Bone graft substitutes have been used routinely for spine fusion for decades, yet clinical evidence establishing comparative data remains sparse. With recent scrutiny paid to the outcomes, ...complications, and costs associated with osteobiologics, a need to improve available data guiding efficacious use exists. We review the currently available clinical literature, studying the outcomes of various biologics in posterolateral lumbar spine fusion, and establish the need for a multicenter, independent osteobiologics registry.
Human studies examining associations between circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) and colorectal cancer risk have ...reported inconsistent results. We conducted complementary serologic and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to determine whether alterations in circulating levels of IGF1 or IGFBP3 are associated with colorectal cancer development.
Serum levels of IGF1 were measured in blood samples collected from 397,380 participants from the UK Biobank, from 2006 through 2010. Incident cancer cases and cancer cases recorded first in death certificates were identified through linkage to national cancer and death registries. Complete follow-up was available through March 31, 2016. For the MR analyses, we identified genetic variants associated with circulating levels of IGF1 and IGFBP3. The association of these genetic variants with colorectal cancer was examined with 2-sample MR methods using genome-wide association study consortia data (52,865 cases with colorectal cancer and 46,287 individuals without controls)
After a median follow-up period of 7.1 years, 2665 cases of colorectal cancer were recorded. In a multivariable-adjusted model, circulating level of IGF1 associated with colorectal cancer risk (hazard ratio per 1 standard deviation increment of IGF1, 1.11; 95% confidence interval CI 1.05–1.17). Similar associations were found by sex, follow-up time, and tumor subsite. In the MR analyses, a 1 standard deviation increment in IGF1 level, predicted based on genetic factors, was associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer risk (odds ratio 1.08; 95% CI 1.03–1.12; P = 3.3 × 10–4). Level of IGFBP3, predicted based on genetic factors, was associated with colorectal cancer risk (odds ratio per 1 standard deviation increment, 1.12; 95% CI 1.06–1.18; P = 4.2 × 10–5). Colorectal cancer risk was associated with only 1 variant in the IGFBP3 gene region (rs11977526), which also associated with anthropometric traits and circulating level of IGF2.
In an analysis of blood samples from almost 400,000 participants in the UK Biobank, we found an association between circulating level of IGF1 and colorectal cancer. Using genetic data from 52,865 cases with colorectal cancer and 46,287 controls, a higher level of IGF1, determined by genetic factors, was associated with colorectal cancer. Further studies are needed to determine how this signaling pathway might contribute to colorectal carcinogenesis.
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Adenovirus infection and lymphoid hyperplasia have been associated with childhood intussusception. However, the extent of other viruses involved in this condition remains unclear. This prospective ...study investigates the relationship between some lymphotropic viruses and current childhood intussusception.
Patients with intussusception encountered in a pediatric emergency department in a recent 3-year period were studied. Healthy infants and toddlers of comparable age served as controls. Throat and rectal viral cultures were performed in patients and controls. Viral antibodies against adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus (HHV)-6, HHV-7 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were tested in paired sera from the patients. Acute stage serum from each patient and mesenteric lymph nodes from patients requiring surgery were studied for the presence of adenovirus genome by PCR.
Twenty-seven of 61 (44.3%) intussusception patients, but only 2 of 52 (3.8%) healthy controls shed nonenteric adenovirus in throat and rectal specimens (P < 0.001). Of the 27 (74.1%) patients who shed adenovirus, 20 were older than 1 year old, whereas only 1 of 15 (6.7%) similarly aged patients in a previous study from the same area three decades ago did so (P = 0.001). Among 43 patients with available paired sera, acute primary viral infection was found in 17 (39.5%) by adenovirus, 4 (9.3%) by HHV-6, 5 (11.6%) by HHV-7, 2 (4.7%) by EBV and none by cytomegalovirus. Multiple viral infections occurred in 6 patients. Adenovirus genome was detected in 4 of 9 mesenteric lymph nodes and in only 3 of 60 (5%) acute phase sera.
Primary nonenteric adenovirus infection contributes to current childhood intussusception. Acute primary HHV-6, HHV-7 and EBV infections also play etiologic roles.
B2B transaction is a rapid growth section within e-commerce. However, despite the increase in the number of B2B transactions, only a few e-marketplaces have successfully attracted a large number of ...buyers and sellers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the underpinning forces that influence the organizational decision to adopt e-marketplaces and to improve competitiveness through continuous participation in e-marketplaces. This study applies the technology acceptance model, relational embeddedness, and the trust theory to explore the impact of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and relational embeddedness on trust associated with e-marketplace providers. This study further tests the impact of relational embeddedness and trust on relationship performance in the context of e-marketplaces. Based on 284 active buyers and sellers in well-known public e-marketplaces, the empirical findings suggest that perceived ease of use positively influences perceived usefulness of e-marketplaces; perceived ease of use influences user trust of e-marketplaces via perceived usefulness; and relational embeddedness leads to enhanced trust in e-marketplace providers, which subsequently leads to better relationship performance. Both relational embeddedness and trust also influence relationship performance directly. This research reveals the importance of perceived usefulness and relational embeddedness on trust associated with e-marketplace providers.
► This study examines the technological and social factors influence the user's trust of public e-marketplace in a B2B context. ► E-tailers will trust the e-marketplace service provider when they consider the e-marketplace is a useful business platform. ► When e-tailers develop a business relationship via e-marketplace, they tend to trust the e-marketplace service provider. ► Relational embeddedness between e-tailers and their trust to the service provider lead to better relationship performance.
This study examines sizeable magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) in Co(20%)-doped amorphous carbon (a-C) films. While as-grown films exhibit a non-detectable MCD signal, films that undergo rapid ...thermal annealing (RTA) at 600°C in a vacuum yield broad MCD spectra with a large amplitude of ∼3.9 × 104 deg/cm in saturation field 0.78 T at the σ-σ* gap transition (∼5.5 eV). In such films after RTA, the metastable Co-C bonding is decomposed and suitable Co nanoparticles/a-C interfaces are thus formed. Our results indicate that the large change in MCD is contributed from Co nanoparticles and associated with the spin-dependent electronic structure at the Co/a-C interfaces.
In our previous studies, we demonstrated that 2,6-bis-(2-chloroacetamido) anthraquinone (B1) showed a highly significant cytotoxic effect. However, its influence in the cell cycle and apoptotic ...induction effects has not been investigated yet. Here we report the antiproliferative effect of B1, for which IC50 values were 0.57 μmol/l for lung cancer A549 cells, 0.63 μmol/l for colon cancer HT-29 cells, and 0.53 μmol/l for breast cancer MCF-7 cells. DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II), an essential enzyme in DNA synthesis and meiotic division, is highly expressed in cancer cells. Some currently used clinical anticancer drugs (doxorubicin and mitoxantrone) targeting Topo II are very effective antineoplastic agents. B1, sharing the basic structure of known Topo II inhibitors, demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on Topo II bioactivity. In A549 cells, B1 increased apoptotic cell population with induction of Fas, Bax, and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and by reduction of Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, cell cycle analysis indicated that B1 induced G1 phase arrest through modulation of G1 cell cycle regulatory proteins, such as the downregulation of cyclin D1 and upregulation of Cip/p21, Kip1/p27, and p53. Thus, our study suggests that B1, with the ability to inhibit Topo II activity and cause cell cycle G1 arrest and apoptosis, has potential as a novel anticancer agent.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer globally, and the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality among women. The efficacy of most clinical chemotherapies is often limited by poor ...pharmacokinetics and the development of drug resistance by tumors. In a continuing effort to explore small molecules as alternative therapies, we herein evaluated the therapeutic potential of HH-N25, a novel nitrogen-substituted anthra1,2-c1,2,5thiadiazole-6,11-dione derivative.
We evaluated the in vivo pharmacokinetic properties and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of HH-N25 in rats. We also characterized the compound for in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities and its inhibitory effects against DNA topoisomerases and hormonal signaling in breast cancer. Furthermore, we used molecular docking to analyse the ligand-receptor interactions between the compound and the targets.
The maximum serum concentration (C
), half-life (t
beta), mean residence time (MRT), oral clearance (CL/f), and apparent volume of distribution (VD/f) of HH-N25 were 1446.67 ± 312.05 ng/mL, 4.51 ± 0.27 h, 2.56 ± 0.16 h, 8.32 ± 1.45 mL/kg/h, and 1.26 ± 0.15 mL/kg, respectively, after single-dose iv administration at 3 mg/kg body weight. HH-N25 had potent anticancer activity against a panel of human breast cancer cell lines with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC
) ranging 0.045±0.01~4.21±0.05 µM. The drug also demonstrated marked in vivo anticancer activity at a tolerated dose and prolonged the survival duration of mice without unacceptable toxicities based on body weight changes in human tumor xenograft models. In addition, HH-N25 exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of topoisomerase I and ligand-mediated activities of progesterone and androgen receptors.
HH-N25 represents a new molecular entity that selective suppressed TOP1 and hormonal signaling, and shows potent antitumor activities in human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. HH-N25 thus represents a promising anticancer agent that warrants further preclinical and clinical exploration.
Osmotic demyelination of the brain (ODS) is a dreaded complication that typically occurs several days after aggressive therapy for chronic hyponatraemia, but is eminently avoidable. In this teaching ...exercise, Professor McCance, an imaginary consultant, is asked to explain how he would have treated a 28-year-old female who had hyperkalaemia, hypoglycaemia, hypotension and hyponatraemia (118 mM) to prevent the development of ODS. He begins with a review of the physiology, including his own landmark work on chronic hyponatraemia associated with a contracted extracellular fluid volume. Adding quantitative analysis, the cause of the excessive rise in plasma sodium concentration is revealed, and a better plan for therapy is proposed.
Human CMV (HCMV) is an important pathogen that causes widespread diseases in immunocompromised individuals. Among the opportunistic HCMV infections, HCMV retinitis is most common in transplant ...recipients and AIDS patients. It often leads to blindness if left untreated. The question as to how HCMV infection causes retinal pathogenesis remains unresolved. Here, we report that viral immediate-early gene product 2 (IE2), but not IE1, up-regulates the Fas ligand (FasL) expression in HCMV-infected human retinal pigment epithelium cells. Increased secretion of FasL from virally infected cells into cultured medium was observed upon HCMV infection. The capability of such cell-free medium to induce apoptosis of Fas (CD95)-expressing Jurkat cells further implies that Fas-FasL interaction might mediate cell death in the lesion of HCMV retinitis. To support this idea, we observed augmented soluble FasL levels in vitreous from AIDS patients with HCMV retinitis as compared with that from AIDS patients without HCMV infection. In addition, by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we detected enhanced signals of FasL, the existence of viral IE Ags and apoptotic cells at the same sites in the lesion of HCMV-infected retina. These results strongly suggest that IE2 induction of FasL expression in human retina might be an important event that takes place in the early stage of infection and finally leads to visual loss in individuals affiliated with HCMV retinitis.