CENP-C facilitates the recruitment of M18BP1 to centromeric chromatin.

Centromeres are important structural constituents of chromosomes that ensure proper chromosome segregation during mitosis by providing defined sites for kinetochore attachment. In higher eukaryotes, centromeres have no specific DNA sequence and thus, they are rather determined through epigenetic mechanisms. A fundamental process in centromere establishment is the incorporation of the histone variant CENP-A into centromeric chromatin, which provides a binding platform for the other centromeric proteins.

Predictors of metabolic syndrome in participants of a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study assessed the predictors of metabolic syndrome, both its incidence and resolution in a cohort of cardiac rehabilitation program graduates. Methods.

Cardiovascular risk and atherosclerosis prevention.

Until recently, coronary artery disease (CAD) was the leading cause of death in the developed countries. Its remarkable decline can be attributed to our knowledge of the major risk factors identified by several studies resulting in better prevention and treatment. Of the major risk factors, the ratio of apolipoprotein (apo) B/apo A1 followed by smoking, diabetes, and hypertension are the most important.

The lymphangiogenesis inhibitor esVEGFR-2 in human embryos: expression in sympatho-adrenal tissues and differentiation-induced up-regulation in neuroblastoma.

Tumour-induced hem- and lymph-angiogenesis are frequently associated with tumour progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is a potent inducer of lymphangiogenesis, while the endogenous soluble splice-variant of VEGF receptor-2, esVEGFR-2, acts as a natural inhibitor. Previously we have shown down-regulation of esVEGFR-2 mRNA in progressed stages of neuro-blastoma (NB), a tumour derived from sympatho-adrenal precursor cells.

HIV prevalence among high school learners - opportunities for schools-based HIV testing programmes and sexual reproductive health services.

Background: Young girls in sub Saharan Africa are reported to have higher rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection compared to boys in the same age group. Knowledge of HIV status amongst high schools learners provides an important gateway to prevention and treatment services. This study aimed at determining the HIV prevalence and explored the feasibility of HIV testing among high school learners.

Assessment of human deoxynivalenol exposure using an LC-MS/MS based biomarker method.

The Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most abundant mycotoxins worldwide and poses many adverse health effects to human and animals. Consequently, regulatory limits and a provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) for this important type B-trichothecene were assigned. We conducted a pilot survey to investigate the level of DON exposure in Austrian adults by measurements of DON and its glucuronide conjugates (DON-GlcA's), as biomarkers of exposure, in first morning urine.

Self-consistent evolution of magnetic fields and chiral asymmetry in the early universe.

We show that the evolution of magnetic fields in a primordial plasma, filled with standard model particles at temperatures T≳10 MeV, is strongly affected by the chiral anomaly-an effect previously neglected. Although reactions, equilibrating left and right electrons, are in thermal equilibrium for T≲80 TeV, a left-right asymmetry develops in the presence of strong magnetic fields. This results in magnetic helicity transfer from shorter to longer scales and lepton asymmetry present in the plasma until T~10 MeV, which may strongly affect many processes in the early Universe.

Genome-wide transcription analysis of Escherichia coli in response to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields.

The widespread use of electricity raises the question of whether or not 50 Hz (power line frequency in Europe) magnetic fields (MFs) affect organisms. We investigated the transcription of Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 in response to extremely low-frequency (ELF) MFs. Fields generated by three signal types (sinusoidal continuous, sinusoidal intermittent, and power line intermittent; all at 50 Hz, 1 mT) were applied and gene expression was monitored at the transcript level using an Affymetrix whole-genome microarray.

Fibre optic ATR-IR spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures: in-line reaction monitoring on organolithium compounds.

A reliable methodology, utilising an ATR-IR fibre probe, for in-line monitoring of low temperature reactions is presented. The application of this convenient set-up enables a fast and safe exploration of highly reactive substrates. Hence, in situ monitoring of lithiation reactions is realised and the potential to investigate sensitive intermediates is being demonstrated.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Tabernaemontana catharinensis A. DC. leaves.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the leaves of Tabernaemontana catharinensis had their composition analysed by GC-MS. A total of 18 substances were identified, consisting of a complex mixture of sesquiterpenes (83.52%), monoterpenes (5.

Dietary supplementation with fish gelatine modifies nutrient intake and leads to sex-dependent responses in TAG and C-reactive protein levels of insulin-resistant subjects.

Previous studies have shown that fish protein, as well as marine n-3 PUFA, may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk profile. The objectives of this study were to investigate the combined effects of fish gelatine (FG) and n-3 PUFA supplementation on (1) energy intake and body weight, (2) lipid profile and (3) inflammatory and CVD markers in free-living insulin-resistant males and females. Subjects were asked to consume, in a crossover study design with two experimental periods of 8 weeks each, an n-3 PUFA supplement and n-3 PUFA supplement plus FG (n-3 PUFA + FG).

Microelectrode-based dielectric spectroscopy of glucose effect on erythrocytes.

The dielectric response of biconcave erythrocytes exposed to D-glucose and L-glucose has been investigated using a double array of planar interdigitated microelectrodes on a glass microchip. Erythrocytes are analyzed under physiological conditions suspended in hypo-osmolar balanced solutions containing different glucose concentrations (0-20 mM). The glucose effect on the cellular dielectric properties is evaluated by analyzing the spectra using two different approaches, the equivalent circuit model and a modified model for ellipsoidal particles.

Sensitivity and specificity analysis of fringing-field dielectric spectroscopy applied to a multi-layer system modelling the human skin.

The sensitivity and specificity of dielectric spectroscopy for the detection of dielectric changes inside a multi-layered structure is investigated. We focus on providing a base for sensing physiological changes in the human skin, i.e.

The association between triglyceride to high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and insulin resistance in a multiethnic primary prevention cohort.

The objective was to explore the clinical utility of triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio in predicting insulin resistance (IR) in 4 ethnic groups and the relationship between IR and TG/HDL-C in comparison to that with other lipid measures. Apparently healthy Aboriginals, Chinese, Europeans, and South Asians (N = 784) were assessed for sociodemographics, lifestyle, anthropometry, lipids, glucose, and insulin. The homeostasis model assessment of IR was used as a measure of IR.

Oxygen modulates the response of first-trimester trophoblasts to hyperglycemia.

Pregestational diabetes retards early embryonic growth. Placental and fetal growth are closely associated, suggesting that placental growth is also impaired. During the first trimester of gestation, oxygen tension rises steeply, leading to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is exacerbated in diabetes and may affect placental development.

4-[(Z)-2-(methylsulfanyl)ethenyl]-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole: an order-disorder (OD) interpretation of twinning.

The title compound, C(11)H(11)SN(3), crystallizes as twins with a twin volume fraction of 0.4232 (13). An order-disorder (OD) interpretation gives a plausible explanation of the crystallization behaviour.

Cohort study on the effects of everyday life radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure on non-specific symptoms and tinnitus.

Background: There is public concern regarding potential health effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure, as produced by mobile phones or broadcast transmitters. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between RF-EMF exposure and non-specific symptoms and tinnitus in a prospective cohort study.

Methods: In 2008, 1375 randomly selected participants from Basel, Switzerland, were enrolled in a questionnaire survey with follow-up after one year (participation rate 82%).

Diagnosis, prevention, and management of statin adverse effects and intolerance: proceedings of a Canadian Working Group Consensus Conference.

While the proportion of patients with significant statin-associated adverse effects or intolerance is very low, the increasing use and broadening indications have led to a significant absolute number of such patients commonly referred to tertiary care facilities and specialists. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence pertaining to a broad variety of statin-associated adverse effects followed by a consensus approach for the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and management. The overview is intended both to provide clarification of the untoward effects of statins and to impart confidence in managing the most common issues in a fashion that avoids excessive ancillary testing and/or subspecialty referral except when truly necessary.

Oligonucleotide-based array CGH as a diagnostic tool in multiple myeloma patients.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological disease caused by malignant proliferation of clonal plasma cells (PCs) known for its clinical and biological heterogeneity. Identification of chromosomal changes in genome of PCs plays a key role in MM pathogenesis and is supposed to have important prognostic significance for MM patients. There are two major genetic entities in MM.

Incidence of pancreatitis, secondary causes, and treatment of patients referred to a specialty lipid clinic with severe hypertriglyceridemia: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Severe hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is one cause of acute pancreatitis, yet the level of plasma triglycerides likely to be responsible for inducing pancreatitis has not been clearly defined.

Methods And Results: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients presenting non-acutely to the Healthy Heart Program Lipid Clinic at St. Paul's Hospital with a TG level > 20 mM (1772 mg/dl) between 1986 and 2007.

Effect of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods given at 2 levels of intensity of dietary advice on serum lipids in hyperlipidemia: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Combining foods with recognized cholesterol-lowering properties (dietary portfolio) has proven highly effective in lowering serum cholesterol under metabolically controlled conditions.

Objective: To assess the effect of a dietary portfolio administered at 2 levels of intensity on percentage change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) among participants following self-selected diets.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A parallel-design study of 351 participants with hyperlipidemia from 4 participating academic centers across Canada (Quebec City, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver) randomized between June 25, 2007, and February 19, 2009, to 1 of 3 treatments lasting 6 months.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of leaves, twigs and stem bark of Scutia buxifolia Reissek.

The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions from the leaves, twigs and stem bark of Scutia buxifolia were evaluated using the broth microdilution method and the brine shrimp lethality method, respectively. Phytochemical analysis was performed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antimicrobial results demonstrated that the strongest effect occurred with the butanol fraction from the twigs and the ethyl acetate fraction from the stem bark against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (minimal inhibitory concentration; MIC = 62.

Isolation and chromatographic analysis of bioactive triterpenoids from the bark extract of Cariniana domestica (Mart) Miers.

The Lecythidaceae family is composed of 25 genera and 400 species that occur in the form of trees with a pantropical distribution. The genera Cariniana belongs to the family Lecythidaceae, and there are few reports considering these species. In this work, fractionation of the dichloromethane fraction obtained from the aqueous extract of the stem bark of Cariniana domestica (Mart) Miers, popularly known as Jequitibá-roxo, led to the isolation of two mixtures of triterpenoids: lupeol and β-amyrin and β-sitosterol and stigmasterol.

The impact of dietary changes and dietary supplements on lipid profile.

With a growing number of dietary interventions that claim to improve lipid profile, it is important to ensure that these claims are evidence based. The objective of this study was to make recommendations for dietary regimens by analyzing their effectiveness and the level of evidence. We searched MEDLINE as well as the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for nutritional studies.