Optimal light for conidiation

Optimal light for conidiatio

Metatarsophalangeal joint pain in psoriatic arthritis: a cross-sectional study

Methods. Thirty-four consecutive patients with PsA (mean age 45.3 years, 65% female, mean disease duration 9.9 years) and 22 control participants (mean age 37.9 years, 64% female) underwent clinical and US examination to determine the presence of pain, swelling, synovitis, erosions, effusions and submetatarsal bursae at the MTP joints. Mean barefoot peak plantar pressures were determined at each MTP joint. Levels of pain, US-determined pathology and peak pressures were compared between groups. Binary logistic regression was used to identify demographic, clinical examination-derived, US-derived and plantar pressure predictors of pain at the MTP joints in the PsA group. Results. The presence of pain, deformity, synovitis, erosions (P < 0.001) and submetatarsal bursae and peak plantar pressure at MTP 3 (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the PsA group. MTP joint pain in PsA was independently predicted by high BMI, female gender and the presence of joint subluxation, synovitis and erosion. Conclusion. These results suggest local inflammatory and structural factors, together with systemic factors (gender, BMI), are predominantly responsible for painful MTP joints in PsA, with no clear role for plantar pressure characteristics

Piecewise Linear Representation Segmentation as a Multiobjective Optimization Problem

Proceedings of: Forth International Workshop on User-Centric Technologies and applications (CONTEXTS 2010). Valencia, September 7-10, 2010Actual time series exhibit huge amounts of data which require an unaffordable computational load to be processed, leading to approximate representations to aid these processes. Segmentation processes deal with this issue dividing time series into a certain number of segments and approximating those segments with a basic function. Among the most extended segmentation approaches, piecewise linear representation is highlighted due to its simplicity. This work presents an approach based on the formalization of the segmentation process as a multiobjetive optimization problem and the resolution of that problem with an evolutionary algorithm.This work was supported in part by Projects CICYT TIN2008-06742-C02-02/TSI, CICYT TEC2008-06732-C02-02/TEC, CAM CONTEXTS (S2009/TIC-1485) and DPS2008-07029-C02-02.Publicad

Statin Drugs Plus Th1 Cytokines Potentiate Apoptosis and Ras Delocalization in Human Breast Cancer Lines and Combine with Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy to Suppress Tumor Growth in a Mouse Model of HER-2 Disease

A dendritic cell-based, Type 1 Helper T cell (Th1)-polarizing anti-Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 (HER-2) vaccine supplied in the neoadjuvant setting eliminates disease in up to 30% of recipients with HER-2-positive (HER-2) ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). We hypothesized that drugs with low toxicity profiles that target signaling pathways critical for oncogenesis may work in conjunction with vaccine-induced immune effector mechanisms to improve efficacy while minimizing side effects. In this study, a panel of four phenotypically diverse human breast cancer lines were exposed in vitro to the combination of Th1 cytokines Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and lipophilic statins. This combination was shown to potentiate multiple markers of apoptotic cell death. The combination of statin drugs and Th1 cytokines minimized membrane K-Ras localization while maximizing levels in the cytoplasm, suggesting a possible means by which cytokines and statin drugs might cooperate to maximize cell death. A combined therapy was also tested in vivo through an orthotopic murine model using the neu-transgenic TUBO mammary carcinoma line. We showed that the combination of HER-2 peptide-pulsed dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy and simvastatin, but not single agents, significantly suppressed tumor growth. Consistent with a Th1 cytokine-dependent mechanism, parenterally administered recombinant IFN-γ could substitute for DC-based immunotherapy, likewise inhibiting tumor growth when combined with simvastatin. These studies show that statin drugs can amplify a DC-induced effector mechanism to improve anti-tumor activity

Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) Personality

Increasing evidence suggests that personality structure differs between species, but the evolutionary reasons for this variation are not fully understood. We built on earlier research on New World monkeys to further elucidate the evolution of personality structure in primates. We therefore examined personality in 100 family-reared adult common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) from 3 colonies on a 60-item questionnaire. Principal components analyses revealed 5 domains that were largely similar to those found in a previous study on captive, ex-pet, or formerly laboratory-housed marmosets that were housed in a sanctuary. The interrater reliabilities of domain scores were consistent with the interrater reliabilities of domain scores found in other species, including humans. Four domainsdmdash; conscientiousness, agreeableness, inquisitiveness, and assertiveness-resembled personality domains identified in other nonhuman primates. The remaining domain, patience, was specific to common marmosets. We used linear models to test for sex and age differences in the personality domains. Males were lower than females in patience, and this difference was smaller in older marmosets. Older marmosets were lower in inquisitiveness. Finally, older males and younger females had higher scores in agreeableness than younger males and older females. These findings suggest that cooperative breeding may have promoted the evolution of social cognition and influenced the structure of marmoset prosocial personality characteristics.Peer reviewe

Prosociality, social tolerance and partner choice facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation in common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus

Prosocial motivation has been suggested to facilitate the initiation and maintenance of cooperative interactions, as well as the evolution of social systems reliant on helping behaviour and social coordination. Previous comparative research on the link between prosociality and cooperation has been limited, however, by the absence of directly comparable measures of these traits among the same individuals. In the present study, we therefore examined intraspecific variation in prosociality and cooperative behaviour within a captive colony of group-living, cooperatively breeding common marmosets to provide a direct experimental test of these hypothesized benefits. We measured prosociality using a group service food-provisioning paradigm, and we assessed mutually beneficial dyadic cooperation with the loose string coordinated pulling paradigm. In addition, we also investigated the effects of individual social tolerance and partner choice, which have previously been identified as key factors promoting prosociality and cooperation among primates. As predicted, successful cooperation in the loose string paradigm was positively associated with prosociality, as well as with social tolerance and partner choice. These effects were independent of age, sex, personality, food motivation and learning across experimental sessions. Our results therefore suggest that prosocial motivation, social tolerance and partner choice can each facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation and social coordination in marmosets, supporting the hypothesized role of these mechanisms in the evolution of cooperative behaviour among primates

Renal Peripheral Neuroectodermal Tumor Presenting at Age 78: Case Report

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the kidney is a rare and aggressive tumor, often presenting in advanced stages and progressing rapidly. Renal PNET (rPNET) may affect a wide age spectrum, but the majority of cases are in young adults. We present a case of advanced rPNET in a 78-year-old woman. To our knowledge, this is the most advanced age of presentation of this neoplasm to date. We report on her presentation and management, and discuss the current clinical management of this tumor

The Trial to Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk (TRIGR) study: recruitment, intervention and follow-up

Peer reviewe

Educational recommendations for the conduct, content and format of EULAR musculoskeletal ultrasound Teaching the Teachers Courses

To produce educational guidelines for the conduct, content and format of theoretical and practical teaching at EULAR musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) Teaching the Teachers (TTT) Courses