Aggregation induced emission by pyridinium–pyridinium interactions

Non-covalent intermolecular interactions between pyridinium subunits in a crystal-state are an efficient means to accomplish aggregation induced emission and avoid aggregation caused quenching.

Non-covalent intermolecular pyridinium–pyridinium and pyridinium–arene-π system interactions result in aggregation induced emission (AIE).     

Mildronate: cardioprotective action through carnitine-lowering effect

Mildronate [3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrazinium)propionate dihydrate] ameliorates cardiac function during ischemia by modulating myocardial energy metabolism. Biochemical and pharmacological evidence supports the hypothesis that the mechanism of action of mildronate is based on its regulatory effect on carnitine concentration, whereby mildronate treatment shifts the myocardial energy metabolism from fatty acid oxidation to the more favorable glucose oxidation under ischemic conditions. Because mildronate treatment prepares cellular metabolism and membrane structures to survive ischemic stress conditions, it is possible that mildronate could be regarded as an agent of pharmacological preconditioning.     

Gastritis staging: interobserver agreement by applying OLGA and OLGIM systems

Atrophic gastritis remains a difficult histopathological diagnosis with low interobserver agreement. The aim of our study was to compare gastritis staging and interobserver agreement between general and expert gastrointestinal (GI) pathologists using Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) and Operative Link on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia (OLGIM). We enrolled 835 patients undergoing upper endoscopy in the study. Two general and two expert gastrointestinal pathologists graded biopsy specimens according to the Sydney classification, and the stage of gastritis was assessed by OLGA and OLGIM system. Using OLGA, 280 (33.4 %) patients had gastritis (stage I–IV), whereas with OLGIM this was 167 (19.9 %). OLGA stage III– IV gastritis was observed in 25 patients, whereas by OLGIM stage III–IV was found in 23 patients. Interobserver agreement between expert GI pathologists for atrophy in the antrum, incisura angularis, and corpus was moderate (kappa?=?0.53, 0.57 and 0.41, respectively, p?<?0.0001), but almost perfect for intestinal metaplasia (kappa?=?0.82, 0.80 and 0.81, respectively, p?<?0.0001). However, interobserver agreement between general pathologists was poor for atrophy, but moderate for intestinal metaplasia. OLGIM staging provided the highest interobserver agreement, but a substantial proportion of potentially high-risk individuals would be missed if only OLGIM staging is applied. Therefore, we recommend to use a combination of OLGA and OLGIM for staging of chronic gastritis.     

Exploring young people's expectations of a youth mental health care service

Client expectations about mental health services relate to the client's and the therapist's role, the therapeutic process and therapeutic outcomes. Research with adults shows that such expectations affect service engagement and clinical outcomes. Aim: The present study investigated expectations for adolescents and young adults, which have not been adequately investigated and may partly explain the reluctance of young people to seek professional help. Methods: Participants included 20 young people aged 12–24 attending their initial session at a youth mental health service, who were interviewed immediately prior to their initial session. Data were analysed using qualitative methods to draw main themes around each of the four expectancy types. Results: Overall, the strongest theme was that young people were unsure of what to expect from attending a mental health service. The key theme for expectations of their role as a client was readiness for therapy, and for the therapist's role the key themes were who they expected to see, the directiveness and likeability of the therapist, and the type of help they expected they would receive. The young people expected that the therapy process would involve simply talking and expected their engagement to be dependent on how much they liked their first few sessions. Outcome expectations were non‐specific and the theme of hopefulness was most evident. Conclusion: As unrealistic and unmet expectations can lead to poorer engagement and outcomes in therapy, the study highlights a need for young people to be better informed about what to expect when coming to mental health services.     

A Critical Role for Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein in Diabetes-Related Impairment of Angiogenesis

Impaired angiogenesis in ischemic tissue is a hallmark of diabetes. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is an exquisitely glucose-sensitive gene that is overexpressed in diabetes. As TXNIP modulates the activity of the key angiogenic cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), we hypothesized that hyperglycemia-induced dysregulation of TXNIP may play a role in the pathogenesis of impaired angiogenesis in diabetes. In the current study, we report that high glucose–mediated overexpression of TXNIP induces a widespread impairment in endothelial cell (EC) function and survival by reducing VEGF production and sensitivity to VEGF action, findings that are rescued by silencing TXNIP with small interfering RNA. High glucose–induced EC dysfunction was recapitulated in normal glucose conditions by overexpressing either TXNIP or a TXNIP C247S mutant unable to bind thioredoxin, suggesting that TXNIP effects are largely independent of thioredoxin activity. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, TXNIP knockdown to nondiabetic levels rescued diabetes-related impairment of angiogenesis, arteriogenesis, blood flow, and functional recovery in an ischemic hindlimb. These findings were associated with in vivo restoration of VEGF production to nondiabetic levels. These data implicate a critical role for TXNIP in diabetes-related impairment of ischemia-mediated angiogenesis and identify TXNIP as a potential therapeutic target for the vascular complications of diabetes.     

Altered mitochondrial metabolism in the insulin‐resistant heart

Obesity‐induced insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus can ultimately result in various complications, including diabetic cardiomyopathy. In this case, cardiac dysfunction is characterized by metabolic disturbances such as impaired glucose oxidation and an increased reliance on fatty acid (FA) oxidation. Mitochondrial dysfunction has often been associated with the altered metabolic function in the diabetic heart, and may result from FA‐induced lipotoxicity and uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. In this review, we address the metabolic changes in the diabetic heart, focusing on the loss of metabolic flexibility and cardiac mitochondrial function. We consider the alterations observed in mitochondrial substrate utilization, bioenergetics and dynamics, and highlight new areas of research which may improve our understanding of the cause and effect of cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetes. Finally, we explore how lifestyle (nutrition and exercise) and pharmacological interventions can prevent and treat metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetes.     

An activated charcoal-based, liquid scintillation-analyzed airborne Rn detector

An inexpensive, easy-to-use detector for measuring airborne 222Rn based on 222Rn diffusion and absorption in activated charcoal is presented. The detector uses chemical extraction and liquid scintillation for measurement of the 222Rn concentration, is designed to be insensitive to temperature and humidity effects, and obtains sensitivity levels of 675 CPM (Bq L-1)-1 [25 CPM (pCi L-1)-1] at room temperature.     

Interventions in the therapy of electromechanical dissociation

Electromechanical dissociation (EMD) is a major arrest rhythm for which there is often inadequate treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the different pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions considered in the treatment of EMD. During the 6-year period, January 1st, 1980 to December 31st, 1985, 503 evaluable adult patients presented in a non-traumatic, non-poisoning cardiopulmonary arrest with the initial rhythm of EMD. One hundred nineteen patients obtained a pulse during resuscitation efforts following drug administration. The average time to obtaining pulses after the last drug administration was 1.97 +/- 2.21 min. The following drugs were last administered prior to transient pulses: bicarbonate, 31/119 (26%); epinephrine, 26/119 (22%); atropine, 26/119 (22%); dopamine, 13/119 (11%); calcium, 11/119 (9%); isoproterenol, 7/119 (6%); other drugs, 5/119 (4%). Ninety-five percent of the successful resuscitations received eight or less drug interventions and all saves received three or less drug interventions. Two hundred twenty-four patients (44.5%) had 288 non-pharmacological interventions. Twenty-three patients developed a pulse after intervention in the following distribution: MAST suit (N = 9), pericardiocentesis (N = 6), fluid challenge (N = 5), needle thoracostomy (N = 1), and intervention combinations (N = 2). The time interval between intervention and the onset of pulse was as follows: MAST suit, 4 +/- 2.8 min; pericardiocentesis, 3.7 +/- 3.6 min; fluid challenge, 4.8 +/- 4.1 min; needle thoracostomy, 6 min. The overall save rate for intervention patients was 0.9% whereas for those not having intervention it was 7.2% (P less than or equal to 0.0003).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Global repolarization sequence of the right atrium: monphasic action potential mapping in health pigs

The aim of the study was to explore the global sequence of atrial repolarization and its correlation to that of activation. Endocardial monophasic action potentials (MAPs) were sequentially recorded from 51 +/- 14 sites in the right atrium of ten healthy pigs using the CARTO electroanatomic mapping system. Local activation time (AT), MAP duration, and 90% repolarization time (RT) were obtained, and from these data, color coded three-dimensional maps of AT and RT sequences and spatial distribution of MAP duration were reconstructed. The results of the study were: (1) An activation sequence was recognizable in all maps, starting from the posterosuperior wall and ending in the posteroinferior wall near the tricuspid annulus. (2) The repolarization sequence was also recognizable in all maps, and mainly followed the sequence of activation. (3) A significant positive correlation between the RT and AT was observed in all maps with an average r value being 0.571 +/- 0.159 (P < 0.01 - 0.0001), suggesting that progressively later AT associates with progressively longer RT. (4) No consistent correlation between the MAP duration and AT was found. In conclusion, repolarization gradients exist over the atrial endocardium in healthy pigs. The repolarization sequence follows the same sequence as the activation, suggesting that the spatiotemporal pattern of activation is an important determinant of the characteristics of the repolarization sequence.