Approximation of diffuse attenuation,Kd, for MODIS high-resolution bands

A high resolution depth attenuation product (K_d^hires) was developed using MODIS 500 m and 250 m spectral bands. The K_d^hires was compared with Wang’s operational K_d for the Chesapeake Bay. Minimal differences were observed between the two methods, with greatest deviation occurring in areas of high turbidity in the tributaries. After tuning the new K_d^hires, the mean absolute error and bias between the two algorithms was 0.22 m^?1 and 0.026 m^?1, indicating good agreement. Higher spatial resolution provides for improved retrievals along the coast and into the narrow sections of the tributaries, coinciding with areas of concern to estuarine health and coastal management applications.     

Efficacy and safety of ND:YAG 1064 nm lasers for photoepilation: a systematic review

Lasers in Medical Science - Using light sources in phototherapy has presented promising results regarding several types of facial and body skin affections for centuries. The neodymium-doped yttrium...     

The fist model for nasal packing.

Epistaxis is a common ear, nose and throat emergency. A variety of nasal packs are available to control the bleeding by tamponade. Training of junior doctors to insert nasal packs is difficult when dealing with a bleeding patient. We discovered a readily available and simple model to enable trainees to learn the method of nasal packing.     

Chronic-alcohol exposure alters IGF1 signaling in H9c2 cells via changes in PKC delta.

Previously, we have demonstrated that chronic-alcohol exposure alters insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling in adult rat heart cells. This report examines the effects of alcohol in vitro on the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) alpha, delta, and epsilon using the embryonic heart cell line, H9c2, and how this may be linked to changes in IGF1 signal transduction. Western blot analyses of H9c2 protein preparations demonstrate that there are significant increases in the total protein levels of PKC delta and epsilon after 4 days exposure to alcohol, and similar increases were found after 2 and 6 days exposure. In addition, there was a significant increase in PKC delta and epsilon in the membranal fractions and a decrease in the cytosolic fractions. No change was found in the expression or activity levels for PKC alpha. Chronic-alcohol exposure (100 mM, 4 days) increased the basal tyrosine kinase activity of the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R), and altered its rate of activation. Chronic-alcohol exposure also reduced the rate of Erk1/Erk2 activation by IGF1. Chronic alcohol blocked the proliferative effects of IGF1 on cell growth and reduced cell viability both in the presence and absence of IGF1, and this alcohol-induced reduction in cell viability was blocked using siRNA to inhibit PKC delta. In addition, a reduction in the amount of myosin light chain 2 was found in the alcohol-exposed cells. In conclusion, chronic alcohol alters PKC delta and epsilon expression and activity, and suppresses the IGF1 signaling pathway in embryonic heart cell culture. Blockage of PKC delta expression using siRNA inhibits the suppressive effects of alcohol on cell viability.     

Reduction in oral corticosteroid use with mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler improves health-related quality of life in patients with severe persistent asthma.

Severe persistent asthma can have a substantial impact on a patient's health-related quality of life (HRQL), both as a result of symptoms and from side effects of treatment. The HRQL impact of two doses (400 and 800 microg twice daily) of mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler (MF DPI) was compared with placebo in patients with severe persistent asthma previously maintained on oral steroids as a component of a previously published randomized, 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. A 9-month open-label extension (OLE), with all patients treated with MF DPI, followed. Patients 12 years of age or older completed a generic HRQL measure, the Medical Outcomes Trust Short Form-36 (SF-36), and an asthma-specific measure, the Marks Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ-M), at baseline, at endpoint (last evaluable visit) of the double-blind phase (EODBP), and after the first 3 months of the OLE. Of 132 patients enrolled in the study, 128 provided HRQL data at baseline and at EODBP. Mean SF-36 scores at baseline showed significant HRQL impairment compared with U.S. general population norms. With treatment, the reduction in oral corticosteroid (OCS) requirements of the MF-DPI-treated groups was accompanied by significant (p < 0.05) improvement over placebo in the physical domain of HRQL (SF-36 physical component summary score and the physical function subscale) at EODBP. MF-DPI-treated patients also showed significant improvements at EODBP in each of the four subscales of the AQLQ-M (p<0.05). From EODBP to the OLE 3-month endpoint, patients treated with MF DPI twice daily maintained, or improved, SF-36 scores in most domains. Symptomatic improvement and reduction in OCS use with MF DPI were accompanied by significant improvement in HRQL in patients with severe persistent asthma. These improvements were maintained during the 3-month period of the OLE in which HRQL was evaluated.