Comparison of different characterization approaches for monoelemental calibration solutions at two national metrology institutes.

Monoelemental calibration solutions are the most common reference in elemental analysis, linking measurement results to the International System of Units (SI). National Metrology Institutes (NMI) prepare these solutions as certified reference materials (CRM) and determine their elemental mass fraction with high accuracy. Characterization with high accuracy is one of the most critical steps in CRM production.

[A comparative study of recreational screen time in neurodevelopmental disorders].

Introduction: Digital screen time has been largely studied in children populations, but few have focused on children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Our main objective was to study the characteristics of use of recreational screens (television (TV) and video games), in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Subjects And Methods: We conducted a case-control study in which children with neurodevelopmental disorders under the age of 6 were compared with controls of the same age range.

Adaptive Elastic Net for Generalized Methods of Moments.

Model selection and estimation are crucial parts of econometrics. This paper introduces a new technique that can simultaneously estimate and select the model in generalized method of moments (GMM) context. The GMM is particularly powerful for analyzing complex data sets such as longitudinal and panel data, and it has wide applications in econometrics.

Effects of ACE polymorphisms and other risk factors on the severity of coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Major risk factors of CAD are hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, family history and obesity. Also polymorphisms in the angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) gene can associate with CAD.

Herbal haemorrhoidal cream for haemorrhoids.

Although hemorrhoids are one of the most common diseases in the world, the exact etiology underlying the development of hemorrhoids is not clear. Many different ointments are currently used to treat hemorrhoids; however, there is little evidence of the efficacy of these treatments to support their use. The aim of this study was to compare different herbal creams used for the treatment of hemorrhoids.

The effects of different doses of melatonin on lipid peroxidation in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats.

This study aims to see in an animal experiment how differently the low and high doses of melatonin affect the antioxidant status and peroxidation of lipids. Forty-two male Wistar-Albino rats weighing about 200 gr (180-220) aged 6-7 months were used. Of these rats, 12 were fed with normal rat chow for 12 weeks.

Ezetimibe therapy and its influence on oxidative stress and fibrinolytic activity.

Objective: The effect of ezetimibe on blood lipids, oxidative stress, and fibrinolytic activity in hyperlipidemic patients was investigated after three months of therapy.

Methods: Thirty hyperlipidemic patients were treated for twelve weeks with ezetimibe 10 mg/day. A healthy control group with matching age and gender was also included.

[Development of a hepatitis B virus carrier transgenic mice model].

The studies for the development of transgenic mice models which provide important profits for the studies concerning immunopathogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are in progress since 20 years. For this purpose different lineages bearing whole HBV genome or selected viral genes have been developed and their usage in clarifying the HBV replication and pathogenesis mechanisms have been emphasized. The aim of this study was to develop and breed a HBV carrier mice model.

Effects of coenzyme Q10 on the heart ultrastructure and nitric oxide synthase during hyperthyroidism.

Coenzyme Q10 is an important component of mitochondrial electron transport chain and antioxidant. Hyperthyroidism manifests hyperdynamic circulation with increased cardiac output, increased heart rate and decreased peripheral resistance. The heart is also under the oxidative stress in the hyperthyroidism.

Effects of artichoke extract supplementation on gonads of cadmium-treated rats.

The present study was designed to determine whether artichoke (Cynara scolymus) exerts a protective effect on gonads of cadmium-treated rats and if there is a relationship between artichoke supplementation and nitric oxide (NO) formation in cells. Forty Wistar albino male rats, weighing an average of 90 g each, were equally divided into four groups receiving 1 mg/100 g cadmium chloride by injection (group 1), the same dose CdCl2 plus 3 mg/100 g artichoke extract (group 2), the same dose of artichoke extract (group 3), and male controls (group 4). Four additional groups, labeled 5-8, consisted of identically treated and control female rats.

Diagnostic value of peripheral lymph node biopsy in sarcoidosis: a report of 67 cases.

A peripheral lymph node (PLN) 1 cm or greater was found in 79 of 546 sarcoidosis patients (14.5%) between 1972 and 2005. Seventy-two of the 79 sarcoidosis patients had a lymph node biopsy performed.

Oxidative stress in human in sustained and white coat hypertension.

Oxidative stress is thought to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Protein oxidation is defined here as the covalent modification of a protein induced either directly by reactive oxygen species or indirectly by reaction with secondary by-products of oxidative stress. The aim of our study was to evaluate the protein oxidation and to examine the function of the antioxidative system in sustained and white coat hypertensives (WCH) and compare with normotensives.

Atorvastatin has cardiac safety at intensive cholesterol-reducing protocols for long term, yet its cancer-treatment doses with chemotherapy may cause cardiomyopathy even under coenzyme-Q10 protection.

Statins provide strong clinical benefits via reducing stroke deaths, and they are also considered for tumor reduction and chemo-sensitization. High dose atorvastatin in adults (80 mg daily, approx. 1 mg/kg) is proven to afford greater protection against cardiac deaths than does a standard lipid-lowering dose in coronary syndrome.

Clinical value of mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis: an analysis of 68 cases.

Mediastinoscopy was performed for confirmation of the diagnosis in 68 patients who were suspected clinically and radiologically of having sarcoidosis. In 66 of 68 cases in which mediastioscopy was performed a diagnosis was attained. In 35 cases, endobronchial biopsy was performed by bronchoscopy.

Montelukast protects against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Background: Oxygen free radicals are important components involved in the pathophysiological processes observed during ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).

Objective: This study was designed to assess the possible protective effect of montelukast, a selective antagonist of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT1), on renal I/R injury.

Methods: Wistar albino rats were unilaterally nephrectomized and subjected to 45 min of renal pedicle occlusion followed by 6 h of reperfusion.

Effects of orlistat and its relationship with nitric oxide in the small intestinal mucosa.

Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be a messenger molecule that plays an important role in physiological and pathological conditions. It is synthesized by an enzyme called nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Inducible NOS (iNOS), one of the three isomers of NOS, has both protective and toxic properties.

Stable transmission and expression of the hepatitis B virus total genome in hybrid transgenic mice until F10 generation.

The aim of the present study was the generation of transgenic mice carrying the complete Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) genome and investigation of the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression through successive generations. Transgenic mice were generated by microinjecting HBV genome into fertilized eggs. Integration and expression of HBsAg in transgenic mice were analyzed by genomic DNA PCR, Southern and slot blots and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Cerebral tuberculosis mimicking intracranial tumour.

Cerebral tuberculoma is a rare entity and is one of the causes of intracerebral mass lesions. A rapid diagnosis based on pathological findings improves its prognosis. We describe two cases where the tuberculoma was located in the cavernous sinus and prepontine cistern, respectively.

The in vitro effects of captopril on the levels of lipid peroxidation and glutathione of erythrocytes in type II diabetes.

Increase in lipid peroxidation (LP) is an indirect marker of free radical activation. The products of LP (malonyldialdehyde: MDA) are increased in diabetic patients, particularly those with angiopathy. Free radicals are eliminated by cellular enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase.

Congenital stricture of the common hepatic duct due to a web: an unusual case without jaundice.

In adults, congenital stricture of the common hepatic duct that does not cause jaundice is very rare. In this report we present a case of a congenital web occluding the common hepatic duct at the level of the bifurcation that was diagnosed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.