Identification, classification and phylogeny of the Aspergillus section Nigri inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b gene.
The partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from 32 strains of 12 species belonging to Aspergillus section Nigri was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced directly. Using 402 nucleotide characters, nucleotide-based and amino acid-based phylogenetic trees were inferred and the genetic divergence among the species was evaluated. Based on analyses of the 402-bp nucleotide and 133-amino acid sequences, strains were divided into 11 DNA types and five amino acid types. Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus awamori showed different amino acid sequences. A. niger clade included A. niger var. niger and Aspergillus ficuum. A. awamori clade included A. awamori, Aspergillus phoenicis, Aspergillus pulverulentus, Aspergillus tubingensis, Aspergillus foetidus, and two varieties of A. niger, var. nanus and var. intermedius. Two varieties of A. niger will be reclassified. One strain of A. phoenicis and one strain of Aspergillus carbonarius were reidentified.


Environmental investigation of pollutants in coal mine operation and waste dump area monitored in Ordos Region, China.
The increasingly severe emissions of greenhouse and poisonous gases from environmentally unsafe stockpiled coal mine waste dumps have urged people from the academia as well as the industry to focus on environmental impact assessment. In this study, one-year air pollutant monitoring was conducted at the Qipanjing coalfield in Inner Mongolia of China for determining the distribution pattern statue of pollutant exposure and its main driving factors. We used FTIR spectroscopy to measure the inorganic compounds in particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm. The spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of leading pollutants, including PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3 and CO were analyzed. Firstly, the research showed that the temporal and spatial distribution of pollutants in the coal mine waste area is non-homogeneous. Secondly, some meteorological parameters, such as wind speed, relative humidity, temperature, and rainfall, were found to have significant effects on air pollutant distribution. Stable atmospheric conditions were unfavorable for the diffusion of pollutants and prolong the pollution process. Finally, in the vicinity of coalfields, SO2 and NO2 are present in high concentrations in air. Primary reasons for such high values are coal mining-related activities and active mine fires. This study will help to offer valuable and detailed information for understanding and interpreting the pollution source.


Photoreactive surfactants: a facile and clean route to oxide and metal nanoparticles in reverse micelles.
A new class of photoreactive surfactants (PRSs) is presented here, consisting of amphiphiles that can also act as reagents in photochemical reactions. An example PRS is cobalt 2-ethylhexanoate (Co(EH)(2)), which forms reverse micelles (RMs) in a hydrocarbon solvent, as well as mixed reversed micelles with the standard surfactant Aerosol-OT (AOT). Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) data show that mixed AOT/PRS RMs have a spherical structure and size similar to that of pure AOT micelles. Excitation of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) band in the PRSs promotes electron transfer from PRS to associated metal counterions, leading to the generation of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles inside the RMs. This work presents proof of concept for employing PRSs as precursors to obtain nearly monodisperse inorganic nanoparticles: here both Co(3)O(4) and Bi nanoparticles have been synthesized at high metal concentration (10(-2) M) by simply irradiating the RMs. These results point toward a new approach of photoreactive self-assembly, which represents a clean and straightforward route to the generation of nanomaterials.


A root phloem pole cell atlas reveals common transcriptional states in protophloem-adjacent cells.
Single-cell sequencing has recently allowed the generation of exhaustive root cell atlases. However, some cell types are elusive and remain underrepresented. Here we use a second-generation single-cell approach, where we zoom in on the root transcriptome sorting with specific markers to profile the phloem poles at an unprecedented resolution. Our data highlight the similarities among the developmental trajectories and gene regulatory networks common to protophloem sieve element (PSE)-adjacent lineages in relation to PSE enucleation, a key event in phloem biology. As a signature for early PSE-adjacent lineages, we have identified a set of DNA-binding with one finger (DOF) transcription factors, the PINEAPPLEs (PAPL), that act downstream of PHLOEM EARLY DOF (PEAR) genes and are important to guarantee a proper root nutrition in the transition to autotrophy. Our data provide a holistic view of the phloem poles that act as a functional unit in root development.


New Chromane-Based Derivatives as Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Salicylate Synthase (MbtI): Preliminary Biological Evaluation and Molecular Modeling Studies.
Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent worldwide; therefore, the need for new antitubercular drugs is desperate. The recently validated target salicylate synthase MbtI is the first enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of mycobactins, compounds able to chelate iron, an essential cofactor for the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the host. Here, we report on the synthesis and biological evaluation of chromane-based compounds as new potential inhibitors of MbtI. Our approach successfully allowed the identification of a novel lead compound (1), endowed with a promising activity against this enzyme (IC50 = 55 μM). Molecular modeling studies were performed in order to evaluate the binding mode of 1 and rationalize the preliminary structure-activity relationships, thus providing crucial information to carry out further optimization studies.


A facile synthetic approach to L- and P-selectin blockers via copolymerization of vinyl monomers constructing the key carbohydrate modules of sialyl LewisX mimics.
A highly practical synthetic approach is described for artificial L- and P-selectin blockers. The synthesis involves radical bi- and terpolymerizations of p-(N-acrylamido)phenyl 3- or/and 6-sulfo-beta-D-galactoside with allyl alpha-L-fucoside in the presence of acrylamide. Each of the two glycosyl monomers constructs a key carbohydrate module responsible for selectins/sulfated sialyl LewisX (sLeX) bindings. Whereas an acrylamide copolymer carrying 3-sulfo-galactoside showed no activity for any selectins, the fucosylated terpolymer showed a potent activity to block both of P- and L-selectins/sLeX binding at a concentration of a few micrograms per milliliter. The enhanced activity is apparently ascribed to the cooperative binding effects of the fucoside and the 3-sulfo-galactoside residues.


[Epidemiological profile of drug addiction in college students].
Exploratory study with quantitative method. Data were obtained through a closed and structured questionnaire, self-administered to 500 undergraduates. Data processing and discussion was based on simple and stratified frequencies. In total, 185 (37.1%) students consumed or had used drugs at least once in life. Initial consumption started between the ages of 13 and 21 years. Alcohol is shown as the first drug, followed by snuff and, in descending order, marijuana, benzodiazepines and amphetamines. Regarding self-perception of the effect of drugs among users, this group showed a trend to deny that drugs exert some impact on their academic performance, showing that drugs use is not perceived as a problem if it affects only themselves, but is perceived as a problem if affecting fellow students when consuming drugs.


Neonatal maternal separation and sex-specific plasticity of the hypoxic ventilatory response in awake rat.
We tested the hypothesis that neonatal maternal separation (NMS), a form of stress that affects hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) function in adult rats, alters development of the respiratory control system. Pups subjected to NMS were placed in a temperature and humidity controlled incubator 3 h per day for 10 consecutive days (P3 to P12). Control pups were undisturbed. Once they reached adulthood (8-10 weeks old), rats were placed in a plethysmography chamber for measurement of ventilatory and cardiovascular parameters under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Measurement of c-fos mRNA expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) combined with plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels confirmed that NMS effectively disrupted HPA axis function in males. In males, baseline minute ventilation was not affected by NMS. In contrast, NMS females show a greater resting minute ventilation due to a larger tidal volume. The hypoxic ventilatory response of male NMS rats was 25% greater than controls, owing mainly to an increase in tidal volume response. This augmentation of the hypoxic ventilatory response was sex-specific also because NMS females show an attenuated minute ventilation increase. Baseline mean arterial blood pressure of male NMS rats was 20% higher than controls. NMS-related hypertension was not significant in females. The mechanisms underlying sex-specific disruption of cardio-respiratory control in NMS rats are unknown but may be a consequence of the neuroendocrine disruption associated with NMS. These data indicate that exposure to a non-respiratory stress during early life elicits significant plasticity of these homeostatic functions which persists until adulthood.


Bone disease in multiple myeloma and precursor disease: novel diagnostic approaches and implications on clinical management.
The manifestations of bone involvement in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) can have devastating clinical effects and increase mortality. Recent studies demonstrate that patients with the precursor conditions smoldering MM (SMM) and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) show evidence of bone disease and increased risk of fractures. The understanding of the pathogenesis of bone disease in MM has expanded in recent years. The traditional skeletal survey will probably be replaced by newer and more sensitive imaging techniques, which may have a prognostic impact and change our definition of MGUS and SMM. Bisphosphonates are recommended to prevent skeletal events in patients with MM, and have also been studied in SMM and MGUS. This article summarizes the current knowledge of bone disease in plasma cell disorders, and discusses the current standard and future role of novel imaging techniques, as well as the evidence and current guidelines for bisphosphonates in MM, SMM and MGUS.


Hybrid Dynamic Event-Triggered Load Frequency Control for Power Systems With Unreliable Transmission Networks.
In this article, we consider the load frequency control problem for a class of power systems based on the dynamic event-triggered control (ETC) approach. The transmission networks are unreliable in the sense that malicious denial-of-service (DoS) attacks may arise in the power system. First, a model-based feedback controller is designed, which utilizes estimated states, and thus can compensate the error between plant states and the feedback data. Then, a dynamic event-triggered mechanism (DETM) is proposed by introducing an internal dynamic variable and a timer variable with jump dynamics. The proposed (DETM) can exclude Zeno behavior by regularizing a prescribed strictly positive triggering interval. Incorporated in the ETC scheme, a novel hybrid model is established to describe the flow and jump dynamics of the power system in the presence of DoS attacks. Based on the hybrid dynamic ETC scheme, the power system stability can be preserved if the attacks frequency and duration sustain within an explicit range. In addition, the explicit range is further maximized based on the measurement trigger-resetting property. Finally, a numerical example is presented to show the effectiveness of our results.


Evaluation of antibiotic use in intensive care units of a tertiary care hospital in Turkey.
The object of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of antibiotic use in relation to diagnosis and bacteriological findings in the intensive care units (ICUs) of a 1100-bed referral and tertiary care hospital with an antibiotic restriction policy in Turkey. Between June and December 2002, patients who received antibiotics in the medical and surgical ICUs were evaluated prospectively. Two infectious diseases (ID) specialists assessed the antibiotics ordered daily. Of the 368 patients admitted to the ICUs, 223 (60.6%) received 440 antibiotics. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were first-generation cephalosporins (16.1%), third-generation cephalosporins (15.2%), aminoglycosides (12.1%), carbapenems (10.7%) and ampicillin-sulbactam (8.7%). Antibiotic use was inappropriate in 47.3% of antibiotics. ID specialists recommended the use of 47% of all antibiotics. An antibiotic order without an ID consultation was more likely to be inappropriate [odds ratio (OR)=13.2, P<0.001, confidence intervals (CI)=4.4-39.5]. Antibiotics ordered empirically were found to be less appropriate than those ordered with evidence of culture and susceptibility results (OR=3.8, P=0.038, CI=1.1-13.1). Inappropriate antibiotic use was significantly higher in patients who had surgical interventions (OR=3.6, P=0.025, CI=1.2-10.8). Irrational antibiotic use was high for unrestricted antibiotics. In particular, antibiotic use was inappropriate in surgical ICUs. Additional interventions such as postgraduate training programmes and elaboration of local guidelines could be beneficial.


[Dissipation dynamics of spirodiclofen in wolfberry fruit].
The dissipation of spirodiclofen in fresh fruit and dry fruit of wolfberry was detected in this study to provide a reference for its safe application.According to Pesticide Residue Test Criteria of China, the open-field experiment was conducted in Zhongning courty of Ningxia province, and the dissipation of spirodiclofen was studied by acetonitrile extraction and HPLC-MS/MS detection. The results showed that the half-lives of spirodiclofen in fresh wolfberry fruit and dry wolfberry fruit were 6.9-11.2 days and 8.5-10.4 days, respectively. Spirodiclofen belongs to the easily degradable pesticide type. According to the maximum residue limits (0.5 mg•kg⁻¹) of spirodiclofen of EU for wolfberry, after recommended dosage being sprayed for once, fresh wolfberry fruit was safe to eat after 5 days, and dry wolfberry fruit was safe to eat after 21 days.


Molecular theory of layer contraction in smectic liquid crystals.
The period of the layered structure in smectic A and smectic C liquid crystal phases has been calculated numerically by direct minimization of the mean-field free energy which takes into account the interaction between molecules in adjacent smectic layers. The smectic layer spacing is calculated for two systems characterized by conventional and anomalously weak layer contraction in the smectic C phase. It is then compared with the simple estimate based on the average projection of the molecular long axis on the smectic layer normal. For both systems, temperature variation of the average molecular projection is qualitatively similar to that of the calculated layer spacing although certain quantitative deviations exist.


Microalbuminuria in type 1 diabetes: rates, risk factors and glycemic threshold.
The occurrence of microalbuminuria in type 1 diabetes is strongly predictive of renal and cardiovascular disease and is still likely to occur despite improvements in glycemic control. A better understanding of microalbuminuria is required to inform new interventions. We determined the incidence and risk factors for microalbuminuria [albumin excretion rate (AER) 20 to 200 microg/min] in the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study. This is a seven-year follow-up (between 1988 and 1991) of 1134 normoalbuminuric men and women (aged 15 to 60) with type 1 diabetes from 31 European centers. Risk factors and AER were measured centrally. The incidence of microalbuminuria was 12.6% over 7.3 years. Independent baseline risk factors were HbA1c (7.1 vs. 6.2%, P = 0.0001) and AER (9.6 vs. 7.8 microg/min, P = 0.0001) and, independent of these, fasting triglyceride (0.99 vs. 0.88 mmol/L, P = 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.5 vs. 3.2 mmol/L, P = 0.02), body mass index (24.0 vs. 23.4 kg/m2, P = 0.01), and waist to hip ratio (WHR; 0.85 vs. 0.83, P = 0.009). Triglyceride and WHR risk factors were nearly as strong as AER in predicting microalbuminuria (standardized regression effects of 1.3 for triglyceride and WHR and 1.5 for AER). Blood pressure at follow-up, but not at baseline, was also raised in those who progressed. There was no evidence of a threshold of HbA1c on microalbuminuria risk. The incidence of microalbuminuria in patients with type 1 diabetes remains high, and there is no apparent glycemic threshold for it. Markers of insulin resistance, such as triglyceride and WHR, are strong risk factors. Systemic blood pressure is not raised prior to the onset of microalbuminuria.


Benefits of mild cleansing: synthetic surfactant based (syndet) bars for patients with atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a recurring inflammatory skin disease, characterized by marked pruritus, which usually develops in early childhood. AD is associated with a wide array of symptoms, including itching, dryness, erythema, crusted lesions, and superficial inflammation. Topical steroid cream or ointment with proper washing is a primary treatment approach for AD. Nonsoap-based personal washing or syndet bars containing synthetic detergents or surfactants are milder than soaps; thus, they are widely used by patients with a variety of skin conditions, including AD. The primary goals of this study were to determine the compatibility of syndet bar use with the therapy of AD and the potential benefits of syndet bars compared with subjects' usual cleansing products, mostly soap bars. In this evaluation, 50 subjects (14 subjects were aged < or =15 years) with mild AD on a stable treatment regimen were recruited and asked to use 1 of 2 syndet bars as part of their normal shower routine for 28 days. The severity of eczematous lesions, skin condition (dryness, erythema, texture), and hydration were evaluated at baseline and after 28 days of syndet application by investigators and subjects. Syndet bar use reduced the severity of eczematous lesions, improved skin condition, and maintained hydration. Overall, the results of this study indicate that syndet formulations are compatible with the therapy of AD.


Outcome of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and C3-glomerulopathy in children and adolescents.
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is a rare cause of glomerulopathy in children. Recently, a new classification based on immunohistological features has been established. Infections and anomalies in complement-regulating genes, leading to alternative complement pathway activation, are suspected to trigger the disease. Nevertheless, little is known about optimal treatment and outcome in children with immune-complex-MPGN (IC-MPGN) and C3-glomerulopathy (C3G). The method used is retrospective analysis of clinical, histological, and genetic characteristics of 14 pediatric patients with MPGN in two medical centers. Mean age of the patients was 10.6 ± 4.5 years. Patients were grouped into C3G (n = 6) and IC-MPGN (n = 8). One patient showed a likely pathogenic variant in the CFHR5 gene. All 10 patients had risk polymorphisms in complement-regulating genes. Most patients were treated with ACE inhibition, steroids, and mycophenolate mofetil. Three patients with C3G received eculizumab. Median follow-up was 2.3 years. After 1 year of disease, three patients (two C3G, one IC-MPGN) reached complete, five patients partial (three IC-MPGN, two C3G), and five patients no remission (four IC-MPGN, one C3G). One patient progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) 6 years after disease onset. IC-MPGN and C3G are rare disorders in children. Most patients have signs of complement activation associated with risk polymorphisms or likely pathogenic variants in complement-regulating genes. Steroids and mycophenolate mofetil seem to be effective and for some patients, eculizumab might be a treatment option. Outcome is heterogeneous and precise differentiation between IC-MPGN and C3G is still pending.


Principles of management of shotgun wounds.
As an instrument of close range combat, the shotgun has no parallel. At short distances, its destructive capacity parallels that seen from high velocity missile injury. In this study, the history of the shotgun, wound ballistics, principles of initial therapy and special management problems related to shotgun wounds of specific sites are reviewed. An analysis of pooled data on abdominal shotgun wounds is presented. A subset of patients who do not require abdominal exploration exists. Specific problems encountered in defining this subset are enumerated. Three algorithms are presented that summarize our current management approach to shotgun wounds of the torso and extremities.


I Would Speak Up to Live Up to Your Trust: The Role of Psychological Safety and Regulatory Focus.
Voicing upward refers to employee efforts to improve organizational functioning by making suggestions or expressing opinions and concerns. While extant studies have investigated how supervisors' behaviors or attitudes influence employee voice behaviors, researchers have paid little attention to the effects of employee perceptions on voice. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), we developed and tested the effects of feeling trusted by supervisors on two dimensions of voice (promotive and prohibitive), focusing on the mediation role of psychological safety and the interaction effect of psychological safety and regulatory focus on voice. Using a sample of 244 participants and three waves of longitudinal data, we investigated whether feeling trusted would lead to both promotive and prohibitive voice through psychological safety. We also extensively examined the moderation effect of regulatory focus on psychological safety and the contingency dimension of voice. We found that promotion focus strengthens the positive relationship between psychological safety and voice (both promotive and prohibitive voice), whereas prevention focus strengthens the positive relationship between psychological safety and prohibitive voice. This paper concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.


Characteristics of biochar pellets from corn straw under different pyrolysis temperatures.
Biomass resources have the potential to produce clean-energy. However, their physico-chemical properties are inferior to those of coal, and thus, biomass resources are not regarded as ideal feedstock for industrial application. In the present study, the pyrolysis of corn (maize) straw pellets was performed under different temperatures (400, 450, 500, 550 and 600°C) at a 10°C min-1 heating rate and 30 min residence time, and the characteristics of biochar pellets were carefully investigated, particularly their elemental composition, hydrophobicity and mechanical resistance. Fourier transform infrared, proximate analysis and scanning electron microscopy were performed. Results indicated that the mass and energy yields of the biochar pellets decreased from 35.46 to 28.65% and from 50.17 to 45.52%, respectively, at increased temperature. Meanwhile, the higher heating value of the biochar pellets increased from 15.45 MJ kg-1 in the raw materials to 21.86 and 24.55 MJ kg-1 in the biochar produced at 400 and 600°C, respectively. In addition, biochar pellets showed good hydrophobicity, which benefited their storage and transportation, though mechanical resistance decreased. The pellets had compact structures, regular shapes and weakened or no functional groups in contrast with raw pellets, and these properties played important roles in the improvements.


Key factors for effective implementation of healthcare worker support interventions after patient safety incidents in health organisations: a protocol for a scoping review.
Health organisations should support healthcare workers who are physically and psychologically affected by patient safety incidents (second victims). There is a growing body of evidence which focuses on second victim support interventions. However, there is still limited research on the elements necessary to effectively implement and ensure the sustainability of these types of interventions. In this study, we propose to map and frame the key factors which underlie an effective implementation of healthcare worker support interventions in healthcare organisations when healthcare workers are physically and/or emotionally affected by patient safety incidents. This scoping review will be guided by the established methodological Arksey and O'Malley framework, Levac and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) recommendations. We will follow the JBI three-step process: (1) a preliminary search conducted on two databases; (2) the definition of clear inclusion criteria and the creation of a list of search terms to be used in the subsequent running of the search on a larger number of databases; and (3) additional searches (cross-checking/cross-referencing of reference lists of eligible studies, hand-searching in target journals relevant to the topic, conference proceedings, institutional/organisational websites and networks repositories). We will undertake a comprehensive search strategy in relevant bibliographic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINHAL, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, Epistemonikos, Scielo, Cochrane Library and Open Grey). We will use the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool V.2018 for quality assessment of the eligible studies. Our scoping review will be guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews. This study will not require ethical approval. Results of the scoping review will be published in a peer-review journal, and findings will be presented in scientific conferences as well as in international forums and other relevant dissemination channels. 10.17605/OSF.IO/RQAT6.Preprint from medRxiv available: doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.25.22269846.


Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients' Experiences With Treatment Decision-making.
Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer generally want to engage in decision-making but are not always able to do so. We evaluated cancer treatment decision-making among AYAs, including decisional engagement and regret. We surveyed 203 AYA patients with cancer aged 15 to 29 (response rate 74%) treated at a large academic center and their oncologists. Patients were approached within 6 weeks of diagnosis and asked to report decision-making preferences and experiences (Decisional Roles Scale) and the extent to which they regretted their initial treatment decision (Decisional Regret Scale) assessed at baseline and 4 and 12 months later. A majority of AYAs (58%) wanted to share responsibility for decision-making with oncologists; half (51%) preferred limited involvement from parents. Although most AYAs held roles they preferred, those who did not reported holding more passive roles relative to oncologists (P < .0001) and parents (P = .002) than they desired. Nearly one-quarter of patients (24%; 47 of 195) experienced regret about initial cancer treatment decisions at baseline, with similar rates at 4 (23%) and 12 (19%) months. In a multivariable model adjusted for age, decisional roles were not associated with regret; instead, regret was less likely among patients who trusted oncologists completely (odds ratio 0.17 [95% confidence interval 0.06-0.46]; P < .001) and who reported that oncologists understood what was important to them when treatment started (odds ratio 0.13 [95% confidence interval 0.04-0.42]; P < .001). Nearly one-fourth of AYA patients expressed regret about initial treatment decisions. Although some AYAs have unmet needs for decisional engagement, attributes of the patient-oncologist relationship, including trust and mutual understanding, may be most protective against regret.


Bilateral musculocutaneous nerve palsy from strength training.
Musculocutaneous nerve palsy resulting from strenuous weight training is a rare condition characterized by biceps atrophy or weakness. It usually affects the dominant side, but the authors describe an 18-year-old football player who developed the condition bilaterally after weight lifting-a presentation not found in the literature. Clinicians should keep the diagnosis in mind for active patients who perform repetitive biceps curls. When other neurologic conditions have been clinically ruled out, electrodiagnostic testing can confirm the diagnosis. Musculocutaneous nerve palsy typically resolves when weight training routines are modified to reduce intensity and biceps curls are eliminated for at least 3 months.


Treatment of rhodamine B with cavitation technology: comparison of hydrodynamic cavitation with ultrasonic cavitation.
This paper presents the use of hydrodynamic cavitation and ultrasonic cavitation technologies for treating rhodamine B (RhB) in simulated wastewater. Various parameters of each technology that influence the RhB degradation rate were compared and optimized. The results showed that the optimal conditions for the hydrodynamic cavitation determined by the single-factor method were as follows: inlet pressure, 0.4 MPa; initial concentration, 10 mg L-1; reaction temperature, 30 °C; and pH value, 3. The RhB degradation rate was 38.7%. In addition, the optimal conditions for the ultrasonic cavitation determined by the response surface methodology were as follows: initial RhB concentration, 10 mg L-1; ultrasonic power, 850 W; ultrasonic time, 100 min; addition amount of H2O2, 0.6%; and pH value, 3. The RhB degradation rate was 84.06%. We also found that the degradation of RhB by both cavitation technologies conformed to the first-order kinetic reaction model. The rate constant of UC was 5.22 × 10-3 min-1 and that of HC was 4.35 × 10-3 min-1. The ultrasonic cavitation has a stronger cavitation effect than hydrodynamic cavitation.


Lower limb amputation. Part 3: Prosthetics--a 10 year literature review.
This paper is intended as a follow-up to the ISPO Consensus Conference on Amputation Surgery. It reviews all the literature on lower limb prosthetics published after 1990. The review was considered under six categories: feet, knees, hips, thermoplastics, liners/suspension and computers.


Hydrogen Evolution Reactions Catalyzed by a Bis(thiosemicarbazone) Cobalt Complex: An Experimental and Theoretical Study.
The synthesis and characterization of a dinuclear bis(thiosemicarbazone) cobalt complex [Co2 L2 (NCS)2 ] is reported. This complex exhibits significant catalytic activity for hydrogen production in DMF by using triethylammonium (Et3 NHBF4 ) as the proton source. Cyclic voltammetry data allowed a maximum turnover frequency of 130 s-1 for 1 m proton concentration to be determined. The catalytic nature of the process and the production of dihydrogen were confirmed by gas analysis during controlled potential electrolysis experiments. Quantum chemical calculations show that the complex displays a ligand-assisted metal-centered reactivity and supports a catalytic mechanism involving ligand-based reduction and protonation steps followed by metal-centered processes.


Evaluation of a method to measure fluorescent cell burden in complex culture systems.
Purpose. This work introduces and evaluates a method for accurate in-vitro measurement of fluorescent cell burden in complex 3D-culture conditions.Methods.The Fluorescent Cell Burden (FCB) method was developed to analyze the burden of 4T1 mCherry-expressing cells grown in an organotypic co-culture model of brain metastasis using 400μm rat brain slices. As a first step, representative simulated image-data accurately reflecting the 4T1 experimental data, but with known ground truth burden, were created. The FCB method was then developed in the CellProfiler software to measure the integrated intensity and area of the colonies in the simulated image data. Parameters in the pipeline were varied to span the experimentally observed range (e.g. of cell colony size) and the result compared with simulation ground truth to evaluate and optimize FCB performance. The optimized CellProfiler pipeline was then applied to the original 4T1 tumor cell images to determine colony growth with time, and re-applied with upper and lower bound parameters to determine uncertainty estimates.Results.The FCB method measured integrated intensity across 10 simulated images with an accuracy of 99.23% ± 0.75%. When colony density was increased by increasing colony number to 450, 600, and 750, the FCB measurement was 98.68%, 100.9%, 97.6% and 113.5% of the true value respectively. For the increasing number of cells plated on the rat brain slices, the integrated intensity increased nearly linearly with cell count except for at high cell counts, where it is hypothesized that shadowing from clumped cells causes a sub-linear relationship.Conclusion. The FCB method accurately measured an integrated fluorescent light intensity to within 5% of ground truth for a wide range of simulated image data spanning the range of observed variability in experimental data. The method is readily customizable to in-vitro studies requiring estimation of fluorescent tumor cell burden.


[Is the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis good enough?].
In order to estimate the specificity of the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis, case records of 148 patients, who underwent appendectomy or who were diagnosed as having periappendicular abscess during one year at a regional hospital in Denmark were analyzed. Operations without finding acute appendicitis occurred in 25.4 per cent of the patients. The group of women in the fertile age (12-50 years) was prone to unnecessary surgery (51.9 per cent in this group had a normal appendix). In children, men and non-fertile women only a few patients had unnecessary surgery. Belated diagnoses (perforation and/or abscess) were found truly in 10.7 per cent of the cases, and, with a significant higher incidence, in elderly patients (age greater than 50 years). The possibilities of diminishing the incidence of unnecessary surgery and belated diagnoses are discussed.


Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in medical students.
The protective effect of the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) is undisputed. However, adherence to MeDi has decreased in recent years, particularly in young people. The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence to MeDi in medical students and to assess the influence of knowledge acquisition as well as other factors on dietary compliance. A cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students. The data were obtained through anonymous surveys that collected demographic characteristics, medical history, alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical activity and adherence to MeDi – using 14-point Mediterranean Diet Adherence Score (MEDAS) –. Adherence to MeDi and related factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariable analysis. Medical students from the first to the sixth year of the 2018–2019 academic year. The study was conducted at the university of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Of 589 respondents (73 % women) mean aged 22 years (range 18–39), 58·9 % showed good adherence to MeDi. Adherence was significantly associated with age (P = 0·017) but not with sex or the presence of comorbidities. Independently, adherence to MeDi was higher in last academic courses (OR = 2·1; 95 % CI = 1·3, 3·2; P = 0·001), in those who consumed alcohol more frequently (OR = 1·5; 95 % CI = 1·0, 2·1; P = 0·039) and in those who practiced more exercise (OR = 1·5; 95 % CI = 1·2, 1·9; P < 0·001). Half of all medical students did not have a good adherence to MeDi. Adherence was higher at older age in higher academic years and related to greater physical activity. It would be convenient to quantify dietary knowledge as well as implement nutritional educational programmes, favouring a healthy lifestyle.


Platypnea-orthodeoxia due to osteoporosis and severe kyphosis: a rare cause for dyspnea and hypoxemia.
Platypnea orthodeoxia is a rare disorder characterized by dyspnea and arterial desaturation, exacerbated by the upright position and relieved when the subject is recumbent. We report the case of a 79-year old woman admitted to hospital with dyspnea who was thought to have restrictive ventilatory impairment due to osteoporosis and severe kyphosis. Interestingly, the dyspnea was aggravated in the upright position, whereas the symptoms improved in the supine position. Arterial blood gas analysis confirmed orthodeoxia. The lung function test showed only a mild obstructive and restrictive ventilation disorder. Echocardiography revealed a patent foramen ovale and an aneurysm of the atrial septum protruding into the left atrium, despite normal right atrial pressure. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a prominent Eustachian valve guiding a blood flow from the inferior vena cava directly onto the atrial septum, thereby pushing open the patent foramen ovale. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography confirmed a spontaneous right-to-left shunt through the patent foramen ovale. It was assumed that the platypnea-orthodeoxia was caused by a prominent Eustachian valve redirected to the patent foramen ovale as a result of severe osteoporosis with subsequent thoracic kyphosis and a change in the position of the entire heart. The patient underwent permanent transcatheter closure of the patent foramen ovale after hemodynamic assessment had confirmed a significant right-to-left shunt through it. After the procedure the arterial oxygen pressure increased significantly in the upright position and dyspnea improved.


Characterization of AAV vector particle stability at the single-capsid level.
Virus families have evolved different strategies for genome uncoating, which are also followed by recombinant vectors. Vectors derived from adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are considered as leading delivery tools for in vivo gene transfer, and in particular gene therapy. Using a combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM), biochemical experiments, and physical modeling, we investigated here the physical properties and stability of AAV vector particles. We first compared the morphological properties of AAV vectors derived from two different serotypes (AAV8 and AAV9). Furthermore, we triggered ssDNA uncoating by incubating vector particles to increasing controlled temperatures. Our analyses, performed at the single-particle level, indicate that genome release can occur in vitro via two alternative pathways: either the capsid remains intact and ejects linearly the ssDNA molecule, or the capsid is ruptured, leaving ssDNA in a compact entangled conformation. The analysis of the length distributions of ejected genomes further revealed a two-step ejection behavior. We propose a kinetic model aimed at quantitatively describing the evolution of capsids and genomes along the different pathways, as a function of time and temperature. This model allows quantifying the relative stability of AAV8 and AAV9 particles.


Spatial cues serving the tactile directional sensibility of the human forearm.
1. Tactile directional sensibility is considered to rely on the parallel processing of direction-contingent sensory data that depend on skin stretching caused by friction, and spatial cues that vary with time. A temperature-controlled airstream stimulus that prevented the activation of stretch receptors was used to investigate directional sensibility for the skin of the forearm. 2. The dependence on contact load and distance of movement was determined for normal subjects with a two-alternative forced-choice method. Testing was performed under two conditions, elbow bent or straight. Bracing the skin by straightening the arm did not alter the accuracy of the directional sensibility, in contrast to previous findings with stimuli that caused friction. 3. The accuracy of directional sensibility was correlated linearly to the logarithm of the distance of movement of the air jet. No correlation was found between accuracy and contact load, unlike findings with stimuli that cause friction. 4. Measurements were made with different subjects to determine the threshold distance at constant load. On average, subjects were able to distinguish direction with movements of < or = 8 mm. This acuity is sharper than has been reported with static stimuli. There was no correlation between subjects' threshold distances for judging direction and spatial acuity measured with absolute point localization. 5. The ability to distinguish direction was poor for the airstream stimulus compared with stimuli causing frictional contact with hairy skin. Nevertheless, the present findings are consistent with the suggestion that cutaneous spatial acuity is better for dynamic than for static stimuli.


Limited liver resection: a good indication for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is often diagnosed in elderly people. One hundred and seventy-five patients older than 70 years were operated on for hepatocellular carcinoma (Group 1). The results were compared with 276 resected patients younger than 70 (Group 2) and to 108 aged patients with chronic liver disease without hepatocellular carcinoma (Group 3). Hepatocellular carcinoma in the elderly is more frequently associated with hepatitis C virus, less frequently capsulated and less frequently diagnosed by screening programs than in young patients. After resection, no difference was noted in post-operative complications and in mortality rates (3.2%); major hepatic resection in cirrhosis carried a high risk of death (22%). Five years survival was 42%, comparable with the young surgical patients but significantly lower than the medical patients in Group 3. Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma was the main reason of death, but it was suitable for a radical treatment in 37.6% of cases, including surgery, with a mean survival of 31 months. Liver resection is a valid option for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the elderly; major resections in cirrhotic old patients must be reserved for selected cases. Recurrence may be suitable of a radical approach, including surgery.


Randomised phase II trial of stereotactic body radiotherapy in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CheckPRO): a study protocol.
Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) has revolutionised cancer treatment but has no convincing effect in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). It has been suggested that a combination of CPI and hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may work synergistically, and recent trials have supported this. We hypothesise that adding SBRT to CPI treatment can improve response rates in patients with mCRPC. The CheckPRO trial is an open-label, randomised, two-stage, phase II trial. We aim to enrol and randomise 80 evaluable patients with mCRPC who progressed following ≥2 lines of treatment. Enrolment started in November 2019 with 38 months expected enrolment period. The participants receive treatment for 52 weeks including four cycles of ipilimumab and nivolumab with or without concomitant SBRT (24 Gray in three fractions) to a single soft tissue or bone metastasis, followed by 10 cycles of nivolumab. Participants are followed until progression, death, or for 12 months after the end of treatment.Co-primary endpoints are the objective response rate and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate. Secondary endpoints include safety, radiographic progression-free survival, clinical benefit rate, duration of response, PSA-progression-free survival beyond 12 weeks, quality of life and overall survival. Exploratory endpoints include translational analyses of tumour biopsies and consecutive blood samples. Biopsies from metastatic sites are collected at baseline, before the third treatment and at the end of treatment. Blood sampling for immune monitoring and circulating tumour DNA is performed consecutively at baseline and every radiographic assessment. This study follows the Helsinki Declaration and is approved by the Danish Ethics Committee System (journal no. H-19016100). All participants must receive written and oral information and provide a signed informed consent document prior to inclusion. The study results will be published in an international peer-review journal. EudraCT number: 2018-003461-34. gov ID NCT05655715.


Complications and clinical analysis of 416 consecutive cochlear implantations.
Cochlear implantation is a safe technique with a relatively low complication rate. However, certain complications may require specific attention to treat. The purpose of this study was to investigate complications of cochlear implantation for prevention and therapy. Retrospective case series at a tertiary referral center in China. The patients (n=416) who received cochlear implants in our department between 2000 and 2010 were followed up (range, 3 months to 10 years). The complications were identified as "minor" or "major". All complications were systematically reviewed, and their causes were analyzed for prevention and therapy. There were a total of 29 complications (7%). The minor were 23 cases (5.5%), including postoperative subcutaneous hematoma in 13 cases, acute otitis media in 2 cases, postoperative wound infection in 2 cases, delayed facial paralysis in 1 case, clonic facial spasm in 1 case, and severe vertigo in 4 cases. The major were 6 cases (1.5%), including cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 2 cases, implant-related infection and extrusion in 1 case, tympanic membrane perforation induced electrode exposed in 1 case, implantation failure due to cochlear ossification in 1 case, and magnet displacement in 1 case. Although cochlear implantation is popular, it is essential to decrease the incidence of complications.


Tunable Aminooxy-Functionalized Monolayer-Protected Gold Clusters for Non-Polar or Aqueous Oximation Reactions.
Aminooxy (-ONH2) groups are well known for their chemoselective reactions with carbonyl compounds, specifically aldehydes and ketones. The versatility of aminooxy chemistry has proven to be an attractive feature that continues to stimulate new applications. This work describes application of aminooxy 'click chemistry' on the surface of gold nanoparticles. We present here a trifunctional amine-containing aminooxy alkane thiol ligand for use in the functionalization of gold monolayer protected clusters (Au MPCs). Diethanolamine is readily transformed into an organic-soluble aminooxy thiol (AOT) ligand using a short synthetic path. The synthesized AOT ligand was coated on ≤ 2 nm diameter hexanethiolate (C6S)-capped Au MPCs using a ligand exchange protocol to afford organic-soluble AOT/C6S (1:1 ratio) Au mixed monolayer protected clusters (MMPCs). This work describes the synthesis of Au(C6S)(AOT) MMPCs and representative oximation reactions with various types of aldehyde-containing molecules, highlighting the ease and versatility of the chemistry and how amine protonation can be used to switch solubility characteristics.


The prognostic role of lymphovascular invasion in urothelial-cell carcinoma of upper and lower urinary tract.
Carcinoma of the bladder represents the fourth most common cancer in men and the eighth most common malignancy in women in Europe and the United States. Prognostic factors for recurrence and survival are tumor stage and dimension, tumor grade and the presence of lymph node metastasis. We assess the impact and the role of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) on the prognosis of patients treated for lower and upper tract urothelial carcinoma by reviewing the literature curentable. We performed a detailed review of the literature to assess the prognostic role of LVI assessed in histological specimens of urothelial cell carcinoma of the upper and lower urinary tract. We presented the definition of lymphovascular invasion in histological specimens of urothelial carcinoma. LVI in histological specimens was correlated significantly with increasing tumor stage and grade. Moreover, LVI is significantly correlated with earlier disease recurrence and a lower cancer-specific survival, and seems to be an independent predictor of recurrence-free survival on multivariate Cox analysis. LVI in histological specimens seems to have an important prognostic value for patients with urothelial cell carcinoma of the upper and lower urinary tract, and could be a useful tool for the urologist in choosing the best and most appropriate management during disease treatment and follow-up.


Success of Trametinib in the Treatment of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis With Novel MAPK Pathway Mutations.
Approximately a third of patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) experience recurrence of disease. Genomic analysis has revealed that this condition is often driven by oncogenic mutations in the MAP kinase (MAPK) pathway, and agents that target components of this pathway have been explored as a second-line treatment for LCH. Here, we examine 2 pediatric patients with LCH and confirmed but rarely reported MAPK pathway mutations treated with trametinib, a MAP2K inhibitor approved to treat several cancers with a BRAFV600E mutation. Each patient achieved or maintained complete resolution of disease and remain on the drug with no adverse effects.


Derivation of a physical map of chloroplast DNA from Nicotiana tabacum by two-dimensional gel and computer-aided restriction analysis.
A combined approach was used to derive a detailed physical map of Nicotiana tabacum chloroplast DNA for the restriction enzymes SalI, SmaI, KpnI, and BamHI. Complete maps for the restriction enzymes SalI, SmaI, and KpnI were derived by using two-dimensional agarose gel analysis of fragments obtained by reciprocal double digestion of chloroplast DNA. We have characterized a complete cloned library of N. tabacum chloroplast DNA which contains overlapping restriction fragments resulting from partial digestion by BamHI. With these clones and existing data, we used a novel computer-aided analysis to derive a detailed map for the enzyme BamHI. A comparison and compilation of all published N. tabacum chloroplast DNA restriction maps is presented. Differences between ours and a previously published SmaI and BamHI restriction map are discussed.


Evolution of cooperation driven by zealots.
Recent experimental results with humans involved in social dilemma games suggest that cooperation may be a contagious phenomenon and that the selection pressure operating on evolutionary dynamics (i.e., mimicry) is relatively weak. I propose an evolutionary dynamics model that links these experimental findings and evolution of cooperation. By assuming a small fraction of (imperfect) zealous cooperators, I show that a large fraction of cooperation emerges in evolutionary dynamics of social dilemma games. Even if defection is more lucrative than cooperation for most individuals, they often mimic cooperation of fellows unless the selection pressure is very strong. Then, zealous cooperators can transform the population to be even fully cooperative under standard evolutionary dynamics.


Model-Free Adaptive Iterative Learning Bipartite Containment Control for Multi-Agent Systems.
This paper studies the bipartite containment tracking problem for a class of nonlinear multi-agent systems (MASs), where the interactions among agents can be both cooperative or antagonistic. Firstly, by the dynamic linearization method, we propose a novel model-free adaptive iterative learning control (MFAILC) to solve the bipartite containment problem of MASs. The designed controller only relies on the input and output data of the agent without requiring the model information of MASs. Secondly, we give the convergence condition that the containment error asymptotically converges to zero. The result shows that the output states of all followers will converge to the convex hull formed by the output states of leaders and the symmetric output states of leaders. Finally, the simulation verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method.


5-HT 1D receptors mediate SKF 99101H-induced hypothermia in the guinea pig.
The selective, brain penetrant, 5-HT(1D) receptor agonist SKF 99101H (10-30 mg/kg i.p.) caused a dose-related fall in rectal temperature in guinea pigs which lasted longer than 2 h. Sumatriptan (1.0-100 mg/kg i.p.), a selective 5-HT(1D) agonist which does not penetrate the brain, did not produce hypothermia, suggesting that peripheral mechanisms are not critically involved in the response. The hypothermia induced by SKF 99101H (30 mg/kg i.p.) was dose-dependently blocked by the 5-HT(1D) receptor antagonists GR 127935 (0.01-1 mg/kg i.p.) and GR 125743 (0.01-3 mg/kg i.p.), confirming the role of 5-HT(1D) receptors. Mianserin (0.3-10.0 mg/kg i.p.) and granisetron (0.1-3.0 mg/kg i.p.) were inactive, suggesting that 5-HT(2A/2B/2C) or 5-HT( 3) receptors play no significant role in the generation of the hypothermic response. Nor was the hypothermia reversed by prazosin (0.03-1.0 mg/kg i.p.), idazoxan (0.03-1.0 mg/kg i.p.) or scopolamine (0.01-0.3 mg/kg i.p.), thereby excluding mediation by α(1)- and α(2)-adrenoceptors and muscarinic receptors. WAY 100635 (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) significantly potentiated the effect of SKF 99101H. The antagonists, when given alone, had no effect on body temperature, with the exception of prazosin (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg). Three days of treatment with parachloroamphetamine (30 mg/kg i.p.) depleted forebrain 5-HT by ∼ 75% in frontal cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus and striatum, but failed to alter the hypothermic response to SKF 99101H. The hypothermia is, therefore, unlikely to be mediated by 5-HT(1D) receptors located on 5-HT neurons. SKF 99101H-induced hypothermia in the guinea pig may serve as a useful model for investigation of centrally acting 5-HT( 1D) receptor antagonists.


Application of thin metal film elements in bioanalysis.
Advanced metal deposition and microfabrication techniques enable preparation of metal surfaces with high precision and excellent control over their size and shape with subnanometer resolution. Thin metal films of different types and functions can be found in many analytical instruments. Surfaces with high optical quality serve as mirrors, beam splitters, antireflective coatings etc. Smooth metal coating is crucial in electron microscopy. Unique properties of the thin metal films are widely used in optical systems, as tools for sample manipulation but also for chemical sensing and detection. While some of the applications are widespread and belong to the basic curriculum in analytical chemistry, the newer or less common uses of thin metal films are well known only to the experts in the field. The purpose of this critical review is to highlight the role of thin metal films in bioanalysis and summarize some of their main applications in current bioanalytical instrumentation.


The role of lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan, two glycosylated bacterial microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), in plant innate immunity.
In an environment that is rich in potentially pathogenic microorganisms, the survival of higher eukaryotic organisms depends on efficient pathogen sensing and rapidly mounted defence responses. Such protective mechanisms are found in all multicellular organisms, and are collectively referred to as 'innate immunity'. Innate immunity is the first line of defence against invading microorganisms in vertebrates and the only line of defence in invertebrates and plants. Bacterial glycoconjugates, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and peptidoglycan (PGN) from the cell walls of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, have been found to act as elicitors of plant innate immunity. These conserved, indispensable, microbe-specific molecules are also referred to as 'microbe-associated molecular patterns' (MAMPs). MAMPs are recognized by the plant innate immune system through the action of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). A greater insight into the mechanisms of MAMP recognition and the description of PRRs for different microbial glycoconjugates will have considerable impact on the improvement of plant health and disease resistance. Here, the current knowledge about LPS and PGN as MAMPs is reviewed.


Parental Attitudes and Beliefs Surrounding Play Among Predominantly Low-income Urban Families: A Qualitative Study.
Parents' perceived benefits and barriers to participation in cognitively stimulating activities may help explain why income-related discrepancies in early and frequent participation in such activities exist. We sought to develop an improved understanding of attitudes and beliefs surrounding play among families who live in predominantly low-income urban communities. Using qualitative methods, focus groups were conducted with parents of children 2 weeks to 24 months of age who attended a primary care clinic serving predominantly low-income urban communities. Discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Thirty-five parents participated in 6 focus groups. Participants were 61% female and 94% nonwhite; 71% had children who received public health insurance. Analyses revealed 7 major themes that mapped onto the Health Belief Model's core domains of perceived need, barriers, and cues to action: (1) play as important for developing parent-child relationships, (2) toy- and media-focused play as important for developmental and educational benefit, (3) lack of time due to household and work demands, (4) lack of knowledge regarding the importance of play, (5) media-related barriers, (6) need for reminders, and (7) need for ideas for play. Caregivers of young children describe many important benefits of play, yet they have misconceptions regarding use of toys and media in promoting development as well as notable barriers to participating in play, which may be opportunities for intervention. Public health programs may be more effectively implemented if they consider these attitudes to develop new or refine existing strategies for promoting parent-child learning activities.


[Termino-lateral anastomosis of the carotid of the rat. Histological evaluation of permeability in relation to the number of suture stitches and the thread used].
A histological study of end-to-side anastomosis on the carotid arteries of the rat, is presented comparing the results according to the type of suture material and the number of stitches. Two groups of 5 animals were studied. Group "A" in which the 11-0 monofilament nylon (18 microns; needle of 70 microns) was utilized with an average of 11 stitches; and group "B" corresponding to the 10-0 nylon (25 microns; needle of 100 microns) with an average of 8 stitches. The patency of the anastomosis was ascertain in all cases except one where a complete thrombosis of the donor artery was discovered. The fact that there were no difference between both groups is stressed. Other findings were: dehiscence, 3; invagination, 3; partial thrombosis, 4 in spite of actual patency. It was concluded that the 10-0 nylon is easier to handle, and 8 stitches are enough to perform and end-to-side anastomosis in 1mm diameter arteries. A regular distance among the stitches and a balanced tension of knotting are important to prevent or to diminish the risk of dehiscence, first range factor of occlusive thrombosis.


Left atrial size after cardioversion for atrial fibrillation: effect of external direct current shock.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of external direct current (DC) shock on left atrial (LA) dimension and volumes after cardioversion for atrial fibrillation, and the relation between LA size and atrial function. We evaluated 180 patients who were randomly cardioverted with DC shock (90 patients) or drugs (90 patients). Echocardiographic evaluations included LA size and volumes. LA passive and active emptying volumes were calculated, and LA function was measured as atrial ejection force. Changes in LA diameters and volumes were correlate with atrial systolic function. The LA was dilated in all patients during arrhythmia and decreased after the restoration of sinus rhythm. The entity of reduction was different in the 2 groups of patients. LA maximal and minimal volumes were increased after DC shock as compared with patients treated with drugs (LA maximal volume 34 +/- 4 vs 31 +/- 5; P <.01; LA minimal volume 18 +/- 2.6 vs 15 +/- 3.6; P <.01). The atrial function was also depressed after DC shock and the delay in the recovery of atrial contractility was related to LA dilation. Patients treated with drugs had a higher atrial ejection force that was associated with a more marked reduction in LA maximal volume after the restoration of in sinus rhythm. A relationship between LA volumes and atrial ejection force was observed in the group of patients with depressed atrial mechanic function (r = -0.78; P <.001). The active emptying fraction was lower, although not significantly, in this group, whereas the conduit volume was increased. External DC shock induced a depressed atrial mechanic function in many patients and this was associated with a persistence of LA dilation.


Qualitative differences between conscious and nonconscious processing? On inverse priming induced by masked arrows.
In general, both consciously and unconsciously perceived stimuli facilitate responses to following similar stimuli. However, masked arrows delay responses to following arrows. This inverse priming has been ascribed to inhibition of premature motor activation, more recently even to special processing of nonconsciously perceived material. Here, inverse priming depended on particular masks, was insensitive to contextual requirements for increased inhibition, and was constant across response speeds. Putative signs of motor inhibition in the electroencephalogram may as well reflect activation of the opposite response. Consequently, rather than profiting from inhibition of primed responses, the alternative response is directly primed by perceptual interactions of primes and masks. Thus there is no need to assume separate pathways for nonconscious and conscious processing.


Vitamin C in East-Greenland traditional nutrition: a reanalysis of the Høygaard nutritional data (1936-1937).
Greenlandic traditional nutrition was an almost exclusive meat dietary pattern. Høygaard et al. stayed in East-Greenland between August 1936 and August 1937. The four members of the expedition resided in Tasisaq and recorded nutritional intake by residing in families. However, data were analysed on a household level. The aim of the present study is to reanalyse the Høygaard et al. data according to modern scientific standards. In total 21 males and 14 females participated. Median (IQR) vitamin C intake was 79 (77) mg.day-1 for males and 59 (56) mg.day-1 for females. Consumption of meat and organs from seals gave 21 mg.d-1 vitamin C, comparable to vitamin C from algae. Narwhal skin and eyes had a marginal contribution to the vitamin C consumption. The number of adults consuming algae during the research days was 67% for males and 71% for females, this was 24% and 21% for narwhal skin. The main conclusions of the present study are the important role of algae consumption in Greenlandic traditional dietary pattern to avoid scurvy, and that foods traditionally seen as important sources of vitamin C like eyes from seals and narwhal skin, played a minor role in meeting the vitamin C requirements.


Rising to the challenges of achieving day surgery targets.
Day surgery provides high quality and efficient care for a wide variety of surgical procedures. Patients appreciate the rapid recovery and effective analgesia, while the health service benefits from a streamlined service with lower costs. Despite the numerous advantages, day surgery practices vary enormously and many patients are still denied this excellent form of care. Fundamental to improving this situation is a change in emphasis, with day surgery becoming the default option for many surgical procedures--rather than being applied selectively--with inpatient care being used only where specifically indicated. Appropriate patient preparation is facilitated by consultant-led, nurse-run pre-assessment using modern selection criteria; only conditions which will still cause problems a few hours beyond the end of the operation should be barriers to day surgery. Pre-assessment also provides an excellent opportunity to begin patient education and ensures that pre-existing pathology is optimally treated. Efficient day surgery is best delivered by a specialised, dedicated, multi-disciplinary team, but consultant anaesthetists have a major role to play in co-ordinating policies and providing leadership. Individual anaesthetists should develop techniques that allow their patients to undergo day surgery with minimum stress, maximum comfort and the optimal chance of early discharge. Improving day surgery rates is a win-win situation, with both clinical and financial benefits.


Molecular cloning of cDNA for rat brain metallothionein-II and regulation of its gene expression.
A rat brain metallothionein-II (MT-II) complementary DNA (cDNA) clone was isolated from a cDNA plasmid library, which was prepared from non-treated rat brain mRNA, by a colony screening procedure using 32P-labeled synthetic oligonucleotide probes. It is deduced that the clone encodes for a protein of 61 amino acids comprising 20 cysteines, which is highly homologous to MT-IIs in other species. Northern blot analysis demonstrated major mRNA species in the brain, liver and kidneys (approximately 350 b in size), which is induced in response to dexamethasone, zinc, cadmium and mercury but not to methyl mercury. These findings confirm that MT-II genes are expressed and regulated both by steroid and heavy metals in the brain as well as in peripheral organs.


Induced death of Escherichia coli encapsulated in a hollow fiber membrane as observed in vitro or after subcutaneous implantation.
The encapsulation of bacteria may be used to harness them for longer period of time in order to make them viable, while antibiotic treatment would result in controlled release of therapeutic molecules. Encapsulated bacteria Escherichia coli GFP (green fluorescent protein) (E. coli GFP) were used here as a model for therapeutic substance - GFP fragments release (model of bioactive substances). Our aim was to evaluate the performance of bacteria encapsulated in hollow fibers (HF) treated with antibiotic for induction of cell death. The polypropylene surface modified HF was applied for E. coli encapsulation. The encapsulated bacteria were treated with tetracycline in vitro or in vivo during subcutaneous implantation into mice. The HF content was evaluated in flow cytometer, to assess the bacteria cell membrane permeability changes induced by tetracycline treatment. It was observed that applied membranes prevent release of bacteria through the HF wall. The encapsulated in HF E. coli GFP culture in vitro proves the tetracycline impact on bacteria viability and allows recognition sequence of events within process of bacteria death. Treatment with tetracycline of the SCID mice for 8 hours proves the tetracycline impact on bacteria viability in vivo, rising the necrotic bacteria releasing GFP fragments. It was concluded, that the bacteria may be safely enclosed within the HF at site of implantation, and when the animal is treated with antibiotic bacteria may act as a local source of bioactive factor.


Distributed perfusion educational model: a shift in perfusion economic realities.
In recent years, a steady decline in the number of perfusion education programs in the United States has been noted. At the same time, there has been a parallel decline in the number of students graduated from perfusion educational programs in the United States. Also, as noted by several authors, there has been an increase in demand for perfusion graduates. The decline in programs and graduates has also been noted in anesthesia and surgical residency programs. The shift is caused by a combination of economic and clinical factors. First, decreased reimbursement has led to reallocation of hospital resources. Second, the original enthusiasm for beating heart coronary artery bypass surgery was grossly overestimated and has led to further reallocation of hospital resources and denigration of cardiopulmonary bypass. This paper describes two models of perfusion education programs: serial perfusion education model (SPEM) and the distributed perfusion education model (DPEM). Arguments are presented that the SPEM has some serious limitations and challenges for long-term economic survival. The authors feel the DPEM along with dependence on tuition funding can survive the current clinical and economic conditions and allow the profession to adapt to changes in scope of practice.


Estimation of causal effects of binary treatments in unconfounded studies with one continuous covariate.
The estimation of causal effects in nonrandomized studies should comprise two distinct phases: design, with no outcome data available; and analysis of the outcome data according to a specified protocol. Here, we review and compare point and interval estimates of common statistical procedures for estimating causal effects (i.e. matching, subclassification, weighting, and model-based adjustment) with a scalar continuous covariate and a scalar continuous outcome. We show, using an extensive simulation, that some highly advocated methods have poor operating characteristics. In many conditions, matching for the point estimate combined with within-group matching for sampling variance estimation, with or without covariance adjustment, appears to be the most efficient valid method of those evaluated. These results provide new conclusions and advice regarding the merits of currently used procedures.


Stability and Antimicrobial Activity of Nisin-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: A Game-Changer in the War against Maleficent Microbes.
Antimicrobial agents, such as nisin, are used extensively in the food industry. Here, we investigated various approaches to load nisin onto mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs, 92 ± 10 nm in diameter), to enhance its stability and sustained release. The morphology, size, and surface charge of the as-prepared nanoparticles were analyzed using scanning transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and ζ potential measurement. Nisin was either physically adsorbed or covalently attached to the variously functionalized MSNs, with high loading capacities (>600 mg of nisin g-1 of nanoparticles). The results of antibacterial activity analysis of nisin against Staphylococcus aureus showed that, despite the very low antibacterial activity of nisin covalently conjugated onto MSNs, the physical adsorption of nisin onto the unfunctionalized nanoparticles enhances its antimicrobial activities under various conditions, with no significant cytotoxicity effects on mouse fibroblast L929 cells. In conclusion, MSNs can be recommended as suitable carriers for nisin under various conditions.


Gastrointestinal symptoms after the substitution of sevelamer hydrochloride with lanthanum carbonate in Japanese patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Lanthanum carbonate has the same phosphorus depressant effect as the other phosphorus adsorbents, and is expected to decrease digestive symptom onset such as constipation in Japanese patients undergoing hemodialysis compared to sevelamar hydrochloride. In this study, we investigated the short- and long-term changes in digestive symptoms in these patients after substituting sevelamar hydrochloride with lanthanum carbonate. We studied 16 patients (4 men, 12 women) and evaluated their gastrointestinal symptoms before administration, at the time of administration, and 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after administration, using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale. In addition, we conducted repeat evaluations 52 weeks after administration for the patients in whom lanthanum carbonate was administered continuously for 52 weeks. Fourteen (87.5%) out of the 16 patients could tolerate continuous administration for 12 weeks. The constipation score was 3.21 ± 1.74 before administration, 2.07 ± 0.83 2 weeks after administration, 1.76 ± 0.83 4 weeks after administration, 1.57 ± 0.56 8 weeks after administration, and 11.41 ± 0.48 12 weeks after administration. The scores improved significantly 4 weeks after administration (p < 0.05) and even 12 weeks after continuous administration. Among the 16 study patients, 9 patients (1 men, 8 women) were received lanthanum carbonate continuously for 52 weeks. The constipation score was 3.74 ± 1.92 at the start of administration, 1.37 ± 0.56 12 weeks after administration, and 1.85 ± 0.63 52 weeks after administration, with significant improvement even 52 weeks after administration (p < 0.05). This study shows that substituting sevelamar hydrochloride with lanthanum carbonate improves constipation symptoms in hemodialysis patients from an early stage, which indicates its usefulness in improving constipation symptoms caused by sevelamar hydrochloride.


Aggression: Perspectives from social and systems neuroscience.
Exhibiting behavioral plasticity in order to mount appropriate responses to dynamic and novel social environments is crucial to the survival of all animals. Thus, how animals regulate flexibility in the timing, duration, and intensity of specific behaviors is of great interest to biologists. In this review, we discuss how animals rapidly respond to social challenges, with a particular focus on aggression. We utilize a conceptual framework to understand the neural mechanisms of aggression that is grounded in Wingfield and colleagues' Challenge Hypothesis, which has profoundly influenced how scientists think about aggression and the mechanisms that allow animals to exhibit flexible responses to social instability. Because aggressive behavior is rooted in social interactions, we propose that mechanisms modulating prosocial behavior may be intricately tied to mechanisms of aggression. Therefore, in order to better understand how aggressive behavior is mediated, we draw on perspectives from social neuroscience and discuss how social context, species-typical behavioral phenotype, and neural systems commonly studied in relation to prosocial behavior (i.e., neuropeptides) contribute to organizing rapid responses to social challenges. Because complex behaviors are not the result of one mechanism or a single neural system, we consider how multiple neural systems important for prosocial and aggressive behavior (i.e., neuropeptides and neurosteroids) interact in the brain to produce behavior in a rapid, context-appropriate manner. Applying a systems neuroscience perspective and seeking to understand how multiple systems functionally integrate to rapidly modulate behavior holds great promise for expanding our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying social behavioral plasticity.


An unusual case of palmoplantar keratoderma.
A 55-year-old woman with palmoplantar keratoderma presented an associated hyperhidrosis with distinct odour and maceration. She had had the lesions for about 20 years and this seemed to be an isolated case in her family. This case appeared very unusual because there were no signs of acanthokeratolysis in the biopsies. Two months of treatment with acitretin (Neotigason; 25 mg daily), produced a spectacular result: clearance of all the lesions on both hands and a strong diminution of the lesions on the soles. The Unna-Thost variant of palmoplantar keratoderma usually appears in the first few months of life, and it rarely appears in the third decade. The condition is inherited as an autosomal dominant with high penetrance and expressivity. Our subject appeared to be an exception to these two facts.


Antidepressant use and associations with psychosocial work characteristics. A comparative study of Swedish and Danish gainfully employed.
Although depression is common, prevalence estimates of antidepressant use among the workforce and undisputed evidence relating psychosocial work characteristics to depression is scarce. This study cross-sectionally assesses the prevalence of antidepressant use among employed in Sweden and Denmark and prospectively examines associations between work characteristics and antidepressant use. Data on work demands, influence and learning possibilities was collected 2005-2006 from two representative samples of employed aged 20-59 years from Sweden (n=4351) and Denmark (n=8064) and linked to purchases of antidepressants through national prescription drug registries. Standardized 12-month prevalences were calculated. Cox regressions on work characteristics and incident use were performed separately and estimates pooled. Employed Swedish residents had higher standardized prevalence than Danish, 6.0% compared to 5.0%. Working fast and conflicting demands were associated with incident use when estimates were pooled, but adjustment for baseline health attenuated these estimates. Emotionally disturbing situations were related to any incident use, and more strongly to use >179 defined daily dosages/year, even after adjustment for various covariates. Statistics based on national prescription drug registries are influenced by, e.g., treatment seeking behaviours and other reasons for prescription than depression. Selective drop-out may also affect prevalence estimates. The study indicates that use of antidepressants among the workforce is relatively high and that employed Swedish residents had higher prevalence of antidepressant use than Danish. Relationships between work characteristics and antidepressant use were, however, similar with emotional demands showing the strongest association, indicating that particular groups of employees may be at increased risk.


[Childhood sexual traumatic events and sexual life and relationship of a patient].
The assessment of links between traumatic events of sexual nature recollected from the past and patients' later functioning in sexual life and relationships. Comorbidity of memories of traumatic sexual events from childhood and adolescence in patients with the features of their current partner relationships was analysed on the basis of Live Inventory completed by 2,582 women and 1,347 men, undergoing treatment between the years 1980-2002, before they were admitted to a day ward of neurotic disorder department. The existence of numerous significant links was observed e.g. the information regarding incest or incest attempt experience was related with a significant risk ofa sexual life assessment as completely dissatisfying in women (OR = 2.71) and almost completely dissatisfying in men (OR = 2.38). Sexual initiation by rape was related with women's more frequent incidence of getting married as a result of social pressure (OR = 3.77) and a feeling of hatred towards a partner (OR = 5.41). Men and women who considered themselves completely sexually uneducated (before the age of 18) assessed their sexual life as completely dissatisfying (OR = 2.48 and OR = 2.07), which was similar to men who would get punished for masturbation or sexual plays by their guardians (OR=2.68). Traumatic events and circumstances relating to sexuality, indicated in the questionnaire interview, turned out to be connected with the risk of dysfunctions in a sexual life and relationship. The traumas included, among others, rape during initiation, early initiation, incest, but also unfavourable circumstances of less traumatic nature such as a lack of sexual education, punishment for masturbation, "mostly undesired initiation". Their likely effects were rooted in relationship dysfunctions: reasons for their formation, power division, instability, problems with resolving conflicts and, most of all, sexual life dysfunctions. The results were obtained on the basis of simple questionnaire questions, which allows for the recommendation that they be used in a routine interview.


Synergistic anticancer effect of curcumin and chemotherapy regimen FP in human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells.
Curcumin is an anticancer compound that exerts anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects via multiple molecular targets. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the anticancer effects of curcumin in combination with 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin (FP) on the MGC-803 human gastric cancer cell line. Following treatment with curcumin and/or FP for 24, 48 and 72 h, cell viability, cell cycle progression and the apoptosis rate were evaluated using an MTT assay, flow cytometry and dual acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, respectively. In addition, colony formation, Transwell migration and caspase-3/caspase-8 activity assays were performed. The expression of the apoptosis regulator B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were detected by western blotting analysis. Following treatment with curcumin and/or FP, cell viability, colony formation and cell migration were significantly reduced compared with the untreated control group. The rate of apoptosis, caspase-3/caspase-8 activity and the expression of Bax were significantly increased, whereas Bcl-2 expression was significantly reduced following treatment with curcumin and/or FP, compared with the untreated control group. The efficacy of curcumin combined with low-dose FP was significantly increased, compared with that of curcumin combined with high-dose FP (P<0.05). Therefore, curcumin may enhance the anticancer effects of FP chemotherapy in MGC-803 cells through the promotion of apoptosis via the caspase-3/caspase-8, Bcl-2 and Bax signaling pathways. These results suggest that curcumin may serve as a synergistic drug with chemotherapy regimen FP for the treatment of gastric cancer.


Age and breeding effort as sources of individual variability in oxidative stress markers in a bird species.
Oxidative stress is the imbalance between the production of pro-oxidant substances and the level of antioxidant defenses, which leads to oxidative damage. It has been proposed that senescence is the result of accumulated oxidative damage throughout life. In birds, the sources of individual variability in oxidative stress are still poorly understood. Among these sources, age, as related to senescence, should be particularly relevant. Furthermore, recent findings suggest that breeding effort may also deeply influence susceptibility to oxidative stress. However, there is still no evidence of a link between breeding effort and oxidative damage in any vertebrate. Here we analyzed 288 captive red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) across a wide age range (i.e., 1-8 yr old), thus including potentially senescent birds. In spite of limitations due to the cross-sectional approach, results revealed that old birds produced less offspring and endured higher levels of oxidized glutathione and peroxidized lipids in erythrocytes than did middle-aged individuals. Old birds also showed higher plasma total antioxidant status and uric acid levels than did younger birds, but lower amounts of circulating carotenoids. Furthermore, hatching success was negatively correlated to lipid peroxidation in females but not in males, supporting the hypothesis that breeding effort promotes oxidative damage.


Effectiveness of nurse-led preoperative assessment services for elective surgery: a systematic review.
The admission and assessment of patients for elective procedures is a task faced by all healthcare organisations that provide elective surgical services. Several different strategies have been used to facilitate the management of these tasks. Nurse-led preadmission clinics or services have been implemented in many health services as one of these management strategies; however their effectiveness has not been established. The objective of this review was to examine the available research on the effectiveness of nurse-led elective surgery preoperative assessment clinics or services on patient outcomes. Types of participants The review considered studies that included adult or paediatric patients who were undergoing any type of elective surgical procedure, either as a day-only case or as an inpatient.Types of interventions The review considered studies that evaluated the effect of attending or receiving the services of a nurse-led elective surgery outpatient preadmission or preoperative assessment clinic.Types of outcomes This review considered studies that included the following outcome measures: length of stay, cancellation of surgery, incidence of non-attendance for scheduled surgery, mortality, morbidity, adverse surgical events, preoperative preparation, recognition and fulfilment of postoperative care needs, patient anxiety and reducing the number of overnight stays for day or ambulatory surgery patients.Types of studies The review considered any randomised controlled trials published after 1999; in the absence of RCTs other research designs, such as non-randomised controlled trials and before and after studies, were considered for inclusion in a narrative summary to enable the identification of current best evidence regarding the effectiveness of nurse-led preoperative assessment services. This review excluded studies of preoperative education as this has been the subject of a previous review. We also excluded studies of emergency admissions. Additionally, studies comparing nurse-led with physician-led preadmission assessments were excluded as that has also been the subject of a previous systematic review. The search strategy aimed to find both published and unpublished studies. A three-step search strategy was utilised in each component of this review. An initial limited search of MEDLINE and CINAHL was undertaken followed by analysis of the text words contained in the title and abstract, and of the index terms used to describe articles. A second search using all identified keywords and index terms was then undertaken across all included databases. Thirdly, the reference list of all identified reports and articles was searched for additional studies. Papers selected for retrieval were assessed by two independent reviewers for congruence to the review's inclusion criteria, using a tool developed for the purpose. Methodological validity was assessed by two reviewers prior to inclusion in the review using standardised critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-MAStARI). Data were extracted from papers included in the review using the standardised data extraction tool from JBI-MAStARI. Due to the methodological heterogeneity of the included studies, no statistical pooling was possible and all results are presented narratively. Of the 19 included articles, there were 10 audits of patient and hospital data, 3 surveys or questionnaires, 3 descriptive studies, 1 action research design, 1 prospective observational study and 1 RCT. Five of ten studies reporting data on cancellations rates found that nurse-led preadmission services reduced the number of day-of-surgery cancellations. Non-attendance for surgery was also reduced, with nine studies reporting decreases in the number of patients failing to attend. Eight studies reporting data on patient or parent satisfaction found high levels of satisfaction with nurse-led preadmission services. Three of four studies investigating the effect of the nurse-led preadmission service on patient anxiety found a reduction in reported anxiety levels. Three studies found that preoperative preparation was enhanced by the use of a nurse-led preadmission service. While all included studies reported evidence of effectiveness for nurse-led preadmission services on a wide range of outcomes for elective surgery patients, the lack of experimental trials means that the level of evidence is low, and further research is needed. Nurse-led preadmission services may be an effective strategy for reducing procedural cancellations, failure to attend for procedures, and patient anxiety, however currently the evidence level is low. Currently the overall level of evidence regarding nurse-led preadmission services is low and further more rigorous studies are required for all the examined outcomes. There is little evidence regarding the effect of this intervention on length of stay, mortality rates and morbidity, and therefore more research is needed on the effect of nurse-led preadmission services on these important outcomes.


[The association of fruit and vegetable intake with the changes of serum lipid levels in middle-aged and older Chinese population].
Objective: To investigate the association of fruit and vegetable intake with long-term changes of serum lipid levels in middle-aged Chinese and older Chinese population. Methods: The study analyzed the data collected in the 2004 and 2007-2008 cohorts of China Multicenter Collaborative Study of Cardiovascular Epidemiology. Finally, 4 495 participants from 10 groups in various regions of China, who both were followed up in the two cohorts, were included for data analysis. They were aged 41-66 years in 2004. Fruit and vegetable consumption were collected with a simple food frequency questionnaire. The percent changes (Δ%) of serum TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C between the two surveys were calculated. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the association of fruit and vegetable intake in 2004 with percentage changes of serum lipid levels during the two surveys. Results: The proportions of individuals who consumed fruits <250, 250-499 and ≥500 g/week were 24.0%, 21.8% and 54.2%, respectively. The proportions of individuals who consumed vegetables <500 and ≥500 g/day were 76.7% and 23.3%, respectively. Compared with fruit intake <250 g/week, the regression coefficients (95% CI) of ΔTC% in 250-499 and ≥500 g/week group were -1.54 (-2.71, -0.37) and -1.77 (-2.79, -0.76). And the regression coefficients (95% CI) of ΔLDL-C% were -2.43 (-4.39, -0.48) and -2.89 (-4.59, -1.19). Compared with vegetable intake <500 g/d, the regression coefficients (95%CI) of ΔTC% and ΔLDL-C% in vegetable intake ≥500 g/d group were -1.01 (-1.95, -0.06) and -1.83 (-3.41, -0.24). However, fruit and vegetable intake had no relationship with ΔTG% and ΔHDL-C%. Conclusion: The consumption of fruit and vegetable was inversely related to long-term changes of TC and LDL-C in middle-aged and older population, but no association was found for changes of TG and HDL-C.


Evaluating effectiveness of an infusion learning model on attitudes of physical education majors.
The purpose was to evaluate the effect of an infusion curriculum model on attitudes of physical education majors toward teaching students with disabilities. 91 undergraduate students (61 men, 30 women) matriculating through the core curriculum of physical education teachers were exposed to the infusion curriculum as part of each course during one academic year. Attitudes were assessed pre- (Fall) and posttest (Spring) on the Physical Educator's Attitude Toward Teaching Individuals with Disabilities III. Analysis indicated a significant positive change in attitudes toward teaching students with disabilities. Findings suggest, when exposed to issues of disability by infusion into course content, these students self-reported they would have increased confidence in teaching and an appreciation when teaching students with disabilities. An independent validation of this change would be valuable.


Long-term fracture risk in patients with celiac disease: a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
Celiac disease is associated with decreased bone density, but there are conflicting data regarding fracture risk. We determined the fracture incidence relative to matched controls in a population-based cohort with celiac disease before and after diagnosis. Olmsted County residents with celiac disease (n = 83) diagnosed between 1950 and 2002 were compared with 166 gender and age matched controls. Fracture histories were ascertained from each subject's medical records. Celiac disease is linked to an increased fracture risk before and after diagnosis. Before the index date, cases had a fracture rate twice that of controls (CI: 1.0-3.9, P = 0.045) and 2.5-fold greater after the index date (CI: 1.1-5.6, P = 0.026). Appendicular and axial fractures were 2.5 (CI: 0.9-6.5) and 3.2 times more likely (CI: 1.0-10.5) after the index date. These observations support a rationale for earlier detection of celiac disease, and active management of bone disease before bone effects have occurred, to reduce the persistent risk of fractures.


First Measurements of Organic Triplet Excited States in Atmospheric Waters.
Photooxidants chemically transform organic compounds in atmospheric drops and particles. Photooxidants such as hydroxyl radical (•OH) and singlet molecular oxygen (1O2*) have been characterized in cloud and fog drops, but there are no measurements of the triplet excited states of organic matter (3C*). These "triplets", which are formed from excitation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), i.e., brown carbon, are difficult to measure because they are a mixture of species instead of a single entity. Here, we use a two-probe technique to measure the steady-state concentrations, rates of photoformation, and quantum yields of oxidizing triplet states during simulated-sunlight illumination of bulk fog waters. Concentrations of 3C* are (0.70-15) × 10-14 M with an average (±σ) value of 5.0 (±5.1) × 10-14 M. The average 3C* photoformation rate is 130 (±130) μM h-1, while the average quantum yield is 3.7 (±4.5)%. Based on our previous measurements of •OH and 1O2* in the same fog samples, the ratio of the steady-state concentrations for 1O2*:3C*:•OH is approximately 3:1:0.04, respectively. At our measured concentrations, triplet excited states can be the dominant aqueous oxidants for organic compounds such as phenols from biomass combustion.


Social Value and Urban Sustainability in Food Markets.
Urban food markets can promote sustainable development through the generation of social value in the spaces where they are located and contribute to sustainability on a global scale. To measure this, indicators are required to evaluate and monitor these markets. Studies in this regard are scarce and often developed according to top-down schemes. This study seeks to remedy this relative deficiency and aims to design specific social sustainability metrics for these organizations from a bottom-up perspective. The Integrated Social Value model is used. This social accounting system is considered appropriate in this study due to the phenomenological approach on which it is based and is applied to a service cooperative located in the Canary Islands. The main contribution of this work is that new social sustainability indicators are obtained and applied to the analysis of an entity, and they are relevant and understandable to stakeholders. This would provide, in future developments, a system of sustainability indicators for similar organizations in Spain.


Mastocytic enterocolitis: increased mucosal mast cells in chronic intractable diarrhea.
In some adult patients with chronic intractable diarrhea, the diagnosis remains elusive even after detailed evaluations, and colonic or duodenal biopsy specimens may appear unremarkable on routine hematoxylin-eosin staining. To assess the concentration of mast cells in colonic or duodenal biopsy specimens by immunohistochemical analysis for mast cell tryptase from patients with chronic intractable diarrhea and to evaluate their response to drugs affecting mast cell function. Mast cells per high-power field were assessed in biopsy specimens from 47 patients with chronic intractable diarrhea, from 50 control subjects, and from 63 patients with other specific diseases that cause chronic diarrhea (inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, collagenous colitis, and lymphocytic colitis). Patients with chronic intractable diarrhea who had more than 20 mast cells per high-power field were administered drugs affecting mast cell mediator function and release. The mean +/- SD concentration of mast cells in the 50 control subjects was 13.3 +/- 3.5 cells per high-power field; hence, patients with more than 20 mast cells per high-power field were considered to have increased mast cells. Thirty-three (70%) of 47 patients with chronic intractable diarrhea had increased mast cells, and symptoms were controlled by drug therapy in 22 (67%) of the 33 patients. No patient had systemic or cutaneous mastocytosis. No increase in mast cells was seen in patients with other common causes of chronic diarrhea. In chronic intractable diarrhea, colonic or duodenal biopsy specimens may appear unremarkable on routine hematoxylin-eosin staining, but increased mast cells may be demonstrated by immunohistochemistry for mast cell tryptase, with the novel term mastocytic enterocolitis describing this condition. Similar increases in mast cells are not apparent in control populations or in patients with other specific diseases that cause chronic diarrhea. The cause of the increased mast cells remains to be elucidated.


Blood pool SPECT: rheumatological and orthopedic focus, a pictorial essay.
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has revolutionized delayed bone scan acquisitions and promises to bring the same benefits to early acquisitions, especially in areas of complex anatomy. To date, however, only a few studies have been published about the utility of blood pool SPECT. The accurate assessment of inflammatory processes can be an indisputable added value to the diagnosis. We present here a series of clinical cases illustrating the utility of blood pool SPECT in various clinical situations in rheumatology and orthopedics. We grouped the cases according to three patterns that facilitate clinical reasoning: inflammatory osseous pathology (pattern A), inflammatory para-osseous pathology (pattern B) and inflammatory extra-osseous pathology (pattern C). A total of seventeen clinical cases are presented. This new semiology requires time and effort to be mastered but expands the diagnostic range offered by bone scintigraphy. More prospective studies on blood pool SPECT will be needed, especially those aiming to clarify its role.