter was coordinated within the internode tissue to avoid feed-forward regulation of PsGA2ox1, resulting in much greater GA1 accumulation. These studies further our fundamental understanding of the regulation of GA biosynthesis and catabolism at the tissue and organ level and demonstrate that the timing/localization of GA3ox expression within an organ affects both GA homeostasis and GA1 levels, and thereby growth.

La Recherche du Quark Top dans le Canal $e$ + Jets a D0 (in French)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lebrat, Jean-Francois

1996-05-01

Le travail de thèse qui est résumé ici a débuté en 1993, alors que l'existence du quark top n'avait pas encore été mise en évidence expérimentalement. Il se concentre sur la recherche du top dans l'un de ses modes de désintégration, le canal e + jets, et utilise l'ensemble des outils d'identication des particules et d'analyse développés par la collaboration DØ. L'analyse présentée ici est la première à utiliser le TRD (le Détecteur à Rayonnement de Transition, qui a été mis au point et fabriqué à Saclay) pour une meilleure identication de l'électron.Nous présenterons tout d'abord le quark top, enmore » décrivant la place qu'il occupe dans le modèle utilisé par les physiciens des particules, le Modèle Standard. Nous montrerons ainsi que l'existence du quark top était prédite par le modèle bien avant sa découverte, et indiquerons ainsi les raisons qui ont motivé notre analyse....« less

Toward a Survivability/Lethality Analysis Directorate (SLAD) Methodology for Conducting System of Systems Analysis (SoSA)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

alternative technologies early in the product life cycle. Use case 3 reflects SLAD’s response to changes in the way the Army acquires technical...development on the one hand, and to systems evaluated for production and deployment on the other. Together, these three use cases provide the Army...Package E x a m p le P ro b le m Mission based SLVA of networked-enabled small units subject to one or more threats. Mission based early

Modelling Broadband Scattering From Shelled Spheres in a Waveguide

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-10-01

profonde. Le contenu spectral de l’echo produit par une cible peut varier de fagon appreciable en fonction de sa profondeur et de sa distance dans le...Canada’s leader in defence and National Security Science and Technology R&D pour la defense Canada Chef de file au Canada en matiere de science et...Copy No. nent Development Canada pour la defense Canada • ^g, M Defence Research and Recherche et deyeloppem r£ m> DEFENCE I « M

Symposium of Naval Hydrodynamics (14th) held at Ann Arbor, Michigan on August 23-27, 1982,

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-01-01

Chahine -Viscous Effects on the Stability of Cavitating Line Vortices -. 195 Jaakko V. Pylkknen Nuclei and Cavitation 215 Jean -Pierre Le G9fu and Yves...the sectional area of the sheet cavity at • ,this position. . .~ . . * , ILv ’. - ,’ 4 4- ,*-. . ... . 4.4 K"% Nuclei and Cavitation Jean -Pierre Le Goff...the experiments, with analysing .- the results and with running computer programs. Thanks are also due to U H Pinto who developed a substantial part of

Test Review: LeBuffe, P. A., & Naglieri, J. A. (1999). The Devereux Early Childhood Assessment. Lewisville, NC: Kaplan Press: LeBuffe, P. A., & Naglieri, J. A. (2003). Devereux Early Childhood Assessment Clinical Form (DECA-C). Lewisville, NC: Kaplan Press

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reddy, Linda

2007-01-01

Based on the seminal work of Emmy Werner (1990), practitioners have recognized the powerful role protective and risk factors play in the development of children's emotional and behavioral adjustment. Researchers have concluded that differences in children's reactions to difficult events are influenced by the type and level of protective factors in…

Canadian Forces Education and Training for Interagency Operational Contexts (Education et Instruction des Forces Canadiennes Pour les Contextes Operationnels Interorganisationnels)

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-11-01

organismes gouvernementaux dans le processus de planification opérationnelle (PPO) des FC. Le rapport se termine par des recommandations de travaux...B.D., THOMSON, M.H., BROWN, A.L., SARTORI, J.A., TAYLOR, T.E., WALDHERR, S.U. 2008. Organizational trust in the Canadian Forces. DRDC T No. CR2008...enablers for distributed team collaboration. DRDC T No. CR2007-137. Toronto, ON: Defence Research and Development Canada. FUGLESTAD, P.T., SNYDER

Maladies reliées aux loisirs aquatiques

PubMed Central

Sanborn, Margaret; Takaro, Tim

2013-01-01

Résumé Objectif Passer en revue les facteurs de risque, la prise en charge et la prévention des maladies reliées aux loisirs aquatiques en pratique familiale. Sources des données Des articles originaux et de synthèse entre janvier 1998 et février 2012 ont été identifiés à l’aide de PubMed et des expressions de recherche en anglais water-related illness, recreational water illness et swimmer illness. Message principal Il y a un risque de 3 % à 8 % de maladies gastrointestinales (MGI) après la baignade. Les groupes à risque élevé de MGI sont les enfants de moins de 5 ans, surtout s’ils n’ont pas été vaccinés contre le rotavirus, les personnes âgées et les patients immunodéficients. Les enfants sont à plus grand risque parce qu’ils avalent plus d’eau quand ils nagent, restent dans l’eau plus longtemps et jouent dans l’eau peu profonde et le sable qui sont plus contaminés. Les adeptes des sports dans lesquels le contact avec l’eau est abondant comme le triathlon et le surf cerf-volant sont aussi à risque élevé et même ceux qui s’adonnent à des activités impliquant un contact partiel avec l’eau comme la navigation de plaisance et la pêche ont un risque de 40 % à 50 % fois plus grand de MGI par rapport à ceux qui ne pratiquent pas de sports aquatiques. Il y a lieu de faire une culture des selles quand on soupçonne une maladie reliée aux loisirs aquatiques et l’échelle clinique de la déshydratation est utile pour l’évaluation des besoins de traitement chez les enfants affectés. Conclusion Les maladies reliées aux loisirs aquatiques est la principale cause de MGI durant la saison des baignades. La reconnaissance que la baignade est une source importante de maladies peut aider à prévenir les cas récurrents et secondaires. On recommande fortement le vaccin contre le rotavirus chez les enfants qui se baignent souvent.

Cancer du sein au Maroc: profil phénotypique des tumeurs

PubMed Central

Khalil, Ahmadaye Ibrahim; Bendahhou, Karima; Mestaghanmi, Houriya; Saile, Rachid; Benider, Abdellatif

2016-01-01

Le cancer du sein est le plus fréquent chez la femme et figure parmi les principales causes de mortalité liées au cancer. La curabilité de ce type tumoral est en augmentation, grâce aux programmes de dépistage et aux progrès thérapeutiques, qui ont certes augmenté la survie des patients. Mais des défis restent à relever en rapport avec l’instabilité phénotypique des cellules cancéreuses. L’objectif de ce travail est d’étudier le profil phénotypique du cancer du sein chez les patients pris en charge au Centre Mohammed VI pour le traitement des Cancers, durant les années 2013-2014. Il s’agit d’une étude transversale sur deux années, incluant les cas du cancer du sein pris en charge au Centre. Le recueil des données était fait à partir des dossiers des patients et analysés par le logiciel Epi Info. 1277 patients ont été pris en charge au sein de notre centre. 99,5% des cas de sexe féminin, l’âge moyen était 50,20 ± 11,34 ans. Le type histologique le plus fréquent était le carcinome canalaire infiltrant (80,7% des cas). Le stade diagnostic était précoce (56,9%). Le phénotype moléculaire le plus fréquent était le luminal A (41,4% des cas). Le luminal B, le HER2 et les triples négatifs étaient dans respectivement 10,4%, 6,3%, 11,2% des cas. L’étude du phénotype tumoral des patients atteints du cancer du sein permet l’orientation du clinicien dans le choix du traitement, et des décideurs dans la planification de programmes de lutte contre cette pathologie. PMID:28292037

Response of human limbal epithelial cells to wounding on 3D RAFT tissue equivalents: effect of airlifting and human limbal fibroblasts.

PubMed

Massie, Isobel; Levis, Hannah J; Daniels, Julie T

2014-10-01

Limbal epithelial stem cell deficiency can cause blindness but may be treated by human limbal epithelial cell (hLE) transplantation, normally on human amniotic membrane. Clinical outcomes using amnion can be unreliable and so we have developed an alternative tissue equivalent (TE), RAFT (Real Architecture for 3D Tissue), which supports hLE expansion, and stratification when airlifted. Human limbal fibroblasts (hLF) may be incorporated into RAFT TEs, where they support overlying hLE and improve phenotype. However, the impact of neither airlifting nor hLF on hLE function has been investigated. hLE on RAFT TEs (±hLF and airlifting) were wounded using heptanol and re-epithelialisation (fluorescein diacetate staining), and percentage putative stem cell marker p63α and proliferative marker Ki67 expression (wholemount immunohistochemistry), measured. Airlifted, hLF- RAFT TEs were unable to close the wound and p63α expression was 7 ± 0.2% after wounding. Conversely, non-airlifted, hLF- RAFT TEs closed the wound within 9 days and p63α expression was higher at 22 ± 5% (p < 0.01). hLE on both hLF- and hLF+ RAFT TEs (non-airlifted) closed the wound and p63α expression was 26 ± 8% and 36 ± 3% respectively (ns). Ki67 expression by hLE increased from 1.3 ± 0.5% before wounding to 7.89 ± 2.53% post-wounding for hLF- RAFT TEs (p < 0.01), and 0.8 ± 0.08% to 17.68 ± 10.88% for hLF+ RAFT TEs (p < 0.05), suggesting that re-epithelialisation was a result of proliferation. These data suggest that neither airlifting nor hLF are necessarily required to maintain a functional epithelium on RAFT TEs, thus simplifying and shortening the production process. This is important when working towards clinical application of regenerative medicine products. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Epidemiological characteristics and types of domestic and leisure accidents: sentinel health network of Castilla y León (2009)].

PubMed

Mateos Baruque, María Loreto; Vián González, Eva María; Gil Costa, Milagros; Lozano Alonso, José Eugenio; Santamaría Rodrigo, Elena; Herrero Cembellín, Belén

2012-05-01

To study incidence, epidemiological characteristics and types of domestic and leisure accidents in Castilla y León during 2009. A descriptive study using a prospective sample design. Health Primary Care Centres of Castilla y León. The Nurse Registry is made up of 130 nurses selected by conglomerates analysis. They cover 5% of the population. The information was obtained by means of an anonymous form. The studied variables were sex, age, type, place, type and origin of the accident. A descriptive analysis was performed using χ(2), Fischer, χ(2) of trends and t Student tests, with 95% confidence intervals. The annual cumulative incidence was 2651 cases/100000 inhabitants, there being slightly higher percentage of men (50.4%). The ≤ 15 and ≥ 65 years age groups had more accidents. The time of day of 49.2% of the accidents was during the morning and 71.7% were on a working day. The majority (57.1%) took place in the home, 16,8% in the street, and 7.3% in schools. The most common accidents types were falls to the same level (40.4%) and use of cutting and sharp objects (22.7%). Most accidents took place within the home, on a working day and by falls. The most affected were the ≤ 15 and ≥ 65 years old age groups. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Accuracy of Cochlear Implant Recipients on Speech Reception in Background Music

PubMed Central

Gfeller, Kate; Turner, Christopher; Oleson, Jacob; Kliethermes, Stephanie; Driscoll, Virginia

2012-01-01

Objectives This study (a) examined speech recognition abilities of cochlear implant (CI) recipients in the spectrally complex listening condition of three contrasting types of background music, and (b) compared performance based upon listener groups: CI recipients using conventional long-electrode (LE) devices, Hybrid CI recipients (acoustic plus electric stimulation), and normal-hearing (NH) adults. Methods We tested 154 LE CI recipients using varied devices and strategies, 21 Hybrid CI recipients, and 49 NH adults on closed-set recognition of spondees presented in three contrasting forms of background music (piano solo, large symphony orchestra, vocal solo with small combo accompaniment) in an adaptive test. Outcomes Signal-to-noise thresholds for speech in music (SRTM) were examined in relation to measures of speech recognition in background noise and multi-talker babble, pitch perception, and music experience. Results SRTM thresholds varied as a function of category of background music, group membership (LE, Hybrid, NH), and age. Thresholds for speech in background music were significantly correlated with measures of pitch perception and speech in background noise thresholds; auditory status was an important predictor. Conclusions Evidence suggests that speech reception thresholds in background music change as a function of listener age (with more advanced age being detrimental), structural characteristics of different types of music, and hearing status (residual hearing). These findings have implications for everyday listening conditions such as communicating in social or commercial situations in which there is background music. PMID:23342550

Random hopping fermions on bipartite lattices: density of states, inverse participation ratios, and their correlations in a strong disorder regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamada, Hiroki; Fukui, Takahiro

2004-02-01

We study Anderson localization of non-interacting random hopping fermions on bipartite lattices in two dimensions, focusing our attention to strong disorder features of the model. We concentrate ourselves on specific models with a linear dispersion in the vicinity of the band center, which can be described by a Dirac fermion in the continuum limit. Based on the recent renormalization group method developed by Carpentier and Le Doussal for the XY gauge glass model, we calculate the density of states, inverse participation ratios, and their spatial correlations. It turns out that their behavior is quite different from those expected within naive weak disorder approaches.

Personnel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2006-10-13

Le président du conseil M.Doran explique la décision que le conseil du Cern vient de prendre sur la 4.étape du régime complémentaire des pensions. Le président du comité des finances le Dr.Andersen ainsi que le Prof.Connor(?) prennent aussi la parole

Coexistence of tumid lupus erythematosus with systemic lupus erythematosus and discoid lupus erythematosus: a report of two cases of tumid lupus.

PubMed

Stead, Jennifer; Headley, Catherine; Ioffreda, Michael; Kovarik, Carrie; Werth, Victoria

2008-12-01

Tumid lupus erythematosus (LE) is a rare variant of chronic cutaneous LE that is characterized clinically by smooth, nonscarring, pink to violaceous papules or plaques without evidence of surface change. Histopathologic features include superficial and deep lymphocytic infiltration in a perivascular and periadnexal distribution, with dermal interstitial mucin deposition and focal or absent dermoepidermal junction involvement. These clinical and histopathologic features can be challenging to differentiate from other cutaneous diseases. This is particularly true because patients with tumid LE usually do not have other manifestations of systemic LE or cutaneous LE. We present 2 cases of tumid LE, one associated with concomitant systemic LE and the other occurring concurrently with discoid LE. Furthermore, we demonstrate the rare occurrence of a patient with tumid LE occurring below the waist at a photo-protected site.

Involvement of LeMDR, an ATP-binding cassette protein gene, in shikonin transport and biosynthesis in Lithospermum erythrorhizon.

PubMed

Zhu, Yu; Lu, Gui-Hua; Bian, Zhuo-Wu; Wu, Feng-Yao; Pang, Yan-Jun; Wang, Xiao-Ming; Yang, Rong-Wu; Tang, Cheng-Yi; Qi, Jin-Liang; Yang, Yong-Hua

2017-11-13

Shikonin is a naphthoquinone secondary metabolite with important medicinal value and is found in Lithospermum erythrorhizon. Considering the limited knowledge on the membrane transport mechanism of shikonin, this study investigated such molecular mechanism. We successfully isolated an ATP-binding cassette protein gene, LeMDR, from L. erythrorhizon. LeMDR is predominantly expressed in L. erythrorhizon roots, where shikonin accumulated. Functional analysis of LeMDR by using the yeast cell expression system revealed that LeMDR is possibly involved in the shikonin efflux transport. The accumulation of shikonin is lower in yeast cells transformed with LeMDR-overexpressing vector than that with empty vector. The transgenic hairy roots of L. erythrorhizon overexpressing LeMDR (MDRO) significantly enhanced shikonin production, whereas the RNA interference of LeMDR (MDRi) displayed a reverse trend. Moreover, the mRNA expression level of LeMDR was up-regulated by treatment with shikonin and shikonin-positive regulators, methyl jasmonate and indole-3-acetic acid. There might be a relationship of mutual regulation between the expression level of LeMDR and shikonin biosynthesis. Our findings demonstrated the important role of LeMDR in transmembrane transport and biosynthesis of shikonin.

COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF FLUORANTHENE TO FRESHWATER AND SALTWATER SPECIES UNDER FLUORESCENT AND ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

EPA Science Inventory

The acute and chronic toxicity of fluoranthene was determined for a diverse group of freshwater and saltwater species under both standard laboratory fluorescent light and ultraviolet (UV) light test conditions. Acute tests with 21 species demonstrated that fluoranthene was not le...

Prevalence of and referred pain from myofascial trigger points in the forearm muscles in patients with lateral epicondylalgia.

PubMed

Fernández-Carnero, Josué; Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, César; de la Llave-Rincón, Ana Isabel; Ge, Hong-You; Arendt-Nielsen, Lars

2007-05-01

Referred pain and pain characteristics evoked from the extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor digitorum communis, and brachioradialis muscles was investigated in 20 patients with lateral epicondylalgia (LE) and 20-matched controls. Both groups were examined for the presence of myofascial trigger points (TrPs) in a blinded fashion. The quality and location of the evoked referred pain, and the pressure pain threshold (PPT) at the lateral epicondyle on the right upper extremity (symptomatic side in patients, and dominant-side on controls) were recorded. Several lateral elbow pain parameters were also evaluated. Within the patient group, the elicited referred pain by manual exploration of 13 out of 20 (65%) extensor carpi radialis brevis muscles, 12/20 (70%) extensor carpi radialis longus muscles, 10/20 (50%) brachioradialis muscles, and 5/20 (25%) extensor digitorum communis muscles, shares similar pain patterns as their habitual lateral elbow and forearm pain. The mean number of muscles with TrPs for each patient was 2.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1,4] of which 2 (95% CI 1,3) were active, and 0.9 (95% CI 0,2) were latent TrPs. Control participants only had latent TrPs (mean: 0.4; 95% CI 0,2). TrP occurrence between the 2 groups was significantly different for active TrPs (P<0.001), but not for latent TrPs (P>0.05). The referred pain pattern was larger in patients than in controls, with pain referral to the lateral epicondyle (proximally) and to the dorso-lateral aspect of the forearm in the patients, and confined to the dorso-lateral aspect of the forearm in the controls. Patients with LE showed a significant (P<0.001) lower PPT (mean: 2.1 kg/cm; 95% CI 0.8, 4 kg/cm) as compared with controls (mean: 4.5 kg/cm; 95% CI 3, 7 kg/cm). Within the patient group, PPT at the lateral epicondyle was negatively correlated with both the total number of TrPs (rs=-0.63; P=0.003) and the number of active TrPs (rs=-0.5; P=0.02): the greater the number of active TrPs, the lower the PPT at the lateral epicondyle. Our results suggest that in patients with LE, the evoked referred pain and its sensory characteristics shared similar patterns as their habitual elbow and forearm pain, consistent with active TrPs. Lower PPT and larger referred pain patterns suggest that peripheral and central sensitization exists in LE.

Les bons conseils de la naissance à la maternelle

PubMed Central

Rourke, Leslie; Leduc, Denis; Constantin, Evelyn; Carsley, Sarah; Rourke, James; Li, Patricia

2013-01-01

Résumé Objectif Donner un aperçu de la version 2011 du Relevé postnatal Rourke (RPR), qui comporte aussi des nouveautés dans son site web et de nouvelles initiatives connexes et qui intègre les données des ouvrages scientifiques récents sur les soins de santé préventifs à l’intention des enfants de 0 à 5 ans. Qualité des données À l’instar des versions antérieures du RPR, la nouvelle édition présente des recommandations identifiées comme se fondant sur des preuves suffisantes, acceptables ou consensuelles, selon les classifications adoptées par le Groupe d’étude canadien sur les soins de santé préventifs en 2011. Message principal De nouveaux renseignements et des recommandations sont présentés concernant la surveillance de la croissance, la nutrition et la vaccination contre la varicelle, les pneumocoques, les méningocoques et le rotavirus. Il y a maintenant de bonnes données probantes en faveur de l’adaptation canadienne des courbes de croissance de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé, du dépistage universel des problèmes d’audition chez le nouveau-né et du recours à des stratégies de réduction de la douleur liée à la vaccination. On a mis à jour les conseils anticipatoires concernant la sécurité durant le sommeil, la supervision de la santé des enfants en foyer d’accueil, le trouble du spectre de l’alcoolisation fœtale, les facteurs de risque nécessitant le dépistage du plomb et de l’anémie, les soins dentaires et la santé buccale. Parmi les nouvelles rubriques dans le site web du RPR, on peut mentionner une section présentant des ressources pour les parents, des modifications à l’intention de populations particulières, comme les personnes vivant au Nunavut, une version du RPR qui met en évidence en un coup d’œil les modifications à la version de 2009 et une expansion de la fonction d’exploration du RPR accompagnée des hyperliens connexes menant aux renseignements pertinents. On peut aussi avoir accès au RPR sous forme d’une page par visite. Le Collège des médecins de famille du Canada et la Société canadienne de pédiatrie ont donné leur aval au RPR de 2011. Les versions nationale et ontarienne sont disponibles en français et en anglais. Conclusion Le RPR de 2011 est un outil pratique, mis à jour, fondé sur des données probantes de transposition du savoir concernant les soins de santé préventifs aux enfants de la naissance à l’âge de 5 ans. Il propose des ressources exhaustives dans le web à l’intention des professionnels de la santé, des étudiants, des résidents et des parents.

Does education modify motor compensation in Parkinson's disease?

PubMed

Sunwoo, Mun K; Hong, Jin Yong; Lee, Jae J; Lee, Phil H; Sohn, Young H

2016-03-15

In Alzheimer's disease, higher educational attainment is associated with fewer cognitive deficits despite similar pathological lesions. In animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD), enhanced levels of cognitive and physical stimulation can reduce motor deficits due to dopaminergic neuronal loss. Therefore, in this study, we tested whether higher educational attainment has a beneficial influence on PD motor symptoms. We included data from 182 patients with de novo PD without dementia, who underwent dopamine transporter (DAT) scans for an initial diagnostic work-up. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their educational attainment; high education (HE-PD; ≥12years of education) and low education (LE-PD; <12years of education). The HE-PD group exhibited significantly higher mini-mental state exam scores, fewer motor deficits, and lower DAT binding to the posterior putamen than the LE-PD group, despite a similar duration of PD symptoms. A general linear model revealed that this difference in motor deficits remained statistically significant after controlling for potential confounding factors (p=0.032). These results suggest that higher educational attainment can lead to reduced motor deficits in PD despite greater reductions in dopamine levels. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficacy, acceptability and cost effectiveness of four therapeutic agents for treatment of scabies.

PubMed

Abdel-Raheem, Talal A; Méabed, Eman M H; Nasef, Ghada A; Abdel Wahed, Wafaa Y; Rohaim, Rania M A

2016-10-01

The aim of this study is to evaluate four drug regimens for treatment of scabies as regard their efficacy, acceptability and cost effectiveness. Two hundred cases with ordinary scabies were randomized into four groups. First group received ivermectin 200 μg/kg body weight single oral dose, repeated after one week. The second received benzyl benzoate 20% cream. The third received permethrin 2.5%-5% lotion, whereas the fourth group received 5-10% sulfur ointment. Topical treatments were applied for five consecutive nights. Patients were followed up for two weeks for cure rate and adverse effects. At the end of the study, permethrin provided a significant efficacy of 88% and acceptability in 100% of cases, but had higher cost to treat one case (20.25 LE). Ivermectin provided efficacy and acceptability rates of 84% and 96%, respectively, and had a cheaper cost (9.5 LE). Benzyl benzoate provided 80% for both rates and was the cheapest drug. Sulfur ointment provided the least rates, and it was the most expensive. Treatment choice will depend on the age, the general condition of cases, patient compliance to topical treatment and his ability to stick to its roles, and the economic condition of the patient.

Comparative study between two different active flutter suppression systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nissim, E.

1978-01-01

An activated leading-edge (LE)-tailing-edge (TE) control system is applied to a drone aircraft with the objective of enabling the drone to fly subsonically at dynamic pressures which are 44% above the open-loop flutter dynamic pressure. The control synthesis approach is based on the aerodynamic energy concept and it incorporates recent developments in this area. A comparison is made between the performance of the activated LE-TE control system and the performance of a TE control system, analyzed in a previous work. The results obtained indicate that although all the control systems achieve the flutter suppression objectives, the TE control system appears to be somewhat superior to the LE-TE control system, in this specific application. This superiority is manifested through reduced values of control surface activity over a wide range of flight conditions.

Dandy-Walker syndrome with severe velopharyngeal dysfunction: a contraindication for Le Fort I surgery?

PubMed

Nelke, Kamil H; Pawlak, Wojciech; Gerber, Hanna

2015-01-01

Dandy-Walker syndrome is a rare congenital brain deformation. Most symptoms are related with fourth ventricle and skull base malformations. Quite often, symptoms develop from infancy or progress rapidly. Cerebellar dysfunction, lack of muscle coordination, and skull deformities involving eye movement might be present. There are several Dandy-Walker syndrome complex types. We present a 23-year-old patient who had a severe dentofacial deformity with mandibular prognathism and extremely undeveloped maxillary bone resulting in palatopharyngeal and velopharyngeal dysfunction with complete lack of soft palate function resulting in increased speech tone and volume. Performing Le Fort I osteotomy in this case is greatly controversial and might result in even greater loss of function or even its total lack. Velopharyngeal complex is very important, and every surgeon should consider its value while planning Le Fort I osteotomies.

The Potassium-Argon Laser Experiment (KArLE): In Situ Geochronology for Planetary Robotic Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, Barbara

2016-01-01

The Potassium (K) - Argon (Ar) Laser Experiment (KArLE) will make in situ noble-gas geochronology measurements aboard planetary robotic landers and roverss. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is used to measure the K abun-dance in a sample and to release its noble gases; the evolved Ar is measured by mass spectrometry (MS); and rela-tive K content is related to absolute Ar abundance by sample mass, determined by optical measurement of the ablated volume. KArLE measures a whole-rock K-Ar age to 10% or better for rocks 2 Ga or older, sufficient to resolve the absolute age of many planetary samples. The LIBS-MS approach is attractive because the analytical components have been flight proven, do not require further technical development, and provide complementary measurements as well as in situ geochronology.

Meeting the computer technology needs of community faculty: building new models for faculty development.

PubMed

Baldwin, Constance D; Niebuhr, Virginia N; Sullivan, Brian

2004-01-01

We aimed to identify the evolving computer technology needs and interests of community faculty in order to design an effective faculty development program focused on computer skills: the Teaching and Learning Through Educational Technology (TeLeTET) program. Repeated surveys were conducted between 1994 and 2002 to assess computer resources and needs in a pool of over 800 primary care physician-educators in community practice in East Texas. Based on the results, we developed and evaluated several models to teach community preceptors about computer technologies that are useful for education. Before 1998, only half of our community faculty identified a strong interest in developing their technology skills. As the revolution in telecommunications advanced, however, preceptors' needs and interests changed, and the use of this technology to support community-based teaching became feasible. In 1998 and 1999, resource surveys showed that many of our community teaching sites had computers and Internet access. By 2001, the desire for teletechnology skills development was strong in a nucleus of community faculty, although lack of infrastructure, time, and skills were identified barriers. The TeLeTET project developed several innovative models for technology workshops and conferences, supplemented by online resources, that were well attended and positively evaluated by 181 community faculty over a 3-year period. We have identified the evolving needs of community faculty through iterative needs assessments, developed a flexible faculty development curriculum, and used open-ended, formative evaluation techniques to keep the TeLeTET program responsive to a rapidly changing environment for community-based education in computer technology.

Le sevrage de l’allaitement

PubMed Central

Grueger, Barbara

2013-01-01

RÉSUMÉ L’allaitement exclusif assure une alimentation optimale aux nourrissons jusqu’à l’âge de six mois. Par la suite, les nourrissons ont besoin d’aliments complémentaires pour répondre à leurs besoins nutritionnels. C’est alors que le sevrage commence. Le sevrage désigne le processus graduel d’introduction d’aliments complémentaires au régime du nourrisson, tout en poursuivant l’allaitement. Il n’y a pas de moment universellement accepté ou scientifiquement démontré pour mettre un terme à l’allaitement. Le moment et le processus de sevrage doivent être adaptés par la mère et l’enfant. Le sevrage peut être soudain ou graduel, prendre plusieurs semaines ou plusieurs mois, être dirigé par l’enfant ou par la mère. Les médecins doivent orienter et soutenir les mères tout au long du processus de sevrage. Le présent document remplace le document de principes sur le sevrage qu’a publié la Société canadienne de pédiatrie en 2004.

Déprescrire les inhibiteurs de la pompe à protons

PubMed Central

Farrell, Barbara; Pottie, Kevin; Thompson, Wade; Boghossian, Taline; Pizzola, Lisa; Rashid, Farah Joy; Rojas-Fernandez, Carlos; Walsh, Kate; Welch, Vivian; Moayyedi, Paul

2017-01-01

Résumé Objectif Formuler des lignes directrices fondées sur les données probantes pour aider les cliniciens à décider du moment et de la façon sécuritaire de réduire la dose des inhibiteurs de la pompe à protons (IPP) ou d’en arrêter le traitement; se concentrer sur le niveau le plus élevé des données disponibles et obtenir les commentaires des professionnels de première ligne durant le processus de rédaction, de révision et d’adoption des lignes directrices. Méthodologie L’équipe était formée de 5 professionnels de la santé (1 médecin de famille, 3 pharmaciens et 1 gastro-entérologue) et de 5 membres sans droit de vote; les membres ont divulgué tout conflit d’intérêts. Le processus d’élaboration des lignes directrices a eu recours à l’approche GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation), de même qu’à un examen minutieux des données probantes dans le cadre de rencontres en personne, au téléphone et en ligne. Particulièrement, le processus d’élaboration des lignes directrices a inclus une revue systématique d’essais portant sur la déprescription des IPP et un examen de comptes rendus sur les torts liés à l’emploi continu des IPP. Les synthèses narratives sur les préférences des patients ainsi que les publications traitant des répercussions sur les ressources ont éclairé les recommandations. L’équipe a peaufiné le texte sur le contenu et les recommandations des lignes directrices par consensus, et a synthétisé les considérations cliniques afin de répondre aux questions courantes des cliniciens de première ligne. Une version préliminaire des lignes directrices a été distribuée aux cliniciens, puis aux associations de professionnels de la santé aux fins d’examen, et des révisions ont été apportées au texte à chaque étape. Un algorithme d’appui décisionnel a été conçu de concert avec les lignes directrices. Recommandations Les présentes lignes directrices recommandent de déprescrire les IPP (réduire la dose, mettre fin au traitement ou passer à l’administration « sur demande ») chez les adultes qui ont terminé un traitement d’au moins 4 semaines avec un IPP contre le pyrosis, l’œsophagite ou le reflux gastro-œsophagien léger à modéré, et dont les symptômes sont disparus. Les recommandations ne s’appliquent pas aux patients atteints ou qui ont déjà été atteints de l’œsophage de Barrett, d’une œsophagite grave de stade C ou D, ou d’antécédents connus d’ulcères gastro-intestinaux hémorragiques. Conclusion Les présentes lignes directrices émettent des recommandations pratiques pour décider du moment et de la façon de réduire la dose des inhibiteurs de la pompe à protons (IPP) ou d’en arrêter le traitement. Elles visent à contribuer au processus de décision conjointement avec le patient et non à dicter la décision.

Computer-aided classification of breast masses using contrast-enhanced digital mammograms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danala, Gopichandh; Aghaei, Faranak; Heidari, Morteza; Wu, Teresa; Patel, Bhavika; Zheng, Bin

2018-02-01

By taking advantages of both mammography and breast MRI, contrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) has emerged as a new promising imaging modality to improve efficacy of breast cancer screening and diagnosis. The primary objective of study is to develop and evaluate a new computer-aided detection and diagnosis (CAD) scheme of CEDM images to classify between malignant and benign breast masses. A CEDM dataset consisting of 111 patients (33 benign and 78 malignant) was retrospectively assembled. Each case includes two types of images namely, low-energy (LE) and dual-energy subtracted (DES) images. First, CAD scheme applied a hybrid segmentation method to automatically segment masses depicting on LE and DES images separately. Optimal segmentation results from DES images were also mapped to LE images and vice versa. Next, a set of 109 quantitative image features related to mass shape and density heterogeneity was initially computed. Last, four multilayer perceptron-based machine learning classifiers integrated with correlationbased feature subset evaluator and leave-one-case-out cross-validation method was built to classify mass regions depicting on LE and DES images, respectively. Initially, when CAD scheme was applied to original segmentation of DES and LE images, the areas under ROC curves were 0.7585+/-0.0526 and 0.7534+/-0.0470, respectively. After optimal segmentation mapping from DES to LE images, AUC value of CAD scheme significantly increased to 0.8477+/-0.0376 (p<0.01). Since DES images eliminate overlapping effect of dense breast tissue on lesions, segmentation accuracy was significantly improved as compared to regular mammograms, the study demonstrated that computer-aided classification of breast masses using CEDM images yielded higher performance.

Breast cancer prevention strategies in lobular carcinoma in situ: A decision analysis.

PubMed

Wong, Stephanie M; Stout, Natasha K; Punglia, Rinaa S; Prakash, Ipshita; Sagara, Yasuaki; Golshan, Mehra

2017-07-15

Women diagnosed with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) have a 3-fold to 10-fold increased risk of developing invasive breast cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the life expectancy (LE) and differences in survival offered by active surveillance, risk-reducing chemoprevention, and bilateral prophylactic mastectomy among women with LCIS. A Markov simulation model was constructed to determine average LE and quality-adjusted LE (QALE) gains for hypothetical cohorts of women diagnosed with LCIS at various ages under alternative risk-reduction strategies. Probabilities for invasive breast cancer, breast cancer-specific mortality, other-cause mortality and the effectiveness of preventive strategies were derived from published studies and from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Assuming a breast cancer incidence from 1.02% to 1.37% per year under active surveillance, a woman aged 50 years diagnosed with LCIS would have a total LE of 32.78 years and would gain 0.13 years (1.6 months) in LE by adding chemoprevention and 0.25 years (3.0 months) in LE by adding bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. After quality adjustment, chemoprevention resulted in the greatest QALE for women ages 40 to 60 years at LCIS diagnosis, whereas surveillance remained the preferred strategy for optimizing QALE among women diagnosed at age 65 years and older. In this model, among women with a diagnosis of LCIS, breast cancer prevention strategies only modestly affected overall survival, whereas chemoprevention was modeled as the preferred management strategy for optimizing invasive disease-free survival while prolonging QALE form women younger than 65 years. Cancer 2017;123:2609-17. © 2017 American Cancer Society. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Progesterone Receptor-Mediated Regulation of N-Acetylneuraminate Pyruvate Lyase (NPL) in Mouse Uterine Luminal Epithelium and Nonessential Role of NPL in Uterine Function

PubMed Central

Xiao, Shuo; Li, Rong; Diao, Honglu; Zhao, Fei; Ye, Xiaoqin

2013-01-01

N-acetylneuraminate pyruvate lyase (NPL) catalyzes N-acetylneuraminic acid, the predominant sialic acid. Microarray analysis of the periimplantation mouse uterine luminal epithelium (LE) revealed Npl being the most downregulated (35×) gene in the LE upon embryo implantation. In natural pregnant mouse uterus, Npl expression increased 56× from gestation day 0.5 (D0.5) to D2.5. In ovariectomized mouse uterus, Npl was significantly upregulated by progesterone (P4) but downregulated by 17β-estradiol (E2). Progesterone receptor (PR) antagonist RU486 blocked the upregulation of Npl in both preimplantation uterus and P4-treated ovariectomized uterus. Npl was specifically localized in the preimplantation D2.5 and D3.5 uterine LE. Since LE is essential for establishing uterine receptivity, it was hypothesized that NPL might play a critical role in uterine function, especially during embryo implantation. This hypothesis was tested in the Npl (−/−) mice. No significant differences were observed in the numbers of implantation sites on D4.5, gestation periods, litter sizes, and postnatal offspring growth between wild type (WT) and Npl (−/−) females from mating with WT males. Npl (−/−)xNpl (−/−) crosses produced comparable little sizes as that from WTxWT crosses. Comparable mRNA expression levels of several genes involved in sialic acid metabolism were observed in D3.5 uterus and uterine LE between WT and Npl (−/−), indicating no compensatory upregulation in the D3.5 Npl (−/−) uterus and LE. This study demonstrates PR-mediated dynamic expression of Npl in the periimplantation uterus and dispensable role of Npl in uterine function and embryo development. PMID:23741500

The impact of preparation parameters on typical attributes of chitosan-heparin nanohydrogels: particle size, loading efficiency, and drug release.

PubMed

Shahbazi, Mohammad-Ali; Hamidi, Mehrdad

2013-11-01

Today, developing an optimized nanoparticle (NP) preparation procedure is of paramount importance in all nanoparticulate drug delivery researches, leading to expanding more operative and clinically validated nanomedicines. In this study, a one-at-a-time experimental approach was used for evaluating the effect of various preparation factors on size, loading, and drug release of hydrogel NPs prepared with ionotropic gelation between heparin and chitosan. The size, loading efficiency (LE) and drug release profile of the NPs were evaluated when the chitosan molecular weight, chitosan concentration, heparin addition time to chitosan solution, heparin concentration, pH value of chitosan solution, temperature, and mixing rate were changed separately while other factors were in optimum condition. The results displayed that size and LE are highly influenced by chitosan concentration, getting an optimum of 63 ± 0.57 and 75.19 ± 2.65, respectively, when chitosan concentration was 0.75 mg/ml. Besides, heparin addition time of 3 min leaded to 74.1 ± 0.79 % LE with no sensible effect on size and release profile. In addition, pH 5.5 showed a minimum size of 63 ± 1.87, maximum LE of 73.81 ± 3.13 and the slowest drug release with 63.71 ± 3.84 % during one week. Although LE was not affected by temperature, size and release reduced to 63 ± 0 and 74.21 ± 1.99% when temperature increased from 25°C to 55°C. Also, continuous increase of mixer rate from 500 to 3500 rpm resulted in constant enhancement of LE from 58.3 ± 3.6 to 74.4 ± 2.59 as well as remarkable decrease in size from 148 ± 4.88 to 63 ± 2.64.

The Association between Peace and Life Expectancy: An Empirical Study of the World Countries.

PubMed

Yazdi Feyzabadi, Vahid; Haghdoost, Aliakbar; Mehrolhassani, Mohammad Hossein; Aminian, Zahra

2015-03-01

Although theoretically peace affects health, few published evidence for such an association was empirically available. This study aimed to explore the association between peace and life expectancy (LE) among the world countries. In an ecological study and using random effects regression model, we examined the association between peace and LE among world countries between 2007 and 2012. The LE at birth and global peace index (GPI: a score between 1 and 5, higher score means lower peace) were selected as outcome and main predictor variables, respectively. We adjusted their association for the gross national income (GNI) per capita and education index (EI). Data were obtained from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Numbers of included countries were 158 based on the available data. GPI had a negative, considerable, and statistically significant effect on LE (standardized coefficient -0.039; 95% CI: -0.058, -0.019). This association was also significant even after the adjustment for EI (-0.019; 95% CI: -0.035, -0.003), GNI (-0.035; 95% CI: -0.055, -0.015), and both EI and GNI (-0.017; 95% CI: -0.033, -0.001). The full model showed that around 0.61 of the variation of LE among countries may be explained by the GPI, EI and GNI per capita. The contribution of peace as a global determinant of LE was empirically considerable even after the adjustment for the economic and education levels of countries. This implies that governments should make efforts to settle peace through implementing good governance based on interactions with both public and other countries.

Modèle tridimensionnel pour coupler les équations magnétiques et électriques dans le cas de la magnétostatique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piriou, F.; Razek, A.

1991-03-01

In this paper a 3D model for coupling of magnetic and electric equations is presented. The magnetic equations are solved with the help of finite element method using the magnetic vector potential formulation. To take into account the effects of magnetic saturation we use the Newton-Raphson algorithm. We develop the analysis permitting the coupling of magnetic and electric equations to obtain a difrerential system equations which can be solved with numerical integration. As example we model an iron core coil and the validity of our model is verified by a comparison of the obtained results with an analytical solution and a 2D code calculation. Dans cet article est présenté un modèle 3D qui permet de coupler les équations magnétiques et électriques. Les équations magnétiques sont résolues à l'aide de la méthode des éléments finis en utilisant une formulation en potentiel vecteur magnétique. Dans le modèle proposé les effets de la saturation du circuit magnétique sont pris en compte en utilisant l'algorithme de Newton-Raphson. On montre comment relier les équations magnétiques avec celles du circuit électrique pour aboutir à un système d'équations différentielles que l'on résout avec une intégration numérique. A titre d'exemple on modélise une bobine à noyau ferromagnétique et pour montrer la validité du modèle on compare les résultats obtenus avec une solution analytique et un code de calcul 2D.

Differences in estimating terrestrial water flux from three satellite-based Priestley-Taylor algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Yunjun; Liang, Shunlin; Yu, Jian; Zhao, Shaohua; Lin, Yi; Jia, Kun; Zhang, Xiaotong; Cheng, Jie; Xie, Xianhong; Sun, Liang; Wang, Xuanyu; Zhang, Lilin

2017-04-01

Accurate estimates of terrestrial latent heat of evaporation (LE) for different biomes are essential to assess energy, water and carbon cycles. Different satellite- based Priestley-Taylor (PT) algorithms have been developed to estimate LE in different biomes. However, there are still large uncertainties in LE estimates for different PT algorithms. In this study, we evaluated differences in estimating terrestrial water flux in different biomes from three satellite-based PT algorithms using ground-observed data from eight eddy covariance (EC) flux towers of China. The results reveal that large differences in daily LE estimates exist based on EC measurements using three PT algorithms among eight ecosystem types. At the forest (CBS) site, all algorithms demonstrate high performance with low root mean square error (RMSE) (less than 16 W/m2) and high squared correlation coefficient (R2) (more than 0.9). At the village (HHV) site, the ATI-PT algorithm has the lowest RMSE (13.9 W/m2), with bias of 2.7 W/m2 and R2 of 0.66. At the irrigated crop (HHM) site, almost all models algorithms underestimate LE, indicating these algorithms may not capture wet soil evaporation by parameterization of the soil moisture. In contrast, the SM-PT algorithm shows high values of R2 (comparable to those of ATI-PT and VPD-PT) at most other (grass, wetland, desert and Gobi) biomes. There are no obvious differences in seasonal LE estimation using MODIS NDVI and LAI at most sites. However, all meteorological or satellite-based water-related parameters used in the PT algorithm have uncertainties for optimizing water constraints. This analysis highlights the need to improve PT algorithms with regard to water constraints.

The Association between Peace and Life Expectancy: An Empirical Study of the World Countries

PubMed Central

YAZDI FEYZABADI, Vahid; HAGHDOOST, Aliakbar; MEHROLHASSANI, Mohammad Hossein; AMINIAN, Zahra

2015-01-01

Background: Although theoretically peace affects health, few published evidence for such an association was empirically available. This study aimed to explore the association between peace and life expectancy (LE) among the world countries. Methods: In an ecological study and using random effects regression model, we examined the association between peace and LE among world countries between 2007 and 2012. The LE at birth and global peace index (GPI: a score between 1 and 5, higher score means lower peace) were selected as outcome and main predictor variables, respectively. We adjusted their association for the gross national income (GNI) per capita and education index (EI). Data were obtained from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Numbers of included countries were 158 based on the available data. Results: GPI had a negative, considerable, and statistically significant effect on LE (standardized coefficient −0.039; 95% CI: −0.058, −0.019). This association was also significant even after the adjustment for EI (−0.019; 95% CI: −0.035, −0.003), GNI (−0.035; 95% CI: −0.055, −0.015), and both EI and GNI (−0.017; 95% CI: −0.033, −0.001). The full model showed that around 0.61 of the variation of LE among countries may be explained by the GPI, EI and GNI per capita. Conclusion: The contribution of peace as a global determinant of LE was empirically considerable even after the adjustment for the economic and education levels of countries. This implies that governments should make efforts to settle peace through implementing good governance based on interactions with both public and other countries. PMID:25905077

Etude du processus de changement vecu par des familles ayant decide d'adopter volontairement des comportements d'attenuation des changements climatiques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leger, Michel T.

Les activites humaines energivores telles l'utilisation intensive de l'automobile, la surconsommation de biens et l'usage excessif d'electricite contribuent aux changements climatiques et autres problemes environnementaux. Bien que plusieurs recherches rapportent que l'etre humain est de plus en plus conscient de ses impacts sur le climat de la planete, ces memes recherches indiquent qu'en general, les gens continuent a se comporter de facon non ecologique. Que ce soit a l'ecole ou dans la communaute, plusieurs chercheurs en education relative a l'environnement estiment qu'une personne bien intentionnee est capable d'adopter des comportements plus respectueux de l'environnement. Le but de cette these etait de comprendre le processus d'integration de comportements d'attenuation des changements climatiques dans des familles. A cette fin, nous nous sommes fixe deux objectifs : 1) decrire les competences et les procedes qui favorisent l'adoption de comportements d'attenuation des changements climatiques dans des familles et 2) decrire les facteurs et les dynamiques familiales qui facilitent et limitent l'adoption de comportements d'attenuation des changements climatiques dans des familles. Des familles ont ete invitees a essayer des comportements personnels et collectifs d'attenuation des changements climatiques de sorte a integrer des modes de vie plus ecologiques. Sur une periode de huit mois, nous avons suivi leur experience de changement afin de mieux comprendre comment se produit le processus de changement dans des familles qui decident volontairement d'adopter des comportements d'attenuation des changements climatiques. Apres leur avoir fourni quelques connaissances de base sur les changements climatiques, nous avons observe le vecu de changement des familles durant huit mois d'essais a l'aide de journaux reflexifs, d'entretiens d'explicitation et du journal du chercheur. La these comporte trois articles scientifiques. Dans le premier article, nous presentons une recension des ecrits sur le changement de comportement en environnement. Nous explorons egalement la famille comme systeme fonctionnel de sorte a mieux comprendre ce contexte d'action environnementale qui est, a notre connaissance, peu etudie. Dans le deuxieme article, nous presentons nos resultats de recherche concernant les facteurs d'influence observes ainsi que les competences manifestees au cours du processus d'adoption de nouveaux comportements environnementaux dans trois familles. Enfin, le troisieme article presente les resultats du cas d'une quatrieme famille ou les membres vivent depuis longtemps des modes de vie ecologique. Dans le cadre d'une demarche d'analyse par theorisation ancree, l'etude de ce cas modele nous a permis d'approfondir les categories conceptuelles identifiees dans le deuxieme article de sorte a produire une modelisation de l'integration de comportements environnementaux dans le contexte de la famille. Les conclusions degagees grace a la recension des ecrits nous ont permis d'identifier les elements qui pourraient influencer l'adoption de comportements environnementaux dans des familles. La recension a aussi permis une meilleure comprehension des divers facteurs qui peuvent affecter l'adoption de comportements environnementaux et, enfin, elle a permis de mieux cerner le phenomene de changement de comportement dans le contexte de la famille consideree comme un systeme. En appliquant un processus d'analyse inductif, a partir de nos donnees qualitatives, les resultats de notre etude multi-cas nous ont indique que deux construits conceptuels semblent influencer l'adoption de comportements environnementaux en famille : 1) les valeurs biospheriques communes au sein de la famille et 2) les competences collectivement mises a profit collectivement durant l'essai de nouveaux comportements environnementaux. Notre modelisation du processus de changement dans des familles indique aussi qu'une dynamique familiale collaborative et la presence d'un groupe de soutien exterieur sont deux elements conceptuels qui tendent a influencer les deux principaux construits et, par ce fait, tendent a augmenter les chances d'integrer de nouveaux comportements environnementaux dans des familles. En conclusion, nous presentons les limites de notre recherche ainsi que des pistes pour des recherches futures. Notamment, nous recommandons que l'ecole accueille les familles des eleves dans le cadre d'activites d'education a l'environnement ou les freres, les soeurs et les parents des eleves puissent apprendre ensemble, a l'ecole. Par exemple, nous recommandons la conduite en ERE d'une recherche action portant sur l'apprentissage intergenerationnel de nouveaux comportements dans le contexte de la famille. Mots-cles : education relative a l'environnement, comportement environnemental en famille, changement de comportement en famille, valeurs biospheriques, competences d'action.

Na(+) and Ca(2+) effect on the hydration and orientation of the phosphate group of DPPC at air-water and air-hydrated silica interfaces.

PubMed

Casillas-Ituarte, Nadia N; Chen, Xiangke; Castada, Hardy; Allen, Heather C

2010-07-29

Hydration and orientation of the phosphate group of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) monolayers in the liquid-expanded (LE) phase and the liquid-condensed (LC) phase in the presence of sodium ions and calcium ions was investigated with vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy at the air-aqueous interface in conjunction with surface pressure measurements. In the LE phase, both sodium and calcium affect the phosphate group hydration. In the LC phase, however, sodium ions affect the phosphate hydration subtly, while calcium ions cause a marked dehydration. Silica-supported DPPC monolayers prepared by the Langmuir-Blodgett method reveal similar hydration behavior relative to that observed in the corresponding aqueous subphase for the case of water and in the presence of sodium ions. However, in the presence of calcium ions the phosphate group dehydration is greater than that from the corresponding purely aqueous CaCl(2) subphase. The average tilt angles from the surface normal of the PO(2)(-) group of DPPC monolayers on the water surface and on the silica substrate calculated from SFG data are found to be 59 degrees +/- 3 degrees and 72 degrees +/- 5 degrees , respectively. Orientation of the phosphate group is additionally affected by the presence of ions. These findings show that extrapolation of results obtained from model membranes from liquid surfaces to solid supports may not be warranted since there are differences in headgroup organization on the two subphases.

Effect of various intermediate ceramic layers on the interfacial stability of zirconia core and veneering ceramics.

PubMed

Yoon, Hyung-In; Yeo, In-Sung; Yi, Yang-Jin; Kim, Sung-Hun; Lee, Jai-Bong; Han, Jung-Suk

2015-01-01

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effects of intermediate ceramics on the adhesion between the zirconia core and veneer ceramics. The polished surfaces of fully sintered Y-TZP blocks received three different treatments: (1) connector (C), (2) liner (L) or (3) wash layer (W). All the treated zirconia blocks were veneered with either (a) fluorapatite glass-ceramic (E) or (b) feldspathic porcelain (V) and divided into four groups (CE, CV, LE and WV). For the control group, the testing surfaces of metal blocks were veneered with feldspathic porcelain (VM). A half of the samples in each group (n = 21) were exposed to thermocycling, while the other half of the specimens were stored at room temperature under dry conditions. All specimens were subjected to the shear test and the failed surfaces were microscopically examined. The elemental distribution at the zirconia core/veneer interface was analyzed. The specimens in Groups CE and CV exhibited significantly greater mean bond strength values than those in Groups LE and WV, respectively (p < 0.05). However, the mean bond strengths significantly decreased in the connector groups (CE and CV) after thermal cycling (p < 0.05). The elemental analysis suggested diffusion of ceramic substances into the zirconia surface. A glass-ceramic based connector is significantly more favorable to core/veneer adhesion than the other intermediate ceramics evaluated in the study. However, thermal cycling affected the bond strength at the core/veneer interface differently according to the intermediate ceramics.

Comparing progress toward the millennium development goal for under-five mortality in León and Cuatro Santos, Nicaragua, 1990–2008

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Social inequality in child survival hampers the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG4). Monitoring under-five mortality in different social strata may contribute to public health policies that strive to reduce social inequalities. This population-based study examines the trends, causes, and social inequality of mortality before the age of five years in rural and urban areas in Nicaragua. Methods The study was conducted in one rural (Cuatro Santos) and one urban/rural area (León) based on data from Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems. We analyzed live births from 1990 to 2005 in the urban/rural area and from 1990 to 2008 in the rural area. The annual average rate reduction (AARR) and social under-five mortality inequality were calculated using the education level of the mother as a proxy for socio-economic position. Causes of child death were based on systematic interviews (verbal autopsy). Results Under-five mortality in all areas is declining at a rate sufficient to achieve MDG4 by 2015. Urban León showed greater reduction (AARR = 8.5%) in mortality and inequality than rural León (AARR = 4.5%) or Cuatro Santos (AARR = 5.4%). Social inequality in mortality had increased in rural León and no improvement in survival was observed among mothers who had not completed primary school. However, the poor and remote rural area Cuatro Santos was on track to reach MDG4 with equitable child survival. Most of the deaths in both areas were due to neonatal conditions and infectious diseases. Conclusions All rural and urban areas in Nicaragua included in this study were on track to reach MDG4, but social stratification in child survival showed different patterns; unfavorable patterns with increasing inequity in the peri-urban rural zone and a more equitable development in the urban as well as the poor and remote rural area. An equitable progress in child survival may also be accelerated in very poor settings. PMID:24428933

La Vie Politique sous la Restauration a Travers ’Le Rouge et le Noir’ de Stendahl (The Political Life during the Restauration as Depicted in Le Rouge et le Noir by Stendahl)

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-01-01

de la classe dirigeante est le clerg6. M. le vicaire de Frilair est le bras droit de l ’&veque dle Besangon et...sympathique effort de recherche ;la documentation contribue bien A 6clairer lanalyse. INTERPRETATION: L 𔄀tude des aspects de la vie politique sous la...References Ouvrages consultes AXccesion For NTIS CRA&I DTIC TA9 El Unanno ’-,’ 1 : By 442.-. - L -- A, _ojes Aof -d/or * A- Dans l’L*tude des

How Radiation Oncologists Evaluate and Incorporate Life Expectancy Estimates Into the Treatment of Palliative Cancer Patients: A Survey-Based Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tseng, Yolanda D., E-mail: ydtseng@partners.org; Krishnan, Monica S.; Sullivan, Adam J.

2013-11-01

Purpose: We surveyed how radiation oncologists think about and incorporate a palliative cancer patient’s life expectancy (LE) into their treatment recommendations. Methods and Materials: A 41-item survey was e-mailed to 113 radiation oncology attending physicians and residents at radiation oncology centers within the Boston area. Physicians estimated how frequently they assessed the LE of their palliative cancer patients and rated the importance of 18 factors in formulating LE estimates. For 3 common palliative case scenarios, physicians estimated LE and reported whether they had an LE threshold below which they would modify their treatment recommendation. LE estimates were considered accurate whenmore » within the 95% confidence interval of median survival estimates from an established prognostic model. Results: Among 92 respondents (81%), the majority were male (62%), from an academic practice (75%), and an attending physician (70%). Physicians reported assessing LE in 91% of their evaluations and most frequently rated performance status (92%), overall metastatic burden (90%), presence of central nervous system metastases (75%), and primary cancer site (73%) as “very important” in assessing LE. Across the 3 cases, most (88%-97%) had LE thresholds that would alter treatment recommendations. Overall, physicians’ LE estimates were 22% accurate with 67% over the range predicted by the prognostic model. Conclusions: Physicians often incorporate LE estimates into palliative cancer care and identify important prognostic factors. Most have LE thresholds that guide their treatment recommendations. However, physicians overestimated patient survival times in most cases. Future studies focused on improving LE assessment are needed.« less

Physical and Moral Courage: An Essential Personal Attribute of a Successful Theater Strategic Commander

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-31

Emerson. Mission With LeMay. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1965: 13-14. 37 Feltus , Pamela. "Great Warrior Leaders/Thinkers: LeMay, Curtis E." Air...77 Feltus , "Great Warrior Leaders/Thinkers: LeMay, Curtis E." Air University Library. 78 Anders, Fighting Airmen, 247. 79 Ibid. 80 LeMay, Mission...With LeMay, 231. 81 Feltus , "Great Warrior Leaders/Thinkers: LeMay, Curtis E." Air University Library. 82 Anders, Fighting Airmen, 253. 83 Johnson

Frequency Assignment, Sharing and Conservation in Systems (Aerospace). (l’Attribution, le partage et la conservation des frequences pour les systemes aeronautiques et spatiales)

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-01-01

que pour les installations et le personnel mis ä sa disposition. T- l Technical Evaluation Report of the RTO...radiocommunications sur le radar, on peut mettre en oeuvre des techniques de Formation de Faisceau par le Calcul qui permettent d’augmenter encore le niveau...plus 6loign6s pouvant fonctionner sur les mSmes canaux de frequence que le radar sans g£ne mutuelle1. equipements de radiocommunication

Le(x) glycan mediates homotypic adhesion of embryonal cells independently from E-cadherin: a preliminary note.

PubMed

Handa, Kazuko; Takatani-Nakase, Tomoka; Larue, Lionel; Stemmler, Marc P; Kemler, Rolf; Hakomori, Sen-itiroh

2007-06-22

Le(x) glycan and E-cadherin (Ecad) are co-expressed at embryonal stem (ES) cells and embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells. While the structure and function of Ecad mediating homotypic adhesion of these cells have been well established, evidence that Le(x) glycan also mediates such adhesion is weak, despite the fact that Le(x) oligosaccharide inhibits the compaction process. To provide stronger evidence, we knocked out Ecad gene in EC and ES cells to establish F9 Ecad (-/-) and D3M Ecad (-/-) cells, which highly express Le(x) glycan but do not express Ecad at all. Both F9 Ecad (-/-) and D3M Ecad (-/-) cells displayed strong autoaggregation in the presence of Ca(2+), while PYS-2 cells, which express trace amount of Ecad and undetectable level of Le(x) glycan, did not display autoaggregation. In addition, F9 Ecad (-/-) and D3M Ecad (-/-) cells displayed strong adhesion to plates coated with Le(x) glycosphingolipid (III(3)FucnLc4Cer), in dose-dependent manner, in the presence of Ca(2+). Thus, ES or EC cells display autoaggregation and strong adhesion to Le(x)-coated plates in the absence of Ecad, further supporting the notion of Le(x) self-recognition (i.e., Le(x)-to-Le(x) interaction) in cell adhesion.

Tomato linalool synthase is induced in trichomes by jasmonic acid

PubMed Central

van Schie, Chris C. N.; Haring, Michel A.

2007-01-01

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants emit a blend of volatile organic compounds, which mainly consists of terpenes. Upon herbivory or wounding, the emission of several terpenes increases. We have identified and characterized the first two tomato monoterpene synthases, LeMTS1 and LeMTS2. Although these proteins were highly homologous, recombinant LeMTS1 protein produced (R)-linalool from geranyl diphosphate (GPP) and (E)-nerolidol from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP), while recombinant LeMTS2 produced β-phellandrene, β-myrcene, and sabinene from GPP. In addition, these genes were expressed in different tissues: LeMTS1 was expressed in flowers, young leaves, stems, and petioles, while LeMTS2 was strongest expressed in stems and roots. LeMTS1 expression in leaves was induced by spider mite-infestation, wounding and jasmonic acid (JA)-treatment, while LeMTS2 did not respond to these stimuli. The expression of LeMTS1 in stems and petioles was predominantly detected in trichomes and could be induced by JA. Because JA treatment strongly induced emission of linalool and overexpression of LeMTS1 in tomato resulted in increased production of linalool, we propose that LeMTS1 is a genuine linalool synthase. Our results underline the importance of trichomes in JA-induced terpene emission in tomato. PMID:17440821

EC 92: Implications for United States Trade Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-04-09

38. 8. Veronique Maurus, "Le Maroc : le Nouveau Dragon aux Portes d’Europe," Le Monde (Paris), 03 November 1989, p. 9. 9. Carl Hamilton...Marx, Bernard. "What 1992 Has in Store for Europe." World Marxist Review, Vol. 32, January 1989, pp. 78-82. 33. Maurus, Veronique. "Le Maroc : le Nouveau

Personnel

ScienceCinema

None

2017-12-09

Le président du conseil M.Doran explique la décision que le conseil du Cern vient de prendre sur la 4.étape du régime complémentaire des pensions. Le président du comité des finances le Dr.Andersen ainsi que le Prof.Connor(?) prennent aussi la parole

Le Septieme Art: An Introduction to Foreign Films for Sixth-Formers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beaton, Richard

1977-01-01

A foreign film course covering two days is described. A variety of films were available for students' choice, and all involved a particular theme. Films for French, German, and Spanish courses are listed. A schedule for individual, group and whole course work and discussion is presented. (CHK)

Liberation and Franco-American Relations in Post-War Cherbourg

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-13

minister of war, François Michel le Tellier Louvois, countermanded his sovereign’s orders and suspended the defense plans, demolished the castle and...American Twelfth Army Group was the responsibility of the Communications Zone, or COMZ, commanded by Major General John Clifford Hodges Lee (see figure

On Comparing Precision Orbit Solutions of Geodetic Satellites Given Several Atmospheric Density Models

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-08-01

Astrodynamics, drag, atmospheric density, geodesy 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT UU 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 12 19a...Translation of ’Le satellite de geodesie ’Starlette’,’ Groupe de Recherches de Geodesie Spatiale, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, Bretigny-sur-Orge