Impact of the geriatric emergency medicine specialist intervention on final emergency department disposition.

Background: The Geriatric Emergency Medicine Specialist (GEMS) pilot program is an innovative approach that utilizes geriatric-trained advanced practice providers to facilitate geriatric assessments and care planning for older adults in the emergency department (ED). The objective of this study was to explore the effect of GEMS on the use of observation status and final ED disposition.

Methods: This was a retrospective study under a target trial emulation framework.

Young transgenic hMTH1 mice are protected against dietary fat-induced metabolic stress-implications for enhanced longevity.

hMTH1 protects against mutation during oxidative stress. It degrades 8-oxodGTP to exclude potentially mutagenic oxidized guanine from DNA. hMTH1 expression is linked to ageing.

Advanced Raman Spectroscopy Detection of Oxidative Damage in Nucleic Acid Bases: Probing Chemical Changes and Intermolecular Interactions in Guanosine at Ultralow Concentration.

DNA/RNA synthesis precursors are especially vulnerable to damage induced by reactive oxygen species occurring following oxidative stress. Guanosine triphosphates are the prevalent oxidized nucleotides, which can be misincorporated during replication, leading to mutations and cell death. Here, we present a novel method based on micro-Raman spectroscopy, combined with calculations, for the identification, detection, and quantification of oxidized nucleotides at low concentration.

Emerging oxidized and defective phases in low-dimensional CrCl.

Two-dimensional (2D) magnets such as chromium trihalides CrX (X = I, Br, Cl) represent a frontier for spintronics applications and, in particular, CrCl has attracted research interest due its relative stability under ambient conditions without rapid degradation, as opposed to CrI. Herein, mechanically exfoliated CrCl flakes are characterized at the atomic scale and the electronic structures of pristine, oxidized, and defective monolayer CrCl phases are investigated employing density functional theory (DFT) calculations, scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), core level X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and valence band XPS and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). As revealed by atomically resolved transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, the CrCl flakes show spontaneous surface oxidation upon air exposure with an extrinsic long-range ordered oxidized O-CrCl structure and amorphous chromium oxide formation on the edges of the flakes.

Exciton-phonon coupling and power dependent room temperature photoluminescence of sulphur vacancy doped MoSvia controlled thermal annealing.

Via experiments performed by varying the doping level of single-layer mechanically exfoliated MoSvia post exfoliation thermal annealing in the 200-300 °C temperature range, we study the power dependent room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL), which is dominated by A type excitons. The PL spectral yields of the as-exfoliated and annealed samples show sub-linear behaviour as a function of the excitation laser power. The PL signal of the 200 °C annealed sample is dominated by the charged exciton (trion) related peak, while the PL signal of the 300 °C annealed sample is dominated by the neutral exciton related peak, and the PL spectral weight of excitons is tunable in this temperature range.

Mechanical exfoliation and layer number identification of single crystal monoclinic CrCl.

After the recent finding that CrI, displays ferromagnetic order down to its monolayer, extensive studies have followed to pursue new two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials. In this article, we report on the growth of single crystal CrCl in the layered monoclinic phase. The system after mechanical exfoliation exhibits stability in ambient air (the degradation occurs on a time scale at least four orders of magnitude longer than is observed for CrI).

Toxicity of the readily leachable fraction of urban PM to human lung epithelial cells: Role of soluble metals.

Fine airborne particulate matter (PM) has been repeatedly associated with adverse health effects in humans. The PM soluble fraction, and soluble metals in particular, are thought to cause lung damage. Literature data, however, are not consistent and the role of leachable metals is still under debate.

Vitamins (A, C and E) and oxidative status of hemodialysis patients treated with HFR and HFR-Supra.

Background: Hemodiafiltration with on-line endogenous reinfusion (HFR) is an extracorporeal dialytic method that combines diffusion, convection and adsorption. HFR-Supra (HFR-S) is a second-generation system with increased convective permeability and adsorption capability. Previous studies suggested that HFR reduces oxidative stress compared to standard haemodialysis.

Ultraweak Photon Emission from the Seed Coat in Response to Temperature and Humidity-A Potential Mechanism for Environmental Signal Transduction in the Soil Seed Bank.

Seeds beneath the soil sense the changing environment to time germination and seedling emergence with the optimum time of year for survival. Environmental signals first impact with the seed at the seed coat. To investigate whether seed coats have a role in environmental sensing we investigated their ultraweak photon emission (UPE) under the variable temperature, relative humidity and oxygen conditions they could experience in the soil seed bank.

Setup and validation of a convenient sampling procedure to promptly and effectively stabilize vitamin C in blood and plasma specimens stored at routine temperatures.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, AA) is very labile in nature and decays quickly after blood withdrawal. To ensure AA stability, the current procedure prescribes immediate plasma acidification followed by sample storage at ultra-low temperature. The aim of this study was to set up a pre-analytical procedure to promptly stabilize AA at routine temperatures while minimizing both specimen manipulation and instrumental requirement.

Estimated glomerular filtration rate, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular diseases incidence in a low risk population: the MATISS study.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) independently increases the risk of death and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. However, the relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and CVD/death risk in a general population at low risk of CVD has not been explored so far.

Design: Baseline and longitudinal data of 1465 men and 1459 women aged 35-74 years participating to the MATISS study, an Italian general population cohort, were used to evaluate the role of eGFR in the prediction of all-cause mortality and incident CVD.

Coenzyme Q metabolism is disturbed in high fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats.

Oxidative stress is believed to be a major contributory factor in the development of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disorder worldwide. In this study, the effects of high fat diet-induced NAFLD on Coenzyme Q (CoQ) metabolism and plasma oxidative stress markers in rats were investigated. Rats were fed a standard low fat diet (control) or a high fat diet (57% metabolizable energy as fat) for 18 weeks.

Microenvironmental pH is a key factor for exosome traffic in tumor cells.

Exosomes secreted by normal and cancer cells carry and deliver a variety of molecules. To date, mechanisms referring to tumor exosome trafficking, including release and cell-cell transmission, have not been described. To gain insight into this, exosomes purified from metastatic melanoma cell medium were labeled with a lipid fluorescent probe, R18, and analyzed by spectrofluorometry and confocal microscopy.

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate stimulates Ca(2+) entry, chemotaxis and ROS production in human granulocytes.

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer widely used in polyvinyl chloride-based medical devices, is known to interfere with immune functions but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this in vitro study, we investigated DEHP effect on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), chemotaxis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in human granulocytes. DEHP increased [Ca(2+)](i) by inducing a Ca(2+) influx from the extracellular medium.

Homocysteinemia correlates with plasma thiol redox status in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Background/aims: In end-stage renal disease (ESRD), hyperhomocysteinemia is a common finding associated with increased cardiovascular risk. However, the pathogenic role of homocysteine is still unclear. In vitro studies show that thiol redox status affects endothelial cell functions.

Reliability of oxidative stress biomarkers in hemodialysis patients: a comparative study.

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is considered to play a major role in the development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) complications. However, conflicting and inconsistent data have been reported on OS in ESRD patients. Our aim was to investigate the reliability of the most popular non-enzymatic plasma OS biomarkers in ESRD.

Plexiform epithelioid schwannoma: a case report.

Epithelioid schwannoma is rare but may pose a challenge in histopathologic diagnosis. In the present report, we describe a plexiform variant of epithelioid schwannoma in the skin of the breast of a 47-year-old woman.

The partial head decondensation test is a new, quick method to assess acrosome status in human spermatozoa.

Objective: To develop a fast method for assessing acrosome status in human spermatozoa.

Design: Development of a new in vitro test to assess acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa.

Setting: Academic medical institution.

Role of primary breast cancer characteristics in predicting positive sentinel lymph node biopsy results: a multivariate analysis.

Hypothesis: Certain primary breast tumor characteristics can be used to predict positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) results and thus determine which patients should undergo SLNB.

Design: Retrospective review of patients undergoing SLNB for invasive breast cancer from March 1, 1998, through March 31, 2001.

Setting: University-affiliated tertiary care hospital.

Polychlorobiphenyls inhibit skeletal muscle differentiation in culture.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous and persistent pollutants whose role in developmental toxicity is of great concern. The observation that the offspring of PCB-exposed mothers (both in humans and rodents) display reduced body mass prompted us to investigate the effects of commercial mixtures of PCB congeners (Aroclor 1232, 1254, and 1262) on differentiation of both a myogenic cell line and primary myogenic cell cultures. The fusion of L6 myoblasts into multinucleated myotubes and the increase of creatine kinase (CK) activity were dose-dependently inhibited by Aroclor 1254 at concentrations (0.

Surface remodeling associated with vasopressin-induced membrane traffic in L6 myogenic cells.

The plasma membrane is dynamically remodeled as a function of the cell cycle, motility and membrane traffic. We have previously shown that arg8-vasopressin (AVP) stimulation of L6 myoblasts induces the activation of phosholipase D during the first minutes of stimulation, and the differentiation of 1,6 myoblasts as a long term effect. We now report that AVP also induces two types of morphological responses in L6 cells within a few minutes of stimulation: exocytosis, apparent as uncoated pits, and the generation of membrane projections and reffles.

Adrenomedullin inhibits the contraction of cultured rat testicular peritubular myoid cells induced by endothelin-1.

The present study documents that adrenomedullin (AM), a vasoactive peptide originally identified in pheochromocytoma tissue and present in the testis, in vitro affects the function of testicular peritubular myoid cells (TPMC), a contractile cell type located in the seminiferous tubule wall. AM stimulated cAMP production by cultured TPMC taken from 16-day-old rats, and this effect was completely inhibited by the AM antagonist AM-(22-52) and partially by the CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) antagonist CGRP-(8-37). Studies on TPMC contractile activity documented that AM inhibits TPMC contraction induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1) and that its effect is antagonized by AM-(22-52).

Vesicle-mediated phosphatidylcholine reapposition to the plasma membrane following hormone-induced phospholipase D activation.

Phospholipase D (PLD) activation involved in signal transduction may lead to the hydrolysis of conspicuous amounts of phosphatidylcholine (PC). This study shows that PLD activation significantly alters the plasma membrane (PM) environment and the membrane exchange dynamics. PC-PLD activation in vasopressin (AVP)-stimulated L6 myogenic cells was accompanied by increased exocytosis and decreased membrane fluidity, as shown by transmission EM and fluorescence spectroscopy of trimethylammonium-diphenyl-hexatriene.