Analysis of Iron Complexes of Tannic Acid and Other Related Polyphenols as Revealed by Spectroscopic Techniques: Implications in the Identification and Characterization of Iron Gall Inks in Historical Manuscripts.

In this work, a structural analysis of the polyphenol complexes with iron and copper at several conditions is reported. The investigated polyphenols were tannic acid, gallic acid, pyrogallol, and syringic acid, being components and molecular models of the gallnuts usually employed in the past in fabrication of iron gall inks (IGIs). Commercial tannic acid extracted from gallnuts, which is a complex mixture of different gallotannins and simpler galloylglucoses, was also employed in this analysis.

Vibrational Study (Raman, SERS, and IR) of Plant Gallnut Polyphenols Related to the Fabrication of Iron Gall Inks.

FT-Raman, FTIR, and SERS spectra of the structurally related gallnut polyphenols tannic acid, gallic acid, pyrogallol, and syringic acid are reported in this work aiming at performing a comparative assignation of the bands and finding specific marker features that can identify these compounds in complex polyphenol mixtures. Tannic and gallic acids are the principal components in oak gallnuts, and they can be found in iron gall inks. The different functional groups existing in these molecules and their spatial distribution lead to slight changes of the vibrations.

Kinetic Analysis of the Thermal Decomposition of Iron(III) Phosphates: Fe(NH)PO and Fe(ND)PO.

The hydrothermal synthesis and both the chemical and structural characterization of a diamin iron phosphate are reported. A new synthetic route, by using -butylammonium dihydrogen phosphate as a precursor, leads to the largest crystals described thus far for this compound. Its crystal structure is determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data.

Association of Fatigue Intensification with Cognitive Impairment during Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue is a common complaint during cancer treatment and is often associated with cognitive impairment. This study examined cognitive deficits that were associated with fatigue symptoms during external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in men with localized prostate cancer.

Methods: A total of 36 participants were enrolled and followed up at baseline, 24 h, 7 days, 14 days after EBRT initiation, at midpoint, and at completion of EBRT.

Initiative to improve detection of faecal incontinence in primary care: The GIFT Project.

Background: Faecal incontinence (FI) is a distressing condition with a significant impact on quality of life. The true prevalence of FI is unknown but probably underestimated. Identifying patients affected is of key importance because a significant proportion may improve with conservative treatments, and there are a number of other treatments available.

Exploratory Investigation of Early Biomarkers for Chronic Fatigue in Prostate Cancer Patients Following Radiation Therapy.

Background: Fatigue is one of the most debilitating adverse effects of cancer therapy. Identifying biomarkers early during cancer therapy may help us understand the biologic underpinnings of the persistence of fatigue following therapy.

Objective: We aimed to identify early biomarkers of fatigue by examining correlations of levels of cytokines during external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with persistence of fatigue 1 year following treatment completion in men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer (NM-PC).

A murine model of peripheral irradiation-induced fatigue.

Purpose: Fatigue is the most ubiquitous side effect of cancer treatment, but its etiology remains elusive. Further investigations into cancer-related fatigue pathobiology necessitate the expanded use of animal models. This study describes the development of a murine model of radiation-induced fatigue.

Understanding the Association of Fatigue With Other Symptoms of Fibromyalgia: Development of a Cluster Model.

Objective: To develop a symptoms cluster model that can describe factors of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) associated with fatigue severity as reported by the sample and to explore FMS clinical symptom subclusters based on varying symptom intensities.

Methods: FMS individuals (n = 120, 82% ages 31-60 years, 90% women, 59% white) diagnosed with the 1990 or 2010 American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria were enrolled. Participants completed multiple validated self-report questionnaires to measure fatigue, pain, depression, anxiety, pain catastrophizing, daytime sleepiness, cognitive function, and FMS-related polysymptomatic distress.

Comparing Genomic Profiles of Women With and Without Fibromyalgia.

Background: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a chronic musculoskeletal condition characterized by diffuse pain, fatigue, sleep impairment, and cognitive dysfunction, is associated with significant functional disability. Its underlying biological mechanisms are unknown. This study investigated differentially expressed genes between women with FMS and healthy volunteers.

PTTG1/securin modulates microtubule nucleation and cell migration.

Pituitary tumor transforming gene 1 (PTTG1), also known as securin, has been implicated in many biological functions, including inhibition of sister chromatid separation, DNA repair, organ development, and regulation of the expression and secretion of angiogenic and metastatic factors. Although most of these functions of securin seem to depend on the localization of PTTG1 in the nucleus of the cell, a fraction of the protein has been also detected in the cytoplasm. Here we demonstrate that, in different cell types, a portion of cytoplasmic PTTG1 is associated with the cis face of the Golgi apparatus and that this localization depends on PTTG1 phosphorylation status.

Beneficial effects of oxygen addition and hybrid poplar phytoremediation of petroleum-contaminated soils.

Laboratory scale experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of a phytoremediation system using poplar trees on the smear zone-soil gases for petroleum hydrocarbons contaminated soil. Eight clear polyvinyl chloride (PVC) columns (1.5 mx0.

Revisiting the thermal decomposition of layered gamma-titanium phosphate and structural elucidation of its intermediate phases.

The thermal transformations of gamma-titanium phosphate, Ti(PO(4))(H(2)PO(4)) x 2 H(2)O, have been studied by thermal analyses (thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA)) and variable-temperature (31)P magic-angle spinning (MAS)/CPMAS and 2D (31)P-(31)P spin-exchange NMR. The structure of this material has been refined from synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data (monoclinic, P2(1), a = 5.1811(2) A, b = 6.

Induction of Dlk1 by PTTG1 inhibits adipocyte differentiation and correlates with malignant transformation.

Pituitary tumor-transforming gene-1 (PTTG1) is an oncogene highly expressed in a variety of endocrine, as well as nonendocrine-related cancers. Several tumorigenic mechanisms for PTTG1 have been proposed, one of the best characterized being its capacity to act as a transcriptional activator. To identify novel downstream target genes, we have established cell lines with inducible expression of PTTG1 and a differential display approach to analyze gene expression changes after PTTG1 induction.

UV-induced degradation of securin is mediated by SKP1-CUL1-beta TrCP E3 ubiquitin ligase.

Securin is a chaperone protein with bifunctional properties. It binds to separase to inhibit premature sister chromatid separation until the onset of anaphase, and it also takes part in cell-cycle arrest after UV irradiation. At metaphase-to-anaphase transition, securin is targeted for proteasomal destruction by the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C), allowing activation of separase.

Proliferative potential after DNA damage and non-homologous end joining are affected by loss of securin.

The faithful repair of DNA damage, especially chromosomal double-strand breaks (DSBs), is crucial for genomic integrity. We have previously shown that securin interacts with the Ku70/80 heterodimer of the DSB non-homologous DNA end-joining (NHEJ) repair machinery. Here we demonstrate that securin deficiency compromises cell survival and proliferation, but only after genotoxic stress.

How many samples are required? Evaluating a model for verification of carbon sequestration in a hybrid poplar buffer strip.

A model is developed to predict annual and total above-ground carbon storage within a hybrid poplar stream buffer. The regression model predicts tree wet weight based upon circumference at breast-height (137 cm) with an r-square value of 0.9922.

Alexithymia in parents of daughters with eating disorders: its relationships with psychopathological and personality variables.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to investigate alexithymia among parents of a daughter with eating disorders (EDs) and to relate alexithymia to personality and psychopathology characteristics.

Methods: Parents of 73 women with ED (20 with anorexia nervosa, restrictive subtype (ANR), 23 with anorexia nervosa, bulimic subtype (ANB) and 30 with bulimia nervosa (BN)) and parents of 72 normal women were evaluated with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale.

Results: The parents of daughters with ED show higher scores in the TAS-20 and its factors than the controls.

Dyadic adjustment in parents of schizophrenics.

Objective: To study the dyadic adjustment in couples with a schizophrenic offspring.

Method: 140 married couples, 67 with children with schizophrenia, and two control groups: 41 couples without pathology and 32 couples with pathology, were assessed with the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale.

Results: The couples with a schizophrenic offspring evidenced significantly worse dyadic adjustment than did the normal controls, especially low consensus and cohesion in husbands, and low cohesion and satisfaction in wives.

Age-related changes in blood capillary endothelium of human dental pulp: an ultrastructural study.

Aim: To describe the ultrastructural changes that occur in pulpal blood capillaries as a result of ageing.

Methodology: Thirty samples of healthy dental pulps were obtained from functional human permanent teeth. Two age groups were examined: young (10-17 years) and old (>60 years).

Expression of hpttg proto-oncogene in lymphoid neoplasias.

Pituitary tumor-transforming gene (pttg) is a distinct proto-oncogene which is expressed in certain normal tissues with high proliferation rate and in a variety of tumors. PTTG is the vertebrate analog of yeast securins Pds1 and Cut2 with a key role in the regulation of sister chromatid separation during mitosis. Impairment of PTTG regulated functions is expected to lead to chromosomal instability and aneuploidy.

Human securin interacts with p53 and modulates p53-mediated transcriptional activity and apoptosis.

The gene PTTG1 (encoding the pituitary tumor-transforming 1 protein) is overexpressed in several different tumor types, is tumorigenic in vivo and shows transcriptional activity. The PTTG1 protein is cell-cycle regulated and was identified as the human securin (a category of proteins involved in the regulation of sister-chromatid separation) on the basis of biochemical similarities with the Pds1p protein of budding yeast and the Cut2p protein of fission yeast. To unravel the function of human securin in oncogenesis, we carried out a phage-display screening to identify proteins that interact with securin.

Longitudinal study of the stability of expressed emotion in families of schizophrenic patients: a 9-month follow-up.

The goal of this paper is to study attitude stability in schizophrenics' relatives, as reflected in the expressed emotion (EE) construct. For this purpose, the EE of 32 families of schizophrenic patients was assessed by means of the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI, Brown, Birley, & Wing, 1972; Vaughn & Leff, 1976b), both initially and at a 9-month follow-up. The results obtained indicate that EE is stable in fathers, whereas in mothers, high EE seems to be influenced by stressful situations, because, when assessed in crisis, EE was not stable, but in-between crises, it was.

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structure of Fe(NH(3))(2)PO(4): A Novel Monophosphate.

Fe(NH(3))(2)PO(4) is synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions in the presence of urea. The crystal structure is solved for powder X-ray diffraction data. The unit cell is orthorhombic, a = 10.

Improved diagnostic value of combined time and frequency domain analysis of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram after myocardial infarction.

Background: Time domain analysis (TD) of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) presents a higher incidence of false positives in inferior myocardial infarction (MI), whereas spectral turbulence analysis (STA) suffers from a higher incidence of false positives in anterior MI. We investigated the hypothesis that a combined TD and STA (TD+STA) analysis of the SAECG could improve its predictive accuracy for major arrhythmic events (MAE) after MI.

Methods: Signal-averaged electrocardiograms were prospectively recorded 10.

Abnormal filling pattern of the left ventricle and outcome in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The pattern of left ventricular filling by Doppler examination is frequently abnormal in myocardial infarction.

Purpose: To relate the different patterns of left ventricular filling to the clinical course of acute myocardial infarction.

Patients And Methods: We have studied 133 patients with acute myocardial infarction.