Ballardhoneycutt1106

BACKGROUND Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulties in identifying and describing emotions and associated with various psychiatric disorders. JAK phosphorylation Neuroimaging studies found evidence for morphological and functional brain alterations in alexithymic subjects. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying alexithymia remain incompletely understood. METHODS We study the association of alexithymia with cortical correlation networks in a large community-dwelling sample of the Study of Health in Pomerania. Our analysis includes data of n = 2,199 individuals (49.4% females, age = 52.1 ± 13.6 years) which were divided into a low and high alexithymic group by a median split of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Cortical correlation networks were constructed based on the mean thicknesses of 68 regions, and differences in centralities were investigated. RESULTS We found a significantly increased centrality of the right paracentral lobule in the high alexithymia network after correction for multiple testing. Several other regions with motoric and sensory functions showed altered centrality on a nominally significant level. CONCLUSIONS Finding increased centrality of the paracentral lobule, a brain area with sensory as well as motoric features and involvement in bowel and bladder voiding, may contribute to explain the association of alexithymia with functional somatic disorders and chronic pain syndromes. © 2020 S. link2 Karger AG, Basel.BACKGROUND Autoclaving rodent diets is common in laboratory animals, but autoclaving increases the formation of dietary advanced glycation end-products (AGE). We studied the effect of autoclaved (AC) diet alone or in combination with a diet high in bioavailable phosphorus on biochemistries of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD), intestinal gene expression, and oxidative stress. METHODS Male CKD rats (Cy/+) and normal littermates were fed 1 of 3 diets AC 0.7% phosphorus grain-based diet for 28 weeks (AC); AC diet for 17 weeks followed by non-autoclaved (Non-AC) 0.7% phosphorus casein diet until 28 weeks (AC + Casein); or Non-AC diet for 16 weeks followed by a Non-AC purified diet until 30 weeks (Non-AC + Casein). RESULTS AC diets contained ~3× higher AGEs and levels varied depending on the location within the autoclave. Rats fed the AC and AC + Casein diets had higher total AGEs and oxidative stress, irrespective of kidney function. Kidney function was more severely compromised in CKD rats fed AC or AC + Casein compared to Non-AC + Casein. There was a disease-by-diet interaction for plasma phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and c-terminal fibroblast growth factor-23, driven by high values in the CKD rats fed the AC + Casein diet. Compared to Non-AC + Casein, AC and AC + Casein-fed groups had increased expression of receptor of AGEs and intestinal NADPH oxidase dual oxidase-2, independent of kidney function. CONCLUSIONS Autoclaving rodent diets impacts the progression of CKD and CKD-MBD, highlighting the critical importance of standardizing diets in experiments. © 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.BACKGROUND Metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancer worldwide. After tumor progression with first- and second-line treatment, trifluridine (FTD) and tipiracil (TPI) has been shown to be a treatment option. SUMMARY Data from a pivotal phase 3 trial (RECOURSE) and an ongoing phase 3b trial (PRECONNECT) have shown that, in mCRC patients who experienced disease progression after 2 lines of standard therapy, treatment with FTD/TPI is safe and efficacious. Other third-line options include regorafenib, rechallenge with previous treatment lines or personalized approaches based on comprehensive molecular profiling. Randomized trials or sequential studies aiming for the right treatment sequence or predefined subtypes for FTD/TPI or regorafenib as well for rechallenge are missing. However, FTD/TPI as well as regorafenib are recommended by the current ESMO, German S3, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines in the same situation, thus offering physicians a number of alternatives for the treatment of mCRC patients after the second progression. Key Message This narrative review summarizes published data and their impact for FTD/TPI as well for regorafenib and rechallenge chemotherapy in clinical practice settings of refractory situations of colorectal cancer. © 2020 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.Chloroplasts and mitochondria are semi-autonomous organelles and have their own genomes (cytoplasmic genomes). Physical radiations (e.g., γ-rays) have been widely used in artificial mutation induction for plant germplasm enhancement and for breeding new cultivars. However, little is known at the genomic level about which kind of cytoplasmic mutations and/or characteristics could be induced in plants. The present study aimed to investigate the type, number, and distribution of inheritable cytoplasmic mutations induced by γ-rays in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Six plants were selected from the 2nd generation (M2) populations after γ-ray (137Cs) irradiation of the rice cultivar Nipponbare, 2 each for the 3 irradiation doses (150, 250, and 350 Gy), and their genomes were sequenced on an Illumina platform. Together with the whole-genome sequencing data of 3 external Nipponbare control plants, single-base substitutions (SBSs) and insertions/deletions (InDels) in chloroplast (cp) and mitochondrial (mt) genomes were identified and analyzed in-depth using bioinformatic tools. The majority of SBSs and InDels identified were background mutations in the 6 M2 plants, and the number of induced mutations varied greatly among the plants. Most induced mutations were present in a heterogeneous state, reflecting the fact that multiple cp and mt copies existed in the progenitor cells. The induced mutations were distributed in different genomic regions in the 6 M2 plants, including exonic regions, but none of them was predicted to cause nonsynonymous mutations or frameshifts. Our study thus revealed, at the genomic level, characteristics of cytoplasmic mutations induced by γ-rays in rice. © 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.The creation of a functional angioaccess is the cornerstone in treatment of chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of this article is to review the use of vascular probes as a simple and cheap tool that could help surgeons in preparation of vessels and with creation of an anastomosis. Autogenous arteriovenous fistula is the best angioaccess available but is hampered by its relatively high non-maturation rate. Guidelines recommend preoperative duplex ultrasonography (USG) and use of vessels with a diameter that is able to maintain sufficient flow and fistula maturation to avoid unsuccessful attempts. Despite recommendations, preoperative duplex USG is not performed in many centers. In such circumstances, the use of vascular probes could help surgeons to create a fistula with a high chance of successful maturation. Vessel probes and dilators could be used to assess vessel diameter and patency, the ability to dilate and resolve a spasm, to stop retrograde blood flow in the vein (to avoid the use of vascular clamps), to avoid torsion of vein, to open and check vessel lumen with each stitch (to avoid using the forceps and possible wall injury), for tightening of continuous suture over the probe (to avoid excessive tightening and possible anastomotic stenosis). To my knowledge, this is the first review article which summaries the experience of using vascular dilators in angioaccess surgery. This information can be very helpful especially when there is the lack of valid preoperative USG of the vessels. © 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.In recent years, large-scale outbreaks of the green alga Enteromorpha prolifera in China's offshore waters have posed a serious threat. This study aimed to improve Enteromorpha polysaccharide (EP) enzymatic sugar production using the hydrolase system of Vibrio sp. H11, an EP-utilizing microbial strain. Strain H11 was found to contain 711 carbohydrate-related genes, and 259 genes belong to glycoside hydrolases that have the potential to hydrolyze EP. To maximize the capability of strain H11 to hydrolyze EP, both the culture medium and the composition were optimized. Response surface methodology analysis showed that maximal enzymatic production from strain H11 was 8.43 U/mL after 26-h incubation. When 50 g/L of EP were treated with crude H11 enzyme, the concentration of fermentation sugars increased by 36.12%. Under these conditions, the hydrolysates were capable of generating 3,217 mL/L of biogas and 6.74 g/L of biosolvents, with increases of 28.17 and 7.29%, respectively, compared to controls. The combined application of the H11 enzymatic system and anaerobic fermentation has the potential to improve the comprehensive application of EP. © 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.BACKGROUND Influenza viral infection is a major public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality.Asthma is a risk factor for developing serious complications related to influenza infection. OBJECTIVE We explored factors associated with influenza vaccination coverage among adolescents with asthma. METHODS Data were obtained from 62,276 participants in the 13th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS) conducted in 2017. KYRBS data were obtained from a stratified, multistage, clustered sample. We used multiple logistic regression analyses to identify variables potentially related to influenza vaccination in adolescents with asthma. RESULTS The proportion of asthma was 8.8%, and the influenza vaccination rate overall was 37.9%. It was 41.8% in the asthma group and 37.5% in the nonasthma group (p less then 0.001). After regression, male sex (odds ratio (OR) = 1.45; 95% CI 1.35-1.55), a high socioeconomic status (OR = 1.12; 95% CI 1.05-1.19), residence at an orphanage (OR = 1.93; 95% CI 1.38-2.29), regular breakfast consumption (OR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.02-1.17), and subjective good health (OR = 2.39; 95% CI 1.69-3.39) were associated with increased influenza vaccination, whereas current smoking (OR = 0.87; 95% CI 0.67-0.96) and a depressive mood (OR = 0.77; 95% CI 0.64-0.95) were inversely associated in adolescents with asthma. CONCLUSION It is important to improve influenza vaccination in adolescents with asthma, especially females, those with a low socioeconomic status, independent residents, breakfast skippers, current smokers, and those who consider themselves unhealthy and have depressive moods. © 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.OBJECTIVE To determine postnatal neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes for children with congenital lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) based on disease severity. METHODS Twenty male infants with LUTO were classified prenatally as Stage 1 (normal amniotic fluid and renal function; n = 5), Stage 2 (signs of obstruction with preserved renal function; n = 13), and Stage 3 (signs of severe renal damage; n = 2). ND status was assessed using the Developmental Profile-3 test in 5 developmental domains (physical, adaptive behavior, social-emotional, cognitive, and communication). Each domain was considered to be delayed if standard scores were 2 or more SD below the mean. ND outcomes were compared between cases with an expected normal renal function (LUTO Stage 1) and those with impaired renal function (LUTO Stages 2 and 3). link3 Results from cases with Stage 2 were also compared to those from Stage 3. ORs were calculated to predict risk for adverse ND outcome for each domain considering prenatal and postnatal factors. RESULTS Gestational age (GA) at the diagnosis of LUTO was similar between both groups (Stage 1 24.