Inflammatory Markers and Mortality in Diabetic Versus Idiopathic Gastroparesis.

Introduction: Markers of systemic inflammation have been shown to be elevated in patients with gastroparesis (Gp). We hypothesized the presence of elevated markers of inflammation and/or coagulation can predict death in gastroparesis.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of 396 patients with symptoms of gastroparesis with baseline measures of inflammation and coagulation, using a database of patients from 2001 through 2011 followed for an additional 5 plus years.

Molecular Scale Description of Anion Competition on Amine-Functionalized Surfaces.

Many industrial and biological processes involve the competitive adsorption of ions with different valencies and sizes at charged surfaces; heavy and precious metal ions are separated on the basis of their propensity to adsorb onto interfaces, often as anionic ion clusters (e.g., [MCl]).

Reversible activation of a cell-penetrating peptide in a membrane environment.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are promising molecules as drug carriers. However, because their uptake mainly involves endocytic mechanisms, endosomal trapping of the carrier (and drug) remains a high barrier for biomedical applications. The viral fusion mimic GALA, a pH-triggered CPP, takes advantage of the decreasing pH during endosome maturation to selectively attack endosomal membranes.

Perilipin 5 mediated lipid droplet remodelling revealed by coherent Raman imaging.

Accumulation of fat in muscle tissue as intramyocellular lipids (IMCLs) is closely related to the development of insulin resistance and subsequent type 2 diabetes. Most IMCLs organize into lipid droplets (LDs), the fates of which are regulated by lipid droplet coat proteins. Perilipin 5 (PLIN5) is an LD coating protein, which is strongly linked to lipid storage in muscle tissue.

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microspectroscopic kinetic study of fast hydrogen bond formation in microfluidic devices.

The kinetics of a key noncovalent, hydrogen bonding interaction was studied in situ using coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microspectroscopy in a microfluidic device. The association of model compounds, pyridine and hexafluoroisopropanol, was quantitatively monitored with submicrometer resolution. Lower limits for the very high formation and dissociation rate constants of the model 1:1 pyridine-hexafluoroisopropanol hydrogen bonded complex in dichloromethane-d2 were determined to be k1 > 10(5) M(-1)s(-1) and k-1 > 333.

Near shot-noise limited hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering spectroscopy using low energy lasers and a fast CMOS array.

We demonstrate near shot-noise limited hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) spectroscopy using oscillator-only excitation conditions. Using a fast CMOS camera synchronized to an acousto-optic modulator and subtracting subsequent frames acquired at up to 1 MHz frame rates, we demonstrate demodulation and recovery of the SRS spectrum. Surprisingly, we observe that the signal-to-noise of SRS spectra is invariant at modulation frequencies down to 2.

2D IR spectroscopy using four-wave mixing, pulse shaping, and IR upconversion: a quantitative comparison.

Recent technological advances have led to major changes in the apparatuses used to collect 2D IR spectra. Pulse shaping offers several advantages including rapid data collection, inherent phase stability, and phase-cycling capabilities. Visible array detection via upconversion allows the use of visible detectors that are cheaper, faster, more sensitive, and less noisy than IR detectors.

Venous thrombosis with both heterozygous factor V Leiden (R507Q) and factor II (G20210A) mutations.

Both hereditary and acquired factors increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, thus the clinical management of affected patients involves evaluation of genetic factors that predispose to hypercoagulability. Factor V Leiden (R507Q) and factor II (prothrombin) mutation (G20210A) are the two most common inherited hypercoagulability disorders among populations of European origin. Both factor V Leiden and factor II mutation (G20210A) represent gain-of-function mutations: factor V Leiden causes resistance to activated protein C, and factor II mutation (G20210A) results in higher levels of plasma prothrombin.

3-picolyl azide adenine dinucleotide as a probe of femtosecond to picosecond enzyme dynamics.

Functionally relevant femtosecond to picosecond dynamics in enzyme active sites can be difficult to measure because of a lack of spectroscopic probes that can be located in the active site without altering the behavior of the enzyme. We have developed a new NAD(+) analog 3-Picolyl Azide Adenine Dinucleotide (PAAD(+)), which has the potential to be a general spectroscopic probe for NAD-dependent enzymes. This analog is stable and binds in the active site of a typical NAD-dependent enzyme formate dehydrogenase (FDH) with characteristics similar to those of natural NAD(+).

Long term effects on the lowering of intraocular pressure: selective laser or argon laser trabeculoplasty?

Objective: Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) are used to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). We report long-term follow-up data comparing SLT to ALT.

Design: Follow-up of prospective randomized clinical trial.

Perceptions of dental aesthetics of Class III and anterior open bite malocclusions: a comparison between 10- to 11-year-old schoolchildren and orthodontists.

Objective: To compare perceptions of dental aesthetics of Class III and anterior open bite (AOB) malocclusions between 10- to 11-year-old Birmingham schoolchildren and orthodontists.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one orthodontists practicing in Birmingham (UK) and 383 school children aged 10-11 years from a random and representative sample of seven primary schools in South Birmingham participated in the study. Participants were asked to assess five anterior photographs of the dentition representing varying degrees of aesthetic impairment of Class III and AOB malocclusions.

Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy of azido-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in water.

Mid-IR active analogs of enzyme cofactors have the potential to be important spectroscopic reporters of enzyme active site dynamics. Azido-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)), which has been recently synthesized in our laboratory, is a mid-IR active analog of NAD(+), a ubiquitous redox cofactor in biology. In this study, we measure the frequency-frequency time correlation function for the antisymmetric stretching vibration of the azido group of azido-NAD(+) in water.

The effect upon friction of the degradation of orthodontic elastomeric modules.

Orthodontic elastomeric modules are susceptible to degradation and deformation after time in the mouth. The aims of this study were to determine whether degradation of elastomeric modules significantly affects friction during sliding mechanics and to investigate whether there is a difference in the behaviour of elastomeric modules after storage in both in vivo and in vitro environments. An Instron testing machine was used to determine the friction generated by elastomeric modules on 0.

2D IR spectroscopy of the C-D stretching vibration of the deuterated formic acid dimer.

We report transient grating and 2D IR spectra of the C-D stretching vibration of deuterated formic acid dimer. The C-D stretching transition is perturbed by an accidental Fermi resonance interaction that gives rise to a second transition. The transient grating results show that the population lifetime of these states, which are in rapid equilibrium, is 11 ps.

Characterizing the dynamics of functionally relevant complexes of formate dehydrogenase.

The potential for femtosecond to picosecond time-scale motions to influence the rate of the intrinsic chemical step in enzyme-catalyzed reactions is a source of significant controversy. Among the central challenges in resolving this controversy is the difficulty of experimentally characterizing thermally activated motions at this time scale in functionally relevant enzyme complexes. We report a series of measurements to address this problem using two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy to characterize the time scales of active-site motions in complexes of formate dehydrogenase with the transition-state-analog inhibitor azide (N(3)(-)).

Relaxation and anharmonic couplings of the O-H stretching vibration of asymmetric strongly hydrogen-bonded complexes.

We present infrared transient grating measurements of complexes of formic acid with pyridine and pyrazine at four excitation frequencies within the broad proton-stretching band. These experiments investigate the mechanism of the line broadening of the O-H stretching vibration. The transients show coherent oscillations that decay within a few hundred femtoseconds and population relaxation on two time scales.

An index of orthodontic treatment complexity.

The aim of the present study was to develop an index specifically for the measurement of treatment complexity. Input factors were directly related to complexity, and the output was a score measuring the degree of treatment complexity. The sample comprised 120 sets of dental casts, 30 for each of the four main malocclusion classes.

Assessing thrombosis risk in patients with idiopathic, diabetic, and postsurgical gastroparesis.

Patients with severe gastrointestinal motility disorders are often found to have intravenous access clots or deep venous thrombosis. It has previously been reported that many patients who have intravenous access thrombosis have concomitant thrombotic risk factors. In this study, the goal was to determine the underlying prevalence of hypercoagulable risk in a series of patients with documented gastroparesis.

Laboratory, reading center, and coordinating center data management methods in the Jackson Heart Study.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. In comparison to whites, African-Americans have a higher risk of dying from CVD and have a worse risk factor profile. The Jackson Heart Study (JHS) is designed to investigate the origin and natural history of CVD in African-Americans.