Haastrupheide1184

Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum L., Grossulariaceae) contain high amounts of anthocyanin polyphenols, which have antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic health benefits. This study analyzed the potential phytoestrogenic effects of blackcurrant extract (BCE) in breast cancer (MCF-7) and human endometrial cancer (Ishikawa) cell lines that over-express estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), as well as in immature female rats.

Microarray analysis and Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis showed that BCE activated the ERα pathway, whereas quantitative-PCR confirmed that BCE and four types of anthocyanins up-regulated genes downstream of ERα. BCE (0.1-1.0 μg/mL) and anthocyanins (0.1-10 μM) induced MCF-7 cell proliferation; however, this effect was blocked by ER antagonist fulvestrant. Flow cytometry showed that anthocyanins reduced and increased the number of MCF-7 cells in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases, respectively. Anthocyanins stimulated ERα transcriptional activity in human ERα reporter assays and induced alkaline phosphatase activity in Ishikawa cells. Competition assays and in silico analysis indicated that anthocyanins bind to ERα. Finally, BCE focally induced stratification of columnar epithelial cells in the rat uterus and increased cytoplasmic mucin levels in these cells.

These results suggest that blackcurrant anthocyanins act as phytoestrogens in vitro and in vivo.

These results suggest that blackcurrant anthocyanins act as phytoestrogens in vitro and in vivo.An actinomycete, strain K55T, was isolated from a composite soil sample from a nickel mine,collected from Yueyang, Shaanxi Province, PR China. Strain K55T showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.73 %–98.51 % to species of the genus Micromonospora, including Micromonospora haikouensis 232617T, Micromonospora coxensis 2-30-b(28)T, Micromonospora wenchangensis 2602GPT1-05T, Micromonospora matsumotoense IMSNU22003T, Micromonospora maoerensis NEAU-MES19T, and Micromonospora humi P0402T. This strain harboured meso-diaminopimelic acid, alanine and glycine as the major cell-wall amino acids, xylose and glucose as the characteristic whole-cell sugars, and iso-C15 0(20.53 %),iso-C17 0 (12.74 %), iso-C16 0 (12.15 %), anteiso-C17 0 (7.97 %), C17 1ω8c(7.49 %) and C17 0 (6.63 %) as the dominant fatty acids. The major menaquinones were MK-10(H4) and MK-10(H6). The phospholipid profile comprised phosphatidylethanolamine,diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol and unknown phosphoglycolipids. The DNA G+C content was 71.4 mol%. A comprehensive analysis ofseveral physiological and biochemical traits and DNA–DNA relatedness indicated that strainK55T was different from closely related species. These phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic data suggest that strain K55T represents a novel species of the genus Micromonospora, for which the name Micromonospora nickelidurans sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is K55T (5JCM 30559T5ACCC19713T).Gait disturbance results in an increase in the risk of falls in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The falls are events that might be related to an increase in the number of fractures, loss of mobility, being bedridden, early institutionalization, and increased use of medication. Therefore, the reduction in the number of falls is important for the maintenance of the functional independence of the patients as well as for the prevention of sequelae resulting from those events. Alterations in the gait occur very frequently in AD, and the gait disturbance occurs relatively early in the course of the disease. This study has important implications for public health and clinical practice. This study and previous studies have reported that abnormal gait predicts greater risk of falls, dementia, institutionalization, and death. The high prevalence and incidence of abnormal gait and its association with multiple adverse outcomes in older adults require urgent attention. Our results allow us to identify the risk factors.An evolving premise is that cytoprotective autophagy responses are essential to monocyte-macrophage differentiation. Whether autophagy functions similarly during the monocyte-to-dendritic cell (DC) transition is unclear. IL-10, which induces apoptosis in maturing human DCs, has been shown to inhibit starvation-induced autophagy in murine macrophage cell lines. Based on the strict requirement that Bcl-2-mediated anti-apoptotic processes are implemented during the monocyte-to-DC transition, we hypothesized that cytoprotective autophagy responses also operate at the monocyte-DC interface and that IL-10 inhibits both anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective autophagy responses at this critical juncture. In support of our premise, we show that levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and autophagy-associated LC3 and Beclin-1 proteins are coincidentally upregulated during the monocyte-to-DC transition. Autophagy was substantiated by increased autophagosome visualization after bafilomycin treatment. Moreover, the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA restricted DC differentiation by prompting apoptosis. IL-10 implemented apoptosis that was coincidentally associated with reduced levels of Bcl-2 and widespread disruption of the autophagic flux. During peak apoptosis, IL-10 produced the death of newly committed DCs. However, cells surviving the IL-10 apoptotic schedule were highly phagocytic macrophage-like cells displaying reduced capacity to stimulate allogeneic naïve T cells in a mixed leukocyte reaction, increased levels of LC3, and mature autophagosomes. Thus, IL-10's negative control of DC-driven adaptive immunity at the monocyte-DC interface includes disruption of coordinately regulated molecular networks involved in pro-survival autophagy and anti-apoptotic responses.

Background Treatment of Charcot arthopathy of the foot can be challenging. The goal of this investigation was to determine whether primary gastrocnemius-soleus recession could decrease rate of new ulcers, progression of deformity, and amputation in patients with Charcot arthropathy of the midfoot.Methods A retrospective chart review revealed 28 feet in 24 diabetic patients with radiographic evidence of Charcot arthropathy of the midfoot. FB23-2 mouse They were treated with primary gastrocnemius-soleus recession. Eleven feet in 11 patients had concurrent plantar midfoot ulcers. Three feet in 3 patients were lost to follow-up. Twenty-five feet in 21 patients were followed for an average of 37 months postoperatively (range = 18-79).Results A favorable outcome was defined as healing of existing ulcers, no new ulcers, no obvious progression of deformity, and no amputation. Favorable outcomes were obtained in 22 of 25 feet (18 of 21 patients). Only one patient had a persistent ulcer after gastrocnemius-soleus recession. The other 10 patients with preexisting ulcers healed. Deformity of midfoot progressed in one patient, leading ultimately to transtibial amputation. Another patient developed a knee joint infection and had a transfemoral amputation at another institution.Discussion These preliminary data suggest that primary gastrocnemius-soleus recession is followed by a much lower rate of persistent, recurrent, and new ulceration than previously reported studies. Gastrocnemius-soleus recession seems to aid in the treatment of Charcot arthropathy of the midfoot.

Level IV.

Level IV.

Correct sizing of the aortic annulus in aortic valve stenosis is crucial for successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) seems to be most promising imaging modality for this pre-interventional diagnostic work-up, but has the disadvantage of exposing mostly co-morbid patients to iodine and nephrotoxic contrast agents. To establish a useful sizing method for TAVI without the use of contrast media, we compared measurements of a non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique with MSCT serving as the reference standard.

Fifty-two patients who underwent TAVI were previously examined with MSCT and MRI, respectively. MRI examination included a 3D steady-state free-precession sequence covering the entire ascending aorta. Perimeter and area of the aortic root were analyzed by two blinded readers in consensus using a dedicated software. Decisions for Sapien 3 valve size of both imaging modalities were compared using the mean derived annulus diameter.

Mean age of the study cohort was 82.2 ± 4.9 years, log EuroScore was 25.2 ± 4.8 %. Mean aortic annulus perimeter as measured by MSCT was 76.7 ± 6.9 mm. MRI yielded a mean perimeter of 76.5 ± 6.7 mm with a good correlation coefficient (r = 0.93, p < 0.0001). Decision for valve size showed good correlation between both imaging modalities (r = 0.94, p < 0.0001).

In conclusion, non-contrast MRI shows good correlation to MSCT in the assessment of the aortic annulus and valve sizing. This non-contrast technique might be a reasonable alternative for aortic root sizing before TAVI without the use of nephrotoxic contrast agents, especially in patients with severely reduced kidney function.

In conclusion, non-contrast MRI shows good correlation to MSCT in the assessment of the aortic annulus and valve sizing. This non-contrast technique might be a reasonable alternative for aortic root sizing before TAVI without the use of nephrotoxic contrast agents, especially in patients with severely reduced kidney function.A computational framework to rank the solvation behavior of Mg(2+) in carbonates by using molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory is reported. Based on the binding energies and enthalpies of solvation calculated at the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory and the free energies of solvation from ABF-MD simulations, we find that ethylene carbonate (EC) and the ethylene carbonatepropylene carbonate (ECPC) binary mixture are the best carbonate solvents for interacting with Mg(2+) . Natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules analyses support the thermochemistry calculations with the highest values of charge transfer, perturbative stabilization energies, electron densities, and Wiberg bond indices being observed in the Mg(2+) (EC) and Mg(2+) (ECPC) complexes. The plots of the noncovalent interactions indicate that those responsible for the formation of Mg(2+) carbonate complexes are strong-to-weak attractive interactions, depending on the regions that are interacting. Finally, density of state calculations indicate that the interactions between Mg(2+) and the carbonate solvents affects the HOMO and LUMO states of all carbonate solvents and moves them to more negative energy values.Bioresorbable stents are novel devices designed to overcome the long-term limitations of permanent stent implantation. The Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS; Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) was the first bioresorbable stent with Conformité Européenne mark approval in coronary vessels and has been the subject of multiple clinical studies. Despite its potential advantages, the safety and efficacy of BVS remain unclear. To address this, we conducted a systematic review to examine the safety and efficacy of BVS. The MEDLINE, Embase, Current Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane, and Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) databases were searched for studies examining BVS safety and efficacy. Our search was restricted to studies published in English or French. Outcomes of interest include cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target-lesion revascularization, restenosis, and composite endpoints. Eleven studies met our inclusion criteria (n = 2990), which included 1 randomized controlled trial and 10 cohort studies (2 controlled).