Discordance between MR enterography and endoscopic detection of Crohn's disease ileal strictures: evidence to inform recommendations.

Purpose: To evaluate correlation between terminal ileal (TI) stricture diagnosis at MR enterography (MRE) and ileocolonoscopy (IC) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: One hundred and four patients with CD (51% females; 41 ± 15 years) underwent IC and MRE within 3 months in this retrospective case-control study. Positive cases had TI strictures diagnosed by endoscopy (n = 35); or MRE (threshold small bowel dilation ≥ 3cm; n = 34).

Home Delivery Meal Kits Online Food Safety-Related Information: A Perspective.

The recent popularity of home delivery meal kits (HMK) has prompted concerns about its integrity and safety. On the basis of a food safety-related information evaluation of the common US-based HMK vendors' websites, this perspective highlights opportunities for improvement with the adequacy and accessibility of relevant information on HMK websites, an important resource for communicating food safety best practices to consumers. Identified gaps in information and inadequate delivery protocols potentially increase the risk of offering unsafe food to consumers.

Fast-Food Optimal Defaults Reduce Calories Ordered, as Well as Dietary Autonomy: A Scenario-Based Experiment.

Background: Low-calorie menu items as optimal defaults may encourage healthier choices when people eat out. Limited research has studied default effects from the restauranteurs' perspective, as well as the public health perspective.

Objective: To examine the effects of optimal defaults on calories ordered, dietary autonomy, and visit intention in the context of a fast-food drive-through.

Development of spirulina for the manufacture and oral delivery of protein therapeutics.

The use of the edible photosynthetic cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) as a biomanufacturing platform has been limited by a lack of genetic tools. Here we report genetic engineering methods for stable, high-level expression of bioactive proteins in spirulina, including large-scale, indoor cultivation and downstream processing methods. Following targeted integration of exogenous genes into the spirulina chromosome (chr), encoded protein biopharmaceuticals can represent as much as 15% of total biomass, require no purification before oral delivery and are stable without refrigeration and protected during gastric transit when encapsulated within dry spirulina.

Quality improvement to evaluate and provide treatment for chronic hepatitis C postpartum.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are increasing among reproductive age individuals. Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) can cure HCV, but the use of DAAs is not currently recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Individuals with HCV commonly have inadequate prenatal and postnatal care.

Directed, Elliptic, and Higher Order Flow Harmonics of Protons, Deuterons, and Tritons in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.4 GeV.

Flow coefficients v_{n} of the orders n=1-6 are measured with the High-Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer (HADES) at GSI for protons, deuterons, and tritons as a function of centrality, transverse momentum, and rapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.4  GeV. Combining the information from the flow coefficients of all orders allows us to construct for the first time, at collision energies of a few GeV, a multidifferential picture of the angular emission pattern of these particles.

Strong Absorption of Hadrons with Hidden and Open Strangeness in Nuclear Matter.

We present the first observation of K^{-} and ϕ absorption within nuclear matter by means of π^{-}-induced reactions on C and W targets at an incident beam momentum of 1.7  GeV/c studied with HADES at SIS18/GSI. The double ratio (K^{-}/K^{+})_{W}/(K^{-}/K^{+})_{C} is found to be 0.

Non- Variants Detected in a High-Risk Chilean Cohort With a History of Breast and/or Ovarian Cancer.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from the registry of the High-Risk Breast and Ovarian Cancer Program at Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile. Data captured included index case diagnosis, ancestry, family history, and genetic test results.

Results: Three hundred fifteen individuals underwent genetic testing during the study period.

Discovery of benzimidazole derivatives as orally active renin inhibitors: Optimization of 3,5-disubstituted piperidine to improve pharmacokinetic profile.

We previously identified 2-tert-butyl-4-[(3-methoxypropyl)amino]-N-(2-methylpropyl)-N-[(3S,5R)-5-(morpholin-4-ylcarbonyl)piperidin-3-yl]pyrimidine-5-carboxamide 3 as a potent renin inhibitor. Since 3 showed unacceptably low bioavailability (BA) in rats, structural modification, using SBDD and focused on physicochemical properties was conducted to improve its PK profile while maintaining renin inhibitory activity. Conversion of the amino group attached at the 4-position of pyrimidine to methylene group improved PK profile and decreased renin inhibitory activity.

Reported Action to Decrease Sodium Intake Is Associated with Dining Out Frequency and Use of Menu Nutrition Information among US Adults.

Background: Restaurant foods have been shown to be high in sodium and limited sodium content information provided through menu nutrition information (MNI) is available at the point of purchase. Dining out and use of MNI are behaviors that can be altered by consumers who are trying to decrease their sodium intake.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between reported consumer actions to decrease sodium intake and dining out frequency and awareness and use/or intended use of MNI.

Cookbooks in U.S. history: How do they reflect food safety from 1896 to 2014?

Historical cookbooks as a source of recipes and food preparation information would be expected to document advancements in food safety related to kitchen equipment, cleaning, foodborne illness knowledge, and consumer education materials. In turn, this food safety information might be expected to contribute to consumers' food safety behaviors. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methodology, this study assessed how food safety information in cookbooks changed and how quickly advancements were incorporated.

Novel approach of fragment-based lead discovery applied to renin inhibitors.

A novel approach was conducted for fragment-based lead discovery and applied to renin inhibitors. The biochemical screening of a fragment library against renin provided the hit fragment which showed a characteristic interaction pattern with the target protein. The hit fragment bound only to the S1, S3, and S3 (S3 subpocket) sites without any interactions with the catalytic aspartate residues (Asp32 and Asp215 (pepsin numbering)).

Structure-based design of a new series of N-(piperidin-3-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamides as renin inhibitors.

The action of the aspartyl protease renin is the rate-limiting initial step of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Therefore, renin is a particularly promising target for blood pressure as well as onset and progression of cardiovascular and renal diseases. New pyrimidine derivatives 5-14 were designed in an attempt to enhance the renin inhibitory activity of compound 3 identified by our previous fragment-based drug design approach.

Discovery of TAK-272: A Novel, Potent, and Orally Active Renin Inhibitor.

The aspartic proteinase renin is an attractive target for the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular/renal disease such as chronic kidney disease and heart failure. We introduced an S1' site binder into the lead compound guided by structure-based drug design (SBDD), and further optimization of physicochemical properties led to the discovery of benzimidazole derivative (1-(4-methoxybutyl)--(2-methylpropyl)--[(3,5)-5-(morpholin-4-yl)carbonylpiperidin-3-yl]-1benzimidazole-2-carboxamide hydrochloride, TAK-272) as a highly potent and orally active renin inhibitor. Compound demonstrated good oral bioavailability (BA) and long-lasting efficacy in rats.

The Receptor Site and Mechanism of Action of Sodium Channel Blocker Insecticides.

Sodium channels are excellent targets of both natural and synthetic insecticides with high insect selectivity. Indoxacarb, its active metabolite DCJW, and metaflumizone (MFZ) belong to a relatively new class of sodium channel blocker insecticides (SCBIs) with a mode of action distinct from all other sodium channel-targeting insecticides, including pyrethroids. Electroneutral SCBIs preferably bind to and trap sodium channels in the inactivated state, a mechanism similar to that of cationic local anesthetics.

Distal Vibration Perception Threshold in Children Who Toe Walk.

Purpose: To compare distal vibratory perception threshold and sensation in children who toe walked (TW) and controls.

Methods: Vibration perception threshold was measured at the metacarpal and metatarsal phalangeal (MCP and MTP) joints in 11 TW and 15 age-matched controls. Mean vibratory threshold (MVT) was calculated for each site; a Pearson correlation coefficient was determined for MVT at MCP and MTP joints.

The structure of rice weevil pectin methylesterase.

Rice weevils (Sitophilus oryzae) use a pectin methylesterase (EC 3.1.1.

Spectroradiometric monitoring for open outdoor culturing of algae and cyanobacteria.

We assess the measurement of hyperspectral reflectance for outdoor monitoring of green algae and cyanobacteria cultures with a multichannel, fiber-coupled spectroradiometer. Reflectance data acquired over a 4-week period are interpreted via numerical inversion of a reflectance model, in which the above-water reflectance is expressed as a quadratic function of the single backscattering albedo, which is dependent on the absorption and backscatter coefficients. The absorption coefficient is treated as the sum of component spectra consisting of the cultured species (green algae or cyanobacteria), dissolved organic matter, and water (including the temperature dependence of the water absorption spectrum).

Evolution of acyl-ACP-thioesterases and β-ketoacyl-ACP-synthases revealed by protein-protein interactions.

The fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a conserved primary metabolic enzyme complex capable of tolerating cross-species engineering of domains for the development of modified and overproduced fatty acids. In eukaryotes, acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterases (TEs) off-load mature cargo from the acyl carrier protein (ACP), and plants have developed TEs for short/medium-chain fatty acids. We showed that engineering plant TEs into the green microalga does not result in the predicted shift in fatty acid profile.

Host cell pigmentation in Scenedesmus dimorphus as a beacon for nascent parasite infection.

Biofuels derived from the mass cultivation of algae represent an emerging industry that aims to partially displace petroleum based fuels. Outdoor, open-pond, and raceway production facilities are attractive options for the mass culture of algae however, this mode of cultivation leaves the algae susceptible to epidemics from a variety of environmental challenges. Infestations can result in complete collapse of the algal populations and destruction of their valuable products making it paramount to understand the host-pathogen relationships of known algal pests in order to develop mitigation strategies.

The negative spillover effect of food crises on restaurant firms: Did Jack in the Box really recover from an scare?

Despite the enormous impact of food crises on restaurants, limited understanding of their long-term impacts and associated factors has undermined crisis managers' ability to handle crisis situations effectively. This article investigated the long-term impact of food crises on the financial performance of restaurant firms and identified the factors that influenced this impact. This explanatory study examined the case of Jack in the Box, whose 1993 scare was the first and largest restaurant-associated food crisis in modern times.