Simultaneous High-Throughput Monitoring of Urethane Reactions Using Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging.

High-throughput (HTP) research is becoming more widely utilized due to its advantages in rapid screening of large parameter space. When HTP is used for reaction screening, often only the end products are analyzed by off-line techniques, leaving behind valuable process information. Information-rich spectroscopy tools have remained under-utilized in HTP workflows.

Effects of Dietary n-3 and n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Inflammation and Cancerogenesis.

The dietary recommendation encourages reducing saturated fatty acids (SFA) in diet and replacing them with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) n-3 (omega-3) and n-6 (omega-6) to decrease the risk of metabolic disturbances. Consequently, excessive n-6 PUFAs content and high n-6/n-3 ratio are found in Western-type diet. The importance of a dietary n-6/n-3 ratio to prevent chronic diseases is linked with anti-inflammatory functions of linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) and longer-chain n-3 PUFAs.

A survey of the retention of GPs following the induction and refresher scheme in London.

The NHS faces challenges in recruiting and retaining GPs. The NHS Long Term Plan aims to increase NHS staffing levels as one of its objectives. The Induction and Refresher (I&R) Scheme supports this aim by providing a safe induction or return to UK practice for GPs who are new to UK general practice or who have been away from it for 2 years or more.

Addressing the Needs of Patients With Chronic Pain.

A novel interdisciplinary team approach within a primary care setting may be a promising model for delivering effective comprehensive treatment options for patients with chronic pain.

AT1-receptor blockade attenuates outward aortic remodeling associated with diet-induced obesity in mice.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and obesity have been implicated in vascular outward remodeling, including aneurysms, but the precise mechanisms are not yet understood. We investigated the effect of the angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1-receptor) antagonist telmisartan on aortic outward remodeling in a diet-induced obesity model in mice. C57/Black6J mice were fed either a low-fat diet (LFD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks.

Livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus on Polish pig farms.

Background: Livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus (LA-SA) draws increasing attention due to its particular ability to colonize farm animals and be transmitted to people, which in turn leads to its spread in the environment. The aim of the study was to determine the dissemination of LA-SA on pig farms selected throughout Poland, characterize the population structure of identified S. aureus, and assess the prevalence of LA-SA carriage amongst farmers and veterinarians being in contact with pigs.

Controlled Release of Antimicrobial ClO Gas from a Two-Layer Polymeric Film System.

We report a two-component label system comprising a chlorite-containing polymer film and an acid-containing polymer film that can release antimicrobial ClO gas upon adhering the two films together to enable a reaction of the chlorite and acid under moisture exposure. The chlorite-containing film comprises a commercial acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesive polymer impregnated with sodium chlorite. The acid-containing film comprises a commercial poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer loaded with tartaric acid.

Total hip replacement with a collarless polished cemented anatomic stem: clinical and gait analysis results at ten years follow-up.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine outcomes of total hip replacement (THR) with the Lemania cemented femoral stem.

Methods: A total of 78 THR patients were followed and compared to 17 "fit", healthy, elderly and 72 "frail" elderly subjects without THR, using clinical outcome measures and a portable, in-field gait analysis device at five and ten years follow-up.

Results: Forty-one patients (53%), mean age 83.

Prevention of liver cancer cachexia-induced cardiac wasting and heart failure.

Aims: Symptoms of cancer cachexia (CC) include fatigue, shortness of breath, and impaired exercise capacity, which are also hallmark symptoms of heart failure (HF). Herein, we evaluate the effects of drugs commonly used to treat HF (bisoprolol, imidapril, spironolactone) on development of cardiac wasting, HF, and death in the rat hepatoma CC model (AH-130).

Methods And Results: Tumour-bearing rats showed a progressive loss of body weight and left-ventricular (LV) mass that was associated with a progressive deterioration in cardiac function.

Cannabinoid receptor 1 inhibition improves cardiac function and remodelling after myocardial infarction and in experimental metabolic syndrome.

The cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, are expressed in the heart, but their role under pathological conditions remains controversial. This study examined the effect of CB1 receptor blockade on cardiovascular functions after experimental MI and in experimental metabolic syndrome. MI was induced in Wistar rats by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery.

Application of real-time PCR for detection of Lawsonia intracellularis and Brachyspira hyodysenteriae in fecal samples from pigs.

The aim of the study was to develop and validate real-time PCR method for the quantification of Lawsonia intracellularis and Brachyspira hyodysenteriae in porcine feces. Before the optimization process was performed two different extraction methods were compared to select the more efficient one. Based on the results achieved at this stage the boiling procedure was rejected and a commercially available silica-membrane based method was chosen for further analysis.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae isolated from 21 Polish farms.

Swine dysentery (SD) is a common disease among pigs worldwide, which contributes to major production losses. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of B. hyodysenteriae, the etiological agent of SD, is mainly performed by the agar dilution method.

A randomised controlled clinical trial and gait analysis of fixed- and mobile-bearing total knee replacements with a five-year follow-up.

This study compared the outcome of total knee replacement (TKR) in adult patients with fixed- and mobile-bearing prostheses during the first post-operative year and at five years' follow-up, using gait parameters as a new objective measure. This double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial included 55 patients with mobile-bearing (n = 26) and fixed-bearing (n = 29) prostheses of the same design, evaluated pre-operatively and post-operatively at six weeks, three months, six months, one year and five years. Each participant undertook two walking trials of 30 m and completed the EuroQol questionnaire, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index, Knee Society score, and visual analogue scales for pain and stiffness.

Highly-integrated lab-on-chip system for point-of-care multiparameter analysis.

A novel innovative approach towards a marketable lab-on-chip system for point-of-care in vitro diagnostics is reported. In a consortium of seven Fraunhofer Institutes a lab-on-chip system called "Fraunhofer ivD-platform" has been established which opens up the possibility for an on-site analysis at low costs. The system features a high degree of modularity and integration.

The past, present and future of angiotensin II type 2 receptor stimulation.

Studying the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT(2)) has been problematic in the past because a pharmacological tool for direct, specific in vitro and in vivo stimulation of the receptor has been lacking. Consequently, current knowledge about AT(2) receptor signalling and function had to be obtained by indirect approaches, like studying animals or cells with genetically altered AT(2) receptor expression levels, inhibitory experiments using specific AT(2) receptor antagonists, stimulation with angiotensin II under concomitant angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade or stimulation with the peptide agonist CGP42112A, which has additional AT(2) receptor antagonistic properties. The recently developed non-peptide AT(2) receptor agonist Compound 21 now, for the first time, allows direct, selective and specific AT(2) receptor stimulation in vitro and in vivo.

Cardiac c-kit+AT2+ cell population is increased in response to ischemic injury and supports cardiomyocyte performance.

The expression pattern of angiotensin AT2 receptors with predominance during fetal life and upregulation under pathological conditions during tissue injury/repair process suggests that AT2 receptors may exert an important action in injury/repair adaptive mechanisms. Less is known about AT2 receptors in acute ischemia-induced cardiac injury. We aimed here to elucidate the role of AT2 receptors after acute myocardial infarction.

Estrogen receptor alpha supports cardiomyocytes indirectly through post-infarct cardiac c-kit+ cells.

Despite previous studies demonstrating a cardioprotective role of estradiol via its estrogen receptor (ER)alpha, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we aimed to define ERalpha-involved mechanisms against cardiac injury. Seven days after myocardial infarction in male rats, cardiac ERalpha was upregulated in post-infarct cardiac c-kit+ cells accumulating in periinfarct myocardium as shown by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining.

Angiotensin II type 2 receptor stimulation: a novel option of therapeutic interference with the renin-angiotensin system in myocardial infarction?

Background: This study is the first to examine the effect of direct angiotensin II type 2 (AT(2)) receptor stimulation on postinfarct cardiac function with the use of the novel nonpeptide AT(2) receptor agonist compound 21 (C21).

Methods And Results: Myocardial infarction (MI) was induced in Wistar rats by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery. Treatment with C21 (0.

Telmisartan prevents aneurysm progression in the rat by inhibiting proteolysis, apoptosis and inflammation.

Objectives: We investigated the effects of treatment with the angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, telmisartan, on abdominal aortic aneurysm formation in normotensive rats.

Methods: Abdominal aortic aneurysm was induced by perfusion of an isolated aortic segment with elastase. Treatment with telmisattan (0.

Selection of Protein Crystal Forms Facilitated by Polymer-Induced Heteronucleation.

Crystallization of biological macromolecules as high quality single crystals is critical for determining their structure and facilitates the rational design of drugs. Because macromolecules often crystallize in multiple phases that have unique diffraction properties, the selective production of phases is desirable. Furthermore, determining multiple structures allows for a greater understanding of the relationship between crystal packing and conformation.

New form discovery for the analgesics flurbiprofen and sulindac facilitated by polymer-induced heteronucleation.

The selection and discovery of new crystalline forms is a longstanding issue in solid-state chemistry of critical importance because of the effect molecular packing arrangement exerts on materials properties. Polymer-induced heteronucleation has recently been developed as a powerful approach to discover and control the production of crystal modifications based on the insoluble polymer heteronucleant added to the crystallization solution. The selective nucleation and discovery of new crystal forms of the well-studied pharmaceuticals flurbiprofen (FBP) and sulindac (SUL) has been achieved utilizing this approach.

Molecular packing and symmetry of two-dimensional crystals.

Periodic arrangements on surfaces resulting from monolayer formation are critical in determining the electronic structure of thin films, the adhesion of surface coatings, the properties of lubricants, and the polymorphic form of heteronucleated crystals. Unlike substrate-directed chemisorption, the process of physisorption is highly responsive to molecular structure and stands out as a controllable method of creating variable surface patterns with periodicities on the low end of the nanoscale. Despite decades of study focused upon such ordered structures, the principles guiding the formation of these two-dimensional crystals have been obscured by the lack of a systematic and critical compilation.

Selection and discovery of polymorphs of platinum complexes facilitated by polymer-induced heteronucleation.

Polymer-induced heteronucleation was utilized for the selective crystallization of the color polymorphic platinum complexes Pt(bpy)Cl2 and Pt(phen)Cl2. Crystal structures of two polymorphs of Pt(phen)Cl2 were determined and reveal that, as in the case of Pt(bpy)Cl2, this compound has one form with Pt..