Abstract Previous experiments showed that ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) reduced infarct and neuronal deficit in rats followed by transient cerebral ischemia. The mechanism of this neuroprotective function ...is unclear. Here, we tested whether the effect of GRb1 can be achieved through preventing ischemic neuronal death, modulating apoptotic-related genes and affecting glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression in rats subjected to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. When GRb1(40 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered immediately after reperfusion, the apoptotic cells in the GRb1 group were decreased significantly from 12 to 72 h of reperfusion compared to the ischemia group by TdT-mediated dUTP–biotin nick-end labeling. Immunostaining and Western blotting analysis showed that the expression of GDNF from 3 to 120 h of the GRb1 group was significantly increased compared to the ischemia group, and GDNF expression peaked at 48 h after reperfusion. The enhanced GDNF mRNA in the GRb1 group was not detected by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization compared to the ischemia group, but GDNF mRNA at 48 h after reperfusion was strongly increased in both the ischemia and GRb1 group when compared to other time points. The number of bcl-2-positive cells was significantly increased from 12 to 120 h of reperfusion compared to the ischemia group. However, the number of bax-positive cells in the GRb1 group was significantly declined compared to the ischemia group. In the GRb1 group, the number of neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein-positive cells from 12 to 120 h after reperfusion was evidently higher than that in the ischemia group. Therefore, ginsenoside Rb1 prevents ischemic neuronal death induced by transient cerebral ischemia, and this mechanism of which is related to increase the expression of the antiapoptotic genes and modulate the expression of GDNF.
Single-crystal micro- and nanomaterials often exhibit higher yield strength than their bulk counterparts. This enhancement is widely recognized in structural materials but is rarely exploited to ...probe fundamental physics of electronic materials. Vanadium dioxide exhibits coupled electronic and structural phase transitions that involve different structures existing at different strain states. Full understanding of the driving mechanism of these coupled transitions necessitates concurrent structural and electrical measurements over a wide phase space. Taking advantages of the superior mechanical property of micro/nanocrystals of VO2, we map and explore its stress-temperature phase diagram over a phase space that is more than an order of magnitude broader than previously attained. New structural and electronic aspects were observed crossing phase boundaries at high-strain states. Our work shows that the actively tuning strain in micro/nanoscale electronic materials provides an effective route to investigate their fundamental properties beyond what can be accessed in their bulk counterpart.
Summary
To address uncertainty of whether clinical stage groupings (cTNM) for esophageal cancer share prognostic implications with pathologic groupings after esophagectomy alone (pTNM), we report ...data—simple descriptions of patient characteristics, cancer categories, and non–risk‐adjusted survival—for clinically staged patients from the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration (WECC). Thirty‐three institutions from six continents submitted data using variables with standard definitions: demographics, comorbidities, clinical cancer categories, and all‐cause mortality from first management decision. Of 22,123 clinically staged patients, 8,156 had squamous cell carcinoma, 13,814 adenocarcinoma, 116 adenosquamous carcinoma, and 37 undifferentiated carcinoma. Patients were older (62 years) men (80%) with normal body mass index (18.5–25 mg/kg2, 47%), little weight loss (2.4 ± 7.8 kg), 0‐1 ECOG performance status (67%), and history of smoking (67%). Cancers were cT1 (12%), cT2 (22%), cT3 (56%), cN0 (44%), cM0 (95%), and cG2‐G3 (89%); most involved the distal esophagus (73%). Non–risk‐adjusted survival for squamous cell carcinoma was not distinctive for early cT or cN; for adenocarcinoma, it was distinctive for early versus advanced cT and for cN0 versus cN+. Patients with early cancers had worse survival and those with advanced cancers better survival than expected from equivalent pathologic categories based on prior WECC pathologic data. Thus, clinical and pathologic categories do not share prognostic implications. This makes clinically based treatment decisions difficult and pre‐treatment prognostication inaccurate. These data will be the basis for the 8th edition cancer staging manuals following risk adjustment for patient characteristics, cancer categories, and treatment characteristics and should direct 9th edition data collection.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
SUMMARY
We report data—simple descriptions of patient characteristics, cancer categories, and non–risk‐adjusted survival—for patients with pathologically staged cancer of the esophagus and ...esophagogastric junction after resection or ablation with no preoperative therapy from the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration (WECC). Thirty‐three institutions from six continents submitted de‐identified data using standard definitions: demographics, comorbidities, clinical cancer categories, and all‐cause mortality from first management decision. Of 13,300 patients, 5,631 had squamous cell carcinoma, 7,558 adenocarcinoma, 85 adenosquamous carcinoma, and 26 undifferentiated carcinoma. Patients were older (62 years) men (80%) with normal body mass index (51%), little weight loss (1.8 kg), 0–2 ECOG performance status (83%), and a history of smoking (70%). Cancers were pT1 (24%), pT2 (15%), pT3 (50%), pN0 (52%), pM0 (93%), and pG2‐G3 (78%); most involved distal esophagus (71%). Non–risk‐adjusted survival for both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma was monotonic and distinctive across pTNM. Survival was more distinctive for adenocarcinoma than squamous cell carcinoma when pT was ordered by pN. Survival for pTis‐1 adenocarcinoma was better than for squamous cell carcinoma, although monotonic and distinctive for both. WECC pathologic staging data is improved over that of the 7th edition, with more patients studied and patient and cancer variables collected. These data will be the basis for the 8th edition cancer staging manuals following risk adjustment for patient, cancer, and treatment characteristics, and should direct 9th edition data collection. However, the role of pure pathologic staging as the principal point of reference for esophageal cancer staging is waning.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Periodontitis is a common infectious disease. Recent studies have indicated that the progression of periodontitis may be regulated by interactions between host immunity and periodontopathic bacteria. ...Although periodontopathic bacteria can destroy periodontal tissue, a dysfunctional host immune response triggered by the bacteria can lead to more severe and persistent destruction. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), a type of pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that recognizes pathogens, have been implicated in host innate immune responses to periodontopathic bacteria and in the activation of adaptive immunity. TLR‐targeted drugs may hold promise to treat periodontal disease. This review summarizes recent studies on the role of TLRs in periodontitis and discusses areas needing further research. We believe TLRs may be an effective biomarker for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontitis in the near future.
Recurrence/persistence of symptoms occurs in approximately 20 % of patients after Heller myotomy for achalasia. Controversy exists regarding the therapy for patients in whom Heller myotomy has ...failed. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), a new endoscopic myotomy technique, for patients with failed Heller myotomy.
A total of 12 patients with recurrence/persistence of symptoms after Heller myotomy, as diagnosed by established methods and an Eckardt score of ≥ 4, were prospectively included. The primary outcome was symptom relief during follow-up, defined as an Eckardt score of ≤ 3. Secondary outcomes were procedure-related adverse events, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure on manometry, reflux symptoms, and medication use before and after POEM.
All 12 patients underwent successful POEM after a mean of 11.9 years (range 2 - 38 years) from the time of the primary Heller myotomy. No serious complications related to POEM were encountered. During a mean follow-up period of 10.4 months (range 5 - 14 months), treatment success was achieved in 11/12 patients (91.7 %; mean score pre- vs. post-treatment 9.2 vs. 1.3; P < 0.001). Mean LES pressure was 29.4 mmHg pre-treatment and 13.5 mmHg post-treatment (P < 0.001). One patient developed mild reflux symptoms and required intermittent medication with proton pump inhibitors.
POEM seems to be a promising new treatment for failed Heller myotomy resulting in short-term symptom relief in > 90 % of cases. Previous Heller myotomy may make subsequent endoscopic remyotomy more challenging, but does not prevent successful POEM.
The thermodynamic properties of Al, Ni, NiAl, and Ni3Al were studied using the first-principles approach. The 0-K total energies are calculated using the ab initio plane wave pseudopotential method ...within the generalized gradient approximation. The contribution to the free energy from the lattice vibration was calculated using the phonon densities of states derived by means of the ab initio linear-response theory. The thermal electronic contribution to the free energy was obtained from the one-dimensional numerical integration over the electronic density of states. With the deduced Helmholtz free-energy, the thermal expansion and enthalpy as a function of temperature were calculated and compared with the experimental data. Our calculations show that the enthalpies of formation are slightly temperature dependent with a slope of -1.6 J/mol/K for NiAl and -1.2 J/mol/K for Ni3Al. For Ni, the inclusion of thermal electronic excitation results in a 10 percent increase in thermal expansion and 15 percent increase in enthalpy at 1600 K.
Oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) has been widely cultured in Asian countries. However, its nutritional studies are very limited. In the present 8‐week study, we investigated the ...effects of dietary protein to energy ratio (P/E ratio) on the growth, feed utilization and body composition in juvenile M. nipponense (initial weight 0.302 ±0.03 g). Two‐factor experiment was designed and nine semi‐purified diets were formulated to contain three lipid levels (20, 80 and 140 g kg−1) and three protein levels (330, 380 and 430 g kg−1), producing P/E ratios from 16.5 to 23.4 mg KJ−1 protein. The results indicated that the growth, survival rate and protein efficiency were dose dependently improved by the increased dietary lipid, but not dietary protein content. Increased dietary lipid content and/or protein content increased lipid accumulation in whole body, hepatopancreas and muscle, but did not change the feed intake and hepatopancreas weight. In conclusion, our present study indicated that M. nipponense is a species with relatively high‐energy requirement. It could utilize dietary lipid content up to 140 g kg−1, while the dietary protein with more than 330 g kg−1 would not promote growth and protein efficiency. Taken together, 330 g kg−1 dietary protein and 140 g kg−1 dietary lipid level with P/E ratio 16.49 could be optimum for M. nipponense.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background and Objectives
Quality control (QC) data collected by blood services are used to monitor production and to ensure compliance with regulatory standards. We demonstrate how analysis of ...quality control data can be used to highlight the sources of variability within red cell concentrates (RCCs).
Materials and Methods
We merged Canadian Blood Services QC data with manufacturing and donor records for 28 227 RCC between June 2011 and October 2014. Units were categorized based on processing method, bag manufacturer, donor age and donor sex, then assessed based on product characteristics: haemolysis and haemoglobin levels, unit volume, leucocyte count and haematocrit.
Results
Buffy‐coat method (top/bottom)‐processed units exhibited lower haemolysis than units processed using the whole‐blood filtration method (top/top). Units from female donors exhibited lower haemolysis than male donations. Processing method influenced unit volume and the ratio of additive solution to residual plasma.
Conclusions
Stored red blood cell characteristics are influenced by prestorage processing and donor factors. Understanding the relationship between processing, donors and RCC quality will help blood services to ensure the safety of transfused products.
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