Measured electrical charge of SiO in polar and nonpolar media.

We present measurements of the net electrical surface charge of silicon dioxide (SiO) in contact with solvents of dielectric constants between 5 and 80. Our experimental approach relies on observing the thermal motion of single silica particles confined in an electrostatic fluidic trap created by SiO surfaces. We compare the experimentally measured functional form of the trapping potential with that from free energy calculations and thereby determine the net surface charge in the system.

VSL#3 Probiotic Stimulates T-cell Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-mediated Recovery of IFN-γ-induced Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Defects.

Background: VSL#3 is a probiotic compound that has been used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) is the protein product of the inflammatory bowel disease candidate gene, PTPN2, and we have previously shown that it protects epithelial barrier function. The aim of this study was to investigate whether VSL#3 improves intestinal epithelial barrier function against the effects of the inflammatory bowel disease-associated proinflammatory cytokine, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) through activation of TCPTP.

Assessment of bacterial community composition in response to uranium levels in sediment samples of sacred Cauvery River.

Global industrialization is a major cause of effluent discharge from industries up to alarming concentrations. Especially, uranium concentrations in water bodies are of great concern, as its radioactivity significantly affects the persistent diversity of microbiota. Recently, continuous application of pesticides in the agricultural lands and accumulation of quartz that enter the Cauvery River has significantly increased the concentration of uranium (U) and other heavy metals.

A new species of Prosopistoma Latreille, 1833 (Ephemeroptera: Prosopistomatidae) from South India.

A new species of Prosopistoma (Ephemeroptera: Prosopistomatidae) is described on the basis of mature nymphs from Coorg, Karnataka, South India. Prosopistoma coorgum, new species can be readily distinguished from the other members of Prosopistoma by the following combination of characters: inner margin of outer canine near apex with 2-3 short spines, the length ratio of maxillary palp segments (3.3:4.

Global functional profiling of human ubiquitome identifies E3 ubiquitin ligase DCST1 as a novel negative regulator of Type-I interferon signaling.

Type I interferon (IFN-I) mediated innate immune response controls virus infections by inducing the expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs). Although ubiquitination plays key roles in immune signaling regulation, a human genome-wide understanding of the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in interferon mediated ISG induction is lacking. Here, we report a genome-wide profiling of the effect of ectopic expression of 521 E3 ubiquitin ligases and substrate recognition subunits encoded in the human genome (which constitutes 84.

Effect of balloon mitral valvotomy on left ventricular function in rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Aim: Mitral stenosis (MS) is found to produce left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in some studies. We sought to study the left ventricular function in patients with rheumatic MS undergoing balloon mitral valvotomy (BMV). Ours is the first study to analyze effect of BMV on mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE), and to quantify prevalence of longitudinal left ventricular dysfunction in rheumatic MS.

Extremozymes from Marine Actinobacteria.

Marine microorganisms that have the possibility to survive in diverse conditions such as extreme temperature, pH, pressure, and salinity are known as extremophiles. They produce biocatalysts so named as extremozymes that are active and stable at extreme conditions. These enzymes have numerous industrial applications due to its distinct properties.

Marine Microbial Amylases: Properties and Applications.

Amylases are crucial enzymes which hydrolyze internal glycosidic linkages in starch and produce as primary products dextrins and oligosaccharides. Amylases are classified into α-amylase, β-amylase, and glucoamylase based on their three-dimensional structures, reaction mechanisms, and amino acid sequences. Amylases have innumerable applications in clinical, medical, and analytical chemistries as well as in food, detergent, textile, brewing, and distilling industries.

Adult Onset Henoch-Schonlein Purpura and Intussusception: A Rare Presentation.

We present an unusual case of a young 26-year-old male who was diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP). Initial presentation was primarily mild gastrointestinal symptoms, which progressed to a life threatening intussusception and subsequently resolved with prompt glucocorticoid use rather than typical surgical intervention. Of importance, the patient's initial gastrointestinal symptoms without associated skin manifestations made the diagnosis difficult.

Adult- Onset Centronuclear Myopathy.

Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) is a rare congenital myopathy that is characterized by centrally placed nuclei in the muscle fibers. Three forms of the disease are clinically recognized. The severe neonatal form, the childhood onset form, and an adult-onset form.

Data completeness as an unmeasured confounder in dialysis facility performance comparison with 1-year follow-up .

Unlabelled: ;Aims: Standardized mortality and hospitalization ratios (SMRs, SHRs) are used to measure dialysis facility performance in the US, with adjustment for demographics and comorbid conditions derived from the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) Medical Evidence (ME) Report. Sensitivities are low for ME-based comorbidity, and levels of under-reporting may differ among facilities. We aimed to assess the effect of data inaccuracy on performance comparison.

Evaluating the efficacy of memantine on improving cognitive functions in epileptic patients receiving anti-epileptic drugs: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial (Phase IIIb pilot study).

Objectives: People with epilepsy have greater cognitive and behavioral dysfunction than the general population. There is no specific treatment available for cognitive impairment of these patients. We aimed to evaluate the effects of memantine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptor noncompetitive antagonist, on improving cognition and memory functions in epileptic patients with cognitive and memory impairment, who received anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs).

Detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimA Type I Genotype in Gingivitis by Real-Time PCR-A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Published literature till date reveals a high prevalence of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimA type I genotype among healthy subjects. Quite a few studies have reported its prevalence also in periodontitis patients. Nevertheless incidence of this genotype in gingivitis is lacking in adult population.

Effect of salpingectomy, ovarian cystectomy and unilateral salpingo-oopherectomy on ovarian reserve.

Pelvic surgery can affect ovarian reserve, but estimates of the potential effect of different surgical procedures are lacking. This study examines the markers of ovarian reserve after different procedures in order to help the provision of informed consent before surgery. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) of women with a history of salpingectomy, ovarian cystectomy or unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were compared to those without history of surgery using cross-sectional data adjusting for patient and clinical factors in multivariable regression model.

Characterising brain network topologies: A dynamic analysis approach using heat kernels.

Network theory provides a principled abstraction of the human brain: reducing a complex system into a simpler representation from which to investigate brain organisation. Recent advancement in the neuroimaging field is towards representing brain connectivity as a dynamic process in order to gain a deeper understanding of how the brain is organised for information transport. In this paper we propose a network modelling approach based on the heat kernel to capture the process of heat diffusion in complex networks.

Pragmatic Trials in Maintenance Dialysis: Perspectives from the Kidney Health Initiative.

Pragmatic clinical trials are conducted under the real-world conditions of clinical care delivery. As a result, these trials yield findings that are highly generalizable to the nonresearch setting, identify interventions that are readily translatable into clinical practice, and cost less than trials that require extensive research infrastructures. Maintenance dialysis is a setting especially well suited for pragmatic trials because of inherently frequent and predictable patient encounters, highly granular and uniform data collection, use of electronic data systems, and delivery of care by a small number of provider organizations to approximately 90% of patients nationally.

Predictive Score for Posttransplantation Outcomes.

Background: Most current scoring tools to predict allograft and patient survival upon kidney transplantion are based on variables collected posttransplantation. We developed a novel score to predict posttransplant outcomes using pretransplant information including routine laboratory data available before or at the time of transplantation.

Methods: Linking the 5-year patient data of a large dialysis organization to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified 15 125 hemodialysis patients who underwent first deceased transplantion.

What is the publication rate for presentations given at the British Academic Conference in Otolaryngology (BACO)?

Objectives: The publication rate of some large academic meetings such as the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery has been reported as 32%. We aimed to compare the rate of publication at the British Academic Conference in Otolaryngology (BACO) to allow surveillance of research activity in the United Kingdom (UK).

Design And Setting: The abstract records of both BACO 2009 and 2012 were examined.

Comparative Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Three Immersion Chemical Disinfectants on Clinically Derived Poly(Vinyl Siloxane) Impressions.

Purpose: To comparatively evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of freshly prepared electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW) with that of 2.4% glutaraldehyde (GA) and 1% sodium hypochlorite (SH) on clinically derived poly vinyl siloxane (PVS) impressions.

Materials And Methods: Four clinically derived PVS impressions each were obtained from 10 subjects.

A Prospective Assessment of Nasopharyngolaryngoscope Recording Adaptor Use in Residency Training.

Flexible fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscope (FN) examinations are important to the practice of otolaryngology (ENT). We sought to assess whether a portable recording adaptor for the FN can enhance resident learning and improve patient management. The adaptor was used prospectively on consultations by first- and second-year ENT residents, and changes in diagnosis and management were recorded in the patient care workflow.

Mean platelet volume and cardiovascular outcomes in acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: High levels of mean platelet volume (MPV) may be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). We examined the association between MPV and the risk of death and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with MI.

Methods: We studied consecutive patients with MI admitted to a tertiary-care hospital during a period of 1 year.

A comparative study of ivabradine and atenolol in patients with moderate mitral stenosis in sinus rhythm.

Background: Beta-blockers are frequently used in patients with mitral stenosis to control the heart rate and alleviate exercise-related symptoms. The objective of our study was to examine whether ivabradine was superior to atenolol for achieving higher exercise capacity in patients with moderate mitral stenosis in sinus rhythm. We also evaluated their effects on left ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI).

Study on correlation of obesity with short-term prognosis in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Obese patients with established coronary artery disease have reduced mortality compared to normal or low body mass index (BMI) patients. The reason for the relation is not yet clearly understood. We sought to evaluate the association of BMI and waist circumference (WC) at the time of presentation in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) with one-year adverse cardiac events.