Immunodeficiency in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma with Diabetes Revealed by Comparative Genomics.

Pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PAAD) often are not diagnosed until their late stages, leaving no effective treatments. Currently, immunotherapy provides a promising treatment option against this malignancy. However, a set of immunotherapy agents benefit patients with many types of cancer, but not PAAD.

Bladder cancer diagnosis with CT urography: test characteristics and reasons for false-positive and false-negative results.

Purpose: To determine test characteristics of CT urography for detecting bladder cancer in patients with hematuria and those undergoing surveillance, and to analyze reasons for false-positive and false-negative results.

Methods: A HIPAA-compliant, IRB-approved retrospective review of reports from 1623 CT urograms between 10/2010 and 12/31/2013 was performed. 710 examinations for hematuria or bladder cancer history were compared to cystoscopy performed within 6 months.

Syphilis testing practices in the Americas.

Objective: To present the findings of the Pan American Health Organization's 2014 survey on syphilis testing policies and practices in the Americas.

Methods: Representatives of national/regional reference and large, lower-level laboratories from 35 member states were invited to participate. A semi-structured, electronically administered questionnaire collected data on syphilis tests, algorithms, equipment/commodities, challenges faced and basic quality assurance (QA) strategies employed (i.

Coordination-Driven Folding in Multi-Zn -Porphyrin Arrays Constructed on a Pillar[5]arene Scaffold.

Pillar[5]arene derivatives bearing peripheral porphyrin subunits have been efficiently prepared from a deca-azide pillar[5]arene building block (17) and Zn -porphyrin derivatives bearing a terminal alkyne function (9 and 16). For the resulting deca-Zn -porphyrin arrays (18 and 20), variable temperature NMR studies revealed an intramolecular complexation of the peripheral Zn -porphyrin moieties by 1,2,3-triazole subunits. As a result, the molecules adopt a folded conformation.

Promoting vascular repair in the retina: can stem/progenitor cells help?

Since its first epidemic in the 1940s, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has been a challenging illness in neonatology. Higher than physiological oxygen levels impede the development of the immature retinal neuropil and vasculature. Current treatment regimens include cryotherapy, laser photocoagulation, and anti-VEGF agents.

Rare event simulations reveal subtle key steps in aqueous silicate condensation.

A replica exchange transition interface sampling (RETIS) study combined with Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) is used to investigate the dynamics, thermodynamics and the mechanism of the early stages of the silicate condensation process. In this process, two silicate monomers, of which one is an anionic species, form a negatively charged five-coordinated silicate dimer. In a second stage, this dimer can fall apart again, forming the original monomers, or release a water molecule into the solution.

Camelid nanobodies used as crystallization chaperones for different constructs of PorM, a component of the type IX secretion system from Porphyromonas gingivalis.

PorM is a membrane protein that is involved in the assembly of the type IX secretion system (T9SS) in Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major bacterial pathogen that is responsible for periodontal disease in humans. In the context of structural studies of PorM to better understand T9SS assembly, four camelid nanobodies were selected, produced and purified, and their specific interaction with the N-terminal or C-terminal part of the periplasmic domain of PorM was investigated. Diffracting crystals were also obtained, and the structures of the four nanobodies were solved by molecular replacement.

Comprehensive analysis of fungal diversity and enzyme activity in nuruk, a Korean fermenting starter, for acquiring useful fungi.

Nuruk is a fermenting starter that is involved in the production of alcoholic beverages, and has been used in South Korea for a very long time. To analyze the fungal diversity, we collected a total of 59 nuruk samples from several companies and persons in 2013 to 2014, and obtained 364 isolates. All of the single isolated fungi were identified, both morphologically and molecularly, based on the sequences of ribosomal RNA gene [18S, ITS1-5.

Matrix metalloproteinases in Vietnamese patients with colorectal cancer.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of endopeptidases also known as gelatinases, have been reported to affect the acquisition of the cell proliferative, cell invasive and metastatic phenotype of several types of cancer. In particular, the gelatinases MMP-2 and -9 have been revealed to facilitate tumor growth and invasion in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, it is not known whether the gelatinase activity of MMP-2 and -9 is also elevated in Vietnamese patients with CRC.

Chemical Constituents of Chirita drakei.

Chirita drakei Burtt (now accepted as Primzina drakei (B.L.Burtt) Mich.

Formulation and biopharmaceutical evaluation of bitter taste masking microparticles containing azithromycin loaded in dispersible tablets.

The objective of this study was to prepare and evaluate some physiochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of bitter taste masking microparticles containing azithromycin loaded in dispersible tablets. In the first stage of the study, the bitter taste masking microparticles were prepared by solvent evaporation and spray drying method. When compared to the bitter threshold (32.

Small molecule Hedgehog pathway antagonists.

Leveraging our quinolone-1-(2H)-one based Hedgehog signalling pathway (HSP) inhibitors we have developed two new classes of HSP inhibitors based on: l-tryptophan and benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl-[2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-ethyl]-amine. Synthesis of focused compound libraries identified six l-tryptophan based inhibitors, and two stimulators, of Gli at 10 μM compound concentration. 2,4-Dichloro-13 and indole 16 suppressed mRNA expression of Ptch in Shh LIGHT2 cells, with 13 suppressing and 16 stimulating Gli mRNA expression.

Trend analysis of watershed-scale precipitation over Northern California by means of dynamically-downscaled CMIP5 future climate projections.

The impacts of climate change on watershed-scale precipitation through the 21st century were investigated over eight study watersheds in Northern California based on dynamically downscaled CMIP5 future climate projections from three GCMs (CCSM4, HadGEM2-ES, and MIROC5) under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 future climate scenarios.

Encoded Silicon-Chip-Based Platform for Combinatorial Synthesis and Screening.

Solid-supported chemical libraries have proven useful for the rapid and cost-effective discovery of bioactive compounds. However, traditional on-bead screening involves time-intensive chemical characterization of hit compounds and high false positive rates. Herein, we report a new platform for encoded chemical synthesis and solid-supported screening using p-Chips, microsized silicon microtransponders capable of storing and emitting unique numerical identifiers (IDs).

Long-term results of transanal endoscopic microsurgery after endoscopic polypectomy of malignant rectal adenoma.

Background: There is no consensus on the treatment and prognosis of malignant rectal polyps. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) after endoscopic complete polypectomy of malignant rectal adenomas with long-term follow-up.

Methods: Of 105 patients with pT1 rectal carcinoma in 32 patients TEM followed complete endoscopic polypectomy while 73 had primary TEM.

The Anatomy of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament.

Recurrent patellar dislocation is observed in many patients treated nonoperatively following primary dislocation. Injury to the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is reported in the majority of patients following dislocation. There is an increased interest in repair or reconstruction of the MPFL for patients experiencing recurrent instability.

Application of discrete choice experiment to assess farmers' willingness to report swine diseases in the Red River Delta region, Vietnam.

A discrete choice experiment (DCE) is carried out to value socio-economic factors influencing the farmer's decision to report swine diseases and to assess the willingness of farmers to report swine diseases. Data were collected between March and July 2015 in two provinces in the Red River Delta, Northern Vietnam, from 196 pig producers by face-to face interview. A conditional logit model is used to measure the relative importance of the socio-economic factors and calculate the expected probability of disease reporting under changes of levels of these factors.

Assessment of 21st century drought conditions at Shasta Dam based on dynamically projected water supply conditions by a regional climate model coupled with a physically-based hydrology model.

Along with socioeconomic developments, and population increase, natural disasters around the world have recently increased the awareness of harmful impacts they cause. Among natural disasters, drought is of great interest to scientists due to the extraordinary diversity of their severity and duration. Motivated by the development of a potential approach to investigate future possible droughts in a probabilistic framework based on climate change projections, a methodology to consider thirteen future climate projections based on four emission scenarios to characterize droughts is presented.

Control of ZnO Nanorod Defects to Enhance Carrier Transportation in p-Cu₂O/i-ZnO Nanorods/n-IGZO Heterojunction.

The p-Cu₂O/i-ZnO nanorods/n-IGZO heterojunctions were fabricated by electrochemical and sputtering method. ZnO nanorods were grown on conductive indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) thin film and then p-Cu₂O layer was deposited on ZnO nanorods to form the heterojunction. ZnO nanorods play an important role in carrier transport mechanisms and performance of the junction.

Procarcinogens - Determination and Evaluation by Yeast-Based Biosensor Transformed with Plasmids Incorporating RAD54 Reporter Construct and Cytochrome P450 Genes.

In Vietnam, a great number of toxic substances, including carcinogens and procarcinogens, from industrial and agricultural activities, food production, and healthcare services are daily released into the environment. In the present study, we report the development of novel yeast-based biosensor systems to determine both genotoxic carcinogens and procarcinogens by cotransformation with two plasmids. One plasmid is carrying human CPR and CYP (CYP3A4, CYP2B6, or CYP2D6) genes, while the other contains the RAD54-GFP reporter construct.

Multicenter Observational Study of Ceftaroline Fosamil for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections.

Novel therapies for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infection (BSI) are needed in the setting of reduced antibiotic susceptibilities and therapeutic failure. Ceftaroline is a cephalosporin antibiotic with MRSA activity. Although not FDA approved for MRSA BSI, ceftaroline has generated much interest as a potential treatment option.

Analysis of local recurrences after transanal endoscopic microsurgery for low risk rectal carcinoma.

Aim: Rates of local recurrence (LR) after transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) for rectal carcinoma vary; the reasons remain unclear. We analyzed LR after TEM for low-risk pT1 (G1/2/X, L0/X) rectal carcinoma to investigate the influence of completeness of resection and occult lymph node metastasis on risk of LR.

Method: LR location and stage, completeness of resection of primary carcinoma (minimal distance between tumor and resection line ≤1 mm vs >1 mm), and incidence of involved lymph nodes in resected LR specimens were collected, and tumor characteristics of LR were compared with primary carcinoma.

Leukocyte-platelet aggregates-a phenotypic characterization of different stages of peripheral arterial disease.

The formation of monocyte-platelet aggregates and neutrophil-platelet aggregates (MPA and NPA, respectively) is influenced by inflammation, but also might contribute to an exacerbation of inflammatory responses in atherosclerotic plaque. The purpose of this study was to analyze MPA and NPA proportions in regard to different stages of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Forty-five patients with intermittent claudication (IC) (3 groups: Rutherford (R)-1, R-2, and R-3; each n = 15), 20 patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) (Rutherford 5 (40%) and 6 (60%)), and 20 healthy controls were studied.

Targeted upper-limb Wii-based Movement Therapy also improves lower-limb muscle activation and functional movement in chronic stroke.

Purpose: Post-stroke hemiparesis may manifest as asymmetric gait, poor balance, and inefficient movement patterns. We investigated improvements in lower-limb muscle activation and function during Wii-based Movement Therapy (WMT), a rehabilitation program specifically targeting upper-limb motor-function.

Methods: Electromyography (EMG) was recorded bilaterally from tibialis anterior (TA) in 20 stroke patients during a 14-day WMT program.

Partner Disclosure and Early CD4 Response among HIV-Infected Adults Initiating Antiretroviral Treatment in Nairobi Kenya.

Background: Disclosure of HIV serostatus can have significant benefits for people living with HIV/AIDS. However, there is limited data on whether partner disclosure influences ART treatment response.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of newly diagnosed, ART-naïve HIV-infected adults (>18 years) who enrolled at the Coptic Hope Center in Nairobi, Kenya between January 1st 2009 and July 1st 2011 and initiated ART within 3 months.