Objectives
Smoking is the most prevalent modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases among HIV‐positive persons. We assessed the effect on smoking cessation of training HIV care physicians in ...counselling.
Methods
The Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) is a multicentre prospective observational database. Our single‐centre intervention at the Zurich centre included a half day of standardized training for physicians in counselling and in the pharmacotherapy of smokers, and a physicians' checklist for semi‐annual documentation of their counselling. Smoking status was then compared between participants at the Zurich centre and other institutions. We used marginal logistic regression models with exchangeable correlation structure and robust standard errors to estimate the odds of smoking cessation and relapse.
Results
Between April 2000 and December 2010, 11 056 SHCS participants had 121 238 semi‐annual visits and 64 118 person‐years of follow‐up. The prevalence of smoking decreased from 60 to 43%. During the intervention at the Zurich centre from November 2007 to December 2009, 1689 participants in this centre had 6068 cohort visits. These participants were more likely to stop smoking odds ratio (OR) 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–1.42; P = 0.004 and had fewer relapses (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.61–0.92; P = 0.007) than participants at other SHCS institutions. The effect of the intervention was stronger than the calendar time effect (OR 1.19 vs. 1.04 per year, respectively). Middle‐aged participants, injecting drug users, and participants with psychiatric problems or with higher alcohol consumption were less likely to stop smoking, whereas persons with a prior cardiovascular event were more likely to stop smoking.
Conclusions
An institution‐wide training programme for HIV care physicians in smoking cessation counselling led to increased smoking cessation and fewer relapses.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
1 Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; and 2 Zoophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
Submitted 27 July 2006
; accepted in ...final form 4 July 2007
Many fish species adapt to hypoxia by reducing their metabolic rate and increasing hemoglobin-oxygen (Hb-O 2 ) affinity. Pilot studies with young broods of cichlids showed that the young could survive severe hypoxia in contrast with the adults. It was therefore hypothesized that early exposure results in improved oxygen transport. This hypothesis was tested using split brood experiments. Broods of Astatoreochromis alluaudi , Haplochromis ishmaeli , and a tilapia hybrid ( Oreochromis ) were raised either under normoxia (NR; 80–90% air saturation) or hypoxia (HR; 10% air saturation). The activity of the mitochondrial citrate synthase was not different between NR and HR tilapia, but was significantly decreased in HR A. alluaudi and H. ishmaeli , indicating lowered maximum aerobic capacities. On the other hand, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly higher in all HR fish of the three species, reflecting a physiological adaptation to safeguard oxygen transport capacity. In HR tilapia, intraerythrocytic GTP levels were decreased, suggesting an adaptive increase of blood-O 2 affinity. Similar changes were not found in HR H. ishmaeli . In this species, however, all HR specimens exhibited a distinctly different iso-Hb pattern compared with their NR siblings, which correlated with a higher intrinsic Hb-O 2 affinity in the former. All HR cichlids thus reveal left-shifted Hb-O 2 equilibrium curves, mediated by either decreased allosteric interaction or, in H. ishmaeli , by the production of new hemoglobins. It is concluded that the adaptation to lifelong hypoxia is mainly due to improved oxygen transport.
hypoxia acclimation; isohemoglobins; P 50 ; phenotypic plasticity; oxygen transport
Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: G. Van den Thillart, Institute Biology Leiden, POB 9516, 2300RA, Leiden, The Netherlands (e-mail: g.van.den.thillart{at}biology.leidenuniv.nl )
MMP25 (MT6-MMP) is one of the two glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that have been suggested to play a role in pericellular proteolysis. However, its role in ...cancer is unknown, and its biochemical properties are not well established. Here we found a marked increase in MT6-MMP expression within in situ dysplasia and invasive cancer in 61 samples of human colon cancer. Expression of MT6-MMP in HCT-116 human colon cancer cells promoted tumori-genesis in nude mice. Histologically, the MT6-MMP-expressing tumors demonstrated an infiltrative leading edge in contrast to a rounded leading edge in vector control tumors. Biochemical and biosynthesis analyses revealed that MT6-MMP displayed on the cell surface exists as a major form of 120 kDa that likely represents enzyme homodimers linked by disulfide bonds. Upon reduction, a single 57-kDa active MT6-MMP was detected. Interestingly, neither membrane-anchored nor phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-released MT6-MMPs were found to be associated with tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and did not activate pro-gelatinases (pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-9) even in the presence of exogenous TIMP-2 or TIMP-1. A catalytic domain of MT6-MMP was inhibited preferentially by TIMP-1 (Ki = 0.2 nm) over TIMP-2 (Ki = 2.0 nm), because of a slower association rate. These results show that MT6-MMP may play a role in colon cancer and exhibit unique biochemical and structural properties that may regulate proteolytic function at the cell surface.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
We investigate the sources, prevalence, and fine-particle inorganic composition of biosmoke over the western Pacific Ocean between 24 February and 10 April 2001. The analysis is based on highly ...time-resolved airborne measurements of gaseous and fine- particle inorganic chemical composition made during the NASA Transport and Chemical Evolution over the Pacific (TRACE-P) experiment. At latitudes below approximately 25 deg. N, relatively pure biomass burning plumes of enhanced fine-particle potassium, nitrate, ammonium, light-absorbing aerosols, and CO concentrations were observed in plumes that back trajectories and satellite fire map data suggest originated from biomass burning in southeast Asia. Fine-particle water-soluble potassium (K+) is confirmed to be a unique biosmoke tracer, and its prevalence throughout the experiment indicates that approximately 20% of the TRACE-P Asian outflow plumes were influenced, to some extent, by biomass or biofuel burning emissions. At latitudes above 25 deg. N, highly mixed urban/industrial and biosmoke plumes, indicated by SO(sup 2, sub 4) and K+, were observed in 5 out of 53 plumes. Most plumes were found in the Yellow Sea and generally were associated with much higher fine-particle loadings than plumes lacking a biosmoke influence. The air mass back trajectories of these mixed plumes generally pass through the latitude range of between 34 deg. and 40 deg. N on the eastern China coast, a region that includes the large urban centers of Beijing and Tianjin. A lack of biomass burning emissions based on fire maps and high correlations between K+ and pollution tracers (e.g., S(sup 2, sub 4) suggest biofuel sources. Ratios of fine-particle potassium to sulfate are used to provide an estimate of relative contributions of biosmoke emissions to the mixed Asian plumes. The ratio is highly correlated with fine-particle volume (r(sup 2) = 0.85) and predicts that for the most polluted plume encounter in TRACE-P, approximately 60% of the plume is associated with biosmoke emissions. On average, biosmoke contributes approximately 35-40% to the measured fine inorganic aerosol mass in the mixed TRACE-P plumes intercepted north of 25% latitude.
To evaluate the impact of a diagnostic stewardship intervention on
healthcare-associated infections (HAI).
Quality improvement study.
Two urban acute care hospitals.
All inpatient stool testing for
...required review and approval prior to specimen processing in the laboratory. An infection preventionist reviewed all orders daily through chart review and conversations with nursing; orders meeting clinical criteria for testing were approved, orders not meeting clinical criteria were discussed with the ordering provider. The proportion of completed tests meeting clinical criteria for testing and the primary outcome of
HAI were compared before and after the intervention.
The frequency of completed
orders not meeting criteria was lower 146 (7.5%) of 1,958 in the intervention period (January 10, 2022-October 14, 2022) than in the sampled 3-month preintervention period 26 (21.0%) of 124; P < .001.
HAI rates were 8.80 per 10,000 patient days prior to the intervention (March 1, 2021-January 9, 2022) and 7.69 per 10,000 patient days during the intervention period (incidence rate ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-1.05; P = .13).
A stringent order-approval process reduced clinically nonindicated testing for
but did not significantly decrease HAIs.
Aircraft measurements of ozone (O3) and its precursors (reactive nitrogen, CO, nonmethane hydrocarbons) were made over the western Pacific during the Transport and Chemical Evolution Over the Pacific ...(TRACE‐P) campaign, which was conducted during February–April 2001. Biomass burning activity was high over Southeast Asia (SEA) during this period (dry season), and convective activity over SEA frequently transported air from the boundary layer to the free troposphere, followed by eastward transport to the sampling region over the western Pacific south of 30°N. This data set allows for systematic investigations of the chemical and physical processes in the outflow from SEA. Methyl chloride (CH3Cl) and CO are chosen as primary and secondary tracers, respectively, to gauge the degree of the impact of emissions of trace species from biomass burning. Biomass burning is found to be a major source of reactive nitrogen (NOx, PAN, HNO3, and nitrate) and O3 in this region from correlations of these species with the tracers. Changes in the abundance of reactive nitrogen during upward transport are quantified from the altitude change of the slopes of the correlations of these species with CO. NOx decreased with altitude due to its oxidation to HNO3. On the other hand, PAN was conserved during transport from the lower to the middle troposphere, consistent with its low water solubility and chemical stability at low temperatures. Large losses of HNO3 and nitrate, which are highly water soluble, occurred in the free troposphere, most likely due to wet removal by precipitation. This has been shown to be the major pathway of NOy loss in the middle troposphere. Increases in the mixing ratios of O3 and its precursors due to biomass burning in SEA are estimated using the tracers. Enhancements of CO and total reactive nitrogen (NOy), which are directly emitted from biomass burning, were largest at 2–4 km. At this altitude the increases in NOy and O3 were 810 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) and 26 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) above their background values of 240 pptv and 31 ppbv, respectively. The slope of the O3‐CO correlation in biomass burning plumes was similar to those observed in fire plumes in northern Australia, Africa, and Canada. The O3 production efficiency (OPE) derived from the O3‐CO slope and NOx/CO emission ratio (ER) is shown to be positively correlated with the C2H4/NOx ER, indicating that the C2H4/NOx ER is a critical parameter in determining the OPE. Comparison of the net O3 flux across the western Pacific region and total O3 production due to biomass burning in SEA suggests that about 70% of O3 produced was transported to the western Pacific.
Abstract
Background
Diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) utilize invasive methods including endoscopy and tissue biopsy, with blood tests being less specific for IBDs. ...Substantial evidence has implicated involvement of the neurohormone serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the pathophysiology of IBDs. The current study investigated whether serum 5-HT is elevated in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD).
Methods
Serum samples were obtained from a German cohort of 96 CD and UC patients with active disease, refractory disease, or remission of disease based upon their disease activity index (DAI) and disease history. High pressure liquid chromatography with tandemmass spectrometry was used to measure 5-HT, tryptophan (TRP), and kynurenine (KYN) levels in the serum samples, and Luminex Multiplex ELISA was used to measure cytokine levels. Intestinal mucosal biopsies were obtained from a separate cohort of healthy and CD patients, and the immunoreactivity of the serotonin transporter (SERT) was determined.
Results
There was no statistically significant difference in TRP or KYN levels between disease categories in either UC or CD. Interestingly, 5-HT levels were significantly elevated in patients with active CD but not active UC when compared with the levels in remission or refractory disease. Serum 5-HT was superior to C-reactive protein and circulating cytokines in differentiating between disease categories in CD. Additionally, SERT immunoreactivity was decreased in the ileum and colon of patients with CD compared to healthy controls.
Conclusion
We have shown that the serum 5-HT can differentiate between active disease and refractory disease or remission among CD patients, emphasizing the potential suitability of serum 5-HT as an auxiliary measure in diagnosing active CD.
Serum serotonin levels discriminate active disease from refractory disease or disease in remission in Crohn’s disease but not in ulcerative colitis. C-reactive protein, tryptophan, kynurenine, and cytokines poorly discriminate between disease states. Serotonin transporter immunofluorescence was decreased in Crohn’s disease.
A 3,4-O-unprotected galactal derivative having bulky 6-O-TIPS protection (compound 2) could be regioselectively 3-O-glycosylated with O-(galactopyranosyl) trichloroacetimidates; depending on the ...protecting group pattern stereoselectively α- and β-linked disaccharides were obtained. With O-(2-azido-2-deoxyglucopyransyl) trichloroacetimidate as donor (compound 10A), glycosylation of 2 and of a 6-O-unprotected galactal derivative led in acetonitrile as solvent exclusively to a β(1−3)- and a β(1−6)-linked disaccharide, respectively. Nitration of the galactal moieties of the saccharides followed by Michael-type addition of serine and threonine derivatives (7a,b) installed the α-galacto-configuration, thus readily furnishing O-glycosyl amino acid building blocks for the incorporation of core 1, core 2, core 3, core 6, and core 8 structures into glycopeptides. 2-Nitrogalactal and 2-nitroglucal derivatives could be also successfully employed in glycoside bond formation via Michael-type addition in a reiterative manner, affording the corresponding core 5, core 7, and core 6 building blocks. In this approach, highly stereoselective glycoside bond formations were based exclusively on Michael-type addition to the nitro-enol ether moiety of the 2-nitroglycals. Hence, 2-nitroglycals are versatile intermediates for base-catalyzed glycoside bond formation.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
More than 1000
t of polyester resins and fibers are produced every hour in the world. The highest fraction of this amount is contributed by the oldest polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). ...This material is based on the diol ethylene glycol (EG). Beside ethylene glycol butanediol (BDO) gained increasing demand in the polyester business, especially because of the use of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) in the automotive industry as an engineering plastic. In the last 5 years also 1,3-propanediol (PDO) joined its homologues as an interesting polyester raw material. This development was caused by the finding of unique properties of the corresponding polyester, polypropylene terephthalate (PPT) in fiber application. Because of the increasing new market demand for PPT and PBT new production technologies were developed for 1,3-propanediol and 1,4-butanediol. A review will be presented whereby the production of 1,3-propanediol via fermentation of glucose will be not considered.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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