154 research outputs found
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Information Technology-Based Logistics Planning: Approaches To Developing A Coordination Mechanism For Decentralized Planning
This research focused on mid-term planning representing the tactical level of supply chain management among manufacturers. Mid-term planning is based on established frame contracts between suppliers and customers. Demand forecasts and early customer orders (from retailers or consumers) are the starting point for performing planning runs involving logistical functions such as procurement, production, storage, and distribution. The aim is to draw up consistent plans among supply chain partners
Verbreitung und Eigenschaften von Massenverlagerungsgebieten an der Wellenkalk-Schichtstufe im ThĂŒringer Becken unter besonderer BerĂŒcksichtigung geomorphologischer und klimatologischer Steuerungsfaktoren
Die Wellenkalk-Schichtstufe im ThĂŒringer ist allgemein als sehr massenverlagerungsanfĂ€llig bekannt. Ăber das groĂrĂ€umige AusmaĂ der Massenbewegungen wuĂte man bislang jedoch nur sehr wenig. Es fehlten Informationen zu regionalen Verbreitungsmustern, zu möglichen Merkmalsunterschieden sowie zu besonders risikobehafteten Bereichen. Ziel der Arbeit war es, die groĂrĂ€umige Verbreitung der Massenverlagerungsgebiete, deren Eigenschaften sowie den EinfluĂ verschiedener Steuerungsfaktoren, die das rĂ€umliche Verteilungsbild bestimmen können systematisch zu analysieren. Die Grundlage der Untersuchung bildeten umfangreiche GelĂ€ndekartierungen, die mit dem Geographischen Informationssystem (GIS) ArcView visualisiert wurden. An insgesamt 980 km langen Wellenkalk-Schichtstufenabschnitten konnten 744 Massenverlagerungsgebiete mit einer Gesamtbreite von 224 km ausgewiesen werden. Damit sind durchschnittlich 22,8 % der StufenhĂ€nge von Massenverlagerungen betroffen...Zsfassung in engl. Sprachethesi
Bioengineered âgoldenâ indica rice cultivars with ÎČ-carotene metabolism in the endosperm with hygromycin and mannose selection systems
Vitamin-A deficiency (VAD) is a major malnutrition problem in South Asia, where indica rice is the staple food. Indica-type rice varieties feed more than 2 billion people. Hence, we introduced a combination of transgenes using the biolistic system of transformation enabling biosynthesis of provitamin A in the endosperm of several indica rice cultivars adapted to diverse ecosystems of different countries. The rice seed-specific glutelin promoter (Gt-1 P) was used to drive the expression of phytoene synthase (psy), while lycopene ÎČ-cyclase (lcy) and phytoene desaturase (crtI), fused to the transit peptide sequence of the pea-Rubisco small subunit, were driven by the constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus promoter (CaMV35S P). Transgenic plants were recovered through selection with either CaMV35S P driven hph (hygromycin phosphotransferase) gene or cestrum yellow leaf curling virus promoter (CMP) driven pmi (phophomannose isomerase) gene. Molecular and biochemical analyses demonstrated stable integration and expression of the transgenes. The yellow colour of the polished rice grain evidenced the carotenoid accumulation in the endosperm. The colour intensity correlated with the estimated carotenoid content by spectrophotometric and HPLC analysis. Carotenoid level in cooked polished seeds was comparable (with minor loss of xanthophylls) to that in non-cooked seeds of the same transgenic line. The variable segregation pattern in T1 selfing generation indicated single to multiple loci insertion of the transgenes in the genome. This is the first report of using nonantibiotic pmi driven by a novel promoter in generating transgenic indica rice for possible future use in human nutrition
Effects on muscle performance of NSAID treatment with Piroxicam versus placebo in geriatric patients with acute infection-induced inflammation. a double blind randomized controlled trial
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Inflammation is the main cause of disease-associated muscle wasting. In a previous single blind study we have demonstrated improved recovery of muscle endurance following celecoxib treatment in hospitalized geriatric patients with acute infection. Here we further evaluate NSAID treatment with piroxicam in a double blind RCT and investigate the role of cytokines and heat shock proteins (Hsp) with respect to muscle performance. We hypothesized that NSAID treatment would preserve muscle performance better than antibiotic treatment alone, by reducing infection-associated inflammation and by increasing expression of cytoprotective Hsp.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Consecutive admissions to the geriatric ward were screened. 30 Caucasian patients, median age 84.5 years, with acute infection-induced inflammation and serum levels of CRP > 10 mg/L were included and randomized to active treatment with 10 mg piroxicam daily or placebo. Assessment comprised general clinical and biochemical parameters, 25 cytokines in serum, intra-and extracellular Hsp27 and Hsp70, Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS) scores, grip strength (GS), fatigue resistance (FR) and lean body mass (LBM). Patients were evaluated until discharge with a maximum of 3 weeks after treatment allocation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>EMS scores, FR and grip work (GW), a measure taking into account GS and FR, significantly improved with piroxicam, but not with placebo. Early decreases in IL-6 serum levels with piroxicam correlated with better muscle performance at week 2. Basal expression of Hsp27 in monocytes without heat challenge (WHC) was positively correlated with FR at baseline and significantly increased by treatment with piroxicam compared to placebo. Profound modifications in the relationships between cytokines or Hsp and changes in muscle parameters were observed in the piroxicam group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Piroxicam improves clinically relevant measures of muscle performance and mobility in geriatric patients hospitalized with acute infection-induced inflammation. Underlying mechanisms may include modifications in the cytokine network and increases in monocytic expression of cytoprotective Hsp27.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>ISRCTN: <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN96340690">ISRCTN96340690</a></p
Genome-wide association study identifies the SERPINB gene cluster as a susceptibility locus for food allergy
Genetic factors and mechanisms underlying food allergy are largely unknown.
Due to heterogeneity of symptoms a reliable diagnosis is often difficult to
make. Here, we report a genome-wide association study on food allergy
diagnosed by oral food challenge in 497 cases and 2387 controls. We identify
five loci at genome-wide significance, the clade B serpin (SERPINB) gene
cluster at 18q21.3, the cytokine gene cluster at 5q31.1, the filaggrin gene,
the C11orf30/LRRC32 locus, and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region.
Stratifying the results for the causative food demonstrates that association
of the HLA locus is peanut allergy-specific whereas the other four loci
increase the risk for any food allergy. Variants in the SERPINB gene cluster
are associated with SERPINB10 expression in leukocytes. Moreover, SERPINB
genes are highly expressed in the esophagus. All identified loci are involved
in immunological regulation or epithelial barrier function, emphasizing the
role of both mechanisms in food allergy
Evaluation of Alterations to Bile Ducts and Laboratory Values During the First 3 Months After Irreversible Electroporation of Malignant Hepatic Tumors
Purpose: To assess the incidence and evolution of biliary alterations adjacent to the ablation area in patients with hepatic malignancies during the first 3 months after percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) and to investigate associated changes in laboratory values. Material and Methods: Bile ducts located within a <1.0 cm radius of the ablation zone were analyzed in 45 patients by preinterventional and postinterventional MRI (1-3 days, 6 weeks, and 3 months after IRE). Moreover, levels of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and serum bilirubin (SB) were examined for evidence of bile duct injury. Biliary alterations and the presence of postinterventional-elevated laboratory levels were correlated with features of the lesions, patients, ablation procedures, and laboratory values. Results: A total of 80 bile ducts were located within a 1.0 cm radius of the ablation zone: 59 were encased, 16 were abutting and 5 were located within a radius of 0.1-1.0 cm of the ablation area. In total, 38 biliary injuries (narrowing, n=22; dilatation, n=14; biloma, n=2) were detected, 3 cases of narrowing occurred for the first time 6 weeks and 3 months after IRE, 21 alterations (dilatation: n=9; narrowing; n=10; biloma: n=2) had resolved during the first 6 weeks, 1 alteration (dilatation: n=1) had resolved by the last follow-up control. Three months after IRE, 19 patients showed elevated levels of AP, whereas SB levels were increased in 10 cases. No significant association between biliary alterations or postinterventional-elevated laboratory values and the investigated characteristics of lesions, patients, ablation procedures or laboratory values could be proven. Conclusion: Different alterations of bile ducts adjacent to an IRE ablation zone are common, of which dilatation and especially narrowing commonly represent a long-term complication after IRE. Moreover, a definite correlation between the frequently observed prolonged post-ablative elevation of AP- and SB-levels and the postinterventional biliary alterations could not be proven
Relationship between ÎČ-Thalassemia minor and Helicobacter pylori infection
Background: Until now, no study has been reported investigating the association between ÎČ-thalassemia minor and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This study was designed to compare H. pylori infection rate between ÎČ-thalassemia minor patients and healthy controls.
Methods: A number of 100 ÎČ-thalassemia minor patients (50 males, 50 females) and 100 gender-matched healthy controls were prospectively recruited in this study in a period of 3 months. The study population consisted of the people who referred to a health center in Babol, North of Iran, for premarital counseling. H. pylori status was assessed by measuring the anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic information and informed consent were collected from all participants.
Results: The overall H. pylori infection rate was 43%. The infection was significantly more prevalent in thalassemia patients (53%) than in the controls (33%) in both univariate (OR=2.29, 95% CI: 1.3-4.06) and multivariable analyses (OR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.12-3.76). Age was the only significant factor which was positively correlated with the infection in ÎČ-thalassemia minor cases (OR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.2). Gender, blood groups, residency, and education level were not related to the infection.
Conclusions: According to the results, it can be concluded that ÎČ-thalassemia minor patients are possibly more susceptible to H. pylori infection than healthy people. Further studies are needed to discover more about the exact mechanisms of increased susceptibility to H. pylori infection in ÎČ-thalassemia minor patients
The operationalization of fatigue in frailty scales : a systematic review
Purpose: To identify the different fatigue items in existing frailty scales.
Methods: PubMed, Web of Knowledge and PsycINFO were systematically screened for frailty scales. 133 articles were included, describing 158 frailty scales. Fatigue items were extracted and categorized in 4 fatigue constructs: âmood state related tirednessâ, âgeneral feeling of tirednessâ, âactivity based feeling of tirednessâ and âresistance to physical tirednessâ.
Results: 120 fatigue items were identified, of which 100 belonged to the construct âgeneral feeling of tirednessâ and only 9 to the construct âresistance to physical tirednessâ. 49,4% of the frailty scales included at least 1 fatigue item, representing 15±9,3% of all items in these scales. Fatigue items have a significantly higher weight in single domain (dominantly physical frailty scales) versus multi domain frailty scales (21±3.2 versus 10.6±9.8%, p=<0,05 ).
Conclusion: Fatigue is prominently represented in frailty scales, covering a great diversity in fatigue constructs and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms by which fatigue relates to frailty. Although fatigue items were more prevalent and had a higher weight in physical frailty scales, the operationalization of fatigue leaned more towards psychological constructs. This review can be used as a reference for choosing a suitable frailty scale depending on the type of fatigue of interest
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