3D KINEMATIC AND KINETIC ANALYSES OF TWO METHODS FOR GRAB START TECHNIQUE

This study compared two swimming start techniques of GI (hands between the feet grab start technique) and GO (hands outside the feet) utilizing 3D simultaneous and synchronized kinematic and kinetic analysis. Eight experienced university swimmers were subjects of a series of specified trials. The comparison has consequently been made through evaluation of 46 variables obtained from force plate and motion analyzer. The results indicate that greater reaction force, resultant force in CM. and resultant moment about CM were produced in the GO than in GI. However, significantly higher values in reaction moment about horizontal axis and CM vertical coordinates were associated with GI. It has been shown that although GO will result in lower performance

Kappa-casein gene polymorphism in Holstein and Iranian native cattle by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)

Caseins amount to nearly 80% of the protein output in cow milk. Caseins are biologically important proteins and they are also a raw material for the cheese making industry. The aim of this study was to identify kappa-casein genotype in Holstein and Iranian native cattle. DNA was extracted from 457 blood samples of 247 Holstein and 210 native cattle for identification and genotyping of kappa-casein gene by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay using HindIII and TaqI restriction endonucleases. The PCR product of the specific primer K-F and K-R gives the 379 bp specific band. Digestion of 379 bp fragment by restriction endonuclease HindIII generated two fragments of 156 and 223 bp. Result of the cut with this enzyme indicate there genotypes AA, AB and BB in the samples. Also, the amplified DNA (379 bp) from the samples remained undigested by TaqI restriction enzyme. These findings suggest that BB genotype could be a good factor for increase of fat and protein content of milk.Key words: Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), kappa-casein gene, genotyping, Holstein, native cattle

Effect of dexamethasone as an adjuvant with bupivacaine in ultrasound guided single shot supraclavicular brachial plexus block in upper extremity surgeries- a prospective randomized study

Background: Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is a good alternative to general anesthesia in surgeries of elbow, forearm, wrist and hand. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of dexamethasone as an adjuvant with bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block in upper limb surgeries.Methods: This study was carried out on 60 adult patients of both sexes planned for upper limb surgery during the period from May 2015 to Jan 2016 after approval by the institutional Ethical Committee. Inclusion criteria were American Society of Anesthesiologists physical Status I-II and age between 18 and 50 years. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups of 30 patients each [group I (bupivacaine alone) and group II (bupivacaine + dexamethasone)]. Group I received 30ml of 0.5% bupivacaine with 2ml normal saline while group II received 30ml of 0.5% bupivacaine with 2ml (8mg) dexamethasone for supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), version 16.0. For analysis of demographic data and comparison of groups, χ2, unpaired Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were performed. Power of significance p-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. We evaluated onset, quality and duration of sensory and motor block along with side effects if any.Results: The mean onset of sensory and motor block in Group I and II was statistically insignificant. The duration of motor and sensory block was significantly prolonged in Group II than in Group I. There were no statistically and clinically significant differences in respiratory and hemodynamic parameters.Conclusions: We conclude that dexamethasone as an adjuvant in supraclavicular brachial plexus block prolongs the duration of motor and sensory block with insignificant side effects

BioNetGen 2.2: Advances in Rule-Based Modeling

BioNetGen is an open-source software package for rule-based modeling of complex biochemical systems. Version 2.2 of the software introduces numerous new features for both model specification and simulation. Here, we report on these additions, discussing how they facilitate the construction, simulation, and analysis of larger and more complex models than previously possible.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, 1 supplementary text file. Supplementary text includes a brief discussion of the RK-PLA along with a performance analysis, two tables listing all new actions/arguments added in BioNetGen 2.2, and the "BioNetGen Quick Reference Guide". Accepted for publication in Bioinformatic

First report of asthma prevalence in Afghanistan using international standardized methods Premier rapport sur l�asthme en Afghanistan utilisant des méthodes internationales normalisées

No data on the prevalence of asthma in Afghanistan have been published before. In a school-based survey in 2010�2011 the wheezing section of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire was completed by a random sample of 1500 children aged 6�7 years and 1500 adolescents aged 13�14 years old. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 12.5 in 6�7-year-olds and 17.3 in 13�14-year-olds (P = 0.002). The prevalence of wheeze in the last 12 months was similar in children and adolescents (19.2 and 21.7 respectively). The prevalence of ever wheezing, night attacks, speech-limiting wheeze and exercise-induced wheeze was 23.1, 4.8, 12.2 and 9.6 respectively in children and 30.5, 4.4, 13.0 and 13.6 respectively in adolescents. These rates are higher than those in neighbouring countries. This first epidemiological survey of asthma in Afghanistan shows that asthma and wheezing are common in Kabul students. © 2015, World Health Organization. All Rights Reserved

The mitogen-activated protein kinome from Anopheles gambiae: identification, phylogeny and functional characterization of the ERK, JNK and p38 MAP kinases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Anopheles gambiae </it>is the primary mosquito vector of human malaria parasites in sub-Saharan Africa. To date, three innate immune signaling pathways, including the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB-dependent Toll and immune deficient (IMD) pathways and the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (Jak-STAT) pathway, have been extensively characterized in <it>An. gambiae</it>. However, in addition to NF-kappaB-dependent signaling, three mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways regulated by JNK, ERK and p38 MAPK are critical mediators of innate immunity in other invertebrates and in mammals. Our understanding of the roles of the MAPK signaling cascades in anopheline innate immunity is limited, so identification of the encoded complement of these proteins, their upstream activators, and phosphorylation profiles in response to relevant immune signals was warranted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we present the orthologs and phylogeny of 17 <it>An. gambiae </it>MAPKs, two of which were previously unknown and two others that were incompletely annotated. We also provide detailed temporal activation profiles for ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK in <it>An. gambiae </it>cells <it>in vitro </it>to immune signals that are relevant to malaria parasite infection (human insulin, human transforming growth factor-beta1, hydrogen peroxide) and to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. These activation profiles and possible upstream regulatory pathways are interpreted in light of known MAPK signaling cascades.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The establishment of a MAPK "road map" based on the most advanced mosquito genome annotation can accelerate our understanding of host-pathogen interactions and broader physiology of <it>An. gambiae </it>and other mosquito species. Further, future efforts to develop predictive models of anopheline cell signaling responses, based on iterative construction and refinement of data-based and literature-based knowledge of the MAP kinase cascades and other networked pathways will facilitate identification of the "master signaling regulators" in biomedically important mosquito species.</p

Cavitation phenomenon in mechanical prosthetic valves: Not only microbubbles

Introduction: Microbubbles (MBs) or cavitation is high-velocity, echo-bright findings present during the closing or opening of a mechanical valve (MVP). Cavitation bubble growth or gas emboli are less frequently described. We evaluated the hemodynamic parameters involved in the formation of gas emboli and the impact of gas emboli on requests for additional investigations. Methods and Results: Transthoracic echocardiographic studies (TTE) of 57 patients (31 males, mean age 46.8\ua0\ub1\ua013.8\ua0years) with gas emboli were evaluated after heart valve replacement surgery. The majority (72%, n\ua0=\ua042) had a mitral or combined mitral/aortic MVP, with 28% (n\ua0=\ua016) an aortic MVP. The last TTE with and without gas emboli were considered for the same patient and the no emboli group was the control group (42 patients). The patient's blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were available for each TTE. Comparing the two TTEs, the systolic and diastolic BP, transmitral and aortic gradients, and left ventricular ejection fraction were similar but the HR (80.9\ua0\ub1\ua018.7 vs 72.5\ua0\ub1\ua013.9\ua0bpm, P\ua0=.02) was significantly higher in the group with gas emboli. A TEE was performed 52 times in 27 patients, due to gas emboli, with one case positive for thrombus/vegetation. For 19 patients, a brain CT was requested. In two patients, the indication for the brain CT was gas emboli but the result was negative. Conclusion: Gas emboli are frequently present and associated to an increased HR. They can cause the misdiagnosis of endocarditis or thrombus formation with significant additional requests for diagnostic examinations

Liquid Biopsy: A Step Closer to Transform Diagnosis, Prognosis and Future of Cancer Treatments

Over the past decade, invasive techniques for diagnosing and monitoring cancers are slowly being replaced by non-invasive methods such as liquid biopsy. Liquid biopsies have drastically revolutionized the field of clinical oncology, offering ease in tumor sampling, continuous monitoring by repeated sampling, devising personalized therapeutic regimens, and screening for therapeutic resistance. Liquid biopsies consist of isolating tumor-derived entities like circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, tumor extracellular vesicles, etc., present in the body fluids of patients with cancer, followed by an analysis of genomic and proteomic data contained within them. Methods for isolation and analysis of liquid biopsies have rapidly evolved over the past few years as described in the review, thus providing greater details about tumor characteristics such as tumor progression, tumor staging, heterogeneity, gene mutations, and clonal evolution, etc. Liquid biopsies from cancer patients have opened up newer avenues in detection and continuous monitoring, treatment based on precision medicine, and screening of markers for therapeutic resistance. Though the technology of liquid biopsies is still evolving, its non-invasive nature promises to open new eras in clinical oncology. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current methodologies involved in liquid biopsies and their application in isolating tumor markers for detection, prognosis, and monitoring cancer treatment outcomes

Association of mutation and expression of the brother of the regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) gene with breast cancer progression

INTRODUCTION: The BORIS, 11 zinc-finger transcription factors, is a member of the cancer-testis antigen (CTA) family. It is mapped to chromosome number 20q13.2 and this region is genetically linked to the early onset of breast cancer. The current study analyzed the correlation between BORIS mutations and the expression of the protein in breast cancer cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based study including a total of 155 breast cancer tissue samples and an equal number of normal adjacent tissues from Indian female breast cancer patients was carried out. Mutations of the BORIS gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction-single standard confirmation polymorphisms (PCR-SSCP) and automated DNA sequencing and by immunohistochemistry for BORIS protein expression were performed. The observed findings were correlated with several clinicopathological parameters to find out the clinical relevance of associations. RESULTS: Of all the cases 16.12% (25/155) showed mutations in the BORIS gene. The observed mutations present on codon 329 are missense, leading to Val\u3e Ile (G\u3eA) change on exon 5 of the BORIS gene. A significant association was observed between mutations of the BORIS gene and some clinicopathological features like nodal status (p = 0.013), estrogen receptor (ER) expression (p = 0.008), progesterone receptor (PR) expression (p = 0.039), clinical stage (p = 0.010) and menopausal status (p = 0.023). The protein expression analysis showed 20.64% (32/155) samples showing low or no expression (+), 34.19% (53/155) with moderate expression (++), and 45.17% (70/155) showing high expression (+++) of BORIS protein. A significant association was observed between the expression of BORIS protein and clinicopathological features like clinical stage (p = 0.013), nodal status (p = 0.049), ER expression (p = 0.039), and PR expression (p = 0.027). When mutation and protein expression were correlated in combination with clinicopathological parameters a significant association was observed in the category of high (+++) level of BORIS protein expression (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The BORIS mutations and high protein expression occur frequently in carcinoma of the breast suggesting their association with the onset and progression of breast carcinoma. Further, the BORIS has the potential to be used as a biomarker