Hepatitis B among Pacific Islanders in Southern California: how is health information associated with screening and vaccination?

We measured Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission knowledge and self-reported screening/testing behavior among Pacific Islanders (Guamanians/Chamorros, Samoans, and Tongans) in Southern California. We also examined access and trust by Pacific Islanders of varying health information sources. We administered and analyzed survey data (N = 297), using a convenience sample in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties in spring 2009. We found that while Pacific Islander respondents reported that they receive health information from physicians, and largely trust this source, information from and trust in physicians were not statistically significant in explaining whether respondents sought HBV screening or vaccination

Magnetic Field Tomography in Nearby Galaxies with the Square Kilometre Array

Magnetic fields play an important role in shaping the structure and evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM) of galaxies, but the details of this relationship remain unclear. With SKA1, the 3D structure of galactic magnetic fields and its connection to star formation will be revealed. A highly sensitive probe of the internal structure of the magnetoionized ISM is the partial depolarization of synchrotron radiation from inside the volume. Different configurations of magnetic field and ionized gas within the resolution element of the telescope lead to frequency-dependent changes in the observed degree of polarization. The results of spectro-polarimetric observations are tied to physical structure in the ISM through comparison with detailed modeling, supplemented with the use of new analysis techniques that are being actively developed and studied within the community such as Rotation Measure Synthesis. The SKA will enable this field to come into its own and begin the study of the detailed structure of the magnetized ISM in a sample of nearby galaxies, thanks to its extraordinary wideband capabilities coupled with the combination of excellent surface brightness sensitivity and angular resolution.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure; to appear as part of 'Cosmic Magnetism' in Proceedings 'Advancing Astrophysics with the SKA (AASKA14)', PoS(AASKA14)10

Ca2+ improves organization of single-stranded DNA bases in human Rad51 filament, explaining stimulatory effect on gene recombination

Human RAD51 protein (HsRad51) catalyses the DNA strand exchange reaction for homologous recombination. To clarify the molecular mechanism of the reaction in vitro being more effective in the presence of Ca2+ than of Mg2+, we have investigated the effect of these ions on the structure of HsRad51 filament complexes with single- and double-stranded DNA, the reaction intermediates. Flow linear dichroism spectroscopy shows that the two ionic conditions induce significantly different structures in the HsRad51/single-stranded DNA complex, while the HsRad51/double-stranded DNA complex does not demonstrate this ionic dependence. In the HsRad51/single-stranded DNA filament, the primary intermediate of the strand exchange reaction, ATP/Ca2+ induces an ordered conformation of DNA, with preferentially perpendicular orientation of nucleobases relative to the filament axis, while the presence of ATP/Mg2+, ADP/Mg2+ or ADP/Ca2+ does not. A high strand exchange activity is observed for the filament formed with ATP/Ca2+, whereas the other filaments exhibit lower activity. Molecular modelling suggests that the structural variation is caused by the divalent cation interfering with the L2 loop close to the DNA-binding site. It is proposed that the larger Ca2+ stabilizes the loop conformation and thereby the protein–DNA interaction. A tight binding of DNA, with bases perpendicularly oriented, could facilitate strand exchange

Meta-Analyses of Microarrays of Arabidopsis asymmetric leaves1 (as1), as2 and Their Modifying Mutants Reveal a Critical Role for the ETT Pathway in Stabilization of Adaxial-Abaxial Patterning and Cell Division During Leaf Development

It is necessary to use algorithms to analyze gene expression data from DNA microarrays, such as in clustering and machine learning. Previously, we developed the knowledge-based fuzzy adaptive resonance theory (KB-FuzzyART), a clustering algorithm suitable for analyzing gene expression data, to find clues for identifying gene networks. Leaf primordia form around the shoot apical meristem (SAM), which consists of indeterminate stem cells. Upon initiation of leaf development, adaxial-abaxial patterning is crucial for lateral expansion, via cellular proliferation, and the formation of flat symmetric leaves. Many regulatory genes that specify such patterning have been identified. Analysis by the KB-FuzzyART and subsequent molecular and genetic analyses previously showed that ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1 (AS1) and AS2 repress the expression of some abaxial-determinant genes, such as AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR3 (ARF3)/ETTIN (ETT) and ARF4, which are responsible for defects in leaf adaxial-abaxial polarity in as1 and as2. In the present study, genetic analysis revealed that ARF3/ETT and ARF4 were regulated by modifier genes, BOBBER1 (BOB1) and ELONGATA3 (ELO3), together with AS1-AS2. We analyzed expression arrays with as2 elo3 and as2 bob1, and extracted genes downstream of ARF3/ETT by using KB-FuzzyART and molecular analyses. The results showed that expression of Kip-related protein (KRP) (for inhibitors of cyclin-dependent protein kinases) and Isopentenyltransferase (IPT) (for biosynthesis of cytokinin) genes were controlled by AS1-AS2 through ARF3/ETT and ARF4 functions, which suggests that the AS1-AS2-ETT pathway plays a critical role in controlling the cell division cycle and the biosynthesis of cytokinin around SAM to stabilize leaf development in Arabidopsis thalian

O potencial de um instrumento para o reconhecimento de vulnerabilidades sociais e necessidades de saúde: saberes e práticas em saúde coletiva

OBJECTIVES: to analyze an instrument that aims to understand the health-disease process, its potential to identify social vulnerabilities and health needs to enable the most appropriate interventions in a given territory. Procedures: analysis of the data collection instrument - composed of closed and open questions to identify different profiles of social reproduction (ways of working and living) - used in the Project of Pedagogical Development and activities reported by students at a Collective Health Nursing department. CONCLUSIONS: the instrument enables health care professionals, especially those from Collective Health Nursing, to identify social vulnerabilities and health needs, and guide interventions in different contexts, according to the health promotion perspective. Thus, it reveals potential to transform current health practices, dynamism and constant innovation of these practices in different contexts, according to the "radicality" that is characteristic of Collective Health.Este estudio tuvo como objetivos analizar un instrumento de lectura del proceso salud enfermedad y evaluar su potencial para el reconocimiento de vulnerabilidades sociales y necesidades de salud, posibilitando intervenciones más adecuadas en un dado territorio. Los procedimientos usados se constituyeron de análisis del instrumento de recolección de datos - compuesto por preguntas cerradas y abiertas para el reconocimiento de los diferentes perfiles de reproducción social (formas de trabajar y de vivir) - utilizado en el Proyecto de Desarrollo Pedagógico y de informes de las actividades desarrolladas por alumnos del Departamento de Enfermería en Salud Colectiva de la Escuela de Enfermería de la Universidad de San Pablo(USP). Se concluye que el instrumento analizado posibilita a los profesionales de la salud, particularmente de Enfermería en Salud Colectiva, reconocer vulnerabilidades sociales y necesidades de salud, orientando sus intervenciones en diferentes contextos, según la perspectiva de la promoción de la salud. Revela, así, un potencial transformador de las prácticas de salud vigentes, carácter dinámico y de renovación constante de esas prácticas en diferentes contextos, según la "radicalidad" propia de la Salud Colectiva.Este estudo teve como objetivos analisar um instrumento de leitura do processo saúde-doença, seu potencial para o reconhecimento de vulnerabilidades sociais e necessidades de saúde, possibilitando intervenções mais adequadas num dado território. Os procedimentos usados constituíram-se de análise do instrumento de coleta de dados - composto por questões fechadas e abertas para o reconhecimento dos diferentes perfis de reprodução social (formas de trabalhar e de viver) - utilizado no Projeto de Desenvolvimento Pedagógico e de relatórios das atividades desenvolvidas por alunos do Departamento de Enfermagem em Saúde Coletiva da Escola de Enfermagem da USP. Conclui-se que o instrumento analisado possibilita aos profissionais de saúde, particularmente da Enfermagem em Saúde Coletiva, reconhecer vulnerabilidades sociais e necessidades de saúde, orientando suas intervenções em diferentes contextos, segundo a perspectiva da promoção da saúde. Revela, assim, potencial transformador das práticas de saúde vigentes, caráter dinâmico e de renovação constante dessas práticas em diferentes contextos, segundo a "radicalidade" própria da Saúde Coletiva

Construction of possible integrated predictive index based on EGFR and ANXA3 polymorphisms for chemotherapy response in fluoropyrimidine-treated Japanese gastric cancer patients using a bioinformatic method

Selected genetic and clinical parameters of gastric cancer patients. (XLS 33 kb

Enhanced chondrogenic differentiation of iPS cell-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells via neural crest cell induction for hyaline cartilage repair

iPS細胞由来の間葉系幹細胞から高品質な軟骨を作製. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-06-08.Generation of high-quality cartilage from iPS cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-06-15.Background: To date, there is no effective long-lasting treatment for cartilage tissue repair. Primary chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells are the most commonly used cell sources in regenerative medicine. However, both cell types have limitations, such as dedifferentiation, donor morbidity, and limited expansion. Here, we report a stepwise differentiation method to generate matrix-rich cartilage spheroids from induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (iMSCs) via the induction of neural crest cells under xeno-free conditions. Methods: The genes and signaling pathways regulating the chondrogenic susceptibility of iMSCs generated under different conditions were studied. Enhanced chondrogenic differentiation was achieved using a combination of growth factors and small-molecule inducers. Results: We demonstrated that the use of a thienoindazole derivative, TD-198946, synergistically improves chondrogenesis in iMSCs. The proposed strategy produced controlled-size spheroids and increased cartilage extracellular matrix production with no signs of dedifferentiation, fibrotic cartilage formation, or hypertrophy in vivo. Conclusion: These findings provide a novel cell source for stem cell-based cartilage repair. Furthermore, since chondrogenic spheroids have the potential to fuse within a few days, they can be used as building blocks for biofabrication of larger cartilage tissues using technologies such as the Kenzan Bioprinting method