Gene expression profile of esophageal cancer in North East India by cDNA microarray analysis.

Aim: To identify alterations in genes and molecular functional pathways in esophageal cancer in a high incidence region of India where there is a widespread use of tobacco and betel quid with fermented areca nuts.

Methods: Total RNA was isolated from tumor and matched normal tissue of 16 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Pooled tumor tissue RNA was labeled with Cy3-dUTP and pooled normal tissue RNA was labeled with Cy5-dUTP by direct labeling method.

Acute effects of static stretching on characteristics of the isokinetic angle - torque relationship, surface electromyography, and mechanomyography.

The aims of this study were to examine the acute effects of static stretching on peak torque, work, the joint angle at peak torque, acceleration time, isokinetic range of motion, mechanomyographic amplitude, and electromyographic amplitude of the rectus femoris during maximal concentric isokinetic leg extensions at 1.04 and 5.23 rad x s(-1) in men and women.

Surfactant chain-length-dependent modulation of the prototropic transformation of a biological photosensitizer: norharmane in anionic micelles.

A photophysical study of norharmane (NHM), an efficient cancer cell photosensitizer, has been undertaken in well-characterized biomimetic micellar nanocavities formed by anionic surfactants of varying chain length, namely, sodium decyl sulfate (S10S), sodium dodecyl sulfate (S12S), and sodium tetradecyl sulfate (S14S), using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The effect of the hydrophobic chain length on the structural dynamism of the fluorophore has been reported. Experimental results demonstrate that the equilibrium of this dynamism is sensitive to the environment.

What is the initial chemical precursor of DNA strand breaks generated by direct-type effects?

The present study tests the hypothesis that the majority of DNA strand breaks produced by direct-type effects are due to sugar free radical precursors and that these radicals are produced by direct ionization of the sugar-phosphate backbone or by hole transfer to the sugar from tightly bound water. Well-defined crystalline DNA samples of d(CGCG)(2), d(CGCACG:GCGTGC), d(GTGCGCAC)(2), and d((GCACGCGTGC)(2) were irradiated at 4 K, and their free radical dose response determined from 0 to 1800 kGy. A model is proposed that effectively describes the dose response curves.

Plasmids and rickettsial evolution: insight from Rickettsia felis.

Background: The genome sequence of Rickettsia felis revealed a number of rickettsial genetic anomalies that likely contribute not only to a large genome size relative to other rickettsiae, but also to phenotypic oddities that have confounded the categorization of R. felis as either typhus group (TG) or spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae. Most intriguing was the first report from rickettsiae of a conjugative plasmid (pRF) that contains 68 putative open reading frames, several of which are predicted to encode proteins with high similarity to conjugative machinery in other plasmid-containing bacteria.

Single stage Delto-pectoral flap cover for large defects following extensive neck dissection.

Bulky neck nodal disease with involvement of the overlying skin develops large post resection defects with skin loss following extensive neck dissection, that may not be suitable for primary closure. We describe a simple and easy to do procedure for cover of such large post surgical resection neck defects by using the Delto-pectoral flap as a single staged procedure.

Diagnostic precision of fecal calprotectin for inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal malignancy.

Objectives: Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a relatively new marker of intraluminal intestinal inflammation. Using meta-analytical techniques, the study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic precision of FC for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) in adults and children.

Methods: Quantitative meta-analysis was performed on prospective studies, comparing FC levels against the histological diagnosis.

The surgical care practitioner: a feasible alternative. Results of a prospective 4-year audit at St Mary's Hospital Trust, London.

Introduction: Surgical care practitioners (SCPs) are an expanding group of professionals, drawn from nursing and the allied health professions. Amongst other functions, SCPs can provide a range of surgical procedures including a 'minor surgical' service. The aim of this study was to audit the volume and outcomes related to the SCP service at St Mary's since its inception.

Heparin-bonded circuits versus nonheparin-bonded circuits: an evaluation of their effect on clinical outcomes.

Heparinization of the blood contact surface in cardiopulmonary bypass circuits has been promoted as an important step in the development of open heart surgery. As it decreases the inflammatory response resulting from the extracorporeal circulation, it may have a positive effect on clinical outcomes. This meta-analysis was carried out to examine if heparin-bonded circuits (HBCs) reduce the need for blood products and improve overall clinical outcome.

A statistical model for inter-temporal causal dynamics of glucose production and disposal with insulin level in diabetic patients.

This paper provides a useful tool to examine inter-temporal behaviour in glucose and insulin level in diabetic patients. The primary thrust of this paper is to model inter-temporal causal dynamics of endogenous and ingested glucose production and disposal with insulin in diabetic patients. A short-run compartmental dynamics of glucose and insulin was introduced with their stochastic relationship through a vector autoregressive (VAR) scheme.

The effects of various leukocyte filtration strategies in cardiac surgery.

It is known that cardiopulmonary bypass causes an inflammatory reaction with an associated morbidity and mortality. Several anti-inflammatory strategies have been implemented to reduce this response, including leukocyte removal from the circulation using specialised filters. The aim of this study is to systematically review the available evidence on leukocyte filtration in cardiac surgery, focusing on its effect on systemic inflammation and whether this has influenced clinical outcomes.

Magnetic resonance colonography vs computed tomography colonography for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer: an indirect comparison.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to use meta-regression techniques to compare the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography colonography (CTC) and magnetic resonance colonography (MRC), compared with conventional colonoscopy for patients presenting with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Method: Quantitative meta-analysis was performed using prospective studies reporting comparative data between CTC and MRC individually to conventional colonoscopy. Study quality was assessed and sensitivities, specificities, diagnostic odds ratios (DOR) were calculated.

Endovascular treatment of ruptured posterior circulation dissecting aneurysms.

Background: and aim: Dissecting aneurysms of the posterior circulation constitute a relatively uncommon subgroup of aneurysms. They account for 3-7% of cases of nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Because of high risk, in most cases the patients require surgical or endovascular therapy.

Multi-detector computed tomography in coronary artery bypass graft assessment: a meta-analysis.

Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) has become an alternative to coronary angiography in diagnosis of graft occlusion and stenosis after coronary artery bypass. A literature search was performed for studies comparing angiography to 8-slice, 16-slice, and 64-slice MDCT in the assessment of coronary grafts. In assessing occlusion, 14 studies produced pooled sensitivity of 97.

An investigation into the mechanisms of DNA strand breakage by direct ionization of variably hydrated plasmid DNA.

The mechanisms by which ionizing radiation directly causes strand breaks in DNA were investigated by comparing the chemical yield of DNA-trapped free radicals to the chemical yield of DNA single strand break (ssb) and double strand break (dsb), as a function of hydration (Gamma). Solid-state films of plasmid pUC18, hydrated to 2.5 < Gamma < 22.

Comparison of colonic stenting and open surgery for malignant large bowel obstruction.

Background: Colonic stents potentially offer effective palliation for those with bowel obstruction attributable to incurable malignancy, and a "bridge to surgery" for those in whom emergency surgery would necessitate a stoma. The current study compared the outcomes of stents and open surgery in the management of malignant large bowel obstruction.

Methods: A literature search of the Medline, Ovid, Embase and Cochrane databases was performed to identify comparative studies reporting outcomes on colonic stenting and surgery for large bowel obstruction.

Nanosecond folding dynamics of a three-stranded beta-sheet.

We studied conformational stability and folding kinetics of a three-stranded beta-sheet containing two rigid turns. Static infrared measurements indicate that this beta-sheet undergoes a broad but cooperative thermal unfolding transition with a midpoint at approximately 53 degrees C. Interestingly, time-resolved infrared experiments show that its relaxation kinetics in response to a temperature-jump (T-jump) occur on the nanosecond time scale (e.

PATRIC: the VBI PathoSystems Resource Integration Center.

The PathoSystems Resource Integration Center (PATRIC) is one of eight Bioinformatics Resource Centers (BRCs) funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases (NIAID) to create a data and analysis resource for selected NIAID priority pathogens, specifically proteobacteria of the genera Brucella, Rickettsia and Coxiella, and corona-, calici- and lyssaviruses and viruses associated with hepatitis A and E. The goal of the project is to provide a comprehensive bioinformatics resource for these pathogens, including consistently annotated genome, proteome and metabolic pathway data to facilitate research into counter-measures, including drugs, vaccines and diagnostics. The project's curation strategy has three prongs: 'breadth first' beginning with whole-genome and proteome curation using standardized protocols, a 'targeted' approach addressing the specific needs of researchers and an integrative strategy to leverage high-throughput experimental data (e.

Anomalous origin of the callosomarginal artery from the A1 segment with an associated saccular aneurysm.

Although anatomic variations are well known in the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), anomalous origin of a cortical artery from the A1 segment is extremely rare. The only reported cortical branch to arise from the A1 segment is the fronto-orbital artery. We report a case of anomalous origin of the callosomarginal artery (CMA) in association with a saccular aneurysm from the A1 segment of the left ACA in a 35-year-old man who presented with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Regulation of middle cerebral artery blood velocity during recovery from dynamic exercise in humans.

We sought to examine the regulation of cerebral blood flow during 10 min of recovery from mild, moderate, and heavy cycling exercise by measuring middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCA V). Transfer function analyses between changes in arterial blood pressure and MCA V were used to assess the frequency components of dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA). After mild and moderate exercise, the decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and mean MCA V (MCA Vm) were small.

Outcomes following laparoscopic versus open repair of incisional hernia.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare short- and long-term outcomes for patients undergoing laparoscopic or open surgery for incisional hernia repair using meta-analytical techniques.

Methods: A literature search was performed to identify comparative studies reporting outcomes on laparoscopic versus open surgery for incisional hernia repair. A random-effect meta-analytical model was used and subgroup analysis performed on high-quality studies, those reporting on more than 30 patients, and those published since 2000.

Surface electromyographic amplitude-to-work ratios during isokinetic and isotonic muscle actions.

Context: Isokinetic and isotonic resistance training exercises are commonly used to increase strength during musculoskeletal rehabilitation programs. Our study was designed to examine the efficacy of isokinetic and isotonic muscle actions using surface electromyographic (EMG) amplitude-to-work ratios (EMG/WK) and to extend previous findings to include a range of isokinetic velocities and isotonic loads.

Objective: To examine work (WK), surface EMG amplitude, and EMG/WK during concentric-only maximal isokinetic muscle actions at 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 degrees /s and isotonic muscle actions at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque during leg extension exercises.