A study of Neospora caninum antibody seroprevalence ın dairy cows in Turkey

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗNeospora caninum is a intracellular protozoan parasite and is one of the major causes of repeated abortions, foetal malformations, pre-term deliveries, stillbirth and possible loss of milk yield in livestock. The presence of specific antibodies against N. caninum in the blood serum of dairy cows is investigated in the present study. A total of 184 blood serum samples of dairy cows were examined in Bursa province in the Marmara Region. N. caninum antibodies were measured using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (The Svanovir Neospora-Ab ELISA). From the total sample, antibodies to N. caninum were detected in 62 of the 184 examined cows (33.3%) and neurological findings were seen in a calf

Senescence and immortality in hepatocellular carcinoma

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Cellular senescence is a process leading to terminal growth arrest with characteristic morphological features. This process is mediated by telomere-dependent, oncogene-induced and ROS-induced pathways, but persistent DNA damage is the most common cause. Senescence arrest is mediated by p16(INK4a)- and p21(Cip1)-dependent pathways both leading to retinoblastoma protein (pRb) activation. p53 plays a relay role between DNA damage sensing and p21(Cip1) activation. pRb arrests the cell cycle by recruiting proliferation genes to facultative heterochromatin for permanent silencing. Replicative senescence that occurs in hepatocytes in culture and in liver cirrhosis is associated with lack of telomerase activity and results in telomere shortening. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells display inactivating mutations of p53 and epigenetic silencing of p16(INK4a). Moreover, they re-express telomerase reverse transcriptase required for telomere maintenance. Thus, senescence bypass and cellular immortality is likely to contribute significantly to HCC development. Oncogene-induced senescence in premalignant lesions and reversible immortality of cancer cells including HCC offer new potentials for tumor prevention and treatment. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Evaluation of metabolic profiles of Saanen goats in the transition period

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗHealthy Saanen goats (n=30) in periparturient period were used in the present study. Blood samples were collected 21, 14 and 7 days before parturition, at the time of birth and postpartum days 7, 14 and 21. Non-esterifiedfatty acids (NEFA), betahydroxy butyric acid (BHBA), Total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CREA) aspartate amino transferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHOL), triglyceride (TG), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) levels were evaluated. During the study period, NEFA, SDH, CREA levels increased and CHOL and TG levels decreased at time of parturition. When the changes of parameters in prepartum and postpartum period were compared, the concentrations of NEFA, CHOL, GLU, TG, Ca were higher (p <0.001) in prepartum period;however BHBA, Mg, ALB, GGT, AST, TP, P, BUN, SDH and CREA concentrations were detected to be higher (p <0.001) in postpartum period. Metabolic Profile Test based on biochemical parameters evaluated in our study would be beneficial for diagnosis, prevention and control of diseases such as pregnancy toxemia, hypocalcemia, infertility in goats

Medium voltage three-level converters for the grid connection of a multi-MW wind turbine

Three-level (3L) neutral point clamped (NPC), flying capacitor (FC), and H-bridge (HB) voltage source converters (VSCs) as a grid-side full-scale medium voltage (MV) converter are modeled, controlled, and simulated for the grid connection of a hypothetical 6MW wind turbine. Via the converter topological features and the simulation results demonstrating the converter performance, these three 3L-VSCs are discussed and compared in terms of power density and reliability, which can be considered as two of the most important criteria for the converters placed in wind turbine nacelles. Given the grid connection circuit (without capacitive switching ripple filters), the 3L-HB-VSC is expected to be superior with respect to power density and reliability over the 3L-NPC- and -FC-VSCs.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Converter structure-based power loss and static thermal modeling of the press-pack IGBT-based three-level ANPC and HB VSCs applied to Multi-MW wind turbines

In this study, the converter-structure based power loss and thermal models are developed for the medium voltage full-scale 3LANPC- VSC and 3L-HB-VSC utilizing press-pack IGBT-diode pairs and interfacing a 6MW wind turbine to a medium voltage grid. The switching power loss models are built using the experimentally obtained switching power loss data from a fullscale 3L-ANPC-VSC leg. The static thermal models are developed considering the double-sided cooling of the switches by the cooling plates. For the experimental model verifications, a test setup with a single-phase full-scale 3L-ANPC-VSC is introduced.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Inhibition of Akt signaling in hepatoma cells induces apoptotic cell death independent of Akt activation status

Cataloged from PDF version of article.The serine/threonine kinase Akt, a downstream effector of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), is involved in cell survival and anti-apoptotic signaling. Akt has been shown to be constitutively expressed in a variety of human tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this report we analyzed the status of Akt pathway in three HCC cell lines, and tested cytotoxic effects of Akt pathway inhibitors LY294002, Wortmannin and Inhibitor VIII. In Mahlavu human hepatoma cells Akt was constitutively activated, as demonstrated by its Ser473 phosphorylation, downstream hyperphosphorylation of BAD on Ser136, and by a specific cell-free kinase assay. In contrast, Huh7 and HepG2 did not show hyperactivation when tested by the same criteria. Akt enzyme hyperactivation in Mahlavu was associated with a loss of PTEN protein expression. Akt signaling was inhibited by the upstream kinase inhibitors, LY294002, Wortmannin, as well as by the specific Akt Inhibitor VIII in all three hepatoma cell lines. Cytotoxicity assays with Akt inhibitors in the same cell lines indicated that they were all sensitive, but with different IC50 values as assayed by RT-CES. We also demonstrated that the cytotoxic effect was through apoptotic cell death. Our findings provide evidence for its constitutive activation in one HCC cell line, and that HCC cell lines, independent of their Akt activation status respond to Akt inhibitors by apoptotic cell death. Thus, Akt inhibition may be considered as an attractive therapeutic intervention in liver cancer. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010

High-Dimensional Fixed Effects Profiling Models and Applications in End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients: Current State and Future Directions

Profiling analysis aims to evaluate health care providers, including hospitals, nursing homes, or dialysis facilities among others with respect to a patient outcome, such as 30-day unplanned hospital readmission or mortality. Fixed effects (FE) profiling models have been developed over the last decade, motivated by the overall need to (a) improve accurate identification or “flagging” of under-performing providers, (b) relax assumptions inherent in random effects (RE) profiling models, and (c) take into consideration the unique disease characteristics and care/treatment processes of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients on dialysis. In this paper, we review the current state of FE methodologies and their rationale in the ESKD population and illustrate applications in four key areas: profiling dialysis facilities for (1) patient hospitalizations over time (longitudinally) using standardized dynamic readmission ratio (SDRR), (2) identification of dialysis facility characteristics (e.g., staffing level) that contribute to hospital readmission, and (3) adverse recurrent events using standardized event ratio (SER). Also, we examine the operating characteristics with a focus on FE profiling models. Throughout these areas of applications to the ESKD population, we identify challenges for future research in both methodology and clinical studies

Development of a monolithic-like precast beam-column moment connection: Experimental and analytical investigation

This study aims to develop a novel monolithic-like precast beam-column connection for reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The proposed connection system has several advantages such as rapid assembly and disassembly, reusability, and replaceability if damaged during an earthquake event. An experimental investigation was first carried out to determine the seismic performance of the proposed connections. In total, six full-scale precast and monolithic T-shape beam-column connection specimens with different reinforcement ratios, specimen dimensions and detailing were tested under displacement controlled cyclic loading, while the axial load on the column was kept constant. The cyclic behaviour, curvature distribution, failure mode, energy dissipation capacity and ductility of the specimens were obtained using the experimental outputs. Detailed non-linear finite element (FE) models were then developed using ABAQUS. It is shown that the FE models can accurately predict the overall performance of the precast connections in terms of initial stiffness, lateral load-bearing capacity and post-peak behaviour. The results indicate that, in general, the precast connections exhibited considerably higher (up to 34%) ductility and ultimate drift ratio (deformability) compared to similar monolithic connections. For the same drift ratio, monolithic connections exhibited slightly higher (on average 10%) energy dissipation capacity, while the precast connections generally dissipated higher energy at their ultimate point (post-peak lateral drift corresponding to 15% loss in lateral strength). It is demonstrated that the monolithic-like precast connections can satisfy the ACI 318-14 acceptance criteria, while they also sustain the ASCE 41-17 Collapse Prevention (CP) limits. Therefore, the proposed connection system is considered to be suitable for RC structures in seismic regions

Dose- and time-dependent expression patterns of zebrafish orthologs of selected E2F target genes in response to serum starvation/replenishment

Targets of E2F transcription factors effectively regulate the cell cycle from worms to humans. Furthermore, the dysregulation of E2F transcription modules plays a highly conserved role in cancers of human and zebrafish. Studying E2F target expression under a given cellular state, such as quiescence, might lead to a better understanding of the conserved patterns of expression in different taxa. In the present study, we used literature searches and phylogeny to identify several targets of E2F transcription factors that are known to be serum-responsive; namely, PCNA, MYBL2, MCM7, TYMS, and CTGF. The transcriptional serum response of zebrafish orthologs of these genes were quantified under different doses (i.e., 0, 0.1, 1, 3, and 10% FBS) and time points (i.e., 6, 24 and 48 hours, h) using quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) in the zebrafish fibroblast cells (ZF4). Our results indicated that mRNA expression of zebrafish pcna, mybl2, mcm7 and tyms drastically decreased while that of ctgf increased with decreasing serum levels as observed in mammals. These genes responded to serum starvation at 24 and 48 h and to the mitogenic stimuli as early as 6 h except for ctgf whose expression was significantly altered at 24 h. The zebrafish Mcm7 protein levels also were modulated by serum starvation/ replenishment. The present study provides a foundation for the comparative analysis of quantitative expression patterns for genes involved in regulation of cell cycle using a zebrafish serum response model. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

Endoscopic ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation, for pancreatic cystic neoplasms and neuroendocrine tumors

AIM: To outline the feasibility, safety, adverse events and early results of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in pancreatic neoplasms using a novel probe. METHODS: This is a multi-center, pilot safety feasibility study. The intervention described was radiofrequency ablation (RF) which was applied with an innovative monopolar RF probe (1.2 mm Habib EUS-RFA catheter) placed through a 19 or 22 gauge fine needle aspiration (FNA) needle once FNA was performed in patients with a tumor in the head of the pancreas. The Habib™ EUS-RFA is a 1 Fr wire (0.33 mm, 0.013") with a working length of 190 cm, which can be inserted through the biopsy channel of an echoendoscope. RF power is applied to the electrode at the end of the wire to coagulate tissue in the liver and pancreas. RESULTS: Eight patients [median age of 65 (range 27-82) years; 7 female and 1 male] were recruited in a prospective multicenter trial. Six had a pancreatic cystic neoplasm (four a mucinous cyst, one had intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and one a microcystic adenoma) and two had a neuroendocrine tumors (NET) in the head of pancreas. The mean size of the cystic neoplasm and NET were 36.5 mm (SD ± 17.9 mm) and 27.5 mm (SD ± 17.7 mm) respectively. The EUS-RFA was successfully completed in all cases. Among the 6 patients with a cystic neoplasm, post procedure imaging in 3-6 mo showed complete resolution of the cysts in 2 cases, whilst in three more there was a 48.4% reduction [mean pre RF 38.8 mm (SD ± 21.7 mm) vs mean post RF 20 mm (SD ± 17.1 mm)] in size. In regards to the NET patients, there was a change in vascularity and central necrosis after EUS-RFA. No major complications were observed within 48 h of the procedure. Two patients had mild abdominal pain that resolved within 3 d. CONCLUSION: EUS-RFA of pancreatic neoplasms with a novel monopolar RF probe was well tolerated in all cases. Our preliminary data suggest that the procedure is straightforward and safe. The response ranged from complete resolution to a 50% reduction in size