Absence Of PA Research Articles

Pleural appendages: Description, incidence and relations with body mass index

Background and aimsPleural appendages (PA) are portions of extrapleural fat that hang from the chest wall. They have been described on videothoracoscopy, however their appearance, frequency and possible relationship with the amount of patient's fat remain unknown. Our aim is to describe their appearances and prevalence on CT, and determinate whether their size and number is higher in obese patients. Patients and methodsAxial images of 226 patients with pneumothorax on CT chest were retrospectively reviewed. Exclusion criteria included known pleural disease, previous thoracic surgery and small pneumothorax.Patients were divided in obese (BMI>30) and non-obese (BMI<30) groups. Presence, position, size and number of PA were recorded. Chi square and Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate differences between the two groups, considering p<0.05 as significant. ResultsValid CT studies were available for 101 patients. Extrapleural fat was identified in 50 (49.5%) patients. Most were solitary (n=31). Most were located in the cardiophrenic angle (n=27), and most measured <5cm (n=39).There was no significant difference between obese and non-obese patients regarding the presence or absence of PA (p=0.315), number (p=0.458) and size (p=0.458). ConclusionsPleural appendages were seen in 49.5% patients with pneumothorax on CT. There was no significant difference between obese and non-obese patients regarding presence, number and size of pleural appendages.

Aftereffects to Prism Exposure without Adaptation: A Single Case Study.

Visuo-motor adaptation to optical prisms (Prism Adaptation, PA), displacing the visual scene laterally, is a behavioral method used for the experimental investigation of visuomotor plasticity, and, in clinical settings, for temporarily ameliorating and rehabilitating unilateral spatial neglect. This study investigated the building up of PA, and the presence of the typically occurring subsequent Aftereffects (AEs) in a brain-damaged patient (TMA), suffering from apperceptive agnosia and a right visual half-field defect, with bilateral atrophy of the parieto-occipital cortices, regions involved in PA and AEs. Base-Right prisms and control neutral lenses were used. PA was achieved by repeated pointing movements toward three types of stimuli: visual, auditory, and bimodal audio-visual. The presence and the magnitude of AEs were assessed by proprioceptive, visual, visuo-proprioceptive, and auditory-proprioceptive straight-ahead pointing tasks. The patient’s brain connectivity was investigated by Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Unlike control participants, TMA did not show any adaptation to prism exposure, but her AEs were largely preserved. These findings indicate that AEs may occur even in the absence of PA, as indexed by the reduction of the pointing error, showing a dissociation between the classical measures of PA and AEs. In the PA process, error reduction, and its feedback, may be less central to the building up of AEs, than the sensorimotor pointing activity per se.

Apéndices pleurales: descripción, incidencia y relación con el índice de masa corporal

Background and aimsPleural appendages (PA) are portions of extrapleural fat that hang from the chest wall. They have been described on videothoracoscopy, however their appearance, frequency and possible relationship with the amount of patient's fat remain unknown. Our aim is to describe their appearances and prevalence on CT, and determinate whether their size and number is higher in obese patients. Patients and methodsAxial images of 226 patients with pneumothorax on CT chest were retrospectively reviewed. Exclusion criteria included known pleural disease, previous thoracic surgery and small pneumothorax.Patients were divided in obese (BMI > 30) and non-obese (BMI < 30) groups. Presence, position, size and number of PA were recorded. Chi square and Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate differences between the two groups, considering p<0.05 as significant. ResultsValid CT studies were available for 101 patients. Extrapleural fat was identified in 50 (49.5%) patients. Most were solitary (n=31). Most were located in the cardiophrenic angle (n=27), and most measured < 5cm (n=39).There was no significant difference between obese and non-obese patients regarding the presence or absence of PA (p=0.315), number (p=0.458) and size (p=0.458). ConclusionsPleural appendages were seen in 49.5% patients with pneumothorax on CT. There was no significant difference between obese and non-obese patients regarding presence, number and size of pleural appendages.

Optical determination of nitro phenol via ratiometric emission from Tb:Eu-MOFs: Chemical synthesis and spectral response

The present paper reported fluorescent detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (PA) by controlling energy transfer finely between rare earth ions. Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions with different weight ratios were reacted with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid to construct a MOF matrix. Corresponding MOF samples were characterized in detail with SEM, XRD, N2 adsorption and desorption to confirm their structure. Their photophysical performance was discussed in detail as well. It was found that these MOF samples showed weak Tb(III) green emission and strong Eu(III) red emission in the absence of PA, since the triplet state (T1) of 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid excited Eu(III) effectively compared to Tb(III). Given PA, T1 of 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid was increased to match Tb(III) energy level. Strong Tb(III) green emission and weak Eu(III) red emission were observed, showing ratiometric fluorescent sensing towards PA. Sensitivity and limit of detection were obtained as 4.34 and 0.28 μM, respectively. Unique selectivity and linear response towards PA were observed. The practical sensing performance was confirmed as well.

The roles of mycorrhiza and Penicillium inoculants in phosphorus uptake by biochar-amended wheat

Biochar (BC) application to soil can potentially replace mineral P fertilizers and its effectiveness as fertilizer can be improved by plant inoculation with the phosphate-solubilizing microorganism Penicillium aculeatum (Pa). Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi are important in plant P nutrition and may possibly act synergistically with Pa to improve the uptake of BC-P. Responses in wheat to inoculation with Pa and the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis were studied in a pot experiment at two levels of BC fertilization. Pots contained a mesh-enclosed, root free compartment with 33P-labelled soil for assessment of the AM contribution to P uptake and for studying if Pa would affect P uptake by the AM fungal hyphae. AM application suppressed wheat growth, albeit AM pathway had a major role in total P uptake at the two lowest P levels (nil or 20 mg BC-P kg−1 soil). Moreover, AM contribution had similar magnitudes in the presence and absence of Pa. Rhizosphere and bulk soil were actively colonized by Pa, both in the presence and absence of AM. The application of Pa or BC at a low rate increased AM-colonized root lengths. Although this was not translated to increased P uptake by wheat, the results suggest that AM and Pa can be combined without showing antagonistic interactions. However, more work is needed to understand how AM and Pa can be combined to increase plant growth.

THE EFFECTS OF TEXTUAL ENHANCEMENT ON THE ACQUISITION OF TWO NONPARALLEL GRAMMATICAL FEATURES BY SPANISH-SPEAKING LEARNERS OF ITALIAN

This article investigates the learning of two syntactic structures in Italian—Pre-possessive Determiner Article (PPDA) and Differential Object Marking—that each pose specific learning difficulties for Spanish-speaking learners of Italian (SSLI), resulting from the asymmetrical relationship with corresponding structures in the learners’ L1 (Spanish). The article also examines to what extent these difficulties can be alleviated by means of a relatively implicit type of form-focused instruction (Textual Enhancement, or TE). SSLI tend to omit the article before the possessive determiner (e.g., *mia macchina) and overuse the Prepositional Accusative (PA, the Romance languages’ instance of Differential Object Marking) in canonical SVO sentences (e.g., *conosco a Marco). Although both structures pose learning difficulties to SSLI, the learning path that leads SSLI to acquire these two features is different: SSLI have to learn to add PPDA to their interlanguage and they have to unlearn PA, a property of their L1. Sixty-eight instructed SSLI were divided in two groups. Group A read five texts where the absence of PA was textually enhanced; group B read the same texts where the presence of PPDA was enhanced. The participants took a timed grammatical judgment test before, shortly after, and two months after the instructional treatment. The results show that the effects of the TE are different for PA and PPDA, which indicates that features to be unlearned are more difficult and require more explicit instructional intervention.

Clinical outcomes associated with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway infections in adult cystic fibrosis patients.

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus (SA) is the most prevalent organism infecting the respiratory tract of CF children, and remains the second most prevalent organism in CF adults. During early childhood, SA infections are associated with pulmonary inflammation and decline in FEV1, but their clinical significance in adult CF patients is poorly characterized.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to determine the association between airway microbiology and clinical outcomes (FEV1, rate of pulmonary exacerbations, CRP levels and clinical scores).ResultsIn a cohort of 84 adult CF patients, 24 % were infected with SA only, 60 % were infected with PA, and 16 % had neither PA nor SA. CF patients with SA experienced fewer pulmonary exacerbations and lower CRP levels than those with PA.ConclusionIn adult CF patients, SA infections alone, in the absence of PA, are a marker of milder disease.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12890-015-0062-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Differential Expression of Pyloric Atresia in Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa with ITGB4 Mutations Suggests that Pyloric Atresia is due to Factors Other than the Mutations and Not Predictive of a Poor Outcome: Three Novel Mutations and a Review of the Li

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia (JEB-PA) is an autosomal recessive blistering disease including lethal and non-lethal variants due to mutations in ITGB4 and ITGA6. It is unclear whether PA is caused directly by the mutations in these genes or by other factors. Skin biopsies from patients with JEB were processed for immunofluorescence mapping. When staining for integrin beta4 or alpha6 was absent or reduced, ITGB4 was screened for mutations. A review of known mutations of ITGB4 and the phenotypes of patients with JEB-PA was undertaken. Three novel ITGB4 mutations were identified in 3 families with JEB-PA: 2 splice-site and one insertion mutation. Two families with lethal phenotypes (EB-050 and EB-049) were due to combinations of premature termination codons and missense mutations (658delC/R252C and 3903dupC/G273D, respectively). The third family EB-013 has 2 JEB affected siblings; a brother with PA and a sister without PA. Both were homo notzygous for ITGB4 264G>A/3111-1G>A. Two cases had no gastrointestinal symptoms or signs of PA. PA is an inconstant feature of the subtype of epidermolysis bullosa known as JEB-PA. It is most likely that multiple factors influence the development of PA and its presence is not predictive of a poor outcome. It is possible that institutions that do not routinely screen immunofluore notscence mapping for integrin alpha6beta4 staining in the absence of PA are missing this form of epidermolysis bullosa.

Phospholipid Profiles of Neoplastic Human Breast Tissues

Abstract Membrane phospholipids from malignant, benign and non-involved human breast tissues were extracted by chloroform-methanol (2:l) and analyzed by 31P MR spectroscopy at 202.4 MHz. Fourteen phospholipids were identified as constituents of the profiles obtained among the 52 specimens of the three groups: PC, PC plas LPC, LPC plas, PE, PE plas, LPE, PS, SPH, PI, CL, PG, PA and one uncharacterized resonance at 0.13 6. The relative P-lipid profile mole percentages of phosphorus and indices representing sums and ratios of individual or grouped P-lipids were computed and analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and were compared as simple and complex statistical contrasts. The analysis permitted differentiation among the three groups with the most poignant simple contrast being the relative absence of PA in normal tissues, followed by the significant mean mole percentage differences in PC plas between noninvolved (3.09 ± 0.41) and malignant (4.49 ± 0.23) tissues and between these same tissues in the value...

DMSO potentiates aminonucleoside of puromycin nephrosis in rats.

Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), 3 g/kg body weight, administered daily by the intraperitoneal route, potentiated the proteinuria and formation of tubular casts in aminonucleoside of puromycin (PA) induced nephrosis in Sprague-Dawley rats. The effect was evident at 4 as well as 8-9 days following PA administration. In the absence of PA, DMSO did not induce proteinuria or cast formation. The mechanism by which DMSO enhanced proteinuria and cast formation is not known.

Appearance of postural asymmetry of hind limbs in rats following unilateral colchicine block of axonal transport in corticolumbar projections

To test this hypothesis the possibility of formation of functional asymmetry of the segmental apparatus, due to the appearance of PA factor in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was studied after blocking of axonal transport in corticolumbar projections in the absence of organic damage to brain and spinal cord tissue. Axonal transport was blocked by colchicine. To identify disturbances of axonal flow the histochemical retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method was used. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD Noninbred male rats weighing 180-220 g were used. Under ether anesthesia a microinjection of colchicine (from Merck, West Germany) in a dose of 1 ~g, in 1 D1 of physiological saline, was given into the motor cortex on the left side at a depth of 1 mm into the underlying white matter. The animals were then divided into groups and spinalized at level TI at different times after injection of colchicine. All the animals were tested for the presence of PA of the hind limbs visually and e!ectromyographically. EMGs of two groups of corresponding thigh muscles (biceps and quadriceps) of both hind limbs were analyzed. Steel bipolar needle electrodes (diameter 0.5 mm, interelectrode distance 3 mm) were used. The results were processed directly in the course of the experiment on a nonlinear MN-10M simulation apparatus by calculation of the coefficient of asyrmnetry, the ratio of the difference between bioelectrical activity of the homonymous muscles, integrated by frequency and amplitude, and their total. The results were subjected to statistical analysis by Student's test at a P < 0.05 level of significance. Blocking of axonal transport in corticolumbar projections was identified by microinjection of 0.1-0.2 pl of 30-40% solution of RRP (Sigma-VI) into the gray matter of the spinal cord. The animals were killed 48 h after injection by perfusion of the brain with physiological saline, followed by perfusion with a fixing solution consisting of 0.4% paraformaldehyde and 25% glutaraldehyde in 0.i M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. The brain was removed and kept for 24 h at 4~ in the same fixing solution, after which it was transferred into 30% sucrose solution in 0.i M phosphate buffer, in which it remained for 24-48 h at 4~ Serial sections 40 ~ thick were then cut on a freezing microtome. The sections were stained by the histochemical method in [6]. Biological testing was used to reveal PA-inducing factors (PAF) in the CSF of the donor animals with blocked axonal transport in corticolumbar projections. For this purpose donors' CSF in a volume of 50 ~i was injected into the cerebromedullary cisterna of intact recipient rats. The recipients were spinalized 10-15 min later and tested for the presence or absence of PA.