Elevated preoperative aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) is reported to be a prognostic factor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after treatment. However, [DELTA] ALRI which represents the change from postoperative ALRI to preoperative ALRI change has received little attention. The present study was designed to evaluate the prognostic value of [DELT...

When urea is added to Ureaplasma urealyticum, it is hydrolysed internally by a cytosolic urease. Under our measuring conditions, and at an external pH of 6.0, urea hydrolysis caused an ammonia chemical potential equivalent to almost 80 mV and, simultaneously, an increase in proton electrochemical potential (delta p) of about 24 mV with resultant de novo ATP synthesis. Inhibition of the urease w...

In the present study, we evaluated the relationships of estimated desaturase activities with cardiometabolic risk factors including abdominal obesity, atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype and inflammation in Koreans. Ninety-three healthy volunteers participated in this cross-sectional study. LDL particle size was determined using gradient gel electrophoresis and inflammatory markers including C-re...

A strong correlation was previously observed between carbon isotope discrimination (Delta(13)C) of phloem sap sugars and phloem sap sugar concentration in the phloem-bleeding tree Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (J. Pate, E. Shedley, D. Arthur, M. Adams [1998] Oecologia 117: 312-322). We hypothesized that correspondence between these two parameters results from covarying responses to plant water po...

We propose a forced oscillation test modality for detecting upper airway obstruction (UAO) as an alternative to spirometric UAO indices in patients with tracheal stenosis. From oscillometry performed at different breathing flow rates, airway resistance at 5 Hz was determined at 0.5 l/s (R), and flow dependence of resistance was computed as the regression slope of resistance vs. flow up to 1 l/s...

BACKGROUND The rationale for using central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO(2)) in various clinical scenarios is that it reflects the balance between oxygen delivery (DO(2)) and demands. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between ScvO(2) and DO(2) changes (Delta Do(2), DeltaScvO(2)) in patients receiving fluid therapy following coronary surgery. We also correlated the changes of mean art...

Most early-phase testing of new therapeutic modalities involves analysis of initial tumor response as opposed to estimation of long-term response. In this study, the validity of initial response rates to predict long-term responses was examined for tumors treated with radiotherapy alone compared with heat combined with radiotherapy. A total of 130 pet animals with either squamous cell carcinoma...

by KUMARASWAMY BUDUR, MD Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with sleep disturbances. An electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern of alpha wave intrusion in delta wave sleep (alpha-delta sleep) is observed in some subjects with MDD. The treatment-resistant symptoms in MDD, non-restorative sleep and fatigue, are associated with alpha-delta sleep. The objective of this study is ...

A theoretical investigation (AIM and ELF analyses together with NMR chemical shifts) has been conducted for three-membered heterocycle (N, P, and As) oxides. An aromatic stabilization was found for the P and As rings. However, the N derivatives displayed a net negative hyperconjugation in the N-O bond formation, without ring aromaticity observed for their electronic properties. The calculated d...

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the study population in Delta State of Nigeria. METHODS Two hundred and five patients suspected of HIV and TB were prospectively studied in Kwale, Agbor and Eku in Delta State of Nigeria from February 2006 to February 2008. Human immunodeficiency virus status was determined using World...