We present a global analysis of leptonic and semileptonic kaon decay data, including all recent results published by the BNL-E865, KLOE, KTeV, ISTRA+ and NA48 experiments. This analysis, in ...conjunction with precise lattice calculations of the hadronic matrix elements now available, leads to a very precise determination of |
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Abstract Readmission has been cited as an important quality measure in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. We queried an electronic database for all patients who underwent Total Hip ...Arthroplasty or Total Knee Arthroplasty at our institution from 2006 to 2010 and identified those readmitted within 90 days of surgery, reviewed their demographic and clinical data, and performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine significant risk factors. The overall 90-day readmission rate was 7.8%. The most common readmission diagnoses were related to infection and procedure-related complications. An increased likelihood of readmission was found with coronary artery disease, diabetes, increased LOS, underweight status, obese status, age (over 80 or under 50), and Medicare. Procedure-related complications and wound complications accounted for more readmissions than any single medical complication.
Thermoelectronic energy conversion can potentially provide an exceptionally efficient way to convert heat into electric power. Key components of such converters are materials with designed, small ...work functions. We present the principles of thermoelectronic energy conversion and discuss the advantages and challenges of the conversion process, as well the state of the art of the respective research.
Establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in equids is only partially understood. To provide new insights into early events of this process, we performed a systematic analysis of transcriptome ...changes in the endometrium at Days 8 and 12 of pregnancy. Endometrial biopsy samples from pregnant and nonpregnant stages were taken from the same mares. Composition of the collected biopsy samples was analyzed using quantitative stereological techniques to determine proportions of surface and glandular epithelium and blood vessels. Microarray analysis did not reveal detectable changes in gene expression at Day 8, whereas at Day 12 of pregnancy 374 differentially expressed genes were identified, 332 with higher and 42 with lower transcript levels in pregnant endometrium. Expression of selected genes was validated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Gene set enrichment analysis, functional annotation clustering, and cocitation analysis were performed to characterize the genes differentially expressed in Day 12 pregnant endometrium. Many known estrogen-induced genes and genes involved in regulation of estrogen signaling were found, but also genes known to be regulated by progesterone and prostaglandin E2. Additionally, differential expression of a number of genes related to angiogenesis and vascular remodeling suggests an important role of this process. Furthermore, genes that probably have conserved functions across species, such as CRYAB, ERRFI1, FGF9, IGFBP2, NR2F2, STC1, and TNFSF10, were identified. This study revealed the potential target genes and pathways of conceptus-derived estrogens, progesterone, and prostaglandin E2 in the equine endometrium probably involved in the early events of establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in the mare.
Human patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) commonly exhibit a short stature, but the pathogenesis of this growth retardation is not completely understood. Due to the suspected involvement ...of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH/IGF1) system, controversial therapeutic approaches have been developed, including both GH- administration, as well as GH-inhibition. In the present study, we examined relevant histomorphological and ultrastructural features of adenohypophyseal GH-producing somatotroph cells in a porcine DMD model.
The numbers and volumes of immunohistochemically labelled somatotroph cells were determined in consecutive semi-thin sections of plastic resin embedded adenohypophyseal tissue samples using unbiased state-of-the-art quantitative stereological analysis methods.
DMD pigs displayed a significant growth retardation, accounting for a 55% reduction of body weight, accompanied by a significant 50% reduction of the number of somatotroph cells, as compared to controls. However, the mean volumes of somatotroph cells and the volume of GH-granules per cell were not altered. Western blot analyses of the adenohypophyseal protein samples showed no differences in the relative adenohypophyseal GH-abundance between DMD pigs and controls.
The findings of this study do not provide evidence for involvement of somatotroph cells in the pathogenesis of growth retardation of DMD pigs. These results are in contrast with previous findings in other dystrophin-deficient animal models, such as the golden retriever model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, where increased mean somatotroph cell volumes and elevated volumes of intracellular GH-granules were reported and associated with DMD-related growth retardation. Possible reasons for the differences of somatotroph morphology observed in different DMD models are discussed.
•Short stature is common in human DMD but the role of GH/IGF1 is still uncertain.•DMD pigs represent a well-established large animal model of DMD.•DMD pigs have proportionally reduced somatotroph numbers.•The total volume of GH-granules per somatotroph cell was unchanged in DMD pigs.•The study shows no evidence for a role of somatotrophs in growth failure of DMD pigs.
•Effects of GH and IGF1 can be dissected in GH transgenic Igf1 knockout mice in vivo.•Permanent GH overabundance cannot reverse Igf1 deletion related dwarfism in mice.•Kidney and liver alterations of ...GH transgenic mice can develop independently of IGF1.
To study insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)-independent effects of permanent growth hormone (GH) excess on body and organ growth and pathology in vivo, hemizygous bovine GH transgenic mice with homozygous disruption of the Igf1 gene (Igf1−/−/GH) were generated, and examined in comparison to Igf1−/−, Igf1+/−, wild-type (WT), Igf1+/−/GH, and GH mice. GH mice and Igf1+/−/GH mice showed increased serum IGF1 levels and the well-known giant-phenotype of GH transgenic mice. In contrast, the typical dwarf-phenotype of Igf1−/− mice was only slightly ameliorated in Igf1−/−/GH mice. Similar to GH mice, Igf1−/−/GH mice displayed hepatocellular hypertrophy, glomerulosclerosis, and reduced volumes of acidophilic cells in the pituitary gland. However, GH excess associated skin lesions of male GH mice were not observed in Igf1−/−/GH mice. Therefore, development of GH excess induced liver-, kidney-, and pituitary gland-alterations in GH transgenic mice is independent of IGF1 whereas GH stimulated body growth depends on IGF1.
Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death induced by small molecules in specific tumour types, and in engineered cells overexpressing oncogenic RAS. Yet, its relevance in non-transformed ...cells and tissues is unexplored and remains enigmatic. Here, we provide direct genetic evidence that the knockout of glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) causes cell death in a pathologically relevant form of ferroptosis. Using inducible Gpx4(-/-) mice, we elucidate an essential role for the glutathione/Gpx4 axis in preventing lipid-oxidation-induced acute renal failure and associated death. We furthermore systematically evaluated a library of small molecules for possible ferroptosis inhibitors, leading to the discovery of a potent spiroquinoxalinamine derivative called Liproxstatin-1, which is able to suppress ferroptosis in cells, in Gpx4(-/-) mice, and in a pre-clinical model of ischaemia/reperfusion-induced hepatic damage. In sum, we demonstrate that ferroptosis is a pervasive and dynamic form of cell death, which, when impeded, promises substantial cytoprotection.
•We report effects of P. ovis infestation on skin, lymph node and adrenal morphology.•Bovine psoroptic mange causes dermatitis, lymph node and adrenal gland enlargement.•Psoroptic mange causes ...hyperplasia of the zona fasciculatain the adrenal cortex.•This chronic stress reaction can be prevented by acaricidal treatment.
In cattle, infestation with Psoroptes ovis mites may cause severe dermatitis (psoroptic mange) which compromises the health and welfare of the animals and may lead to significant economic losses. To investigate yet undocumented effects of psoroptic mange mite infestations and how successful therapy promotes animal health, the present study examined alterations of the skin, lymph nodes and adrenal glands of P. ovis infested Fleckvieh (Simmental) bulls treated with either ivermectin long-acting injection (IVM LAI; IVOMEC® GOLD, Merial; 3.15% ivermectin w/v) or saline (n=16 each). Approximately 8 weeks subsequent to experimental infestation with P. ovis, the bulls had developed mange and were administered either IVM LAI or saline once at 1mL/50kg body weight by subcutaneous injection. Mite counts were conducted in weekly intervals for determination of efficacy of treatment, and following humane euthanasia of the animals 8 weeks after treatment, skin samples from affected (mangy or previously mangy) and unaffected areas, prescapular lymph nodes and adrenal glands were collected for gross and pathohistological examination. In addition, four age-matching, uninfested Simmental bulls were sampled as controls for comparison.
No P. ovis mites were detected on any IVM LAI-treated bull after 28 days following treatment whereas saline-treated bulls maintained infestation throughout the study. At sampling (approximately 16 weeks after experimental infestation and 8 weeks following saline or IVM LAI treatment), saline-treated bulls displayed a severe, exsudative dermatitis with significantly increased skin thickness and inflammatory cell infiltration, significantly enlarged, hyperplastic prescapular lymph nodes, as well as significantly increased adrenal gland weights and volumes as compared to P. ovis-infested, IVM LAI-treated bulls and uninfested controls. Quantitative stereological analysis revealed that the adrenal gland enlargement in P. ovis-infested, saline-treated bulls was due to a selective increase of the volume of the zona fasciculata in the adrenal cortex. Compared to uninfested controls and P. ovis-infested, IVM LAI-treated bulls, the number of epithelial cells in the zona fasciculata was significantly increased in P. ovis-infested, saline-treated bulls, while the zona fasciculata cell volumes did not differ between the three groups of cattle. While the single point determination of serum cortisol concentrations did not reveal significant differences between the three groups of cattle at tissue sampling, the hyperplastic growth of the adrenal cortex in the P. ovis-infested, saline-treated bulls provides morphologic evidence that a chronic stress reaction is one consequence of mange mite infestations that can be prevented by efficacious acaricidal treatment.
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