Adv Exp Med Biol
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Since mass spectrometry was introduced as the core technology for large-scale analysis of the proteome, the speed of data acquisition, dynamic ranges of measurements, and data quality are continuously improving. These improvements are triggered by regular launches of new methodologies and instruments.
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Endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) had an enormous impact on the current advancement in diagnostic bronchoscopy. The aims of the present study were: (1) to evaluate the added value of EBUS-TBNA to routine diagnostic bronchoscopy performed in patients with mediastinal lymph node enlargement and (2) to identify factors that affect the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA. We retrospectively analyzed 712 EBUS-TBNA procedures out of the 4081 bronchoscopies performed in the years 2009-2014. ⋯ We conclude that EBUS-TBNA is a valuable diagnostic method in an unselected group of patients with mediastinal lymph node enlargement. The percentage of positive EBUS-TBNA diagnoses is related to lymph node dimensions. The overall efficacy of EBUS-TBNA improves with increasing years of experience.
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Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a widely used noninvasive method for measuring human brain activation based on the cerebral haemodynamic response. However, systemic changes can influence the signal's parameters. Our study aimed to investigate the relationships between NIRS signals and skin blood flow (SBF) or blood pressure during dynamic movement. ⋯ The correlation coefficients for O2Hb and MAP during warm-up, 30 % VO2peak, and 50 % VO2peak were 0.725 (P < 0.01), 0.472 (P < 0.01), and 0.939 (P < 0.01), respectively. Changes in the state of the cardiovascular system influenced O2Hb signals positively during low and moderate-intensity exercise, whereas a negative relationship was observed during high-intensity exercise. These results suggest that the relationship between the O2Hb signal and systemic changes is affected by exercise intensity.
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An increasing number of web resources are available for aiding in proteomics research. Databases contain repositories of proteins and associated information. ⋯ This chapter contains a selection of web sites useful for proteomics analyses but is by no means comprehensive. Using a search engine such as Google is the easiest way to find the sites using the name given below.
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Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a rather straightforward therapy that manipulates the human gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota, by which a healthy donor microbiota is transferred into an existing but disturbed microbial ecosystem. This is a natural process that occurs already at birth; infants are rapidly colonized by a specific microbial community, the composition of which strongly depends on the mode of delivery and which therefore most likely originates from the mother (Palmer et al. 2007; Tannock et al. 1990). Since this early life microbial community already contains most, if not all, of the predominantly anaerobic microbes that are only found in the GI tract, it is reasonable to assume that early life colonization is the ultimate natural fecal transplantation.