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Proof to have an atomic chiral superfluid along with topological excitations.
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate the sex specific expression of histone protein modifications responsible for rapid gene expression in IUGR placentas. PATIENTS AND METHODS We screened for fetal sex-specific expression of the histone proteins H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in 23 IUGR and 40 control placentas via immunohistochemistry. The trophoblast-like cell line BeWo was used in order to analyze a potential effect of stimulation with prednisolone on H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in vitro. Calculating regression models with additional adjustment for potential confounders were used. RESULTS A significantly decreased level of H3K4me3 was detectable in female syncytiotrophoblasts, whereas H3K9ac was reduced predominantly in male extravillous throphoblast (EVT). No association to the gestational age existed. CONCLUSION Our data showed a reduced expression of the histone proteins H3K4me3 (female) and H3K9ac (male) in IUGR, furthermore elevated cortisol levels may lead to a sex-specific down-regulation of histone proteins in IUGR placentas. BACKGROUND Investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of laparoscopy in the management of patients with chronic abdominal pain of unknown origin. METHODS Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases were queried to identify relevant published studies. Data on the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of laparoscopy were abstracted and summarized. RESULTS Laparoscopy achieved a diagnosis in 65% to 94% of patients with chronic abdominal pain of unknown origin. Common intraoperative findings included adhesions, chronic appendicitis, hernias, and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. These findings corresponded with the therapeutic procedures that were performed, including laparoscopic adhesiolysis, appendectomy, and hernia repair. Therapeutic utility of laparoscopy based on pain relief, patient satisfaction, and quality of life ranged from 63% to 94%. CONCLUSIONS Based on current available evidence, diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) is a safe and effective method for identifying organic causes of chronic abdominal pain. Laparoscopic treatment also resulted in substantial pain relief for a majority of patients. However, the efficacy of laparoscopic adhesiolysis remains controversial. We would recommend the use of DL as an early diagnostic tool, but more robust studies are needed to establish the breadth of its therapeutic utility in clinical practice. BACKGROUND The addition of SPECT-CT to Tc-99 sestamibi has become a valuable tool for parathyroid localization in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP). However, the enhanced sensitivity of this test can lead to unexpected and significant findings. We sought to identify the frequency and types of nonparathyroid detections by SPECT-CT. see more MATERIALS AND METHODS With institutional approval, we reviewed all SPECT-CT studies performed for PHP between October 2012 and August 2018 for incidental nonparathyroid abnormalities. The electronic medical record was referenced to determine the type of lesion confirmed by additional evaluation. RESULTS Among 2413 studies, 652 patients (27%) had 677 (28%) nonparathyroid findings. The most common were thyroid nodules (331/677, 49%), including 47 (6.9%) malignancies to date 40 papillary thyroid cancers (11 microcarcinomas), five follicular thyroid cancers, one medullary carcinoma, and one noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like features. One hundred and seventy-seven patients had pulmonary nodules (26%), of whom nine were diagnosed with primary lung lesions (6 non-small-cell cancers, one small-cell cancer, one carcinoid, and one pulmonary sequestration). SPECT-CT revealed 14 patients (2.1%) with breast abnormalities, including three cancers. Nine patients (1.3%) demonstrated metastatic diseases within the lungs (4), bones (3), and mediastinum (2). One patient was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. Two intracranial tumors were also identified, as well as dysplastic Barrett's esophagitis (1), hiatal hernia (20, 3%), and aortic aneurysm (13, 1.8%). In all, 72/677 (10.6%) PHP patients exhibited premalignant or malignant nonparathyroid SPECT-CT findings. CONCLUSIONS In patients undergoing localization for PHP with Tc-99 sestamibi SPECT-CT, nonparathyroid findings are frequent (27%) and can lead to newly diagnosed malignant or premalignant lesions in at least 3% of patients to date. Published by Elsevier Inc.INTRODUCTION How youth cope with academic challenges has important implications for their academic outcomes. The contributions of parental involvement have been relatively well-established; however, few, if any studies have investigated the role of parental socialization of academic coping (i.e., coping suggestions) in shaping youth coping with academic challenges. METHODS Using a community sample from the United States, we utilized a multi-informant, longitudinal design to investigate the prospective association between parental socialization of academic coping and adolescent coping with academic challenges. Adolescent gender was also examined as a moderator of associations. Participants included 86 two-parent families (54% boys; 38-52% ethnic minorities). At Time 1, mothers and fathers reported on their problem-solving, help-seeking, and disengaged coping suggestions in response to three hypothetical academic challenge scenarios (i.e., forgetting about or performing poorly on an assignment, difficulties managing academic demands). At Times 1 and 2, adolescents reported on their coping strategies (e.g., strategizing, help-seeking, escape) in response to academic challenges. RESULTS Father-reported problem-focused suggestions were associated with youths' more adaptive coping (e.g., strategizing, help-seeking) over time. Interestingly, father-reported disengaged suggestions were associated with less maladaptive coping over time. Further, adolescent gender moderated associations linking mothers' and fathers' problem-focused suggestions and fathers' help-seeking and disengaged suggestions with adolescent coping over time. CONCLUSIONS Overall, fathers' coping suggestions were associated with more adaptive coping for girls as compared with boys. Findings highlight the role of parental socialization of coping, particularly fathers' role, in the academic domain. Atractylodes Rhizoma is one of two principal components in Ermiaosan, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Atractylodes oil (AO) represents a potential alternative treatment for RA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of AO in rats with Adjuvant Arthritis (AA) by exploration of changes in serum metabolites using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Foot thickness and arthritis score, ankle joint pathological structure, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17 and the expression of MMPs in ankle joint tissue were measured as indicators of efficacy of treatment using AO. In addition, multivariate statistical analysis was used to identify differential production of metabolites and biomarkers, and to analyze metabolic pathways. The results demonstrate that administration of AO resulted in a good therapeutic effect in the AA rat model, with significantly improved joint swelling, reduced joint score, and inhibition of inflammation, synovial pannus hyperplasia, and bone and cartilage destruction. Furthermore, AO was found to exert its effect against rheumatoid arthritis principally by differentially affecting 11 metabolites and six metabolic pathways, predominantly related to abnormal amino acid metabolism, in addition to energy-related metabolic pathways. This study evaluated the capability of AO to effectively treat AA rats, providing a novel strategy for the treatment of RA. The concept of 'no evidence of disease activity' (NEDA) has been proposed as a surrogate marker for treatment response in relapsing-remittent multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there is no agreement regarding its prognostic value, nor about the starting time for evaluation of drug effectiveness. Aim of this study was to investigate if the status preservation of two-year NEDA, 'minimal evidence of disease activity' (MEDA) and six-month delayed NEDA (6md-NEDA, with a "rebaseline" six months after the treatment start) predicts the achievement of long-term disability outcomes (EDSS score ≥ 4.0 or 6.0, 3-month confirmed disability progression (CDP) or conversion to secondary progressive MS) after five and seven years of disease. A total of 271 treatment courses (TCs) were analyzed in this retrospective study, involving all TCs started with any disease-modifying treatments (DMT). Overall, 72 (27%), 77 (28%) and 92 (34%) TCs maintained NEDA, MEDA and 6md-NEDA status after a two-year treatment. NEDA, MEDA and 6md-NEDA TCs had a lower risk of attaining all disability outcomes, compared to 'evidence of disease activity' (EDA) TCs. NEDA status determined a lower risk of CDP after five (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.07-0.45, p less then .0001) and seven years of disease (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.05-0.44, p less then .0001), with high positive (90%) and low negative (42%) predictive value, good specificity and low sensitivity. NEDA TCs had a lower risk of CDP compared to MEDA TCs after seven years (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10-0.91, p = .04). 6md-NEDA had a small impact on the improvement of NEDA prognostic value. Efficient reduction of environmental pollution caused by waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and production of carbon nanomaterials are desirable for nanotechnology, printable electronics, composites and environment protection. Here we report a simple top-down micro/nano-fabrication process to prepare fibrous carbon nanomaterial from waste PET bottles. This process is highly efficient, facile, and catalyst-free in preparing fibrous carbon nanomaterial with promising hydrophobic and electrical properties. The fibrous carbon nanomaterial can be used both in the form of sheet or powder, and it supplies a versatile surface for preparing novel carbon-based composites with significant optical properties and conductivity. The prepared carbon nanomaterial from waste PET has also been used in fabricating strain sensor with good durability. This study investigates the traffic conflict risks at the upstream approach of toll plaza during the vehicles' diverging period from the time of arrival at the diverging area to that of entering the tollbooths. Based on the vehicle's trajectory data extracted from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) videos using an automated video analysis system, vehicles' collision risk is computed by extended time to collision (TTC). Then, two time-varying mixed logit models including time-varying random effects logistic regression (T-RELR) model and time-varying random parameters logistic regression (T-RPLR) are developed to examine the time varying effects of influencing factors on vehicle collision risk, and four models including the standard random effects logistic regression (S-RELR) model, standard random parameters logistic regression (S-RPLR) model, distance-varying random effects logistic regression (D-RELR) model and distance-varying random parameters logistic regression (D-RPLR) are developed for model performance coms a key step toward improving safety performance of the toll plazas' diverging areas.
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