HSP70 Expression in Skeletal Muscle of Patients with Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease

AbstractObjectives: heat shock protein (HSP70) has been studied in the ischaemic myocardium and proven to provide protection against ischaemia. However, HSP70 in ischaemic skeletal muscle in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) has not been reported.Methods: thirty-four patients with PAOD (Fontaine's criteria: stage II: 15; III: 9 and IV: 10, respectively) and ten non-PAOD controls were enrolled in the study. Calf muscle samples were taken. HSP70 was quantitated by SDS-PAGE using ultrasensitive silver staining with reference to a series of standard HSP70, and HSP70 mRNA was estimated using RT-PCR.Results: in comparison with the controls [median with range: 24.8 (14.1–35.6) ng in 2.5μg total protein], HSP70 was increased significantly in PAOD [stage II: 93.1 (62.7–114.3); stage III: 110.1 (89.7–134.5) and stage IV: 77.4 (67.3–101.1)]. Similar results were obtained with HSP70 mRNA.Conclusions: HSP70 is increased in the ischaemic skeletal muscle in patients with PAOD, and HSP70 expression is different with regard to clinical stages, and the upregulation of HSP70 mRNA implies that the expression of HSP70 seems to be regulated at transcriptional level

Patient-reported outcome measures obtained via E-Health tools ease the assessment burden and encourage patient participation in cancer care (PaCC Study)

Patient-reported outcome measures obtained via E-Health tools ease the assessment burden and encourage patient participation in cancer care (PaCC Study) BACKGROUND: E-health based patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have the potential to automate early identification of both nutrition status and distress status in cancer patients while facilitating treatment and encouraging patient participation. This cross-sectional study assessed the acceptability, accuracy, and clinical utility of PROMs collected via E-Health tools among patients undergoing treatment for stomach, colorectal, and pancreatic tumors. RESULTS: Eight-nine percent mostly, or completely, agreed that PROMs via tablets should be integrated in routine clinical care. Men were significantly more likely to require help completing the questionnaires than women (inv.OR= 0.51, 95% CI=(0.27, 0.95), p = 0.035). The level of help needed increased by 3% with each 1-year increase in age (inv. OR=1.03, 95% CI=(1.01, 1.06), p = 0.013). On average, a patient tended to declare weight which was 0.84 kg inferior to their true weight (Bland and Altman 95 % CI=(-3.9, 5.6); SD: 2.41) and a height which was 0.95 cm superior to their true height (Bland and Altman 95 % CI=(-5, 3.1); SD 2.08). Patient-reported nutrition status was significantly associated with the professionally generated assessment (95% CI=(2.27, 4.15), p < 0.001). As nutrition status declined, the distress score increased (95%CI=(0.88, 1.68), p < 0.001). Of the patients, 48.8% who were both distressed and malnourished requested supportive care to address their problems. CONCLUSION: Patient-reported assessments utilizing E-health tools are an accurate and efficient method to encourage patient participation in cancer care while simultaneously ensuring that regular assessment of psycho-social and nutritional aspects of care are efficiently integrated in the daily clinical routine

Structural and optical quality of GaN grown on Sc2O3/Y2O3/Si(111)

Thick (∼900 nm) GaN layers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy on cost-effective Sc2O3/Y2O3/Si(111) substrates and characterized by x-ray diffraction and photoluminescence. Samples grown in Ga-rich condition show superior structural and optical quality with reduced density of cubic GaN inclusions within the hexagonal matrix and a relatively strong photoluminescence emission at 3.45 eV at 10 K. Cubic inclusions are formed in the initial growth stage and their concentration is reduced with increasing film thickness and after rapid thermal annealing

HACD1, a regulator of membrane composition and fluidity, promotes myoblast fusion and skeletal muscle growth

The reduced diameter of skeletal myofibres is a hallmark of several congenital myopathies, yet the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we investigate the role of HACD1/PTPLA, which is involved in the elongation of the very long chain fatty acids, in muscle fibre formation. In humans and dogs, HACD1 deficiency leads to a congenital myopathy with fibre size disproportion associated with a generalized muscle weakness. Through analysis of HACD1-deficient Labradors, Hacd1-knockout mice, and Hacd1-deficient myoblasts, we provide evidence that HACD1 promotes myoblast fusion during muscle development and regeneration. We further demonstrate that in normal differentiating myoblasts, expression of the catalytically active HACD1 isoform, which is encoded by a muscle-enriched splice variant, yields decreased lysophosphatidylcholine content, a potent inhibitor of myoblast fusion, and increased concentrations of ≥C18 and monounsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids. These lipid modifications correlate with a reduction in plasma membrane rigidity. In conclusion, we propose that fusion impairment constitutes a novel, non-exclusive pathological mechanism operating in congenital myopathies and reveal that HACD1 is a key regulator of a lipid-dependent muscle fibre growth mechanism

Experimental quality in the experiments of competition of hybrid in function of the variability in morphologic variables

O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar a relação entre a diferença mínima significativa em percentagem da média (DMS%) da variável rendimento de grãos, com a média e erro experimental das características morfológicas observadas no decorrer do experimento, ciclo dos cultivares estudadas e número de tratamentos adotados. Com os dados dos ensaios estaduais de competição de cultivares de milho no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, utilizou-se a análise de trilha, tendo como variável principal a DMS% e como variáveis explicativas as demais variáveis observadas nos experimentos, mostrando que variáveis como rendimento de grãos, altura da planta, altura de inserção da primeira espigas e número final de plantas, com valores mais homogêneos dentro de cada experimento, proporcionam um menor quadrado médio do erro, fazendo com que a precisão do experimento seja melhorada.A study was performed to verify the relationship between the least significative difference in mean percentage (LSD%) of the variable grain yield and the mean and experimental error of the morphological characteristics observed throughout the experiment cultivar cicle, and the number of treatments in corn. Using data from a net of corn cultivars trials in the Rio Grande do Sul State, a pathy analysis was carried out, with LSD% as the main variable and as explaining variables some other variables measured in the trials. The results showed that variables such as grain yield, plant height, heigth of the ear and the final number of plants in corn, with more homogeneous values inside each trial, lead to a smaller mean square error, which reproved the experimental precision.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

“Feeling Warmth and Close to Her”: Communication and Resilience Reflected in Turning Points in Positive Adult Stepchild–Stepparent Relationships

With the goal of understanding the development of positive stepchild–stepparent relationships, the researchers focused on turning points characterizing the interaction of adult stepchildren who have a positive bond with a stepparent. Engaging a relational turning points perspective, 38 stepchildren (males and females, ages 25 to 52 years old) who reported a positive stepparent relationship were interviewed, generating 269 turning points which were categorized into 15 turning point types and coded by valence. Turning points occurring most frequently were: prosocial actions, quality time, conflict/ disagreement, changes in household/family composition, and rituals. Findings are discussed, including implications for developing and enacting resilient and positive stepchild–stepparent relationships and future directions for researchers wanting to focus on positive family interaction