Anti-inflammatory activity of a polyphenolic enriched extract of Schima wallichii bark.

In the present investigation, the anti-inflammatory activity of a polyphenolic enriched extract of Schima wallichii bark was evaluated in vitro using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in vivo by carrageenan-induced paw oedema assay (acute study) and cotton pallet granuloma assay (chronic study). The extract exhibited significant inhibition of the production of tumour necrotic factor-α and interleukin-6 by PBMCs stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a concentration-dependent manner. The extract at the selected doses of 150 and 300 mg kg(-1) body weight p.

Optical coherence tomographic results at six-month follow-up evaluation of the CATANIA coronary stent system with nanothin Polyzene-F surface modification (from the Assessment of The LAtest Non-Thrombogenic Angioplasty Stent [ATLANTA] trial).

Drug-eluting stents were devised as an answer to restenosis, but research has shown that the eluting drug can interfere with the blood vessel's healing process, thus increasing the risk of stent thrombosis. A stent coated with the new proprietary polymer Polyzene-F, is a novel technical solution that promises to decrease in-stent restenosis and tackle the risk of thrombosis. Fifty-five patients were enrolled in the first clinical human study (ATLANTA registry), addressing the short-term follow-up results of the CATANIA stent with Polyzene-F.

First-in-man 1-year clinical outcomes of the Catania Coronary Stent System with Nanothin Polyzene-F in de novo native coronary artery lesions: the ATLANTA (Assessment of The LAtest Non-Thrombogenic Angioplasty stent) trial.

Objectives: This study sought to assess safety and efficacy of implantation of the Catania Coronary Stent System with Nanothin Polyzene-F (CeloNova BioSciences, Newnan, Georgia) in human coronary arteries with clinical data and comprehensive intracoronary imaging.

Background: Novel approaches to modify stents (e.g.

Transcriptional variation of regulatory and virulence genes due to different media in Staphylococcus aureus.

The pathogenesis of staphylococcal infections is a multifactorial process that depends on expression of different virulence factors. Expression of these factors is controlled by multiple regulatory systems in conjunction with environmental signals. Most of the genetic studies in Staphylococcus aureus have been performed using different growth media, therefore, we examined the effects of different growth media on transcription of the selective target (e.

Intrinsic half-metallicity in modified graphene nanoribbons.

We perform first-principles calculations based on density functional theory to study quasi-one-dimensional edge-passivated (with hydrogen) zigzag graphene nanoribbons of various widths with chemical dopants, boron and nitrogen, keeping the whole system isoelectronic. The gradual increase in doping concentration takes the system finally to zigzag boron nitride nanoribbons (ZBNNRs). Our study reveals that for all doping concentrations the systems stabilize in antiferromagnetic ground states.

Expression of the sarA family of genes in different strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

Expression of genes involved in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus is controlled by global regulatory loci, including two-component regulatory systems and transcriptional regulators. The staphylococcal-specific SarA family of transcription regulators control large numbers of target genes involved in virulence, autolysis, biofilm formation, stress responses and metabolic processes, and are recognized as potential therapeutic targets. Expression of some of these important regulators has been examined, mostly in laboratory strains, while the pattern of expression of these genes in other strains, especially clinical isolates, is largely unknown.

Health technology assessment: principles, methods and current status.

Purpose: This paper analyses the methodological and technical aspects of health technology assessment (HTA) as a tool for evaluating health technologies and procedures, with special reference to diagnostic imaging; describes the main experiences with HTA at the international and national level; outlines the most important HTA projects in Italy, and analyses the effects of HTA on health care strategies and policies.

Materials And Methods: The work was carried out in three phases. In the first phase, the authors analysed the principles, methods and instruments of HTA; in the second, they evaluated the current status of HTA in different countries; and in the third, they defined the impact of HTA on the decision-making process in health care.

Tuning the electronic structure of graphene by molecular charge transfer: a computational study.

We have studied the modification in the electronic structure, as well as optical and transport properties of graphene induced by molecular charge transfer using ab initio density functional theory. Our results from first-principles spin-polarized calculations are compared with those of the available data from Raman spectroscopic studies of modified graphene systems. We find that electron donor and acceptor molecules adsorbed onto the graphene surface exhibit effective molecular charge transfer, giving rise to mid-gap molecular levels with tuning of the band gap region near the Dirac point.

Regulation of superoxide dismutase (sod) genes by SarA in Staphylococcus aureus.

The scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cells is regulated by several interacting factors, including transcriptional regulators. Involvement of sarA family genes in the regulation of proteins involved in the scavenging of ROS is largely unknown. In this report, we show that under aerobic conditions, the levels of sodM and sodA transcription, in particular the sodM transcript, are markedly enhanced in the sarA mutant among the tested sarA family mutants.

Long-term clinical outcomes after drug-eluting stent implantation in unprotected left main coronary artery disease.

Objective: To investigate long-term outcomes of unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease treatment using drug-eluting stents (DES).

Background: In several studies, DES implantation in ULMCA appeared safe and effective at mid-term; however, to date, there is limited long-term data.

Methods: All consecutive patients undergoing sirolimus- or paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation in ULMCA disease at a single institution were evaluated.

The addition of radiotherapy to chemotherapy does not improve outcome of early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma patients: a retrospective long-term follow-up analysis of a regional Italian experience.

We retrospectively reviewed 139 stage I-II HL patients who were diagnosed and followed up in an Italian northern region (Liguria) from 1995 to 2007, and who received either chemotherapy (CT) alone (mainly doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine; ABVD) or a combined modality treatment (chemotherapy + radiotherapy, CT + RT). The two therapeutic groups were comparable for clinical and histologic features. Complete remission rate after CT + RT was higher than what was achieved with CT alone (96% vs.

Bronchoalveolar lavage as a diagnostic tool in patients with hematological malignancies and pneumonia.

We report our experience concerning bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in adult patients affected by haematological malignancies. BAL was performed in patients with documented pulmonary diseases not responding to empirical antibiotic and antifungal therapies. Overall, 25 bronchoscopies were performed in 24 patients.

sarZ, a sarA family gene, is transcriptionally activated by MgrA and is involved in the regulation of genes encoding exoproteins in Staphylococcus aureus.

The expression of genes involved in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus is controlled by global regulatory loci, including two-component regulatory systems and transcriptional regulators (e.g., sar family genes).

Raised serum TSH levels in patients with morbid obesity: is it enough to diagnose subclinical hypothyroidism?

Objective: Morbid obesity (body mass index (BMI)> or =40 kg/m(2)) is associated with thyroid function disturbances, with a high rate of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) being the most consistently reported. We evaluated the circulating thyroid function parameters in morbid obese patients and related the results to the presence of circulating thyroid antibodies (Thyr-Ab).

Design And Methods: Morbid obese patients were consecutively enrolled (n=350).

The role of H bonding and dipole-dipole interactions on the electrical polarizations and charge mobilities in linear arrays of urea, thiourea, and their derivatives.

Computational studies using density functional theory are carried out on linear chains of urea, N,N(')-dimethyl urea and N,N,N('),N(')-tetramethyl urea, and their sulfur analogs, viz., thiourea, N,N(')-dimethyl thiourea and N,N,N('),N(')-tetramethyl thiourea with varying chain length, to understand the effect of hydrogen bonding and dipolar interactions on the optoelectronic response properties of such linear aggregates. While molecules of urea, N,N(')-dimethyl urea, and the corresponding sulfur analogs, thiourea, N,N(')-dimethyl thiourea, are stabilized in linear chains by hydrogen bonding, the molecules of N,N,N('),N(')-tetramethyl urea and N,N,N('),N(')-tetramethyl thiourea in the linear chains are stabilized by purely dipolar interactions.

Urinary urea excretion in idiopathic hypercalciuria of children.

Objective: In adults, it is well known that high protein intake may increase the risk of nephrolithiasis through increased urinary calcium excretion and other mechanisms. We aimed to assess the role of protein intake on urinary calcium excretion in children with idiopathic hypercalciuria (HC).

Patients And Methods: The 24-h urinary urea excretion as a reflection of protein intake was evaluated in 65 children with HC and in 76 normocalciuric control children.

Appendectomy in children with hypercalciuria/hyperuricosuria.

Recurrent abdominal pains (RAPs) represent a common problem in children sometimes leading to unnecessary and invasive procedures. The rates of appendectomy were evaluated consecutively in 180 children with idiopathic hypercalciuria (HC) and/or hyperuricosuria (HU) and RAPs, and in 270 control subjects. Of the HC/HU patients 10% and of controls 1.

Structural determinant of human La protein critical for internal initiation of translation of hepatitis C virus RNA.

Human La protein has been implicated in facilitating internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Earlier, we demonstrated that the RNA recognition motif (RRM) encompassing residues 112 to 184 of La protein [La (112-184)] interacts with the HCV IRES near the initiator AUG codon. A synthetic peptide, LaR2C (24-mer), derived from La RRM (112-184), retains RNA binding ability, competes with La protein binding to the HCV IRES, and inhibits translation.

Complete versus incomplete revascularization in patients with multivessel disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term prognostic implications of complete versus incomplete revascularization in multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES).

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with MVD provides better outcomes when complete revascularization is achieved. There is a paucity of data on the outcomes of complete versus incomplete revascularization of MVD patients undergoing PCI, and currently there is no data available with DES.

Effect of prepartum diet on postpartum ovarian activity in Holstein cows in a pasture-based dairy system.

The hypothesis was that supplementation during the late prepartum period will differentially affect reproductive and productive variables according to parity. Primiparous (n=22) and multiparous (n=22) pregnant autumn calving Holstein cows were stratified in two groups according to parity (primiparous or multiparous) and within each group were randomly assigned to two treatments: (a) low supplemented (LS) or (b) high supplemented (HS) prepartum diet. The LS group was offered 5.

Femoral prosthesis infection by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa.

This case report is a case history of a femoral prosthesis infection caused by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in a human immunodeficiency virus patient. Though the pathogenicity of this organism for bone tissue has been previously reported, this is the first reported case of an orthopedic prosthesis infection by this species of the genus Rhodotorula.

Graft versus host disease-related Hafnia alvei colonization and probable infection.

We describe the case of a graft versus host disease (GvHD) patient, in whom Hafnia alvei was cultured as a single organism, and at high bacterial counts from stool samples, from the onset of the disease until its resolution. This case is a further example of the contentious role of this species in causing human intestinal disease. Furthermore, it focuses on enteric damage by GvHD as a risk factor for acquiring H.

Effect of prepartum energetic supplementation on productive and reproductive characteristics, and metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows under grazing conditions.

The effect of cracked corn grain supplementation (3.5 kg/day) during 3 weeks before the expected calving date on milk production and composition, body condition score (BCS), metabolic and hormonal profiles and length of postpartum anoestrus was evaluated in multiparous Holstein dairy cows under grazing conditions (Energy supplemented group, n = 10; Control group, n = 10). Body condition score was weekly recorded during the peripartum period, from days -21 to +35 (parturition = day 0).