1,179 research outputs found
Erratum to: Metformin improved health-related quality of life in ethnic Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Structural Performance of Reinforced Concrete Flat Plate Buildings Subjected to Fire
El siguiente artĂculo se propone estudiar la poesĂa de Luis HernĂĄndez a partir de los problemas que surgen al intentar estudiar su obra reunida. Antes que ser valorada como una poesĂa âinacabadaâ, la deliberada asistematicidad de su poĂŠtica debe ser entendida como el resultado de un calculado y consciente ejercicio artĂstico, cuyas fuentes filosĂłficas tradicionalmente han pugnado por una ontologĂa del movimiento frente a una metafĂsica de la permanencia. Bajo esta perspectiva, la obra de HernĂĄndez se revela como un âplano de inmanenciaâ, desde el cual acontece el sentido de su poesĂa en el quehacer de la escritura.The article aims to study Luis HernĂĄndezâ poetry from the point of view of the problems that emerge when trying to analyze his Complete Works. Rather than being assessed as âunfinishedâ, the deliberate and unsystematic appearance of his poetic, should rather be understood as the result of a calculated and conscious artistic practice that stems from philosophical trends which traditionally have fostered an ontology of movement against a metaphysics of permanence. Under this view, HernĂĄndez work shows up as âplane of immanenceâ from where sense becomes an event for the creative writing process.El segĂźent article es proposa estudiar la poesia de Luis HernĂĄndez a partir dels problemes que sorgeixen al tractar dâestudiar la seva obra reunida. Abans de ser valorada com una poesia âincabadaâ, la deliberada asistematicitat de la seva poètica deu ser entesa com el resultat dâun calculat i conscient exercici artĂstic, fonts filosòfiques de les quals han pugnat tradicionalment per una ontologia del moviment davant una metafĂsica de la permanència. Sota aquesta perspectiva, lâobra dâHernĂ ndez es revela com un âpla dâinmanènciaâ, des del qual esdevĂŠ el sentit de la seva poesia en el afer de lâescriptura
Comparative Performance of Comorbidity Indices in Predicting Health Care-Related Behaviors and Outcomes among Medicaid Enrollees with Type 2 Diabetes
Abstract No single gold standard of comorbidity measure has been identified, and the performance of comorbidity indices vary according to the outcome of interest. The authors compared the Charlson Comorbidity Index, Elixhauser Index (EI), Chronic Disease Score (CDS), and Health-related Quality of Life Comorbidity Index (HRQL-CI) in predicting health care-related behaviors (physicians' concordance with diabetes care standards and patients' oral antidiabetic drug [OAD] adherence) and outcomes (health care utilization and expenditures) among Medicaid enrollees with type 2 diabetes. A total of 9832 diabetes patients who used OAD were identified using data from the MarketScan Medicaid database from 2003 to 2007. Predictive performance of the comorbidity index was assessed using multiple regression models controlling for patient demographics, diabetes severity, and baseline health care characteristics. Among the 4 indices, the CDS was best at predicting physician's concordance with care standards. The CDS and HRQL-CI mental index performed better than other indices as predictors of medication adherence. The EI was best at predicting health care utilization and expenditures. These results suggest that, for these low-income diabetes patients, the CDS and HRQL-CI mental index were relatively better risk-adjustment tools for health care-related behavior data evaluation and the EI was the first choice for health care utilization and expenditures data. (Population Health Management 2012;15:220?229)Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98469/1/pop%2E2011%2E0037.pd
MAGE-A cancer/testis antigens inhibit MDM2 ubiquitylation function and promote increased levels of MDM4
Melanoma antigen A (MAGE-A) proteins comprise a structurally and biochemically similar sub-family of Cancer/Testis antigens that are expressed in many cancer types and are thought to contribute actively to malignancy. MAGE-A proteins are established regulators of certain cancer-associated transcription factors, including p53, and are activators of several RING finger-dependent ubiquitin E3 ligases. Here, we show that MAGE-A2 associates with MDM2, a ubiquitin E3 ligase that mediates ubiquitylation of more than 20 substrates including mainly p53, MDM2 itself, and MDM4, a potent p53 inhibitor and MDM2 partner that is structurally related to MDM2. We find that MAGE-A2 interacts with MDM2 via the N-terminal p53-binding pocket and the RING finger domain of MDM2 that is required for homo/hetero-dimerization and for E2 ligase interaction. Consistent with these data, we show that MAGE-A2 is a potent inhibitor of the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of MDM2, yet it does not have any significant effect on p53 turnover mediated by MDM2. Strikingly, however, increased MAGE-A2 expression leads to reduced ubiquitylation and increased levels of MDM4. Similarly, silencing of endogenous MAGE-A expression diminishes MDM4 levels in a manner that can be rescued by the proteasomal inhibitor, bortezomid, and permits increased MDM2/MDM4 association. These data suggest that MAGE-A proteins can: (i) uncouple the ubiquitin ligase and degradation functions of MDM2; (ii) act as potent inhibitors of E3 ligase function; and (iii) regulate the turnover of MDM4. We also find an association between the presence of MAGE-A and increased MDM4 levels in primary breast cancer, suggesting that MAGE-A-dependent control of MDM4 levels has relevance to cancer clinically
Smoking, cessation and expenditure in low income Chinese: cross sectional survey
BACKGROUND: This study was carried-out to explore smoking behaviour and smoking expenditure among low income workers in Eastern China to inform tobacco control policy. METHODS: A self-completion questionnaire was administered to 1958 urban workers, 1909 rural workers and 3248 migrant workers in Zhejiang Province, Eastern China in 2004. RESULTS: Overall 54% of the men and 1.8% of all women were current smokers (at least 1 cigarette per day). Smoking was least common in migrant men (51%), compared with 58% of urban workers and 64% rural inhabitants (P < 0.0001). Forty-nine percent of rural males smoke more than 10 cigarettes/day, and 22% over 20/day. The prevalence of smoking increased with age. Overall 9% of the males had successfully quit smoking. Reasons for quitting were to prevent future illness (58%), current illness (31%), family pressures (20%) and financial considerations (20%). Thirteen percent of current smokers had ever tried to quit (cessation for at least one week) while 22% intended to quit, with migrants most likely to intend to quit. Almost all (96%) were aware that smoking was harmful to health, though only 25% were aware of the dangers of passive smoking. A mean of 11% of personal monthly income is spent on smoking rising to a mean of 15.4% in rural smokers. This expenditure was found to have major opportunity costs, including in terms of healthcare access. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of smoking and successful quitting suggest that smoking prevalence in low income groups in Eastern China may have peaked. Tobacco control should focus on support for quitters, on workplace/public place smoking restrictions and should develop specific programmes in rural areas. Health education messages should emphasise the opportunity costs of smoking and the dangers of passive smoking
Successful treatment with fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and diarrhea following severe sepsis
A 3D Model of the Membrane Protein Complex Formed by the White Spot Syndrome Virus Structural Proteins
Outbreaks of white spot disease have had a large negative economic impact on cultured shrimp worldwide. However, the pathogenesis of the causative virus, WSSV (whit spot syndrome virus), is not yet well understood. WSSV is a large enveloped virus. The WSSV virion has three structural layers surrounding its core DNA: an outer envelope, a tegument and a nucleocapsid. In this study, we investigated the protein-protein interactions of the major WSSV structural proteins, including several envelope and tegument proteins that are known to be involved in the infection process.In the present report, we used coimmunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid assays to elucidate and/or confirm all the interactions that occur among the WSSV structural (envelope and tegument) proteins VP51A, VP19, VP24, VP26 and VP28. We found that VP51A interacted directly not only with VP26 but also with VP19 and VP24. VP51A, VP19 and VP24 were also shown to have an affinity for self-interaction. Chemical cross-linking assays showed that these three self-interacting proteins could occur as dimers.From our present results in conjunction with other previously established interactions we construct a 3D model in which VP24 acts as a core protein that directly associates with VP26, VP28, VP38A, VP51A and WSV010 to form a membrane-associated protein complex. VP19 and VP37 are attached to this complex via association with VP51A and VP28, respectively. Through the VP26-VP51C interaction this envelope complex is anchored to the nucleocapsid, which is made of layers of rings formed by VP664. A 3D model of the nucleocapsid and the surrounding outer membrane is presented
Enrichment of lung microbiome with supraglottic taxa is associated with increased pulmonary inflammation
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