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Background: Acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients often show impaired cerebral autoregulation (CA). We tested the hypothesis that CA impairment and other alterations in cerebral haemodynamics are associated with stroke subtype and severity. Methods: AIS patients (n = 143) were amalgamated from similar studies. Data from baseline (< 48 h stroke onset) physiological recordings (beat-to-beat blood pressure [BP], cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) from bilateral insonation of the middle cerebral arteries) were calculated for mean values and autoregulation index (ARI). Differences were assessed between stroke subtype (Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project [OCSP] classification) and severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score < 5 and 5–25). Correlation coefficients assessed associations between NIHSS and physiological measurements. Results: Thirty-two percent of AIS patients had impaired CA (ARI < 4) in affected hemisphere (AH) that was similar between stroke subtypes and severity. CBFV in AH was comparable between stroke subtype and severity. In unaffected hemisphere (UH), differences existed in mean CBFV between lacunar and total anterior circulation OCSP subtypes (42 vs. 56 cm•s–1, p < 0.01), and mild and moderate-to-severe stroke severity (45 vs. 51 cm•s–1, p = 0.04). NIHSS was associated with peripheral (diastolic and mean arterial BP) and cerebral haemodynamic parameters (CBFV and ARI) in the UH. Conclusions: AIS patients with different OCSP subtypes and severity have homogeneity in CA capability. Cerebral haemodynamic measurements in the UH were distinguishable between stroke subtype and severity, including the association between deteriorating ARI in UH with stroke severity. More studies are needed to determine their clinical significance and to understand the determinants of CA impairment in AIS patients.

The promotion of positive mental health is a becoming priority worldwide. Despite all the efforts invested in preventive and curative work, it is estimated that one in four persons will experience a mental health condition at some point in their lives. Even more worrying is the fact that up to a half of all mental health problems have their onset before the age of 14. Recent statistics(national & international surveys, meta-analyses, international reports) point out to the fact that child and adolescent mental health problems are on the rise. The present study will try to corroborate these results and further explore their meaning, by employing a sequential mixed methods research design (quantitative-qualitative). The quantitative part will analyse time trends using Health Behaviours in School-aged Children (HBSC) data (four survey cycles: 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014) on mental well-being from four European countries (the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom). The qualitative part will rely on focus groups to explore the perspectives of 13- and 15-year-old boys and girls on gender differences and on the changes in adolescent mental well-being over time, as well as measures through which these issues could be addressed. Thematic analysis will be employed to analyse qualitative data. The results of this study could make a major contribution to our understanding of the current trends in adolescent mental well-being, as well as the ways in which existing data could be linked to international and national health policies. Publisher PDF

Lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer among cancer patients. Although there are novel therapies as second line treatment for NSCLC, there is an issue for elderly patients. Patients and Methods: We collected retrospectively data from 60 patients >75 years of age. Thirty of these patients received nab-paclitaxel and first line treatment and were compared to thirty patients that received only best supportive care. Results: The median life of patients at the date of disease progression, although increased by the administration of the drug (92 days versus 70) was not confirmed statistically significantly (Mann-Whitney test: W = 280, p = 0.138). The administration of drug seems to keep stable the biological condition of patients (McNemar's test: X2 = 0.033, p = 0.99). Patients with chemotherapy the death rate was increased by 50% as compared to those with best supportive care (12 vs 8), the median life until the unfortunate event surpassed statistically significantly the latter (150 days of life as compared to 108, Mann-Whitney test: W = 57.5, p = 0.045). Discussion: Nab-paclitaxel as a monotherapy could be considered as a first line treatment option for patients > 75 years of age without any previous cardiological medical history when compared to best supportive care. © Ivyspring International Publisher.

Dysregulation of the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) has been implicated in the development and progression of a variety of malignancies. Axl is known to activate strong anti-apoptotic signaling pathways that promote oncogenesis. However, the role of Axl plays in osteosarcoma (OS) remains elusive. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance and function of Axl in human OS. Forty cases of OS and corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissues (ANCT) were collected. The expression of Axl was assessed using immunohistochemical assay through tissue microarray procedure. A loss-of-function experiment was performed to investigate the effects of small hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of Axl on the expression of p-AKT, poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and Ki-67, the proliferative activities, indicated by MTT assay, and the apoptotic index in OS MG-63 cells. As a result, the expression of Axl was found in OS tissues with higher strong reactivity rate, compared with the ANCT (75.0 percent vs 20.0 percent, P=0.000), but it did not associate with the age, gender, tumor size, TNM staging and distant metastases (each Pgreater than0.05). Furthermore, knockdown of Axl inhibited the proliferative activities and induced apoptosis in MG-63 cells with decreased expression of p-AKT, and Ki-67 and increased expression of PARP. In conclusion, our findings suggest that Axl is highly expressed in most of the OS tissues compared with the ANCT, and knockdown of Axl inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of OS cells possibly through downregulation of the AKT pathway, suggesting that our findings may provide new insights into the potential therapeutic target for cancer.

We studied cerebral blood velocity (CBV), and associated hemodynamic parameters during gradual changes in head positioning in a nonstroke group. CBV (transcranial Doppler ultrasound), beat‐to‐beat blood pressure (BP, Finometer), and end‐tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO 2, capnography) were recorded between lying flat (0°) and sitting up (30°) head positions, in 18 volunteers (10 female, mean age, 57 ± 16 years), at two visits (12 ± 8 days). A significant reduction was found between 5‐min FLAT (0°) and 5‐min SIT (30°) positions in CBV (visit 1: 4.5 ± 3.3%, P = 0.006; visit 2: 4.1 ± 3.5%, P = 0.003), critical closing pressure (CrCP; visit 1: 15.5 ± 14.0%, P = 0.0002; visit 2: 14.1 ± 7.8%, P = 0.009) and BP (visit 1: 8.3 ± 7.4%, P = 0.001; visit 2: 11.0 ± 11.3%, P

Background Antibiotic allergy labels are associated with sub-optimal prescribing patterns and poorer clinical outcomes in non-cancer populations, but the effect of labelling on antimicrobial usage in patients with cancer is unknown. Findings A retrospective review of hospitalized patients admitted to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (2010-2012) identified 23 % of cancer patients (n = 198) with an antimicrobial allergy label (AA). Comparison of those with an antimicrobial allergy label to those without demonstrated increased antibiotic use per admission (3 vs. 2, p = 0.01), increased fluoroquinolone use (11 % vs. 6 %, p

BACKGROUND Silicosis is the second commonest notified occupational disease in Hong Kong. AIM To characterize the determinants of spirometric abnormalities in silicosis. METHOD The spirometric patterns of consecutive silicotic patients on confirmation by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board from 1991 to 2002 were correlated with demographic characteristics, occupational history, smoking history, tuberculosis (TB) history and radiographic features by univariate and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS Of 1576 silicotic patients included, 55.6% showed normal spirometry, 28.5% normal forced vital capacity (FVC>or=80% predicted) but reduced forced expiratory ratio (FER

This paper describes a numerical simulation study for the molten steel in a continuous slab caster under the electromagnetic field imposed by the electromagnetic brake (EMBR). The magnetic field effects on turbulent flow field, heat transfer, and solidification were simulated by solving three-dimensional conservation equations for mass, momentum, energy, and Maxwell equation for the electromagnetic field coupled with a flow field. It was found that the EMBR can effectively damp detrimental local flows such as strong impingement on the mold wall which may cause surface erosion and macrosegregation in steel products. It was also found that the EMBR has a capability to control favorably the overall flow characteristics to help stable shell growth of steel slabs.

The stirred tank reactor is one of the most commonly used devices in industry for achieving mixing and reaction. We consider a combined experimental=computational approach for the simulation of oerent r–z planes phase locked at 0

Summary p150 Glued is the major subunit of dynactin, a complex that functions with dynein in minus-end-directed microtubule transport. Mutations within the p150 Glued CAP-Gly microtubule-binding domain cause neurodegenerative diseases through an unclear mechanism. A p150 Glued motor neuron degenerative disease-associated mutation introduced into the Drosophila Glued locus generates a partial loss-of-function allele ( Gl G38S ) with impaired neurotransmitter release and adult-onset locomotor dysfunction. Disruption of the p150 Glued CAP-Gly domain in neurons causes a specific disruption of vesicle trafficking at terminal boutons (TBs), the distal-most ends of synapses. Gl G38S larvae accumulate endosomes along with dynein and kinesin motor proteins within swollen TBs, and genetic analyses show that kinesin and p150 Glued function cooperatively at TBs to coordinate transport. Therefore, the p150 Glued CAP-Gly domain regulates dynein-mediated retrograde transport at synaptic termini, and this function of dynactin is disrupted by a mutation that causes motor neuron disease.

Phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) is a candidate sperm-borne oocyte activating factor (SOAF) which has recently received attention as a potential biomarker of human male infertility. However, important SOAF attributes of PLCζ, including its developmental expression in mammalian spermiogenesis, its compartmentalization in sperm head perinuclear theca (PT) and its release into the ooplasm during fertilization have not been established and are addressed in this investigation. Different detergent extractions of sperm and head/tail fractions were compared for the presence of PLCζ by immunoblotting. In both human and mouse, the active isoform of PLCζ was detected in sperm fractions other than PT, where SOAF is expected to reside. Developmentally, PLCζ was incorporated as part of the acrosome during the Golgi phase of human and mouse spermiogenesis while diminishing gradually in the acrosome of elongated spermatids. Immunofluorescence localized PLCζ over the surface of the postacrosomal region of mouse and bull and head region of human spermatozoa leading us to examine its secretion in the epididymis. While previously thought to have strictly a testicular expression, PLCζ was found to be expressed and secreted by the epididymal epithelial cells explaining its presence on the sperm head surface. In vitro fertilization (IVF) revealed that PLCζ is no longer detectable after the acrosome reaction occurs on the surface of the zona pellucida and thus is not incorporated into the oocyte cytoplasm for activation. In summary, we show for the first time that PLCζ is compartmentalized as part of the acrosome early in human and mouse spermiogenesis and is secreted during sperm maturation in the epididymis. Most importantly, no evidence was found that PLCζ is incorporated into the detergent-resistant perinuclear theca fraction where SOAF resides.

Objective To evaluate the outcome of three different modes of management of abnormally invasive placenta over a 6-year period. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary hospital in Hong Kong. Population In 39 757 deliveries, 25 cases of abnormally invasive placenta were identified at cesarean section. Methods Identification of cases by hospital database and review of medical records. Main outcome measures Blood loss, blood transfusion requirement, operative time, duration of hospital stay, secondary postpartum hemorrhage and endometritis. Results Six women were managed by leaving the placenta in situ and by postoperative uterine artery embolization. Ten women were managed by an extirpative approach and nine women with direct cesarean hysterectomy. The success rate of nonremoval of the placenta with uterine artery embolization was 4/6 (67%). The intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion requirements and operation times were lowest in the group with nonremoval of the placenta, although a higher secondary complication rate and a longer hospital stay followed. Conclusion Nonremoval of an abnormally invasive placenta at cesarean section and prophylactic postoperative uterine artery embolization are an alternative to elective cesarean hysterectomy.

The purpose of this study was to optimize Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in combination with multivariate calibrations (partial least square and principle component regression) for determination of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in quaternary mixture systems with grape seed oil (GSO), rice bran oil (RBO) and walnut oil (WO). FTIR spectra of EVOO in quaternary mixtures were subjected to several treatments including mean centering (MC), standard normal variate, and spectra derivatives. The combined frequency regions of 1200–900 and 2949–2885 cm–1 were used for determination of EVOO. Using partial least square calibration, FTIR normal spectra treated with MC model give the highest values of coefficient of determination (R2) and the lowest values of root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC). The R2 value obtained for the relationship between actual and FTIR predicted value of EVOO was >0.99 with RMSEC value of 1.55% (v/v). The developed PLS model was further used to calculate EVOO in prediction samples, and the root mean square error of prediction obtained was 3.65% (v/v).

The present study is intended to analyze the presence of grape seed oil (GSO) in Nigella sativa L. seed oil (NSO) using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography (GC). FTIR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate calibration of partial least square can quantify the levels of GSO in NSO at wavelength number of 1114–1074, 1734–1382 and 3005–3030 cm–1. The coefficient of correlation (R2) obtained for the relationship between actual (x-axis) and FTIR predicted (y-axis) values are 0.981. The errors in cross validation and in prediction are 2.34% (v/v) and 2.37% (v/v), respectively.

We investigate the matrix model with weight $w(x):=\exp(-z^2/2x^2 + t/x - x^2/2)$ and unitary symmetry. and unitary symmetry. In particular we study the double scaling limit as $N \to \infty$ and $(\sqrt{N} t, Nz^2 ) \to (u_1,u_2)$, where $N$ is the matrix dimension and the parameters $(u_1,u_2)$ remain finite. Using the Deift-Zhou steepest descent method we compute the asymptotics of the partition function when $z$ and $t$ are of order $O\bigl(N^{-1/2}\bigr)$. In this regime we discover a phase transition in the $(z,N)$-plane characterised by the Painleve' III equation. This is the first time that Painleve' III appears in studies of double scaling limits in Random Matrix Theory and is associated to the emergence of an essential singularity in the weighting function. The asymptotics of the partition function is expressed in terms of a particular solution of the Painleve' III equation. We derive explicitly the initial conditions in the limit $Nz^2\rightarrow u_2$ of this solution., 50 pages and 6 figures. Minor corrections