159 research outputs found
Comparison of computed tomography pulmonary angiography and point-of-care tests for pulmonary thromboembolism diagnosis in dogs
Structural basis for a six nucleotide genetic alphabet
Expanded genetic systems are most likely to work with natural enzymes if the added nucleotides pair with geometries that are similar to those displayed by standard duplex DNA. Here, we present crystal structures of 16-mer duplexes showing this to be the case with two nonstandard nucleobases (Z, 6-amino-5-nitro-2(1H)-pyridone and P, 2-amino-imidazo[1,2-a]-1,3,5-triazin-4(8H)one) that were designed to form a Z:P pair with a standard “edge on” Watson–Crick geometry, but joined by rearranged hydrogen bond donor and acceptor groups. One duplex, with four Z:P pairs, was crystallized with a reverse transcriptase host and adopts primarily a B-form. Another contained six consecutive Z:P pairs; it crystallized without a host in an A-form. In both structures, Z:P pairs fit canonical nucleobase hydrogen-bonding parameters and known DNA helical forms. Unique features include stacking of the nitro group on Z with the adjacent nucleobase ring in the A-form duplex. In both B- and A-duplexes, major groove widths for the Z:P pairs are approximately 1 Å wider than those of comparable G:C pairs, perhaps to accommodate the large nitro group on Z. Otherwise, ZP-rich DNA had many of the same properties as CG-rich DNA, a conclusion supported by circular dichroism studies in solution. The ability of standard duplexes to accommodate multiple and consecutive Z:P pairs is consistent with the ability of natural polymerases to biosynthesize those pairs. This, in turn, implies that the GACTZP synthetic genetic system can explore the entire expanded sequence space that additional nucleotides create, a major step forward in this area of synthetic biology
Evaluation of the efficacy of Alpron disinfectant for dental unit water lines
AIMS: To assess the efficacy of a disinfectant, Alpron, for controlling microbial contamination within dental unit water lines. METHODS: The microbiological quality of water emerging from the triple syringe, high speed handpiece, cup filler and surgery hand wash basin from six dental units was assessed for microbiological total viable counts at 22 degrees C and 37 degrees C before and after treatment with Alpron solutions. RESULTS: The study found that the use of Alpron disinfectant solutions could reduce microbial counts in dental unit water lines to similar levels for drinking water. This effect was maintained in all units for up to six weeks following one course of treatment. In four out of six units the low microbial counts were maintained for 13 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Disinfectants may have a short term role to play in controlling microbial contamination of dental unit water lines to drinking water quality. However, in the longer term attention must be paid to redesigning dental units to discourage the build up of microbial biofilms
Comorbidities in Chilean patients with psoriasis: a Global Healthcare Study on Psoriasis
Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with several important medical comorbidities. There are scant data available on the comorbidities of patients with psoriasis in South America.
Aim: To examine the comorbidity profile of adult patients with psoriasis in Chile and its association with severity of psoriasis.
Methods: This was a multicentre, cross-sectional study involving 16 hospitals and clinics in Chile, which used a 48-item questionnaire to study clinician- and patient-reported outcomes and comorbidities. Inferential analyses were performed by psoriasis severity, using Fisher exact test, Student t-test and multivariable logistic regression.
Results: In total, 598 adult patients with psoriasis were included (51.1% male; mean age 49.2 ± 15.1 years); 48.5% mild and 51.4% moderate to severe; Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 11.6 ± 11.5; body surface area 14.7 ± 18.2%. Plaque psoriasis was the most common phenotype (90.2%), followed by guttate (13.4%). Psoriatic arthritis occurred in 27.3% of patients. Comorbidities were reported in 60.2% of all patients with psoriasis. Frequent concomitant diseases were obesity (25.3%), hypertension (24.3%), Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (18.7%), dyslipidaemia (17.4%), metabolic syndrome (16.7%) and depression (14.4%). After adjustment, significant associations were found between moderate to severe psoriasis and obesity, T2DM and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compared with mild psoriasis.
Conclusions: We report a large study of comorbidities, including depression, dyslipidaemia, T2DM and NAFLD, in people with psoriasis in Chile. The prevalence of comorbidities with psoriasis in Chile appears similar to that found in Western countries, and emphasizes the importance of assessing patients with psoriasis for risk factors for and presence of, comorbid disease in a multidisciplinary setting
Maser radiation from collisionless shocks
Funding: UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grant Nos. EP/N014472/1, EP/R004773/1 and EP/N013298/1) and the Science and Technologies Facilities Council of the United Kingdom. F.C. and L.O.S. acknowledge support from the European Research Council (InPairs ERC-2015-AdG 695088) and FCT Portugal (grant No. PD/BD/114307/2016).This paper describes a model of electron energization and cyclotron-maser emission applicable to astrophysical magnetized collisionless shocks. It is motivated by the work of Begelman, Ergun and Rees [Astrophys. J. 625 , 51 (2005)] who argued that the cyclotron-maser instability occurs in localized magnetized collisionless shocks such as those expected in blazar jets. We report on recent research carried out to investigate electron acceleration at collisionless shocks and maser radiation associated with the accelerated electrons. We describe how electrons accelerated by lower-hybrid,waves at collisionless shocks generate cyclotron-maser radiation when the accelerated electrons move into regions of stronger magnetic fields. The electrons are accelerated along the magnetic field and magnetically compressed leading to the formation of an electron velocity distribution having a horseshoe shape due to conservation of the electron magnetic moment. Under certain conditions the horseshoe electron velocity distribution function is unstable to the cyclotron-maser instability [Bingham and Cairns, Phys. Plasmas 7, 3089 (2000); Melrose, Rev. Mod. Plasma Phys. 1 , 5 (2017)].Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
T2K ECAL Test–beam Proposal
The T2K experiment will search for the last unknown element of the neutrino mixing matrix. An crucial component of the near detector for this experiment is the electromagnetic calorimeter which is being built in the UK. Testbeam time is requested to test the full ECAL system, validate calibration techniques, and determine the hadronic and electromagnetic energy scale of the calorimeter
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2. Pathways to detection of non-infectious childhood uveitis in the UK: findings from the UNICORN cohort study
Introduction Prompt detection of childhood uveitis is key to minimising negative impact. From an internationally unique inception cohort, we report pathways to disease detection. UNICORNS is a national childhood non-infectious uveitis study with longitudinal collection of a standardised clinical dataset and patient reported outcomes. Descriptive analysis of baseline characteristics are reported. Amongst 150 recruited children (51% female, 31% non-white ethnicity) age at detection ranged from 2–18yrs (median 10). In 69%, uveitis was diagnosed following onset of symptoms: time from first symptoms to uveitis detection ranged from 0-739days (median 7days), with longer time to detection for those presenting initially to their general practitioner. Non symptomatic children were detected through JIA/other disease surveillance (16%), routine optometry review (5%) or child visual health screening (1%). Commonest underlying diagnoses at uveitis detection were JIA (17%), TINU (9%, higher than pre-pandemic reported UK disease frequency) and sarcoid (1%). 60% had no known systemic disease at uveitis detection. At disease detection, in at least one eye: 34% had structural complications (associated with greater time to detection – 17 days versus 4 days for uncomplicated presentation). The larger relative proportions of children with non-JIA uveitis reported here increase the importance of improving awareness of childhood uveitis amongst the wider clinical communities. There is scope for improvement of pathways to detection. Forthcoming analysis on the full cohort (251 recruited to date across 33 hospitals and 4 nations) will provide nationally representative data on management and the determinants of visual and broader developmental/well-being outcomes
Dyadic adjustment, family coping, body image, quality of life and psychological morbidity in patients with psoriasis and their partners
Background Psoriasis is an incurable and chronic disease
that includes unpredictable periods of remission and relapse
requiring long-term therapy.
Purpose This paper focuses on the relationship among
family coping, psychological morbidity, body image,
dyadic adjustment and quality of life in psoriatic patients
and their partners.
Method One hundred and one patients with psoriasis and
78 partners comprised the sample. They were regular users
of the Dermatology Service of a Central Northern hospital
in Portugal and a private dermatology clinic. Patients with
psoriasis were assessed on anxiety, depression, body image,
quality of life, dyadic adjustment and family coping.
Partners were assessed on the same measures except body
image and quality of life.
Results A positive relationship among dyadic adjustment,
psychological morbidity and family coping in patients and
their partners was found. Also, patients with lower levels of
quality of life had partners with higher levels of depressive
and anxious symptoms. Better dyadic adjustment predicted
family coping in the psoriatic patient. High levels of dyadic
adjustment in patients and low partners’ trait anxiety
predicted better dyadic adjustment in partners.
Conclusion The results highlight the importance of incorporating
family variables in psychological interventions in
psoriasis’ care, particularly family coping and dyadic
adjustment as well as the need for psychological intervention
to focus both on patients and partners
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