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The same effects were shown with regard to accessory glands. Both peptides decrease the concentration of the soluble protein fraction but do not affect the dry mass of this organ. Furthermore, injections of Trica-sNPF at the 10-7 M concentration decrease the total sperm number in the reproductive system. Surprisingly, the same concentration of the shorter form, Trica-sNPF(4-11) increased the sperm number. It was also shown that both peptides in different manner influence contractions of ejaculatory duct. The data presented in this article give new evidence that sNPFs are involved in the regulation of reproductive events in beetles, which might be the part of a larger neuropeptide network combining feeding, growth and development with the physiology of reproduction.Sulfakinins (SKs) are pleiotropic neuropeptides commonly found in insects, structurally and functionally homologous to the mammalian gastrin/cholecystokinin (CCK) neuropeptides. SKs together with sulfakinin receptors (SKRs) are involved in sulfakinin signaling responsible for variety of biological functions, including food intake or fatty acid metabolism. In the present study, we determined the distribution of SKRs in Tenebrio molitor larvae and characterized the impact of nonsulfated and sulfated SKs on carbohydrates and insulin-like peptides (ILPs) level in beetle hemolymph. check details Our results indicate the presence of both sulfakinin receptors, SKR1 and SKR2, in the nervous system of T. molitor. The distribution of SKR2 in peripheral tissues was more widespread than SKR1, and their transcripts have been found in fat body, gut and hemolymph. This is also the first evidence for SKRs presence in insect hemocytes indicating immunotropic activity of SKs. Moreover, in the present study, we have demonstrated that SKs regulate ILPs and carbohydrates level in insect hemolymph, and that sulfation is not crucial for peptides activity. Our study confirms the role of SKs in maintaining energy homeostasis in beetles.

Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TCM) has been known for decades as areversible form of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, its mechanism and characteristics remain poorly understood.

This retrospective study investigated endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) samples from consecutive patients with TCM and compared them with samples from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and inflammatory cardiomyopathy (InCM).

A total of 684 patients (18TCM, 170 DCM, 496 InCM) with recent-onset heart failure and reduced ejection fraction unrelated to valvular or ischemic heart disease were analyzed.

In the TCM group, 81% were male, the mean age was 60 ± 13years, and 94% had heart failure symptoms ≥2New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. At baseline (BL), 78% had atrial fibrillation/flutter and 12% other forms of tachycardia or frequent extrasystole. The ventricular rate was higher compared to DCM and InCM patients (122 ± 25versus 78 ± 21; p < 0.001). Mean ejection fraction at BL was lower compared to DCM and InCM (27 ± 12% versus 39.0 ± 14.6%; p = 0.001), but improved to asignificantly greater extent during follow-up (FU) (20% versus 6%; p < 0.001). At FU, heart rate and presence of sinus rhythm were similar in all groups; 69% of TCM patients underwent cardioversion or ablation. Compared with DCM patients, TCM patients had stronger myocardial expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classII and an equal amount of infiltration with T‑cells/macrophages. Compared with InCM patients, the presence of T‑cells/macrophages was significantly lower in TCM. The marker of apoptosis (caspase3) was comparably elevated in TCM/InCM patients.

Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy is characterized by immunohistological changes comparable to DCM except for caspase 3levels, which were similar to those in InCM.

Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy is characterized by immunohistological changes comparable to DCM except for caspase 3 levels, which were similar to those in InCM.

Noninvasive markers for predicting endoscopic remission (ER) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who are in clinical remission (CR) are important for the determination of appropriate treatment modality. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a surrogate marker for assessing disease activity, albeit with a low sensitivity and specificity when the cut-off value is 0.3 or 0.5 mg/dL, which is usually considered normal. The CRP test has been improved, and even fine values within the normal range can be measured. The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate cut-off value of CRP below 0.3 mg/dL for the prediction of ER in UC patients with CR.

A total of 132 patients who underwent endoscopic evaluation during CR were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and endoscopic activity was measured using a simple clinical colitis activity index (SCCAI) and Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES). ER was defined as MES 0 or 1.

In UC patients in CR, the CRP level was significantly lower in ER (0.05, 0.03-2.57) vs. non-ER (0.14, 0.03-2.81) (p < 0.001). The CRP value predicted ER [area under the curve (AUC = 0.710)] with a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 71.7% at a cut-off value of 0.09 mg/dL. In contrast, the value of normal CRP (< 0.3 mg/dL) did not show sufficient predictive value (sensitivity, 27.3%; and specificity, 90.9%).

In UC patients in CR, it may be helpful to lower the CRP cut-off value that predict ER other than 0.3 mg/dL, which is usually considered normal.

In UC patients in CR, it may be helpful to lower the CRP cut-off value that predict ER other than 0.3 mg/dL, which is usually considered normal.Organophosphate compounds (OPs) induce both acute and delayed neurotoxic effects, the latter of which is believed to involve their interaction with proteins other than acetylcholinesterase. However, few OP-binding proteins have been identified that may have a direct role in OP-induced delayed neurotoxicity. Given their ability to disrupt Ca2+ homeostasis, a key aim of the current work was to investigate the effects of sub-lethal neurite outgrowth inhibitory levels of OPs on the Ca2+-dependent enzyme tissue transglutaminase (TG2). At 1-10 µM, the OPs phenyl saligenin phosphate (PSP) and chlorpyrifos oxon (CPO) had no effect cell viability but induced concentration-dependent decreases in neurite outgrowth in differentiating N2a neuroblastoma cells. The activity of TG2 increased in cell lysates of differentiating cells exposed for 24 h to PSP and chlorpyrifos oxon CPO (10 µM), as determined by biotin-cadaverine incorporation assays. Exposure to both OPs (3 and/or 10 µM) also enhanced in situ incorporation of the membrane permeable substrate biotin-X-cadaverine, as indicated by Western blot analysis of treated cell lysates probed with ExtrAvidin peroxidase and fluorescence microscopy of cell monolayers incubated with FITC-streptavidin. Both OPs (10 µM) stimulated the activity of human and mouse recombinant TG2 and covalent labelling of TG2 with dansylamine-labelled PSP was demonstrated by fluorescence imaging following SDS-PAGE. A number of TG2 substrates were tentatively identified by mass spectrometry, including cytoskeletal proteins, chaperones and proteins involved protein synthesis and gene regulation. We propose that the elevated TG2 activity observed is due to the formation of a novel covalent adduct between TG2 and OPs.Sucralose is one of the most popular artificial sweeteners worldwide. Due to its high stability, persistence and low removal efficiency in wastewater treatment plants, sucralose has been used as an indicator of wastewater intrusion into aquatic systems. However, its stability has also been a reason for discussion whether sucralose's presence in surface water could indicate a recent anthropogenic input. Caffeine and acetaminophen have been considered as tracers in human impacted aquatic ecosystems and potentially good indicators of recent anthropogenic inputs into the environment due to their short half-lives in water. Here, a novel, high throughput and sensitive method based on online SPE-LC-HRMS for the determination of caffeine, sucralose and acetaminophen was developed and validated for both fresh and seawater samples and applied to environmental water samples to evaluate the efficiency of these compounds as tracers of aquatic pollution. Caffeine and sucralose were detected in > 70% of samples, while acetaminophen was only detected in 3% of samples above the MDL, demonstrating its limited environmental applicability.

To study the correlation between absorbed perfused liver dose using Y90 radioembolization and degree of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) necrosis in liver explants in a multicenter cohort analysis METHODS A retrospective analysis of 45 HCC patients treated between 2014 and 2017 is presented. Inclusion criteria were treatment-naïve solitary HCC ≤ 8cm and Child-Pugh A liver status using the radiation segmentectomy approach. All patients underwent liver resection or transplantation (LT). Liver explants were examined per institutional routine protocols to assess histopathological viability of HCC. Tumor pathological necrosis was classified into complete (100% necrosis), extensive (> 50% and ≤ 99%) necrosis, and partial (< 50%) necrosis. Absorbed perfused liver doses were estimated using MIRD calculations. Associations between dose and degree of necrosis were studied.

Thirty-four (76%) patients underwent LT, and 11 (24%) patients underwent hepatic resection. Median radiation dose was 240 (IQR 136-387) Gy. Thirty (67%) patients had complete pathologic necrosis (CPN) at explant, while 10 (22%) and 5 (11%) had extensive and partial necrosis, respectively. There were significant differences among perfused liver doses that exhibited partial, extensive, and complete necrosis (p = 0.001). Twenty-four out of twenty-eight (86%) patients who had dose > 190Gy achieved CPN, while 11/17 (65%) who had < 190Gy did not (Fisher's exact test; p = 0.001). Using binary logistic regression, only absorbed radiation dose was significantly associated with CPN (p = 0.01), while tumor size was not (p = 0.35). All patients receiving > 400Gy exhibited CPN.

Radiation segmentectomy for early HCC with ablative dosing > 400Gy results in CPN. This represents the new standard target dose for radiation segmentectomy.

 400 Gy results in CPN. This represents the new standard target dose for radiation segmentectomy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the introduction of online podcasts as part of the main lecture series in orthopaedics on the number of lecture attendees, the examination results and the assessment of teaching by the students. Additionally, we evaluated the use of other media for examination preparation.

At the beginning and end of the lecture series questionnaires were handed out to the students to evaluate their attitudes towards attending lectures, the use of video podcasts and examination preparation. In addition, the number of lecture attendees and podcast usage during the semester were counted and the statements of the students in the evaluation assessments of orthopaedic teaching were evaluated. The examination results were correlated in astatistical analysis with the learning materials provided by the students for examination preparation.

At the end of the lecture series, 284 students stated that they used the lecture podcast about twice as often as attending lectures; however, for the majority of the students the provision of avideo podcast was no reason not to attend the lecture.