54 research outputs found
Inter- and intra-individual variation in earprints
The feasibility of earprint individualization depends upon the
amount of variation in prints of different ears, but also upon that in
prints of a single ear. In order to determine the limits to
intra-individual variation, we need to explore its potential causes. As
the amount of force that is applied by the ear to the listening surface
influences the appearance of the earprint, we investigated factors
potentially affecting this force, such as the level and frequency of a
target sound, and the level of ambient noise. We also investigated
whether presence or absence of a target sound was of influence.
Additionally, we explored if the duration of listening, and whether the
ear had been recently cleaned or not, affected the appearance of an
earprint. To evaluate the extent to which features may vary with passing
time, we further attempted to determine the rate of growth of the
external ear during adult life. As a next step, we then compared
realistic intra-individual variation in earprints with a very small
degree of inter-individual variation, i.e., that in prints of identical
twins. To do so, we explored a method to fully automatically analyze
prints. To our knowledge, this was the first time that any method
capable of fully automated earprint comparisons has been described.LEI Universiteit Leidenniet-projectgebonden outpu
Variables affecting the probability of complete fusion of the medial clavicular epiphysis
In this study, we have combined data on clavicle fusion from different studies and applied a binomial logistic regression analysis. As such, we aimed to assess whether or not variables such as sex, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity influence the probability of having mature, i.e., completely fused clavicles at a given age. We further explored whether the method of clavicle examination, i.e., diagnosis from either a dry bone specimen, an examination of X-rays, or an examination of computed tomography scans, affects the probability of being diagnosed with mature clavicles. It appeared that only ethnicity did not significantly affect this probability. Finally, we illustrated how the logit model may be used to predict the probability of being diagnosed with mature clavicles
PXR-mediated induction of P-glycoprotein by anticancer drugs in a human colon adenocarcinoma-derived cell line
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An assessment of the impact of herb-drug combinations used by cancer patients
Background
Herb/Dietary Supplements (HDS) are the most popular Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) modality used by cancer patients and the only type which involves the ingestion of substances which may interfere with the efficacy and safety of conventional medicines. This study aimed to assess the level of use of HDS in cancer patients undergoing treatment in the UK, and their perceptions of their effects, using 127 case histories of patients who were taking HDS. Previous studies have evaluated the risks of interactions between HDS and conventional drugs on the basis on numbers of patient using HDSs, so our study aimed to further this exploration by examining the actual drug combinations taken by individual patients and their potential safety.
Method
Three hundred seventy-five cancer patients attending oncology departments and centres of palliative care at the Oxford University Hospitals Trust (OUH), Duchess of Kent House, Sobell House, and Nettlebed Hospice participated in a self-administered questionnaire survey about their HDS use with their prescribed medicines. The classification system of Stockley’s Herbal Medicine’s Interactions was adopted to assess the potential risk of herb-drug interactions for these patients.
Results
127/375 (34 %; 95 % CI 29, 39) consumed HDS, amounting to 101 different products. Most combinations were assessed as ‘no interaction’, 22 combinations were categorised as ‘doubt about outcomes of use’, 6 combinations as ‘Potentially hazardous outcome’, one combination as an interaction with ‘Significant hazard’, and one combination as an interaction of “Life-threatening outcome”. Most patients did not report any adverse events.
Conclusion
Most of the patients sampled were not exposed to any significant risk of harm from interactions with conventional medicines, but it is not possible as yet to conclude that risks in general are over-estimated. The incidence of HDS use was also less than anticipated, and significantly less than reported in other areas, illustrating the problems when extrapolating results from one region (the UK), in one setting (NHS oncology) in where patterns of supplement use may be very different to those elsewhere
Ectodermal-Neural Cortex 1 Down-Regulates Nrf2 at the Translational Level
The transcription factor Nrf2 is the master regulator of a cellular defense mechanism against environmental insults. The Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response is accomplished by the transcription of a battery of genes that encode phase II detoxifying enzymes, xenobiotic transporters, and antioxidants. Coordinated expression of these genes is critical in protecting cells from toxic and carcinogenic insults and in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. Activation of the Nrf2 pathway is primarily controlled by Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), which is a molecular switch that turns on or off the Nrf2 signaling pathway according to intracellular redox conditions. Here we report our finding of a novel Nrf2 suppressor ectodermal-neural cortex 1 (ENC1), which is a BTB-Kelch protein and belongs to the same family as Keap1. Transient expression of ENC1 reduced steady-state levels of Nrf2 and its downstream gene expression. Although ENC1 interacted with Keap1 indirectly, the ENC1-mediated down-regulation of Nrf2 was independent of Keap1. The negative effect of ENC1 on Nrf2 was not due to a change in the stability of Nrf2 because neither proteasomal nor lysosomal inhibitors had any effects. Overexpression of ENC1 did not result in a change in the level of Nrf2 mRNA, rather, it caused a decrease in the rate of Nrf2 protein synthesis. These results demonstrate that ENC1 functions as a negative regulator of Nrf2 through suppressing Nrf2 protein translation, which adds another level of complexity in controlling the Nrf2 signaling pathway
11-Oxoeicosatetraenoic Acid Is a Cyclooxygenase-2/15-Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenase-Derived Antiproliferative Eicosanoid
Accelerated surgery versus standard care in hip fracture (HIP ATTACK): an international, randomised, controlled trial
Arthropods of Economic Importance: Interactive Tutorial for the Preparation of Microlepidoptera
Arthropods of Economic Importance: Interactive Tutorial for the Preparation of Microlepidoptera
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