BACKGROUND Estrogen increases C-reactive protein (CRP) in postmenopausal women. Estrogen also decreases cell adhesion molecules, whereas elevated CRP stimulates the expression of cell adhesion molecules. Because androgens have antiinflammatory effects, androgenic progestins such as medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) may inhibit proinflammatory effects of estrogen. We investigated the effects of ...

BACKGROUND Increasing evidence indicates that antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive conversion occurs in patients initially diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and as a result, some of these patients develop microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). However, the incidence density of these patients is not well known. OBJECTIVES To explore the incidence of ANCA-positive conve...

Soil structural deterioration from continuous cropping systems can adversely affect crop development. Conservation tillage systems are useful to control soil degradation, but may lead to excessive soil compaction, negatively impacting crop growth. Physical measurements were made during 1994 on a Chernozemic loam soil (Petrocalcic Paleudoll) with a petrocalcic horizon at a depth of 1.2 m in Balc...

The research work presented in this manuscript focused on the comparative examination of influence Compression Casting Technique (CCT) and conventional casting method (i.e., compaction through vibration) performance 100% Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC). minimum target compressive strength RAC was 15 MPa keeping view its application manufacturing load-bearing concrete masonry units. A total 28...

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare the flexural strength of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and bis-acryl composite resin reinforced with polyethylene and glass fibers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three groups of rectangular test specimens (n = 15) of each of the two resin/fiber reinforcement were prepared for flexural strength test and unreinforced group served as the control. Specimens w...

OBJECTIVE To identify the features of PMR that may predict the duration of steroid therapy, the occurrence of relapses and the late development of GCA. METHODS Prospective cohort study of 176 patients with PMR, followed up for 5 years. Baseline factors associated with the duration of steroids therapy were identified using Cox regression. Predictors of relapse and the late development of GCA w...

Background: Heavy menstrual bleeding is a leading cause of poor quality of life and iron deficiency anemia in reproductive aged women. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and acceptability of Medroxyprogestrone acetate and Tranexamic acid in menorrhagia management. Materials and Methods: Inclusion criteria were: age 20-45 years, regular menses, not using hormonal drugs for previou...

The material properties of multipotent mesenchymal tissue change dramatically during the differentiation process associated with skeletal regeneration. Using a mechanobiological tissue differentiation concept, and homogeneous and isotropic simplifications of a fiber-reinforced poroelastic model of soft skeletal tissues, we have developed a mathematical approach for describing time-dependent mat...

MPA (mycophenolic acid) is an immunosuppressive drug produced by several fungi in Penicillium subgenus Penicillium. This toxic metabolite is an inhibitor of IMPDH (IMP dehydrogenase). The MPA-biosynthetic cluster of Penicillium brevicompactum contains a gene encoding a B-type IMPDH, IMPDH-B, which confers MPA resistance. Surprisingly, all members of the subgenus Penicillium contain genes encodi...