Lipid components of bile increase the protective effect of conjugated bile salts against antifungal drugs

Fungi and bacteria can persist in the human gall bladder. Previous studies have shown that bile protects Candida albicans in this cryptic host niche from antifungals, providing a reservoir for intestinal re-colonization after discontinuation of antifungal therapy. Bile and conjugated bile salts trap antifungals in micelles, thereby reducing their bioavailability and possibly promoting the development of drug resistance. Here we show that the protective effect of bile and conjugated bile salts is not limited to C. albicans, but also observed with other fungi. Interestingly, bile, but not conjugated bile salts conferred resistance of C. albicans against fluconazole and only bile mediated resistance of Aspergillus terreus against voriconazole. To investigate this higher potency of bile we aimed in a step-wise reconstitution of bile from conjugated bile salts. Neither addition of phospholipids nor saturated fatty acids protected from azoles. In contrast, supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids increased azole resistance and decreased the critical micelle concentration of conjugated bile salts to the level of bile. Therefore, polyunsaturated fatty acids are vital for mixed micelle formation with high potential to trap antifungals. As biliary infections are difficult to treat, drug efficacy in the biliary system should be tested by using reconstituted synthetic bile

Properties of the Molecular Cores of Low Luminosity Objects

We present a survey toward 16 Low Luminosity Objects (LLOs with an internal luminosity, Lint, lower than 0.2 Lsun) with N2H+ (1-0), N2H+ (3-2), N2D+ (3-2), HCO+ (3-2) and HCN (3-2) using the Arizona Radio Observatory Kitt Peak 12m Telescope and Submillimeter Telescope. Our goal is to probe the nature of these faint protostars which are believed to be either very low mass or extremely young protostars. We find that the N2D+/N2H+ column density ratios of LLOs are similar to those of typical starless cores and Class 0 objects. The N2D+/N2H+ column density ratios are relatively high (> 0.05) for LLOs with kinetic temperatures less than 10 K in our sample. The distribution of N2H+ (1-0) line widths spreads between that of starless cores and young Class 0 objects. If we use the line width as a dynamic evolutionary indicator, LLOs are likely young Class 0 protostellar sources. We further use the optically thick tracers, HCO+ (3-2) and HCN (3-2), to probe the infall signatures of our targets. We derive the asymmetry parameters from both lines and estimate the infall velocities by fitting the HCO+ (3-2) spectra with two-layer models. As a result, we identify eight infall candidates based on the infall velocities and seven candidates have infall signatures supported by asymmetry parameters from at least one of HCO+ (3-2) and HCN (3-2).Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, accepted to Ap

Understanding Satisfaction With Service Providers From The Resource-Based View Of A Firm

Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV), the aim of this research is to better understand how satisfaction with application service providers (ASPs) is affected by intangible assets in interorganizational relationships (e.g. antecedents of non-contractibility), which in turn are influenced by IT-enabled resources such as information systems (IS) integration and ambidexterity of software development. Empirical findings support the proposed model. We discuss the implications for practitioners and research

General Versus Spinal Anesthesia: Which is a Risk Factor for Octogenarian Hip Fracture Repair Patients?

SummaryBackgroundMost studies have shown no difference between the two types of anesthesia administered to hip fracture patients. This study compared postoperative morbidity and mortality in octogenarian patients who received either general or spinal anesthesia for hip fracture repair.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the hospital records of 335 octogenarian patients who received hip fracture repair in our teaching hospital between 2002 and 2006. A total of 167 and 168 patients received general and spinal anesthesia, respectively. Morbidity, mortality, and intraoperative and preoperative variables were compared between groups.ResultsThere were no mortality differences between spinal and general anesthesia groups. However, the overall morbidity was greater in the general anesthesia group than in the spinal anesthesia group (21/167 [12.6%] vs. 9/168 [5.4%]; p = 0.02). Respiratory system-related morbidity was also higher in the general anesthesia group than in the spinal anesthesia group (11/167 [6.6%] vs. 3/168 [1.8%]; p = 0.03). Logistic regression analysis revealed two significant predictors of postoperative morbidity: anesthesia type (general; odds ratio, 2.39) and preexisting respiratory diseases (odds ratio, 3.38).ConclusionGeneral anesthesia increased the risk of postoperative morbidity in octogenarian patients after hip fracture repair, and patients with preexisting respiratory diseases were especially vulnerable. Spinal anesthesia is strongly recommended in such individuals

Moho Depth Derived from Gravity Data in the Taiwan Strait Area

We have constructed are gional Bouguer gravity anomaly map using marine and land data from Tai wan and the Chinese province of Fuchien, as well as SEASAT altimetry-de rived gravity data for the Tai wan Strait and its surrounding area. The map shows isogals trending generally in a NE-SW direction, conforming with the over all shallower geo logical strike of the strait. Removing gravity effects generated by the water layer and seafloor to pography, the regional Bouguer gravity anomaly is obtained, reflecting the subsurface structure. Moho depth is then computed by the Parker-Oldenburg iterative method from the regional Bouguer gravity data set. Over the strait area, the geometry of the Moho relief is smooth with an average depth of about 30 km, except for the Penghu up lift. Moho depth is shallower in the Taiwan Strait and thickens to ward both sides of the strait. The relatively shallower Moho depth, reaching up to 28 km, is convex up ward underneath the Penghu uplift

Evaluation on the Pharmacological Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine SiJunZiTang on Stress-Induced Peptic Ulcers

Purpose. To explore the effects of SiJunZiTang (SJZT) on central neurotransmitters and the inhibition of HCl hypersecretion, along with the role of the vagus nerve. From this, the effects of SJZT and its constituent ingredients on inhibiting stress-induced peptic ulcers will be determined. Methods. Methods used to determine SJZT's effectiveness included (1) measuring the antipeptic ulcer effects of varying combinations of the constituents of SJZT; (2) evaluations of monoamine (MA) level in the brain; and (3) measuring the effects of longer-term SJZT treatment. Results. Comparing the control and experimental groups where the rats’ vagus nerves were not cut after taking SJZT orally (500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg), the volume of enterogastric juice, free HCl and total acidity all reduce dose-dependently. The group administered SJZT at 1000 mg/kg showed significant reductions (P<0.05). For the experimental groups where the vagus nerves were cut, a comparison with the control group suggests that the group receiving SJZT (500 mg/kg) orally for 21 days demonstrated a cure rate of 34.53%. Conclusion. The results display a correlation between the therapeutic effects of SJZT on stress-induced peptic ulcers and central neurotransmitter levels. Further to this, SJZT can inhibit the hypersecretion of HCl in the stomach, thus inhibiting stress-induced peptic ulcers

Serum ferritin levels and polycystic ovary syndrome in obese and nonobese women

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study is to evaluate serum ferritin levels and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-related complications in obese and nonobese women.Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included 539 (286 with PCOS and 253 without PCOS).ResultsSerum ferritin correlated with menstrual cycle length, sex hormone-binding globulin, total testosterone, androstenedione, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in both obese and nonobese women. Obese women with high ferritin levels exhibited higher insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and liver enzymes (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase) than obese women with low ferritin levels. However, among nonobese women, insulin resistance and risk of diabetes were not significantly different between the high and low ferritin groups. Independent of obesity, hypertriglyceridemia was the major metabolic disturbance observed in women with elevated serum ferritin levels.ConclusionElevated serum ferritin levels are associated with increased insulin resistance and risk of diabetes in obese women but not in nonobese women. However, higher serum ferritin levels were correlated with a greater risk of hyperglyceridemia in both obese and nonobese women. Therefore, hypertriglyceridemia in women with PCOS might be associated with iron metabolism

Simulation and Measurement Analysis of an Integrated Flow Battery Energy-Storage System with Hybrid Wind/Wave Power Generation

This study aims to evaluate the power-system stability and the mitigation of fluctuations in a hybrid wind/wave power-generation system (HWWPGS) under different operating and disturbance conditions. This evaluation is performed by employing a vanadium redox flow battery-based energy storage system (VRFB-ESS) as proposed. The measurement results obtained from a laboratory-scale HWWPGS platform integrated with the VRFB-ESS, operating under specific conditions, are used to develop the laboratory-scale simulation model. The capacity rating of this laboratory-scale simulation model is then enlarged to develop an MW-scale power-system model of the HWWPGS. Both operating characteristics and power-system stability of the MW-scale HWWPGS power system model are evaluated through frequency-domain analysis (based on eigenvalue) and time-domain analysis (based on nonlinear-model simulations) under various operating conditions and disturbance conditions. The simulation results demonstrate that the fluctuations and stability of the studied HWWPGS under different operating and disturbance conditions can be effectively smoothed and stabilized by the proposed VRFB-ESS

Ventricular divergence correlates with epicardial wavebreaks and predicts ventricular arrhythmia in isolated rabbit hearts during therapeutic hypothermia

INTRODUCTION: High beat-to-beat morphological variation (divergence) on the ventricular electrogram during programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) is associated with increased risk of ventricular fibrillation (VF), with unclear mechanisms. We hypothesized that ventricular divergence is associated with epicardial wavebreaks during PVS, and that it predicts VF occurrence. METHOD AND RESULTS: Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts (n = 10) underwent 30-min therapeutic hypothermia (TH, 30°C), followed by a 20-min treatment with rotigaptide (300 nM), a gap junction modifier. VF inducibility was tested using burst ventricular pacing at the shortest pacing cycle length achieving 1:1 ventricular capture. Pseudo-ECG (p-ECG) and epicardial activation maps were simultaneously recorded for divergence and wavebreaks analysis, respectively. A total of 112 optical and p-ECG recordings (62 at TH, 50 at TH treated with rotigaptide) were analyzed. Adding rotigaptide reduced ventricular divergence, from 0.13±0.10 at TH to 0.09±0.07 (p = 0.018). Similarly, rotigaptide reduced the number of epicardial wavebreaks, from 0.59±0.73 at TH to 0.30±0.49 (p = 0.036). VF inducibility decreased, from 48±31% at TH to 22±32% after rotigaptide infusion (p = 0.032). Linear regression models showed that ventricular divergence correlated with epicardial wavebreaks during TH (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Ventricular divergence correlated with, and might be predictive of epicardial wavebreaks during PVS at TH. Rotigaptide decreased both the ventricular divergence and epicardial wavebreaks, and reduced the probability of pacing-induced VF during TH