1,296 research outputs found
Treatment of cyclic vomiting syndrome with co-enzyme Q10 and amitriptyline, a retrospective study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), which is defined by recurrent stereotypical episodes of nausea and vomiting, is a relatively-common disabling condition that is associated with migraine headache and mitochondrial dysfunction. Co-enzyme Q10 (Co-Q) is a nutritional supplement that has demonstrated efficacy in pediatric and adult migraine. It is increasingly used in CVS despite the complete lack of studies to demonstrate its value in treatment</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using an Internet-based survey filled out by subjects with CVS or their parents, the efficacy, tolerability and subject satisfaction in CVS prophylaxis were queried. Subjects taking Co-Q (22 subjects) were compared against those taking amitriptyline (162 subjects), which is the general standard-of-care.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Subjects/parents reported similar levels of efficacy for a variety of episode parameters (frequency, duration, number of emesis, nausea severity). There was a 50% reduction in at least one of those four parameters in 72% of subjects treated with amitriptyline and 68% of subjects treated Co-Q. However, while no side effects were reported on Co-Q, 50% of subjects on amitriptyline reported side effects (P = 5 × 10<sup>-7</sup>), resulting in 21% discontinuing treatment (P = 0.007). Subjects/parents considered the benefits to outweigh the risks of treatment in 47% of cases on amitriptyline and 77% of cases on Co-Q (P = 0.008).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data suggest that the natural food supplement Co-Q is potentially efficacious and tolerable in the treatment of CVS, and should be considered as an option in CVS prophylaxis. Our data would likely be helpful in the design of a double-blind clinical trial.</p
Interacting supernovae and supernova impostors. SN 2007sv: the major eruption of a massive star in UGC 5979
We report the results of the photometric and spectroscopic monitoring
campaign of the transient SN 2007sv. The observables are similar to those of
type IIn supernovae, a well-known class of objects whose ejecta interact with
pre-existing circum-stellar material. The spectra show a blue continuum at
early phases and prominent Balmer lines in emission, however, the absolute
magnitude at the discovery of SN 2007sv (M_R = - 14.25 +/- 0.38) indicate it to
be most likely a supernova impostor. This classification is also supported by
the lack of evidence in the spectra of very high velocity material as expected
in supernova ejecta. In addition we find no unequivocal evidence of broad lines
of alpha - and/or Fe-peak elements. The comparison with the absolute light
curves of other interacting objects (including type IIn supernovae) highlights
the overall similarity with the prototypical impostor SN 1997bs. This supports
our claim that SN 2007sv was not a genuine supernova, and was instead a
supernova impostor, most likely similar to the major eruption of a luminous
blue variable.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 15 pages, 11 figures, 5 table
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Neutron Source Strength Estimates from (a, n) Reactions in Binary Mixtures of Actinide Particles and Light Element Particles
The cumulative distribution of package dose rates, based on the 18 batches of historical PuO{sub 2} particle size distributions, is shown in Fig. 6 for ''Hanford 10-13% Pu-240'' plutonium. The calculated dose rates for all batches range from about 50 mrem/h to about 2,200 mrem/h, with over 50% of the batches being less than the 200 mrem/h limit for public transportation. A more refined analysis would show that almost all of the batches would be less than 200 mrem/h, but some could exceed this limit as seen by the distribution shape. Without detailed characterization of the BeO particle size distribution, additional analysis would not remove the uncertainty in these calculations. Because the actual amount of beryllium contamination is likely to be much less than 500 g, the dose rates would be expected to be much lower than those shown here. Based on the particle size distribution analysis of the 18 batches analyzed, it is also likely that most of the 3013 cans to be loaded in the 9975 Package will have dose rates that are less than the 200 mrem/h limit for the package surface. However, extra care will be required in performing, and verifying, the dose rate measurements at the surface of the package, prior to shipment
Elasticity model of a supercoiled DNA molecule
Within a simple elastic theory, we study the elongation versus force
characteristics of a supercoiled DNA molecule at thermal equilibrium in the
regime of small supercoiling. The partition function is mapped to the path
integral representation for a quantum charged particle in the field of a
magnetic monopole with unquantized charge.
We show that the theory is singular in the continuum limit and must be
regularised at an intermediate length scale. We find good agreement with
existing experimental data, and point out how to measure the twist rigidity
accurately.Comment: Latex, 4 pages. The figure contains new experimental data, giving a
new determination of the twist rigidit
The possible detection of a binary companion to a Type Ibn supernova progenitor
We present late-time observations of the site of the Type Ibn supernova (SN) 2006jc, acquired with the Hubble
Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys. A faint blue source is recovered at the SN position, with
brightness mF W 435 = 26.76 0.20, mF W 555 = 26.60 0.23 and mF W 625 = 26.32 0.19 mag, although there is
no detection in a contemporaneous narrow-band Ha image. The spectral energy distribution of the late-time source
is well-fit by a stellar-like spectrum (log 3.7 Teff > and log L L > 4), subject to only a small degree of reddening
—consistent with that estimated for SN 2006jc itself at early-times. The lack of further outbursts after the
explosion of SN 2006jc suggests that the precursor outburst originated from the progenitor. The possibility of the
source being a compact host cluster is ruled out on the basis of the source’s faintness; however, the possibility that
the late-time source may be an unresolved light echo originating in a shell or sphere of pre-SN dust (within a radius
1 pc) is also discussed. Irrespective of the nature of the late-time source, these observations rule out a luminous
blue variable as a companion to the progenitor of SN 2006jc
Symptoms of somatization as a rapid screening tool for mitochondrial dysfunction in depression
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>Somatic symptomatology is common in depression, and is often attributed to the Freudian-inspired concept of "somatization". While the same somatic symptoms and depression are common in mitochondrial disease, in cases with concurrent mood symptoms the diagnosis of a mitochondrial disorder and related therapy are typically delayed for many years. A short screening tool that can identify patients with depression at high risk for having underlying mitochondrial dysfunction is presented.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Six items of the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) were found to differentiate among 21 chronically-depressed Swedish subjects with low versus normal muscle ATP production rates. A screening tool consisting of the six KSP questions was validated in the relatives of American genetics clinic patients, including in 24 matrilineal relatives in families with maternally inherited mitochondrial disease and in 30 control relatives.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among the depressed Swedish patients, the screening tool was positive in 13/14 with low and 1/7 with normal mitochondrial function (P = 0.0003). Applied to the American relatives of patients, the screening tool was positive in 13/24 matrilineal relatives and in 1/30 control relatives (P = 2 × 10<sup>-5</sup>).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our preliminary data suggest that a small number of specific somatic-related questions can be constructed into a valid screening tool for cases at high risk for having a component of energy metabolism in their pathogenesis.</p
Modulation of eDNA Release and Degradation Affects Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Maturation
Recent studies have demonstrated a role for Staphylococcus aureus cidA-mediated cell lysis and genomic DNA release in biofilm adherence. The current study extends these findings by examining both temporal and additional genetic factors involved in the control of genomic DNA release and degradation during biofilm maturation. Cell lysis and DNA release were found to be critical for biofilm attachment during the initial stages of development and the released DNA (eDNA) remained an important matrix component during biofilm maturation. This study also revealed that an lrgAB mutant exhibits increased biofilm adherence and matrix-associated eDNA consistent with its proposed role as an inhibitor of cidA-mediated lysis. In flow-cell assays, both cid and lrg mutations had dramatic effects on biofilm maturation and tower formation. Finally, staphylococcal thermonuclease was shown to be involved in biofilm development as a nuc mutant formed a thicker biofilm containing increased levels of matrix-associated eDNA. Together, these findings suggest a model in which the opposing activities of the cid and lrg gene products control cell lysis and genomic DNA release during biofilm development, while staphylococcal thermonuclease functions to degrade the eDNA, possibly as a means to promote biofilm dispersal
Conformations of closed DNA
We examine the conformations of a model for a short segment of closed DNA.
The molecule is represented as a cylindrically symmetric elastic rod with a
constraint corresponding to a specification of the linking number. We obtain
analytic expressions leading to the spatial configuration of a family of
solutions representing distortions that interpolate between the circular form
of DNA and a figure-eight form that represents the onset of interwinding. We
are also able to generate knotted loops. We suggest ways to use our approach to
produce other configurations relevant to studies of DNA structure. The
stability of the distorted configurations is assessed, along with the effects
of fluctuations on the free energy of the various configurations.Comment: 39 pages in REVTEX with 14 eps figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. E.
This manuscript updates, expands and revises, to a considerable extent, a
previously posted manuscript, entitled "Conformations of Circular DNA," which
appeared as cond-mat/970104
Bi-allelic JAM2 Variants Lead to Early-Onset Recessive Primary Familial Brain Calcification.
Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a combination of neurological, psychiatric, and cognitive decline associated with calcium deposition on brain imaging. To date, mutations in five genes have been linked to PFBC. However, more than 50% of individuals affected by PFBC have no molecular diagnosis. We report four unrelated families presenting with initial learning difficulties and seizures and later psychiatric symptoms, cerebellar ataxia, extrapyramidal signs, and extensive calcifications on brain imaging. Through a combination of homozygosity mapping and exome sequencing, we mapped this phenotype to chromosome 21q21.3 and identified bi-allelic variants in JAM2. JAM2 encodes for the junctional-adhesion-molecule-2, a key tight-junction protein in blood-brain-barrier permeability. We show that JAM2 variants lead to reduction of JAM2 mRNA expression and absence of JAM2 protein in patient's fibroblasts, consistent with a loss-of-function mechanism. We show that the human phenotype is replicated in the jam2 complete knockout mouse (jam2 KO). Furthermore, neuropathology of jam2 KO mouse showed prominent vacuolation in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and cerebellum and particularly widespread vacuolation in the midbrain with reactive astrogliosis and neuronal density reduction. The regions of the human brain affected on neuroimaging are similar to the affected brain areas in the myorg PFBC null mouse. Along with JAM3 and OCLN, JAM2 is the third tight-junction gene in which bi-allelic variants are associated with brain calcification, suggesting that defective cell-to-cell adhesion and dysfunction of the movement of solutes through the paracellular spaces in the neurovascular unit is a key mechanism in CNS calcification
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Investigation of groundwater recirculation for the removal of RDX from the Pantex Plant perched aquifer
The Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, is a US Department of Energy (DOE) facility that has been in operation since 1942. Past and present operations at Pantex include the creation of chemical high explosives components for nuclear weapons and assembly and disassembly of nuclear weapons. The Pantex Plant is underlain by the Ogallala aquifer, which in this area, consists of the main water-bearing unit and a perched water zone. These are separated by a fine-grained zone of low permeability. Multiple contaminant plumes containing high explosive (HE) compounds have been detected in the perched aquifer beneath the plant. The occurrence of these contaminants is the result of past waste disposal practices at the facility. RDX is an HE compound, which has been detected in the groundwater of the perched aquifer at significant concentrations. A pilot-scale, dual-phase extraction treatment system has been installed at one location at the plant, east of Zone 12, to test the effectiveness of such a system on the removal of these contaminants from the subsurface. A tracer test using a conservative tracer, bromide (Br), was conducted at the treatment site in 1996. In addition to the bromide, RDX and water elevations in the aquifer were monitored. Using data from the tracer test and other relevant data from the investigations at Pantex, flow and contaminant transport in the perched aquifer were simulated with groundwater models. The flow was modeled using MODFLOW and the transport of contaminants in the aqueous phase was modeled using MT3D. Modeling the perched aquifer had been conducted to characterize the flow in the perched aquifer; estimate RDX retardation in the perched aquifer; and evaluate the use of groundwater re-circulation to enhance the extraction of RDX from the perched aquifer
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