Pilgaardbrock4700

The traditional view of protein aggregation as being strictly disease-related has been challenged by many examples of cellular aggregates that regulate beneficial biological functions. MEK inhibitor side effects When coupled with the emerging view that many regulatory proteins undergo phase separation to form dynamic cellular compartments, it has become clear that supramolecular assembly plays wide-ranging and critical roles in cellular regulation. This presents opportunities to develop new tools to probe and illuminate this biology, and to harness the unique properties of these self-assembling systems for synthetic biology for the purposeful manipulation of biological function.BACKGROUND Malignant tumors are risk factors for a pulmonary embolism (PE), and a PE caused by a tumor is not uncommon. Primary pleural squamous cell carcinoma (PPSCC) is a rare malignancy; thus, a related PE is extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION A previously healthy 49-year-old female patient was admitted to Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital owing to chest tightness, cough, and breathing difficulty that persisted for 3 days. Following admission, a computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography revealed an embolism in the main pulmonary artery, upper and lower pulmonary artery branch. The patient was treated with alteplase, warfarin, and antibiotics. Over the following year, she experienced recurrent chest pain and tightness and breathing difficulty, with multiple CT pulmonary angiography revealing thrombosis in the right and left main pulmonary artery. No abnormalities were observed in surrogate markers of autoimmune diseases, tumor antigen testing, or ultrasonography; thus, the cause of recurrent PE was not identified. Subsequently, a positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) examination revealed diffuse heterogeneous thickening of the right pleura and substantially increased glucose metabolism. A CT-guided pleural biopsy was performed, and histopathological examination of the pleura eventually revealed a diagnosis of PPSCC. CONCLUSIONS PPSCC is a rare tumor that lacks specific clinical manifestations and is difficult to detect with imaging techniques. The occurrence of PE as the primary manifesting symptom in a patient with PPSCC is extremely rare. Thus, malignant tumors should be considered in patients with no risk factors for PE and/or in those with recurrent PE. An immediate diagnosis and adequate intervention can be achieved with increased awareness of this diagnosis and subsequent related examinations.BACKGROUND The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model has received consistent empirical support in the context of HIV prevention among various key populations, but not yet among transgender women (TGW). None effective interventions has been carried out among TGW so far to control their high prevalence of unprotected anal intercourse. The intent of the current study is to examine the application of the IMB model to clarifying the association between condom use correlates and condom use frequency among TGW in China. METHODS Using snowball sampling, we recruited 198 self-identified TGW in Shenyang, China from April 2017 to July 2017. Participants were required to complete a questionnaire assessing their background characteristics and IMB model constructs. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to demonstrate the utility of the IMB model. RESULTS The consistent condom use (CCU) rate was 47.0%. Results of SEM indicated that HIV-preventive motivation (comprising condom use attitude and subjective norms; β = 0.823, P  less then   0.001) and behavioral skills (including condom use skills and self-efficacy; β = 0.979, P = 0.004) were related to more frequent condom use, whereas HIV knowledge was unrelated to condom use (β = 0.052, P = 0.540). CONCLUSIONS The low CCU rate suggested that TGW in China were at high risk of HIV infection and transmission and a key intervention population. HIV-preventive interventions for this population should focus on enhancing motivation and strengthening behavioral skills to increase condom use frequency and reduce HIV infection.BACKGROUND Smear layer removal has been shown to reduce bacterial penetration through root canal obturations when resin-based endodontic sealer is used. The purpose of this in vitro study was to test this effect when a non-resin-based sealer is used. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty root segments were assigned to the following groups Smear layer removed (n = 8); smear layer retained (n = 8); negative controls (n = 10; 5 with smear layer, 5 without); and positive controls (n = 4; 2 with smear layer, 2 without). After rotary instrumentation, smear layers were removed in the treatment group and half of controls using 17% ethylenediamenetetraacetic acid (EDTA) prior to obturation. Each obturated root was affixed into a dual-chamber leakage model employing Streptococcus mutans. Roots were incubated at 37 °C for 120 d. Days until lower chamber turbidity occurred was recorded for each sample, and data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis (p = 0.05). RESULTS No negative controls leaked, while all positive controls were turbid within 1 day. Mean days to leakage for roots with smear layer intact was 82.75 (+/- 33.29, 95% CI), although three never leaked. Mean days to leakage through roots with smear layer removed was 46.25 (+/- 26.67, 95% CI), and all leaked. Treatment survival curves were significantly different (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS Under the conditions and limitations of this study, retaining the smear layer reduced the rate of bacterial penetration through canals which had been obturated using zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) -based sealer.BACKGROUND Patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD) are thought to exhibit taste disorders; however, this has not been extensively studied. We investigated gustatory functions and factors affecting taste in patients with ADD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and in non-demented controls (NDCs) and evaluated associations between cognitive impairment and gustatory functions. METHODS We recruited 29 patients with ADD, 43 with MCI, and 14 with NDCs. We obtained medical and medication history, measured salivary secretion volumes, and performed cognitive function tests, blood tests, whole-mouth gustatory tests, and dietary and gustatory questionnaires. RESULTS Patients with ADD showed significantly higher recognition threshold values than NDCs (p  less then  0.05). Many individuals did not recognize umami at the maximum concentration, and this happened more frequently in patients with ADD or MCI than in NDCs. Evaluation items other than cognitive function tests did not show significant differences among the groups, but many individuals had decreased salivation, low serum zinc levels, and were on multiple medications. We found a significant correlation between recognition threshold and age (r = 0.229, p  less then  0.05) and cognitive function test score (r = 0.268, p  less then  0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients with ADD showed impairment of gustatory function. Gustatory impairment in patients with MCI could not be confirmed. However, many individuals with MCI did not recognize umami, either. Our results suggest that taste disorders in elderly people with cognitive decline occur independently of factors affecting taste such as salivation, zinc levels, or prescription drugs. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study was registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry on February 10, 2017, with reference number UMIN000026087.BACKGROUND Pupillary evaluation is a crucial element of physical exams. Noting size, reactivity, and consensual response is critical in assessing for optic nerve dysfunction. We aim to establish normative data for scotopic pupillary size and function in the pediatric population in a clinical setting. METHODS Pupillometry was obtained prospectively for consecutive, normal patients less then  18 years old being evaluated by Lurie Children's Ophthalmology. Quantitative data included maximum (MAX) and minimum (MIN) diameters, constriction percentage (CON), latency (LAT), average (ACV) and maximum (MCV) constriction velocities, average dilation velocity (ADV), and 75% recovery time (T75). Iris color was noted as light, intermediate, or dark. RESULTS 196 eyes of 101 participants (42.6% male, ages 1-17 years, average age 10.3 years) were analyzed. Mean MAX was 6.6 mm (5.1-8.1 mm 95% CI); MIN was 4.7 mm (3.1-6.1 mm 95% CI); CON was 30% (17-42 95% CI); LAT was 230 milliseconds (160-300 ms 95% CI); ACV was 3.70 mm/sec (2.21-5.18 mm/sec 95% CI); and ADV was 0.88 mm/sec (0.38-1.38 mm/sec 95% CI). Age had a positive correlation with MAX, MIN, and CON. 84.2 and 95.8% of participants showed resting pupil asymmetry of ≤0.5 mm and ≤ 1.0 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Quantitative pupillometry can be a useful tool for screening pediatric patients. We sought to establish normative data in this group. We found males to have significantly greater MCV and CON than females (p  less then  0.05). Also, age had a positive correlation with MAX, MIN, and CON.BACKGROUND Various tumor characteristics might lead to inaccurate local MRI-defined stage of rectal cancer and the purpose of this study was to explore the clinicopathological factors that impact on the precision pre-treatment MRI-defined stage of rectal cancer. METHODS A retrospectively analysis was conducted in non-metastatic rectal cancer patients who received radical tumor resection without neoadjuvant treatment during 2007-2015 in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Clinical T stage and N stage defined by pelvic enhanced MRI and pathological stage were compared and patients were subdivided into accurate-staging, over-staging and under-staging subgroups. Logistic regressions were used to explore risk factors for over-staging or under-staging. RESULTS Five hundred fifty-one cases of patients were collected. Among them, 109 cases (19.4%) of patients were over-T-staged and 50 cases (8.9%) were under-T-staged, while 78 cases (13.9%) were over-N-staged and 75 cases (13.3%) were under-N-staged. Logistic regression suggested that pre-operative bowel obstruction was risk factor for over-T-staging (OR = 3.120, 95%CI 1.662-5.857, P  less then  0.001) as well as over-N-staging (OR = 3.494, 95%CI 1.797-6.794, P  less then  0.001), while mucinous adenocarcinoma was a risk factor for under-N-staging (OR = 4.049, 95%CI 1.876-8.772, P  less then  0.001). Patients with larger tumor size were at lower risk for over-T-staging (OR = 0.837, 95%CI 0.717-0.976, P = 0.024) and higher risk for over-N-staging (OR = 1.434, 95%CI 1.223-1.680, P  less then  0.001). CONCLUSION Bowel obstruction, mucinous adenocarcinoma and tumor size might have impact on the pre-operative MRI T staging or N staging of rectal cancer. Our results reminded clinicians to assess clinical stage individually in such rectal cancer patients.BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to highlight the experiences of women who are often hidden in what we know and understand about homelessness, and to make policy and practice recommendations for women-centred services including adaptations to current housing interventions. METHODS Three hundred survey interviews were conducted with people experiencing homelessness in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The survey instrument measured socio-demographics, adverse childhood experiences, mental and physical health, and perceived accessibility to resources. Eighty-one women participants were identified as a subsample to be examined in greater depth. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were calculated to provide insight into women respondents' characteristics and experiences of homelessness and how they differed from men's experiences. RESULTS Women's experiences of homelessness are different from their male counterparts. Women have greater mental health concerns, higher rates of diagnosed mental health issues, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and adverse childhood trauma.