Ingredients of Vicks VapoRub inhibit rhinovirus-induced ATP release.

Background: Over-the-counter therapies, such as Vicks VapoRub, are frequently used in the management of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms. Of these, acute cough is the most bothersome; however, the mechanisms involved have not been fully elucidated. The temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, including TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPM8 and TRPV4, are potential candidates.

Sequencing by avidity enables high accuracy with low reagent consumption.

We present avidity sequencing, a sequencing chemistry that separately optimizes the processes of stepping along a DNA template and that of identifying each nucleotide within the template. Nucleotide identification uses multivalent nucleotide ligands on dye-labeled cores to form polymerase-polymer-nucleotide complexes bound to clonal copies of DNA targets. These polymer-nucleotide substrates, termed avidites, decrease the required concentration of reporting nucleotides from micromolar to nanomolar and yield negligible dissociation rates.

Mechanistic Insights on Permeation of Water over Iron Cations in Nanoporous Silicon Oxide Films for Selective H and O Evolution.

Electrocatalysts encapsulated by an ultrathin and semipermeable oxide layer offer a promising avenue for efficient, selective, and cost-effective production of hydrogen through photoelectrochemical water splitting. This architecture is especially attractive for Z-scheme water splitting, for which a nanoporous oxide film can be leveraged to mitigate undesired, yet kinetically facile, reactions involving redox shuttles, such as aqueous iron cations, by limiting transport of these species to catalytically active sites. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations were combined with electrochemical measurements to provide a mechanistic understanding of permeation of water and Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox shuttles through nanoporous SiO films.

Modulation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels by plant derived substances used in over-the-counter cough and cold remedies.

Background: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) impact all age groups and have a significant economic and social burden on society, worldwide. Most URTIs are mild and self-limiting, but due to the wide range of possible causative agents, including Rhinovirus (hRV), Adenovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Coronavirus and Influenza, there is no single and effective treatment. Over-the-counter (OTC) remedies, including traditional medicines and those containing plant derived substances, help to alleviate symptoms including inflammation, pain, fever and cough.

Transgender and gender diverse veterans' access to gender-related health care services: The role of minority stress.

Although Veterans Affairs (VA) directives and initiatives have sought to ensure an affirmative environment for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) veterans, barriers to care persist, including enacted/anticipated stigma as well as providers' lack of knowledge regarding specific health concerns of the TGD community. These barriers are significant in light of prior research, which has demonstrated a relationship between fears of transphobic discrimination and avoiding or delaying health care engagement. The present study seeks to explore the relationship between perceptions of providers' competence with TGD patients, veterans' minority stress, and veterans' treatment engagement in gender-related services.

Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in pediatric patients with high immunoglobulin E levels: A case series.

Background: The efficacy and safety of omalizumab has been demonstrated in children as young as 6 years of age. Omalizumab is currently approved for a range of immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels that differ by age. In patients with IgE levels higher than the indicated therapeutic window, only a few studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of its use.

Patient-derived xenografts faithfully replicated clinical outcome in a phase II co-clinical trial of arsenic trioxide in relapsed small cell lung cancer.

Background: SCLC has limited treatment options and inadequate preclinical models. Promising activity of arsenic trioxide (ASO) recorded in conventional preclinical models of SCLC supported the clinical evaluation of ASO in patients. We assessed the efficacy of ASO in relapsed SCLC patients and in corresponding patient-derived xenografts (PDX).

Laboratory study of PCB transport from primary sources to settled dust.

Dust is an important sink for indoor air pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that were used in building materials and products. In this study, two types of dust, house dust and Arizona Test Dust, were tested in a 30-m(3) stainless steel chamber with two types of panels. The PCB-containing panels were aluminum sheets coated with a PCB-spiked primer or caulk.

Chamber study of PCB emissions from caulking materials and light ballasts.

The emissions of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners from thirteen caulk samples were tested in a micro-chamber system. Twelve samples were from PCB-contaminated buildings and one was prepared in the laboratory. Nineteen light ballasts collected from buildings that represent 13 different models from five manufacturers were tested in 53-L environmental chambers.

Access, utilization, and interest in mHealth applications among veterans receiving outpatient care for PTSD.

Mobile health (mHealth) refers to the use of mobile technology (e.g., smartphones) and software (i.

Do measures commonly used in body image research perform adequately with African American college women?

This study examines reliability and validity estimates for 3 widely used measures in body image research in a sample of African American college women (N = 278). Internal consistency estimates were adequate (α coefficients above .70) for all measures, and evidence of convergent and discriminant validity was found.

The continuing professional development of the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists and the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemists.

The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (CSCC) and the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (CACB) have recently implemented a new professional development program for its 400 members. The program's goals are: to evaluate and recognize professional development based on self-determined needs, interests, and learning preferences; and to ensure that qualified professionals directing clinical biochemistry laboratories have adequate basic and current knowledge to function competently in their profession. Involvement in the program is currently voluntary and based on a 3-year cycle during which time participants must earn a minimum of 150 credits from at least 3 of 8 categories' learning activities.

An ergonomic education and evaluation program for apprentice carpenters.

Eighteen new apprentice carpenters received sixteen hours of ergonomics awareness education as a part of their regular apprenticeship training during 1994 and 1995. An equal number of apprentices received no training but served as controls. The training took place in the Southwest Ohio District Council of Carpenter's Joint Apprenticeship and Training School.

Nested case-control study of hand and wrist work-related musculoskeletal disorders in carpenters.

Unionized carpenters (n = 522) participated in a telephone interview regarding their jobs and musculoskeletal symptoms. From this group, a nested case-control study was conducted on 25 symptomatic carpenters who met a hand or wrist work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMD) case definition and on 35 asymptomatic carpenters who were of similar age, sex, height, and weight. The purpose of the study was to determine if questionnaire symptom data could be used to estimate the prevalence of hand/wrist WMDs.

Duodenogastric reflux causes growth stimulation of foregut mucosa potentiated by gastric acid blockade.

We investigated whether duodenogastric reflux (DGR) together with gastroesophageal reflux causes growth stimulation of the foregut mucosa and if additional gastric acid suppression enhances the effect of DGR. DGR was induced in rats using a split gastroenterostomy. A cardiomyotomy was performed across the gastroeophageal junction in order to enhance reflux into the esophagus.

Esophagitis in Sprague-Dawley rats is mediated by free radicals.

Free radical-mediated esophagitis was studied during duodenogastroesophageal reflux (mixed reflux) or acid reflux in rats. The influence of reflux on esophageal glutathione levels was also examined. Mixed reflux caused more gross mucosal injury than acid reflux.

X-ray diffraction studies of oriented dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine bilayers in the L delta and L alpha phases.

X-ray diffraction studies on oriented multilayers of dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine in the lyotropic liquid-crystalline L alpha phase and a not previously reported mono-domain three-dimensional L delta phase at two temperatures (293 and 343 K) and various relative humidities (0-100%) are described. Absolute one-dimensional electron-density profiles of the different structural phase bilayers were constructed to a resolution of 4 A using direct methods (e.g.

Human liver plasma membranes contain an enzyme activity that removes membrane anchor from alkaline phosphatase and converts it to a plasma-like form.

Treatment of liver plasma membranes with Triton X-100 allowed an endogenous alkaline phosphatase-converting activity to convert amphiphilic alkaline phosphatase (membrane anchor covalently attached) to hydrophilic dimers that resemble the enzyme found in normal plasma. The Triton-solubilized activity was unaffected by protease inhibitors. Amphiphilic alkaline phosphatase purified from human liver and placenta were both substrates.

Expression and nature of the alkaline phosphatase gene in cultured osteosarcoma cells.

The molecular mechanism for the differences in specific activity of alkaline phosphatase in six human osteosarcoma cell lines was investigated. Five of the lines expressed only the tissue-non-specific or liver/bone/kidney isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase. The sixth line had the lowest levels of alkaline phosphatase and this was determined to be a mixture of liver/bone/kidney isoenzyme and at least one other form.

Kinetic parameters for the cleaved substrate, and enzyme and substrate stability, vary with the phosphoacceptor in alkaline phosphatase catalysis.

Nine different isoenzymes and (or) isoforms of alkaline phosphatase (ALP; EC 3.1.3.

Characterization of the alkaline phosphatase expressed on the surface of a Hodgkin's lymphoma cell line.

Alkaline phosphatase solubilized from a human Hodgkin's lymphoma cell line (L428) was compared with purified amphiphilic and hydrophilic forms of the enzyme from human liver, and with the enzyme solubilized from a cultured osteosarcoma cell line (Saos-2). Purified hydrophilic alkaline phosphatases from human placenta and intestine were also compared in some experiments. Alkaline phosphatase was released from the plasma membrane of intact lymphocytes by phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C and thus is anchored to the outside of the plasma membrane by covalently attached phosphatidylinositol.

Constant helical pitch of the gramicidin channel in phospholipid bilayers.

X-ray diffraction has been applied in measuring the helical pitch of the gramicidin channel in oriented bilayers of dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) at a polypeptide concentration of 9.1 mol %. The diffraction data show the helical pitch of gramicidin to be 4.