Modification of mouse islet function by 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine and their precursors.
5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine were found to inhibit glucose-induced insulin release and 45Ca2+ net uptake in islets microdissected from ob/ob-mice. Dopamine was more potent than 5-HT. L-DOPA, the precursor of dopamine, had an effect similar to that of dopamine and this effect was reduced by benserazide. L-5-hydroxytryptophan, the precursor of 5-HT, potentiated glucose-induced insulin release and stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake. This effect was also blocked by benserazide. It is concluded that dopamine is a stronger inhibitor than 5-HT and that the different actions of 5-HTP and L-DOPA might be explained by this difference in the magnitude of inhibition.


Visual pH Sensors: From a Chemical Perspective to New Bioengineered Materials.
Many human activities and cellular functions depend upon precise pH values, and pH monitoring is considered a fundamental task. Colorimetric and fluorescence sensors for pH measurements are chemical and biochemical tools able to sense protons and produce a visible signal. These pH sensors are gaining widespread attention as non-destructive tools, visible to the human eye, that are capable of a real-time and in-situ response. Optical "visual" sensors are expanding researchers' interests in many chemical contexts and are routinely used for biological, environmental, and medical applications. In this review we provide an overview of trending colorimetric, fluorescent, or dual-mode responsive visual pH sensors. These sensors include molecular synthetic organic sensors, metal organic frameworks (MOF), engineered sensing nanomaterials, and bioengineered sensors. We review different typological chemical entities of visual pH sensors, three-dimensional structures, and signaling mechanisms for pH sensing and applications; developed in the past five years. The progression of this review from simple organic molecules to biological macromolecules seeks to benefit beginners and scientists embarking on a project of pH sensing development, who needs background information and a quick update on advances in the field. Lessons learned from these tools will aid pH determination projects and provide new ways of thinking for cell bioimaging or other cutting-edge in vivo applications.


The effect of iohexol on glucose metabolism compared with metrizamide.
In a previous in vitro study we demonstrated reduced CO2 production in rat hippocampal tissue when metrizamide was added. This metabolic depression is believed to be a result of the 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) portion of the metrizamide molecule since 2-DG is a known competitive inhibitor of glucose metabolism. This competitive inhibition probably occurs at the cell membrane since it has never been shown that metrizamide penetrates neural cells. Further the inhibition is most likely related to competition for the membrane glucose carrier. A new nonionic contrast medium, iohexol, does not contain a 2-DG component and if the hypothesis for the metabolic inhibition is valid we should not expect metabolic inhibition with iohexol. This hypothesis was tested using the rat hippocampus model previously used for metrizamide. We compared iohexol with metrizamide in isotonic concentrations and also examined the effect of hypertonicity. These experiments did not demonstrate inhibition of CO2 production with iohexol at near physiologic osmolalities, however, there was a marked depressive effect with increasing osmolality. This effect from hypertonicity is, however, probably of less importance in vivo where water will rapidly diffuse toward the hypertonic areas. The apparent lack of interference of the iohexol molecule on glucose metabolism should therefore make iohexol a more suitable contrast medium, for subarachnoid investigations than metrizamide.


[A gait signal acquisition and parameter characterization method based on foot pressure detection combined with Azure Kinect system].
The gait acquisition system can be used for gait analysis. The traditional wearable gait acquisition system will lead to large errors in gait parameters due to different wearing positions of sensors. The gait acquisition system based on marker method is expensive and needs to be used by combining with the force measurement system under the guidance of rehabilitation doctors. Due to the complex operation, it is inconvenient for clinical application. In this paper, a gait signal acquisition system that combines foot pressure detection and Azure Kinect system is designed. Fifteen subjects are organized to participate in gait test, and relevant data are collected. The calculation method of gait spatiotemporal parameters and joint angle parameters is proposed, and the consistency analysis and error analysis of the gait parameters of proposed system and camera marking method are carried out. The results show that the parameters obtained by the two systems have good consistency (Pearson correlation coefficient r ≥ 0.9, P < 0.05) and have small error (root mean square error of gait parameters is less than 0.1, root mean square error of joint angle parameters is less than 6). In conclusion, the gait acquisition system and its parameter extraction method proposed in this paper can provide reliable data acquisition results as a theoretical basis for gait feature analysis in clinical medicine.


Developing standards for postpartum hemorrhage in a resource-limited country.
Traditionally, standards of care have been developed by a panel of experts and then implemented by a multidisciplinary team. We studied the feasibility of involving health professionals of all grades and policymakers in the establishment of standards for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in Malawi. The team established these standards using evidence from Malawi national guidelines and World Health Organization (WHO) manuals. They agreed on 10 objectives and developed the structure, process, and outcome for each objective. The standards addressed different aspects of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The involvement of both health professionals and policymakers might promote ownership, sustainability, and allocation of resources for implementation.


Transfer of Plasmids between Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus lactis.
The shuttle plasmid pGK12, as well as several Staphylococcus aureus plasmids, was introduced into Streptococcus lactis by intergeneric protoplast fusion with Bacillus subtilis. The S. aureus plasmids were stably inherited in S. lactis, and so they may possibly be used as cloning vectors in lactic streptococci.


Empirical Determination of Transitory and Persistent Delinquency in Chilean Youth: Validation of the Criminal Engagement Severity Scale "EGED".
Evidence from several longitudinal studies has established the relevance of the approach of evolutionary criminology to understanding and intervening with adolescent criminal offenders, seeking to halt the criminal behavior before its potential consolidation in adulthood. The aim of this study is to present the psychometric properties of the Criminal Engagement Severity Scale (EGED) to discriminate between transitory and persistent delinquency in Chilean adolescents of both sexes. The characteristics of the sample are revealed through descriptive analyses, and evidence of validity and reliability is provided that show its discriminant capacity using ROC curves and odds ratios, measures of internal consistency (Cronbach's α and McDonald's Ω), intraclass correlation, and unidimensional statistics. The results indicate that the EGED adequately discriminates between transitory and persistent delinquency, so that its use in contexts of assessment and intervention with adolescent criminal offenders can be recommended, because it helps to determine the intensity of the intervention required.


Statin treatment prevents increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality associated with clarithromycin in patients with stable coronary heart disease.
In the CLARICOR trial, significantly increased cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality in stable patients with coronary heart disease were observed after a short course of clarithromycin. We report on the impact of statin treatment at entry on the CV and all-cause mortality. The multicenter CLARICOR trial randomized patients to oral clarithromycin (500 mg daily; n = 2172) versus matching placebo (daily; n = 2201) for 2 weeks. Patients were followed through public databases. In the 41% patients on statin treatment at entry, no significant effect of clarithromycin was observed on CV (hazard ratio [HR], 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38-1.22; P = 0.20) or all-cause mortality (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.71-1.65; P = 0.72) at 2.6-year follow up. In the patients not on statin treatment at entry, clarithromycin was associated with a significant increase in CV (HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.34-2.67; P = 0.0003; statin-clarithromycin interaction P = 0.0029) and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.05-1.67; P = 0.016; statin-clarithromycin interaction P = 0.41). Multivariate analysis and 6-year follow up confirmed these results. Concomitant statin treatment in stable patients with coronary heart disease abrogated the observed increased CV mortality associated with 2 weeks of clarithromycin.


Documentation of specific mesh implant at the time of midurethral sling surgery in women with stress incontinence.
We aimed to assess documentation completeness of the operative record for mesh implanted at the time of midurethral sling surgery and to identify modifiable predictors of documentation completeness. A retrospective cross-sectional study of women with stress incontinence who underwent midurethral sling placement between January 2009 and December 2011 was conducted. Data from the dictated operative note and nursing operative record were extracted to determine if the specific mesh implanted during surgery was documented. The primary outcome was the rate of documentation of mesh implanted in the physician's dictated operative note and in the nursing record. Logistic regression was used to determine if any characteristics were associated with the rate of documentation while accounting for correlation of patients from the same dictating surgeon. There were 816 surgeries involving the implantation of a midurethral sling during the study period. All surgeries were performed at 6 Indiana University hospitals. Fifty-two surgeons of varying specialties and levels of training dictated the operative notes. A urogynecologist dictated 71% of the operative notes. The rate of documentation completeness for mesh implanted in the physician's note was 10%. The rate of documentation completeness for mesh implanted in the nursing operative record was 92%. Documentation of mesh implanted in the physician's note was not significantly associated with the level of training, specialty, or year of surgery. Documentation completeness for specific mesh implant in the physician's note is low, independent of specialty and level of training. Nursing documentation practices are more rigorous. Postmarket surveillance, currently mandated by the Food and Drug Administration, may not be feasible if only the physician's note is available or if nursing practices are inconsistent. Development of documentation guidelines for physicians would improve the feasibility of surveillance.


AMP-activated protein kinase and type 2 diabetes.
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an enzyme that works as a fuel gauge, being activated in situations of high-energy phosphate depletion. Upon activation, AMPK functions to restore cellular ATP by modifying diverse metabolic pathways. AMPK is activated robustly by skeletal muscle contraction and myocardial ischemia, and may be involved in the stimulation of glucose transport and fatty acid oxidation produced by these stimuli. In liver, activation of AMPK results in enhanced fatty acid oxidation and in decreased production of glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Recent studies have shown that AMPK is the cellular mediator for many of the metabolic effects of drugs such as metformin and thiazolidinediones, as well as the insulin sensitizing adipocytokines leptin and adiponectin. These data, along with evidence from studies showing that chemical activation of AMPK in vivo with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR) improves blood glucose concentrations and lipid profiles, make this enzyme an attractive pharmacological target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders.


Calcifying and osteoblastic tumors of the paranasal sinuses.
Calcifying and osteoblastic tumors of the paranasal sinuses comprise a large group of diseases, each characterized, however, by their own distinct pathologic features and correlated radiologic findings. The basic radiologic signs of such lesions comprise calcification, bone formation, and reactive bony sclerosis. It is the purpose of this presentation to define the radiologic signs which allow for appropriate diagnosis. These disorders are divided into three groups: calcifying and osteoblastic lesions simulating tumors, benign calcifying and osteoblastic tumors, and malignant calcifying and osteoblastic tumors.


Management considerations in the failing renal allograft.
Patients with a failed or failing renal transplant are increasing in number. Graft failure resulting in dialysis re-initiation is not uncommon, yet there are limited data to guide management of these patients. Physician practices vary regarding timing of dialysis initiation and the timing and extent of immunosuppression withdrawal. The risks of immunosuppression withdrawal need to be carefully balanced against the benefits of continuing low-dose therapy. The latter helps minimize the risk of sensitisation and has been proposed to possibly slow the loss of residual renal function; however, the use of common immunosuppressive agents may contribute to cardiovascular disease, malignancy, and infection, the major causes of death following the loss of a renal transplant. The evolving area of personalised transplant immunosuppression may offer future tools for monitoring and managing patients during and after transplant failure. This article aims to discuss some of the important issues that arise when managing these patients.


Ceftolozane/tazobactam for the treatment of complicated urinary tract and intra-abdominal infections.
High rates of morbidity and mortality have been linked to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, especially in the hospital setting. Infections due to extended-spectrum-β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (e.g., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa pose a major health threat and dramatically reduce the therapeutic options to achieve an appropriate treatment. There is a need for novel antimicrobials that could provide clinical efficacy toward multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, including extended-spectrum-β-lactamase and carbapenemase producers. Ceftolozane/tazobactam is a novel antipseudomonal cephalosporin associated with a well-established β-lactamase inhibitor currently in clinical development for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections, complicated urinary tract infections and nosocomial pneumonia. Phase II and III trials have shown high efficacy and good tolerability in complicated urinary and intra-abdominal infections compared with standard therapy. A study for the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia is planned.


Anti-Osteoporotic Effects of Commiphora Myrrha and Its Poly-Saccharide via Osteoclastogenesis Inhibition.
In traditional oriental medicines, Commiphora myrrha and its resinous exudate (i.e., myrrh) are used as herbal remedies to treat various inflammatory and metabolic disorders. Until now, C. myrrha-derived herbal products are considered useful source for bioactive compounds to manage numerous human diseases. This study investigated the effects of water extract of C. myrrha resin (WCM) and its polysaccharide (WCM-PE) on modulatory effects of osteoclast differentiation and/or ovariectomized-induced bone loss. Oral administration of WCM (200 and 500 mg/kg/day for four weeks) notably decreased trabecular bone loss and lipid accumulation in the bone marrow cavity. WCM and WCM-PE dose-dependently inhibited receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and suppressed RANKL-mediated overexpression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1, thereby downregulating osteoclast-specific gene (Atp6v0d2, DC-STAMP and cathepsin K) expression. Thus, our results suggest that WCM and WCM-PE are promising nutraceutical candidates for the management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.


The impact of genome editing on the introduction of monogenic traits in livestock.
Genome editing technologies provide new tools for genetic improvement and have the potential to become the next game changer in animal and plant breeding. The aim of this study was to investigate how genome editing in combination with genomic selection can accelerate the introduction of a monogenic trait in a livestock population as compared to genomic selection alone. A breeding population was simulated under genomic selection for a polygenic trait. After reaching Bulmer equilibrium, the selection objective was to increase the allele frequency of a monogenic trait, with or without genome editing, in addition to improving the polygenic trait. Scenarios were compared for time to fixation of the desired allele, selection response for the polygenic trait, and level of inbreeding. The costs, in terms of number of editing procedures, were compared to the benefits of having more animals with the desired phenotype of the monogenic trait. Effects of reduced editing efficiency were investigated. In a population of 20,000 selection candidates per generation, the total number of edited zygotes needed to reach fixation of the desired allele was 22,118, 7072, or 3912 with, no, moderate, or high selection emphasis on the monogenic trait, respectively. Genome editing resulted in up to four-fold faster fixation of the desired allele when efficiency was 100%, while the loss in long-term selection response for the polygenic trait was up to seven-fold less compared to genomic selection alone. With moderate selection emphasis on the monogenic trait, introduction of genome editing led to a four-fold reduction in the total number of animals showing the undesired phenotype before fixation. However, with a currently realistic editing efficiency of 4%, the number of required editing procedures increased by 72% and loss in selection response increased eight-fold compared to 100% efficiency. With low efficiency, loss in selection response was 29% more compared to genomic selection alone. Genome editing strongly decreased the time to fixation for a desired allele compared to genomic selection alone. Reduced editing efficiency had a major impact on the number of editing procedures and on the loss in selection response. In addition to ethical and welfare considerations of genome editing, a careful assessment of its technical costs and benefits is required.


Evidence for a functional interaction between the beta chain of major histocompatibility complex class II and the T cell receptor alpha chain during recognition of a bacterial superantigen.
Several studies have suggested that there is a direct interaction between the T cell receptor (TCR) and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule during T cell recognition of superantigen. To further investigate this possibility, we have analyzed T cell recognition of a bacterial superantigen, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), presented by a series of mutant murine I-Ek molecules in which residues of either the alpha or beta chain predicted to interact with the TCR have been substituted. Individual T cell hybridomas gave distinct patterns of responsiveness to SEB presented by the I-E beta k mutants that could not be attributed to differences in the binding of SEB to the mutants. This effect appeared to be dependent on the TCR-alpha chain because some of these hybridomas expressed identical TCR transgenic beta chains. In contrast, none of the hybridomas gave distinct patterns of responsiveness to SEB presented by the I-E alpha k mutants. Taken together, these observations support the idea that there is a functional interaction between the alpha chain of the TCR and the beta chain of the MHC class II molecule. The data also support the idea that this interaction might enhance superantigen recognition in some cases.


A meta-analysis of sudden gains in psychotherapy: Outcome and moderators.
Sudden gains have been shown to be a common phenomenon and an important predictor of outcome in psychotherapy (Tang & DeRubeis, 1999). The present meta-analysis examined the growing literature on sudden gains in psychotherapy, their effects on outcome, and moderators of these effects. We searched PsycINFO, PubMed, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, Scholar and Web of Science databases for articles between January 1st 1999 and May 31st 2019 and included 50 studies (n = 6355) in the meta-analysis. Sudden gains were found to significantly predict outcome at post-treatment (g = 0.68) and follow up (g = 0.61) above and beyond treatments, disorders and settings. Studies using Tang and DeRubies's (1999) criteria for identification of sudden gains had smaller effect sizes compared to studies using altered criteria. Pretreatment severity levels did not significantly predict the effects of sudden gains and neither did treatment setting (randomized controlled trials vs. naturalistic settings). Finally, number of sessions and sudden gains' reversal rates were both negatively associated with the effect sizes of sudden gains. These findings suggest that sudden gains are a ubiquitous phenomenon in psychotherapy but their effects may be moderated by a number of factors. Research and clinical implications are discussed.


[Is there an Association between Prevention Campaign Knowledge and Sun Protection Behaviour of Parents for their Children? Results of a Parent Survey].
The aims of this study are to assess prevalence of awareness of sun protection campaigns among parents in Bavaria, Germany, to analyse the impact of sociodemographic factors on campaign knowledge and the association between parental campaign knowledge and sun protection behaviour in their children. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 2010-2011 in Bavaria, Germany, with parents of 4,579 children aged 5-6 years (response rate 61%). Prevalence of knowledge of sun protection campaigns is 13% among parents in Germany and independent of sociodemographic factors. Ignorance of sun protection campaigns is associated with inadequate sun protection behaviour in children independent of sociodemographic and exposure characteristics. Awareness of sun protection campaigns is low among parents. Knowledge of adequate sun protection behaviour should be further increased at the population level in Germany independently of sociodemographic status.


Genetic variation in gsα protein as a new indicator in screening test for vasovagal syncope.
A quantitative history using Calgary syncope syndrome score (CSSS) is able to define the likely cause of syncope, but there is still a lack of diagnostic screening tests for vasovagal syncope (VVS). The aim of the present study was to develop a screening test for VVS on the basis of CSSS and the relationship between polymorphic variants of the G-system signaling protein genes and tilting results. From 730 syncopal patients, 307 consecutive subjects without structural and electrical abnormalities were genotyped and examined on blood pressure (BP) and tilt testing. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in genes encoding Gsα-protein GNAS1 (rs7121), G-protein β 3 subunit (rs5443) and the cardiac regulator of G-protein signaling RGS2 (rs4606). The control group consisted of 100 healthy volunteers with a negative history of syncope. From multivariate regression analysis, being a carrier of 393T GNAS1 (odds ratio [OR], 2.29) and systolic BP (OR, 0.98) remained as independent factors associated with positive tilt results. The resultant screening test for VVS consisted of the following: carrier of 393T GNAS1; systolic BP < 131 mm Hg (from the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve); and CSSS ≥-2. Using ROC curve analysis for systolic BP and CSSS, 2 final models for the screening test were constructed: highest sensitivity (89%) and highest specificity (99%). The novel screening test including the variation of Gsα protein gene seems to be helpful to identify tilt-induced vasovagal patients.


Interferon-γ enhances promyelocytic leukemia protein expression in acute promyelocytic cells and cooperates with all-trans-retinoic acid to induce maturation of NB4 and NB4-R1 cells.
In order to investigate the effect and mechanisms of interferon (IFN)-γ in combination with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on NB4 cells [ATRA-sensitive acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line] and NB4-R1 cells (ATRA-resistant APL cell line) and to search for a novel approach to solve the problem of ATRA resistance in APL, we initially treated NB4 and NB4-R1 cells with IFN-γ, ATRA and IFN-γ in combination with ATRA, respectively. The cell proliferation was then tested by MTT assay, and the cell differentiation was tested through light microscopy, by NBT test and flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein was observed by indirect immune fluorescent test. Results showed that ATRA inhibited the growth of NB4 cells, however, it could not inhibit the growth of NB4-R1 cells. IFN-γ inhibited the growth of both NB4 and NB4-R1 cells. Meanwhile, the growth inhibition effect of IFN-γ in combination with ATRA on both NB4 and NB4-R1 cells was significantly stronger than that of any single drug treatment. The results of the NBT reduction test and CD11b antigen detection by FCM indicated that IFN-γ induces the differentiation of NB4 and NB4-R1 cells to some extent. Moreover, the maturation degree of both NB4 and NB4-R1 cells induced by IFN-γ in combination with ATRA was more significant than that of IFN-γ or ATRA alone. After treatment with IFN-γ, the number of fluorescent particles in NB4 and NB4-R1 cell nuclei was higher than those in the control group, which indicated that IFN-γ may induce the expression of PML protein. Together, IFN-γ augments the proliferation inhibition effect of ATRA on NB4 and NB4-R1 cells through enhancing the expression of PML protein. IFN-γ in combination with ATRA not only strengthens the induction differentiation effect of ATRA on NB4 cells, but also can partially induce the maturation of NB4-R1 cells with ATRA resistance.


A common-sense approach to splint therapy.
Splint therapy is a proven modality for alleviating the pain of many types of temporomandibular disorders and bruxism, though questions still remain regarding how splints work. In this article, a review of the literature is used to determine an effective splint design for the different degrees of temporomandibular problems. Sufficient credible literature exists to help provide an understanding of and a treatment protocol for the use of splints for temporomandibular disorders and bruxism problems.


Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis in Burns: A Review.
Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is an acute inflammatory disorder of the gallbladder, which can complicate the recovery of burn patients. No formal literature review has been performed about this uncommon but potentially fatal complication in burn care. A Pubmed search from 1950 to 2015 was performed using MESH terms: "acalculous cholecystitis," "burns or thermal injuries or thermal damage," and "cholecystitis or gallbladder inflammation." The articles were analyzed and data collected individually on the incidence, presenting symptoms or signs, risk factors, investigations, and treatment modalities used. An International Burns Injury Database (IBID) search was additionally performed to identify the incidence of AAC in burn patients between 2005 and 2015 in the United Kingdom. Nineteen articles were identified which described 90 cases of AAC and thermal injuries. The incidence of AAC in burns ranges between 0.4 and 3.5%, typically affecting males (82.4%) with a mean age of 35 (range 13-89), and 97.8% of burns were >30% total body surface area (range: 22-80%). The majority of patients had established known risk factors for acquiring AAC, including blood transfusion (56.6% of patients), sepsis (52.2%), mechanical ventilation (45.5%), prolonged fasting or total parenteral nutrition administration (44.4%), and use of narcotic medication (10%). The IBID search identified one case of AAC among 145,227 burn injuries during 2005 to 2015 in the United Kingdom. AAC is a rare life-threatening condition that is associated with large thermal burns. Improvements in burns critical care have probably improved the management of known risk factors and reduced the incidence of this condition over recent decades.


Comparing the Influence of Five Patch Types on the Result of a 12-Day Cumulative Irritancy Patch Test.
A 12-day cumulative irritancy patch test is available for predicting skin irritation potential. This study is important to determine the ideal patch type to be used in the irritancy patch test. This study was conducted to determine the cumulative skin irritation potential of five different patch types using predictive patch test techniques. Five types of patches were tested in a 12 day repeated insult test. The patch types were Hill Top Chamber occlusive, Finn Chamber occlusive, Band-Aid semiocclusive, Webril® semiocclusive, and Webril® occlusive. The test materials applied to the patches were cream, lotion, 2% bath cream, and controls of 1% sodium lauryl sulfate (1% SLS), respectively. A dermatologist performed the grading. The test results revealed that with cream, the cumulative scores of Hill Top Chamber occlusive, Finn Chamber occlusive, Band-Aid semiocclusive, Webril® semiocclusive, and Webril® occlusive were 22, 27, 16, 9, and 21, respectively; with lotion, the cumulative scores were 192, 200, 192, 200, and 70, respectively; with 2% bath cream, the cumulative scores were 523, 306, 523, 306, and 506, respectively; with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate solution, the cumulative scores were 792, 801, 753, 526, and 841, respectively. Comparison of the five different patch types revealed that Webril® semiocclusive had the lowest cumulative irritation scores and incidence of adverse reactions. Comparison of the three test materials revealed that cream was the mildest material with the lowest cumulative irritation scores.


Does childcare influence socioeconomic inequalities in unintentional injury? Findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study.
In recent decades the proportion of infants and young children being cared for in childcare has increased. Little is known about the impact that non-parental care has on childhood unintentional injury and whether this varies by socioeconomic group. Using data from a contemporary UK cohort of children at age 9 months (N = 18 114) and 3 years (N = 13 718), Poisson regression was used to explore the association between childcare type (parental, informal, formal) and the risk of unintentional injury, overall and by socioeconomic group. At age 9 months there was no overall association between childcare and injury. However, when stratifying the analyses, infants from higher socioeconomic groups were less likely to be injured if they were cared for in formal childcare (compared with being cared for only by a parent), whereas those from lower social groups were more likely to be injured. At age 3 years informal childcare was associated with an increased risk of injury overall; in the stratified analyses this increased risk occurred only in less affluent groups. Formal childcare was no longer associated with injury at age 3 in any strata. Previous findings have shown that childcare can have a positive influence on childhood injury; however, a recent Unicef report highlighted that a lack of access to high-quality childcare could lead to a widening of inequalities. Our analyses indicate that childcare does have the potential to widen inequalities in injury; further research is required to understand why childcare has a differential impact on unintentional injury and how this might be prevented.


State of the Science of Neural Systems in Late-Life Depression: Impact on Clinical Presentation and Treatment Outcome.
Major depression in older adults, or late-life depression (LLD), is a common and debilitating psychiatric disorder that increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. Although the effects of LLD make it important to achieve a diagnosis and start treatment quickly, individuals with LLD are often inadequately or unsuccessfully treated. The latest treatment developments suggest that interventions targeting executive dysfunction and neuroticism, constructs associated with poor response to antidepressants in older adults, are successful in treating LLD. Specific behavioral interventions (computerized cognitive training, mindfulness meditation, aerobic exercise) appear to decrease depressive symptoms and ameliorate executive dysfunction and neuroticism, but we do not fully understand the mechanisms by which these treatments work. We review recent research on neural network changes underlying executive dysfunction and neuroticism in LLD and their association with clinical outcomes (e.g., treatment response, cognitive functioning).


Extralymphonodal Castleman's disease. A case report.
Castleman's disease is a rare lymph node pathology characterized by angiofollicular hyperplasia. There are two forms of the disease: localized and systemic, with different features, symptoms and prognosis. Three are the histological types of disease: plasma cell, hyaline-vascular and mixed variants. We report the case of a 65-year-old female affected by localized plasma cell variant of Castleman's disease. The singularity of our case lies in its localization on the breast and monoclonal plasma cell proliferation inside the nodule.


Applications of mesenchymal stem cells in ocular surface diseases: sources and routes of delivery.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are novel, promising agents for treating ocular surface disorders. MSCs can be isolated from several tissues and delivered by local or systemic routes. They produce several trophic factors and cytokines, which affect immunomodulatory, transdifferentiating, angiogenic, and pro-survival pathways in their local microenvironment via paracrine secretion. Moreover, they exert their therapeutic effect through a contact-dependent manner. In this review, we discuss the characteristics, sources, delivery methods, and applications of MSCs in ocular surface disorders. We also explore the potential application of MSCs to inhibit senescence at the ocular surface. Therapeutic application of MSCs in ocular surface disorders are currently under investigation. One major research area is corneal epitheliopathies, including chemical or thermal burns, limbal stem cell deficiency, neurotrophic keratopathy, and infectious keratitis. MSCs can promote corneal epithelial repair and prevent visually devastating sequelae of non-healing wounds. However, the optimal dosages and delivery routes have yet to be determined and further clinical trials are needed to address these fundamental questions.


Repair of inguinal hernia by a simple technique--a preliminary observation.
There are many techniques of repair of inguinal hernia but no single procedure has proved to be a complete one. Our primary aim is to find a simple, steady, durable, safe and low cost procedure that has least chance of recurrence as well as disability. The procedure followed in the technique of hernia repair is like that of Desarde with some modifications. The procedure was started with the poor patients (rickshaw pullers, day labours, laundry men) as they are reluctant to undergo operations until there is pain or obstruction. They work in discomfort even with the large hernia. One hundred and six patients were operated for repair of inguinal hernia by this technique in between 1996 and December 2002. Eighty-six patients came for follow-up for more than one occasions. No recurrence has been detected in these patients as yet, but 20 out of 106 never reported.


Acculturation, Physical Activity, and Metabolic Syndrome in Asian American Adults.
Asian Americans (AsAms) have a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and are one of the least physically active racial groups in America. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between MetS and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among AsAm adults and whether acculturation modifies this relationship. Data were from 2,259 AsAms participating in the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Physical activity (PA) was self-reported as minutes of weekly MVPA. Acculturation included nativity, length of residency in America, and language preference. The International Diabetes Federation criteria was used to determine the presence of MetS. About 64.4% of AsAms did not meet the PA recommendation (MVPA ≥150 min/week). The prevalence of MetS was 39.2%. The odds of having MetS were greater among AsAms who did not meet MVPA recommendations compared with those who did meet MVPA recommendations (odds ratio [OR] = 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.11, 2.07]). When stratified by acculturation, this association remained statistically significant in the groups who immigrated to America more than 15 years ago and who spoke English only. MVPA reduces MetS risk in AsAm adults, especially among more acculturated AsAms. Culturally adapted programs are warranted to promote PA and adequate knowledge of disease prevention in this population.


Synthesis and characterization of ferromagnetic cobalt nanospheres, nanodiscs and nanocubes.
We report the synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes by rapid pyrolysis of cobalt carbonyl in the presence of various surfactants. The size and shape of the nanoparticles were influenced by reaction conditions, such as type of the surfactant, molar ratio of surfactant to precursor, reflux temperature and reaction time. The shapes that we have achieved include spherical, nearly spherical, disc and cube. The presence of linear amine yielded nanodiscs and they spontaneously self-assembled into long ribbons. The effect of shape anisotropy on magnetic nanoparticles has been investigated. Spherical nanoparticles of diameter 14.5 nm show strong ferromagnetic behavior at low temperature and superparamagnetism at room temperature. On the other hand the cubic nanoparticles of 45 nm sides showed negligible coercive field at T=10 K and ferromagnetism that persisted above T=300 K. The cobalt nanospheres were oxidized to grow cobalt oxide shell of varying thickness to study exchange bias effect. A pronounced exchange bias and a strong temperature dependant magnetization were observed in oxidized cobalt nanospheres.


Effects of protease enzyme supplementation in weanling pigs' diet with different crude protein levels on growth performance and nutrient digestibility.
The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of different levels of crude protein (CP) diets supplemented with dietary protease on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of the weanling pigs. In a 5-week study, 100 crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) of weaner pigs that have an average initial body weight (BW) of 7.17±1.06 kg were assigned to one of four dietary treatments with 5 replications and 5 pigs (3 gilts and 2 castrated male pigs) per pen in a randomized complete block design. The dietary treatments were as follows: Phase 1: CON: basal diets (20.60% CP); low protein (LP): CON - 0.30% CP; PLP1: (CON - 0.30% CP) + 0.05% protease; PLP2: (CON - 0.50% CP) + 0.05% protease. Phase 2: CON: basal diets (18.88% CP); LP: CON - 0.30% CP; PLP1: (CON - 0.30% CP) + 0.05% protease; PLP2: (CON - 0.50% CP) + 0.05% protease. The addition of protease to low CP diets significantly increased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p = 0.039), BW (p = 0.046), average daily gain (ADG) (p = 0.049), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) tended to increase (p = 0.053) in the young pigs during phase 1. However, FCR tended to increase throughout the experiment but did not change during phase 2, whereas BW, ADG, and ADFI stayed unchanged throughout phase 2 and overall. There was no significant difference in dry matter, nitrogen (N), and gross energy of nutrient digestibility in all phases and overall in weaned pigs with low CP when protease was fed. In contrast, adding protease to the low CP diets increased the tendency of N digestibility (p = 0.059) during phase 1. It is concluded that dietary protease supplementation tended to increase N retention during the first phase of the weaning period, hence increasing piglet performance.


Lip Forces and Chewing Efficiency in Children with Peripheral Facial Paralysis.
Peripheral facial paralysis is accompanied by facial motor disorders and also, by oral dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the lip forces and chewing efficiency in a group of children with peripheral facial paralysis. The degree of peripheral facial paralysis in the study group (n 11) was assessed using the House-Brackmann scale. The control group consisted of 21 children without facial nerve impairment. To assess lip forces, acrylic vestibular plates of three sizes were used: large (LVP), medium (MVP) and small (SVP). The lip force was recorded with a force transducer coupled with the data acquisition system. Masticatory efficiency was evaluated by the ability to mix two differently colored chewing gums. The images were processed with Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Delaware Corporation, San Jose, California, United States) and the number of pixels was quantified with the Image J software (DHHS/NIH/NIMH/RSB, Maryland, United States). For statistical analysis, the following statistical analysis were used: Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression analysis, multiple logistic regression analysis, and optimal cutoff values for muscular dysfunction. There were statistically significant differences between lip forces in the following three groups: p=0.01 (LVP), p=0.01 (MVP), and p=0.008 (SVP). The cutoff values of lip forces in the study group were as follows: 7.08 N (LVP), 4.89 N (MVP), and 4.24 N (SVP). There were no statistically significant differences between the masticatory efficiency in the two groups (p=0.25). Lip forces were dependent on the degree of peripheral facial paralysis and age, but not on gender. In peripheral facial paralysis in children, a significant decrease of lip forces, but not masticatory efficiency, occurs.


[Dyspnoea Due to Foreign Embolism after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty].
Emergency admission of a 66-years-old man with right-sided and partly breath-dependent chest pain in the interdisciplinary emergency room. The complaints existed for several days and had a progressive character. Purulent expectoration and fever were negated. There was a history of COPD with occasional pulmonary exacerbations. Several weeks before the current event, community-acquired pneumonia had been treated with antibiotics. Moreover, the patient reported on multiple spine surgery procedures performed in recent months. In transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), detection of a foreign body (Palacos) in the right ventricle, which was confirmed to be a toothpick-like structure in the supplementary CT scan of the thorax and the transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE). Foreign body extraction using right anterior mini thoracotomy. Subsequently, iatrogenic pneumothorax with bilateral nosocomial pneumonia and drainage. After short-term convalescence, renewed admission with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. Under invasive ventilation, new left-sided pneumothorax was diagnosed, which was supplied with a Bülau drainage. Due to the detection of positive blood cultures, re-conducting of a TOE examination. Now first diagnosis of tricuspid valve endocarditis. Despite successful surgical biologic tricuspid valve replacement with an epicardial pacemaker electrode placement, the patient died approximately three quarters of a year after he became an emergency patient due to dyspnoea. The present case shows that a typical clinical symptom, associated with a previously known chronic illness, has to be reminded again and again of other and less common diseases. Even everyday diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are associated with a residual risk of possible complications.


Regulating N application for rice yield and sustainable eco-agro development in the upper reaches of Yellow River basin, China.
High N fertilizer and flooding irrigation applied to rice on anthropogenic-alluvial soil often result in N leaching and low recovery of applied fertilizer N from the rice fields in Ningxia irrigation region in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, which threatens ecological environment, food security, and sustainable agricultural development. This paper reported the regulating N application for rice yield and sustainable Eco-Agro development in the upper reaches of Yellow River basin. The results showed that reducing and postponing N application could maintain crop yields while substantially reducing N leaching losses to the environment and improving the nitrogen use efficiency. Considering the high food production, the minimum environmental threat, and the low labor input, we suggested that regulating N application is an important measure to help sustainable agricultural development in this region.


The use of magnetically controlled growing rods in paediatric Osteogenesis Imperfecta with early onset, progressive scoliosis.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a condition of bone fragility and can present with early onset scoliosis that can cause respiratory complications in later life. The fear of instrumenting the spine in OI is the possibility of fracture either on primary insertion or subsequent lengthening. Magnetically controlled growing rods were inserted to control a scoliosis in a 6-year old with OI type IV. Fixation was obtained using pedicle screws proximally and distally with sublaminar bands around the ribs proximally. These rods have been remotely lengthened on multiple occasions over a 2-year period. This has controlled the scoliosis whilst also allowing the spine to grow. There are no complications to report. This case reports the use of magnetically controlled growth rods used to manage early onset scoliosis in OI. Frequent lengthening, achieving small increases in length on every occasion protects against the risk of fracture during the lengthening procedure.


A new surgical method for penile girth enhancement.
We developed a new surgical model of penile girth enhancement in dog, with minimal damage, fewer complications, and high success rate, to enable the experimental investigation of penile implants. We obtained materials for penile girth enhancement by processing the pericardium and blood vessel wall collected from pigs. Incisions were made at the penile bulb for the implantation of the materials, and facilitate observation and data collection, based on the anatomical features of dog's penis. We measured the girth of the flaccid penis before and after the operation, and erectile function at 1-month postoperation. In addition to evaluation of recovery from the incision and local pathological changes, ultrasonic examination was performed to monitor the long-term changes associated with implantation. The mean girth of the flaccid penis significantly increased from 7.37±0.40 cm before the operation, to 8.70±0.56 cm postoperation. Dogs resumed normal mating at 1 month after the operation, without any significant change in the mating time. Ultrasonic examination clearly illustrated the implants, and helped in the measurement of the distance between the materials and the baculum. Chinese Rural dog is a promising animal model for penile girth enhancement surgery. The findings demonstrated that surgical implantation into penile bulb was associated with less damage, faster postoperative recovery, and higher success. For the first time, ultrasonic examination provided objective data on the surgical outcomes of penile girth enhancement.


Viral infections of little blue penguins (Eudyptula minor) along the southern coast of Australia.
Serum antibodies to strains of avian paramyxovirus and flavivirus were detected in little blue penguins sampled at Port Campbell and Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. No antibody to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was detected in 267 sera collected, although one penguin captured for experimental studies had a hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titer of 2(4) to this virus. Experimental studies showed that the avian paramyxovirus designated APMV-IM and strain V4 of NDV were non-pathogenic for penguins, although the penguins could have been previously infected with these or similar virus strains. A flavivirus designated Saumarez reef virus, and an unnamed virus isolated from ticks on Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean were pathogenic causing disease and mortality in penguins inoculated with the viruses.


Change of cytokeratin organization during development of Mallory bodies as revealed by a monoclonal antibody.
A monoclonal murine antibody (KM 54-5) was produced against Mallory body (MB) material isolated from liver tissue of griseofulvin treated mice. The antigen was identified by positive immunofluroescence microscopy of MBs and by the immunoblotting technique on polypeptides separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In immunoblotting experiments, antibody KM 54-5 reacted with cytokeratins A (human no. 8) and D (human no. 18) of murine, bovine, and human hepatocytes as well as with cytokeratin A (no. 8) and its degradation products present in isolated murine MB. In immunofluorescence microscopy the antibody did not react with cytokeratin filaments of normal liver but showed a positive reaction with MBs after a certain stage in MB development had been reached. In a dot blot assay, using individual cytokeratin polypeptides isolated from murine liver and purified by ion exchange chromatography in pH 8 buffer containing 8 M urea, the antibody reacted with the individual polypeptides A (no. 8) and D (no. 18) but not with the heterotypic tetramer (A2D2) reconstituted from these polypeptides in 4 M urea. These findings confirm the cytokeratin nature of MB filaments. In addition, they show that the pathologic process of MB formation involves changes in cytokeratin organization and conformation, resulting in the accessibility of a specific antigenic determinant which is inaccessible ("masked") in the heterotypic tetramer subunit and in the cytokeratin filaments of normal cells. Hence this study presents an example of a pathological change of cytokeratin filaments and illustrates the value of monoclonal antibodies in the detection of such changes.


Sleep-wake patterns of school-age children and adolescents before diagnosis and during induction chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Sleep disturbances are commonly reported by children receiving chemotherapy for leukemia. Sleep patterns before diagnosis and during induction chemotherapy were evaluated in 38 children (7 to 18 years old). Child Sleep Assessment (CSA) was used to evaluate sleep patterns prior to diagnosis. Sleep diaries and actigraphy were used during chemotherapy. Adolescents went to bed later and awakened later than school-age children before diagnosis and during chemotherapy. During chemotherapy, children averaged 60 minutes of nighttime wake time. The early recognition of sleep problems associated with disease, treatment, and age is important for school-age children and adolescents with leukemia.


Penile venous drainage in erectile dysfunction. Anatomical, radiological and functional considerations.
To elucidate further the penile venous anatomy and its role in the haemodynamics of erection, we performed pharmacological cavernometry and cavernography in 95 patients with venogenic impotence and in 12 patients with psychogenic impotence. The findings were correlated with those of dissection in 10 adult male cadavers. Cavernography confirmed that the main venous drainage of the corpora cavernosa is via the cavernous veins, with additional drainage through the crural, circumflex and deep dorsal veins and demonstrated that, in patients with venogenic impotence, the cavernous veins are the common site of leakage. Cavernometry provided valuable parameters for the quantification of the degree of venous leakage. Detailed knowledge of the penile venous system and cavernometry and cavernography are essential for the proper diagnosis and treatment of patients with venogenic impotence.


[Current profile of hematogenous osteomyelitis in children at the Tokoin University Hospital Center in Lome, Togo. Report of 145 cases].
Bacterial osteomyelitis is still a major health problem in Togo due to frequent association with sickle cell disease and delayed treatment. This report describes a series including 145 patients hospitalized for osteomyelitis in a university hospital center in Lome from 1995 to 1997. Osteomyelitis was acute in 33 cases, in association with sickle cell disease in 14 cases, and chronic in 112 cases including 103 with sequela of acute osteomyelitis. Data showed that the most common infectious agent was Staphylococcus aureus (64 cases) which was isolated or associated with another microorganism. The most valuable finding of this study was the high incidence of salmonella (n = 39) identified in association with sickle cell disease. If salmonella is detected, electrophoretic hemoglobin screening should be performed.


Effects of Road Traffic on the Accuracy and Bias of Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensor Measurements in Houston, Texas.
Although PM2.5 measurements of low-cost particulate matter sensors (LCPMS) generally show moderate and strong correlations with those from research-grade air monitors, the data quality of LCPMS has not been fully assessed in urban environments with different road traffic conditions. We examined the linear relationships between PM2.5 measurements taken by an LCPMS (Dylos DC1700) and two research grade monitors, a personal environmental monitor (PEM) and the GRIMM 11R, in three different urban environments, and compared the accuracy (slope) and bias of these environments. PM2.5 measurements were carried out at three locations in Houston, Texas (Clinton Drive largely with diesel trucks, US-59 mostly with gasoline vehicles, and a residential home with no major sources of traffic emissions nearby). The slopes of the regressions of the PEM on Dylos and Grimm measurements varied by location (e.g., PEM/Dylos slope at Clinton Drive = 0.98 (R2 = 0.77), at US-59 = 0.63 (R2 = 0.42), and at the residence = 0.29 (R2 = 0.31)). Although the regression slopes and coefficients differed across the three urban environments, the mean percent bias was not significantly different. Using the correct slope for LCPMS measurements is key for accurately estimating ambient PM2.5 mass in urban environments.


Rapid response systems: a prospective study of response times.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the time taken for delivery of each component of care following patient deterioration and to assess the effect on response times of strategies implemented to improve the system. A model identifying the sequence of organizational responses following a patient's unexpected clinical deterioration was developed. The time to key events and interventions from initial deterioration was measured for 3 months in 2005 and again in 2006 at a tertiary care hospital with a rapid response team (RRT) in place. Strategies to improve compliance with the RRT system were introduced between the 2 periods. The number of acute deterioration episodes identified increased (61 episodes in 2005; 154 episodes in 2006), but there was no improvement in response times. The 2 components contributing most frequently to delays were the time for nursing staff to call for assistance and, where needed, for physicians to call for higher-level care. Overall, 26% of episodes in 2006 and 30% in 2005 did not receive medical attention within 30 minutes of acute deterioration. Significant delays in responding to acute deterioration persist despite strategies to facilitate the functioning of the RRT system. Simple strategies such as policy directives are not sufficient to effect change in complex health care systems.


A Web-based short messaging service system to enhance family-centered surgical patient care.
The purpose of this study was to develop a web-based short messaging service (SMS) system in the operating room (OR). At the same time, we integrated and analyzed the limits of SMS in the OR. A cross-sectional study with quantitative methods and convenience sampling was used to gather data in this study. In the SMS project, we approached the content of SMS with operation diagnosis, patient sources and time series (pre-, intra-, and post-operation). We also default the contents of SMS by patient individual conditions. In this study, 177 participants received 346 text messages and 139 participants answered satisfaction questionnaires (78.53 %). The findings show the usability of SMS as applied to clinical care, especially for reducing family anxiety, for real time information, physician-patient communication, medical care processes and patient safety. Therefore, it is suggested to exploit the effectiveness of a personal medical care information database under global goal in the future and to develop comprehensive management of the surgical patient relationship.


Thermodynamics of interactions of vancomycin and synthetic surrogates of bacterial cell wall.
Glycopeptide antibiotics, including vancomycin, form complexes via a set of five hydrogen bonds with the acyl-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-Ala portion of the peptidyl stems of the bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan. This complexation deprives the organism from the ability to cross-link peptidyl stems of the peptidoglycan, leading to bacterial cell death. Four synthetic fragments as surrogates of the components of the bacterial cell wall have been prepared in our lab in multistep syntheses. These synthetic samples were used in investigations of the thermodynamics properties (DeltaG degrees , DeltaH degrees , and TDeltaS degrees ) for the complexation with vancomycin by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Complexation with the glycopeptide analogues is largely enthalpy-driven (formation of five hydrogen bonds), and in the analogues with a single peptidyl stem, the complexation is 1:1. The complexation is more complicated with an approximately 2 kDa cell wall surrogate (compound 4), which possesses two peptidyl stems. The data were suggestive of interactions between the two vancomycin molecules, with an entropic penalty attributable to restriction of molecular movements within the complex due to restriction of motion of the highly mobile acyl-d-Ala-d-Ala moiety of the peptidyl stems. These data were reconciled with the recently determined NMR solution structure for the peptidoglycan fragment 4 and its implications for the larger cell wall.


Oxidative stress and leaf senescence.
Senescence is an important developmental process that leads to the cell death through highly regulated genetically controlled processes in plants. Biotic and abiotic Oxidative stresses can also artificially induce senescence and increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) specifically in chloroplast. One of the important oxidative stresses is paraquat that induces deviation of electron from photosynthesis electron chain and lead to the production of more ROS in chloroplast. Plants have evolved special adoptive mechanism to reallocate nutrient to reproductive and juvenile organs in senescence and different oxidative stresses. Rubisco seems to be the most abundant protein in plants and is involved in many changes during senescence. In the present study, the effects of ROS on Rubisco during senescence and oxidative stresses were evaluated by measuring photosynthesis factors such as net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (G), evaporation rate (E), intra cellular CO2 concentration (Ci), fluorescence and total protein during three stages of development. Our results showed that in paraquat treated plants, CO2 assimilation is the most effective factor that refers to Rubisco damages. The highest correlation and regression coefficient belonged to Ci, while correlation coefficient between photosynthesis rate and total protein was much smaller. It appears in the early stage of oxidative stresses such as exposing to paraquat, ROS has the most effect on Rubisco activity that induces more susceptibility to Rubisco specific protease. Moreover, Rubisco deactivation acts as an initiative signal for Rubisco degradation.


Elution characteristics of tobramycin from polycaprolactone in a rabbit model.
This study investigated the elution characteristics of tobramycin from polycaprolactone, a bioabsorbable polymer, in a rabbit model. Sixty rabbits were divided into two groups. Group 1 had polycaprolactone rods impregnated with 6% tobramycin surgically implanted into the proximal femoral intramedullary canal. Group 2 received polymethylmethacrylate rods of like size, shape, and antibiotic concentration. Serum and urine samples were obtained, and tobramycin levels were determined via fluorescent immunosorbent assay. Rabbits were sacrificed as long as 56 days after surgery. Local bone tobramycin concentration was determined using the agar diffusion method. Polycaprolactone delivered a significantly higher peak bone concentration of tobramycin (22.4 microg/mL) than did polymethylmethacrylate (13.59 microg/mL). Polycaprolactone also had a more gradual decrease in local tobramycin concentration than did polymethylmethacrylate. Neither polycaprolactone nor polymethylmethacrylate yielded consistently detectable (> 0.1 microg/mL) serum tobramycin levels. Urine concentrations mirrored those seen in bone, with polycaprolactone achieving significantly higher tobramycin concentrations than did polymethylmethacrylate. Polycaprolactone had superior elution characteristics compared with polymethylmethacrylate in this lapine model, suggesting that polycaprolactone might be a promising local antibiotic delivery vehicle for the treatment of osteomyelitis.


Long-tailed macaques display unexpected waiting abilities in exchange tasks.
The ability of animals to delay gratification is crucial for complex goal-directed action. It may help them in making effective decisions when facing a choice. We tested the ability of nine long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) to delay gratification in several experiments. In exchange tasks, subjects had to keep a small piece of cookie before returning it to an experimenter in order to get a larger food amount. Results showed that animals could wait between 10 s and 10 min depending on individual and sizes of reward. In another experiment, subjects could immediately give back the initial piece of cookie then wait for the return. Their performances more than doubled, demonstrating the role of consumption inhibition in postponing gratification. Such achievements underscore delays of gratification which until now were not thought possible in monkeys. Finally, subjects were presented with an accumulation of food pieces added at short intervals until they seized them. They mostly waited between 30 s and 1 min, which points at the consistency of our data, compared to those of other studies. Our results indicate that long-tailed macaques anticipated the duration of delays. We may account for their remarkable performances by their achievements in the social context.


[Comparison between FIGO old and new staging criteria of endometrial carcinoma].
FIGO proposed new criteria for corpus cancer staging in 1988. One hundred and seventy-one cases of endometrial cancer were classified by these new staging criteria, and differences between grouping and survival rates for the new and old criteria were compared. 1) The number of cases grouped in old stages I, II, III and IV were 67, 86, 8 and 10, whereas those for new criteria 94, 25, 35 and 10, respectively. In 7 cases new staging was not possible because of preoperative radiation therapy and inoperability. 2) Cases of old stage I were reclassified as new stage I 54(80.5%), stage II 2(3.0%) and stage III 8(12.0%), and 3 cases were not classified. Those of old stage II were 39(45.2%), 21(24.55%), 25(29.1%) and 1(1.2%) and old stage III were 1(12.5%), 2(25.0%), 2(25.0%) and 3(37.5%), respectively. 3) Survival rates for the cases with both stage I and II cancer were very good without any apparent difference between them. Those for new stage III were very poor in comparison with old stage III. 4) In cases of stage I according to the new criteria, the depth of myometrial invasion correlated well with the survival rate. The prognosis of G3 cases with myometrial invasion over 1/2 was the poorest. 5) Survival rates among subclassifications of stages II and III were not significantly different from each other.


Influence of high-frequency cyclical stimulation on the bone fracture-healing process: mathematical and experimental models.
Mechanical stimulation affects the evolution of healthy and fractured bone. However, the effect of applying cyclical mechanical stimuli on bone healing has not yet been fully clarified. The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of a high-frequency and low-magnitude cyclical displacement of the fractured fragments on the bone-healing process. This subject is studied experimentally and computationally for a sheep long bone. On the one hand, the mathematical computational study indicates that mechanical stimulation at high frequencies can stimulate and accelerate the process of chondrogenesis and endochondral ossification and consequently the bony union of the fracture. This is probably achieved by the interstitial fluid flow, which can move nutrients and waste from one place to another in the callus. This movement of fluid modifies the mechanical stimulus on the cells attached to the extracellular matrix. On the other hand, the experimental study was carried out using two sheep groups. In the first group, static fixators were implanted, while, in the second one, identical devices were used, but with an additional vibrator. This vibrator allowed a cyclic displacement with low magnitude and high frequency (LMHF) to be applied to the fractured zone every day; the frequency of stimulation was chosen from mechano-biological model predictions. Analysing the results obtained for the control and stimulated groups, we observed improvements in the bone-healing process in the stimulated group. Therefore, in this study, we show the potential of computer mechano-biological models to guide and define better mechanical conditions for experiments in order to improve bone fracture healing. In fact, both experimental and computational studies indicated improvements in the healing process in the LMHF mechanically stimulated fractures. In both studies, these improvements could be associated with the promotion of endochondral ossification and an increase in the rate of cell proliferation and tissue synthesis.


Characterisation of the vascular plasminogen activator from the pig ear.
Spontaneously released plasminogen activator after perfusion with 0.9% NaCl of isolated pig ear was purified by affinity chromatography on Heparin-Sepharose. The molecular weight of the plasminogen activator is about 60,000 Daltons, the isoelectric point lies at pH 7.6. The enzyme is most stable at neutral pH. At 37 degrees C it is stable for two hours. The activator did not show lytic activity either on heated or on PAMBA fibrin plates. The activity of the activator was inhibited by exposure to DFP and PMSF but not by exposure to TLCK and TPCK, suggesting that it is an enzyme with an active-site residue which belongs to the tissue-type activators.


Dust-void formation in a dc glow discharge.
Experimental investigations of dusty plasma parameters of a dc glow discharge were performed in a vertically oriented discharge tube. Under certain conditions, dust-free regions (voids) were formed in the center of the dust particle clouds that levitated in the strong electric field of a stratified positive column. A model for radial distribution of dusty plasma parameters of a dc glow discharge in inert gases was developed. The behavior of void formation was investigated for different discharge conditions (type of gas, discharge pressure, and discharge current) and dust particle parameters (particle radii and particle total number). It was shown that it is the ion drag force radial component that leads to the formation of voids. Both experimental and calculated results show that the higher the discharge current the wider dust-free region (void). The calculations also show that more pronounced voids are formed for dust particles with larger radii and under lower gas pressures.


Common genetic and environmental factors among craniofacial traits in Belgian nuclear families: comparing skeletal and soft-tissue related phenotypes.
The major objective of this study was to determine the possible effects of common genetic and environmental factors among 18 craniofacial anthropometric traits, with special attention to the differences between skeletal and soft-tissue related phenotypes. The studied sample consisted of 122 nuclear families living in Brussels and included 251 males and 258 females aged from 13 to 72 years. Univariate and bivariate quantitative genetic analyses were performed using a variance components procedure implemented in SOLAR software. All phenotypes were significantly influenced by additive genetic factors with heritability estimates ranging from 0.46 (nose height) to 0.72 (external biocular breadth). Sex, age and their interactions explained 7-46% of the total phenotypic variance of the traits. Bivariate analysis revealed that several traits share a common genetic and/or environmental basis while other traits show genetic and environmental independence from one another. More and greater genetic and environmental correlations were observed among skeletal phenotypes, than among soft-tissue traits and between both categories. Apart from the tissue composition, other characteristics of the craniofacial morphology such as the orientation (e.g. heights, breadths) have shown to be important factors in determining pleiotropy and common environmental effects between some pairs of traits. In conclusion, the results confirm that overall head configuration is largely determined by additive genetic effects, and that common genetic and environmental factors affecting craniofacial size and shape are stronger for the skeletal traits than for the soft-tissue traits.


Current status of cleft lip and palate management in China.
Several million individuals with cleft lip and palate (CLP) exist in China, and it is estimated that at least 30,000 newborns with CLP are born every year. How to give them an optimal treatment with excellence is still a problem in most areas. The treatment of cleft patients presents various situations around world that are different from those in the United States and Europe. In this article, we reviewed the current status of CLP management in our country and shared our experience from one of the biggest CLP centers in China. We hope the management of cleft can be improved, and more patients can be treated by dedicated teams and dedicated centers in China.


Functional studies of [FeFe] hydrogenase maturation in an Escherichia coli biosynthetic system.
Maturation of [FeFe] hydrogenases requires the biosynthesis and insertion of the catalytic iron-sulfur cluster, the H cluster. Two radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) proteins proposed to function in H cluster biosynthesis, HydEF and HydG, were recently identified in the hydEF-1 mutant of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (M. C. Posewitz, P. W. King, S. L. Smolinski, L. Zhang, M. Seibert, and M. L. Ghirardi, J. Biol. Chem. 279:25711-25720, 2004). Previous efforts to study [FeFe] hydrogenase maturation in Escherichia coli by coexpression of C. reinhardtii HydEF and HydG and the HydA1 [FeFe] hydrogenase were hindered by instability of the hydEF and hydG expression clones. A more stable [FeFe] hydrogenase expression system has been achieved in E. coli by cloning and coexpression of hydE, hydF, and hydG from the bacterium Clostridium acetobutylicum. Coexpression of the C. acetobutylicum maturation proteins with various algal and bacterial [FeFe] hydrogenases in E. coli resulted in purified enzymes with specific activities that were similar to those of the enzymes purified from native sources. In the case of structurally complex [FeFe] hydrogenases, maturation of the catalytic sites could occur in the absence of an accessory iron-sulfur cluster domain. Initial investigations of the structure and function of the maturation proteins HydE, HydF, and HydG showed that the highly conserved radical-SAM domains of both HydE and HydG and the GTPase domain of HydF were essential for achieving biosynthesis of active [FeFe] hydrogenases. Together, these results demonstrate that the catalytic domain and a functionally complete set of Hyd maturation proteins are fundamental to achieving biosynthesis of catalytic [FeFe] hydrogenases.


Choosing initial antihypertensive drug therapy for the uncomplicated hypertensive patient.
Choosing the initial antihypertensive drug for the uncomplicated hypertensive patient is an important and frequent event for the primary care physician. Patients' first experience with antihypertensive drug therapy will likely affect their long-term perception of hypertension treatment. The choice should be made on the basis of sound scientific data and from the patient's perspective and needs. The drug should be taken once a day, should have proven efficacy in hypertension control and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality reduction, and should have as few side effects as possible. Low-dose thiazide diuretics meet this description, although the need to monitor electrolytes may make them less than ideal. The angiotensin II receptor antagonist class, with side-effects similar to those of placebo in controlled trials, is the most attractive from the patient's perspective, although outcome trial data do not yet exist proving that hypertension treatment with angiotensin II receptor antagonists reduces cardiovascular events. The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists, with their low side-effect profiles and unique effects on vascular remodeling, are attractive second choices to combine with a diuretic if needed, although low-dose diuretic/Beta blocker combinations have also been shown to lower blood pressure with minimal side effects. At present, ensuring adequate long-term hypertension control is the most important aspect of hypertensive care, and which antihypertensive drug(s) the physician chooses can greatly affect the hypertensive patient's ability to achieve and to maintain long-term blood pressure control. (c)2001 by Le Jacq Communications, Inc.


Formation and assembly-disassembly processes of ZnO hexagonal pyramids driven by dipolar and excluded volume interactions.
ZnO hexagonal pyramids were obtained in hydrophilic media without any traditional stabilizers (capping agents). The absence of a thick organic shell reducing the anisotropy of nanoparticle (NP) interactions, oxide nature of the materials, and new geometry of the nanocrystals makes possible the observation of new self-organization phenomena. Several new features not present in the previous cases of NP self-organization were identified and discussed. The formation of ZnO pyramids involved recrystallization of larger amorphous NPs followed by the multistage disassembly of intermediate aggregates into individual virtually perfectly shaped nanocrystals. The evolution of NPs begins with crystallization of clustered plates within the original amorphous spherical colloids, and then agglomerated truncated pyramids are formed. These agglomerates further transform into chained pyramids, which eventually separate from each other. The crystallization and disassembly processes can be associated with the decrease of potential and anisotropy of the attractive force field around the crystallites represented in part by dipole moments. The reassembly of the pyramids can still be attained via engaging excluded volume interaction after adding similarly charged polymer. Overall, in this system, we see the first examples of (1) coupled crystallization and disassembly process; (2) induced assembly of nanoscale particles using excluded volume interactions, which were previously used only for aggregation of microscale colloids; and (3) nanoparticle assemblies with variable and experimentally verifiable relative orientation of dipoles including head-to-tail, tail-to-tail pairs, and antiparallel chains. Described assemblies of ZnO pyramids with collective behavior of individual building blocks as well as distinct and experimentally controlled stages of assembly and disassembly present a fundamentally interesting nanoparticle system with rich dynamic behavior.


Synaesthesia for reading and playing musical notes.
This study reports three cases of synaesthesia who experience colors in response to written musical notation, graphemes and heard music. The synaesthetes show Stroop-like interference when asked to name the colour of graphemes but not for written musical notes. However, reliable interference is found in two further studies that require deeper processing of the musical notation (namely playing music from colored notation, and naming the synaesthetic color of the notes whilst suppressing the veridical color). This is the first empirical demonstration of synaesthesia for musical notation. The fact that synaesthetic color influences music playing/reading (a sensory-motor transformation) but not verbal color naming suggests that synaesthetic Stroop effects can arise from processing the meaning of a stimulus and not just as a result of verbal response interference. However, it is likely that the color associations themselves have a developmental origin in the names assigned to them. In all three cases, the colors of the written notes are related to the graphemes that arbitrarily denote them (e.g., 'A' may be "red" both as a letter and when written in musical notation). The results suggest that synaesthetic associations may migrate from one representational format (e.g., graphemes) to another (e.g., musical notation).


Primary care. On the right track.
The healthcare outside hospitals white paper and practice-based commissioning demand strategic involvement at all levels from clinicians. Consensus seems to be that clinicians will need strong support mechanisms to fulfil their roles. Opinions differ on how levels of clinical engagement can be measured.


Policosanol for managing human immunodeficiency virus-related dyslipidemia in a medically underserved population: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with dyslipidemia and increased risk for cardiovascular events; however, the use ofstatins in HIV-infected people is complicated by pharmacokinetic interactions and overlapping toxicities with antiretroviral medications. Policosanol is a dietary supplement derived from sugar cane that is widely used as a statin alternative in Latin America. To collect feasibility data on sugar cane-derived policosanol to normalize dyslipidemic profiles in a sample of medically underserved HIV-infected people. Randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Two infectious disease outpatient clinics located in a Health Resources Service Administration-designated medically underserved neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. Fifty-four clinically stable HIV-infected people (91% black) with at least one lipid abnormality that warranted dietary modifications and/or drug therapy. Participants received either 20 mg/day of policosanol or placebo for 12 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout and crossover to the other arm. Efficacy measures included the standard lipid panel (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-derived lipoprotein particle profiles. Safety measures included CD4+ T lymphocyte counts, plasma HIV ribonucleic acid levels, serum creatinine, and liver function tests. Policosanol supplementation was not associated with normalization of any dyslipidemic parameters as measured by the standard lipid panel or NMR spectroscopy-measured lipoprotein size or concentration. The supplement was well tolerated and was not associated with any changes in parameters of HIV disease progression. Our findings corroborate recent studies conducted outside Cuba that have failed to find any lipid modulatory effects for policosanol.


Effects of ID-CBT5101 in Preventing and Alleviating Osteoarthritis Symptoms in a Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Rat Model.
Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the articular cartilage and osseous tissue, and can be worsened by aging, overweight status, and post-traumatic arthritis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of ID-CBT5101 (tyndallized Clostridium butyricum) on bone metabolism and the inflammatory response in a monosodium iodoacetate-induced rat model of osteoarthritis. ID-CBT5101 was administered orally at doses of 108 or 1010 CFU/day for 2 weeks before direct injection of monosodium iodoacetate (3 mg/50 μl of 0.9% saline) into the intra-articular space of the rats' right knees. The rats subsequently received the same doses of oral ID-CBT5101 for another 4 weeks. We evaluated the treatment effects based on serum biomarkers, mRNA expression, morphological and histopathological analyses of the knee joints, and weight-bearing distribution analysis. Compared with those in control rats, the ID-CBT5101 treatments significantly reduced the serum concentration of inflammation and bone metabolism markers (i.e., COX-2, IL-6, LTB4, and COMP), and significantly increased the concentration of IFN-γ and glycosaminoglycans. In addition, the ID-CBT5101 treatments inhibited the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (i.e., MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2). Furthermore, the ID-CBT5101 treatments effectively preserved the knee cartilage and synovial membrane, and significantly decreased the amount of fibrous tissue. Moreover, compared with that of the negative control group, the ID-CBT5101 treatments increased the weight-bearing distribution by ≥20%. The results indicate that ID-CBT5101 prevented and alleviated osteoarthritis symptoms. Thus, ID-CBT5101 may be a novel therapeutic option for the management of osteoarthritis.


Circulation is established in a stepwise pattern in the mammalian embryo.
To better understand the relationship between the embryonic hematopoietic and vascular systems, we investigated the establishment of circulation in mouse embryos by examining the redistribution of yolk sac-derived primitive erythroblasts and definitive hematopoietic progenitors. Our studies revealed that small numbers of erythroblasts first enter the embryo proper at 4 to 8 somite pairs (sp) (embryonic day 8.25 [E8.25]), concomitant with the proposed onset of cardiac function. Hours later (E8.5), most red cells remained in the yolk sac. Although the number of red cells expanded rapidly in the embryo proper, a steady state of approximately 40% red cells was not reached until 26 to 30 sp (E10). Additionally, erythroblasts were unevenly distributed within the embryo's vasculature before 35 sp. These data suggest that fully functional circulation is established after E10. This timing correlated with vascular remodeling, suggesting that vessel arborization, smooth muscle recruitment, or both are required. We also examined the distribution of committed hematopoietic progenitors during early embryogenesis. Before E8.0, all progenitors were found in the yolk sac. When normalized to circulating erythroblasts, there was a significant enrichment (20- to 5-fold) of progenitors in the yolk sac compared with the embryo proper from E9.5 to E10.5. These results indicated that the yolk sac vascular network remains a site of progenitor production and preferential adhesion even as the fetal liver becomes a hematopoietic organ. We conclude that a functional vascular system develops gradually and that specialized vascular-hematopoietic environments exist after circulation becomes fully established.


Invited commentary: Natural versus unnatural sex ratios--a quandary of modern times.
The typical dilemma with sex-ratio findings is that when they are real, they aren't interesting, and when they are interesting, they aren't real. In this issue of the Journal, Fernández et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2011;174(12):1327-1331) describe a deviation of the sex ratio that is apparently both large and real. There was a temporary but distinct spike in the proportion of boys born in Cuba around the time of the collapse of the national economy during the 1990s. Although an excess of boys does not fit the prevailing biologic theory regarding maternal stress and the sex ratio, the data are consistent with results from the Dutch famine (where population-level deprivation was even more extreme). A new quandary arises in the modern era with interpretation of the sex ratio: If the decision to abort a pregnancy is influenced by the sex of the fetus, a change in the behavior of even a small proportion of women could influence the sex ratio at birth. The possible role of sex selection in the Cuban context is discussed.


A study on the correlation between the grain size and the conversion efficiency of Mc-Si solar cells.
For grain size estimation, a prototype system was developed by integrating a vision-acquiring hardware and a vision-assistant-processing module based on the platform software package of LabVIEW, to systematically estimate the average grain size of solar-grade multicrystalline (mc)-Si wafers. Three groups of 156 x 156 mm mc-Si wafers were selected to produce the average grain sizes of 3.4 mm (Group 1), 3.8 mm (Group II), and 4.6 mm (Group III), and were used for the fabrication of mc-Si solar cells by employing the standard mc-Si cell fabrication procedure of the 30 MW mass production line. The conversion efficiency including Jsc and Pmax, showed a quasi linear dependence on the mean grain size, with a correlation factor of 0.525%/mm. By combining the EL image and the grain size/position-dependent EQE spectra in a wavelength range of 400-1100 nm, the conversion efficiency of uniformly-surface-texturized mc-Si solar cells with larger grain sizes can be made much higher as a result of the much-reduced spatial density of the nano/microscope grain boundaries acting as recombination centers or traps.


[Vitamin and tobacco smoking].
Nicotine addiction is one of the most prevalent addictive behaviors worldwide. According to World Health Organization (WHO), there are nearly 5 million tobacco- related deaths worldwide each year and nearly half of the smokers in the world today will die as a result of their addiction and the main cause will be the lung cancer. Some studies have suggested that intake of the carotenoids might reduce cancer risk. Unfortunately, supplementation with vitamins: beta-carotene alone or in combination with alpha-tocopherol or retinol increased risk of lung cancer incidence and mortality in cigarette smokers and individuals with occupational exposure to asbestos.


Propagating potassium and chloride conductances during activation and fertilization of the egg of the frog, Rana pipiens.
Fertilization or artificial activation of the frog egg (Rana pipiens) elicits a positive-going shift in membrane potential which results from an opening of Cl- and K+ channels in the egg membrane. We examined the spatial localization of the currents produced by the opening of these channels, using large patch electrodes (tip diameters 3-10 microns). We also used small patch electrodes (tip diameters about 1 micron) to study the single K+ channel currents. After activation, with the patch electrode at any position on the egg surface, we observed a transient current, with a main peak lasting several seconds. This activation current occurred after a variable delay of 0-3 min following the rise of the activation potential. With 10% Ringer solution in the bath and pipette, the current was usually outward, although it sometimes had an inward component. With one patch electrode on the animal surface of the egg and another patch electrode on the vegetal surface, we observed that the activation current propagated over the egg surface. In experiments where the egg was activated by applying a hyperpolarizing pulse, the response in the animal half preceded that in the vegetal half by an average of about 1 min. The amplitude of the peak outward current was similar for animal and vegetal recordings (1-2 mA/cm2). Tetraethylammonium (11 mM) in the patch pipette blocked most of the outward component of the activation current and revealed an underlying inward component. The inward component of the activation current was carried by Cl-, since it could be reversed by raising the Cl- concentration in the pipette. The Cl- component of the activation current propagated over the egg surface, with timing similar to that of the total current. The average amplitude of the peak Cl- current was six or more times larger at the animal than the vegetal surface. Fertilization caused a current to propagate from the animal to the vegetal surface, like the current observed during activation. With a small patch electrode, single channel currents of the K+ component of the activation current could be seen. The probability that the channels were open increased at more positive potentials. The single channel conductance was estimated to be 25 pS, and the reversal potential to be -150 mV. Single Cl- channel currents have not yet been seen. Activation or fertilization of the frog egg resulted in a wave-like opening of Cl- and K+ channels, which spread from the animal to the vegetal half of the egg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


[Clinical nature of tetrodotoxin intoxication and the measures for emergency rescue].
To define the clinical nature of tetrodotoxin intoxication and explore the measures for its emergency rescue. The emergency rescue measures and outcomes of 33 cases tetrodotoxin intoxication were reviewed. No obvious effects were observed in these patients after administration of atropine or application of respiratory stimulant, but implementation of mechanical ventilation and comprehensive life support measures resulted in successful rescue of mild to moderate cases within 10 to 14 h, and recovery of spontaneous respiration was achieved in critical cases in 19-24 h. Tetrodotoxin selectively blocks the neuromuscular electrical activity, producing the effect of nondepolarizing curine and leading to failure of the respiratory drive without compromising the respiratory center. Atropine, a M-cholinergic receptor blocker, or central stimulants may fail to produce obvious effects, but comprehensive treatments including maintenance of effective ventilation can bring satisfactory effects.


Serpiginous choroidopathy: an unusual association with Crohn's disease.
Serpiginous choroidopathy, an inflammatory chorioretinopathy characterized by areas of choroidal atrophy and scarring, has previously been described in association with various systemic granulomatous disorders, but has not been linked to Crohn's disease. There are reports of ocular posterior segment abnormalities in patients with this chronic, granulomatous, inflammatory bowel disease, but these have not included serpiginous choroidopathy. This is the first report suggesting a link between serpiginous choroidopathy and Crohn's disease. A 22-year-old woman presented with serpiginous choroidopathy in whom Crohn's disease was diagnosed soon after. After starting treatment with oral prednisolone, no further visual loss or progression of the chorioretinal lesions occurred. The T-cell mediated nature of both inflammatory disorders and the temporal association in their onset suggests a possible link between serpiginous choroidopathy and Crohn's disease.


Effect of salinity on diazotrophic activity and microbial composition of phototrophic communities from Bitter-1 soda lake (Kulunda Steppe, Russia).
Bitter-1 is a shallow hypersaline soda lake in Kulunda Steppe (Altai region, Russia). During a study period between 2005 and 2016, the salinity in the littoral area of the lake fluctuated within the range from 85 to 400 g/L (in July of each year). Light-dependent nitrogen fixation occurred in this lake up to the salt-saturating conditions. The rates increased with a decrease in salinity, both under environmental conditions and in laboratory simulations. The salinities below 100 g/L were favorable for light-dependent nitrogen fixation, while the process was dramatically inhibited above 200 g/L salts. The analysis of nifH genes in environmental samples and in enrichment cultures of diazotrophic phototrophs suggested that anaerobic fermenting and sulfate-reducing bacteria could participate in the dark nitrogen fixation process up to soda-saturating conditions. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that haloalkaliphilic nonheterocystous cyanobacteria (Euhalothece sp. and Geitlerinema sp.) and anoxygenic purple sulfur bacteria (Ectothiorhodospira sp.) might also play a role in the process at light conditions. The heterocystous cyanobacterium Nodularia sp. develops at low salinity (below 80 g/L) that is not characteristic for Bitter-1 Lake and thus does not make a significant contribution to the nitrogen fixation in this lake.


Hand Switching Costs are not Uniform Across Response Components.
We investigated the extent to which a complex finger sequence impacts on hand switching costs in a sequential action. Response component latencies (premotor, motor, and movement) were compared in no-switch (same finger performed the action of pressing and reaching) and switch conditions (pressing with one finger and completing the reaching action with the homologous finger from the other hand). Results showed that the switch condition presented longer latency for premotor and movement components. For the motor component, however, switch condition was faster. This expands the previous literature investigating switching costs using simple finger movements in more complex tasks. A mechanical explanation of the interplay between response subcomponents is provided to explain the inversion of response pattern for the motor component.


RACK1 is a candidate gene associated with the prognosis of patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer.
This study was conducted to identify genetic polymorphisms associated with the prognosis of patients with early stage NSCLC. We genotyped 1,969 potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 1,151 genes involved in carcinogenesis in 166 NSCLC patients who underwent curative surgery, using the Affymetrix custom-made GeneChip. A replication study was performed in an independent cohort of 626 patients. Fifty six SNPs which were associated with both overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) with log-rank P values < 0.05 in discovery set were selected for validation. Among those, five SNPs (RACK1 rs1279736C>A and rs3756585T>G, C3 rs2287845T>C, PCAF rs17006625A>G, and PCM1 rs17691523C>G) were found to be significantly associated with survival in the same direction as the discovery set. In combined analysis, the rs1279736C>A and rs3756585T>G were most significantly associated with OS and DFS in multivariate analysis (P for OS = 4 × 10⁻⁵ and 7 × 10⁻⁵, respectively; and P for DFS = 0.003, both; under codominant model). In vitro promoter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that the rs3756585 T-to-G change increased promoter activity and transcription factor binding of RACK1. We identified five SNPs, especially RACK1 rs3756585T>G, as markers for prognosis of patients with surgically resected NSCLC.


Thenar Compartment Syndrome: What If a Compartment Pressure Measuring Device is Absent?
Compartment syndrome (CS) is a threatening condition characterized by excessive tissue pressure accumulation associated with acute trauma. Compartment syndrome causes a significant reduction in blood flow with subsequent muscle and nerve ischemic necrosis. Recently, reports have described the importance of intramuscular pressure measurements as a basis for CS diagnosis. Unfortunately, the measuring devices that were utilized produced results with unsatisfactory reliability, making a diagnosis and subsequent treatment challenging. Here, we report the use of an anesthesia pressure monitoring device with greater precision for pressure measurements, as well as real-time monitoring of intraoperative compartment pressure decompression efficacy. This device enabled the accurate diagnosis and rapid treatment of a thenar compartment syndrome (TCS) in the left hand of a diabetic female in an emergency setting. She presented extreme pain in the thumb flexion-extension (FE). Her condition was complicated by diabetic cellulitis, primarily of Staphylococcus aureus. Consequently, successful microsurgery in the thenar space, together with debridement, resulted in remarkable pain relief during FE of the thumb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and interphalangeal (IP) joints, as well as the disappearance of the infection by Day 10. Subsequent one- to two-year follow-up assessments revealed marked recovery.