Identification and characterization of the kynurenine pathway in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis.

Dysregulation of the kynurenine pathway (KP) is implicated in many human diseases and disorders, from immunological, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions to cancer, and represents an appealing target for new therapeutic approaches. In this intricate scenario, invertebrates, like Lymnaea stagnalis (LS), provide a flexible tool to unravel the complexity of the KP. Starting from the available LS genome and transcriptome, we identified putative transcripts of all KP enzymes containing an ORF; each predicted protein possessed a high degree of sequence conservation to known orthologues of other invertebrate and vertebrate model organisms.

Health care in rural areas: proposal of a new telemedicine program assisted from the reference health centers, for a sustainable digitization and its contribution to the carbon footprint reduction.

Introduction: This paper studies and quantifies the environmental benefits of implementing a new telemedicine service for users of the public health system in a rural area of Alicante (Spain). The proposed telemedicine service is based on carrying out 20% of the follow-on consultations with a specialist virtually from the Reference Health Centres with the support of qualified staff. This way of providing medical care remotely will be a good transition to fully online medical services, especially for the elderly.

Perception of Competence as Mediator between Motor Competence and Physical Activity.

Background: The practice of physical activity (PA) plays an important role in achieving an active-healthy lifestyle. Several authors have focused their studies on the relationship between motor competence (MC) and physical activity (PA). Stodden et al.

Multicenter Evaluation with Eckardt Score of Laparoscopic Management with Heller Myotomy and Dor Fundoplication for Esophageal Achalasia in a Pediatric Population in Colombia.

Esophageal achalasia is a rare, chronic, and progressive neurodegenerative motility disorder that is characterized by a lack of relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) is the ideal in our population. Multiple surgical and medical treatments have been raised.

Attributable Cost of Adult Hospitalized Pneumonia Beyond the Acute Phase.

Background: While much is known about the cost of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) during the acute phase of illness, little is known about the potential attributable cost of CAP thereafter.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess long-term attributable costs associated with CAP among adults in US clinical practice.

Methods: A retrospective matched cohort design and data from a US private healthcare claims repository were employed.

Risk of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in patients with metastatic cancer not receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis in US clinical practice.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis in US patients with selected metastatic cancers and chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN) incidence and associated outcomes among the subgroup who did not receive prophylaxis.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at four US health systems and included adults with metastatic cancer (breast, colorectal, lung, non-Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL]) who received myelosuppressive chemotherapy (2009-2017). Patients were stratified by FN risk level based on risk factors and chemotherapy (low/unclassified risk, intermediate risk without any risk factors, intermediate risk with ≥ 1 risk factor [IR + 1], high risk [HR]).

Multilevel Barriers to Engagement in the HIV Care Continuum Among Residents of the State of Rhode Island Living with HIV.

An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV. Of those living with HIV, only 40% are engaged in HIV care, 37% are prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 30% are virally suppressed.

Reality, Delays, and Challenges within Pain Prevalence and Treatment in Palliative Care Patients: A Survey of First-Time Patients at the National Cancer Institute in Mexico.

Background: Cancer is a major burden of disease and a public health problem, as it is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is estimated that 25% of cancer patients die without receiving proper pain management.

Objective: To acknowledge the epidemiological profile of first-time patients at the palliative care service of a referral center, along with the pharmaceutical treatment and social and familiar implications of the treatment costs in first-time patients.

Predictors of imminent non-vertebral fracture in elderly women with osteoporosis, low bone mass, or a history of fracture, based on data from the population-based Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos).

Unlabelled: Using data from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study, several risk factors predictive of imminent (2-year) risk of low-trauma non-vertebral fracture among high-risk women were identified, including history of falls, history of low-trauma fracture, poorer physical function, and lower T score. Careful consideration should be given to targeting this population for therapy.

Purpose: Fracture risk assessment has focused on a long-term horizon and populations with a broad risk range.

Human sebum requires de novo lipogenesis, which is increased in acne vulgaris and suppressed by acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibition.

Sebum plays important physiological roles in human skin. Excess sebum production contributes to the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, and suppression of sebum production reduces acne incidence and severity. We demonstrate that sebum production in humans depends on local flux through the de novo lipogenesis (DNL) pathway within the sebocyte.

Baseline haematological and biochemical reference values for healthy male adults from Mali.

Introduction: Haematological reference values are very important for diagnostic orientation and treatment decision. The aim of this study was to establish haematological reference values for Malian healthy adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study including 161 male Malians aged between 19 and 54 years old was performed.

Informed consent for a neonatal clinical trial: parental experiences and perspectives.

Objective: There is a variability regarding timing of consent and personnel used in patient recruitment for neonatal research. We explored the associations between the study personnel and timing of consent with parents' decisional conflict and ultimately their decision to enroll.

Study Design: This was a multi-site, cross-sectional survey conducted between August 2015 and October 2017.

The Italian version of the 16-item prodromal questionnaire (iPQ-16): Field-test and psychometric features.

Objective: Among current early screeners for psychosis-risk states, the Prodromal Questionnaire-16 items (PQ-16) is often used. We aimed to assess validity and reliability of the Italian version of the PQ-16 in a young adult help-seeking population.

Methods: We included 154 individuals aged 18-35years seeking help at the Reggio Emilia outpatient mental health services in a large semirural catchment area (550.

A preliminary assessment of the ForenSeqâ„¢ FGx System: next generation sequencing of an STR and SNP multiplex.

The ForenSeqâ„¢ FGx System (Illumina, San Diego, CA) was initially evaluated in concordance with SWGDAM guidelines for internal validation to determine the quality of the system's components: the ForenSeqâ„¢ DNA Signature Prep Kit reagents, the MiSeq FGxâ„¢ instrument, and the ForenSeqâ„¢ Universal Analysis Software, for the analysis of targeted, forensically informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and short tandem repeats (STRs). This multiplex consisted of STRs (autosomal, X, and Y) and SNPs (identity, ancestry, and phenotypic) that were run using one preparation process. Overall, the ForenSeqâ„¢ FGx System performed as well as the traditional capillary electrophoresis-based method in producing usable profile information, along with additional information that could aid in investigative leads.

Changes in the NMR Metabolic Profile of Live Human Neuron-Like SH-SY5Y Cells Exposed to Interferon-α2.

Interferon (IFN)-α2 is an extensively therapeutically used pro-inflammatory cytokine. Though its efficacy in controlling viral replication and tumor cells proliferation, administration of IFN-α2 is often associated with the development of central side effects. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have demonstrated that IFN-α2 administration affects brain metabolism, however the exact nature of this effect is not completely known.

Mycobactericidal activity of sutezolid (PNU-100480) in sputum (EBA) and blood (WBA) of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Rationale: Sutezolid (PNU-100480) is a linezolid analog with superior bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the hollow fiber, whole blood and mouse models. Like linezolid, it is unaffected by mutations conferring resistance to standard TB drugs. This study of sutezolid is its first in tuberculosis patients.

A self-healing biomaterial based on free-radical polymerization.

Self-healing chemistry used for damage repair have not previously been demonstrated for free-radical polymerization pathways. However, this chemistry is important for addition polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate) used in bone cement and epoxy vinyl ester used in dental resins. Self-healing biomaterials offer the potential for safer and longer lasting implants and restoratives by slowing or arresting crack damage.

Rapid evaluation in whole blood culture of regimens for XDR-TB containing PNU-100480 (sutezolid), TMC207, PA-824, SQ109, and pyrazinamide.

There presently is no rapid method to assess the bactericidal activity of new regimens for tuberculosis. This study examined PNU-100480, TMC207, PA-824, SQ109, and pyrazinamide, singly and in various combinations, against intracellular M. tuberculosis, using whole blood culture (WBA).

The occurrence and morphology of a lateral metatarsal splint bone in moose (Alces alces).

Moose (Alces alces) appear to be different from most other cervids in that a well-developed metatarsal splint bone is present. It is found apposed to the plantolateral portion of the cannon bone in over 70 % of adults. It averages 3.

Biomarker-assisted dose selection for safety and efficacy in early development of PNU-100480 for tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is a serious global health threat for which new treatments are urgently needed. This study examined the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of multiple ascending doses of the oxazolidinone PNU-100480 in healthy volunteers, using biomarkers for safety and efficacy. Subjects were randomly assigned to PNU-100480 or placebo (4:1) at schedules of 100, 300, or 600 mg twice daily or 1,200 mg daily for 14 days or a schedule of 600 mg twice daily for 28 days to which pyrazinamide was added on days 27 and 28.

Pharmacokinetics and whole-blood bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis of single doses of PNU-100480 in healthy volunteers.

Background: The oxazolidinone PNU-100480 is superior to linezolid against experimental murine tuberculosis. Two metabolites contribute to but do not fully account for its superiority. This study examined the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and mycobactericidal activity of single ascending doses of PNU-100480.

Congenital quadricuspid aortic valve in children.

Quadricuspid aortic valves are rare congenital anomalies, usually diagnosed in adult patients affected by severe aortic regurgitation. We have now encountered three such valves in children undergoing transthoracic echocardiography. All children were asymptomatic.

Synthesis and SAR of heteroaryl-phenyl-substituted pyrazole derivatives as highly selective and potent canine COX-2 inhibitors.

The discovery of heteroaryl-phenyl-substituted pyrazole derivatives as canine selective COX-2 inhibitors is described. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of this class of compounds led to the identification of compound 1 which demonstrated a canine whole blood COX-2 inhibitory IC50 of 12 nM and selectivity ratio of COX-1/COX-2 greater than 4000-fold.

5-Heteroatom-substituted pyrazoles as canine COX-2 inhibitors: Part 2. Structure-activity relationship studies of 5-alkylethers and 5-thioethers.

Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of novel 2-[3-trifluoromethyl-5-alkyl(thio)ether pyrazo-1-yl]-5-methanesulfonyl pyridine derivatives for canine COX enzymes are described. The 4-cyano-5-alkyl ethers were found to have excellent potency and selectivity, whereas the 5-thioethers were potent but less selective than the ether analogs in a canine whole blood (CWB) COX-2 assay.

5-heteroatom substituted pyrazoles as canine COX-2 inhibitors. Part 1: Structure-activity relationship studies of 5-alkylamino pyrazoles and discovery of a potent, selective, and orally active analog.

Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of the novel 2-[3-di and trifluoromethyl-5-alkylamino pyrazo-1-yl]-5-methanesulfonyl (SO(2)Me)/sulfamoyl (SO(2)NH(2))-pyridine derivatives for canine COX enzymes are described. The studies led to the identification of 2e as lead with potent in vitro activity, selectivity, and in vivo activity in dogs and cats.