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Seton Hall Law Rev 2019 ;49(1):1-51

University of Tennessee College of Law.

For the better part of a decade, Americans have had a front-row seat to a fervent and turbulent debate over the future of their health care system. The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), the most comprehensive health reform effort since the mid-1960s, ushered in a new era in health law and policy, granting millions of Americans access to health care. After multiple legal challenges and congressional efforts that ultimately failed to slay the law, the ACA had become entrenched by the end of the Obama administration, even though pieces of the law had failed to work exactly as planned. Read More

Fed Regist 2018 Dec;83(241):64443-58

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations governing classification and reclassification of medical devices to conform to the applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) as amended by the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA). FDA is also making additional changes unrelated to the FDASIA requirements, to update its regulations governing the classification and reclassification of medical devices. FDA is taking this action to codify the procedures and criteria that apply to the classification and reclassification of medical devices and to provide for classification of devices in the lowest regulatory class consistent with the public health and the statutory scheme for device regulation. Read More

Int J Urol 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Plastic Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of periurethral injection of autologous adipose-derived regenerative cells for the treatment of post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence.

Methods: A total of 13 patients with persistent stress urinary incontinence after prostate surgery (radical prostatectomy, 10 patients; holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, three patients) underwent periurethral injection of adipose-derived regenerative cells and were followed up for >4 years. A 24-h pad test was carried out for four consecutive days in each evaluation period, and changes in the mean daily leakage volume during the 4 days from baseline to 60 months after treatment were evaluated. Read More

Int J Urol 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Kyorin Pharmaceutical, Tokyo, Japan.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of vibegron on nocturia in patients with overactive bladder.

Methods: Among the Japanese overactive bladder patients enrolled in the placebo-controlled, multicenter, randomized, double-blind phase 3 study of vibegron, a total of 669 patients with nocturia (≥1 nocturnal void) were included. Changes from baseline in micturition parameters were compared for vibegron treatment (50 and 100 mg/day) versus placebo. Read More

Neuropathology 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Mutational analysis of the BRAF gene (BRAF), especially BRAF V600E, is gaining much importance in neuro-oncology practice due to its diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications. This genetic alteration has been described in a wide morphological spectrum of central nervous system tumors. In the present report we describe a BRAF V600E-mutated tumor with divergent morphological appearance comprising of anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma and astroblastoma. Read More

Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, AG Schizophrenieforschung; Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim / Universität Heidelberg.

The concept of mental disorder has many facets. Specific concepts of disease or disorder stand for individual entities, classified as diagnoses. Ideally, they are based on discrete physical, neurobiological or - as is the case with hereditary diseases - genetic findings. Read More

Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Vitos Klinikum Gießen-Marburg, Vitos Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Gießen; Fachbereich Medizin, Philipps-Universität Marburg.

Background: In memory clinics, biomarker-based diagnostic tools for early detection and differential diagnosis of dementia are increasingly important, even if their acceptance by patients is relatively low.

Objective: The aim of study was to examine whether sociodemographic and clinical features of memory clinic patients are associated with acceptance of lumbar puncture (LP). Of particular interest was the patients' self-perception of memory decline (subjective memory impairment, SMI) accompanied by related concerns that might affect decision to consent to LP. Read More

J Reconstr Microsurg 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background:  Due to the concern of circulation compromise, many surgeons hesitate to dangle or challenge the flap in the early postoperative phase. In our experience, early compression may have advantages such as collapse of dead space, evacuation of hematoma, reduction of edema, and stabilization of flap when ambulating. In this study, the effect of early compression of flaps with regard to flap physiology and outcome is evaluated. Read More

J Reconstr Microsurg 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.

Background:  Abdominal wall morbidity following microvascular breast reconstruction continues to be an area of interest due to both functional and aesthetic concerns. Donor-site closure technique has been shown to affect bulge and hernia rates and ranges from primary closure to various uses of mesh. Few studies to date have compared types of mesh. Read More

J Reconstr Microsurg 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Background:  The use of flow-through flaps was popularized in the early 1990s by Costa, Soutar and Lamberty in cases where an arterial gap was present or a major artery of the limb was damaged. We hypothesized that flow-through flaps can be used in all extremity reconstruction cases, where there is an indication for a free-flap, irrespective of the existence of arterial defect due to its many advantages while not increasing the flap loss significantly.

Methods:  A retrospective study was performed by examining patient status and surgery reports of all patients who underwent extremity reconstruction with a flow-through flap from January 2011 to January 2016. Read More

J Reconstr Microsurg 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Internal Medicine, Spaarne Gasthuis, Haarlem, The Netherlands.

Background: Insulin has to be transported across the capillary endothelium to stimulate muscle glucose uptake. We investigated insulin uptake from the peripheral circulation in non-diabetic (ND) individuals and in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients.

Methods: Single-center cross-sectional study involving 40 ND (age 65±11 years) and 30 T2D patients (age 67±8 years). Read More

Int J Sports Med 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Pediatrics, Diabetology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.

Regular physical activity increases lifespan for those with type 1 diabetes. However, disease-related barriers may deter children from exercise and affect their fitness. This study examined the safety of the Cooper test concerning diabetes-related acute complications in children with type 1 diabetes and their fitness. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2018 Dec 17;24:9177-9186. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of hesperidin on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced chondrocytes injury and cartilage degeneration in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA). MATERIAL AND METHODS Chondrocytes were isolated from rat knee joints and treated with hesperidin alone or combined with H₂O₂. Then, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to assess cell viability. Read More

J Innate Immun 2018 Dec 17:1-13. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Platelet-dense (δ) granules are important for platelet function. Platelets contribute to host defense and vascular integrity during pneumonia and sepsis, and δ granule products, including adenosine diphosphate (ADP), can influence inflammatory responses. We therefore aimed to study the role of platelet δ granules in the host response during sepsis. Read More

Psychother Psychosom 2018 Dec 17:1-3. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Am J Nephrol 2018 Dec 17;49(1):54-63. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Nephrology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya,

Background: In pediatric patients with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome, recent trials have revealed that a 2-month, short-term steroid regimen is not inferior to an extended steroid course. However, the optimal duration of initial steroid therapy for adult steroid-sensitive minimal change disease (MCD) remains unclear.

Objectives: The aim of present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 2-month, short-term steroid regimen in the treatment of adult steroid-sensitive MCD patients. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2018 Dec 17;49(1):41-51. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei,

Background: Extensive studies have demonstrated that sleep is an important modulator of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, its impact on renal function remains uncertain.

Methods: A total of 26,249 adults aged ≥20 years were recruited through voluntary health examinations in Taiwan. Read More

Endocr Connect 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Z Wang, Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.

Angiogenesis has a pivotal role in the growth and metastasis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Apatinib inhibits angiogenesis as a highly selective VEGFR2 inhibitor and has been used to treat advanced gastric cancer and malignancies in clinical settings. However, the efficacy of apatinib in PNETs remains unclear. Read More

Endocr Relat Cancer 2019 Feb;26(2):251-264

Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.

The role of androgen receptor (AR) in endocrine-resistant breast cancer is controversial and clinical trials targeting AR with an AR antagonist (e.g., enzalutamide) have been initiated. Read More

Endocr Relat Cancer 2019 Feb;26(2):241-250

Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

Vandetanib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for treatment of advanced symptomatic or progressive medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). The current study (Nbib1496313) evaluated the benefit-risk of two starting doses of vandetanib in patients with symptomatic or progressive MTC. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive vandetanib 150 or 300 mg daily and followed for a maximum of 14 months (Part A), with the option to then enter an open-label phase (Part B) investigating vandetanib 100, 150, 200 and 300 mg daily doses. Read More

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 2018 Dec 4;211:280-286. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Key Lab of Process Analysis and Control of Sichuan Universities, Yibin University, Yibin, Sichuan 644000, China.

The authentication of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is critically important for public-health and economic terms. Notoginseng, a classical TCM of high economic and medical value, could be easily adulterated with Sophora flavescens powder (SFP), corn flour (CF) or other analogues of low-grade (ALG) because of their similar tastes, appearances and much lower cost. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of applying of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and multivariate calibration for identifying and quantifying several common adulterants in notoginseng powder. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2018 Dec 14;110:857-868. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address:

Invasive candidiasis (IC) can affect individuals with various underlying diseases hospitalized in different parts of hospitals. In recent decades, IC has caused 27-55% mortality in general population. Although Candida albicans (C. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2018 Dec 14;110:844-849. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

The Hangzhou Xixi Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310023, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address:

Background Hyperuricemia is a recognised risk factor for the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect of resveratrol (RES) on the treatment of hyperuricemia-related NAFLD in rats and the underlying mechanisms. Methods NAFLD with hyperuricemia was induced in rats using high-yeast high-fat diet containing potassium oxonate. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2018 Dec 14;110:834-843. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, China. Electronic address:

Objective: CP-25 attenuates arthritis progression in animal models by inhibiting G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) membrane expression. This study compared groups treated with high-dose methotrexate (MTX)/leflunomide (LEF) and CP-25 combined with low-dose MTX/LEF in an adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) rat model and investigated possible mechanisms.

Methods: AA was induced in rats via complete Freund's adjuvant. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2018 Dec 4;163:583-596. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, 100191, Haidian District, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Sulfated hyaluronic acid (sHA) is chemically synthetic mimetic of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) presenting promising biological functions. Specific sulfation pattern, termed as sulfation code plays critical roles in regulating the binding mode between GAG and proteins. As a structural analogue of chondroitin sulfate (CS), sHA bears much higher molecular weight and is nearly free of other proteoglycan contaminants. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2018 Dec 14;67:211-219. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing 100029, China; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center for Respiratory Diseases, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Beijing 100029, China; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China. Electronic address:

Interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 play central and detrimental roles in the development of acute lung injury (ALI), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is involved in regulating IL-1β and IL-18 production. However, it is not clear whether the mTOR specific inhibitor rapamycin can attenuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI by modulating IL-1β and IL-18 production. In this study, we found that rapamycin ameliorated LPS-induced ALI by inhibiting NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated IL-1β and IL-18 secretion. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2018 Dec 14;67:194-201. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China. Electronic address:

Defect of thymus results in poor posttransplant immune recovery and dysfunction of immune tolerance after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants (allo-HCT). Improving thymus regeneration represents a potential strategy to accelerate recovery of T-cell immunity. IL-22 was reported to mediate thymus regeneration after injury. Read More

Comput Biol Chem 2018 Dec 7;78:190-204. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China. Electronic address:

Background: Phosphoinositide-3-kinase Delta (PI3Kδ) plays a key role in B-cell signal transduction and inhibition of PI3Kδ is confirmed to have clinical benefit in certain types of activation of B-cell malignancies. Virtual screening techniques have been used to discover new molecules for developing novel PI3Kδ inhibitors with little side effects.

Method: Computer aided drug design method were used to rapidly screen optimal PI3Kδ inhibitors from the Asinex database. Read More

Comput Biol Chem 2018 Nov 27;78:178-189. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. Electronic address:

PPARα and PPARγ play an important role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. The single and selective PPARα or PPARγ agonists have caused several side effects such as edema, weight gain and cardiac failure. In the recent years, the dual PPARs agonist development has become a hot topic in the antidiabetic medicinal chemistry field. Read More

Drug Alcohol Depend 2018 Dec 8;195:6-12. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Recovery Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 151 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.

Background: Tobacco and alcohol and other drug (AOD) use remain prominent risk factors for morbidity, mortality, and health care utilization. Moreover, these often cluster together within persons, exponentiating health risks. Little is known regarding if and when people resolving AOD problems stop smoking, who stops, and whether recent general population trends toward smoking cessation are evident also among persons more recently entering recovery. Read More

Drug Alcohol Depend 2018 Dec 4;195:13-15. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, United States; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States.

Objectives: To characterize the socio-demographic characteristics, medical conditions, and psychiatric comorbidities of users of marijuana for medical and non-medical purposes.

Methods: Data were from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III, a US nationally representative in-person interview of 36,309 adults age ≥18 years in 2012-2013.

Results: In relation to non-medical only users (n = 3339), combined (n = 362) and medical only (n = 82) users had higher prevalence of every medical condition examined. Read More

Environ Int 2018 Dec 14;123:325-336. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China. Electronic address:

Background: The evaluation of the chemical impact on human health is usually constrained to the analysis of the health effects of exposure to a single chemical or a group of similar chemicals at one time. The effects of chemical mixtures are seldom analyzed. In this study, we applied three statistical models to assess the association between the exposure to a mixture of seven xenobiotics (three phthalate metabolites, two phenols, and two pesticides) and obesity. Read More

Cytokine 2018 Dec 14;114:1-5. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Pathology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address:

Blockade of the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) is a successful therapeutic strategy in various inflammatory diseases. IL-6 can signal via membrane-bound (classic signaling) and soluble forms (sIL-6R, trans-signaling) of the IL-6R. Trans-signaling is causative for the pro-inflammatory properties of IL-6, and the selective inhibition of this pathway holds the promise to cause less side effects than the global blockade of IL-6 signaling. Read More

Compr Psychiatry 2018 Dec 7;89:7-15. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Lev-Hasharon Medical Center, POB 90000, Netanya 42100, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, POB 39040, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. Electronic address:

Background: Though schizophrenia is associated with substantial psychiatric comorbidity, data pertaining to multiple comorbid psychiatric disorders among individuals with schizophrenia is missing. Furthermore, despite abundant research indicating that the course of schizophrenia is characterized by relapses, often leading to psychiatric emergency room visits and consequent hospitalizations, data regarding the association between different comorbid psychiatric diagnoses among schizophrenia patients, and these hospitalization-related factors is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the number and types of comorbid psychiatric diagnoses of inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia, and to explore whether these are associated with hospitalization-related factors. Read More

Environ Pollut 2018 Dec 4;246:225-236. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China. Electronic address:

In the study, personal PM exposures and their source contributions were characterized for 159 subjects living in the Beijing Metropolitan area. The exposures and sources were examined as functions of residential location, season, vocation, cigarette smoking, and time spent outdoors. Sampling was performed for two categories of volunteers, guards and students, that lived in urban and suburban areas of Beijing. Read More

Environ Pollut 2018 Dec 7;246:217-224. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China. Electronic address:

Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in consumer products and is a potential endocrine disruptor linked with abnormal development of male reproductive tract. However, its action and its effects on the pathways in the development of male gonad are still unclear. Here we report that effects of BPA exposure during gestation on male gonad development. Read More

J Photochem Photobiol B 2018 Nov 14;191:6-12. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Orthopedics, Xiaoshan Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, 156 Yucai Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311201, PR China.

Osteoblasts are an important key factor for the pathogenesis of several bone-related diseases, notably in osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disorder categorized based on the bone mineral density (BMD) and an alteration in the bone micro-architecture had been considered as the major determinant for increasing the fracture risk. The available medicine for curing the osteoporosis shows a minimal or no activity against the genesis or function of osteoblasts. Read More

J Photochem Photobiol B 2018 Nov 22;191:13-17. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of pharmacy, Fujian Provincial Hospital& Fujian Medical University, People's Republic of China; Molecular Biology Laboratory of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Fujian Provincial Hospital, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

Multifunctional nanocarriers are in immediate need to develop anticancer activity for the treatment of cancers. In the present research, the graphene oxide was reduced via an efficient method which reduced to RGO by using Euphorbia milii leaves extract. Thus obtained RGO nanocomposites were subsequently characterized by means UV-Vis absorption technique. Read More

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2018 Dec 8;283:83-91. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706 USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705 USA. Electronic address:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex and genetically heterogeneous neuropsychiatric disease affecting as many as 1 in 68 children. Large scale genetic sequencing of individuals along the autism spectrum has uncovered several genetic risk factors for ASD; however, understanding how, and to what extent, individual genes contribute to the overall disease phenotype remains unclear. Neuroimaging studies of ASD have revealed a wide spectrum of structural and functional perturbations that are thought to reflect, in part, the complex genetic heterogeneity underpinning ASD. Read More

J Pharm Biomed Anal 2018 Dec 10;165:233-241. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.

To identify more chemical markers for improving the quality standard and evaluate producing areas differentiation of Astragali Radix (AR), a simple, low-cost and reliable chromatography method based on a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with ultraviolet (UV) detector and charged aerosol detector (CAD) for separation of 13 major chemical components, including 8 flavonoids and 5 astragalosides in AR extract, was developed. The contents of 13 compounds in total of 27 herb samples, collected from different cultivating regions, were determined and compared. Moreover, chemometric analysis techniques with principal component constituent analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were performed to discriminate the samples from different producing areas. Read More

Res Vet Sci 2018 Nov 13;122:200-209. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address:

Due to welfare concerns and legal restrictions in certain countries, alternatives to wire net floors must be developed in rabbit husbandries. Also, there is a difference in regulations in Europe for laboratory rabbits vs. rabbits bred and kept for meat production. Read More

Neurobiol Aging 2018 Nov 26;75:109-116. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) is an early clinical feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The neurobiology underlying IADL disruptions is still unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between IADL functioning and cortical atrophy across the AD spectrum. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2018 Dec 10;176:122-126. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.

Objectives: Pediatric Chiari Type 1 Malformations (CM1) are commonly referred for neurosurgical opinion. The ideal management in children regarding surgical and radiographic decision making is not clearly delineated.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our cohort of patients age 18 years and younger referred to a single neurosurgeon for CM1. Read More

Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018 Dec 7;102:139-148. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, 300 Medical Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California, 502 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address:

Previous research has linked exposure to adverse social conditions with DNA damage and accelerated telomere shortening, raising the possibility that chronic stress may impact biological aging pathways, ultimately increasing risk for age-related diseases. Less clear, however, is whether these stress-related effects extend to additional hallmarks of biological aging, including cellular senescence, a stable state of cell cycle arrest. The present study aimed to investigate associations between psychosocial stress and two markers of cellular aging-leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and cellular senescence signal p16. Read More

Cognition 2018 Dec 14;184:28-43. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Gaze allocation to human faces has recently been shown to be greatly dependent on the social context. However, what has not been considered explicitly here, is how gaze allocation may be supportive of the specific task that individuals carry out. In the present study, we combined these two insights. Read More

J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Service de stomatologie et chirurgie maxillo-faciale, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83, Boulevard de l'Hôpital 75651 Paris Cedex 13, France.

Introduction: Malpractice lawsuits in medicine and facial surgery are on the rise and they become an influencing factor in everyday practice for any surgeon.

Aim: We aim to analyze the possible causes for litigation in an effort to avoid these claims in the future.

Materials: One hundred and thirty litigation cases filed over a 10 year period (2005-2015) were evaluated. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Background And Aims: Little is known about the prevalence or treatment of pruritus associated with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). We analyzed data from patients with PBC recruited from all clinical centers in the United Kingdom (UK) to characterize the prevalence, severity, progression, and treatment of pruritus.

Methods: We performed cross-sectional and longitudinal study of patients in the UK-PBC cohort to assess trajectories of pruritus. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Houston VA Health Services Research and Development Service Center of Excellence (Houston, TX), Section of Health Services Research, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (Houston, TX) and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through surveillance reduces mortality associated with this cancer. Guidelines recommend HCC surveillance every 6 months for patients with cirrhosis, via ultrasonography, with or without measurement of serum level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP).

Methods: We previously developed and internally validated an HCC early detection screening (HES) algorithm that included patient's current level of AFP, rate of AFP change, age, level of alanine aminotransferase, and platelet count in a department of Veterans affairs (VA) cohort with active hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Ambry Genetics, Aliso Viejo, CA.

Background And Aims: Guidelines recommend genetic testing of patients with 10 or more cumulative adenomatous polyps. However, little is known about the utility of these tests-especially for older patients. We aimed to determine the prevalence of pathogenic mutations in patients with multiple colorectal polyps, stratified by age. Read More