8,233 research outputs found
Links of cytoskeletal integrity with disease and aging
Aging is a complex feature and involves loss of multiple functions and nonreversible phenotypes. However, several studies suggest it is possible to protect against aging and promote rejuvenation. Aging is associated with many factors, such as telomere shortening, DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and loss of homeostasis. The integrity of the cytoskeleton is associated with several cellular functions, such as migration, proliferation, degeneration, and mitochondrial bioenergy production, and chronic disorders, including neuronal degeneration and premature aging. Cytoskeletal integrity is closely related with several functional activities of cells, such as aging, proliferation, degeneration, and mitochondrial bioenergy production. Therefore, regulation of cytoskeletal integrity may be useful to elicit antiaging effects and to treat degenerative diseases, such as dementia. The actin cytoskeleton is dynamic because its assembly and disassembly change depending on the cellular status. Aged cells exhibit loss of cytoskeletal stability and decline in functional activities linked to longevity. Several studies reported that improvement of cytoskeletal stability can recover functional activities. In particular, microtubule stabilizers can be used to treat dementia. Furthermore, studies of the quality of aged oocytes and embryos revealed a relationship between cytoskeletal integrity and mitochondrial activity. This review summarizes the links of cytoskeletal properties with aging and degenerative diseases and how cytoskeletal integrity can be modulated to elicit antiaging and therapeutic effects
Proactive Maintenance Strategy Based on Resilience Empowerment for Complex Buildings
Resilience of the built environment, particularly in complex buildings, is strictly related to the effectiveness of systems and sub-systems that provide the expected features to manage risk scenarios in routine and non-routine conditions. In this perspective, maintenance is therefore a key factor to assure building resilience by keeping systems and equipment in the required operational state. Risk management can be empowered if system resilience and disruptive events are monitored in real-time, and, to this aim, proactive maintenance can nowadays monitor systems resilience with innovative digital tools
The association between psychiatric disorders and work-related problems among subway drivers in Korea
An ABA triblock copolymer strategy for intrinsically stretchable semiconductors
A novel semiconductor-rubber-semiconductor (P3HT-PMA-P3HT) triblock copolymer has been designed and prepared according to the principle of thermoplastic elastomers. It behaves as a thermoplastic elastomer with a Young's modulus (E) of 6 MPa for an elongation at break of 140% and exhibits good electrical properties with a carrier mobility of 9 x 10(-4) cm(2) V-1 s(-1). This novel semiconductor may play an important role in low-cost and large-area stretchable electronics.open112223sciescopu
Personality Factors Predicting Smartphone Addiction Predisposition: Behavioral Inhibition and Activation Systems, Impulsivity, and Self-control
The purpose of this study was to identify personality factor-associated predictors of smartphone addiction predisposition (SAP). Participants were 2,573 men and 2,281 women (n = 4,854) aged 20-49 years (Mean +/- SD: 33.47 +/- 7.52); participants completed the following questionnaires: the Korean Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale (K-SAPS) for adults, the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System questionnaire (BIS/BAS), the Dickman Dysfunctional Impulsivity Instrument (DDII), and the Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS). In addition, participants reported their demographic information and smartphone usage pattern (weekday or weekend average usage hours and main use). We analyzed the data in three steps: (1) identifying predictors with logistic regression, (2) deriving causal relationships between SAP and its predictors using a Bayesian belief network (BN), and (3) computing optimal cut-off points for the identified predictors using the Youden index. Identified predictors of SAP were as follows: gender (female), weekend average usage hours, and scores on BAS-Drive, BAS-Reward Responsiveness, DDII, and BSCS. Female gender and scores on BAS-Drive and BSCS directly increased SAP. BAS-Reward Responsiveness and DDII indirectly increased SAP. We found that SAP was defined with maximal sensitivity as follows: weekend average usage hours > 4.45, BAS-Drive > 10.0, BAS-Reward Responsiveness > 13.8, DDII > 4.5, and BSCS > 37.4. This study raises the possibility that personality factors contribute to SAP. And, we calculated cut-off points for key predictors. These findings may assist clinicians screening for SAP using cut-off points, and further the understanding of SA risk factors.111413Ysciescopu
Genetic diversity of Brazilian isolates of feline immunodeficiency virus
We isolated Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) from three adult domestic cats, originating from two open shelters in Brazil. Viruses were isolated from PBMC following co-cultivation with the feline T-lymphoblastoid cell line MYA-1. All amplified env gene products were cloned directly into pGL8MYA. The nucleic acid sequences of seven clones were determined and then compared with those of previously described isolates. The sequences of all of the Brazilian virus clones were distinct and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all belong to subtype B. Three variants isolated from one cat and two variants were isolated from each of the two other cats, indicating that intrahost diversity has the potential to pose problems for the treatment and diagnosis of FIV infection
Export of functional Streptomyces coelicolor alditol oxidase to the periplasm or cell surface of Escherichia coli and its application in whole-cell biocatalysis
Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) alditol oxidase (AldO) is a soluble monomeric flavoprotein in which the flavin cofactor is covalently linked to the polypeptide chain. AldO displays high reactivity towards different polyols such as xylitol and sorbitol. These characteristics make AldO industrially relevant, but full biotechnological exploitation of this enzyme is at present restricted by laborious and costly purification steps. To eliminate the need for enzyme purification, this study describes a whole-cell AldO biocatalyst system. To this end, we have directed AldO to the periplasm or cell surface of Escherichia coli. For periplasmic export, AldO was fused to endogenous E. coli signal sequences known to direct their passenger proteins into the SecB, signal recognition particle (SRP), or Twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway. In addition, AldO was fused to an ice nucleation protein (INP)-based anchoring motif for surface display. The results show that Tat-exported AldO and INP-surface-displayed AldO are active. The Tat-based system was successfully employed in converting xylitol by whole cells, whereas the use of the INP-based system was most likely restricted by lipopolysaccharide LPS in wild-type cells. It is anticipated that these whole-cell systems will be a valuable tool for further biological and industrial exploitation of AldO and other cofactor-containing enzymes.
HER2 testing in breast cancer: Opportunities and challenges
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in 15-25% of breast cancers, usually as a result of HER2 gene amplification. Positive HER2 status is considered to be an adverse prognostic factor. Recognition of the role of HER2 in breast cancer growth has led to the development of anti-HER2 directed therapy, with the humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin (R)) having been approved for the therapy of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Clinical studies have further suggested that HER2 status can provide important information regarding success or failure of certain hormonal therapies or chemotherapies. As a result of these developments, there has been increasing demand to perform HER2 testing on current and archived breast cancer specimens. This article reviews the molecular background of HER2 function, activation and inhibition as well as current opinions concerning its role in chemosensitivity and interaction with estrogen receptor biology. The different tissue-based assays used to detect HER2 amplification and overexpression are discussed with respect to their advantages and disadvantages, when to test (at initial diagnosis or pre-treatment), where to test (locally or centralized) and the need for quality assurance to ensure accurate and valid testing results
'Choosing shoes': a preliminary study into the challenges facing clinicians in assessing footwear for rheumatoid patients
Background: Footwear has been accepted as a therapeutic intervention for the foot affected
by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Evidence relating to the objective assessment of footwear in
patients with RA is limited. The aims of this study were to identify current footwear styles,
footwear characteristics, and factors that influence footwear choice experienced by patients
with RA.
Methods: Eighty patients with RA were recruited from rheumatology clinics during the
summer months. Clinical characteristics, global function, and foot impairment and disability
measures were recorded. Current footwear, footwear characteristics and the factors
associated with choice of footwear were identified. Suitability of footwear was recorded using
pre-determined criteria for assessing footwear type, based on a previous study of foot pain.
Results: The patients had longstanding RA with moderate-to severe disability and
impairment. The foot and ankle assessment demonstrated a low-arch profile with both
forefoot and rearfoot structural deformities. Over 50% of shoes worn by patients were opentype
footwear. More than 70% of patients’ footwear was defined as being poor. Poor
footwear characteristics such as heel rigidity and sole hardness were observed. Patients
reported comfort (17%) and fit (14%) as important factors in choosing their own footwear.
Only five percent (5%) of patients wore therapeutic footwear.
Conclusions: The majority of patients with RA wear footwear that has been previously
described as poor. Future work needs to aim to define and justify the specific features of
footwear that may be of benefit to foot health for people with RA
Severity of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is Associated with Development of Metabolic Syndrome: Results of a 5-Year Cohort Study
Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (MS).
However, a few studies have examined the effect of NAFLD on the development of MS. We evaluated the relationship
between the development of MS and clinical severity of NAFLD according to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Participants who underwent abdominal ultrasonography and blood
samplings for health check-ups both in 2005 and 2010 were recruited. NAFLD was diagnosed if a person showed fatty liver
on ultrasonography without significant alcohol consumption. Subjects with MS at baseline were excluded.
Results: A total of 2,728 subjects met the inclusion criteria. Fatty liver (FL) with normal ALT was found in 369 (13.5%)
subjects and FL with elevated ALT in 328 (12.0%). During 5 years of follow up, 582 (21.3%) incident cases of MS developed
between 2005 and 2010. The incidence of MS was higher in patients with NAFLD compared to control group (41.2%
in FL with elevated ALT, 34.7% in FL with normal ALT and 15.7% in control, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that
odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for MS increased according to the severity of NAFLD [OR (95% CI),
1.29 (0.97−1.71) in FL with normal ALT and 1.54 (1.18−1.33) in FL with elevated ALT, p=0.01].
Conclusions: We have demonstrated that development of MS is significantly increased according to the clinical severity of
NAFLD. These findings have implications in the clinical availability of NAFLD as a predictor of MS
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