pit After Treating Barely Any Patients for a Massive $7.5 Million Each, 16 Emergency COVID Hospitals Are Standing Down By www.westernjournal.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 13:26:54 +0000 At a cost of $7.5 million a patient, they were 16 very expensive field hospitals. Yet, according to NPR, those hospitals are now “stand[ing] down.” You probably remember them from headlines early in the pandemic: makeshift medical centers being assembled at breakneck speed by companies contracted by the Army Corps of Engineers in anticipation of… The post After Treating Barely Any Patients for a Massive $7.5 Million Each, 16 Emergency COVID Hospitals Are Standing Down appeared first on The Western Journal. Full Article Commentary Coronavirus Health medical Military New York City NYC New York state U.S. Army
pit 10-Month-Old Gets Heartwarming Celebration from Hospital Staff After Finishing Chemotherapy By www.westernjournal.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 14:59:40 +0000 As confetti floated through the air, a baby boy and his family celebrated his final chemotherapy treatment in time to go home before his first birthday. According to KSAZ, young Aaron has been battling a rare form of cancer called acute megakaryoblastic leukemia since he was four months old. Aaron was a patient at Duke… The post 10-Month-Old Gets Heartwarming Celebration from Hospital Staff After Finishing Chemotherapy appeared first on The Western Journal. Full Article Lifestyle baby Cancer children family Health medical North Carolina Uplifting
pit Jupiter looks pretty angry in "lucky" infrared shot By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 07:47:42 PDT It took hundreds of exposures and a complex method of removing occlusions, but this "lucky" shot is the result: a depiction of the hot regions lurking under Jupiter's uppermost clouds. The picture was captured in infared by the Gemini North Telescope in Hawaii, and is one of the sharpest observations of the planet ever made from the ground. To achieve the resolution, scientists used a technique called "lucky imaging" which scrubs out the blurring effect of looking through Earth's turbulent atmosphere. This method involves acquiring multiple exposures of the target and only keeping those segments of an image where that turbulence is at a minimum. Read the rest Full Article Post Space
pit Sport24.co.za | Pitso fears for townships if PSL restarts By www.sport24.co.za Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 18:42:14 +0200 Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says the premature return of football, even behind closed doors, poses a number of potential problems. Full Article
pit Univ of Pittsburg Researcher, China Native, Dr. Bing Liu, “On the verge” of COVID19 Breakthrough Is Murdered…Alleged Gunman, Hao Gu, Kills Himself By 100percentfedup.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 03:23:08 +0000 The following article, Univ of Pittsburg Researcher, China Native, Dr. Bing Liu, “On the verge” of COVID19 Breakthrough Is Murdered…Alleged Gunman, Hao Gu, Kills Himself, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com. A 37-year-old China native and "outstanding researcher" at the University of Pittsburgh... Continue reading: Univ of Pittsburg Researcher, China Native, Dr. Bing Liu, “On the verge” of COVID19 Breakthrough Is Murdered…Alleged Gunman, Hao Gu, Kills Himself ... Full Article Featured Politics
pit Inflammatory and mitogenic signals drive interleukin 23 subunit alpha (IL23A) secretion independent of IL12B in intestinal epithelial cells [Signal Transduction] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 The heterodimeric cytokine interleukin-23 (IL-23 or IL23A/IL12B) is produced by dendritic cells and macrophages and promotes the proinflammatory and regenerative activities of T helper 17 (Th17) and innate lymphoid cells. A recent study has reported that IL-23 is also secreted by lung adenoma cells and generates an inflammatory and immune-suppressed stroma. Here, we observed that proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF)/NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling strongly induce IL23A expression in intestinal epithelial cells. Moreover, we identified a strong crosstalk between the NF-κB and MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) pathways, involving the formation of a transcriptional enhancer complex consisting of proto-oncogene c-Jun (c-Jun), RELA proto-oncogene NF-κB subunit (RelA), RUNX family transcription factor 1 (RUNX1), and RUNX3. Collectively, these proteins induced IL23A secretion, confirmed by immunoprecipitation of endogenous IL23A from activated human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell culture supernatants. Interestingly, IL23A was likely secreted in a noncanonical form, as it was not detected by an ELISA specific for heterodimeric IL-23 likely because IL12B expression is absent in CRC cells. Given recent evidence that IL23A promotes tumor formation, we evaluated the efficacy of MAPK/NF-κB inhibitors in attenuating IL23A expression and found that the MEK inhibitor trametinib and BAY 11–7082 (an IKKα/IκB inhibitor) effectively inhibited IL23A in a subset of human CRC lines with mutant KRAS or BRAFV600E mutations. Together, these results indicate that proinflammatory and mitogenic signals dynamically regulate IL23A in epithelial cells. They further reveal its secretion in a noncanonical form independent of IL12B and that small-molecule inhibitors can attenuate IL23A secretion. Full Article
pit Polarization of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) signaling is altered during airway epithelial remodeling and deciliation [Immunology] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) is activated by secreted proteases from immune cells or fungi. PAR-2 is normally expressed basolaterally in differentiated nasal ciliated cells. We hypothesized that epithelial remodeling during diseases characterized by cilial loss and squamous metaplasia may alter PAR-2 polarization. Here, using a fluorescent arrestin assay, we confirmed that the common fungal airway pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus activates heterologously-expressed PAR-2. Endogenous PAR-2 activation in submerged airway RPMI 2650 or NCI–H520 squamous cells increased intracellular calcium levels and granulocyte macrophage–colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin (IL)-6 secretion. RPMI 2650 cells cultured at an air–liquid interface (ALI) responded to apically or basolaterally applied PAR-2 agonists. However, well-differentiated primary nasal epithelial ALIs responded only to basolateral PAR-2 stimulation, indicated by calcium elevation, increased cilia beat frequency, and increased fluid and cytokine secretion. We exposed primary cells to disease-related modifiers that alter epithelial morphology, including IL-13, cigarette smoke condensate, and retinoic acid deficiency, at concentrations and times that altered epithelial morphology without causing breakdown of the epithelial barrier to model early disease states. These altered primary cultures responded to both apical and basolateral PAR-2 stimulation. Imaging nasal polyps and control middle turbinate explants, we found that nasal polyps, but not turbinates, exhibit apical calcium responses to PAR-2 stimulation. However, isolated ciliated cells from both polyps and turbinates maintained basolateral PAR-2 polarization, suggesting that the calcium responses originated from nonciliated cells. Altered PAR-2 polarization in disease-remodeled epithelia may enhance apical responses and increase sensitivity to inhaled proteases. Full Article
pit Inflammatory and mitogenic signals drive interleukin 23 subunit alpha (IL23A) secretion independent of IL12B in intestinal epithelial cells [Signal Transduction] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 The heterodimeric cytokine interleukin-23 (IL-23 or IL23A/IL12B) is produced by dendritic cells and macrophages and promotes the proinflammatory and regenerative activities of T helper 17 (Th17) and innate lymphoid cells. A recent study has reported that IL-23 is also secreted by lung adenoma cells and generates an inflammatory and immune-suppressed stroma. Here, we observed that proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF)/NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling strongly induce IL23A expression in intestinal epithelial cells. Moreover, we identified a strong crosstalk between the NF-κB and MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) pathways, involving the formation of a transcriptional enhancer complex consisting of proto-oncogene c-Jun (c-Jun), RELA proto-oncogene NF-κB subunit (RelA), RUNX family transcription factor 1 (RUNX1), and RUNX3. Collectively, these proteins induced IL23A secretion, confirmed by immunoprecipitation of endogenous IL23A from activated human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell culture supernatants. Interestingly, IL23A was likely secreted in a noncanonical form, as it was not detected by an ELISA specific for heterodimeric IL-23 likely because IL12B expression is absent in CRC cells. Given recent evidence that IL23A promotes tumor formation, we evaluated the efficacy of MAPK/NF-κB inhibitors in attenuating IL23A expression and found that the MEK inhibitor trametinib and BAY 11–7082 (an IKKα/IκB inhibitor) effectively inhibited IL23A in a subset of human CRC lines with mutant KRAS or BRAFV600E mutations. Together, these results indicate that proinflammatory and mitogenic signals dynamically regulate IL23A in epithelial cells. They further reveal its secretion in a noncanonical form independent of IL12B and that small-molecule inhibitors can attenuate IL23A secretion. Full Article
pit In Next Round of EU Negotiations, Britain Faces Familiar Pitfalls By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 31 Jan 2020 14:33:27 +0000 31 January 2020 Thomas Raines Director, Europe Programme @TomHRaines Google Scholar Professor Richard G Whitman Associate Fellow, Europe Programme @RGWhitman Google Scholar Despite being free of the constraints and the theatre of a hung parliament, there is a risk that over the coming year the British government repeats too many of the mistakes of the withdrawal negotiations. 2020-01-31-Ldn.jpg The Elizabeth Tower remains under renovation on 31 January 2020. Photo: Getty Images. Whether feared or longed for, Brexit day has arrived. It is positive for all sides that the process is thus far managed and ordered, with debts paid, rights guaranteed and borders still invisible on the island of Ireland. But in a difficult new phase of negotiations, as the UK and EU try to hammer out the terms of their relationship after 2020, Britain is at risk of repeating many of its mistakes from the withdrawal talks.First, the government, through the negotiation timeline, has reduced its own room for manoeuvre. The failure of the initial withdrawal agreement and subsequent turbulent politics have reduced a planned 21-month transition to an 11-month one. Even though half the original negotiation time has been lost, 31 December 2020 remains in place and indeed has been written into UK law as the date the transition arrangement ends. Boris Johnson has followed Theresa May in investing symbolism and significance in an arbitrary date.By promising not to extend negotiations, the UK is boxing itself in, creating domestic political barriers where it may well need flexibility. The familiar face of Michel Barnier, who proved adept in leading the withdrawal negotiations for the EU side, will be back in phase two to tell Britain the clock is ticking. This new timeline is intended to focus minds but more likely it will limit ambitions. Second, this government has continued the pattern of its predecessor in making no effort to manage public expectations about the consequences of Brexit. It is naïve to have followed the last years of British politics and expect an outbreak of sobriety and levelheadedness. The entrenched positions of each side have offered little political space or electoral incentive for realism.During the 2020 transition period, the UK will lose the political rights of EU membership but it will retain the benefits and obligations. Most citizens and business will not be able to tell the difference. But a reckoning is inevitable. There will come a moment when the effects of this slow-motion political revolution – particularly in the hard form envisioned by Boris Johnson – become real, when the trade-offs and compromises, especially for business and the economy, will bite. The public deserve some realism about the price of sovereignty.Third, there is a risk that government remains underprepared. While its headline goals are clear – at least in terms of what it does not want – the UK government will need thorough, realistic and coherent proposals on what it wants in every area of negotiations, and crucially develop a process by which to make political trade-offs between the demands of different sectors and issues. The government must also then prepare for their implementation in every area. This would be a huge challenge even if the final destination was already known, which it is not. Fourth, the continued uncertainty in the process means businesses and civil servants will again be left with little time to adapt to what will face them in January 2021 and must prepare for multiple outcomes.‘Transition’ has always been a misleading term, since it implies clarity about the destination to which the UK–EU relationship will be transitioning. The government’s red lines for that future relationship provide a sketch: outside of the single market and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, with an independent trade policy and free movement ended.But businesses and civil servants are not likely to know until very late in the process if the basis for future trade with the EU will be in the form of a free trade agreement, to be negotiated and implemented by the end of the year, or no trade deal at all. This last outcome is a realistic prospect. Michel Barnier speaks in the European Parliament on 29 January. Photo: Getty Images. During withdrawal negotiations, the extensions were both unlimited in number and required decisions only at the last moment. In this phase, the talks may only be extended once, and that decision must be taken six months from the final deadline. It is difficult to see circumstances in which Boris Johnson agrees to break a political promise and manifesto pledge when he still has six more months to achieve his desired outcome.The UK, it is often noted, is already fully compliant with EU law and this shared starting point is often cited as a reason this negotiation will be simple, since the parties begin in alignment. But this novel negotiation will create new trade barriers in goods and services rather than remove them. Trade deals are often politically difficult since they create winners and losers. The Brexit negotiations, in terms of UK–EU trade at least, will generally create only different levels of losers, on both sides of the Channel.That means difficult politics, challenging negotiations and hard compromises, another reason to expect some ugly politics along the way and accept that failure is a plausible outcome.We do not yet know how Brexit will change Britain in the long term, whether a settled majority will ever come to view it as political folly or liberation, choice or inevitability. If its politically fragile union can withstand the pressures of the next few years, the UK may yet find a new stable position on the EU’s periphery and, after a period of economic adjustment, begin to address the many pressing domestic challenges which have suffered from neglect amid the all-consuming Brexit saga.But whatever happens in this next chapter, the EU can no longer be an excuse for national problems. As the UK takes back control it also returns accountability. In the future, there will be no one else to credit or to blame. Full Article
pit Rapid method for the isolation of lipoproteins from human serum by precipitation with polyanions By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1970-11-01 M. BursteinNov 1, 1970; 11:583-595Articles Full Article
pit Undercurrents: Episode 4 – Illegal Hospital Detentions in Africa, and LGBTQ+ Rights in Lebanon By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
pit The Secretome Profiling of a Pediatric Airway Epithelium Infected with hRSV Identified Aberrant Apical/Basolateral Trafficking and Novel Immune Modulating (CXCL6, CXCL16, CSF3) and Antiviral (CEACAM1) Proteins [Research] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-01T00:05:26-07:00 The respiratory epithelium comprises polarized cells at the interface between the environment and airway tissues. Polarized apical and basolateral protein secretions are a feature of airway epithelium homeostasis. Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is a major human pathogen that primarily targets the respiratory epithelium. However, the consequences of hRSV infection on epithelium secretome polarity and content remain poorly understood. To investigate the hRSV-associated apical and basolateral secretomes, a proteomics approach was combined with an ex vivo pediatric human airway epithelial (HAE) model of hRSV infection (data are available via ProteomeXchange and can be accessed at https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pride/ with identifier PXD013661). Following infection, a skewing of apical/basolateral abundance ratios was identified for several individual proteins. Novel modulators of neutrophil and lymphocyte activation (CXCL6, CSF3, SECTM1 or CXCL16), and antiviral proteins (BST2 or CEACAM1) were detected in infected, but not in uninfected cultures. Importantly, CXCL6, CXCL16, CSF3 were also detected in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) from hRSV-infected infants but not healthy controls. Furthermore, the antiviral activity of CEACAM1 against RSV was confirmed in vitro using BEAS-2B cells. hRSV infection disrupted the polarity of the pediatric respiratory epithelial secretome and was associated with immune modulating proteins (CXCL6, CXCL16, CSF3) never linked with this virus before. In addition, the antiviral activity of CEACAM1 against hRSV had also never been previously characterized. This study, therefore, provides novel insights into RSV pathogenesis and endogenous antiviral responses in pediatric airway epithelium. Full Article
pit Fighting escalates in Yemen despite coronavirus 'ceasefire' By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 17:38:30 +0000 Source The Guardian URL https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/fighting-escalates-in-yemen-despit... Release date 14 April 2020 Expert Farea Al-Muslimi In the news type Op-ed Hide date on homepage Full Article
pit euromicron AG successfully completes 2019 capital increase By www.euromicron.de Published On :: Fri, 23 Aug 2019 10:01:00 +0200 euromicron AG, a medium-sized technology group and expert on the digital networking of business and production processes, has now fully placed the capital increase it resolved on July 10, 2019. Full Article
pit CBD News: Intervention de M. Ahmed Djoghlaf à l'occasion du lancement du concours « Capitale française de la biodiversité », promouvoir la biodiversité en ville, Natureparif, Paris, le 20 janvier 2010. By www.cbd.int Published On :: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Full Article
pit CBD News: The Natural Capital Declaration (NCD) has been declared a Biodiversity Champion by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in recognition of its important contribution to the implementation of the Convention's Strateg By www.cbd.int Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT Full Article
pit CBD News: As we celebrate the theme of this year's International Day of Forests, "Forests for Sustainable Development", I encourage countries to assess the status of their natural forest capital and the socio-economic contributions that fore By www.cbd.int Published On :: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT Full Article
pit CBD News: Islands are taking action to effectively conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable livelihoods. Despite significant vulnerabilities facing islands, leaders of island countries and countries with islands have made visionary commitments at loc By www.cbd.int Published On :: Thu, 22 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT Full Article
pit CapitalRise reassesses its mission amidst Brexit and regulation change By www.techworld.com Published On :: Mon, 23 Mar 2020 08:50:00 GMT The proptech startup wanted to democratise investment in prime real estate projects through crowdfunding, but government regulations have limited its reach to high net worth individuals Full Article
pit Who are the UK's best venture capital firms? By www.techworld.com Published On :: Fri, 17 Jan 2020 14:00:00 GMT Full Article
pit Detection, Prevention, and Treatment of Hypoglycemia in the Hospital By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2005-01-01 Donna TomkyJan 1, 2005; 18:39-44Articles Full Article
pit "The AMS and Science Policy," a Capital Currents blog post by Karen Saxe By www.ams.orghttps Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 00:00:00 EST Full Article
pit Hospital discharge criteria explained By www.news.gov.hk Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 +0800 (To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.) The Centre for Health Protection today said recovered COVID-19 patients or those who did not have any symptoms may be discharged from hospital 10 days after the onset of symptoms or a positive test result. Its Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan told a press briefing that the revised discharge criteria was based on the latest scientific evidence. “Our Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases met yesterday and examined the latest scientific evidence on whether the virus will be viable from a patient. “And the available evidence showed that this virus is usually not detected after 10 days since the onset of symptoms of patients. Some patients may have persistent positive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for a long period of time.” Dr Chuang noted that patients still had to meet the criteria of having two clinical specimens test negative, or testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 antibody to be discharged. “We have revised the discharge criteria to include the patient who (must have) been staying in the hospital for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms. So this is the additional criteria, in addition to the previous criteria of two consecutive negative specimens. “We added another criteria (which is) in case a patient has stayed in the hospital for a long time, more than 10 days since the onset of symptoms, but he or she has persistent positive PCR despite the Ct (cycle threshold) value being very high, they can check their serology, the antibody. So if the antibody turns positive, usually it is after 10 days, then he or she can be discharged. “So this is based on the latest scientific evidence.” Full Article
pit Cell-specific expression of the transcriptional regulator RHAMM provides a timing mechanism that controls appropriate wound re-epithelialization [Glycobiology and Extracellular Matrices] By www.jbc.org Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 Prevention of aberrant cutaneous wound repair and appropriate regeneration of an intact and functional integument require the coordinated timing of fibroblast and keratinocyte migration. Here, we identified a mechanism whereby opposing cell-specific motogenic functions of a multifunctional intracellular and extracellular protein, the receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility (RHAMM), coordinates fibroblast and keratinocyte migration speed and ensures appropriate timing of excisional wound closure. We found that, unlike in WT mice, in Rhamm-null mice, keratinocyte migration initiates prematurely in the excisional wounds, resulting in wounds that have re-surfaced before the formation of normal granulation tissue, leading to a defective epidermal architecture. We also noted aberrant keratinocyte and fibroblast migration in the Rhamm-null mice, indicating that RHAMM suppresses keratinocyte motility but increases fibroblast motility. This cell context–dependent effect resulted from cell-specific regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation and expression of a RHAMM target gene encoding matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9). In fibroblasts, RHAMM promoted ERK1/2 activation and MMP-9 expression, whereas in keratinocytes, RHAMM suppressed these activities. In keratinocytes, loss of RHAMM function or expression promoted epidermal growth factor receptor–regulated MMP-9 expression via ERK1/2, which resulted in cleavage of the ectodomain of the RHAMM partner protein CD44 and thereby increased keratinocyte motility. These results identify RHAMM as a key factor that integrates the timing of wound repair by controlling cell migration. Full Article
pit Structures of the MHC-I molecule BF2*1501 disclose the preferred presentation of an H5N1 virus-derived epitope [Protein Structure and Folding] By www.jbc.org Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 Lethal infections by strains of the highly-pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 pose serious threats to both the poultry industry and public health worldwide. A lack of confirmed HPAIV epitopes recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) has hindered the utilization of CD8+ T-cell–mediated immunity and has precluded the development of effectively diversified epitope-based vaccination approaches. In particular, an HPAIV H5N1 CTL-recognized epitope based on the peptide MHC-I–β2m (pMHC-I) complex has not yet been designed. Here, screening a collection of selected peptides of several HPAIV strains against a specific pathogen-free pMHC-I (pBF2*1501), we identified a highly-conserved HPAIV H5N1 CTL epitope, named HPAIV–PA123–130. We determined the structure of the BF2*1501–PA123–130 complex at 2.1 Å resolution to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of a preferential presentation of the highly-conserved PA123–130 epitope in the chicken B15 lineage. Conformational characteristics of the PA123–130 epitope with a protruding Tyr-7 residue indicated that this epitope has great potential to be recognized by specific TCRs. Moreover, significantly increased numbers of CD8+ T cells specific for the HPAIV–PA123–130 epitope in peptide-immunized chickens indicated that a repertoire of CD8+ T cells can specifically respond to this epitope. We anticipate that the identification and structural characterization of the PA123–130 epitope reported here could enable further studies of CTL immunity against HPAIV H5N1. Such studies may aid in the development of vaccine development strategies using well-conserved internal viral antigens in chickens. Full Article
pit George Mason University researchers and World Bank launch web portal for hospitals By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (George Mason University) The team's work supports evidence-based decision making, informed by models, to rethink and facilitate hospital operations during the pandemic. Full Article
pit Which operations can restart first? New guide could help hospitals decide By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan) Now, as hospitals across the country start to return to doing non-emergency operations that keep their beds full and their books balanced, they need to think carefully about what resources each of those procedures will need as the pandemic continues. A new guide could help them prioritize and plan. Created by poring over seven years' worth of data from 17 common operations in dozens of hospitals, it's available for free for any hospital to use. Full Article
pit Despite lockdown, no letup in Chicago's murder rate By news.yahoo.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 01:08:24 -0400 The streets of Chicago may be largely empty as residents hunker down from coronavirus but some of the city's most deprived neighborhoods are still echoing to the sound of deadly gunfire and raucous partying. While significant falls in crime have been one of the few positive side effects of lockdowns in much of the United States and elsewhere, they have barely made a dent in the homicide rate in Chicago, a city that has long recorded the most murders in the country. Chicago police say 56 murders were committed in April despite statewide stay-at-home orders -- only a fraction lower than the 61 for the same month in 2019 -- while last weekend, the first of the new month, four people were killed and 46 others shot and wounded. Full Article
pit J-IDEA launches coronavirus pandemic hospital planning tool By www.imperial.ac.uk Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 01:00:00 +0100 Imperial's disease outbreak centre J-IDEA has launched a pandemic hospital planning tool to help cope with extreme surges in demand from coronavirus. Full Article
pit Could hotel service robots help the hospitality industry after COVID-19? By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (University of Surrey) A new research study, investigating how service robots in hotels could help redefine leadership and boost the hospitality industry, has taken on new significance in the light of the seismic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on tourism and business travel. The study by academics at The University of Surrey and MODUL University Vienna focuses on how HR experts perceive service robots and their impact on leadership and HR management in the hotel industry. Full Article
pit Pharmacotherapy for Hyperglycemia in Noncritically Ill Hospitalized Patients By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-08-01 Carlos E. MendezAug 1, 2014; 27:180-188From Research to Practice Full Article
pit Transitions in Care from the Hospital to Home for Patients With Diabetes By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-08-01 Karen B. HirschmanAug 1, 2014; 27:192-195From Research to Practice Full Article
pit Improving Diabetes Care in the Hospital Using Guideline-Directed Orders By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2001-10-01 Stephen F. QuevedoOct 1, 2001; 14:Feature Articles Full Article
pit Shav-A sees positives despite COVID By jamaica-star.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 05:01:16 -0500 Up-and-coming entertainer Shav-A says the COVID-19 pandemic made her reflect on her life. "I needed a reset. With all this downtime, I have realised that I needed to stop and rethink a lot of things that are going on in my life, and it also... Full Article
pit Assessing the Activity of Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 1 at the Lung Epithelial Barrier By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-13T14:09:24-07:00 Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (ABCC1) is abundantly expressed at the lung epithelial barrier, where it may influence the pulmonary disposition of inhaled drugs and contribute to variability in therapeutic response. Aim of this study was to assess the impact of ABCC1 on the pulmonary disposition of 6-bromo-7-11C-methylpurine (11C-BMP), a prodrug radiotracer which is intracellularly conjugated with glutathione to form the ABCC1 substrate S-(6-(7-11C-methylpurinyl))glutathione (11C-MPG). Methods: Groups of Abcc1(-/-) rats, wild-type rats pretreated with the ABCC1 inhibitor MK571 and wild-type control rats underwent dynamic PET scans after administration of 11C-BMP intravenously (i.v.) or by intratracheal aerosolization (i.t.). In vitro transport experiments were performed with unlabeled BMP in the human distal lung epithelial cell line NCI-H441. Results: Pulmonary kinetics of radioactivity were significantly different between wild-type and Abcc1(-/-) rats, but differences were more pronounced after i.t. than after i.v. administration. After i.v. administration lung exposure (AUClung) was 77% higher and the elimination slope of radioactivity washout from the lungs (kE,lung) was 70% lower, whereas after i.t. administration AUClung was 352% higher and kE,lung was 86% lower in Abcc1(-/-) rats. Pretreatment with MK571 decreased kE,lung by 20% after i.t. radiotracer administration. Intracellular accumulation of MPG in NCI-H441 cells was significantly higher and extracellular efflux was lower in presence than in absence of MK571. Conclusion: PET with pulmonary administered 11C-BMP can measure ABCC1 activity at the lung epithelial barrier and may be applicable in humans to assess the effects of disease, genetic polymorphisms or concomitant drug intake on pulmonary ABCC1 activity. Full Article
pit The Secretome Profiling of a Pediatric Airway Epithelium Infected with hRSV Identified Aberrant Apical/Basolateral Trafficking and Novel Immune Modulating (CXCL6, CXCL16, CSF3) and Antiviral (CEACAM1) Proteins [Research] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-01T00:05:26-07:00 The respiratory epithelium comprises polarized cells at the interface between the environment and airway tissues. Polarized apical and basolateral protein secretions are a feature of airway epithelium homeostasis. Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is a major human pathogen that primarily targets the respiratory epithelium. However, the consequences of hRSV infection on epithelium secretome polarity and content remain poorly understood. To investigate the hRSV-associated apical and basolateral secretomes, a proteomics approach was combined with an ex vivo pediatric human airway epithelial (HAE) model of hRSV infection (data are available via ProteomeXchange and can be accessed at https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pride/ with identifier PXD013661). Following infection, a skewing of apical/basolateral abundance ratios was identified for several individual proteins. Novel modulators of neutrophil and lymphocyte activation (CXCL6, CSF3, SECTM1 or CXCL16), and antiviral proteins (BST2 or CEACAM1) were detected in infected, but not in uninfected cultures. Importantly, CXCL6, CXCL16, CSF3 were also detected in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) from hRSV-infected infants but not healthy controls. Furthermore, the antiviral activity of CEACAM1 against RSV was confirmed in vitro using BEAS-2B cells. hRSV infection disrupted the polarity of the pediatric respiratory epithelial secretome and was associated with immune modulating proteins (CXCL6, CXCL16, CSF3) never linked with this virus before. In addition, the antiviral activity of CEACAM1 against hRSV had also never been previously characterized. This study, therefore, provides novel insights into RSV pathogenesis and endogenous antiviral responses in pediatric airway epithelium. Full Article
pit Episode 14 - The Internet of Cleaning Products in the Sky (IoCPitS): games, nVidia, EE vs Three By play.acast.com Published On :: Fri, 13 May 2016 14:39:31 GMT In this week's fiery episode host Matt Egan talks war and gaming with Macworld UK's David Price, the greatest graphics ever with Christopher Minasians of PC Advisor and Macworld UK (14:21), and the best networks in the UK with fellow PCA and MWUK stalwart Henry Burrell (25:23). Expect songs and laughter, and tech ever after. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Full Article
pit Russia’s Human and Social Capital By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:50:01 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 5 March 2020 - 9:30am to 1:00pm Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE Agendapdf | 85.57 KB Event participants Christopher Davis, Professorial Fellow, Institute of Population Ageing, University of OxfordSamuel Greene, Director, King's Russia Institute; Reader of Russian Politics, King’s College LondonNikolai Petrov, Senior Research Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham HouseNatalia Zubarevich, Director, Regional Programme, Independent Institute for Social Policy Russia’s published development agenda to 2024 focused on gaining advantage from its human capital. In reality however, issues surrounding Russia’s population remain a major challenge, considering its demographic trends, an undoubted brain drain and societal divisions.This expert roundtable will explore the current state of – and interconnections between – human and social capital in Russia. The speakers will also address Russia’s regional disparities, migration effects and political elite dynamics and their relationship to the population at large. Event attributes Chatham House Rule Department/project Russia and Eurasia Programme, Russia's Domestic Politics Anna Morgan Administrator, Ukraine Forum +44 (0)20 7389 3274 Email Full Article
pit Pagan working to develop off-speed pitches By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 16:43:16 EDT As Emilio Pagan enters his first Spring Training with the Rays, he's looking to prove that he can perform well against hitters on either side of the plate. Full Article
pit Role of VIP and Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathways in Mediating Epithelial Wound Healing, Sensory Nerve Regeneration and their Defects in Diabetic Corneas By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-28T07:09:24-07:00 Diabetic Keratopathy, a sight-threatening corneal disease, comprises several symptomatic conditions including delayed epithelial wound healing, recurrent erosions, and sensory nerve (SN) neuropathy. We investigated the role of neuropeptides in mediating corneal wound healing, including epithelial wound closure and SN regeneration. Denervation by Resiniferatoxin severely impaired corneal wound healing and markedly up-regulated pro-inflammatory gene expression. Exogenous neuropeptides CGRP, SP, and VIP partially reversed Resiniferatoxin’s effects, with VIP specifically inducing IL-10 expression. Hence, we focused on VIP and observed that wounding induced VIP and VIPR1 expression in normal (NL), but not diabetic (DM) mouse corneas. Targeting VIPR1 in NL corneas attenuated corneal wound healing, dampened wound-induced expression of neurotrophic factors, and exacerbated inflammatory responses while exogenous VIP had the opposite effects in DM corneas. Remarkably, wounding and diabetes also affected the expression of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) in a VIP-dependent manner. Downregulating SHH expression in NL corneas decreased, while exogenous SHH in DM corneas increased the rates of corneal wound healing. Furthermore, inhibition of SHH signaling dampened VIP-promoted corneal wound healing. We conclude that VIP regulates epithelial wound healing, inflammatory response, and nerve regeneration in the corneas in a SHH-dependent manner, suggesting a therapeutic potential for these molecules in treating diabetic keratopathy. Full Article
pit MANF Promotes Diabetic Corneal Epithelial Wound Healing and Nerve Regeneration by Attenuating Hyperglycemia-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-05-07T08:35:09-07:00 Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a neurotrophic factor widely expressed in mammalian tissues, and it exerts critical protective effects on neurons and other cell types in various disease models, such as those for diabetes. However, to date, the expression and roles of MANF in the cornea, with or without diabetic keratopathy (DK), remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that MANF is abundantly expressed in normal corneal epithelial cells; however, MANF expression was significantly reduced in both unwounded and wounded corneal epithelium in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic C57BL/6 mice. Recombinant human MANF significantly promoted normal and diabetic corneal epithelial wound healing and nerve regeneration. Furthermore, MANF inhibited hyperglycemia-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and ER stress–mediated apoptosis. Attenuation of ER stress with 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) also ameliorated corneal epithelial closure and nerve regeneration. However, the beneficial effects of MANF and 4-PBA were abolished by an Akt inhibitor and Akt-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA). Finally, we reveal that the subconjunctival injection of MANF-specific siRNA prevents corneal epithelial wound healing and nerve regeneration. Our results provide important evidence that hyperglycemia-suppressed MANF expression may contribute to delayed corneal epithelial wound healing and impaired nerve regeneration by increasing ER stress, and MANF may be a useful therapeutic modality for treating DK. Full Article
pit Cell-specific expression of the transcriptional regulator RHAMM provides a timing mechanism that controls appropriate wound re-epithelialization [Glycobiology and Extracellular Matrices] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 Prevention of aberrant cutaneous wound repair and appropriate regeneration of an intact and functional integument require the coordinated timing of fibroblast and keratinocyte migration. Here, we identified a mechanism whereby opposing cell-specific motogenic functions of a multifunctional intracellular and extracellular protein, the receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility (RHAMM), coordinates fibroblast and keratinocyte migration speed and ensures appropriate timing of excisional wound closure. We found that, unlike in WT mice, in Rhamm-null mice, keratinocyte migration initiates prematurely in the excisional wounds, resulting in wounds that have re-surfaced before the formation of normal granulation tissue, leading to a defective epidermal architecture. We also noted aberrant keratinocyte and fibroblast migration in the Rhamm-null mice, indicating that RHAMM suppresses keratinocyte motility but increases fibroblast motility. This cell context–dependent effect resulted from cell-specific regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation and expression of a RHAMM target gene encoding matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9). In fibroblasts, RHAMM promoted ERK1/2 activation and MMP-9 expression, whereas in keratinocytes, RHAMM suppressed these activities. In keratinocytes, loss of RHAMM function or expression promoted epidermal growth factor receptor–regulated MMP-9 expression via ERK1/2, which resulted in cleavage of the ectodomain of the RHAMM partner protein CD44 and thereby increased keratinocyte motility. These results identify RHAMM as a key factor that integrates the timing of wound repair by controlling cell migration. Full Article
pit Structures of the MHC-I molecule BF2*1501 disclose the preferred presentation of an H5N1 virus-derived epitope [Protein Structure and Folding] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 Lethal infections by strains of the highly-pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 pose serious threats to both the poultry industry and public health worldwide. A lack of confirmed HPAIV epitopes recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) has hindered the utilization of CD8+ T-cell–mediated immunity and has precluded the development of effectively diversified epitope-based vaccination approaches. In particular, an HPAIV H5N1 CTL-recognized epitope based on the peptide MHC-I–β2m (pMHC-I) complex has not yet been designed. Here, screening a collection of selected peptides of several HPAIV strains against a specific pathogen-free pMHC-I (pBF2*1501), we identified a highly-conserved HPAIV H5N1 CTL epitope, named HPAIV–PA123–130. We determined the structure of the BF2*1501–PA123–130 complex at 2.1 Å resolution to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of a preferential presentation of the highly-conserved PA123–130 epitope in the chicken B15 lineage. Conformational characteristics of the PA123–130 epitope with a protruding Tyr-7 residue indicated that this epitope has great potential to be recognized by specific TCRs. Moreover, significantly increased numbers of CD8+ T cells specific for the HPAIV–PA123–130 epitope in peptide-immunized chickens indicated that a repertoire of CD8+ T cells can specifically respond to this epitope. We anticipate that the identification and structural characterization of the PA123–130 epitope reported here could enable further studies of CTL immunity against HPAIV H5N1. Such studies may aid in the development of vaccine development strategies using well-conserved internal viral antigens in chickens. Full Article
pit Correction: Histone demethylase KDM6B promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition. [Additions and Corrections] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 VOLUME 287 (2012) PAGES 44508–44517In Fig. 1A, the wrong image for the control group was presented. The authors inadvertently cropped the control images in Fig. 1, A and E, from the same raw image. Fig. 1A has now been corrected and does not affect the results or conclusions of the work. The authors sincerely apologize for their mistake during figure preparation and for any inconvenience this may have caused readers.jbc;295/19/6781/F1F1F1Figure 1A. Full Article
pit Covid-19: Nightingale hospitals set to shut down after seeing few patients By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thursday, May 7, 2020 - 13:50 Full Article
pit Russia’s Human and Social Capital By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:50:01 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 5 March 2020 - 9:30am to 1:00pm Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE Agendapdf | 85.57 KB Event participants Christopher Davis, Professorial Fellow, Institute of Population Ageing, University of OxfordSamuel Greene, Director, King's Russia Institute; Reader of Russian Politics, King’s College LondonNikolai Petrov, Senior Research Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham HouseNatalia Zubarevich, Director, Regional Programme, Independent Institute for Social Policy Russia’s published development agenda to 2024 focused on gaining advantage from its human capital. In reality however, issues surrounding Russia’s population remain a major challenge, considering its demographic trends, an undoubted brain drain and societal divisions.This expert roundtable will explore the current state of – and interconnections between – human and social capital in Russia. The speakers will also address Russia’s regional disparities, migration effects and political elite dynamics and their relationship to the population at large. Event attributes Chatham House Rule Department/project Russia and Eurasia Programme, Russia's Domestic Politics Anna Morgan Administrator, Ukraine Forum +44 (0)20 7389 3274 Email Full Article
pit O's pitchers welcoming high-tech revolution By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Sun, 17 Feb 2019 13:49:26 EDT Like so many pitchers in Major League camps, Orioles hurlers have extra sets of eyes on them this spring. The Edgertronic cameras, perched on tripods, are set about a stride's length beyond the backfield bullpen mounds at the club's Ed Smith Stadium complex, as conspicuous as the coaches standing cross-armed behind them. Full Article
pit Pitch clocks nothing new to younger players By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Feb 2019 18:02:13 EDT Pitch clocks are set to make their Spring Training debuts this week, and it will be in games featuring hordes of players for whom playing on a timer is nothing new. Full Article
pit How often do hospital doctors change long term medication during an inpatient stay? By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 14 Sep 2018 18:00:24 +0000 More than ½ of patients leave hospital with changes to four or more of their long-term medications - but how appropriate are those changes? New research published on bmj.com looks at antihypertensive medication prescription changes to try and model that - and found that more than half of intensifications occurred in patients with previously well... Full Article
pit Capital punishment, my sixth great grandfather, and me By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Apr 2019 16:49:48 +0000 On the 7th of June, 1753, Dr Archibald Cameron was executed at Tyburn. "The body, after hanging twenty minutes, was cut down: it was not quartered; but the heart was taken out and burnt. " 250 years later, his sixth great grandson, Robert Syned found himself deeply involved in the process of execution, as an expert witness in a case about the use... Full Article