Cells electric charge analyses define specific properties for cancer cells activity

The surface electrical charge of cells is conditioned by the ionic medium in which they are immersed. This charge is specific for each cell type and is especially important in tumour cells because it determines their state of aggregation and their adhesion in the different organs. This study analyses the variations in surface charge of cells when pH, electrolytes, and their concentration are modified. The modification of these factors leads to changes in the surface charge of tumour cells; therefore, their states of aggregation and behaviour can be modified. This may even have a use in the prognosis and treatment of various tumours. Some studies conclude that the activity associated with the glycolysis process is accompanied by a change in the surface charge of cells. Notably, there is a high rate of glycolysis in tumours. Our results show that surface charge of cells strongly depends on nature of ionic medium in which they are found, with the valence of the majority ion being the most important factor. When ionic strength was high, the charge decreased dramatically. On the other hand, charge becomes zero or positive in an acidic pH, while in a basic pH, the negative charge increases.University of Jaen CTS 44

"I am in other people's hands as regards my health" A sociological critique of health care encounters of people with cirrhosis. A secondary analysis

OBJECTIVES: People with cirrhosis are encouraged to participate in shared decision-making with their doctors, but studies suggest that doctors limit the amount of information that is shared. In this study we explore the presence of medical power in clinical encounters in 2015 from a patient perspective and highlight its effects on healthcare interactions. METHODS: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten people with cirrhosis attending a tertiary liver transplant centre in southern England. We explored their understanding of their disease and prognosis, and their participation in decision-making. Using the lens of medical power as a framework, we analysed findings into thematic sentences to summarise key ideas whilst preserving the complexity of identified concepts. RESULTS: Three key concepts explained patient perspectives of their communication with doctors: (1) portraying a positive image to doctors, (2) avoiding confrontation with doctors, (3) feeling powerless in the face of doctors' medical knowledge. These concepts show deeper dynamic issues of power during healthcare encounters, illustrated by participants' reluctance to voice their concerns and express themselves, challenge decisions, or seek information. CONCLUSION: People with cirrhosis struggle to articulate their concerns or challenge decisions on their care and treatment and may worry about potential consequences. Our findings demonstrate the continuing persistence of issues of power at play in contemporary health care

Brood cell size of Apis mellifera modifies the reproductive behavior of Varroa destructor

We undertook a field study to determine if comb cell size affects the reproductive behavior of Varroa destructor under natural conditions. We examined the effect of brood cell width of on the reproductive behavior of V. destructor in honey bee colonies, under natural conditions. Drone and worker brood combs were sampled from 11 colonies of Apis mellifera. A Pearson Correlation test and a Tukey test were used to determinewhether mite reproduction rate varied with brood cell width. Generalized additive model analysis showed that infestation rate increased positively and linearly with the width of worker and drone cells. The reproduction rate for viable mother mites was 0.96 viable female descendants per original invading female. No significant correlation was observed between brood cell width and number of offspring of V. destructor. Infertile mother mites were more frequent in narrower brood cells.Fil: Maggi, Matías Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Damiani, Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Ruffinengo, Sergio Roberto. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Animal. Cátedra de Apicultura; ArgentinaFil: de Jong, D.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Principal, J.. Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (ucla);Fil: Eguaras, Martin Javier. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentin

Road Utility Cuts and Repairs -Applying Keyhole Technology

ABSTRACT In the early 1990s a major gas utility company in Ontario began the development of keyhole technology using long-handled tools to allow operations such as cast iron pipe leak repairs, service reconnections and the installation of cathodic protection, to be undertaken through a 450 mm diameter core hole in the pavement. This avoided the need for conventional open road cuts and reinstatement. To further enhance the benefits of this technology, a program of laboratory testing and field trials were undertaken in the City of Toronto (City) to allow efficient core removal, followed by vacuum excavation and finally a system that would allow the removed core to be used to permanently reinstate the pavement. Laboratory trials were undertaken on 20 potential bonding agents to identify a product that would be fast-setting with rapid strength gain so that repaired pavements could be opened to traffic in less than an hour. The cementitious bonding compound which was specially designed for the process was used on a number of field trials in the City. The reinstated cores were monitored for performance over a seven year period in sections of composite pavement. Based on the results of these trials, the procedure was approved for use in the City as a permanent utility cut repair. This keyhole technology and core reinstatement technology is now used widely throughout North America by gas utility companies. The cost savings are significant. In 2010, one utility company undertook some 4,500 keyhole cores and reinstatements, with an estimated cost savings of over $4 million when compared to conventional open cut procedures. In addition, with the reduction in materials, equipment time, and less traffic disruption, the sustainability benefits of this technology are significant. In some instances, the road can be re-opened to traffic within 30 minutes of the repair. This paper will review the development of this technology, other areas of application, and the benefits it offers in terms of providing a faster, better and more sustainable method for utility repair and maintenance

Effects of phthalic acid esters on the liver and thyroid

The effects, over periods from 3 days to 9 months of administration, of diets containing di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate are very similar to those observed in rats administered diets containing hypolipidemic drugs such as clofibrate. Changes occur in a characteristic order commencing with alterations in the distribution of lipid within the liver, quickly followed by proliferation of hepatic peroxisomes and induction of the specialized P-450 isoenzyme(s) catalyzing omega oxidation of fatty acids. There follows a phase of mild liver damage indicated by induction of glucose-6-phosphatase activity and a loss of glycogen, eventually leading to the formation of enlarged lysosomes through autophagy and the accumulation of lipofuscin. Associated changes are found in the kidney and thyroid. The renal changes are limited to the proximal convoluted tubules and are generally similar to changes found in the liver. The effects on the thyroid are more marked. Although the levels of thyroxine in plasma fail to about half normal values, serum triiodothyronine remains close to normal values while the appearance of the thyroid varies, very marked hyperactivity being noted 7 days after commencement of treatment, this is less marked at 14 days, but even after 9 months treatment there is clear cut evidence for hyperactivity with colloid changes which indicate this has persisted for some time. Straight chain analogs of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, di-n-hexyl phthalate and di-n-oxtyl phthalate differ entirely in their short-term effects on the liver and kidney but have similar effects on the thyroid. The short-term in vivo hepatic effects of the three phthalate esters can be reproduced in hepatocytes in tissue culture. All three phthalate esters, as well as clofibrate, have early marked effects on the metabolism of fatty acids in isolated hepatocytes. The nature of these changes is such as to increase storage of lipid in the liver. A hypothesis is presented to explain the progress from these initial metabolic effects to the final formation of liver tumors

Early and Empirical High-Dose Cryoprecipitate for Hemorrhage After Traumatic Injury: The CRYOSTAT-2 Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE: Critical bleeding is associated with a high mortality rate in patients with trauma. Hemorrhage is exacerbated by a complex derangement of coagulation, including an acute fibrinogen deficiency. Management is fibrinogen replacement with cryoprecipitate transfusions or fibrinogen concentrate, usually administered relatively late during hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether survival could be improved by administering an early and empirical high dose of cryoprecipitate to all patients with trauma and bleeding that required activation of a major hemorrhage protocol. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: CRYOSTAT-2 was an interventional, randomized, open-label, parallel-group controlled, international, multicenter study. Patients were enrolled at 26 UK and US major trauma centers from August 2017 to November 2021. Eligible patients were injured adults requiring activation of the hospital\u27s major hemorrhage protocol with evidence of active hemorrhage, systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg at any time, and receiving at least 1 U of a blood component transfusion. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned (in a 1:1 ratio) to receive standard care, which was the local major hemorrhage protocol (reviewed for guideline adherence), or cryoprecipitate, in which 3 pools of cryoprecipitate (6-g fibrinogen equivalent) were to be administered in addition to standard care within 90 minutes of randomization and 3 hours of injury. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 28 days in the intention-to-treat population. RESULTS: Among 1604 eligible patients, 799 were randomized to the cryoprecipitate group and 805 to the standard care group. Missing primary outcome data occurred in 73 patients (principally due to withdrawal of consent) and 1531 (95%) were included in the primary analysis population. The median (IQR) age of participants was 39 (26-55) years, 1251 (79%) were men, median (IQR) Injury Severity Score was 29 (18-43), 36% had penetrating injury, and 33% had systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg at hospital arrival. All-cause 28-day mortality in the intention-to-treat population was 26.1% in the standard care group vs 25.3% in the cryoprecipitate group (odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.75-1.23]; P = .74). There was no difference in safety outcomes or incidence of thrombotic events in the standard care vs cryoprecipitate group (12.9% vs 12.7%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among patients with trauma and bleeding who required activation of a major hemorrhage protocol, the addition of early and empirical high-dose cryoprecipitate to standard care did not improve all cause 28-day mortality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04704869; ISRCTN Identifier: ISRCTN14998314