bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute childhood encephalopathy with prolonged fever, pleocytosis and elevated inflammatory cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid and transient splenial lesion
Authors: Okada Rena , Sakaguchi Yuri , Matsushige Takeshi , Kamimaki Isamu , Takenouchi Toshiki , Takahashi Takao
Published: December 2019

Background: Acute encephalopathy during childhood represents a highly heterogeneous group of infectious and non-infectious pathologies. According to a recent nationwide survey on acute childhood encephalopathy in Japan, the combination of clinical and radiographic features left approximately half of the affected children unclassified, mainly because of the lack of disease-specific biomarkers.

Case: Herein, we document a school-aged boy who manifested with acute encephalopathy that was characterized by a prolonged fever, altered mental status, urinary retention, and intention tremor lasting for more than a month. Accompanying features included syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, pleocytosis with elevated interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, and a transient splenial lesion on neuroimaging. No pathogens were identified, and C-reactive protein was negative throughout his clinical course. This constellation of clinical features was not compatible with any of the existing entities of acute pediatric encephalopathy.

Discussion: Our retrospective literature review identified two additional school-aged male patients who exhibited highly similar clinical courses. The prolonged altered mental status with pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid and a transient splenial lesion in the absence of serum inflammatory markers suggest a primary central nervous system pathology.

Conclusion: This combination of features defines this presumably new group of acute childhood febrile encephalopathy with prolonged fever and ataxia in school-aged boys.
Rabbit models of ischemic stroke in biomedical research
Authors: Sysoev Yuriy I. , Prikhodko Veronika A. , Ivkin Dmitry Y. , Okovity Sergey
Published: December 2019

The development of experimental models of ischemic stroke allowing for effective translation of results from animal studies to humans is an important task of modern neuropharmacology. Due to the fact that new drugs with neuroprotective properties that have shown activity in rodents most often turn out to be not effective enough in humans, the use of larger laboratory animals may become a viable solution. Among the latter, rabbits are the most accessible species for laboratories. Since they have gyrencephalic brains and a significant amount of white matter, they can be considered to be highly similar to humans. In the present review, we discussed the main methods of ischemic stroke modelling in rabbits. The breed, age and sex of the animals, anesthesia methods as well as criteria for functional state assessment after cerebral ischemia are the issues that should be addressed before the start of the study.
Pharmacists in the system of pediatric palliative care: international practice and prospects in Russia
Authors: Narkevich Igor A. , Nemyatykh Oksana D. , Medvedeva Daria M.
Published: December 2019

Improvement of the palliative care system is one of the development priorities of health care system in Russia, as well as all around the world. This work represents the review of scientific literature dedicated to evaluation of the pharmaceutical staff as a member of interdisciplinary team providing palliative care for children.

The major improvement priorities of drug provision of children in need of palliative care, including the area of drugs range, inventory management, compounding pharmacies activity, pharmaceutical information and counseling, were set up on the basis of the comparative analysis of Russian and international pharmaceutical practices.
Tendencies and perspectives of central alpha2-adrenomimetic application in medicobiological research
Authors: Vengerovich Nikolay G. , Ivanov Igor M. , Proshina Yulia A.
Published: December 2019

The pharmacodynamic effects of the administration of 2-adrenergic agonists both in a monovariant and in combination with drugs of other pharmacological groups are considered. Based on analysis of safety nonclinical studies the characteristics of main physiological effects of 2-adrenergic receptors as well as physiological effects of 2-agonists on various organs and systems are presented. For the determination of tendencies and directions in research of central 2-AM (dexmedetomidine) the analysis of bibliographical data, accumulated and extracted from Medline database with 5 year time-filter (VOSviewer, 1.6.11 version) has been carried out. For the further research of central 2-adrenomimetics and their application in clinical practice the following perspective directions have been determined: the study of effects and mechanisms of cytoprotectant and antioxidant action, the study of the use of drugs in a monovariant and in combinations for the development of analgesic drugs, anesthesia and development of combined formulations with a delayed release of antagonists designed to mitigate side effects.
THE STUDY OF CLASSICS PARTICLES' ENERGY AT ARCHIMEDEAN SOLIDS WITH CLIFFORD ALGEBRA
Authors: ÇAKMAK Şadiye , KILIÇ Abidin
Published: December 2019

Geometric
algebras known as a generalization of Grassmann algebras complex numbers and
quaternions are presented by Clifford (1878). 
Geometric algebra describing the geometric symmetries of both physical
space and spacetime is a strong language for physics. Groups generated from
`Clifford numbers` are firstly defined by Lipschitz (1886).  They are used for defining rotations in a
Euclidean space. In this work, Clifford algebra is identified. The energy of
classic particles with Clifford algebra are defined. This calculations are
applied to some Archimedean solids. Also, the vertices of Archimedean solids
presented in the Cartesian coordinates are calculated.
NUMERICAL ERROR ANALYSIS FOR CONFIGURABLE CELL SEGMENTATION PROBLEM
Authors: BİLOUS Nataliya , HRAMM Oleg , AHEKİAN İryna , KHUDHAIR Abed Thamer , ILLYASHENKO Ludmila , NERUKH Alexander
Published: December 2019

The current intense interest in gold
nanoparticles is due to their Surface Plasmon Resonances (SPR) that depend
strongly on the shape and size of the nanoparticles. As the SPR wavelength and
resonantly enhanced absorption and scattering properties also depend on the
dielectric medium in which gold nanoparticles are embedded, and also depend on
the way of their clustering, they are useful to design novel nanodevices, in
particular when it is based on ideas taken from nature. With purpose to select
the most promising configurations for novel nanodevice design in this work the
method of cell recognition and evaluation of its efficiency is proposed. Exist
different methods to produce microscopic images, they can be obtained for
different types of cells in different environments. Due to this fact, the
recognition algorithms are needed. All methods have their advantages and
disadvantages and may work well only under certain conditions. Therefore, it is
useful for each specific task to implement a separate algorithm that will be
effective for the existing set of images, and take into account the
peculiarities of these images. The task of this work is not only to develop
flexible and customizable algorithm, that can be configured to segment cells on
different types of images, but also provide numerical error analysis corresponding
to each step of algorithm. As a result, a solution is developed, that has many
customizable parameters to optimize the result for a specific data set and
specific accuracy. In addition, this it is resistant to a lot of noise and
artifacts, that can occur on images, such as uneven background, small debris,
loss of focus when shooting. Numerical error analysis allows getting form of
cell segmentation more precisely to be reproduced for novel nanostructured
device design
OPTIMIZATION OF TRANSPORT MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK
Authors: HVOSTYK İhor , TOKAR Liubov , KRASNOZHENİUK Yana , AHMED Saif
Published: December 2019

The mechanism of Ethernet signal transmission over the air is
considered. The advantage of this transmission method is the minimum delay with
high-performance backhaul. It is shown that monitoring delay using brute-force
methods at the port or software level does not reveal delay problems affecting
certain traffic classes. For deep performance delays, it is necessary to take
measurements that cover the full service path at the demarcation points and at
the key nodes between them. The relevance of methods for delays compensation in
infocommunication networks is confirmed and shown defined by direct influence
of a delay on quality of service. The complex decision of delays suppression on
the basis of an optimum estimation of a regulator mode is offered
Perception of university students about doctors and quality of health care provision at clinics: a multi-national study in India, Pakistan, Spain and United States of America
Authors: Limaye Dnyanesh , Fortwengel Gerhard , Pitani Ravi Shankar , Sathe Sushama , Chivate Sanika , Jagadale Prabhas , Saeed Farah , Alam Syed Mahboob , Rodilla Vicent , Mounib Chaimae , Jr. Edel Santiesteban
Published: December 2019

Background: Patient satisfaction is considered as an indicator of the healthcare quality. Information on patient satisfaction based on medical expertise of the physician, interpersonal skills, physician-patient interaction time, perception and needs of the patient allow policymakers to identify areas for improvement. Primary care services and healthcare structure differ between the countries. The present study was done to determine and analyze the determinants associated with patient satisfaction in India, Pakistan, Spain and USA.Methods: This descriptive study was performed in January to August 2019 among students from Mumbai University, India, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan, University CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain, Texas State University, Texas, USA. On the basis of the eligibility criterion (those who gave a written informed consent and were registered students of respective university) 890 (India: 369, Pakistan: 128, Spain: 195, USA: 99) students were selected for the present study.Results: India had almost similar male (49%) to female (51%) ratio of participants. For other 3 countries (PK, ES, US), female participant percentage was nearly 20% or even more as compared to male participants. Overall participant’s satisfaction score about medial expertise of the doctor were highest in India (71%) and were lowest in Spain (43%). Overall satisfaction score about time spent with doctor were highest for India (64%) and were lowest for Spain (41%). Overall satisfaction score about communication with doctor were highest for US (60%) and were lowest for PK (53%). Overall satisfaction score for medical care given by the doctor was lowest in PK (43%) and was highest in US (64%). Overall satisfaction about doctor, highest number of US (83%) and lowest number of PK (32%) participants were satisfied about medical interaction with doctors.Conclusions: These multi-country findings can provide information for health policy making in India, Pakistan, Spain and USA. Although the average satisfaction per country, except Pakistan is more than 60%, the results suggest that there is ample room for improvement.
The study of correlation between vitamin D and tuberculosis in newly detected tuberculosis - pulmonary and extra pulmonary patients attending to K R hospital, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
Authors: Balgi Vandana , M. Sanjana J. , K. Suneetha D. , Surendran Amrudha , S. Chandrashekar G.
Published: December 2019

Background: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which has posed a constant challenge to mankind in its treatment due to increasing resistance and longer duration of treatment. The newer approach is to look towards strengthening host immune system along with suppressing the organism. Aim of the study was to assess the existence of Vitamin D deficiency in TB patients and aid in the strategies and development of newer improvised approaches in the treatment of TB. Objectives of the study was to estimate vitamin D levels in Tuberculosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) patients, assess Correlation between vitamin D and   pulmonary tuberculosis and to assess correlation between Vitamin D and extrapulmonary Tuberculosis.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study consisted of 80 tuberculosis patients both extrapulmonary and pulmonary. Blood samples was analysed for Vitamin D levels and results were compared with age and sex matched controls. Results was analysed using SPSS software.Results: The cases included patient in the age group of 18-60 year with the mean age being 42.34±14.65 year. Of the 80 tuberculosis patients 42 were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and 38 constituted extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The mean Vitamin D in cases was 24.82±12.33 and controls was 34.41±6.19. Among the cases 25 (31.3%) subjects had Vitamin D levels <20 pg/ml and none of the controls had levels <20 pg/ml. The mean Vitamin D level in pulmonary Tb patients was found to be 24.29±11.86 pg/ml and Extra-pulmonary Tb was 25.40±12.96 pg/ml. The unpaired t-test was statistically significant with p value of 0.005.Conclusions: This study has emphasized on the presence of nutritional deficiency in TB patients and necessity to correct them to achieve a better cure rate.
Descriptive study on malignant otitis externa in diabetic patients at a tertiary care hospital at Madurandhagam
Authors: Thirumalaipriya V. , Madanagopal R.
Published: December 2019

Background: Malignant otitis external (MOE) is a destructive infection, principally affecting ageing diabetic patients. The present study directed for analysing various forms of clinical presentations, causative organisms and management of such diseases.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive study of patients with MOE in the ENT Department of Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical College and Hospital, Madurandhagam. Haematological, biochemical and epidemiological parameters were taken and result analysis was carried out.  

Results: They affect both the soft tissue and bones of immunocompromised patient’s predominantly diabetic patients. Various forms of clinical presentations such as ear discharge which proved to be due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Facial nerve involvement, osteonecrosis and bony erosion was noted in MOE patient.

Conclusions: MOE or external otitis progressing necrosis is a serious infection of the subject often older and diabetic by P. aeruginosa.
Complex of rat transthyretin with tetraiodothyroacetic acid refined at 2.1 and 1.8 A resolution.
Authors: Muzioł T , Cody V , Luft J R , Pangborn W , Wojtczak A
Published: December 2019

The crystal structure of rat transthyretin (rTTR) complex with 3,5,3',5'-tetraiodothyroacetic acid (T4Ac) was determined at 1.8 A resolution with low temperature synchrotron data collected at CHESS. The structure was refined to R = 0.207 and Rfree = 0.24 with the use of 8-1.8 A data. The additional 8000 reflections from the incomplete 2.1-1.8 data shell, included in the refinement, reduced the Rfree index by 1.3%. Structure comparison with the model refined against the complete 8-2.1 A data revealed no differences in the ligand orientation and the conformation of the polypeptide chain in the core regions. However, the high-resolution data included in the refinement improved the model in the flexible regions poorly defined with the lower resolution data. Also additional sixteen water molecules were found in the difference map calculated with the extended data. The structure revealed both forward and reverse binding of tetraiodothyroacetic acid in one binding site and two modes of forward ligand binding in the second site, with the phenolic iodine atoms occupying different sets of the halogen binding pockets.
Mechanisms of plasmid stable maintenance with special focus on plasmid addiction systems.
Authors: Zielenkiewicz U , Cegłowski P
Published: December 2019

The stable inheritance of bacterial plasmids is achieved by a number of different mechanisms. Among them are resolution of plasmid oligomers into monomers, active plasmid partitioning into dividing cells and selective killing of plasmid-free segregants. A special focus is given to the last mechanism. It involves a stable toxin and an unstable antidote. The antidotes neutralize their cognate toxins or prevent their synthesis. The different decay rates of the toxins and the antidotes underlie molecular mechanisms of toxin activation in plasmid-free cells. By eliminating of plasmid-free cells from the population of plasmid-bearing ones the toxin-antidote couples therefore act as plasmid addiction systems.
Anaerobic growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae alleviates the lethal effect of phosphotyrosyl phosphatase activators depletion.
Authors: Rempola B , Kaniak A , Di Rago J P , Rytka J
Published: December 2019

Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologues of phosphotyrosyl phosphatase activator (PTPA) are encoded byRRD1 and RRD2, genes whose combined deletion is synthetic lethal. Previously we have shown that the lethality of rrd1,2delta can be suppressed by increasing the osmolarity of the medium. Here we show that the lethality of rrd1,2delta is also suppressed under oxygen-limited conditions. The absence of respiration per se is not responsible for the suppression since elimination of the mitochondrial genome or a block in heme biosynthesis fail to rescue the rrd1,2delta double mutation.
The effect of methotrexate on actin and invasiveness of hepatoma Morris 5123 cells in culture.
Authors: Otrocka M , Verschueren H , Malicka-Błaszkiewicz M
Published: December 2019

Monomeric (G), total (T) and filamentous (F) actin and the state of actin polymerisation (F:G) were determined and actin filaments were visualized in hepatoma Morris 5123 cells cultured in the presence of methotrexate (MTX) at various concentration. The exposure of the cells to this drug resulted in a decrease of total and polymerised actin in cytoplasm and in some changes in actin filament organization. This coincided with a decrease of the cells' ability to migrate through Matrigel coated filters and with inhibition of tumour formation after reimplantation of the methotrexate treated cells to experimental rats.
Methods of peptide conformation studies.
Authors: Bierzyński A
Published: December 2019

In solution most of the peptides assume multiple flexible conformations. Determination of the dominant conformers and evaluation of their populations is the aim of peptide conformation studies, in which theoretical and experimental methods play complementary roles. Molecular dynamics or Monte Carlo methods are quite effective in searching the conformational space accessible to a peptide but they are not able to estimate, precisely enough, the populations of various conformations. Therefore, they must be supplemented by experimental data. In this paper, a short review of the experimental methods, most widely used in peptide conformational studies, is presented. Among them NMR plays the leading role. Valuable information is also obtained from hydrogen exchange, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, and circular dichroism measurements. The advantages and shortcomings of these methods are discussed.
Synthesis and binding properties of deltorphin I analogues containing (R) and (S)-alpha-hydroxymethylnaphtylalanine.
Authors: Olma A , Gniadzik A , Lipkowski A W , Lachwa M
Published: December 2019

New analogues of deltorphin I (DT I), in which the phenylalanine residue in position 3 is substituted with amphiphilic alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acid enantiomers, (R) and (S)-alpha-hydroxymethylnaphtylalanine, were synthesized and tested for mu and delta opioid receptor affinity and selectivity. Although both analogues have lower affinity to delta receptors than DT I, they both expressed specificity to delta receptors.
Purification and characterization of alpha-amylases from the intestine and muscle of ascaris suum (Nematoda).
Authors: Zółtowska K
Published: December 2019

Alpha-Amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) was purified from the muscle and intestine of the parasitic helminth of pigs Ascaris suum. The enzymes from the two sources differed in their properties. Isoelectric focusing revealed one form of a-amylase from muscles with pl of 5.0, and two forms of amylase from intestine with pI of 4.7 and 4.5. SDS/PAGE suggested a molecular mass of 83 kDa and 73 kDa for isoenzymes of a-amylases from intestine and 59 kDa for the muscle enzyme. Alpha-Amylase from intestine showed maximum activity at pH 7.4, and the enzyme from muscle at pH 8.2. The muscle enzyme was more thermostabile than the intestinal alpha-amylase. Both the muscle and intestine amylase lost half of its activity after 15 min at 70 degrees C and 50 degrees C, respectively. The Km values were: for muscle amylase 0.22 microg/ml glycogen and 3.33 microg/ml starch, and for intestine amylase 1.77 microg/ml glycogen and 0.48 microg/ml starch. Both amylases were activated by Ca2+ and inhibited by EDTA, iodoacetic acid, p-chloromercuribenzoate and the inhibitor of a-amylase from wheat. No significant differences were found between the properties of a-amylases from parasites and from their hosts.
The left-handed double helical nucleic acids.
Authors: Brown B A , Rich A
Published: December 2019

The conversion of right-handed dsDNA and dsRNA to the left-handed Z-conformation involves a reorganization of the nucleotides relative to each other. This conversion can be facilitated by the tight binding of a Z-conformation-specific protein domain from the editing enzyme dsRNA adenosine deaminase. This may influence the modification of both pre-mRNAs as well as some replicating RNA viruses.
The fidelity of the translation of the genetic code.
Authors: Sankaranarayanan R , Moras D
Published: December 2019

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases play a central role in maintaining accuracy during the translation of the genetic code. To achieve this challenging task they have to discriminate against amino acids that are very closely related not only in structure but also in chemical nature. A 'double-sieve' editing model was proposed in the late seventies to explain how two closely related amino acids may be discriminated. However, a clear understanding of this mechanism required structural information on synthetases that are faced with such a problem of amino acid discrimination. The first structural basis for the editing model came recently from the crystal structure of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase, a class I synthetase, which has to discriminate against valine. The structure showed the presence of two catalytic sites in the same enzyme, one for activation, a coarse sieve which binds both isoleucine and valine, and another for editing, a fine sieve which binds only valine and rejects isoleucine. Another structure of the enzyme in complex with tRNA showed that the tRNA is responsible for the translocation of the misactivated amino-acid substrate from the catalytic site to the editing site. These studies were mainly focused on class I synthetases and the situation was not clear about how class II enzymes discriminate against similar amino acids. The recent structural and enzymatic studies on threonyl-tRNA synthetase, a class II enzyme, reveal how this challenging task is achieved by using a unique zinc ion in the active site as well as by employing a separate domain for specific editing activity. These studies led us to propose a model which emphasizes the mirror symmetrical approach of the two classes of enzymes and highlights that tRNA is the key player in the evolution of these class of enzymes.
Editing of plant mitochondrial transfer RNAs.
Authors: Fey J , Weil J H , Tomita K , Cosset A , Dietrich A , Small I , Maréchal-Drouard L
Published: December 2019

Editing in plant mitochondria consists in C to U changes and mainly affects messenger RNAs, thus providing the correct genetic information for the biosynthesis of mitochondrial (mt) proteins. But editing can also affect some of the plant mt tRNAs encoded by the mt genome. In dicots, a C to U editing event corrects a C:A mismatch into a U:A base-pair in the acceptor stem of mt tRNAPhe (GAA). In larch mitochondria, three C to U editing events restore U:A base-pairs in the acceptor stem, D stem and anticodon stem, respectively, of mt tRNAHis (GUG). For both these mt tRNAs editing of the precursors is a prerequisite for their processing into mature tRNAs. In potato mt tRNACys (GCA), editing converts a C28:U42 mismatch in the anticodon stem into a U28:U42 non-canonical base-pair, and reverse transcriptase minisequencing has shown that the mature mt tRNACys is fully edited. In the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha this U residue is encoded in the mt genome and evolutionary studies suggest that restoration of the U28 residue is necessary when it is not encoded in the gene. However, in vitro studies have shown that neither processing of the precursor nor aminoacylation of tRNACys requires C to U editing at this position. But sequencing of the purified mt tRNACys has shown that psi is present at position 28, indicating that C to U editing is a prerequisite for the subsequent isomerization of U into psi at position 28.
How RNA viruses exchange their genetic material.
Authors: Alejska M , Kurzyńska-Kokorniak A , Broda M , Kierzek R , Figlerowicz M
Published: December 2019

One of the most unusual features of RNA viruses is their enormous genetic variability. Among the different processes contributing to the continuous generation of new viral variants RNA recombination is of special importance. This process has been observed for human, animal, plant and bacterial viruses. The collected data reveal a great susceptibility of RNA viruses to recombination. They also indicate that genetic RNA recombination (especially the nonhomologous one) is a major factor responsible for the emergence of new viral strains or species. Although the formation and accumulation of viral recombinants was observed in numerous RNA viruses, the molecular basis of this phenomenon was studied in only a few viral species. Among them, brome mosaic virus (BMV), a model (+)RNA virus offers the best opportunities to investigate various aspects of genetic RNA recombination in vivo. Unlike any other, the BMV-based system enables homologous and nonhomologous recombination studies at both the protein and RNA levels. As a consequence, BMV is the virus for which the structural requirements for genetic RNA recombination have been most precisely established. Nevertheless, the previously proposed model of genetic recombination in BMV still had one weakness: it could not really explain the role of RNA structure in nonhomologous recombination. Recent discoveries concerning the latter problem give us a chance to fill this gap. That is why in this review we present and thoroughly discuss all results concerning nonhomologous recombination in BMV that have been obtained until now.
Nucleoside phosphate analogues of biological interest, and their synthesis via aryl nucleoside H-phosphonates as intermediates.
Authors: Cieślak J , Sobkowski M , Jankowska J , Wenska M , Szymczak M , Imiolczyk B , Zagórowska I , Shugar D , Stawiński J , Kraszewski A
Published: December 2019

This review presents a brief account of the chemistry and mechanistic aspects of aryl H-phosphonates, and selected applications of this class of compounds as intermediates in the synthesis of a wide range of biologically important analogues of nucleoside phosphates, and oligonucleotides, in which the phosphate moieties are replaced by other structurally related groups. The aryl nucleoside H-phosphonates, compounds of controlled reactivity, have proven to be more versatile and superior to various mixed anhydrides as synthetic intermediates, particularly for preparation of nucleotide analogues bearing P-N or P-S bonds in various configurational arrangements at the phosphate moiety.
Elements of thermodynamics in RNA evolution.
Authors: Kierzek E , Biała E , Kierzek R
Published: December 2019

The paper presents some aspects correlating thermal stability of RNA folding and the occurrence of structural motifs in natural ribonucleic acids. Particularly, the thermodynamic stability of 2'-5' and 3'-5' linked RNA and the contribution of unpaired terminal nucleotides (dangling ends) in secondary (2D) and tertiary (3D) structures of RNA are discussed. Both examples suggest that during evolution nature selected sequences and structures of RNA which are the most thermally stable and efficient for their biological function.
Effect of Mg2+ on kinetics of oxidation of pyrimidines in duplex DNA by potassium permanganate.
Authors: Loziński T , Wierzchowski K L
Published: December 2019

Potassium permanganate oxidation of pyrimidine bases is often used to probe single-stranded regions in functional DNA-protein complexes. However, so far reactivity of these bases in double-stranded DNA has not been studied quantitatively. We have investigated the kinetics of oxidation of pyrimidines in supercoiled pDS3 plasmid dsDNA by quantitative KMnO4 footprinting, in connection with parallel studies on the effect of Mg2+ on kinetics of oxidation of individual thymines in the single-stranded region of the open transcription complex of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase at a cognate Pa promoter contained in this plasmid. Rate constants of oxidation for pyrimidines, kj, in selected regions of pDS3 DNA, including Pa promoter, were determined under single-hit reaction conditions in the absence and presence of 10 mM MgCl2. Their values appeared to be sequence-dependent and were: (i) the largest for Ts in 5'TA3' and 5'TC3' steps, while 2-4 times smaller for 5'-adjacent ones in TT(A,G,C) and TTT(A) runs, (ii) for Cs in 5'TC3' steps 2-4 fold smaller than for adjacent Ts, and (iii) in the presence of Mg2+ generally larger by a sequence-dependent factor: in 5'TC3' steps of about 2 and 4 for Ts and Cs, respectively, in 5'TA3' steps of TTA and TTTA sequences for 3'-terminal Ts of about 3, while for their 5'-neighbors o tinctly smaller value of about 2. Comparison of kj data for corresponding Ts located between +1 and -10 regions of Pa promoter in dsDNA and in ssDNA form in the open transcription complex, reported elsewhere, demonstrates that reactivity of pyrimidines in dsDNA is by 2-3 orders of magnitude smaller. The effect of Mg2+ in dsDNA is interpreted in terms of electrostatic barrier to diffusion of MnO4- on DNA surface, which is lowered by diffusive binding of these ions to backbone phosphates, involving also sequence-specific contacts with bases in the minor and major grooves of B-DNA.
Purification and functional reconstitution of intact ral-binding Gtpase activating protein, RLIP76, in artificial liposomes.
Authors: Singhal S S , Singhal J , Cheng J , Pikuła S , Sharma R , Zimniak P , Awasthi Y C , Awasthi S
Published: December 2019

We have recently shown that RLIP76, a ral-binding GTPase activating protein, mediates ATP-dependent transport of glutathione-conjugates (GS-E) and doxorubicin (DOX) (S. Awasthi et al., Biochemistry 39,9327,2000). Transport function of RLIP76 was found to be intact despite considerable proteolytic fragmentation in preparations used for those studies, suggesting either that the residual intact RLIP76 was responsible for transport activity, or that the transport activity could be reconstituted by fragments of RLIP76. If the former were true, intact RLIP76 would have a much higher specific activity for ATP-hydrolysis than the fragmented protein. We have addressed this question by comparing transport properties of recombinant RLIP76 and human erythrocyte membrane RLIP76 purified in buffers treated with either 100 or 500 microM serine protease inhibitor, PMSF. The purity and identity of recombinant and human erythrocyte RLIP76 was established by SDS/PAGE and Western-blot analysis. These studies confirmed the origin of the 38 kDa protein, previously referred to as DNP-SG ATPase, from RLIP76. Higher PMSF concentration resulted in lower yield of the 38 kDa band and higher yield of intact RLIP76 from both human and recombinant source. In contrast, the substrate-stimulated ATPase activity in presence of DNP-SG, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, or colchicine were unaffected by increased PMSF; similarly, ATP-dependent transport of doxorubicin in proteoliposomes reconstituted with RLIP76 was unaffected by higher PMSF. These results indicated that limited proteolysis by serine proteases does not abrogate the transport function of RLIP76. Comparison of transport kinetics for daunorubicin between recombinant vs human erythrocyte RLIP76 revealed higher specific activity of transport for tissue purified RLIP76, indicating that additional factors present in tissue purified RLIP76 can modulate its transport activity.
Różne oblicza mitochondrialnego koenzymu Q
Authors: Dominiak Karolina , Jarmuszkiewicz Wieslawa
Published: December 2019

Koenzym Q jest rozpuszczalną w tłuszczach cząsteczką obecną we wszystkich błonach komórki, w tym w wewnętrznej błonie mitochondrialnej. Mitochondrialny koenzym Q (mQ) jest kluczowym nośnikiem elektronów łańcucha oddechowego oraz ważnym przeciwutleniaczem. Z drugiej strony, mQ uczestniczy w produkcji przez łańcuch oddechowy reaktywnych form tlenu (RFT), które powstają jako produkt uboczny metabolizmu tlenowego lub w warunkach stresu oksydacyjnego. Wzmożona produkcja mitochondrialnych RFT (mRFT) może prowadzić do szeregu uszkodzeń oksydacyjnych, które leżą u podstaw starzenia komórek czy szeregu chorób. Oprócz tego, mRFT pełnią rolę cząsteczek sygnałowych. Za główne miejsca produkcji mRFT uważane są nośniki elektronów łańcucha oddechowego, przede wszystkim kompleksy białkowe związane z mQ. Badania wskazują na to, iż z wiekiem poziom koenzymu Q, a w szczególności jego zredukowanej formy, w organizmie spada. Zaburzenia związane z niedoborem koenzymu Q wiążą się głównie z nadmierną produkcją RFT oraz obniżeniem produkcji ATP, konsekwencją czego mogą być choroby mitochondrialne, choroby układu krążenia czy neurodegeneracyjne.
Prevalence and Haemolytic Significance of Red Cell Antibodies among Dangerous Universal Donors in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India
Authors: Amita R , Vijayalakshmi K
Published: December 2019

Background and Aims: A subgroup of group O individuals called ‘dangerous universal donors’ have immune (IgG) anti A and anti B antibodies which are active at 37˚C and capable of reacting with the red cells and causing lysis. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of dangerous O group among the voluntary donor population and to assess the relation between the degree of haemolysis and the antibody titre. Materials and Methods: Group O donors excepting those with history of transfusion or pregnancy were included in the study. The serum samples were tested for haemolysins as per standard procedure. The degree of haemolysis was graded and strongly haemolytic samples were further characterised for the type of immunoglobulin class after treatment with dithiothretiol. The results were coded and analysed using SPSS software. Results: The age of the donors in this study ranged from 18 to 56 years. Majority were males. The prevalence of dangerous O group in our study population was found to be 10.75%. Within the dangerous O group samples, the titre of anti B IgG antibody was found to be higher than anti A IgG antibody. Titres for both anti A and anti B IgG antibodies ranged from 1:2 to 1:64. Conclusions: A simple screening for donor haemolysins will help in identification of strongly haemolytic samples, which are likely to have high titres of IgG, particularly anti A antibody. This will prevent transfusion of blood containing high titres of immune anti A and anti B antibodies to non O group recipients.
Biofilm and Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase Production amongst Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Isolates at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Authors: Ohinoyi Amadu Dele , Nwabuisi Charles , Usman Yahaya , Olaide Mustapha Jelili , Nasir Abdullahi Idris , A Popoola Ademola
Published: December 2019

Background and Aims: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are considered major reservoir for genes encoding antimicrobial resistance. The mechanism of resistance and persistence of UPEC has been attributed to the production of biofilm and Extended Beta Lactamase (ESBL). This hospital-based prospective study determined how biofilm and ESBL production facilitate antibacterial resistance amongst UPEC isolated from catheter urine of patients attending the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.  Materials and Methods: Urine samples from 113 catheterized inpatients and outpatients were analysed. Female subjects accounted for 47 (41.6%) of the study population. Standard microbiological methods and Analytical Profile Index (API) 20E were used for the isolation and identification of UPEC. Tissue culture plate technique was used to demonstrate biofilm production potentials and double-disc synergy test was used to determine ESBL production. Results: Catheter associated urinary tract infection in this study was 70.8% of samples analysed. Of this, Escherichia coli, 44 (55.0%) was the most predominant. UPEC, biofilm and ESBL production amounted to 38.9%, 81.8% and 27.2%, respectively. ESBL production was significantly associated with degree of biofilm formation (p<0.005). Both strong and moderate biofilm producers showed the same level of resistance to ceftazidime (31.6%). Moderate biofilm producers were 46.7% resistant to cefriaxone. Resistance to Amoxillin-clauvanate significantly occurred in all grades of biofilm producers (p>0.05). Imipenem, however, was the most sensitive with no resistance by the UPEC.  Conclusions: ESBL and biofilm production were associated with antibacterial resistance. The incidence of ESBL production amongst biofilm forming UPEC is of great public health concern.
The Protective Effect of Silymarin on LipopolysaccharideInduced Liver Toxicity in Male Wistar Rat
Authors: Nourbakhsh Fahimeh , Borooni Samaneh , Tajbakhsh Elaheh
Published: December 2019

Background and Aims: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers production of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines. Nowadays Silybum marianum has been shown to treat liver and gall bladder disorders, especially to protect the liver against poisoning from various toxins. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the protective effect of silymarin on LPS-induced liver toxicity in male Wistar rat. Materials and Methods: Totally, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n=10 in each): The animals were treated with silymarin for two weeks before the biochemical tests. Apoptosis was assessed by evaluating the amount of proteins in liver tissues by western blotting. Results: LPS induced hepatotoxicity as evidenced by histopathological damages and biochemical abnormalities. Data showed that malondialdehyde level significantly increases in the liver of LPS-treated rats. Destructive effects of LPS on histopathological and biochemical parameters were improved. LPS also increased expression of Bax/Bcl2 ratio and activation of caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9. Western blot analysis showed silymarin treatment inhibiting apoptosis stimulated by LPS in the liver (p<0.001). Conclusions: The results of this research demonstrated that silymarin can exert protective effects against toxic effects of LPS in rat liver. Antiinflammatory drug can play a protective role in attenuating the liver inflammation induced by LPS injection.
Predictors of Orthostatic Hypotension in the Elderly: Results from the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP) Study
Authors: Safarpour Mehdi , Fotouhi Akbar , Hosseini Seyed Reza , Mohamadzade Masume , Bijani Ali
Published: December 2019

Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) in the elderly is an important health challenge that poses a significant burden. We sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of OH in an elderly population-based study.
Methods: This study was conducted within the framework of the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP) on 1,588 elderly individuals aged ≥60 years. The baseline measurement was performed from April 2011 to July 2012. The relationships between OH (dependent variable) and age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, and cognitive status (independent variables) were investigated by logistic regression.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 69.37±7.42 years (men: 69.96±7.68 y, women: 68.66±7.02 y). The prevalence of OH was 10.7%: 8.4% in the male and 13.7% in the female patients. In the final model, hypertension (OR=2.4, 95% CI: 1.6–3.7), diabetes (OR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.9), age (OR=2.9, 95% CI: 1.7–4.8), and female sex (female [OR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.1–2.3]) were significantly correlated with OH.
Conclusion: The prevalence of OH in our elderly subjects increased with age. Additionally, the older participants with diabetes and hypertension had a higher likelihood of having this OH.
 
J Teh Univ Heart Ctr 2019;14(4):165-170
 
This paper should be cited as: Safarpour M, Fotouhi A, Hosseini SR, Mohamadzade M, Bijani A. Predictors of Orthostatic Hypotension in the Elderly: Results from the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP) Study. J Teh Univ Heart Ctr 2019;14(4): 165-170
A Rare Access Site Complication after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Gocer Hakan , Abusharekh Mohammed , Ercan Ertugrul , Tengiz Istemihan
Published: December 2019

In the majority of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation, the transfemoral access is the suggested approach due to its less invasive nature and feasibility in patients with suitable vascular anatomy. The complications of the transfemoral access site are generally vascular; however, we herein present a rare case of colon perforation following the transfemoral procedure owing to prior abdominal surgery. A transfemoral aortic valve was inserted on account of severe aortic stenosis and a high probability of surgical mortality. The patient developed acute abdomen following the procedure. Hemicolectomy was performed because of colonic perforation caused by femoral catheterization. The patient was well at 3 months’ follow-up.
 
J Teh Univ Heart Ctr 2019;14(4):187-190
 
This paper should be cited as: Gocer H, Abusharekh M, Ercan E, Tengiz I. A Rare Access Site Complication after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation. J Teh Univ Heart Ctr 2019;14(4):187-190.
Simultaneous Rupture of an Aortomitral Intervalvular Fibrosa Pseudoaneurysm to the Aorta and the Left Atrium
Authors: Mohseni-Badalabadi Reza , Hosseinsabet Ali , Mohseni-Badalabadi Mehdi , Forozannia Khalil
Published: December 2019

A 55-year-old man was admitted to our surgical ward with a diagnosis of an aorto-left atrial fistula. The diagnosis of infectious endocarditis had been ruled out in another hospital before the patient was referred to our hospital through multiple blood cultures, examinations of inflammatory markers, and the absence of signs and symptoms of infection. He had a history of aortic and mitral valve replacement with mechanical bileaflet valves 3 years earlier and had been on hemodialysis for several years.
Physical examinations revealed a continuous murmur at the left parasternal border. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic examinations demonstrated mild left ventricular enlargement with a normal systolic function, a normal right ventricular size with systolic dysfunction, and normally functioning aortic and mitral prosthetic valves without any leakage or thrombosis. There was an echo-free space between the aortic and mitral valves that expanded in systole and decompressed in diastole with a connection to the left ventricular outflow tract, suggestive of the pseudoaneurysm of the aortomitral intervalvular fibrosa (AMIVF). This pseudoaneurysm was connected to the aorta on one side and to the left atrium on the other side, constituting a cavity between the ascending aorta and the left atrium that conducted a continuous flow from the aorta to the left atrium (Figure 1A and B; Video 1 and Video 2). Computed tomography angiography documented this space and its connection to the ascending aorta and the left atrium (Figure 2A, B, and C). It appears that surgical trauma was the most probable etiology of the pseudoaneurysm of the AMIVF in our patient.  The patient refused surgical repair of this pseudoaneurysm.
The AMIVF is a zone between the anterior mitral leaflet and the non-coronary and left coronary aortic cusp that is fibrotic and vascular. These properties predispose it to injury due to infection and surgical trauma as the most common etiologies for the pseudoaneurysm of the AMIVF. The pseudoaneurysm of the AMIVF can be complicated by fistulation to the adjacent structures such as the left atrium the and aorta, which has been reported in about 20% of patients with the pseudoaneurysm of the AMIVF.1   
On the follow-up of patients with aortic or mitral valve replacement or both, the presence of a pseudoaneurysm in the AMIVF as an uncommon complication of such valve replacements should be considered at the time of physical examinations and echocardiography.
 
J Teh Univ Heart Ctr 2019;14(4):195-197
 
This paper should be cited as: Mohseni-Badalabadi R, Hosseinsabet A, Mohseni-Badalabadi M, Forozannia K. Simultaneous Rupture of an Aortomitral Intervalvular Fibrosa Pseudoaneurysm to the Aorta and the Left Atrium. J Teh Univ Heart Ctr 2019;14(4):195-197.
INVESTIGATION OF PULSE SHAPE NEUTRON-GAMMA DISCRIMINATION
Authors: Avetisyan R.V. , Avagyan R.H. , Avetisyan A.E. , Gyurjinyan A.V. , Barseghyan A.G. , Kerobyan I.A. , Manukyan A.A.
Published: December 2019

The role of neutron beam investigation is significant not only for fundamental science but also for various fields of applied science. This work is dedicated to the formation of neutron beams using the external 18-MeV proton beam of IBA cyclotron C18/18 with a beam current of up to 100 µA. The facility is located at the A. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory (Yerevan Physics Institute). The possibility to obtain thermal or epithermal neutron beams using the external proton beam of the cyclotron is studied using Geant4 simulations. In this case, a quasimonoenergetic neutron source 9Be (p, n)9B reaction is chosen. As a result of the simulations, the optimal thickness of the 9Be beryllium isotope target is determined. The induced neutron beam is accompanied by a gamma ray background. To decrease the number of accompanying gamma rays, the lead absorber is considered. As a method of separating neutrons from gamma rays, the pulse shape discrimination (PSD) technique is developed. This study shows the possibility of neutron-gamma PSD and its applicability using the EJ-299-33A plastic scintillator.
The Associaton between Cognitive-Emotion Regulation and Emotion Management
Authors: ÖZTEKE KOZAN Hatice İrem , BALOĞLU Mustafa , KESİCİ Şahin
Published: December 2019

We studied the association between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and emotion management skills. A total of 324 college students participated in the study (122 menand 202 women). A demographical information form, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Emotion Management Skills Scale were used to collect the data. Canonical correlation was used in the analysis, where cognitive emotion regulation strategies and emotions management skills were treatedas two sets of variables. The first canonical variate indicated that those individuals who scored higher on catastrophism and self-blame werelower on focusing, planning, evaluating, and putting into perspective. The second canonical variate indicated that cognitive-emotional variables as a set were negatively associated with all the emotionregulation skills with the exception of coping. The third canonical variate indicated that higher rumination and re-focusing on were associated with higher coping and regulation skills but less with emotional display skills.