Microvesicles as biomarkers in diabetes, obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: current knowledge and future directions

NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disease, frequently associated with diabetes. Both of these insulin resistant states have increased cardiovascular risk factors associated, and a prevalent cause of mortality in these diseases. Microvesicles are heterogonously sized, phospholipid rich spheres released by cells upon activation and apoptosis. Evidence is continuing to accumulate of microvesicles being not only markers of disease severity but as also having a functional role in the pathophysiology of disease progression.<br/

Is birthweight associated with total and aggressive/lethal prostate cancer risks? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: It has been hypothesised that intrauterine exposures are important for subsequent prostate cancer risk. Prior epidemiological studies have used birthweight as a proxy of cumulative intrauterine exposures to test this hypothesis, but results have been inconsistent partly because of limited statistical power. METHODS: We investigated birthweight in relation to prostate cancer in the Medical Research Council (MRC) National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) using Cox proportional hazards models. We then conducted a meta-analysis of birthweight in relation to total and aggressive/lethal prostate cancer risks, combining results from the NSHD analysis with 13 additional studies on this relationship identified from a systematic search in four major scientific literature databases through January 2015. RESULTS: Random-effects models found that per kg increase in birthweight was positively associated with total (OR=1.02, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.00, 1.05; I(2)=13%) and aggressive/lethal prostate cancer (OR=1.08, 95% CI=0.99, 1.19; I(2)=40%). Sensitivity analyses restricted to studies with birthweight extracted from medical records demonstrated stronger positive associations with total (OR=1.11, 95% CI=1.03, 1.19; I(2)=0%) and aggressive/lethal (OR=1.37, 95% CI=1.09, 1.74; I(2)=0%) prostate cancer. These studies heavily overlapped with those based in Nordic countries. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that heavier birthweight may be associated with modest increased risks of total and aggressive/lethal prostate cancer, which supports the hypothesis that intrauterine exposures may be related to subsequent prostate cancer risks

1.アクラシノマイシンAのマウスL細胞に対する細胞致死効果および細胞周期へ及ぼす影響(第576回千葉医学会例会・第1回千葉大学小児外科教室例会)

PRISMA 2009 checklist. (DOC 66 kb

Senior Recital: Matthew J. C. Welsh, baritone

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Performance. Mr. Welsh studies voice with Todd Wedge.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2208/thumbnail.jp

Junior Recital: Deondria West, soprano and Matthew Welsh, baritone/bass

This joint recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degrees Bachelor of Music in Performance. Ms. West and Mr. Welsh study voice with Todd Wedge.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2067/thumbnail.jp

Subanesthetic ketamine treatment promotes abnormal interactions between neural subsystems and alters the properties of functional brain networks

Acute treatment with subanesthetic ketamine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist, is widely utilized as a translational model for schizophrenia. However, how acute NMDA receptor blockade impacts on brain functioning at a systems level, to elicit translationally relevant symptomatology and behavioral deficits, has not yet been determined. Here, for the first time, we apply established and recently validated topological measures from network science to brain imaging data gained from ketamine-treated mice to elucidate how acute NMDA receptor blockade impacts on the properties of functional brain networks. We show that the effects of acute ketamine treatment on the global properties of these networks are divergent from those widely reported in schizophrenia. Where acute NMDA receptor blockade promotes hyperconnectivity in functional brain networks, pronounced dysconnectivity is found in schizophrenia. We also show that acute ketamine treatment increases the connectivity and importance of prefrontal and thalamic brain regions in brain networks, a finding also divergent to alterations seen in schizophrenia. In addition, we characterize how ketamine impacts on bipartite functional interactions between neural subsystems. A key feature includes the enhancement of prefrontal cortex (PFC)-neuromodulatory subsystem connectivity in ketamine-treated animals, a finding consistent with the known effects of ketamine on PFC neurotransmitter levels. Overall, our data suggest that, at a systems level, acute ketamine-induced alterations in brain network connectivity do not parallel those seen in chronic schizophrenia. Hence, the mechanisms through which acute ketamine treatment induces translationally relevant symptomatology may differ from those in chronic schizophrenia. Future effort should therefore be dedicated to resolve the conflicting observations between this putative translational model and schizophrenia

Fungal entomopathogens: new insights on their ecology

An important mechanism for insect pest control should be the use of fungal entomopathogens. Even though these organisms have been studied for more than 100 y, their effective use in the field remains elusive. Recently, however, it has been discovered that many of these entomopathogenic fungi play additional roles in nature. They are endophytes, antagonists of plant pathogens, associates with the rhizosphere, and possibly even plant growth promoting agents. These findings indicate that the ecological role of these fungi in the environment is not fully understood and limits our ability to employ them successfully for pest management. In this paper, we review the recently discovered roles played by many entomopathogenic fungi and propose new research strategies focused on alternate uses for these fungi. It seems likely that these agents can be used in multiple roles in protecting plants from pests and diseases and at the same time promoting plant growth

Feasibility of intensity-modulated and image-guided radiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND:In this study the feasibility of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and tomotherapy-based image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) for locally advanced esophageal cancer was assessed.METHODS:A retrospective study of ten patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer who underwent concurrent chemotherapy with IMRT (1) and IGRT (9) was conducted. The gross tumor volume was treated to a median dose of 70Gy (62.4-75Gy).RESULTS:At a median follow-up of 14months (1-39 months), three patients developed local failures, six patients developed distant metastases, and complications occurred in two patients (1 tracheoesophageal fistula, 1 esophageal stricture requiring repeated dilatations). No patients developed grade 3-4 pneumonitis or cardiac complications.CONCLUSIONS:IMRT and IGRT may be effective for the treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer with acceptable complications.This item is part of the UA Faculty Publications collection. For more information this item or other items in the UA Campus Repository, contact the University of Arizona Libraries at [email protected]

Policy evaluation programme vehicle safety standards: improving car crashworthiness

This project aims to offer a comprehensive identification, evaluation and understanding of the extent to which the Department for Transport (DfT) has met policy aims for road casualty reduction through its contribution to regulations, in particular the development of the front and side impact Economic Commission for Europe Directives (ECE R94 and ECE R95) and the European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP)

An overview of requirements for the crash protection of older drivers

For some time now, it has been recognised that a major shift is occurring in the population age distributions of most motorised countries resulting in a growing number of older persons with an increasing need for mobility. It is expected that the mobility of older persons will become even more reliant on the motor vehicle as European countries in particular undergo transitions towards decentralisation and suburbanisation and because of the well-established longevity factor. As a group, older drivers do not currently represent a major road safety problem in most Western societies when compared with other age groups such as the young. However, they are involved in significantly more serious injury and casualty crashes per head of population. Furthermore, as older drivers are likely to become a more significant problem in the years ahead, it is now necessary to examine some vehicle design factors that affect the safety of the older driver in a crash