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['To determine bone mass using quantitative phalangeal bone ultrasound in young coeliac patients after a long-term gluten-free diet.', 'A total of 99 patients with coeliac disease (CD) (52 girls, mean age 15.5 +/- 9.7 years; 47 boys, mean age 14.4 +/- 8.4 years) and 44 healthy subjects matched for age, weight and height (26 girls, mean age 18.4 +/- 9.9 years; 18 boys, mean age 16.3 +/- 11.2 years) were included in the study.', 'Bone status was assessed using an ultrasound device that measures amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS) in metres per second. Measurements were made on the phalanges (II-V) of the non-dominant hand, and an average value was computed. Nutrient intake was assessed using a 7-day record.', 'Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the unpaired t-test showed that the intake of phosphates (P < 0.05), proteins, fat and carbohydrates (P < 0.005 in all) was higher in patients than in controls. No significant difference in Ad-SoS was found between patients and controls (95% CI -10.9 to 60.6) in the overall group, in girls or boys, or in patients following a gluten-free diet strictly or partially. In the patients, only age (beta 4.01, 95% CI 1.84-6.16, P < 0.0005) and weight (beta 2.62, 95% CI 1.53-3.70, P < 0.0001) showed a significant positive relation with Ad-SoS.'] Is quantitative phalangeal bone ultrasound normal after long-term gluten-free diet in young coeliac patients?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.0623246431350708,
-1.6167259216308594,
1.7348723411560059
] |
["Diagnosis of allergy to wasp venom and decision to perform immunotherapy are based on the patient's history, along with skin and in vitro tests.", 'Given the high prevalence of specific IgE also in non-allergic individuals, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of Western blots as a possible alternative to serum analyses of venom-specific IgE.', "Skin prick and/or intracutaneous tests were performed in 30 patients with allergy to wasp venom (generalized reaction following sting) along with serum analysis of venom-specific IgE (AlaSTAT microplate) and Western blots. Western blots were subsequently scanned and evaluated qualitatively and semiquantitatively by means of densitometry. Bands were scored 'positive' in cases of signal intensities beyond the mean plus 3 standard deviations of control sera. Twenty newborns (age 2-7 days) and 30 adults without systemic or increased local reactions to hymenoptera stings served as controls.", 'Western blot sensitivity reached 100% in the samples studied and was thus superior to the sensitivities of serum analysis of venom-specific IgE using AlaSTAT microplate assay (90%) and skin tests (87%). The sensitivity of detection of a phospholipase A1 and antigen 5-specific band was higher compared with a hyaluronidase-specific band (97%, 97% and 86%, respectively). Twenty-four out of twenty-nine (83%) patients exhibited specific IgE antibodies against at least three distinct allergens. With regard to the specificities, skin tests as well as AlaSTAT microplate assays were comparable (90% and 93%, respectively), whereas the specificity of the Western blots was 70% if the appearance of any single band was regarded as a positive result. However, when analysing the appearance of a specific band for antigen 5 or hyaluronidase the specificity and overall diagnostic value increased markedly, making it the most efficient test (specificity 97% and 100%, efficiency 96.8% and 93.2%, respectively).'] Is the Western blot a highly sensitive and efficient technique in diagnosing allergy to wasp venom?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.9245268106460571,
-1.437755823135376,
2.4070510864257812
] |
['To determine the survival time of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in amitraz-based cattle dip fluid derived from an active dip site in northern New South Wales.', 'Following inoculation of triplicate 5 L containers with faeces (0.5 g/L) from a clinical case of bovine paratuberculosis, samples collected up to 8 weeks after inoculation were examined by conventional and radiometric culture. M a paratuberculosis colonies were enumerated on solid media.'] Do survival of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in amitraz cattle dip fluid?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.5707452297210693,
-1.0444308519363403,
2.7661659717559814
] |
['Multivariate analyses has shown that the status of lymph node metastasis and the depth of tumor penetration through the gastric wall are the most important prognostic factors in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma after curative operation. A clinicopathological study was carried out to clarify a simple and optimal prognostic indicator for early gastric cancer.', 'Retrospective analyses of 982 patients with early gastric cancer (562 with mucosal [M] and 420 with submucosal [SM] tumor) treated by gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection were performed.', 'The incidence of lymph node metastasis from M and SM tumors was 2.5% (14/562) and 20.2% (85/420), respectively. There were no apparent prognostic indicators in patients with M tumors. In patients with SM tumors, the cancer-specific 5-year survival of those with lymph node metastasis was significantly lower than that of those without such metastasis (77.6% vs 98.2%; P < 0.001). An sharp decrease in survival was seen between patients with two positive nodes and those with three positive nodes, and the cancer-specific 5-year survival rate of patients with three or more metastatic lymph nodes was significantly lower than that of those with one or two nodes (P < 0.001; univariate analysis). Multivariate analysis revealed that the involvement of three or more lymph nodes was the sole independent prognostic determinant (P = 0.016); the level of nodal metastasis was not an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.384). All patients with N2 lymph node echelons (according to the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer classification of the draining lymph nodes of the stomach) in the group with one or two positive nodes survived for more than 5 years.'] Does involvement of three or more lymph nodes predict poor prognosis in submucosal gastric carcinoma?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.8333543539047241,
-1.5540711879730225,
2.42317533493042
] |
['To assess whether prednisone (PDN) produces anxiety and/or cerebral glial changes in rats.', 'Male Wistar rats were studied and 3 groups were formed (8 rats per group). The moderate-dose group received 5 mg/kg/day PDN released from a subcutaneous implant. In the high-dose group, implants containing PDN equivalent to 60 mg/kg/day were applied. In the control group implants contained no PDN. Anxiety was assessed using an open field and elevated plus-maze devices. The number of cells and cytoplasmic transformation of astrocytes and microglia cells were assessed by immunohistochemical analyses.', 'Anxiety was documented in both groups of PDN treated rats compared with controls. The magnitude of transformation of the microglia assessed by the number of intersections was significantly higher in the PDN groups than in controls in the prefrontal cortex (moderate-dose, 24.1; high-dose, 23.6; controls 18.7; p < 0.01) and striatum (moderate-dose 25.6; high-dose 26.3; controls 18.9; p < 0.01), but not in hippocampus. The number of stained microglia cells was significantly higher in the PDN treated groups in the prefrontal cortex than in controls (moderate-dose, 29.1; high-dose, 28.4; control, 17.7 cells per field; p < 0.01). Stained microglia cells were significantly more numerous striatum and hippocampus in the high-dose group compared to controls.'] Does prednisone induce anxiety and glial cerebral changes in rats?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.496280550956726,
-1.546699047088623,
2.0296921730041504
] |
['To explore the mechanisms responsible for in situ induction of chondrocyte death in experimental dog osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage. The roles of 2 mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), MEK 1/2 and p38, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and the caspase cascade were investigated.', 'OA knee cartilage was obtained from dogs that had received sectioning of the anterior cruciate ligament and were sacrificed 12 weeks after surgery. Cartilage explants were cultured in different inhibitors: Z-DEVD-FMK (caspase 3 inhibitor), Z-LEHD-FMK (caspase 9 inhibitor), PD 98059 (MEK 1/2 inhibitor). SB 202190 (p38 inhibitor), SN-50 (NF-kappaB inhibitor), NS-398 (COX-2 inhibitor), N-iminoethyl-l-lysine (L-NIL) (iNOS inhibitor). Cartilage specimens were stained for TUNEL reaction and immunostained using specific antibodies for caspase 3, COX-2, iNOS, and nitrotyrosine. Morphometric analyses were performed.', 'The significant level of chondrocyte death in OA cartilage was markedly decreased by caspase 3 and caspase 9 inhibitors. The two MAPK inhibitors, but not the NF-kappaB inhibitor, decreased chondrocyte death concomitant with the levels of caspase 3 and iNOS. COX-2 level was reduced by all 3 inhibitors. Specific inhibition of either COX-2 or iNOS reduced the level of chondrocyte death and caspase 3. There was evidence of crosstalk between these 2 latter systems; specific inhibition of COX-2 reduced the iNOS level, and selective inhibition of iNOS reduced COX-2 expression. COX-2 and iNOS seem to function in a positive autoregulatory manner that triggers transcription of their own biosynthetic machinery, since the specific inhibition of each system downregulates its expression.'] Is chondrocyte death in experimental osteoarthritis mediated by MEK 1/2 and p38 pathways : role of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.4204328060150146,
-1.3493353128433228,
2.782416343688965
] |
['Ciliary ultrastructural defects with total lack of dynein arms (DA) cause abnormal mucociliary function leading to the chronic infections observed in primary ciliary dyskinesia. The role of partial ciliary ultrastructural defects, especially those involving the central complex, and their relationship with respiratory symptoms have been less thoroughly investigated.', 'In a pediatric population with partial ciliary defects, we determined the relationship(s) between ultrastructural findings, ciliary motility, and clinical and functional features, and evaluated the outcome of this population.', 'We analyzed the clinical presentation and pulmonary function of 43 children with chronic bronchitis and partial ultrastructural defects (from 15% to 90%) of their respiratory cilia demonstrated on bronchial biopsies. The study population was divided into 3 groups according to ciliary ultrastructure: the main ultrastructural defect concerned the central complex in 23 patients (CC group), peripheral microtubules in 8 patients (PMT group), and DA in 12 patients (DA group).', 'The percentage of ciliary defects was lower in the PMT group than in the CC and DA groups. Patients in the PMT group had less severe disease with frequent normal ciliary motility. Patients in the CC group had initially a higher incidence of respiratory tract infections, extensive bronchiectasis frequently requiring surgery, and arguments in favor of a congenital origin (high proportion of sibling form). Partial absence of DA, although of congenital origin, was associated with a good prognosis. In all groups, follow-up showed that the functional prognosis remained good with appropriate treatment.'] Is abnormal central complex a marker of severity in the presence of partial ciliary defect?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.3035123348236084,
-1.1662721633911133,
2.5585670471191406
] |
['Cohort and case-crossover studies were conducted to evaluate whether new Helicobacter pylori infections are followed by increased diarrhea.', 'Participants were 6-month-old to 12-year-old shantytown residents living near Lima, Peru. Baseline data were collected from community households. Health interviews were completed daily, and sera, drawn every 4 months, were tested for H pylori immunoglobulin G. Diarrhea rates among newly H pylori-infected (seroconverting) children were compared with rates among persistently uninfected and infected children using cohort and case-crossover analyses.', 'Sera were obtained from 345 children from January 1, 1995, through September 1, 1997. H pylori incidence was 12% per year (36 H pylori infections in 109 866 seronegative days). In adjusted cohort analyses, seroconverters had more diarrhea days (rate ratio: 2.0; 95% confidence interval: 1.6-2.4), episodes, and sick days in the year after infection than did uninfected children; and more diarrhea days and sick days than did persistently infected children. This effect was strongest in the first 2 months. Case-crossover analyses supported these findings.'] Is acute Helicobacter pylori infection followed by an increase in diarrheal disease among Peruvian children?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.321149230003357,
-0.8735920190811157,
1.205905556678772
] |
['A lumbar radiculopathy model investigated pain behavioral responses after nerve root reinjury.', 'To gain a further understanding of central sensitization and neuroinflammation associated with chronic lumbar radiculopathy after repeated nerve root injury.', 'The pathophysiologic mechanisms associated with chronic radicular pain remain obscure. It has been hypothesized that lumbar root injury produces neuroimmunologic and neurochemical changes, sensitizing the spinal cord and causing pain responses to manifest with greater intensity and longer duration after reinjury. However, this remains untested experimentally.', 'Male Holtzman rats were divided into two groups: a sham group having only nerve root exposure, and a chromic group in which the nerve root was ligated loosely with chromic gut suture. Animals underwent a second procedure at 42 days. The chromic group was further divided into a reinjury group and a chromic-sham group, in which the lumbar roots were only re-exposed. Bilateral mechanical allodynia was continuously assessed throughout the study. Qualitative assessment of spinal cord glial activation and IL-beta expression was performed.', 'Mechanical allodynia was significantly greater on both the ipsilateral and contralateral sides after reinjury (P < 0.001), and the response did not return to baseline after reinjury, as it did with the initial injury. There were also persistent spinal astrocytic and microglial activation and interleukin-1beta expression.'] Does repeated injury to the lumbar nerve roots produce enhanced mechanical allodynia and persistent spinal neuroinflammation?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.4966018199920654,
-1.2898893356323242,
2.8497092723846436
] |
['A comparative study of cervical range of motion in asymptomatic persons and those with whiplash.', 'To compare the primary and conjunct ranges of motion of the cervical spine in asymptomatic persons and those with persistent whiplash-associated disorders, and to investigate the ability of these measures of range of motion to discriminate between the groups.', 'Evidence that range of motion is an effective indicator of physical impairment in the cervical spine is not conclusive. Few studies have evaluated the ability to discriminate between asymptomatic persons and those with whiplash on the basis of range of motion or compared three-dimensional in vivo measures of range of motion in asymptomatic persons and those with whiplash-associated disorders.', 'The study participants were 89 asymptomatic volunteers (41 men, 48 women; mean age 39.2 years) and 114 patients with persistent whiplash-associated disorders (22 men, 93 women; mean age 37.2 years) referred to a whiplash research unit for assessment of their cervical region. Range of cervical motion was measured in three dimensions with a computerized, electromagnetic, motion-tracking device. The movements assessed were flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion, and left and right rotation.', 'Range of motion was reduced in all primary movements in patients with persistent whiplash-associated disorder. Sagittal plane movements were proportionally the most affected. On the basis of primary and conjunct range of motion, age, and gender, 90.3% of study participants could be correctly categorized as asymptomatic or as having whiplash (sensitivity 86.2%, specificity 95.3%).'] Does cervical range of motion discriminate between asymptomatic persons and those with whiplash?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.6689141988754272,
-0.9053794741630554,
1.629528522491455
] |
['Previous studies indicated that elevated tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels may play a role in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The A(-308) and A(-238) variants of the promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene are reportedly associated with altered TNF-alpha production. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of these gene polymorphisms on the development and course of NEC in very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants. Dried blood samples from 46 VLBW neonates with NEC were analysed using the method of restriction fragment length polymorphism. Samples from 90 VLBW neonates without NEC were used as controls. The prevalence of alleles with guanine-adenine transition in the -308 and -238 positions was the same in NEC and control subjects (12% vs 10% and 3% vs 4%, respectively).'] Do genetic variants of the tumour necrosis factor-alpha promoter gene influence the development of necrotizing enterocolitis?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.29361629486084,
-1.1556202173233032,
2.487636089324951
] |
['The significance of abdominal visceral fat accumulation was evaluated in Japanese men with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).', 'The IGT subjects (n = 123) were aged 55 +/- 9 years with a BMI of 24 +/- 3 kg/m(2). The 148 control subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were matched for age and BMI. IGT and NGT were classified according to the 1985 World Health Organization criteria. Abdominal fat distribution was analyzed by computed tomography at umbilical level. Plasma lipid, glucose, and insulin concentrations and blood pressure (BP) were measured.', 'In subjects with IGT, the average visceral fat area (VFA) was significantly greater than in subjects with NGT. Fasting insulin, the sum of insulin concentrations during an oral glucose tolerance test, insulin resistance according to a homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), systolic BP, and serum triglyceride were significantly higher, whereas the DeltaI(30-0)/DeltaG(30-0) was significantly lower, in subjects with IGT. Subjects with IGT and NGT were then divided into three subgroups according to the number of risk factors they possessed (dyslipidemia, hypertension, neither, or both). In both IGT and NGT subjects, BMI, VFA, subcutaneous fat area, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and insulin secretion of the homeostasis model assessment were significantly higher in the double-risk factor subgroup than in the no-risk factor subgroup, and VFA was a potent and independent variable in association with the presence of a double risk factor.'] Is visceral fat a major contributor for multiple risk factor clustering in Japanese men with impaired glucose tolerance?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.8454419374465942,
-1.422738790512085,
2.2341630458831787
] |
['The purpose of this article is to evaluate whether the presence of perineural invasion (PNI) in the biopsy specimen is predictive of 5-year biochemical disease-free outcome after prostate brachytherapy.', 'Four hundred twenty-five patients underwent transperineal ultrasound-guided prostate brachytherapy using either 103Pd or 125I for clinical T1b/T3a NXMO (1997 American Joint Committee on Cancer) adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland from April 1995 to October 1999. No patient was lost to follow-up, and no patient underwent pathological lymph node staging. Two hundred twenty-one patients were implanted with 103Pd, and 204 patients were implanted with 125I. Of this cohort, 190 patients were implanted without supplemental beam radiation, and 235 received moderate-dose external-beam radiation therapy followed by a prostate brachytherapy boost. One hundred sixty-three patients received hormonal manipulation in conjunction with the brachytherapy implant (86 of these patients received moderate-dose external-beam radiation therapy before brachytherapy), and 262 patients were hormone naïve. Perineural invasion, defined as carcinoma tracking along or around a nerve within the perineural space, was identified in 105 patients (24.7% of the population). The median patient age was 68 years (range, 48-81 years). The mean follow-up was 37.1 +/- 15.2 months, and the median follow-up was 35.4 months (range, 6-74 months). Follow-up was calculated from the date of implantation. Biochemical disease-free survival was defined by the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (ASTRO) consensus definition.', 'When Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed, the presence of PNI did not predict failure. When PNI was entered into a Cox regression analysis with evaluated clinical predictors of failure (age, clinical T stage, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level, and Gleason score) or treatment parameters (use of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy, supplemental external-beam radiation therapy, and choice of isotope), PNI did not add to the predictive strength of these variables. The median disease-free prostate-specific antigen level was 0.1 ng/mL for the entire cohort.'] Is perineural invasion predictive of biochemical outcome following prostate brachytherapy?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.0874297618865967,
-1.5369287729263306,
2.660212516784668
] |
['Elevated plasma levels of total homocysteine (tHcy) before and after an oral methionine load (PML) are associated with an elevated risk of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). We investigated whether plasma levels of B vitamins that are involved in Hcy metabolism are associated with an elevated risk of DVT.', 'We compared 397 cases with previous DVT with 585 matched healthy controls. The plasma levels of folate, vitamin B(12), vitamin B(6,), and fasting and PML tHcy were measured. The ORs for DVT associated with high (>95th percentile) fasting levels and PML increases of tHcy were 2.1 (95% CI, 1.2 to 3.4) and 2.4 (95% CI, 1.5 to 3.9) after adjustment for established risk factors for DVT. Fasting plasma levels and PML increases in tHcy correlated negatively with vitamin levels. The crude OR for folate levels in the lowest quartile compared with the highest was 1.5 (95% CI, 1.1 to 2.1), and that for B(6) levels in the lowest and second quartiles compared with the highest was 1.5 (95% CI, 1.0 to 2.1). However, after adjustment for established risk factors and fasting and PML tHcy, the ORs for B(6) levels in the lowest and second quartiles only remained statistically significant (lowest quartile: OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.8; second quartile, OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.9).'] Are low plasma levels of vitamin B ( 6 ) independently associated with a heightened risk of deep-vein thrombosis?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-0.8671170473098755,
-1.7300665378570557,
1.5597949028015137
] |
['The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of cyclooxygenase (COX) deficiency on baseline functional characteristics and on recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) after 20 minutes of global ischemia and 40 minutes of reperfusion in untreated and preconditioned hearts.', 'Compared with hearts from wild-type (WT) and COX-2(-/-) mice, baseline cardiac prostaglandin (PG) E(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) levels were significantly decreased in hearts from COX-1(-/-) mice. After ischemia, cardiac PGE(2) levels increased in WT, COX-1(-/-), and COX-2(-/-) mice (P<0.05). Recovery of function (LVDP) after global ischemia in hearts from COX-1(-/-) and COX-2(-/-) mice was significantly less than in WT hearts. Pretreatment of WT mice with indomethacin for 2 days before ischemia significantly decreased LVDP recovery; however, perfusion of WT hearts with indomethacin for 40 minutes before ischemia did not significantly alter LVDP recovery. Postischemic recovery of LVDP in COX-1(-/-) and COX-2(-/-) was unchanged by perfusion with 5 micromol/L PGE(2), PGD(2), PGF(2alpha), or carboprostacyclin. Hearts from COX-2(-/-) mice showed an increase in ischemic contracture compared with hearts from WT and COX-1(-/-) mice; however, hearts did not differ in intracellular pH, ATP, or inorganic phosphate during ischemia. Ischemic preconditioning significantly improved postischemic LVDP recovery in COX-1(-/-), COX-2(-/-), and WT mice.'] Do cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 knockout mice demonstrate increased cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury but are protected by acute preconditioning?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.181401491165161,
-1.4261925220489502,
2.58048939704895
] |
['Long-term biological effects of ionizing radiation on coronary arteries remain poorly defined. We examined late arterial responses 6 months after balloon angioplasty and beta-radiation in normal pig coronary arteries.', 'Coronary arteries of 25 adult pigs were randomized to receive 20 Gy (n=8) or 30 Gy (n=9) of (186)Re beta-radiation or sham radiation (n=8) immediately after balloon angioplasty. Aspirin was given daily during follow-up. The study vessels were analyzed histopathologically at 6 months. beta-Radiation decreased lumen area (20 Gy, 1.55+/-0.99 mm(2); 30 Gy, 1.03+/-0.82 mm(2); and 0 Gy, 2.05+/-0.80 mm(2); P<0.05) but not overall vessel area. The neointimal area was significantly larger within the injured segment with beta-radiation (20 Gy, 1.92+/-1.23 mm(2); 30 Gy, 1.51+/-0.97 mm(2); and 0 Gy, 0.89+/-0.31 mm(2); 0 Gy versus 20 Gy, P<0.05), and a significant increase of edge stenosis was observed with beta-radiation. Irradiated vessels also had larger thrombus areas within the neointima (30 Gy, 0.24+/-0.61 mm(2); 20 Gy, 0.98+/-1.57 mm2; and 0 Gy, 0.00+/-0.01 mm(2); P<0.05) and larger adventitial areas (20 Gy, 2.25+/-0.75 mm(2); 30 Gy, 2.38+/-0.98 mm(2); and 0 Gy, 1.23+/-0.29 mm(2); 0 Gy versus 20 or 30 Gy, P<0.05) that showed substantial collagen accumulation.'] Does intracoronary beta-radiation exacerbate long-term neointima formation in balloon-injured pig coronary arteries?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.7401334047317505,
-1.6296736001968384,
2.315673828125
] |
['Pathologic changes in the motor cortex and corticospinal tracts in ALS may be reflected by abnormal signal intensities on conventional MRI. The sensitivity of these changes in detecting underlying pathology remains unclear.', 'The authors used automated image analysis to quantify volumes of cerebral gray and white matter in 16 patients with ALS (eight limb onset, eight bulbar onset) and eight normal controls. Previously they had demonstrated a reduction in N-acetyl aspartate/creatine + phosphocreatine (NAA/[Cr + PCr]) measured by (1)H-MRS in the subcortical white matter in the motor cortex region in the patients with bulbar-onset ALS. To determine whether this resulted from axonal degeneration, they also compared gray and white matter volumes in the patients with limb- and bulbar-onset ALS.', 'There were no differences in the total brain volumes of gray or white matter for the three subject groups (p > 0.23). Comparison of the total ALS group and controls revealed localized deficits in gray matter volume centered on Brodmann areas 8, 9, and 10 bilaterally. Comparison of the patients with limb- and bulbar-onset ALS revealed deficits in the white matter volume in the bulbar-onset group, extending bilaterally from the precentral gyrus into the internal capsule and brainstem, consistent with the course of the corticospinal tract. There was no loss in gray matter volume in the precentral gyri.'] Does volumetric analysis reveal corticospinal tract degeneration and extramotor involvement in ALS?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.2451837062835693,
-1.1875128746032715,
2.453458309173584
] |
['To determine whether there are common symptoms within different phenotypes of the mitochondrial DNA A3243G mutation.', 'A series of 52 adults with mitochondrial encephalomyopathies and their symptomatic relatives were screened for the A3243G mutation using restriction enzyme analysis. In addition to clinical examination, patients with the mutation underwent audiometry.', 'The A3243G mutation was identified in 16 patients (10 index patients and 6 symptomatic relatives). Six of these patients presented with strokelike episodes and met the classical criteria of MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes), and one had MELAS/MERRF (myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers) overlap syndrome. Two patients presented with strokelike episodes but did not meet the classical criteria of MELAS. Predominant features of the 8 other patients were myopathy with hearing loss and diabetes mellitus (n = 1), chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (n = 1), diabetes mellitus with hearing loss (n = 1), painful muscle stiffness with hearing loss (n = 1), cardiomyopathy (n = 1), diabetes mellitus (n = 1), and hearing loss (n = 2). In 11 of 16 patients, hearing impairment was obvious on clinical examination. Furthermore, all 5 patients with normal hearing on clinical examination showed subclinical hearing loss; in 4, hearing loss was more pronounced than age-related hearing impairment and in 1, hearing loss can be age related as well.'] Is hearing impairment common in various phenotypes of the mitochondrial DNA A3243G mutation?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.851962924003601,
-1.391843557357788,
2.2284836769104004
] |
['To investigate whether CD40L/CD154 on platelets and soluble CD40L/CD154 may play a role in the inflammatory process of acute coronary syndromes.', 'Observational study in a university hospital.', '15 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 25 patients with unstable angina, 15 patients with stable angina, and 12 controls.', 'CD40L/CD154 on platelets, P-selectin/CD62P on platelets, soluble CD40L/CD154 serum concentrations.', 'Mean (SD) CD40L/CD154 expression on platelets was 6.2 (2.8) MFI (mean fluorescence intensity) in the infarct group, 11 (3.3) MFI in the unstable angina group (p < 0.001 v infarction), 3.6 (0.9) MFI in the stable angina group (p < 0.01 v infarction; p < 0.001 v unstable angina), and 3.2 (1.0) MFI in the controls (p < 0.01 v infarction; p < 0.001 v unstable angina; NS v stable angina). Soluble CD40L/CD154 concentration was 5.2 (1.1) ng/ml in the infarct group, 4.2 (0.7) ng/ml in the unstable angina group (p < 0.001 v infarction), 2.9 (1.0) ng/ml in stable angina group (p < 0.001 v infarction and unstable angina), and 3.0 (0.5) ng/ml in the controls (p < 0.001 v infarction and unstable angina; NS v stable angina). At a six months follow up, there was lower expression of CD40L/CD154 on platelets in patients with unstable angina (12.3 (3.6) v 3.8 (1.2) MFI, p < 0.0001) and acute myocardial infarction (6.2 (2.8) v 3.5 (0.8) MFI, p < 0.01) compared with their admission values six months earlier. Patients with unstable angina who needed redo coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or who had recurrence of angina were characterised by increased CD40L/CD154 expression on platelets compared with the remainder of the study group (recurrence of angina: 12.7 (3.2) v 9.7 (1.6) MFI, p < 0.05; re-do PTCA: 14.3 (4.2) v 10.3 (2.1) MFI, p < 0.05).'] Do patients with acute coronary syndromes express enhanced CD40 ligand/CD154 on platelets?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.2274657487869263,
-1.7165184020996094,
1.8907512426376343
] |
['Early use of inhaled steroids is recommended for bronchial asthma. The side effects are rare, but oral discomfort and candidiasis are clinically important complications. Most previous studies reported that the use of spacer and water gargling was necessary to prevent oral complications. However, in some patients, this may fail to prevent such complications.', 'To compare the effects of water gargling with those of amphotericin B, in the prevention of oral complications in asthmatics using inhaled steroids.', 'Pharyngeal swab samples were obtained aseptically from the posterior pharyngeal wall of 128 asthmatics who have been using inhaled steroids (beclomethasone dipropionate) for more than 1 year. The amount of Candida albicans in cultured swabs was evaluated based on the following criteria: oral symptoms, method of gargling, dose of inhaled steroids, type of spacer and serum cortisol level.', 'The number of isolated C. albicans was significantly higher in asthmatics with oral symptoms than in those free of symptoms. It was also significantly higher in patients who gargled with water or 1,000 times dilution than in those who gargled with 100 or 50 times dilutions of amphotericin B. Moreover, it was significantly higher in patients with low levels of serum cortisol than in those with normal serum cortisol.'] Does effects of amphotericin B gargle on oral colonization of Candida albicans in asthmatic patients on steroid inhalation therapy?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.2883071899414062,
-1.049077033996582,
2.3715310096740723
] |
['To determine the effects of serologic status for Neospora caninum on short-term weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency (feed intake/gain).', 'Longitudinal observational study.', '34 weaned mixed-breed beef steers.', 'Serologic status for N. caninum was determined for each steer on days 0 (weaning), 88, 116, 144, 172, and 200, using an agglutination test. Individual steer body weight was measured on days 0, 88, 116, 144, 172, 200, and 242 (slaughter). Daily feed intake was monitored from days 116 through 242. Serologic status was matched to animal performance for the period immediately following serum sample collection. A mixed mode, using repeated-measures with an unstructured covariance matrix, was used in the analysis. Breed, age, and pen effects were controlled for in the analysis.', 'A reduction in average daily gain for the period following a positive serologic result was detected for the entire trial (6 measurements/steer). This may have been attributed to a significant impairment in feed efficiency rather than to an impairment in feed intake. Changes in serologic status in individual steers over time were common; additionally, the effects of serologic status on steer performance were also transitory.'] Does association of serologic status for Neospora caninum and postweaning feed efficiency in beef steer?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.393653631210327,
-0.8880534768104553,
2.4210262298583984
] |
['The incidence of postoperative hypertension (HTN) after eversion carotid endarterectomy (e-CEA) was compared with that after standard carotid endarterectomy (s-CEA).', 'In a retrospective analysis from January 1998 to January 2000, 217 patients underwent 219 CEAs for symptomatic (68) or asymptomatic (151) high-grade (>80%) carotid artery stenosis by either standard (137) or eversion (82) techniques. The eversion technique involves an oblique transection of the internal carotid artery at the carotid bulb and a subsequent endarterectomy by everting the internal carotid artery over the atheromatous plaque. All procedures were done under general anesthesia, and somatosensory-evoked potentials were used for cerebral monitoring. Patients with s-CEA were compared with those with e-CEA for postoperative hemodynamic instability, carotid sinus nerve block, requirement for intravenous vasodilators or vasopressors, stroke, and death.', 'Patients who underwent e-CEA had a significantly (P <.005) increased postoperative blood pressure and required more frequent intravenous antihypertensive medication (24%), compared with patients having an s-CEA (6%). Furthermore, postoperative vasopressors were required after 10% of s-CEAs, but after none of the e-CEAs. No statistically significant difference was noted in the morbidity or mortality of patients after s-CEA and e-CEA.'] Does eversion technique increase the risk for post-carotid endarterectomy hypertension?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.1724746227264404,
-1.440986156463623,
2.629474639892578
] |
['Body heat loss during anaesthesia may result in increased morbidity, particularly in high-risk populations such as children. To avoid hypothermia, a novel thermoregulatory system (Allon) was devised. We tested the safety and efficacy of this system in maintaining normothermia in children undergoing routine surgical procedures.', 'The system consists of a computerized body, which receives continuous afferent data, i.e. core (rectal) temperature. These data are then compared with a preset temperature (37 degrees C) and a microprocessor heating/cooling unit warms/cools the temperature of circulating water in a garment that is specially designed to allow maximal coverage of body surface area, without impingement on the surgical field. Water temperature to the garment was limited to a maximum of 39.5 degrees C. Continuous perioperative monitoring of skin and rectal temperature, heart rate and blood pressure was performed. Postoperative shivering and adverse effects were also assessed.', 'The Allon system was used in 38 patients aged 3 months to 14 years undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia lasting more than 30 min. Fifty to 80% body surface area was covered by the garment. Mean operative and postoperative core temperatures were 36.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C and 36.7 +/- 0.5 degrees C, respectively. Intraoperative skin temperatures were maintained at 34.4 +/- 2.7 degrees C. The average core- to-periphery intraoperative gradient was 2.9 +/- 4.9 degrees C. Postoperative shivering was absent in 36 cases and mild in two cases. No device-related adverse effects were observed.'] Does a novel thermoregulatory system maintain perioperative normothermia in children undergoing elective surgery?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.171581268310547,
-1.241459608078003,
2.4263815879821777
] |
['To establish whether the effect of fractionating radiation modifies the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on epidermal melanocytes, we compared the clinical and histological effects of single high dose radiation against repeated intermediate to low dose radiation on epidermal melanocytes.', 'Three minimal erythema UV doses (MED) were administered to three sites on the buttocks of healthy volunteers. One site was irradiated with 0.5 MED UV every day for 6 consecutive days, another site was irradiated with 1 MED UV every second day, and a third site received a single dose of radiation with 3 MED UV. The treatment was replicated on the other buttock. For the evaluation of UV-induced erythema and pigmentation, erythema and melanin indices were measured at 2 and 14 days post-irradiation. For purposes of histological evaluation, tissue specimens taken from each irradiated site at 2 and 14 days post-irradiation and were stained with monoclonal antibodies against Mel-5, HMB-45 and tyrosinase. Fontana-Masson silver staining, DOPA staining and split DOPA reactions were also performed.', 'At 14 days post-irradiation, UV radiation induced melanocyte activation, proliferation and melanogenesis in proportion to the radiation dose administered to each fraction. The most prominent responses were observed after single high doses of radiation.'] Is single dose radiation more effective for the UV-induced activation and proliferation of melanocytes than fractionated dose radiation?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.2252657413482666,
-1.4274531602859497,
2.6428723335266113
] |
['The precise role of hematopoietic cytokine/cytokine receptor interactions in lineage-restricted hematopoietic differentiation giving rise to mature blood cells of diverse function is incompletely defined. To study lineage-specific effects of cytokines during terminal hematopoietic differentiation, we examined the ability of erythropoietin (Epo) to mediate terminal granulocytic differentiation and induction of myeloid gene expression in committed myeloid cells, engineered to ectopically express Epo receptor (EpoR).', 'A cell culture model for granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-mediated granulocytic differentiation was used. EpoR was introduced by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into multipotential, hematopoietic murine cell line EML, from which GM-CSF-responsive, promyelocytic EPRO cells were generated. In EPRO cells ectopically expressing EpoR, we examined the ability of Epo to mediate granulocytic differentiation and determined whether Epo-mediated neutrophil differentiation is associated with a pattern of myeloid gene expression comparable to that induced by GM-CSF.', 'Studies of EpoR function in myeloid EPRO cells revealed that Epo/EpoR interaction can mediate terminal granulocytic differentiation of committed myeloid cells. In EPRO cells expressing EpoR, Epo-mediated neutrophil differentiation was associated with surface CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1) expression and induction of mRNA expression of specific myeloid genes including lactoferrin, gelatinase and C/EBPepsilon, in a manner similar to GM-CSF-mediated differentiation.'] Does erythropoietin mediate terminal granulocytic differentiation of committed myeloid cells with ectopic erythropoietin receptor expression?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.4685654640197754,
-1.2199913263320923,
2.7765536308288574
] |
['We sought to evaluate the ability of psychiatric anxiety-disorder history to discriminate between women with and without angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) in a population with chest pain.', 'A total of 435 women with chest pain underwent a diagnostic battery including coronary angiography in order to improve testing guidelines for women with suspected CAD.', 'Women referred for coronary angiography completed questionnaires assessing prior treatment history for anxiety disorder and current anxiety-related symptoms. Analyses controlled for standard CAD risk factors.', 'Forty-four women (10%) reported receiving prior treatment for an anxiety disorder. This group acknowledged significantly higher levels of autonomic symptoms (e.g., headaches, muscle tension [F = 25.0, p < 0.0011 and higher behavioral avoidance scores (e.g., avoidance of open places or traveling alone by bus [F = 4.2, p < 0.05]) at baseline testing compared with women without prior anxiety problems. Women with an anxiety-disorder history did not differ from those without such a history with respect to the presence of inducible ischemia or use of nitroglycerin, although they were younger and more likely to describe both "tight" and "sharp" chest pain symptoms and to experience back pain and episodes of nocturnal chest pain. Logistic regression results indicated that the positive-anxiety-history group was more likely to be free of underlying significant angiographic CAD (odds ratio = 2.74, 95% confidence interval 1.15 to 6.5, p = 0.03).'] Is history of anxiety disorders associated with a decreased likelihood of angiographic coronary artery disease in women with chest pain : the WISE study?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.219609498977661,
-1.009335994720459,
2.380295991897583
] |
['Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of the Protein L B1 domain (Ppl) suggest a folding pathway in which, during the folding transition, the first beta hairpin is formed while the second beta hairpin and the alpha helix are largely unstructured. The same mutations in the two beta turns have opposite effects on the folding and unfolding rates. Three of the four residues composing the second beta turn in Ppl have consecutive positive phi angles, indicating strain in the second beta turn.', 'We have determined the crystal structures of the beta turn mutants G55A, K54G, and G15A, as well as a core mutant, V49A, in order to investigate how backbone strain affects the overall structure of Ppl. Perturbation of the hydrophobic interactions at the closed interface by the V49A mutation triggered the domain swapping of the C-terminal beta strand that relieved the strain in the second beta turn. Interestingly, the asymmetric unit of V49A contains two monomers and one domain-swapped dimer. The G55A mutation escalated the strain in the second beta turn, and this increased strain shifted the equilibrium toward the domain-swapped dimer. The K54G structure revealed that the increased stability is due to the reduction of strain in the second beta turn, while the G15A structure showed that increased strain alone is insufficient to trigger domain swapping.'] Do single-site mutations induce 3D domain swapping in the B1 domain of protein L from Peptostreptococcus magnus?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.4951679706573486,
-0.5463434457778931,
2.0737924575805664
] |
['Many methods have been tested for the detection of bacterial contamination in platelets. However, only those using molecular biology or cell culturing consistently detect contamination at levels below 10(5) bacteria per mL. This report describes the initial investigation into an alternative method that offers the possibilities of high sensitivity and rapid response while using available laboratory equipment and supplies. This method relies on a fluorescent nucleic acid stain, which preferentially stains bacteria but not platelets, and automated epifluorescence microscopy for rapid analysis. Measurements in WBC-reduced platelet concentrates (PCs) contaminated with bacteria are reported at concentrations between 10(3) and 10(6) bacteria per mL.', 'Staphylococcus epidermidis or Escherichia coli was inoculated into aliquots of WBC-reduced PCs on Days 2 through 5 of storage. Bacterially inoculated and control PCs were stained, platelets and residual WBCs were lysed, and 200 microL of sample was filtered onto black polycarbonate filters. All preparations were done in triplicate. An automated epifluorescence microscope examined approximately 2 percent of the area of each filter and used image analysis to select the fluorescent particles that should be counted as bacteria.', 'Samples containing 3 to 5 x 10(3) bacteria per mL produced about three times as many fluorescent particles classified as bacteria as the controls. Lower concentrations of S. epidermidis were detected because of higher fluorescence intensity. Simultaneous preparation of six samples requires about 35 minutes. Analysis of each prepared sample takes 10 minutes, for a total preparation and analysis time of about 95 minutes for 6 samples.'] Does first results using automated epifluorescence microscopy to detect Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis in WBC-reduced platelet concentrate?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-0.7552212476730347,
-1.3664653301239014,
1.2990715503692627
] |
['Haemangiomas are the commonest tumours of infancy. They can become even more serious if followed by consumption coagulopathy and even life-threatening in cases of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, with thrombocytopenia and haemorrhage. Data exist concerning systemic coagulation abnormalities in children with haemangiomas but to our knowledge there are no data on local consumption coagulopathy in haemangioma per se. We examined blood coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters in blood withdrawn from haemangioma blood vessels and blood withdrawn from the systemic vein in 14 children with cutaneous haemangiomas (3M, 11F; age range 3 mo to 10y). Compared with controls, significant decreases in fibrinogen levels, FVII activity, antithrombin and plasmin inhibitor levels and increases in international normalized ratio (INR) and D-dimer levels were observed in the blood samples withdrawn directly from haemangioma blood vessels. Fibrinogen and antithrombin levels in samples withdrawn from systemic veins were reduced in relation to control values whilst INR values increased, but within normal ranges. D-dimer levels were increased in peripheral blood. The fibrinogen level was significantly lower and the INR and D-dimer levels were significantly higher in blood samples from haemangiomas compared to systemic blood. Clinical signs of systemic disseminated intravascular coagulation were not observed.'] Does activation of the coagulation system occur within rather than outside cutaneous haemangiomas?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.496873140335083,
-1.128431797027588,
2.6825246810913086
] |
['In vitro maturation of mammalian oocytes is an area of great interest due to its potential application in the treatment of infertility. The morphological and physiological changes that occur during oocyte development are poorly understood, and further studies are needed investigating the physiological changes associated with oocyte maturation. In this study we evaluated the membrane potential and the sodium/potassium permeability ratio of oocytes acutely isolated, and cumulus-oocyte complexes in metaphase II and preantral follicle stages.', 'Intracellular electrical recordings revealed that cumulus-enclosed oocytes have a membrane potential significantly more negative at the preantral follicle stage than at metaphase II stage (-38.4 versus -19.7 mV, p < 0.0005). The membrane potential of the cumulus-free oocytes was not different between the preantral and metaphase II stages. The membrane potential of the cumulus cells forming preantral stage follicles was shown to be significantly different from that of the oocyte within the follicle (-28.6 versus -38.4 mV, p < 0.05). The sodium/potassium permeability measured in cumulus-enclosed oocytes at the preantral stage equaled a mean value of 0.33. The ratio was significantly lower when measured in oocytes denuded of cumulus cells or cumulus-enclosed metaphase II oocytes, 0.76, 0.79, 0.77 respectively (p < 0.001).'] Do hamster oocyte membrane potential and ion permeability vary with preantral cumulus cell attachment and developmental stage?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.934390664100647,
-1.3869118690490723,
2.396190881729126
] |
['We previously found that, compared with healthy subjects. asymptomatic hepatitis-B virus (HBV) carriers displaying slow acetylator phenotype demonstrate a significant prolongation of the elimination half-life of 4-methylaminoantipyrine (MAA) and a decrease in the clearance of formation of 4-aminoantipyrine (AA) and 4-formylaminoantipyrine (FAA). However, the formation of 4-acetylaminoantipyrine (AAA) was unchanged. The present study was designed to examine the effect of the asymptomatic HBV carrier state on the metabolism of dipyrone. as a model drug, in rapid acetylators.', 'The plasma and urine concentrations of the metabolites of dipyrone were measured in eight asymptomatic HBV carriers and eight healthy subjects who had normal liver function tests, all displaying the rapid acetylation phenotype and genotype, after the administration of a 1.0-g oral dose of dipyrone.', 'The following pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated: peak plasma concentration, time to peak plasma concentration, elimination rate constant, area under the plasma concentration-time curve (0-->infinity), amount excreted (0-->infinity), renal and non-renal clearances for MAA and the clearances of formation for AA, FAA and AAA. No significant differences were found between the two subject groups.'] Does impairment of the metabolism of dipyrone in asymptomatic carriers of the hepatitis-B virus occur in rapid acetylators?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.4733736515045166,
-1.3019365072250366,
2.8638525009155273
] |
['Limited data suggest that CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 are involved in the metabolism of olanzapine. The purpose of this study was to further elucidate the role of these enzymes in the disposition of olanzapine in vivo.', 'Seventeen healthy non-smoking male volunteers were included in the study. Five subjects were CYP2D6 poor metabolisers (PMs), and 12 were CYP2D6 extensive metabolisers (EMs). All subjects received a single oral dose of 7.5 mg olanzapine, and serum concentrations were measured for 96 h using gas chromatography. A cross-over study was undertaken in the 12 CYP2D6 EMs who at least 2 weeks before or after the olanzapine dose received a single oral dose of 200 mg caffeine. The concentrations of caffeine and paraxanthine were measured in saliva 10 h after caffeine intake, and the paraxanthine/caffeine ratio was calculated as a measure of CYPIA2 activity.', 'A threefold inter-individual variability in oral clearance (CLoral) and maximum serum concentration (Cmax) of olanzapine was observed and a 2.3-fold inter-individual variability in CYPIA2 activity. There was no significant correlation between CYP1A2 activity and oral clearance of olanzapine (r=-0.19, P=0.56). Moreover, there were no significant differences in any of the olanzapine pharmacokinetic parameters between the CYP2D6 PMs and EMs (CLoral=0.246 l h(-1) kg(-1) and 0.203 l h(-1) kg(-1), respectively, P=0.30).'] Is olanzapine disposition in humans unrelated to CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 phenotypes?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.6746009588241577,
-1.6097077131271362,
2.2133140563964844
] |
['Serotoninergic transmission in the basal ganglia is known to influence dopaminergic mechanisms and motor function.', 'To evaluate the possibility that serotoninergic 5-HT1A autoreceptors (by regulating the release of serotonin as well as dopamine formed from exogenous levodopa) affect the response alterations complicating levodopa treatment of PD.', 'The 5-HT1A receptor agonist sarizotan (EMD128130) was systemically administered alone and together with levodopa to parkinsonian rats and nonhuman primates.', 'In 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats, sarizotan (2.5 mg/kg PO) had no effect on the acute rotational response to levodopa but did attenuate the shortening in motor response duration induced by chronic levodopa treatment. In 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-lesioned monkeys, sarizotan (2 mg/kg PO) alone had no effect on parkinsonian severity or on the antiparkinsonian response to levodopa. In contrast, the same dose of sarizotan reduced levodopa-induced choreiform dyskinesias by 91 +/- 5.9%. In both species, the motoric effects of sarizotan were blocked by the selective 5-HT1A antagonist WAY100635 (0.1 mg/kg SC), indicating that the observed sarizotan responses were probably mediated at the 5-HT1A autoreceptor.'] Does serotonin 5-HT1A agonist improve motor complications in rodent and primate parkinsonian models?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.222071409225464,
-1.3888168334960938,
2.614813804626465
] |
['To determine whether alternatively spliced variants of CD44, in particular a short, intracellular tail CD44 isoform, are used by articular chondrocytes to modulate the functions of this matrix receptor.', 'Normal human articular chondrocytes were cultured with or without interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), and the relative expression of CD44 exon 19 and CD44 exon 20, hyaluronan synthase 2, aggrecan, and GAPDH messenger RNA (mRNA) was determined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Next, CD44 exon 19 mRNA was selectively inhibited by the use of antisense oligonucleotides. The effects of exon 19 loss were analyzed by matrix assembly and hyaluronan internalization assays.', 'Human articular chondrocytes express varying levels of exon 19 (short tail)- and exon 20 (long tail)-containing CD44 mRNA. Both CD44 mRNA are up-regulated by IL-1alpha. Selective inhibition of CD44 exon 19 results in enhanced hyaluronan internalization and smaller cell-associated matrices.'] Does antisense inhibition of CD44 tailless splice variant in human articular chondrocytes promote hyaluronan internalization?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.445625066757202,
-1.18211030960083,
2.649794340133667
] |
['Aberrant bcl-2 expression frequently occurs in colorectal carcinoma. The current study investigated if CpG sites in bcl-2 were methylated in colorectal carcinoma and if methylation correlated with loss of expression of bcl-2 mRNA.', 'Methylation was assessed in 23 matched normal mucosae and colonic carcinomas by Southern blotting with methylation-sensitive enzymes. Expression of bcl-2 mRNA was assessed by Northern blotting.', 'A SacII site in exon 2 of the bcl-2 gene was methylated in 5 carcinomas, plus an adjacent HpaII sites in 1 tumour. SacII site in the bcl-2 promoter were not methylated. Elevated levels of bcl-2 mRNA were detected in 3 carcinomas, 5 showed decreased expression and 4 were unchanged.'] Does methylation of CpG sites in exon 2 of the bcl-2 gene occur in colorectal carcinoma?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.141545295715332,
-1.0441434383392334,
2.158311367034912
] |
['To verify whether heparin could enhance the stimulating effect of Tpo on megakaryocytopoiesis.', 'Megakaryocytic leukemia cell line M07e, human cord blood CD34+ cells and BALB/c mice were used in this study. The effects of heparin and/or Tpo on megakaryocytopoiesis were studied by [3H]-TdR incorporation assay, CFU-MK plasmic semi-solid culture and in vivo experiment in BALB/c mice.', 'Heparin could enhance the stimulating effect of Tpo on stimulating the proliferation of M-07e, the growth of CFU-MK from human cord blood CD34+ cells and in vivo megakaryocytopoiesis in mice.'] Does [ Heparin enhance the stimulating effect of thrombopoietin on megakaryocytopoiesis ]?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.400015115737915,
-1.086946725845337,
2.5492191314697266
] |
['This study examined the association between the -344 C/T polymorphism of the human aldosterone synthase promoter and left ventricular structure in arterial hypertension.', 'Because of conflicting results from different studies, the mechanism of such an association, if any, has not been determined.', 'We examined the aldosterone synthase promoter genotype in 120 young (age: 26 +/- 3 years) male, white subjects with normal or mildly elevated blood pressure. Left ventricular structural parameters and urinary sodium excretion over 24 h before and after additional oral sodium load (6 g/day over 1 week) were determined.', 'Hypertensive subjects with the CC genotype had a greater left ventricular end-diastolic diameter but smaller relative wall thickness than those with the TT genotype (54 +/- 2 vs. 50 +/- 4 mm, and 0.37 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.44 +/- 0.06 mm, respectively; p < 0.05). Hypertensive subjects with the TT genotype (n = 15) had a greater increase in urinary sodium excretion after oral sodium load than those with the CC genotype (n = 11) (135 +/- 95 vs. 24 +/- 133 mmol/liter/day; p < 0.05). Serum aldosterone levels were found to be decreased after oral sodium load in hypertensive subjects with the TT and CT genotypes only (-37 +/- 45 and -38 +/- 51 pg/ml, respectively; all p < 0.01) but not in those with the CC genotype (-12 +/- 30 pg/ml, n.s.). Such differences were not found in normotensive subjects.'] Is aldosterone synthase ( CYP11B2 ) -344 C/T polymorphism associated with left ventricular structure in human arterial hypertension?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.7255462408065796,
-1.5534414052963257,
2.3021280765533447
] |
['We sought to study the association of the silent cerebral infarct (SCI), a predisposing condition of stroke, with hyperinsulinemia and hemostatic abnormalities in older hypertensive subjects.', 'Hypertension is a powerful risk factor for stroke. However, the role of other risk factors for stroke in hypertensive subjects remains incompletely understood.', 'We performed brain magnetic resonance imaging and measured cardiovascular risk factors, by administering the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and measuring plasma insulin and hemostatic variables, in 123 asymptomatic hypertensive subjects (mean age 69 years).', 'At least one SCI was detected in 80 subjects (65%), and multiple SCIs were found in 48 subjects (39%). The presence of SCIs was associated with older age, higher levels of 24-h systolic blood pressure, 2-h insulin, thrombin-generation markers (prothrombin fragment 1+2 and thrombin-antithrombin complexes), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), D-dimer and von Willebrand factor (vWF), but not with plasmin-alpha2-plasmin complex (PIC) levels. The 2-h insulin area under the curve (AUC) was positively correlated with PAI-1 and vWF levels (p < 0.01), and the PAI-1 level was negatively correlated with the PIC level (p < 0.02). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age and the 2-h insulin AUC were significantly associated with SCIs, particularly those located in the subcortical white matter, and hemostatic abnormalities were significantly associated with the presence of multiple SCIs, particularly those located in the basal ganglia.'] Are hyperinsulinemia and hemostatic abnormalities associated with silent lacunar cerebral infarcts in elderly hypertensive subjects?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.2927405834198,
-1.290454626083374,
2.6255264282226562
] |
['Apolipoprotein E (apoE)/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) double knockout (DKO) mice demonstrate accelerated atherosclerosis and develop abdominal aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection, suggesting a role for eNOS in suppressing atherogenesis. To test whether accelerated atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms were due to hypertension, we administered hydralazine to male apoE/eNOS DKO mice to reduce blood pressure.', 'Male apoE/eNOS DKO mice were treated with hydralazine in their drinking water (250 mg/L) using a dose that lowers the blood pressure to levels seen in apoE KO mice. The mice were fed a Western-type diet for 16 weeks, and lesion formation was assessed by inspection of the vessel and staining with Sudan IV. Hydralazine-treated, normotensive male apoE/eNOS DKO mice developed increased aortic lesion areas (30.0+/-2.8%, n=11) compared with male apoE KO mice (14.6+/-0.8%, n=7). The extent of lesion formation was not significantly different from male apoE/eNOS DKO mice that were not given hydralazine (28.3+/-3.1%, n=9). Four of 11 hydralazine-treated male apoE/eNOS DKO mice developed abdominal aortic aneurysms.'] Does hypertension account for the accelerated atherosclerosis and development of aneurysms in male apolipoprotein e/endothelial nitric oxide synthase double knockout mice?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.0093791484832764,
-1.5223143100738525,
2.496364116668701
] |
['In this study a comparison of the vascular reactivity in the coronary circulation was investigated by injection of acetylcholine (ACh) and adenosine (ADO) in coronary bypass patients, operated on with or without the assistance of heart-lung machine. The patients operated on with heart-lung machine were further divided into subjects with stable or unstable angina pectoris.', 'Nine patients with stable angina pectoris subjected to off-pump surgery (target arterial occlusion time of 11+/-0.5 min) and 18 patients subjected to on-pump surgery (nine patients with stable angina and nine patients with unstable angina; cross-clamp time of 43+/-3 and 32+/-2 min, respectively), received ACh (10 microg) and ADO (18 microg) given as bolus injections into a vein-graft anastomosed to a coronary vessel. The blood flow in the vein-graft (i.e. indirectly the flow in the targeted coronary circulation) and hemodynamics were observed.', 'In the off-pump group, ACh evoked an increase with +14+/-12% of control in coronary blood flow, while in the stable on-pump group ACh decreased the blood flow with -60+/-7% of baseline and in the unstable on-pump group the flow was decreased with -38+/-8% of baseline (P<0.001 between the stable on- and off-pump groups, no significant difference between the stable and unstable on-pump groups). ADO significantly increased the coronary blood flow in all three groups; with +81+/-14% in the off-pump patients; with +95+/-14% in the stable on-pump group and with +74+/-13% in the unstable on-pump group (P<0.01 compared to baseline for all three groups). Neither ACh nor ADO injection caused any changes in hemodynamics.'] Does off-pump coronary bypass surgery cause less immediate postoperative coronary endothelial dysfunction compared to on-pump coronary bypass surgery?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.0509989261627197,
-1.4301038980484009,
2.478285074234009
] |
['Previous studies show a state-dependent relationship between depression and post-dexamethasone suppression test (DST) cortisol level, as well as differences in DST response with age and gender.', 'In this study, 74 research in-patients with affective disorders were given the DST on placebo and in a subgroup following treatment with carbamazepine. Depression was evaluated twice daily with the Bunney-Hamburg (BH) rating scale. Data were examined for the total subject population, by gender and by menopausal status in women.', 'A robust positive correlation was observed between depression severity and post-DST cortisol in pre- and postmenopausal females, but not in males. This relationship persisted in women when restudied on a stable dose of carbamazepine (n=42).'] Does post-dexamethasone cortisol correlate with severity of depression before and during carbamazepine treatment in women but not men?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.277600049972534,
-1.1364796161651611,
2.450096607208252
] |
['Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) in blood are promising new diagnostic tools. It was shown that the blood sampling process resulted in different blood concentrations of MMPs. To clarify whether the sampling process also influences the diagnostic validity of MMPs, MMP-9 measurements were performed in plasma and serum samples of patients with prostate carcinoma and renal cell cancer.', 'MMP-9 ELISAs were performed in samples of heparin plasma and serum collected in blood tubes with and without clot accelerator. Measurements were undertaken in 78 healthy persons, 33 patients with prostate carcinoma and 33 patients with renal cell carcinoma.', 'MMP-9 showed higher concentrations in serum samples than in heparin plasma and was about threefold higher in serum samples collected in tubes with clot activator than in native serum samples. Both patient groups had lower MMP-9 concentrations in serum, whereas in plasma, patients with renal cell carcinoma had higher, but patients with prostate cancer unchanged MMP-9 concentrations. 13 of 33 patients with renal cell carcinoma had increased MMP-9 plasma values but no patient had increased serum concentrations.'] Do blood specimen collection methods influence the concentration and the diagnostic validity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in blood?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.652951955795288,
-1.3172608613967896,
2.068521022796631
] |
['5-HT(6) receptors are predominantly located in the brain and may be involved in cognitive processes. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of two potent and selective 5-HT(6) receptor antagonists, SB-271046-A and SB-357134-A, on learning and memory in the rat.', 'Spatial learning and memory was assessed by testing the effects of SB-271046-A and SB-357134-A on acquisition and retention of a water maze task.', 'In the water maze, administration of SB-271046-A or SB-357134-A (3 or 10 mg/kg) had no effect on learning per se. At 10 mg/kg, however, both compounds produced a significant improvement in retention of a previously learned platform position when tested 7 days after training. By contrast, the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, Aricept (donepezil, 0.1, 0.3 mg/kg PO) had no effect in this task.'] Do 5-HT6 receptor antagonists enhance retention of a water maze task in the rat?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.143080949783325,
-1.1573266983032227,
2.3377137184143066
] |
['To compare the prevalence of endometriosis and its different stages in infertile women and women not exposed to spermatozoa.', 'Prospective study.', 'Artificial insemination donor program at a university hospital.', 'One hundred fifty women unable to conceive because they had not been exposed to spermatozoa (134 with azoospermic partner, 10 with an HIV-positive partner, and 6 without a male partner). Controls were 750 women in infertile couples in which the male partner had normal sperm.', 'Laparoscopy was systematically performed in a blinded manner in both groups as part of the infertility work-up.', 'Diagnosis of endometriosis.', 'In unexposed women and controls, the prevalence of endometriosis was similar (32% and 34.5%). Rates of stage I disease were also similar in both groups (26% and 19.3%). There was a significant trend toward higher stages of endometriosis in infertile women (stage II disease, 3.3% vs. 5.7%; stage III disease, 1.3% vs. 3.1%; stage IV disease, 1.3% vs. 6.4%). Endometriosis was not associated with the few demographic characteristics that differed between groups.'] Are women who exposed to spermatozoa and infertile women have similar rates of stage I endometriosis?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.3681626319885254,
0.3119598925113678,
1.086601734161377
] |
['To investigate whether the deleterious effect of E(2) on embryonic implantation is due to a direct effect on the endometrium, on the embryo, or both.', 'Prospective, controlled in vitro study.', 'Tertiary infertility center.', 'Fertile patients in the luteal phase with histologically normal endometrium who were attending the infertility clinic as oocyte donors (n = 14).', 'E(2) dose-response (0, 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5), and 10(-4) M) and time course (day 2 vs. day 5) experiments were performed in an in vitro embryo adhesion assay composed of human polarized endometrial epithelial cells obtained from fertile patients and mouse embryos.', 'Blastocyst formation rate and embryo adhesion rate.', 'Monolayers of polarized endometrial epithelial cells expressed ERalpha at the mRNA level. The E(2) dose response of blastocysts with polarized endometrial epithelial cells (n = 235) demonstrated a progressive reduction in embryonic adhesion that was statistically significant at 10(-6) M. When polarized endometrial epithelial cells were treated alone with increasing doses of E(2) for 3 days and E(2) was then removed and blastocysts added (n = 410), embryonic adhesion was not significantly reduced, except at 10(-4) M. When 2-day mouse embryos (n = 609) were treated with increasing E(2) concentrations until day 5, the rate of blastocyst formation significantly decreased at a concentration >or= 10(-6) M, and embryonic adhesion decreased when blastocysts (n = 400) were obtained at a concentration >or= 10(-7) M. Time course experiments of embryos cultured for 2 days with polarized endometrial epithelial cells (n = 426) showed that the adhesion rate was higher at E(2) levels of 10(-7), 10(-6) and 10(-5) M compared with embryos cultured for 5 days (n = 495).'] Are increasing levels of estradiol deleterious to embryonic implantation because they directly affect the embryo?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.0952279567718506,
-1.4374403953552246,
2.5788140296936035
] |
['Insulin-like growth factors (IGF) I and II improve myocardial function after coronary occlusion in different animal models.', 'To investigate the mechanism of improved myocardial function after administration of IGF-I or IGF-II in acute myocardial infarction.', 'Female pigs (mean (SD) weight 25 (5) kg) were subjected to acute myocardial infarction by microembolisation with 75-150 micrometer affigel blue beads. The beads contained and slowly released 150 microgram/pig of IGF-I (n = 6), IGF-II (n = 6), or pig albumin (n = 6). Echocardiography, perfusion imaging, and haemodynamic measurements were performed before infarction and during four weeks after infarction. Regional wall motion of different left ventricular segments was scored semiquantitatively on the basis of a three point scoring system, from normal = 0 to dyskinesia = 3. Serum cardiac troponin I concentration was measured before, immediately after, and three hours after the infarct. Excised hearts were analysed for actin, desmin, blood vessel density, and DNA laddering within the infarct, border, and normal myocardial areas.', 'Myocardial function of the infarct related area improved significantly during the four weeks of follow up in both the IGF groups (p = 0.01). Myocardial perfusion, heart rate, and blood pressure were similar in all the animals during the study. Treated animals had lower serum cardiac troponin I concentration (p = 0.001), more actin in the border area (p = 0.01) and infarct area (p = 0.0001), and reduced DNA laddering in the infarct area compared with the controls (p < 0.05). IGF groups had more blood vessels in the border area (p = 0.04) and the infarct area (p = 0.003).'] Do insulin-like growth factor I and II preserve myocardial structure in postinfarct swine?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.087662935256958,
-1.4924596548080444,
2.60929012298584
] |
['Increased right ventricular (RV) afterload results in RV hypertrophy and dysfunction, as well as increased levels of intracellular beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (betaARK1). We hypothesize that gene transfer of a betaARK1 inhibitor (betaARKct) may improve RV performance, morbidity, and mortality early after pulmonary artery (PA) banding.', 'Rabbits underwent PA banding 3 days after right coronary artery injection of an adenovirus containing the gene encoding the betaARKct peptide (n = 14), beta-galactosidase (n = 10), or an empty adenovirus (n = 19). After banding, hemodynamic instability and maximal rate of increase in right ventricular pressure (RV dP/dt(max)) were documented. For 7 days after banding, animals were monitored for mortality, activity, and appetite.', 'When compared with controls, animals receiving the betaARKct transgene showed improvement in survival at 7 days (92.8% +/- 7% vs 48.3% +/- 9%, p = 0.01), less lethargy, a trend toward greater RV dP/dt(max) (NS), and increased hemodynamic stability at the time of banding (78% vs 41%, p = 0.03).'] Does right ventricular gene therapy with a beta-adrenergic receptor kinase inhibitor improve survival after pulmonary artery banding?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.2567217350006104,
-1.3375680446624756,
2.600665330886841
] |
['Severe myocardial hypertrophy is associated with decreased tolerance to ischemia compared with normal hearts. We hypothesized that treatment with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) improves postischemic myocardial recovery by increasing glucose uptake during ischemia and early reperfusion.', 'Banding of the thoracic aorta in 10-day-old rabbits created pressure-overload hypertrophy. At 5 weeks of age (severe hypertrophy), aortic banded and sham-operated isolated hearts underwent 30 minutes of normothermic ischemia with or without IGF-1 in the preischemic perfusate and cardioplegia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion.', '2-Deoxyglucose uptake (31P-NMR) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-kinase) activity were significantly lower in hypertrophied hearts. Insulin-like growth factor-1 restored glucose uptake and PI-3-kinase activity to control levels in the hypertrophied hearts and both effects were blocked by wortmannin (a PI-3-kinase inhibitor). Postischemic developed pressure was significantly improved in IGF-1-treated hearts compared with untreated or IGF-1+wortmannin-treated hypertrophied hearts.'] Does insulin-like growth factor-1 improve postischemic recovery in hypertrophied hearts?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.4929747581481934,
-1.219999074935913,
2.711184501647949
] |
['To create a fast, sensitive and specific method for identifying Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum and F. o. luffae.', 'Specific DNA bands were selected as probes from RAPD profiles of 13 formae speciales of F. oxysporum. The forma specialis-specific probe OPC18300c and OPC18520f could be used to identify F. o. cucumerinum and F. o. luffae by RAPD-PCR followed dot blot hybridization, respectively.'] Do identification of F. o. cucumerinum and F. o. luffae by RAPD-generated DNA probes?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.310037851333618,
-1.0649561882019043,
2.586796760559082
] |
['Burn surgery is complicated by blood loss. The tumescent technique of subdermal injection of epinephrine has been utilized to decrease intraoperative blood loss. We hypothesized that this would safely decrease blood loss during burn surgery.', "Twenty patients utilized the tumescent technique. The tumescent group had subdermal injections of epinephrine beneath the excision and donor site plus thrombin spray and warm saline soaked laparotomy pads. Ten patients grafted prior to adopting the tumescent technique utilized thrombin spray and warm saline soaked laparotomy pads for hemostasis. Blood loss was determined by operative estimation and calculation. Data were analyzed by Student's t-test and paired t-test.", 'The two groups were demographically similar. The tumescent group had significantly less total blood loss and blood loss per unit area excised. There were no clinically detectable arrythmias, changes in heart rate or blood pressure noted.'] Do the tumescent technique to significantly reduce blood loss during burn surgery?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.1589739322662354,
-1.1522109508514404,
2.3675405979156494
] |
['Many Americans have heartburn or related symptoms monthly and >20% experience heartburn at least once per day. Although many self-treat episodic heartburn with nonprescription antacids, newer treatments that decrease gastric volume and increase the pH of refluxed material are proving effective and popular in relieving heartburn.', 'To evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-dose regimens of ranitidine for the relief of heartburn.', 'Adults with at least a 3-month history of heartburn were eligible for this randomized, double-blind, parallel group, multicenter dose-ranging study. Following a 1-week, open-label run-in phase to document baseline heartburn frequency, subjects were randomly assigned to receive treatment with one tablet of either ranitidine, 75 mg (n = 537); ranitidine, 25 mg (n = 539); or placebo (n = 544), to be taken as needed up to four times daily for 2 weeks for the relief of heartburn.', 'The ranitidine 75-mg regimen was statistically (P < 0.05) and clinically (as defined a priori as > or =10% improvement) more effective than placebo in relieving episodic heartburn and in reducing antacid consumption. Ranitidine, 25 mg, was also statistically superior (P < 0.05) to placebo in providing heartburn relief. In addition, both regimens were superior to placebo in providing heartburn relief within 30 to 45 minutes of dosing. Ranitidine continued to be as effective over placebo in the treatment of the last heartburn episode as in the treatment of the first heartburn episode. Ranitidine was also equally effective over placebo in the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe episodes of heartburn. Ranitidine, 75 mg, was statistically superior to placebo for the relief of nocturnal heartburn episodes, whereas ranitidine, 25 mg, was not. All treatments were well tolerated and adverse events occurred no more frequently with the ranitidine regimens than with placebo.'] Are nonprescription doses of ranitidine effective in the relief of episodic heartburn?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.741284966468811,
-1.3326237201690674,
2.0839040279388428
] |
['The DSM-IV includes the specifier "generalized" to refer to social anxiety disorder (social phobia) patients if the fears include "most social situations". The focus on interventions such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for generalized social anxiety disorder arguably runs the risk that inadequate treatment will be provided to patients with the non-generalized or discrete subtypes. There are, however, few data to address whether more generalized and less generalized subgroups of social anxiety disorder differ in response to medication.', 'To compare response of more generalized and less generalized social anxiety disorder to pharmacotherapy.', 'Data from three randomized placebo-controlled double-blind multicenter trials of the SSRI paroxetine in social anxiety disorder were pooled. Response on the Clinical Global Impression Global Improvement item was analyzed using logistic regression, and change in total Liebowitz Social Anxiety Score was analyzed using analysis of variance, with both models incorporating treatment (paroxetine vs placebo), subgroup (more generalized vs less generalized), demographic, and clinical variables.', 'The prevalence of more generalized social anxiety disorder was higher in females than in males. However, there was no significant difference in terms of age or clinical characteristics (duration of condition, baseline pulse, mean arterial blood pressure). At treatment endpoint there were significant treatment effects (for paroxetine vs placebo), but no significant subgroup effects (for more generalized vs less generalized).'] Is the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine effective in more generalized and in less generalized social anxiety disorder?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.4622695446014404,
-0.9938755631446838,
2.4910502433776855
] |
['Rhodanese domains are structural modules occurring in the three major evolutionary phyla. They are found as single-domain proteins, as tandemly repeated modules in which the C-terminal domain only bears the properly structured active site, or as members of multidomain proteins. Although in vitro assays show sulfurtransferase or phosphatase activity associated with rhodanese or rhodanese-like domains, specific biological roles for most members of this homology superfamily have not been established.', 'Eight ORFs coding for proteins consisting of (or containing) a rhodanese domain bearing the potentially catalytic Cys have been identified in the Escherichia coli K-12 genome. One of these codes for the 12-kDa protein GlpE, a member of the sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (glp) regulon. The crystal structure of GlpE, reported here at 1.06 A resolution, displays alpha/beta topology based on five beta strands and five alpha helices. The GlpE catalytic Cys residue is persulfurated and enclosed in a structurally conserved 5-residue loop in a region of positive electrostatic field.'] Is escherichia coli GlpE a prototype sulfurtransferase for the single-domain rhodanese homology superfamily?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.377166986465454,
-0.7909683585166931,
2.2302589416503906
] |
['Vitamin E deficiency is a major problem in cystic fibrosis. Modern pancreatic enzymes may improve the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins to make water dispersion less important. In order to compare the absorption of fat-soluble (F) and water-miscible (W) tocopheryl acetate, equivalent amounts (10 mg/kg body weight) were given to five patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and five age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum was analysed for vitamin E using HPLC before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 24 and 28 h after the oral intake. The median peak concentrations in the sera of controls were 41.9 micromol/L after F and 39.8 micromol/L after W preparations, corresponding values in CF patients being 21.3 and 26.8 micromol/L, and corresponding means +/- SD were 41.6+/-6.7 and 38.4+/-3.3, and 27.1+/-14.5 and 28.8+/-8.3, respectively. Although the area under the curve was lower for W than F preparations in both CF patients and controls, these differences were not significant.'] Is water-miscible tocopherol superior to fat-soluble preparation for vitamin E absorption in cystic fibrosis?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.4375090599060059,
-1.4869329929351807,
1.945087194442749
] |
['To investigate whether hypertriglyceridemic dyslipidemia is a risk factor for either early or late onset pre-eclampsia.', 'Prospective cohort study and nested case-control study.', 'Aker Hospital: a university hospital with all levels of obstetric care.', '2,157 Caucasian pregnant women.', 'Blood samples were obtained from non-fasting subjects at 18 weeks of gestation. All samples were analysed for triglycerides, total-cholesterol, high density lipoproteins cholesterol and non-high density lipoproteins cholesterol. ApoB-100 were analysed in pre-eclamptic women and in 3:1 matched controls. The cohort data were analysed by multiple logistic regression and the case-control data by conditional logistic regression.', 'Adjusted odds ratios of early and late onset pre-eclampsia according to early second trimester serum concentration levels of lipids and ApoB-100.', 'Eighteen women developed early onset pre-eclampsia and 53 women developed late onset pre-eclampsia. In the cohort model, women with triglycerides above 2.4mmol/L had increased risk (OR 5. 1; 95% CI 1.1-23.1) of early onset pre-eclampsia compared with those with triglycerides levels < or = 1.5mmol/L. For women with high triglycerides: non-high density lipoproteins cholesterol ratios (>90 centile) the OR (95% CI) for early onset pre-eclampsia was 7.1 (2.3-22.0) compared with those with low ratios (< or = 50 centile). Similar associations were found in the case control model. We found no associations between plasma lipids and risk of late onset pre-eclampsia.'] Is dyslipidemia in early second trimester mainly a feature of women with early onset pre-eclampsia?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.2490017414093018,
-1.5510979890823364,
1.7658371925354004
] |
['Low biocompatibility of peritoneal dialysis fluids (PDF) contributes to mesothelial injury. We investigated whether the heat shock proteins (HSP)-27, HSP-72, and HSP-90 are differentially induced upon exposure of mesothelial cells to PDF and whether this was affected by selective modulation of the physicochemical properties of PDF.', 'Human mesothelial cells (Met5A and primary human mesothelial cells) were exposed to acidic lactate and glucose-monomer based PDF (CAPD2 and CAPD3), to control culture media, or to a neutral lactate and glucose-monomer-based PDF with reduced levels of glucose degradation products (BALANCE). Expression of HSP-27, HSP-72, and HSP-90 and cellular distribution of HSP-72 were assessed by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry.', 'Mesothelial cells exhibited strong constitutive expression of HSP-27 and to a lesser extent HSP-72 and HSP-90. Exposure of the cells to CAPD2 and CAPD3 resulted in strong up-regulation of HSP-72. HSP-27 levels were slightly increased, but HSP-90 levels were unchanged upon exposure to CAPD2 or CAPD3. In contrast, exposure of the cells to BALANCE did not affect HSP-27 or HSP-72 expression. The acidic pH and glucose degradation products were found to be principal in mediating increased HSP-72 expression upon exposure to PDF.'] Does peritoneal dialysate fluid composition determine heat shock protein expression patterns in human mesothelial cells?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.5516488552093506,
-1.1277741193771362,
2.7177278995513916
] |
['Donor and recipient gender influence long-term allograft outcome after kidney transplantation. Sex hormones are likely to contribute to these gender-related differences. The present study investigated the role of androgens and their inhibition on the development of chronic allograft nephropathy.', 'Male or female Fisher (F344) kidneys were orthotopically transplanted into intact male Lewis recipients. Animals were treated either with testosterone, the antiandrogen flutamide, the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride, or vehicle. Twenty weeks after transplantation animals were harvested for histology, immunohistology, and molecular analysis.', 'Testosterone treatment resulted in an increased proteinuria as well as profound glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and mononuclear cell infiltration that paralleled enhanced intragraft mRNA levels of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and platelet-derived growth factor-A and -B chain (PDGF-A and -B). In contrast, flutamide and finasteride reduced glomerulosclerosis as well as the inflammatory cell infiltration associated with decreased TGF-beta, PDGF-A, and -B chain mRNA expression. No gender-related donor differences were noted between the groups.'] Is contribution of androgens to chronic allograft nephropathy mediated by dihydrotestosterone?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.586249351501465,
-1.2093055248260498,
2.8423519134521484
] |
['A growing number of reports support evidence of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides in human skin cells, although not consistently. Also the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on cutaneous and plasma levels of these POMC peptides has not been established unequivocally. We hypothesized that production of beta-endorphin (betaE) may explain the sense of well-being many people experience when sun-bathing. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether exposure of the skin to UVR elevates plasma betaE.', 'Healthy volunteers (n=26) received a single, weighted dose of 15 J/cm2 of UVA. Several times during the hour following irradiation, plasma betaE- immunoreactivity (betaE-IR) was determined by radioimmunoassay. The effect of repeated exposure was assessed in 35 patients treated with UVB, UVA, or UVA-1. Plasma ACTH-IR was monitored in parallel.', 'Overall, plasma levels of betaE-IR and ACTH-IR showed no significant changes during the experiment, indicating that these peptides are not influenced by single or repeated exposures to UVR of different wavelengths.'] Does total body exposure to ultraviolet radiation influence plasma levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in man?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.301433801651001,
-1.294238805770874,
2.6186792850494385
] |
['The source of cells that participate in wound repair directly affects outcome. The extracellular matrix (ECM) and other acellular biomaterials have been used as therapeutic scaffolds for cell attachment and proliferation and as templates for tissue repair. The ECM consists of structural and functional proteins that influence cell attachment, gene expression patterns, and the differentiation of cells.', 'The objective of this study was to determine if the composition of acellular matrix scaffolds affects the recruitment of bone marrow-derived cellular elements that populate the scaffolds in vivo.', 'Scaffolds composed of porcine tissue ECM, purified Type I collagen, poly(L)lactic coglycolic acid (PLGA), or a mixture of porcine ECM and PLGA were implanted into subcutaneous pouches on the dorsum of mice. The origin of cells that populated the matrices was determined by first performing bone marrow transplantation to convert the marrow of glucose phosphate isomerase 1b (Gpi-1(b)) mice to cells expressing glucose phosphate isomerase 1a (Gpi-1(a)).', 'A significant increase in Gpi-1(a) expressing cells was present in sites implanted with the porcine ECM compared to sites implanted with either Type I collagen or PLGA. Use of recipient mice transplanted with marrow cells that expressed beta-galactosidase confirmed that the majority of cells that populated and remodeled the naturally occurring porcine ECM were marrow derived. Addition of porcine ECM to the PLGA scaffold caused a significant increase in the number of marrow-derived cells that became part of the remodeled implant site.'] Do marrow-derived cells populate scaffolds composed of xenogeneic extracellular matrix?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.526090621948242,
-1.0613112449645996,
2.6947476863861084
] |
['Specific autoantigens targeted in systemic autoimmunity undergo posttranslational modifications, such as cleavage, during cell death that could potentially enhance their immunogenicity. In light of the increasing interest in the immunologic consequences of defective clearance of apoptotic cells, we sought to determine whether autoantigens cleaved during apoptosis undergo an additional wave of proteolysis as apoptosis progresses to secondary necrosis in the absence of phagocytosis.', 'Apoptosis was induced in Jurkat cells with etoposide, anti-Fas antibody, or staurosporine (STS), and in HeLa cells with STS. Progression to secondary necrosis was assessed morphologically and quantified by trypan blue uptake. Autoantigen proteolysis during cell death was examined by immunoblotting of cell lysates using highly specific human autoantibodies as detecting probes.', 'Cells treated with the different apoptosis inducers underwent a rapid apoptosis that gradually progressed to secondary necrosis. During the initial apoptotic stages, several autoantigens, including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, topoisomerase I (or Scl-70), SSB/La, and U1-70 kd, were cleaved into their signature apoptotic fragments. Progression of apoptosis to secondary necrosis was associated with additional proteolysis of these and other autoantigens in a caspase-independent manner. Some autoantigens (e.g., ribosomal RNP, Ku, and SSA/Ro) appeared to be resistant to proteolysis during cell death.'] Is secondary necrosis a source of proteolytically modified forms of specific intracellular autoantigens : implications for systemic autoimmunity?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.504230260848999,
-1.2505548000335693,
2.875275135040283
] |
['To determine whether arterial compliance of patients with type 1 diabetes is reduced before the development of clinically apparent diabetes complications.', 'Pulse-wave analysis was used to compare vascular compliance between patients with type 1 diabetes and nondiabetic control subjects. Analysis of covariance was used to determine differences between the two groups with adjustment for age if needed.', 'A total of 59 patients with type 1 diabetes were studied; age ranged from 17-61 years. Of the 59 patients, 32 had no evidence of diabetes complications and 27 had microvascular complications. The control group consisted of 57 healthy subjects ranging in age from 23-79 years. In the control group, large artery compliance (C1) and small artery compliance (C2) were inversely proportional to age (r = -0.55 for C1 and -0.50 for C2; P < 0.01). When the control subjects were compared with type 1 diabetic patients without microvascular complications, C1 was 1.51 +/- 0.04 (SEM) for the control group and 1.33 +/- 0.06 (SE) ml/mmHg for the diabetic group, whereas C2 was 0.080 +/- 0.005 (SE) and 0.065 +/- 0.005 (SE) ml/mmHg for the control and diabetic subjects, respectively, when adjusted for age (P = 0.03 for both C1 and C2).'] Is vascular compliance reduced in the early stages of type 1 diabetes?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-0.24752973020076752,
-1.4180994033813477,
0.8030253052711487
] |
['In patients with type 2 diabetes, microalbuminuria is associated with an increase in predominantly cardiovascular mortality. Considerable interindividual variability in the rate of progression of microalbuminuria exists. The prognostic significance of rate of progression of microalbuminuria with regard to cardiovascular and renal clinical end points is, however, unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of rate of progression of microalbuminuria for cardiovascular end points and renal function.', 'In a previous prospective cohort study, progression of microalbuminuria (expressed as mean yearly change in albumin-to-creatinine ratio) was assessed in 58 patients with type 2 diabetes. During a median follow-up of 7 years after progression of microalbuminuria was determined, we registered all-cause mortality and coronary heart disease mortality as primary end points and coronary heart disease (fatal or nonfatal), peripheral vascular disease, ischemic stroke, retinopathy, macroalbuminuria, and change in serum creatinine as secondary end points.', "Seven subjects died during the study; five of these subjects died of coronary heart disease. Cox's regression analysis identified progression of microalbuminuria as a significant predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.46 per point increase in albumin-to-creatinine ratio per year, P < 0.001), coronary heart disease mortality (hazard ratio 2.32, P = 0.006), and macroalbuminuria (hazard ratio 1.79, P < 0.001). Adjustment for multiple cardiovascular risk factors did not affect these results. Identical analyses for baseline level of microalbuminuria instead of progression rate of microalbuminuria did not show significant hazard ratios. In addition, progression of microalbuminuria significantly predicted an increase in serum creatinine (r = 0.29, P = 0.04)."] Is rapid progression of albumin excretion an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.813666582107544,
-1.424193263053894,
2.2617549896240234
] |
['To determine whether early massive eschar excision and skin grafting may decrease the hypermetabolic response that characterizes burn injury.', "Twenty-one adult men with burns over 30% of the total body surface area were assigned to one of two treatment groups. Resting energy expenditures (REEs) were obtained by means of cardiorespiratory diagnostic systems (made by Medical Graphics Corporation in USA) at the patients' bedsides.", 'The clinical conditions and non-operative management in two groups were comparable [(311 +/- 15) J.h-1.m-2 vs (345 +/- 16) J.h-1.m-2], but different in time of eschar excision and skin grafting. Although REEs increased sharply in all patients, the patients in group 1 with escharectomy during burn shock stage had lower REEs than those in group 2 with escharectomy after burn shock stage.'] Do [ The effects of escharectomy during burn shock stage on metabolic rate alterations ]?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.1948254108428955,
-0.9112766981124878,
2.205505132675171
] |
['Brain astrocytes play a pivotal role in neuronal activities.', 'An investigation was undertaken to determine whether juniper oil inhibits heat shock-induced apoptosis of astrocytes.', 'Juniper oil inhibited the heat shock-induced apoptosis in human astrocyte CCF-STTG1 cells. Pretreatment of the cells with juniper oil inhibited the heat shock-induced DNA fragmentation and condensation of nuclear chromatin. Juniper oil alone did not affect the apoptosis. Juniper oil inhibited the heat shock-induced caspase-3 activation and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) fragmentation in the human astrocytes.'] Does juniper oil inhibit the heat shock-induced apoptosis via preventing the caspase-3 activation in human astrocytes CCF-STTG1 cells?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.8674967288970947,
-0.017227845266461372,
1.966884970664978
] |
['Minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2) is a component of the prereplicative complex. It is essential for eukaryotic DNA replication and is only expressed in proliferating cells. The prognostic utility of MCM2 compared with Ki-67, another marker of proliferating cells, on survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was studied.', 'We examined the immunohistochemical expression of MCM2 and Ki-67 in primary pathologic tumor specimens from 221 NSCLC patients. For each marker, the fraction of tumor cells with positive staining was assessed as a percentage and categorized into four groups: 0% to 24%, 25% to 49%, 50% to 74%, and > or = 75%. MCM2 and Ki-67 immunoreactivities were compared with each other, and associations with pathologic and clinical parameters predictive of survival were analyzed with the chi(2) test. Cox regression models were used to assess associations between MCM2 and Ki-67 and survival while controlling for confounders.', 'Independent variables significantly associated with survival were tumor stage, performance status, and staining category. Patients with less than 25% MCM2 immunoreactivity had a longer median survival time than patients with > or = 25% MCM2 immunoreactivity (46 v 31 months; P =.039) and a lower relative risk (RR) of death (RR, 0.55, 95% confidence interval, 0.34 to 0.88). There was no significant association between survival and Ki-67 expression.'] Is mCM2 an independent predictor of survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.8381710052490234,
-1.4901893138885498,
2.374387741088867
] |
['The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between repolarization and excitability in the human atrium under various conditions.', 'Action potential duration (APD) measurements from monophasic action potential (MAP) recordings provide a surrogate for measuring the effective refractory period (ERP) in human ventricle. The relationship between repolarization and refractoriness in human atrium and the effect of prior atrial fibrillation/flutter on the ERP/APD correlation are unknown.', 'Seven patients with sinus rhythm and 15 patients after conversion of atrial flutter or fibrillation were evaluated. Monophasic action potentials were recorded at multiple right atrial sites and during different basic cycle lengths from 300 to 700 ms, while ERPs were determined by extrastimulus technique using the MAP recording-pacing combination catheter.', 'There was a close correlation between ERP and APD at 70% repolarization (APD70, r = 0.97; p < 0.001) and 90% repolarization (APD90, r = 0.98; p < 0.001), respectively. Refractoriness occurred at a repolarization level of 72 +/- 8%. The ERP/APD70 and ERP/APD90 ratios averaged 1.06 +/- 0.10 and 0.86 +/- 0.08, respectively. These ratios were nearly constant over the entire range of basic cycle lengths, between different sites in individual patients and between different patients. Patients cardioverted from atrial fibrillation or flutter exhibited no significant differences in the ERP/APD relationship compared with patients with sinus rhythm.'] Is the repolarization-excitability relationship in the human right atrium unaffected by cycle length , recording site and prior arrhythmias?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.615359902381897,
-1.5380116701126099,
2.152407646179199
] |
['To explore the adaptive response of the endocrine pancreas in vivo and in vitro and the possible beneficial effect of the insulino-mimetic agent vanadyl sulfate (VOSO(4)), using glucocorticoid treatment to increase insulin resistance, in aging rats.', 'Dexamethasone (Dex) (0.13 mg/kg b.w.) was administered daily for 13 days to 3- and 18-month old Sprague-Dawley rats and oral VOSO(4) was given from the 5th day. Plasma glucose, insulin and free fatty acids (FFA) concentrations were measured during these treatments and the insulin secretory response of the isolated perfused pancreas was assessed at the end of the experiment.'] Are dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance and pancreatic adaptive response in aging rats modified by oral vanadyl sulfate treatment?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.463428258895874,
-1.1911163330078125,
2.7565083503723145
] |
['To predict the chance of total fertilization failure (TFF) before the day of ovum pickup with known semen and female variables.', 'A statistical model was constructed to predict TFF by retrospective analysis (2,366 couples) and subsequently tested on a new IVF population (917 couples).', 'Academic tertiary referral center.', 'Three thousand three hundred eighty-three couples who underwent an IVF-ET treatment.', 'None.', 'The ability to predict the probability of TFF in IVF.', 'Two variables-postwash total progressively motile sperm cell count (postwash TPMC) and number of follicles-were found to be significant. Taking a probability of 25% as an acceptable risk of TFF, we calculated that a postwash TPMC of <1.1 x 10(6) cells results in a risk of TFF of >25%. Low responders (<4 follicles) needed a postwash TPMC of >2.2 x 10(6) cells to reduce the risk of TFF to <25%. High responders (>15 follicles) needed only 0.35 x 10(6) postwash progressively motile spermatozoa.'] Is the postwash total progressively motile sperm cell count a reliable predictor of total fertilization failure during in vitro fertilization treatment?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-0.5299904346466064,
-1.3765556812286377,
1.018042802810669
] |
['Ghrelin is a new gastric hormone that has been identified as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue receptor subtype 1a (GHS-R1a). Ghrelin administration however not only stimulates GH secretion but also induces adiposity in rodents by increasing food intake and decreasing fat utilization. We hypothesized that impaired ghrelin secretion in anorexia nervosa may be involved in the pathogenesis of this eating disorder. To examine this hypothesis and to further investigate the role for ghrelin in regulating energy homeostasis, we analyzed circulating ghrelin levels in patients with anorexia nervosa and examined possible correlations with clinical parameters before and after weight gain.', 'Plasma ghrelin levels were measured in overnight fasting plasma samples from 36 female patients with anorexia nervosa (age: 25.0+/-1.2 years, BMI: 15.2+/-0.2 kg/m(2)) before and after weight gain following psychotherapeutic treatment intervention in a psychosomatic institution. Plasma ghrelin levels were also measured in fasting plasma samples from 24 age-matched female controls (31+/-1.4 years, BMI: 22.9+/-0.45 kg/m(2)). For quantification of ghrelin levels a commercially available radioimmunoassay (Phoenix Pharmaceuticals, USA) was used.', 'Fasting plasma ghrelin levels in anorectic patients were significantly higher (1057+/-95 pg/ml) than in normal age-matched female controls (514+/-63 pg/ml n=24, P=0.02). Therapeutic intervention in a psychosomatic institution caused an BMI increase of 14% (P<0.001) leading to a significant decrease in circulating ghrelin levels of 25%, (P=0.001). A significant negative correlation between Deltaghrelin and DeltaBMI was observed (correlation coefficient: -0.47, P=0.005, n=36).'] Does weight gain decrease elevated plasma ghrelin concentrations of patients with anorexia nervosa?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.9828875064849854,
-1.4427434206008911,
2.402390480041504
] |
['To evaluate the effectiveness of a posthospital discharge intervention that prompted physicians to increase the use and effectiveness of statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).', 'Participants were 612 patients with CHD who were admitted to a coronary care unit. The control group (303 patients admitted from October 1-December 31, 1998) received no follow-up intervention. The intervention group (309 patients admitted fromJanuary 1-March 31, 1999) had follow-up letters sent or phone calls made to their primary care physicians with patient-specific recommendations concerning assessment of lipid profiles and statin therapy. Over a 2-year follow-up period, assessment of lipid profiles, use of therapy, and adverse clinical outcomes were compared between the control and intervention groups.', 'At hospital discharge, there was no significant difference in the use of statins between the groups. At each reported follow-up interval, the percentages of patients having lipid profiles measured, being treated with a statin, receiving titrated dosages of a statin, and achieving low-density lipid (LDL) cholesterol goals set by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) were significantly greater in the intervention group compared with the control group (all p<0.05). At the end of the 2-year follow-up period, nearly three-fourths (72%) of the intervention group were receiving a statin, compared with 43% of the control group. In addition, 55% of the intervention group achieved their NCEP LDL goal, compared with only 10% of the control group. Recurrent myocardial infarction, hospitalization for myocardial ischemia, coronary revascularization, and cardiovascular mortality were significantly reduced in the intervention group compared with the control group (all p<0.05).'] Does physician-prompting statin therapy intervention improve outcomes in patients with coronary heart disease?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.6709212064743042,
-1.4956732988357544,
2.0506579875946045
] |
['Poly purine.pyrimidine sequences have the potential to adopt intramolecular triplex structures and are overrepresented upstream of genes in eukaryotes. These sequences may regulate gene expression by modulating the interaction of transcription factors with DNA sequences upstream of genes.', 'A poly purine.pyrimidine sequence with the potential to adopt an intramolecular triplex DNA structure was designed. The sequence was inserted within a nucleosome positioned upstream of the beta-galactosidase gene in yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, between the cycl promoter and gal 10 Upstream Activating Sequences (UASg). Upon derepression with galactose, beta-galactosidase gene expression is reduced 12-fold in cells carrying single copy poly purine.pyrimidine sequences. This reduction in expression is correlated with reduced transcription. Furthermore, we show that plasmids carrying a poly purine.pyrimidine sequence are not specifically lost from yeast cells.'] Do poly purine.pyrimidine sequences upstream of the beta-galactosidase gene affect gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.620455741882324,
-0.7386267781257629,
2.354801654815674
] |
['Few longitudinal data exist on the relationship between radiographic damage and self-reported functional disability and direct medical costs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We assessed these relationships.', 'One hundred thirty patients with RA (at time of the first available radiograph, mean age 56.6 yrs, 16.9% male, mean disease duration 16.8 yrs) were followed for up to 13.4 years. Semiannually, they reported on functional disability (0 = no difficulty, 3 = unable to do), global severity (0 = very well, 100 = very poor), pain (0 = no pain, 3 = severe pain), and health services utilization through completion of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Concurrent hand radiographs were scored for erosions and joint space narrowing using the Genant method and a single score summing both erosions and joint space narrowing for both hands was calculated (0 = no damage, 200 = maximum damage). The univariate association of functional disability, global severity, pain, or direct medical costs with concurrent radiographic damage was assessed through Spearman correlations and hierarchical regression models. The hierarchical models permit exploitation of the between-patient and within-patient variation present in our longitudinal data.', 'At the time of the first available radiograph, mean (SD) levels of functional disability, global severity, and pain were 1.3 (0.7), 39.4 (21.0), and 1.1 (0.7), respectively. At entry into the study, the average radiograph score was 49.7 and upon leaving the study it was 66.9. Patients were followed an average of 6.7 years, with radiograph scores increasing at an average rate of 2.5 units/yr. The Spearman correlation [95% confidence interval (CI)] between average per-patient radiograph score and average per-patient HAQ disability index, average per-patient global severity, average per-patient pain score, and average per-patient direct medical costs was, respectively, 0.42 (0.26, 0.55), 0.23 (0.06, 0.39), 0.20 (0.03, 0.36), and 0.06 (-0.11, 0.23). The mean slope (95% CI) for disability on radiograph score was 0.0186 (0.0132, 0.0226), for severity on radiographs 0.1889 (0.1295, 0.2498), and for pain on radiographs 0.0057 (0.0027, 0.0084). As an example, over 10 years, a 25 unit (i.e., 50%) increase in radiograph scores would, on average, be associated with a 0.46 unit (i.e., 35%) increase in disability, a 4.72 unit (12%) increase in global severity score, and a 0.14 unit (13%) increase in pain, all expressed on the HAQ scales. There was little association between radiograph score and direct medical costs.'] Does radiographic damage in rheumatoid arthritis correlate with functional disability but not direct medical costs?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.0359511375427246,
-1.2932114601135254,
1.4019304513931274
] |
['The number of WBCs in platelet concentrates (PCs) prepared by the buffy coat (BC) method with different storage solutions can result in low (5 x 10(6)/unit) WBC levels by the use of careful centrifugation techniques without filtration. At present, most blood banks use filtration steps to meet these requirements. The difference in processing methods and suspension solutions prompted the investigation of the influence of the various procedures on the WBC and platelet content of PCs.', 'PCs from 5 BCs were harvested without or with inline filtration (AutoStop BC, Pall Corp.) in either plasma (PCs-plasma) or platelet additive solution (PCs-PAS-2). After preparation, samples were taken for counting WBCs and platelets and for analyzing WBC subsets by flow cytometry using specific MoAbs. The WBCs were concentrated before analysis of the WBC subsets. Results less than 2.5 cells per microL were considered below the limit of accuracy of the subset analysis.', 'All filtered PCs met the AABB standard of 5 x 10(6) per unit and the European guidelines of 1 x 10(6) per unit. None of the nonfiltered PCs met the European guidelines, but all met the AABB guidelines. All filtered units gave residual WBC counts below the detection limit for subset analysis. Filtered PCs-plasma gave significantly higher platelet counts than filtered PCs-PAS-2 or nonfiltered PCs (p<0.01, ANOVA).'] Does wBC content of platelet concentrate prepared by the buffy coat method using different processing procedures and storage solutions?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.1034318208694458,
-1.5143883228302002,
1.7322638034820557
] |
['The objective of this study was to determine the effects of stress and spaceflight on levels of neuroendocrine hormones and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific antibodies in astronauts.', 'Antiviral antibody titers and stress hormones were measured in plasma samples collected from 28 astronauts at their annual medical exam (baseline), 10 days before launch (L-10), landing day (R+0), and 3 days after landing (R+3). Urinary stress hormones were also measured at L-10 and R+0.', 'Significant increases (p <.01) in EBV virus capsid antigen antibodies were found at all three time points (L-10, R+0, and R+3) as compared with baseline samples. Anti-EBV nuclear antigen antibodies were significantly decreased at L-10 (p <.05) and continued to decrease after spaceflight (R+0 and R+3, p <.01). No changes were found in antibodies to the nonlatent measles virus. The 11 astronauts who showed evidence of EBV reactivation had significant increases in urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine as compared with astronauts without EBV reactivation.'] Do elevated stress hormone levels relate to Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in astronauts?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.3842883110046387,
-0.901194155216217,
2.299546003341675
] |
['Angiotensin II is known to stimulate proliferation of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells and enhance the atherosclerotic process in native coronary arteries. The impact of genetic polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system on coronary bypass graft degeneration is unknown.', 'We examined polymorphisms of four genes (AGTR1, CYP11B2, ACE, CMA) in 101 patients who had follow-up coronary angiography due to symptoms 88 +/- 52 months after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Bypass degeneration was determined with quantitative coronary angiography and an adjusted Gensini score.', 'Homozygosity for the G allele of the CMA-1905 polymorphism was associated with a higher degree of bypass degeneration (Bypass Gensini score CMA AA 21.4 +/- 39; AG 24.2 +/- 39.8; GG 27.8 +/- 42.3; NS-time adjusted Gensini bypass scores CMA AA 0.25 +/- 0.68; AG 0.57 +/- 1.82; GG 3.25 +/- 13.2; P = 0.005). No association could be detected for the AGTR1, CYP11B2 or ACE polymorphism.'] Is a chymase gene variant associated with atherosclerosis in venous coronary artery bypass grafts?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.255582094192505,
-1.451570749282837,
2.7796130180358887
] |
['To inhibit the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA with the mouse ICAM-1 phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASON) and to investigate the role of ICAM-1 in the pathophysialogical process of renal injury in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) animal model.', 'After unilateral ureteral ligation, the mice were treated with ICAM-1 ASON, which was injected intravenously at the dosage of 1 mg/kg/day every other day for one week. Other mice treated with control oligonucleotide or normal saline solution only were taken as controls. The expression of ICAM-1 protein and the number of Mac-1 positive cells were measured by immunohistochemical staining. The pathological changes of the obstructed kidney in the mice were analyzed by PAS-staining. Total RNA renal tissue was extracted for the analysis of the ICAM-1 mRNA by methods of Northern blotting.', 'The expression of ICAM-1 protein and the number of Mac-1 positive cells were reduced markedly in the obstructed kidneys of the mice treated with the ICAM-1 ASON(110 +/- 14 [symbol: see text]/mm2 vs 270 +/- 13 [symbol: see text]/mm2). The results of Northern blotting also showed marked decrease of the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA in the kidney of the mice after treatment with ICAM-1 ASON. There were marked inflammatory cells infiltration in the tubulointerstitium, markedly dilated tubules, and extraceliular matrix accumulation in the obstructed kidneys on the 7th day after UUO operation. The treatment of ICAM-1 ASON can alleviate the lesions of the obstructed kidney except for the dilation of the tubules. There was no difference in the body weight, liver weight, spleen weight, the level of BUN and SCr, the level of GPT as well as the urine protein of the mice treated with ICAM-1 ASON, compared with those in control Oligodeoxynucleotide-treated and saline-treated mice.'] Does [ Antisense oligonucleotide attenuate renal tubulointerstitial injury in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction ]?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.348348379135132,
-1.4347517490386963,
2.810612916946411
] |
['Although parent-offspring associations of cardiovascular risk factor variables are known, the age-specific nature of this familial relationship is not clear.', 'This aspect was examined in 727 unrelated children (mean age: 11.2 years) and their parents who participated in the Bogalusa Heart Study during their childhood (mean age: 11.3 years) and adulthood (mean age: 25.5 years).', "After adjusting for covariates, the mothers' childhood-offspring correlations were consistently higher than mothers' adulthood-offspring correlations for body mass index (BMI) [r = 0.45 vs. 0.32], systolic blood pressure (SBP) [r = 0.30 vs. 0.10], diastolic blood pressure (DPB) [r = 0.22 vs. 0.13] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) [r = 0.20 vs. 0.11]. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and triglycerides did not show such age-specific trends in mother-offspring correlations. Corresponding father-offspring correlations showed similar patterns, but the differences were of lesser magnitude. Multiple regression analyses using offspring's risk factor variables as dependent variables revealed that parents' childhood obesity, blood pressure and LDLC levels were better predictors of the corresponding variables in the young offspring than parents' adulthood values. Further, sex of either parents or offspring made no difference in the above findings."] Are the magnitude of familial associations of cardiovascular risk factor variables between parents and offspring influenced by age : the Bogalusa Heart Study?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.8056650161743164,
-0.9105157852172852,
1.8890024423599243
] |
['To study the association between the Gly40Ser polymorphism of the glucagon receptor gene (GCG-R) and central adiposity.', 'Data from 985 working men (The Olivetti Heart Study) examined in 1994 were used in a cross-sectional design. A complete anthropometry was performed; body mass index and waist circumference were taken as measures of total and central adiposity, respectively. The GCG-R Gly40Ser polymorphism was characterized. Biochemical variables linked to energy metabolism were measured.', 'The GCG-R Gly40Ser variant was present in 37 individuals only in heterozygous form and was significantly associated with anthropometric indices of central adiposity, accounting for age and body mass (odds ratio for waist circumference > 94 cm; 95% confidence interval: 3.14, 1.26 to 7.81), whereas no difference between the two groups was found with regard to biochemical indices of insulin resistance or plasma leptin levels.'] Is gly40Ser polymorphism of the glucagon receptor gene associated with central adiposity in men?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.256352186203003,
-1.2449756860733032,
2.5592117309570312
] |
['Radiology resident interpretation of computed tomographic (CT) scans at academic institutions often guides management of cases of suspected acute appendicitis in the emergency department. The purpose of this study was to compare resident and faculty interpretation of CT scans obtained for acute appendicitis.', "From December 16, 1999, to July 13, 2000, CT was performed in 103 consecutive patients between the hours of 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM who were suspected of having acute appendicitis. The authors compared the residents' preliminary written interpretations with both the final reports written by the faculty and the surgical findings. The faculty interpreting the CT scans were aware of resident interpretations but were not aware that a study was being conducted.", 'The final faculty interpretation and the preliminary resident interpretation were identical in 96 of the 103 patients (93%; 95% confidence interval: 87.8%, 97.2%). In only one patient was a scan originally interpreted as negative interpreted as positive by the faculty member. Clinically, the patient did not have acute appendicitis, and surgery was not perforrmed.'] Does resident interpretation of emergency CT scan in the evaluation of acute appendicitis?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.9540919065475464,
-0.43340280652046204,
1.5244390964508057
] |
['Recent studies have revealed angiotensin II subtype 1 (AT1) receptors on macula densa cells, raising the possibility that angiotensin II (Ang II) could enhance tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) by affecting macula densa cell function. We hypothesized that Ang II enhances TGF via activation of AT1 receptors on the luminal membrane of the macula densa.', 'Rabbit afferent arterioles and the attached macula densa were simultaneously microperfused in vitro, keeping pressure in the afferent arteriole at 60 mm Hg.', 'The afferent arteriole diameter was measured while the macula densa was perfused with low NaCl (Na+, 5 mmol/L; Cl-, 3 mmol/L) and then with high NaCl (Na+, 79 mmol/L; Cl-, 77 mmol/L) to induce a TGF response. When TGF was induced in the absence of Ang II, the afferent arteriole diameter decreased by 2.4 +/- 0.5 microm (from 17.3 +/- 1.0 to 14.9 +/- 1.2 microm). With Ang II (0.1 nmol/L) present in the lumen of the macula densa, the diameter decreased by 3.8 +/- 0.7 microm (from 17.3 +/- 1.0 to 13.5 +/- 1.2 microm, P < 0.05 vs. TGF with no Ang II, N = 8). To test whether Ang II enhances TGF via activation of AT1 receptors on the luminal membrane of the macula densa, Ang II plus losartan (1 micromol/L) was added to the lumen. Losartan itself did not alter TGF. When TGF was induced in the absence of Ang II and losartan, the afferent arteriole diameter decreased by 2.3 +/- 0.3 microm (from 15.9 +/- 1.0 to 13.6 +/- 1.2 microm). When Ang II and losartan were both present in the macula densa perfusate, the diameter decreased by 2.4 +/- 0.4 microm (from 15.8 +/- 0.9 to 13.4 +/- 0.7 microm, P> 0.8 vs. TGF with no Ang II and losartan, N = 7). We then examined whether AT2 receptors on the macula densa influence the effect of luminal Ang II on TGF. When TGF was induced in the absence of Ang II plus PD 0123319-0121B (1 micromol/L), the afferent arteriole diameter decreased by 2.4 +/- 0.2 microm (from 17.0 +/- 0.9 to 14.6 +/- 0.8 microm). When Ang II and PD 0123319-0121B were both present in the macula densa lumen, the diameter decreased by 3.9 +/- 0.2 microm (from 16.8 +/- 0.9 to 12.9 +/- 0.9 microm, P < 0.001 vs. TGF with no Ang II and PD 0123319-0121B, N = 8). PD 0123319-0121B itself had no effect on TGF. To assure that this effect of Ang II was not due to leakage into the bath, losartan was added to the bath. When TGF was induced in the absence of Ang II with losartan in the bath, the afferent arteriole diameter decreased by 2.8 +/- 0.5 microm (from 19.3 +/- 1.2 to 16.5 +/- 0.8 microm). After Ang II was added to the macula densa perfusate and losartan to the bath, the diameter decreased by 4.0 +/- 0.7 microm (from 18.9 +/- 1.1 to 14.9 +/- 0.5 microm, P < 0.01 vs. TGF with no Ang II in the lumen and losartan in the bath, N = 8).'] Does angiotensin II enhance tubuloglomerular feedback via luminal AT ( 1 ) receptors on the macula densa?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.0351580381393433,
-1.7517735958099365,
1.750325322151184
] |
['Linkage data have now identified several inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) susceptibility loci but these data have not been consistently replicated in independent studies. One potential explanation for this is the possibility that patients enrolled in such studies may have been erroneously classified with respect to their diagnosis.', 'To determine the rate and type of misclassification in a large population of individuals referred for participation in an IBD genetics study and to examine the effect of diagnostic misclassification on the power to detect linkage.', 'The medical records of 1096 patients entered into an IBD genetics programme were reviewed using standardised diagnostic criteria. The original patient reported diagnoses were changed, if necessary, based on review, and the reasons for the change in diagnosis were recorded. To evaluate the effect of misclassification on linkage results, simulations were created with Gensim and analysed using Genehunter to evaluate a model for IBD inheritance.', "Sixty eight of 1096 (6.2%) individuals had a change in diagnosis from that originally reported. The majority of changes were patients with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis who were determined not to have IBD at all. The principal reasons for changes to the original diagnosis were discordance between the patients' subjective reports of diagnosis and actual clinical history, endoscopic, or pathological results; a change in disease pattern over time; and insufficient information available to confirm the original diagnosis. A 10% misclassification rate resulted in 28.4% and 40.2% loss of power to detect a true linkage when using a statistical model for a presumed IBD locus with lambda(s) values of 1.8 and 1.3, respectively."] Does diagnostic misclassification reduce the ability to detect linkage in inflammatory bowel disease genetic studies?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.0623462200164795,
-1.0197207927703857,
2.097155809402466
] |
['The goal of this study was to investigate whether the "warm-up" effect in angina protects against ischemic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.', 'After exercise, patients with coronary disease demonstrate persistent myocardial dysfunction, which may represent stunning, as well as warm-up protection against further angina, which may represent ischemic preconditioning. The effect of warm-up exercise on LV function during subsequent exercise has not been investigated.', 'Thirty-two patients with multivessel coronary disease and preserved LV function performed two supine bicycle exercise tests 30 min apart. Equilibrium radionuclide angiography was performed before, during and up to 60 min after each test. Global LV ejection fraction and volume changes and regional ejection fraction for nine LV sectors were calculated for each acquisition.', 'Onset of chest pain or 1 mm ST depression was delayed and occurred at a higher rate-pressure product during the second exercise test. Sectors whose regional ejection fraction fell during the first test showed persistent reduction at 15 min (68 +/- 20 vs. 73 +/- 20%, p < 0.0001). These sectors demonstrated increased function during the second test (71 +/- 20 vs. 63 +/- 20%, p = 0.0005). The reduction at 15 min and the increase during the second test were both in proportion to the reduction during the first test. Effects on global function were only apparent when the initial response to exercise was considered.'] Does the warm-up effect protect against ischemic left ventricular dysfunction in patients with angina?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.8588355779647827,
-1.0901292562484741,
1.9735649824142456
] |
['We sought to examine whether estradiol (E2) supplementation suppresses anginal attacks in women with variant angina.', 'Estrogen is known to improve endothelial function. Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of not only variant angina but also ischemic heart disease in general, and endothelial dysfunction seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary spasm.', 'Fifteen postmenopausal women with variant angina (mean age 54.2 years) were given a hyperventilation (HV) test, a provocation test for coronary spasm, in the early morning of day 1 (baseline), day 3 (after 2-day transdermal E2 supplementation, 4 mg) and day 5 (after 2-day placebo administration). We measured the flow-mediated (endothelium-dependent) dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery with the ultrasound technique before each HV test.', 'The anginal attacks with ST segment elevation were induced by HV in all patients on days 1 and 5. However, no attacks were induced on day 3. Supplementation with E2 augmented FMD (3.5 +/- 0.6*, 8.9 +/- 0.7 and 4.0 +/- 0.5* on days 1, 3 and 5, respectively; *p < 0.01 vs. day 3). The serum E2 levels on days 1, 3 and 5 were 22.7 +/- 2.8*, 96.2 +/- 9.2 and 30.7 +/- 7.1* pg/ml, respectively (*p < 0.01 vs. day 3).'] Does estradiol supplementation suppress hyperventilation-induced attacks in postmenopausal women with variant angina?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.611995816230774,
-1.5229594707489014,
2.1334924697875977
] |
['As interventions for severe, treatment-refractory obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), neurosurgical procedures are associated with only modest efficacy. The purpose of this study was to identify cerebral metabolic correlates as potential predictors of treatment response to anterior cingulotomy for OCD.', 'Clinical data were analyzed in the context of a retrospective design. Subjects were 11 patients who underwent stereotactic anterior cingulotomy for OCD. Symptom severity was measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) before and at approximately 6 months postoperative. Preoperative F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) data were available. Statistical parametric mapping methods were used to identify loci of significant correlation between preoperative regional cerebral metabolism and postoperative reduction in Y-BOCS scores.', 'One locus within right posterior cingulate cortex was identified, where preoperative metabolism was significantly correlated with improvement in OCD symptom severity following cingulotomy. Specifically, higher preoperative rates of metabolism at that locus were associated with better postoperative outcome.'] Does cerebral metabolic correlate as potential predictors of response to anterior cingulotomy for obsessive compulsive disorder?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.471039295196533,
-1.131291151046753,
2.678715705871582
] |
['Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with the metabolism of lipid, glucose and energy. Beta-adrenergic receptors play an important role in the regulation of energy expenditure, in part, by stimulating lipid mobilization through lipolysis.', 'To assess whether it is common for the beta2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR) gene polymorphisms in codons 16 and 27 to play a role in the development of fatty liver, we investigated 251 unrelated healthy Japanese males who were drug-free and showed no signs of heavy drinking.', 'The allelic frequency of B2AR gene mutation in codons 16 and 27 did not differ between obese subjects (BMI>25.0 kg/m(2), n=151) and non-obese subjects (BMI</=25.0 kg/m(2), n=100). The Gly16 homozygotes had a lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level than the Arg16 homozygotes (1.50+/-0.4 vs. 1.32+/-0.3 mmol/l, p=0.014). However, no significant association with fatty liver was observed in the Gly16 allele frequency. The Gln27Glu27 heterozygotes showed higher concentrations of serum triglycerides (TG) than the Gln27Gln27 homozygotes (1.62+/-0.93 vs. 2.21+/-1.67 mmol/l, p=0.013). This correlation was also observed in all subjects regardless of weight classification. Univariate analysis indicated that subjects with the heterozygous Gln27Glu mutant alleles had a significantly higher prevalence of fatty liver vs. those without the mutation (Glu27 allele frequency, 0.07 vs. 0.12, p=0.047; odds ratio, 1.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-3.68). However, multivariate logistic regression models showed the prevalence of fatty liver to be significantly related to the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, BMI, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol.'] Is gln27Glu beta2-adrenergic receptor variant associated with hypertriglyceridemia and the development of fatty liver?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.747109055519104,
-1.5314770936965942,
2.213080883026123
] |
['Cholecystokinin (CCK) has been shown to coexist and interact with dopamine in the regulation of behaviour. Two different CCK receptors (CCK1 and CCK2) have an opposite influence on the activity of dopamine neurons. Stimulation of CCK2 receptors decreases the release of dopamine and that receptor could mediate the neuroleptic-like effect of CCK.', 'To investigate the activity of the dopaminergic system in pharmacological experiments on CCK2 receptor (CCK2R)-deficient mice.', 'We used age- and sex-matched littermates in all our experiments. To evaluate the behavioural differences, we performed the rotarod test and measured the locomotor activity of animals using computer-connected photoelectric motility boxes. Amphetamine and apomorphine, two dopaminergic drugs with different pharmacodynamic properties, were used to influence the activity of the dopaminergic system in the brain. Neurochemical differences related to the different genotype were analysed by means of high-performance liquid chromatography and radioligand binding studies.', 'Motor co-ordination was significantly impaired in the rotarod test of CCK2R receptor-deficient mice. Moreover, the locomotor activity of heterozygous (+/-) and homozygous (-/-) CCK2R receptor-deficient mice was somewhat reduced. A low dose of apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg), an unselective agonist of dopamine receptors, suppressed locomotor activity significantly more in homozygous (-/-) and heterozygous (+/-) mutant mice than in their wild-type (+/+) littermates. Amphetamine (3-6 mg/kg), increasing release of dopamine from the presynaptic terminals, caused a dose-dependent motor stimulation in wild-type (+/+) mice. In heterozygous (+/-) and homozygous (-/-) mice, a lower dose of amphetamine (3 mg/kg) did not alter the locomotor activity, whereas the higher dose of (6 mg/kg) induced a significantly stronger increase in locomotor activity in homozygous (-/-) mice than in their heterozygous (+/-) and wild-type (+/+) littermates. Despite the changes in the action of apomorphine and amphetamine in homozygous (-/-) mice, we did not find any significant differences in the concentration of dopamine and their metabolites in the striatum or cortex. However, the density of dopamine D2 receptors was significantly increased in the striatum of homozygous (-/-) animals compared with wild-type (+/+) mice.'] Do cholecystokinin2 receptor-deficient mice display altered function of brain dopaminergic system?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.311312437057495,
-1.3753398656845093,
2.642529010772705
] |
['A positive correlation between responding to novelty and propensity to subsequently self-administer a drug has been reported for opioids and psychomotor stimulants but remains to be investigated for nicotine.', "The possibility that locomotor responding to novelty can predict a rat's propensity to self-administer nicotine was therefore assessed.", "Rats' locomotor response to a novel environment was assessed, and animals were subsequently tested for their self-administration of nicotine.", 'Significant positive correlations were obtained between responding to novelty and acquisition of nicotine self-administration over 12 days of testing under fixed-ratio schedules as well as subsequent responding for the drug under a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement. When designated as high (HR) or low (LR) responders based on whether their locomotor responses on the novelty screen were above or below the median activity level of the subject sample, HR animals, compared with LR rats, acquired nicotine self-administration more readily and worked more to obtain the drug when tested under the PR schedule.'] Does locomotor response to novelty predict a rat 's propensity to self-administer nicotine?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.3591501712799072,
-0.23879557847976685,
1.6953766345977783
] |
['Several cardiovascular risk factors are present in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), among which are systemic inflammation and hyperhomocysteinemia. Increased oxidative stress, endothelial activation/dysfunction, and coagulation activation are considered integral components of the inflammatory response, but have also been proposed as mediators of plasma homocysteine (tHcy)-induced cell damage. Using correlation analysis, we assessed the relative contributions of inflammation and hyperhomocysteinemia in the abnormal oxidative stress, endothelial activation/dysfunction, and hemostasis activation in patients with CRF.', 'The relationships of inflammatory proteins and tHcy with plasma markers of these processes were studied in 64 patients with CRF (serum creatinine 526 +/- 319 micromol/L) on conservative treatment, comparing the results with healthy controls (N = 15 to 40, depending on the measured variable) of similar sex and age.', 'Patients had significant increases in inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-8) and acute-phase proteins (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and alpha1-antitrypsin). tHcy was increased in 87.5% of patients (mean = 27.1 micromol/L, range 6.5 to 118). Patients had significant increases in (1) indices of oxidative stress: TBARS (thiobarbituric acid-reactive species), a marker of lipid peroxidation and AOPP (advanced oxidation protein products), a marker of protein oxidation; (2) endothelial cell markers such as von Willebrand factor (vWF:Ag), soluble ICAM-1 and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM); (3) markers of intravascular thrombin generation: thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT) and prothrombin fragment F(1+2) (PF(1+2)); and (4) indices of activation of fibrinolysis: plasmin-antiplasmin complexes (PAP), fibrin degradation products (FnDP) and fibrinogen degradation products (FgDP). tHcy was significantly correlated with plasma creatinine (r = 0.29, P < 0.018) and with serum folate (r = -0.38, P < 0.002). However, no significant correlations were observed between tHcy and TBARS, AOPP, vWF:Ag, sICAM-1, sTM, TAT, F(1+2), sTF, PAP, FnDP, and FgDP. Conversely, acute-phase proteins showed significant, positive correlations with most markers of oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and hemostatic activation.'] Is inflammation , not hyperhomocysteinemia , related to oxidative stress and hemostatic and endothelial dysfunction in uremia?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.3375930786132812,
-1.431887149810791,
2.8303656578063965
] |
['Proteinuric glomerular diseases often are associated with tubulointerstitial injury, which imposes on the progression of renal failure. Tubular damage is partly referable to toxic effects on the tubular epithelial cells induced by filtered plasma proteins. Patients with nonselective proteinuria, that is, increased urine excretion of high-molecular-weight plasma proteins such as IgG in comparison to albumin, often have poor renal outcome. The present observational study examined correlations between the degree of tubular damage, measured by urine concentration of protein HC, and the levels of urine IgG and albuminuria.', 'Measurements of urine concentrations of IgG, albumin, and protein HC were performed in 56 proteinuric patients (33 males and 23 females) with nondiabetic glomerular diseases at the time of the diagnostic renal biopsy and at a mean of 49 follow-up months.', 'A highly significant correlation between the urine IgG excretion and the urine protein HC concentration was found both at the start and at the end of the observational time (r = 0.74 and 0.65, respectively, P < 0.001). Furthermore, alterations in the urinary excretion of the two proteins in single patients correlated significantly to each other (r = 0.84, P < 0.001). The correlation between the degree of albuminuria and the protein HC excretion was significant at the time of kidney biopsy, but ceased to exist during the follow-up time. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that in comparison with the creatinine clearance and albuminuria, only the changes in urinary IgG excretion were related to the corresponding changes in urinary protein HC excretion (r = 0.84 and r2 = 0.7, P < 0.001).'] Does urine excretion of protein HC in proteinuric glomerular diseases correlate to urine IgG but not to albuminuria?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.1330559253692627,
-1.3427398204803467,
2.5369338989257812
] |
['We aimed to examine whether impaired glucose tolerance is associated with reduced suppression of glucagon concentrations.', 'Eighty-four non-diabetic women of Caucasian origin and 61 years of age, of whom 48 had normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 36 had IGT, underwent a 75 g OGTT and a hyperinsulinaemic, euglycaemic clamp with measurement of glucagon, insulin and glucose concentrations.', 'At 2 h after 75 g oral glucose, glucagon concentrations were reduced by 7.1 +/- 1.1 ng/l in NGT vs 8.0 +/- 1.4 ng/l in IGT, (NS). However, the 2 h reductions in glucagon per mmol/l increase in 2 h glucose or per pmol/l increase in 2 h insulin were both impaired in IGT (p = 0.002 and p = 0.043, respectively) because the 2 h increases in glucose and insulin were higher in IGT than in NGT. Furthermore, suppression of glucagon concentrations during a euglycaemic clamp at hyperinsulinaemic concentrations (NGT: 607 +/- 19 pmol/l, IGT: 561 +/- 21 pmol/l) was lower in IGT (13.6 +/- 1.6 ng/l) than in NGT (23.1 +/- 1.2 ng/l; p < 0.001). The suppression of glucagon concentrations during the hyperinsulinaemic, euglycaemic clamp correlated with insulin sensitivity (r = 0.24, p = 0.027) and with the 2 h glucose value during the OGTT (r = -0.52, p < 0.001).'] Is impaired glucose tolerance ( IGT ) associated with reduced insulin-induced suppression of glucagon concentrations?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.1105974912643433,
-1.623355746269226,
1.7011284828186035
] |
["There is increasing evidence that intracellular fatty acid binding proteins (FABPc's; 15 kD) function as vehicles of cytosolic fatty acid transport. We studied skeletal muscle cytosolic FABPc, and enzymes reflecting beta-oxidation and oxidative capacity (3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, HAD, and citrate synthase, CS) in relation to weight loss and changes in substrate utilisation in a group of 35 obese women and obese men with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (women = 27, men = 8).", 'Muscle biopsies (vastus lateralis), and measurements of body composition, resting energy expenditure and respiratory exchange ratio were taken before and after dietary intervention (by means of a very low calorie diet).', 'Muscle FABPc tended to increase after diet (178 +/- 13 vs 204 +/- 12 mg x gww(-1), p = 0.06), whereas there were no changes in CS (10.5 +/- 0.7 vs 11.1 +/- 0.6 U x gww(-1)) and HAD (11.2 +/- 0.7 vs 11.7 +/- 0.6 U x gww(-1)). There was a positive relation between the increase in FABPc as result of diet and the amount of weight lost (p < 0.01; adjusted R2, 15.4 %), even when adjusted for mean body weight, and changes in CS and in HAD by partial regression analysis. Interestingly, the increase in FABPc was positively related to increases in resting fat oxidation (adjusted R2, 24 %), even when adjusted for mean resting fat oxidation, and changes in CS and in HAD.'] Is increase in skeletal muscle fatty acid binding protein ( FABPC ) content directly related to weight loss and to changes in fat oxidation following a very low calorie diet?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.5908464193344116,
-1.3930933475494385,
2.0270307064056396
] |
['To evaluate the effect of capsaicin, a powerful neurotoxin selective to afferent nerves, on contralateral testicular damage in ipsilateral testicular torsion.', 'Forty male albino rats were randomly allocated into five groups. No operation was performed in group one. After intraperitoneal administration of 0.9% NaCl, rats underwent a sham operation in group 2 and testicular torsion in group 3. In groups 4 and 5 rats underwent sham operation and testicular torsion, respectively after intraoperitoneal capsaicin injection. Contralateral testes were harvested on the fifteenth day of the experiment and mean seminiferous tubular diameters and mean testicular biopsy scores were recorded for each testis. The values were compared through analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Turkey-Kramer multiple comparisons test and p values less than 0.05 were considered to be significant.', 'Mean testicular biopsy scores and mean seminiferous tubular diameters of group 5 was significantly higher than the group 3. There was no difference between the groups 1, 2, 4, and 5 when these two parameters are concerned.'] Does capsaicin in albino rats prevent contralateral testis from the damaging effects posed by ipsilateral testis that underwent torsion?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.8799686431884766,
-1.3746733665466309,
2.269724130630493
] |
['RET proto-oncogene rearrangements (RET/PTC) are causative events in the pathogenesis of a subset of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). The prevalence of RET/PTC varies in different countries and according to specific clinical features: it is higher after radiation exposure and it is claimed to be higher in young patients. Conflicting results are reported regarding the prognostic role of RET/PTC activation.', 'To investigate the prognostic meaning of RET/PTC rearrangement on the long term outcome of PTC.', "We have studied the expression of the RET encoded protein in 127 papillary thyroid carcinomas by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal antibody against the tyrosine-kinase domain of the RET protein. These cases have been collected during 1970-1985, and have a mean (+/-S.D.) period of follow-up of 18.6+/-3.7 years (range 12-27 years). The results have been compared with the patients' outcome.", "The tyrosine-kinase domain of RET was expressed in 82 (64.6%) papillary carcinomas. Among them, RET was highly expressed in 65 (51.2%) cases and moderately expressed in 17 (13.4%). RET expression was absent in 45 (35.4%) cases. No correlation was found between RET expression and other parameters such as sex, age at diagnosis, tumor class and histological variant. Follow-up analysis showed no influence of RET expression on patients' outcome. By multivariate analysis, age (>45 years) and tumor class IV, but not sex and RET expression were adverse prognostic indicators of death."] Does rET protein expression have no prognostic impact on the long-term outcome of papillary thyroid carcinoma?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.240457534790039,
-1.3571842908859253,
2.673353672027588
] |
["The objective of this study was to use Cushing's disease as a unique human model to elucidate the cognitive deficits resulting from exposure to chronic stress-level elevations of endogenous cortisol.", "Forty-eight patients with a first episode of acute, untreated Cushing's disease and 38 healthy control subjects were studied.", "Scores for four of five verbal IQ subtests were significantly lower in patients with Cushing's disease; their scores were significantly lower for only one nonverbal performance IQ subtest (block design). Verbal, but not visual, learning and delayed recall at 30 minutes were significantly decreased among patients with Cushing's disease. Although verbal delayed recall was significantly lower in these patients, the retention index (percentage), which compares the amount of initially learned material to that recalled after the delay, was not significantly decreased. There was no significant association between depression scores and cognitive performance. A higher degree of cortisol elevation was associated with poorer performance on several subtests of learning, delayed recall, and visual-spatial ability."] Are elevated cortisol levels in Cushing 's disease associated with cognitive decrements?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.1519696712493896,
0.1445876508951187,
1.1113266944885254
] |
['This study examined the association between hormonal profiles at the start of cancer treatment and subsequent psychological symptomatology.', 'Twenty-seven patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and 18 patients with metastatic melanoma completed three assessments during the course of treatment: at the start of treatment (baseline), at the end of treatment (3 weeks after baseline), and at a follow-up appointment 1 month later. Cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine levels were measured at baseline using 15-hour urine samples. At each assessment, patients completed the Impact of Event Scale (IES) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI).', 'Patients reported moderate levels of distress throughout treatment as measured by the IES and BSI. Norepinephrine levels at the start of treatment were positively associated with IES total scores at the end of treatment and at follow-up, and cortisol levels were positively associated with IES total scores at follow-up after adjusting for baseline IES and overall distress scores. Norepinephrine levels were also positively associated with depression scores at follow-up, and cortisol levels were positively associated with depression scores at the end of treatment and at follow-up after adjusting for baseline depression and overall distress scores.'] Are endocrine levels at the start of treatment associated with subsequent psychological adjustment in cancer patients with metastatic disease?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.3011112213134766,
-0.9566571116447449,
2.32283616065979
] |
['Disease severity in the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is highly influenced by psychiatric comorbidity. The mechanism of this influence is generally unknown, even if the brain-gut axis seems to be involved. Recent research has indicated that IBS patients have aberrant perception of visceral stimuli in the CNS. We compared IBS patients with and without comorbid phobic anxiety to see if the comorbid disorder influenced brain information processing of auditory stimuli, and looked for possible consequences with respect to visceral sensitivity thresholds and disease severity.', 'Eleven female patients with IBS with comorbid phobic anxiety disorder were compared with 22 age-matched female IBS patients without such comorbidity. The groups were compared with respect to event-related potentials (ERP), auditory-presented words with emotional contents, barostat-assessed visceral sensitivity thresholds, and symptom levels the last week before assessment.', 'The comorbid group had a significantly enhanced first negative ERP wave (N1) to all stimuli, indicating increased use of brain attentional resources. It also had increased visceral threshold for the sensation of gas, and reduced gas-stool and gas-discomfort tolerances compared with the noncomorbid group. Enhanced N1 amplitude at the frontal electrode and reduced gas-stools tolerance significantly predicted subjective gas complaints, explaining 47% of the symptom variation.'] Does phobic anxiety change the function of brain-gut axis in irritable bowel syndrome?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.6003830432891846,
-0.7466418743133545,
2.3905234336853027
] |
['To determine the predictive value(s) of beta-hCG serum levels for pregnancy outcome following blastocyst transfer.', 'Retrospective review.', 'University-based assisted reproductive technology (ART) program.', 'All ART patients enrolled from January 1998 to December 1999.', 'None.', 'Beta-hCG serum levels and pregnancy outcomes.', 'Of the 836 ART cycles initiated, 608 embryo transfers met study criteria and were assigned to one of two groups: 248 day 5 blastocyst transfers or 360 day 3 embryo transfers. In the day 5 blastocyst group, 147 pregnancies occurred (59.2%), and day 3 transfers resulted in 165 pregnancies (45.8%). For day 3 and day 5 transfers, mean values of beta-hCG on day 16 post-retrieval of spontaneous abortions were lower than ongoing pregnancies (P< .05). A beta-hCG value on day 16 of >300 mIU/mL predicted an ongoing pregnancy for day 5 transfer group in 97% of pregnancies compared with 92% for day 3 embryo transfers. A multiple gestation was observed in 70% of pregnancies with a beta-hCG level >400 mIU/mL in the day 5 group compared with 63% for the day 3 group. The incidence of higher-order multiple gestations was significantly lower in the day 5 blastocyst group (P< .05).'] Are human chorionic gonadotropin levels after blastocyst transfer highly predictive of pregnancy outcome?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.4128998517990112,
-1.0290067195892334,
1.497209072113037
] |
['To evaluate the role of hyaluronic acid in the attachment of endometrial cells to mesothelium.', 'In vitro study of adhesion of endometrial stromal and epithelial cells to mesothelial cells.', 'University medical center.', 'Reproductive-age women without endometriosis undergoing surgery for benign conditions.', 'None.', 'The effect of hyaluronidase treatment of mesothelial cells or endometrial cells on adhesion of (51)Cr labeled endometrial stromal and epithelial cells to monolayers of mesothelium was evaluated. The expression of CD44, the hyaluronate receptor, was evaluated by western blot.', 'Hyaluronidase pretreatment of mesothelial cells decreased the binding of endometrial stromal and epithelial cells to mesothelium by 39% (P< .02) and 31% (P< .03), respectively. There was no effect on endometrial cell binding to mesothelial cells or to collagen IV when the endometrial cells were pretreated with hyaluronidase. CD44 expression by endometrial stromal and epithelial cells was demonstrated by western blot.'] Does mesothelial cell-associated hyaluronic acid promote adhesion of endometrial cells to mesothelium?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-2.657728672027588,
-1.0676605701446533,
2.770749092102051
] |
['Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major cause of death despite successful revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease. The signal-averaged ECG (SAECG) is a sensitive predictor of SCD and could be used in the screening strategy to select patients for prophylactic cardioverter implantation.', 'The SAECG was recorded in 561 patients (mean age: 60 +/- 8.8 years) within 10 days of coronary artery bypass grafting. Signal-averaged ECG was performed with a bandpass filtering of 40 to 250 Hz for more than 250 beats until a noise level of 0.6 microV was achieved. All patients were followed for 5.5 +/- 1.2 years after the procedure.', 'Preoperative angiographic ejection fraction was at least 60% in 393 patients (72%), 40% to 60% in 126 patients (23%), and 40% or less in 28 patients (5%). There were 34 deaths, 10 of which were SCD. Late potentials were found in a total of 150 patients (27%) and were equally frequent preoperatively and postoperatively and among patients with (30%) and without (27%) SCD. The only predictors for overall mortality were age and a reduced ejection fraction.'] Is sudden cardiac death after coronary artery bypass grafting predicted by signal-averaged ECG?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.2890362739562988,
-1.600409746170044,
1.8886568546295166
] |
['This study compared the glucose-lowering effect of insulin lispro, given before or after meals, with regular human insulin given before meals in prepubertal children with diabetes.', 'A 3-way crossover, open-label study involving 61 prepubertal children (ages 2.9-11.4 years) with type 1 diabetes. The children were randomly assigned to receive regular human insulin 30 to 45 minutes before meals, insulin lispro within 15 minutes before or immediately after meals, combined with basal insulin. Each treatment lasted 3 months. Hemoglobin A(1c) levels and home glucose monitoring profiles were measured at the end of each treatment period.', 'Treatment with insulin lispro before breakfast resulted in lower 2-hour postprandial glucose values than regular human insulin (11.7 +/- 4.4 mmol/L vs 15.0 +/- 5.4 mmol/L). Similarly, insulin lispro given before dinner resulted in lower blood glucose values 2 hours postprandially (8.8 +/- 5.0 mmol/L vs 10.8 +/- 5.4 mmol/L) than regular human insulin. When insulin lispro was administered after meals, the 2-hour glucose levels were between those seen with either insulin lispro or regular human insulin given before meals. The number and types of adverse events, the rates of hypoglycemia, and the HbA(1c) levels did not differ among the 3 therapies.'] Does insulin lispro lower postprandial glucose in prepubertal children with diabetes?
|
qiaojin/PubMedQA
| 2 |
[
-1.7343977689743042,
-0.8211683630943298,
1.6370049715042114
] |
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