The efficiency of Eichhornia crassipes in the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater: a review

Abstract

Water is a basic necessity of life, but due to overextraction and heavy input of nutrients from domestic and industrial sources, the contamination level of water bodies increase. In the last few decades, a potential interest has been aroused to treat wastewater by biological methodologies before discharge into the natural water bodies. Phytoremediation using water hyacinth is found to be an effective biological wastewater treatment method. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), a notorious weed, being the most promising plant for removal of contaminants from wastewater is studied extensively in this regard. It has been successfully used to accumulate heavy metals, dyes, radionuclides, and other organic and inorganic contaminants from water at laboratory, pilot, and large scale. The plant materials are also being used as sorbent to separate the contaminant from water. Other than phytoremediation, the plant has been explored for various other purposes like ethanol production and generation of biogases and green manures. Such applications of this have been good support for the technocrats in controlling the growth of the plant. The present paper reviews the phytoremedial application of water hyacinth and its capability to remove contaminants in produced water and wastewater from domestic and isndustrial sources either used as a whole live plant grown in water or use of plant body parts as sorbent has been discussed.

http://ift.tt/2irU0lS

Oropharyngeal swabs analyzed by ddPCR is a quantitative, rapid, and effective method for minimally invasive oncogenic HPV detection. This assay represents the most sensitive and accurate mode of HPV detection in OPSCC without a tissue biopsy in the available literature.

http://sfaki.blogspot.com/2017/01/hpv-opscc-is-commonly-diagnosed-by-rt.html

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Tumor uptake of 18F-BPA and 11C-Met : The distribution of 4-borono-2-18F-fluoro-phenylalanine (18F-BPA) and L-[methyl-11C] methionine (11C-Met) in normal organs and tumors and to evaluate the usefulness of 11C-Met/PET in screening potential candidates for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).

http://sfaki.blogspot.com/2017/01/relationship-between-uptake-of-18f.html

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Establishment of critical limits of indicators and indices of soil quality in rice-rice cropping systems under different soil orders

Publication date: 15 April 2017
Source:Geoderma, Volume 292
Author(s): Sunanda Biswas, G.C. Hazra, T.J. Purakayastha, N. Saha, Tarik Mitran, Satadeep Singha Roy, Nirmalendu Basak, Biswapati Mandal
Rice-rice is one of the major cropping systems in Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of South Asia. Assessment of soil quality and identification of key indicators with their critical limits are very much important for maintaining normal functioning of the soil and productivity of crops, particularly of wet land rice. The present investigation was undertaken to identify sensitive soil quality indicators and to develop soil quality indices and establishment of their critical limits in Inceptisols, Entisols and Alfisols collected from farmers' fields with long-term rice-rice cropping system in sub-tropical India. The soil samples were analysed for 37 physical, chemical and biological properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to create minimum data set (MDS) of physical, chemical and biological indicators which were encompassed to develop unified soil quality index (SQI) under different soil orders. The SQI thus developed was highest in Inceptisols (0.66 to 0.89) followed by Entisols (0.23 to 0.76) and Alfisols (0.37 to 0.60). The upper and lower critical limits for key indicators as well as SQI were determined using scattered plot technique involving relative yields of rice (RY) and different soil quality indicators as well as SQI. The critical limit equivalent to 80% and 40% of relative yield were treated as upper and lower critical limits of selected key indicators and SQI. The adequacy classes for each of selected key indicator as a function of relative yield of rice were established based on the following criteria: <40% low, 40–80% moderate and >80% adequate. The upper and lower critical limits of the indicators selected under rice-rice cropping systems in Inceptisols were available Zn (1.7 and 1.2mgkg⁻¹), bulk density (1.2 and 1.6Mgm⁻³), β-glucosidase activity (68 and 18μgp-nitrophenolg⁻¹soilh⁻¹) and urease activity (64 and 24μgNH4g⁻¹soil2h⁻¹), in Entisols were dehydrogenase activity (93 and 12μgTPFg⁻¹soil24h⁻¹), aggregate stability (66 and 11%), total organic C (11.6 and 10.7gkg⁻¹) and pHw (5.7 and 5.3) and in Alfisols were oxidisable organic C (7.8 and 5.0gkg⁻¹), β-glucosidase activity (51 and 15μgp-nitrophenolg⁻¹soilh⁻¹), aggregate stability (52 and 19%) and mineralizable C (273 and 173μgCg⁻¹ soil), respectively. The upper and lower critical limits established for key soil quality indicators as well for Inceptisols (0.85 and 0.56), Entisols (0.23 and 0.65) and Alfisols (0.37 and 0.56) could periodically be judged for maintaining/enhancing soil quality and yield sustainability through the employment of optimum management practices in rice-rice cropping systems of subtropical India.



http://ift.tt/2jVlUH3

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy as an adjunct for treatment of deep carious lesions—a systematic review

Publication date: Available online 15 January 2017
Source:Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Author(s): Fabian Cieplik, Wolfgang Buchalla, Elmar Hellwig, Ali Al-Ahmad, Karl-Anton Hiller, Tim Maisch, Lamprini Karygianni
For deep carious lesions, a more conservative treatment modality ("selective caries removal") has been proposed, where only the heavily contaminated dentine is removed. In this regard, effective adjuncts for cavity disinfection such as the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) can be valuable clinically prior to definitive restoration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically assess clinical studies on the effectiveness of aPDT as a supplementary tool in the treatment of deep caries lesions. Searches were performed in four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov) from 1st January, 2011 until 21st June, 2016 for search terms relevant to the observed parameters, pathological condition, intervention and anatomic entity. The pooled information was evaluated according to PRISMA guidelines. At first, 1,651 articles were recovered, of which 1,249 full-text articles were evaluated, 270 articles thereof were reviewed for eligibility and finally 6 articles met all inclusion criteria. The aPDT protocols involved Methylene Blue, Toluidine Blue and aluminium-chloride-phthalocyanine as photosensitizers and diode lasers, light-emitting diodes and halogen light-sources. The data from five reports, utilizing both culture-dependent and −independent methods, disclosed significant reduction of cariogenic bacterial load after mechanical caries removal with adjunct aPDT. As these studies exhibit some methodological limitations, e.g. lack of positive controls, this systematic review can support the application of aPDT to a limited extent only in terms of reducing the microbial load in deep carious lesions before restorative treatment.



http://ift.tt/2iBU4xB

The association between sclerostin and incident type 2 diabetes risk: a cohort study

Abstract

Objective

To determine whether sclerostin is associated with fasting glucose, insulin levels, insulin resistance or increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes.

Background

Type 2 diabetic patients have a higher risk of fractures. Recent studies suggest sclerostin, a regulator of osteoblast activity, is associated with diabetes.

Materials and Methods

Sclerostin levels were obtained from 1,778 individuals with no history of type 2 diabetes participating in the population-based Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos) cohort. Participants were followed until diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, death, or end of the study period (December 31, 2013). The relationship of sclerostin with fasting glucose, insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was studied in linear regression models. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the association of sclerostin levels and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes during a mean 7.5 years of follow-up.

Results

Fasting glucose, fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR were weakly correlated with sclerostin levels (Spearman's correlation coefficient: 0.11, p<0.05; -0.09, p<0.05; and -0.07, p=0.02 respectively). Multiple linear regression analyses confirmed a significant association between sclerostin and fasting insulin and HOMA-IR but no significant association with fasting glucose levels. Sclerostin levels were not found to be significantly associated with the risk of incident type 2 diabetes (HR: 1.30; 95% CI: 0.37-4.57).

Conclusions

We observed an association between sclerostin levels with fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR, but there was no clear association with type 2 diabetes risk. Further studies are needed to understand the role of sclerostin in type 2 diabetes.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Immune transcriptome reveals the mincle C-type lectin receptor acts as a partial replacement for TLR4 in lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammatory response in barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

Publication date: March 2017
Source:Molecular Immunology, Volume 83
Author(s): Emmanuelle Zoccola, Stuart Kellie, Andrew C. Barnes
Fish represent the most diverse and abundant extant vertebrate infraclass. They are also one of the earliest divergent phyla with adaptive immunity based on antigen recognition by MHC and immunoglobulin. The aquaculture industry, which currently provides more than half of the fish for human consumption globally, has successfully exploited the adaptive immune system of fish through mass vaccination programs. However, vaccination against highly diverse antigens, mostly carbohydrates, such as capsular polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is challenging. Fish have a subdued innate response to LPS, but adaptive response is generally high and type-specific. To better understand the link between initial innate response and early onset of adaptive immunity to carbohydrate antigens in the perciform barramundi (Lates calcarifer), an immune transcriptome was prepared from pronephros and spleen following vaccination with LPS and peptidoglycan. From 163,661 transcripts derived by Illumina mRNA-Seq, most grouped in neuronal, endocrine or immune system categories, suggesting a close relationship between the three systems. Moreover, digestive enzyme transcripts in spleen appeared to be highly inducible in barramundi. Most of the known TLRs were transcribed in the barramundi spleen and HK transcriptome, with the notable exception of TLR4, which is primarily responsible for LPS recognition in mammals. Several C-type lectin receptors were also identified, including CD209, CD205, and CLEC4E (Mincle). As Mincle has been shown to bind LPS and is abundant on dendritic cells, its role in response to LPS in barramundi was further investigated. A high dose of LPS induced TNF-alpha expression via Mincle. However, IL-6 regulation, whilst still regulated in response to LPS, did not depend upon the Mincle pathway, suggesting other routes of activation. This study thus suggests that Mincle acts as a partial substitute for TLR4 in barramundi in the processing of LPS.



http://ift.tt/2jlOctv

Linking organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 and 1B3 (OATP1B1 and OATP1B3) interaction profiles to hepatotoxicity - The hyperbilirubinemia use case

Publication date: 30 March 2017
Source:European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 100
Author(s): Eleni Kotsampasakou, Sylvia E. Escher, Gerhard F. Ecker
Hyperbilirubinemia is a pathological condition of excessive accumulation of conjugated or unconjugated bilirubin in blood. It has been associated with neurotoxicity and non-neural organ dysfunctions, while it can also be a warning of liver side effects. Hyperbilirubinemia can either be a result of overproduction of bilirubin due to hemolysis or dyserythropoiesis, or the outcome of impaired bilirubin elimination due to liver transporter malfunction or inhibition. There are several reports in literature that inhibition of organic anion transporting polypeptides 1B1 and 1B3 (OATP1B1 and OATP1B3) might lead to hyperbilirubinemia. In this study we created a set of classification models for hyperbilirubinemia, which, besides physicochemical descriptors, also include the output of classification models of human OATP1B1 and 1B3 inhibition. Models were based on either human data derived from public toxicity reports or animal data extracted from the eTOX database VITIC. The generated models showed satisfactory accuracy (68%) and area under the curve (AUC) for human data and 71% accuracy and 70% AUC for animal data. However, our results did not indicate strong association between OATP inhibition and hyperbilirubinemia, neither for humans nor for animals.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2jNbTrz

Sitagliptin inhibit human lymphocytes proliferation and Th1/Th17 differentiation in vitro

Publication date: 30 March 2017
Source:European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 100
Author(s): Marcelo Maia Pinheiro, Caroline Lais Stoppa, Claudete Justina Valduga, Cristina Eunice Okuyama, Renata Gorjão, Regina Mara Silva Pereira, Susana Nogueira Diniz
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are a new class of anti-diabetic agents that are widely used in clinical practice to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. DPP-4 is also known as lymphocyte cell surface protein, CD26, and plays an important role in T-cell immunity. Recent studies suggest that DPP-4 inhibitors improve beta-cell function and attenuate autoimmunity in type 1 diabetic mouse models. To investigate the direct effect of DPP4 in immune response, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy volunteers were obtained by Ficoll gradient and cultivated in the absence (control) or presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA), or stimulated with PHA and treated with sitagliptin. The immune modulation mechanisms analyzed were: cell proliferation, by MTT assay; cytokine quantification by ELISA or cytometric bead array (CBA), Th1/Th2/Th17 phenotyping by flow cytometric analysis and CD26 gene expression by real time PCR. The results showed that sitagliptin treatment inhibited the proliferation of PBMC-PHA stimulated cells in a dose dependent manner and decreased CD26 expression by these cells, suggesting that sitagliptin may interfere in CD26 expression, dimerization and cell signaling. Sitagliptin treatment not only inhibited IL-10 (p<0.05) and IFN-gamma (p=0.07) cytokines, but also completely abolish IL-6 expression by PBMCs (p<0.001). On the other hand, IL-4 were secreted in culture supernatants from sitagliptin treated cells. A statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in the ratio of TGF-beta/proliferation index after sitagliptin treatment (2627.97±1351.65), when comparing to untreated cells (646.28±376.94), was also demonstrated, indicating higher TGF-beta1 production by viable cells in cultures. Sitagliptin treatment induced a significantly (p<0.05) decrease in IL-17 and IFN-gamma intracellular expression compared with PHA alone. Also, the percentage of T CD4⁺IL-17⁺, T CD4⁺IFNgamma⁺ and T CD4⁺IL-4⁺ cells were significantly reduced (p<0.05) by sitagliptin. Our data demonstrated an immunosuppressive effect of sitagliptin on Th1, Th17 and Th2 lymphocytes differentiation that leads to the generation of regulatory TGF-beta1 secreting cells with low CD26 gene expression that may influence the state of pancreatic beta-cells and controlling DM1 patients.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2jN6HnA

A calix[4]arene derivative and its selective interaction with drugs (clofibric acid, diclofenac and aspirin)

Publication date: 30 March 2017
Source:European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 100
Author(s): Angela F Danil de Namor, Maan Al Nuaim, Jose A Villanueva Salas, Sophie Bryant, Brendan Howlin
The synthesis and characterisation of a partially substituted calix[4]arene, namely, 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl,25,27-bis[aminoethoxy] 26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene are reported. Its interaction with commonly used pharmaceuticals (clofibric acid, diclofenac and aspirin) was investigated by spectroscopic (¹H NMR and UV), electrochemical (conductance measurements) and thermal (titration calorimetry) techniques. It is concluded on the basis of the experimental work and molecular simulation studies that the receptor interacts selectively with these drugs. Preliminary studies on the selective extraction of these pharmaceuticals from water by the calix receptor are reported and the potential for a carrier mediated sensor based on this ligand for 'onsite' monitoring of pharmaceuticals is discussed.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2izUkgO

Immune regulatory network in successful pregnancy and reproductive failures

Publication date: April 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 88
Author(s): Mahnaz Ghaebi, Mohammad Nouri, Aliyeh Ghasemzadeh, Laya Farzadi, Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh, Majid Ahmadi, Mehdi Yousefi
Maternal immune system must tolerate semiallogenic fetus to establish and maintain a successful pregnancy. Despite the existence of several strategies of trophoblast to avoid recognition by maternal leukocytes, maternal immune system may react against paternal alloantigenes. Leukocytes are important components in decidua. Not only T helper (Th)1/Th2 balance, but also regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in pregnancy. Although the frequency of Tregs is elevated during normal pregnancies, their frequency and function are reduced in reproductive defects such as recurrent miscarriage and preeclampsia. Tregs are not the sole population of suppressive cells in the decidua. It has recently been shown that regulatory B10 (Breg) cells participate in pregnancy through secretion of IL-10 cytokine. Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature developing precursors of innate myeloid cells that are increased in pregnant women, implying their possible function in pregnancy. Natural killer T (NKT) cells are also detected in mouse and human decidua. They can also affect the fetomaternal tolerance. In this review, we will discuss on the role of different immune regulatory cells including Treg, γd T cell, Breg, MDSC, and NKT cells in pregnancy outcome.



http://ift.tt/2jdZwFX

A systems pharmacology perspective to decipher the mechanism of action of Parangichakkai chooranam, a Siddha formulation for the treatment of psoriasis

Publication date: April 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 88
Author(s): Sudharsana Sundarrajan, Mohanapriya Arumugam
Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing immune mediated disorder of the skin. The disease presents itself with well featured clinical and histological characteristics however the aetiology of the disease still remains obscure. The current systemic therapies aim to eliminate the symptoms of disease rather than offering a complete cure. Parangichakkai chooranam (PC), a Siddha oral herbal formulation has been widely prescribed for the treatment of psoriasis. Though the medication is highly prescribed by the Siddha healers the mechanism of PC for the treatment of psoriasis remains to be elucidated. The current study utilizes an integrated systems pharmacology approach to decipher the mechanism of action of PC. The comprehensive network pharmacological approach resulted in the construction of a Compound-Target network which encloses 155 compounds and 583 protein targets. A Disease-Target network was constructed by assembling disease proteins and their partners. When the compound targets were mapped to the network their involvement as controllers of the disease and triggers of disease associated comorbidities were identified. A Target-Pathway network raised from the pathway enrichment analysis not only identified disease specific pathways but also the pathways mediating secondary complications such as skin hemostasis, wound healing, desquamation and itch. The present work sheds light on the mechanism of action of PC in treating psoriasis. This work not only highlights the pharmacological action of the formulation but also emphasis on safe herbal remedies offered by the Siddha medicinal system.



http://ift.tt/2ir2dq8

Establishment of a fluorescence-based method to evaluate endocytosis of desialylated glycoproteins in vitro

Publication date: April 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 88
Author(s): Cheng Luo, Song Chen, Na Xu, Wen bo Sai, Wei Zhao, Ying chun Li, Xiao jing Hu, Hong Tian, Xiang dong Gao, Wen bing Yao
Insufficient sialylation can result in rapid clearance of therapeutic glycoproteins by intracellular degradation, which is mainly mediated by asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPRs) on hepatic cells. In contrast, for glycoproteins, a long half-life is often related to high level of terminal sialic acid. These could be extremely important for insufficient sialylated biomedicines in clinic, and development of therapeutic glycoproteins in laboratory. However, how the desialylated glycoproteins are removed and how to evaluate the ASGPRs mediated endocytosis in vitro needs further investigate. Herein we described an integrative characterization of ASGPRs in vitro to elucidate its endocytosis properties. The endocytosis was determined by a fluorescence-based quantization method. The results showed that the ASGPRs could bind to poorly sialylated glycoproteins including asialofetuin and low sialylated recombinant Factor VIIa with a relatively higher ASGPRs binding affinity, and induce a more rapid endocytosis in vitro. Moreover, the mechanism under the internalization of ASGPRs was also investigated, which was found to depend on clathrin and caveolin. Utilizing the relative fluorescence quantification can be suitable for measurement of insufficient sialylated glycoprotein endocytosis and quality control of therapeutic glycoproteins, which could be useful for the understanding of the development of therapeutic glycoproteins.



http://ift.tt/2jdUkll

Heliangin inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation through signaling NF-κB pathway on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells

Publication date: April 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 88
Author(s): XinGang Lu, Li Min, JiongLin Wei, HaiXin Gou, ZhiJun Bao, JiaoFeng Wang, Zheng Wang, YiZhi Huang, BingChen An
The heliangin is a natural agent mainly isolated from Helianthus tuberosus L. (Asteraceae). In order to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of heliangin, several typical models in vivo and in vitro were performed. The RAW264.7 mouse macrophages cells were employed in vitro and dexamethasone were conducted as positive. The cytotoxicity results of heliangin on RAW 264.7 cells provided the safety in vitro for further study. The mRNA of TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS and COX-2 were degraded under heliangin exposure in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The protein expression of iNOS, COX-2 were decreased via heliangin exposure in a dose-dependent manner. Heliangin inhibited TNF-α, NO, IL-6 and PGE2 expression levels in macrophage cells lysate. The immunocytochemistry assay showed the fluorescence image of heliangin treatment intercepted the p65 translocation process from outside to inside of nuclei triggered by LPS. Moreover, we founded that MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway play important roles in heliangin's activity on RAW264.7 cells. Secondly, the acute toxic study results of heliangin manifested the safety in vivo. Heliangin exerted anti-inflammation effect in a xylene-induced ear swelling in BALB/C mice and carrageenan-induced paw edema model in SD rats. The cytokines levels (TNF-α, IL-6 and PGE2) were decreased. The paw tissue immunochemistry assay demonstrated the IL-6 protein level changes in carrageenan-induced paw edema model under heliangin administration.



http://ift.tt/2iqUcBN

American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy Published in Thyroid Journal

New evidence-based recommendations from the American Thyroid Association (ATA) provide guidance to clinicians in diagnosing and managing thyroid disease during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Pregnancy has a profound effect on thyroid gland function, and thyroid disease is common in pregnancy. The 97 recommendations presented in the new Guidelines help define current best practices for thyroid function testing, iodine nutrition, pregnancy complications, and treatment of thyroid disease during pregnancy and lactation. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines are available free on the website of Thyroid, the official peer-reviewed journal of the ATA, published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

The "2017 Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease during Pregnancy and the Postpartum" were coauthored by an international task force of expert clinicians and researchers in the field of thyroidology. Led by Co-chairs Erik Alexander MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA and Elizabeth Pearce, MD, MSc, Boston University School of Medicine, the task force provides a solid foundation of knowledge on the assessment and treatment of thyroid disease in women during pregnancy, preconception, and the postpartum period. The Guidelines include recommendations related to the diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer, as well as thyroid considerations in infertile women, fetal and neonatal considerations, and directions for future research.

"These guidelines provide a superb overview on the pathophysiology and the clinical management of thyroid disorders during and after pregnancy. In addition, they also define areas where additional research is needed; this will allow keeping the document living with further updates in the coming years," says Peter A. Kopp, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Thyroid and Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago.

"Produced by an international panel of recognized experts, these updated guidelines add to the library of similar documents on thyroid disease that serve as the gold standard for diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders and identify critical areas where more research and knowledge is needed," says, John C. Morris, III, MD, President of the ATA, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

"With an estimated 300,000 pregnancies impacted by thyroid disease in the United States annually, these guidelines coalesce the best available evidence into clear clinical recommendations, and will improve the health of many, many mothers and newborns alike," say Dr. Alexander and Dr. Pearce.

About the Journal
Thyroid, the official journal of the American Thyroid Association, is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with open access options and in print. The Journal publishes original articles and timely reviews that reflect the rapidly advancing changes in our understanding of thyroid physiology and pathology, from the molecular biology of the cell to clinical management of thyroid disorders. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Thyroid  website. The complete Thyroid Journal Program includes the highly valued abstract and commentary publication Clinical Thyroidology, led by Editor-in-Chief Jerome M. Hershman, MD and published monthly, and the groundbreaking videojournal companion VideoEndocrinology, led by Editor Gerard Doherty, MD and published quarterly. Complete tables of content and sample issues may be viewed on the Thyroid website.

About the Society
The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is the leading worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement, understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thyroid disorders and thyroid cancer. ATA is an international multi-discipline medical society with over 1,700 endocrinologists, surgeons, oncologists from 43 countries around the world. Celebrating its 94^th anniversary, the ATA delivers its mission—of being devoted to thyroid biology and to the treatment of thyroid disease through excellence in research, clinical care, education, and public health—through several key endeavors: the publication of highly regarded professional journals, Thyroid, Clinical Thyroidology, and VideoEndocrinology; annual scientific meetings; biennial clinical and research symposia; research grant programs for young investigators, support of online professional, public and patient educational programs; and the development of guidelines for clinical management of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer. The ATA promotes thyroid awareness and information through its online Clinical Thyroidology for the Public (distributed free of charge to over 11,000 patients and public subscribers) and extensive, authoritative explanations of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer in both English and Spanish. The ATA website serves as the clinical resource for patients and the public who look for reliable information on the Internet.

About the Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, Journal of Women's Health, and Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. Its biotechnology trade magazine, GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's more than 80 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.

 

The post American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy Published in Thyroid Journal appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

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The stability of gadolinium-based contrast agents in human serum: A reanalysis of literature data and association with clinical outcomes

Publication date: May 2017
Source:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Volume 38
Author(s): John P. Prybylski, Richard C. Semelka, Michael Jay
PurposeTo reanalyze literature data of gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents (GBCAs) in plasma with a kinetic model of dissociation to provide a comprehensive assessment of equilibrium conditions for linear GBCAs.MethodsData for the release of Gd from GBCAs in human serum was extracted from a previous report in the literature and fit to a kinetic dissociation/association model. The conditional stabilities (logKcond) and percent intact over time were calculated using the model rate constants. The correlations between clinical outcomes and logKcond or other stability indices were determined.ResultsThe release curves for Omniscan®, gadodiamide, OptiMARK®, gadoversetamide Magnevist® and Multihance® were extracted and all fit well to the kinetic model. The logKconds calculated from the rate constants were on the order of ~4–6, and were not significantly altered by excess ligand or phosphate. The stability constant based on the amount intact by the initial elimination half-life of GBCAs in plasma provided good correlation with outcomes observed in patients.ConclusionsEstimation of the kinetic constants for GBCA dissociation/association revealed that their stability in physiological fluid is much lower than previous approaches would suggest, which correlates well with deposition and pharmacokinetic observations of GBCAs in human patients.



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Assessment of gait and sensorimotor deficits in the D1CT-7 mouse model of Tourette syndrome

Publication date: Available online 15 January 2017
Source:Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Author(s): Stephen C. Fowler, Laura J. Mosher, Sean C. Godar, Marco Bortolato
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple motor and phonic tics. While TS patients have been also shown to exhibit subtle abnormalities of sensorimotor integration and gait, animal models of this disorder are seldom tested for these functions. To fill this gap, we assessed gait and sensorimotor integration in the D1CT-7 mouse, one of the best-validated animal models of TS. D1CT-7 mice exhibit spontaneous tic-like manifestations, which, in line with the clinical phenomenology of TS, are markedly exacerbated by environmental stress. Thus, to verify whether stress may affect sensorimotor integration and gait functions in D1CT-7 mice, we subjected these animals to a 20-min session of spatial confinement, an environmental stressor that was recently shown to worsen tic-like manifestations. Immediately following this manipulation (or no confinement, for controls), animals were subjected to either the sticky-tape task, to test for sensorimotor integration; or a 60-min session in an open field (42×42cm) force-plate actometer for gait analysis. Gait analyses included spatial, temporal, and dynamic (force) parameters. D1CT-7 mice displayed a longer latency to remove a sticky tape, indicating marked impairments in sensorimotor integration; furthermore, these mutants exhibited shortened stride length, increased stride rate, nearly equal early-phase velocity, and higher late-phase velocity. D1CT-7 mice also ran with greater force amplitude than wild-type (WT) littermates. None of these phenotypes was worsened by spatial confinement. These results highlight the potential importance of testing sensorimotor integration and gait functions as a phenotypic correlate of cortical connectivity deficits in animal models of TS.



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Autophagy and autoimmunity

Publication date: Available online 15 January 2017
Source:Clinical Immunology
Author(s): Dennis J. Wu, Iannis E. Adamopoulos
Autophagy is a highly conserved protein degradation pathway from yeasts to humans that is essential for removing protein aggregates and misfolded proteins in healthy cells. Recently, autophagy-related genes polymorphisms have been implicated in several autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis. Numerous studies reveal autophagy and autophagy-related proteins also participate in immune regulation. Conditional deletions of autophagy-related proteins in mice have rendered protection from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and TNF-mediated joint destruction in animal models of multiple sclerosis and experimental arthritis respectively. As autophagy is strongly implicated in immune functions such as removal of intracellular bacteria, inflammatory cytokine secretion, antigen presentation, and lymphocyte development, in this review we summarized current understanding of the roles of autophagy and autophagy proteins in autoimmune diseases.



http://ift.tt/2jMBYa8

The implantable loop recorder and its mammographic appearance: A case based approach

Publication date: Available online 15 January 2017
Source:Clinical Imaging
Author(s): Sharon Steinberger, Laurie Margolies
The normal radiographic appearance of implantable loop recorders has been illustrated in the radiology literature; however, their mammographic appearance has not been described. Breast imagers should become familiar with the appearance of loop recorders in order to create an accurate report. In this paper we report 3 cases of patients with implantable loop recorders who underwent mammography. We describe the types and components of implantable loop recorders, indications for their placement, and their classic appearance on mammography.



http://ift.tt/2jxw8tI

Emergency color Doppler sonography of the extremity artery: A pictorial essay

Publication date: Available online 15 January 2017
Source:Clinical Imaging
Author(s): Kevin Mennitt, Madhvi Deol, Jing Gao
Arterial color duplex sonography (CDUS) of the extremities is routinely analyzed in the field of emergency radiology. A retrospective review of 500 consecutive arterial CDUS extremity studies was performed in our emergency department. Abnormal CDUS examinations were classified into two groups according to their primary etiology: 1) traumatic arterial injuries (accidents or post-operative complications) and 2) acute arterial ischemia (thrombosis or embolism outside of the setting of acute trauma). This article reviews common CDUS imaging findings in a busy emergency radiology division including traumatic pseudoaneurysm, secondary pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, acute ischemic arterial disease and chronic peripheral arterial disease. This essay highlights the crucial role of CDUS in the diagnosis of vascular abnormalities in the emergency setting. CDUS provides several advantages over other imaging modalities including high accuracy, rapid results, portability, lack of radiation, and low cost.



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Diverse role of Survival Motor Neuron Protein

Publication date: Available online 15 January 2017
Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms
Author(s): Ravindra N. Singh, Matthew D. Howell, Eric W. Ottesen, Natalia N. Singh
The multifunctional Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein is required for the survival of all organisms of the animal kingdom. SMN impacts various aspects of RNA metabolism through the formation and/or interaction with ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. SMN regulates biogenesis of small nuclear RNPs, small nucleolar RNPs, small Cajal body-associated RNPs, signal recognition particles and telomerase. SMN also plays an important role in DNA repair, transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, histone mRNA processing, translation, selenoprotein synthesis, macromolecular trafficking, stress granule formation, cell signaling and cytoskeleton maintenance. The tissue-specific requirement of SMN is dictated by the variety and the abundance of its interacting partners. Reduced expression of SMN causes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA displays a broad spectrum ranging from embryonic lethality to an adult onset. Aberrant expression and/or localization of SMN has also been associated with male infertility, inclusion body myositis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and osteoarthritis. This review provides a summary of various SMN functions with implications to a better understanding of SMA and other pathological conditions.



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Preadolescent sensation seeking and early adolescent stress relate to at-risk adolescents' substance use by age 15

Publication date: June 2017
Source:Addictive Behaviors, Volume 69
Author(s): Nora E. Charles, Charles W. Mathias, Ashley Acheson, Donald M. Dougherty
Background and aimsSubstance use during adolescence can lead to the development of substance use disorders and other psychosocial problems. These negative outcomes are especially likely for individuals who use substances at earlier ages and those who engage in heavier use during adolescence, behaviors which are both more common among youth at higher risk for developing a substance use disorder, such as those with a family history of substance use disorders (FH+). Factors such as increased sensation seeking and greater exposure to stressors among FH+ youth may influence these associations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relative and unique contributions of sensation seeking during preadolescence and exposure to stressors during early to mid-adolescence to cumulative substance use by mid-adolescence among FH+ youth.MethodsA total of 167 mostly Hispanic FH+ youth (ages 12–15) who were participating in an ongoing longitudinal study were included in these analyses. Participants' data from biennial waves covering approximately 2.5years were used. Self-reported sensation seeking, exposure to stressors, and substance use were compared.ResultsHigher sensation seeking during preadolescence and greater exposure to stressors during early to mid-adolescence were both associated with substance use by age 15. These factors differentiated Substance Users from Non-Users, and also related to level of substance use.ConclusionsElevated sensation seeking and exposure to stressors are both associated with substance use by age 15 among high-risk youth. Additionally, these factors can distinguish youth who develop heavier substance use during this important developmental period.



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Anatomical and Clinical Study of the Posterior Auricular Artery Angiosome: In Search of a Rescue Tool for Ear Reconstruction

Background: The retroauricular tissues have been used for a long time for ear reconstruction, but the anatomical bases of flaps of this region are not completely clear. The aim of this study was to estimate blood supply area and location of this on the skin and fascia retroauricular dependent of posterior auricular artery (PAA) to establish safe margins to design flaps for auricular reconstruction. Methods: Dissection under magnification (×3.5) of the PAA through a cervical approach; injection of methylmethacrylate in the PAA as a staining technique; retroauricular approach to identify the territory of irrigation of PAA in the retroauricular skin and fascia; measuring and location of the stained area; and report of 2 cases of ear reconstruction with fasciocutaneous and fascia flaps based on PAA, designed according to the anatomical study. Results: In a sample of 10 cadaveric specimens, the PAA irrigated an area of the retroauricular skin and fascia of 10.7 cm length × 7.07 cm wide equivalent to 60.44 cm2 (95% CI, 37.07–83.81), with a distribution posterior to external auditory canal of 7.15 cm (95% CI, 5.53–8.77) and posterior to the helix insertion of 6.12 cm (95% CI, 4.89–7.35). In the 2 patients treated with fascia and fasciocutaneous flaps based on the PAA, these were good options for ear reconstruction. Conclusion: A fascia or fasciocutaneous flap from the retroauricular region based on PAA within the dimensions and location found in this study will be a safe option for reconstruction of the ear.

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Disparities in Utilization of Jaw Surgery for Treatment of Sleep Apnea: A Nationwide Analysis

Background: Maxillomandibular advancement has been shown to be one of the most effective operations for management of severe obstructive sleep apnea, yet pharyngeal surgery is more commonly performed. The goal of this study was to identify socioeconomic factors associated with this phenomenon. Methods: Patients aged 14 or older with a primary hospital diagnosis of sleep apnea were identified using the National Inpatient Sample from 2005 to 2012. ICD9 codes were used to determine whether a pharyngeal or jaw procedure was performed. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and complications were compared. Results: Among 6316 sleep surgeries, 5964 (94.4%) were pharyngeal and 352 (5.6%) were jaw procedures. Women were significantly more likely to receive jaw surgery than men (odds ratio [OR] = 1.68, P = 0.0007). African Americans (OR = 0.19, P

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Platysma Motor Nerve Transfer for Restoring Marginal Mandibular Nerve Function

Background: Injuries of the marginal mandibular nerve (MMN) of the facial nerve result in paralysis of the lower lip muscle depressors and an asymmetrical smile. Nerve reconstruction, when possible, is the method of choice; however, in cases of long nerve gaps or delayed nerve reconstruction, conventional nerve repairs may be difficult to perform or may provide suboptimal outcomes. Herein, we investigate the anatomical technical feasibility of transfer of the platysma motor nerve (PMN) to the MMN for restoration of lower lip function, and we present a clinical case where this nerve transfer was successfully performed. Methods: Ten adult fresh cadavers were dissected. Measurements included the number of MMN and PMN branches, the maximal length of dissection of the PMN from the parotid, and the distance from the anterior border of the parotid to the facial artery. The PMN reach for direct coaptation to the MMN at the level of the crossing with the facial artery was assessed. We performed histomorphometric analysis of the MMN and PMN branches. Results: The anatomy of the MMN and PMN was consistent in all dissections, with an average number of subbranches of 1.5 for the MMN and 1.2 for the PMN. The average maximal length of dissection of the PMN was 46.5 mm, and in every case, tension-free coaptation with the MMN was possible. Histomorphometric analysis demonstrated that the MMN contained an average of 3,866 myelinated fiber counts per millimeter, and the PMN contained 5,025. After a 3-year follow-up of the clinical case, complete recovery of MMN function was observed, without the need of central relearning and without functional or aesthetic impairment resulting from denervation of the platysma muscle. Conclusions: PMN to MMN transfer is an anatomically feasible procedure for reconstruction of isolated MMN injuries. In our patient, by direct nerve coaptation, a faster and full recovery of lower lip muscle depressors was achieved without the need of central relearning because of the synergistic functions of the PMN and MMN functions and minimal donor-site morbidity.

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Abstract: Why Women Request Labiaplasty

No abstract available

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