A monoclonal antibody against DNA binding helix of p53 protein

Three monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were generated against p53 DNA-binding core domain. When tested by immunoprecipitation, Western blot and immunofluorescence techniques, Mab 9E4, as well as 7D3 and 6B10 reacted with both wild-type and various mutant p53 proteins. The epitopes recognized by Mabs 7D3, 9E4 and 6B10 were located respectively within the amino acid residues 211-220, 281-290 and 291-300 of human p53 protein. The epitope recognized by 9E4 Mab coincides with helix 2, also called p53 DNA binding helix, which allows the direct contact of the protein with its target DNA sequences. This antibody may be useful to study transcription-dependent and transcription-independent activities of wild-type and mutant p53 proteins

A nonlinear scalar model of extreme mass ratio inspirals in effective field theory I. Self force through third order

The motion of a small compact object in a background spacetime is investigated in the context of a model nonlinear scalar field theory. This model is constructed to have a perturbative structure analogous to the General Relativistic description of extreme mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs). We apply the effective field theory approach to this model and calculate the finite part of the self force on the small compact object through third order in the ratio of the size of the compact object to the curvature scale of the background (e.g., black hole) spacetime. We use well-known renormalization methods and demonstrate the consistency of the formalism in rendering the self force finite at higher orders within a point particle prescription for the small compact object. This nonlinear scalar model should be useful for studying various aspects of higher-order self force effects in EMRIs but within a comparatively simpler context than the full gravitational case. These aspects include developing practical schemes for higher order self force numerical computations, quantifying the effects of transient resonances on EMRI waveforms and accurately modeling the small compact object's motion for precise determinations of the parameters of detected EMRI sources.Comment: 30 pages, 8 figure

Composition differences between organic and conventional meat: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Demand for organic meat is partially driven by consumer perceptions that organic foods are more nutritious than non-organic foods. However, there have been no systematic reviews comparing specifically the nutrient content of organic and conventionally produced meat. In this study, we report results of a meta-analysis based on sixty-seven published studies comparing the composition of organic and non-organic meat products. For many nutritionally relevant compounds (e.g. minerals, antioxidants and most individual fatty acids (FA)), the evidence base was too weak for meaningful meta-analyses. However, significant differences in FA profiles were detected when data from all livestock species were pooled. Concentrations of SFA and MUFA were similar or slightly lower, respectively, in organic compared with conventional meat. Larger differences were detected for total PUFA and n-3 PUFA, which were an estimated 23 (95 % CI 11, 35) % and 47 (95 % CI 10, 84) % higher in organic meat, respectively. However, for these and many other composition parameters, for which meta-analyses found significant differences, heterogeneity was high, and this could be explained by differences between animal species/meat types. Evidence from controlled experimental studies indicates that the high grazing/forage-based diets prescribed under organic farming standards may be the main reason for differences in FA profiles. Further studies are required to enable meta-analyses for a wider range of parameters (e.g. antioxidant, vitamin and mineral concentrations) and to improve both precision and consistency of results for FA profiles for all species. Potential impacts of composition differences on human health are discussed

Single coronary artery incidence in 215,140 patients undergoing coronary angiography

Background: The aim of our study is to determine the incidence of single coronary artery (SCA). SCA is a rarely seen coronary anomaly in which the right coronary artery and the left main coronary artery arise from single aortic sinus. Although SCA has a benign course in most cases and its clinical significance is unknown, in some autopsy studies it was shown to be related to sudden cardiac death. Materials and methods: SCA patients detected among 215,140 coronary angiographies (CAG) performed between 1998 and 2013 in SANKO Hospital were included in our study. The classification of CAG was made according to the two different classifications defined by Smith and Lipton and colleagues. Results: A total number of 215,140 patients who underwent routine CAG were included in the study, and SCA was detected in 67 (0.031%) patients. There were 6 (9%) type R-I, 23 (34%) type R-II, 10 (15%) type R-III, 16 (24%) type L-I and 12 (18%) type L-II patients according to the angiographic classification. Conclusions: SCA is rarely seen during routine cardiac catheterisation and its incidence is 0.014–0.066% in angiographic series. In our study, the incidence was shown to be similar to the previous studies.

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Comparing face-to-face and internet-based basic body awareness therapy for fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate and compare the effecs of face-to-face and internet-based Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT), in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Materials and methods: FM-diagnosed patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups: face-to-face BBAT (F2F-BBAT), internet-based BBAT (I-BBAT), or a waiting list control group (CG). The F2F-BBAT group underwent individual 8-week BBAT sessions (2 sessions per week). The I-BBAT group received an equivalent dosage of BBAT via online video conferencing software. The primary outcome was the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised (FIQR). Secondary outcomes included the pressure pain threshold (PPT) via algometer, the PostureScreen Mobile (R) (PSM) application, the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), and plasma fibrinogen and haptoglobin levels. Results: A total of 41 patients completed the study. Both the F2F-BBAT (n = 14) and I-BBAT (n = 13) groups showed significant improvements in all outcome measures (p 0.05). Conversely, the CG (n = 14) demonstrated no substantial improvements in the outcome measures (p > 0.05). Compared to the CG, both the F2F-BBAT and I-BBAT groups exhibited superior results in FIQR, PPT, PSM, SF-MPQ, and multiple SF-36 sub-parameters (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that BBAT delivered via internet-based telerehabilitation can have comparable effective results on clinical parameters with conventional face-to face BBAT in patients with FM. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04981132

Membrane-mediated interactions

Interactions mediated by the cell membrane between inclusions, such as membrane proteins or antimicrobial peptides, play important roles in their biological activity. They also constitute a fascinating challenge for physicists, since they test the boundaries of our understanding of self-assembled lipid membranes, which are remarkable examples of two-dimensional complex fluids. Inclusions can couple to various degrees of freedom of the membrane, resulting in different types of interactions. In this chapter, we review the membrane-mediated interactions that arise from direct constraints imposed by inclusions on the shape of the membrane. These effects are generic and do not depend on specific chemical interactions. Hence, they can be studied using coarse-grained soft matter descriptions. We deal with long-range membrane-mediated interactions due to the constraints imposed by inclusions on membrane curvature and on its fluctuations. We also discuss the shorter-range interactions that arise from the constraints on membrane thickness imposed by inclusions presenting a hydrophobic mismatch with the membrane.Comment: 38 pages, 10 figures, pre-submission version. In: Bassereau P., Sens P. (eds) Physics of Biological Membranes. Springer, Cha

DRhigh+CD45RA−-Tregs Potentially Affect the Suppressive Activity of the Total Treg Pool in Renal Transplant Patients

Recent studies show that regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an essential role in tolerance induction after organ transplantation. In order to examine whether there are differences in the composition of the total CD4+CD127low+/−FoxP3+- Treg cell pool between stable transplant patients and patients with biopsy proven rejection (BPR), we compared the percentages and the functional activity of the different Treg cell subsets (DRhigh+CD45RA−-Tregs, DRlow+CD45RA−-Tregs, DR−CD45RA−-Tregs, DR−CD45RA+-Tregs). All parameters were determined during the three different periods of time after transplantation (0–30 days, 31–1,000 days, >1,000 days). Among 156 transplant patients, 37 patients suffered from BPR. The most prominent differences between rejecting and non-rejecting patients were observed regarding the DRhigh+CD45RA−-Treg cell subset. Our data demonstrate that the suppressive activity of the total Treg pool strongly depends on the presence of these Treg cells. Their percentage within the total Treg pool strongly decreased after transplantation and remained relatively low during the first year after transplantation in all patients. Subsequently, the proportion of this Treg subset increased again in patients who accepted the transplant and reached a value of healthy non-transplanted subjects. By contrast, in patients with acute kidney rejection, the DRhigh+CD45RA−-Treg subset disappeared excessively, causing a reduction in the suppressive activity of the total Treg pool. Therefore, both the monitoring of its percentage within the total Treg pool and the monitoring of the HLA-DR MFI of the DR+CD45RA−-Treg subset may be useful tools for the prediction of graft rejection

Intuitionistic Fuzzy Time Series Functions Approach for Time Series Forecasting

Fuzzy inference systems have been commonly used for time series forecasting in the literature. Adaptive network fuzzy inference system, fuzzy time series approaches and fuzzy regression functions approaches are popular among fuzzy inference systems. In recent years, intuitionistic fuzzy sets have been preferred in the fuzzy modeling and new fuzzy inference systems have been proposed based on intuitionistic fuzzy sets. In this paper, a new intuitionistic fuzzy regression functions approach is proposed based on intuitionistic fuzzy sets for forecasting purpose. This new inference system is called an intuitionistic fuzzy time series functions approach. The contribution of the paper is proposing a new intuitionistic fuzzy inference system. To evaluate the performance of intuitionistic fuzzy time series functions, twenty-three real-world time series data sets are analyzed. The results obtained from the intuitionistic fuzzy time series functions approach are compared with some other methods according to a root mean square error and mean absolute percentage error criteria. The proposed method has superior forecasting performance among all methods