Obesity and associated risk factors among students of health colleges of King Saud University, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.
To determine the prevalence of obesity and associated risk factors among medical students in Saudi Arabia. The cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2012 to March 2013 at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Using stratified sampling technique, undergraduate students of either gender from the health colleges were included. Information was collected through a pretested questionnaire. Measurements of the height and weight were noted and body mass index for all the subjects was calculated. Of the 292 students, 146(50%) were males and 146(50%) were females. Obesity was found in 40(13.7%)students. It was more prevalent among males than females (p<0.05) and among those who had chronic diseases (p<0.001). Family history of obesity was significantly associated with obesity (p=0.016). No significant association was found between physical activity and obesity (p=0.863). There was considerable prevalence of obesity among the medical students. Being male, having family history of obesity, and having chronic diseases were important risk factors.


Comparative evaluation of photodynamic therapy using LASER or light emitting diode on cariogenic bacteria: An in vitro study.
The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using LASER or light emitting diode (LED) on cariogenic bacteria (Streptococcus mutans [SM] and Lactobacillus casei [LC]) in bovine dentin. Twenty five fragments of dentin were contaminated with SM and LC strands and divided into five experimental groups according to the therapy they received (n = 5): C - control (no treatment), SCLED - no dye/LED application (94 J/cm(2)), SCLASER - no dye/LASER application (94 J/cm(2)), CCLED - dye/LED application (94 J/cm(2)) and CCLASER - dye/LASER application (94 J/cm(2)). The dye used was methylene blue at 10 mM. Dentin scrapes were harvested from each fragment and prepared for counts of colony forming units (CFU)/mL. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, followed by Student-Newman-Keuls (α =0.05). Regarding SM, groups CCLASER and CCLED showed a significant reduction in CFU/mL, which was statistically superior to the SCLASER, SCLED and C groups. Regarding LC, the groups CCLASER and CCLED caused a significant reduction in CFU/mL when compared with SCLASER, which showed intermediate values. SCLED and C had a lesser effect on reducing CFU/mL, where the former showed values similar to those of SCLASER. In conclusion, PDT combined with LASER or LED and methylene blue had a significant antimicrobial effect on cariogenic bacteria in the dentin.


Design of a Doppler reflectometer for KSTAR.
A Doppler reflectometer has been designed to measure the poloidal propagation velocity on the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) tokamak. It has the operating frequency range of V-band (50-75 GHz) and the monostatic antenna configuration with extraordinary mode (X-mode). The single sideband modulation with an intermediate frequency of 50 MHz is used for the heterodyne measurement with the 200 MHz in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) phase detector. The corrugated conical horn antenna is used to approximate the Gaussian beam propagation and it is installed together with the oversized rectangular waveguides in the vacuum vessel. The first commissioning test of the Doppler reflectometer system on the KSTAR tokamak is planned in the 2014 KSTAR experimental campaign.


Factors associated with family physicians' involvement in research in Israel.
To identify the factors that encourage or deter family medicine physicians and residents in Israel from participating in research. In October 1995, a questionnaire containing items on demographic variables, research attitudes, and academic and research activities in primary care settings was mailed to a random sample of 200 family medicine physicians and residents (out of approximately 600) employed by the General Sick Fund, the largest health maintenance organization in Israel. The questionnaire also contained items regarding difficulties in participating in research and asked for opinions about several general statements about research in family practice. In all, 190 physicians responded, for a response rate of 95%. Based on their responses, the respondents were divided into four groups by amount of research involvement. Univariate analysis using the chi-square test was used for the comparison of variables among the four groups. The respondents reporting greater knowledge of and involvement in research were, by and large, men (p = .01) who were qualified specialists with academic status (p < .00001). They also taught students (p = .0005) and residents (p < .0005), participated in more conferences (p < .0005), and while in residency training had had a mentor who encouraged involvement in research (p = .0001). Research is essential to family medicine with regard to both primary care practice and academic activities, its development, however, has been inhibited. Given the results of this preliminary study, family medicine residency programs would be well advised to assign a research mentor to every resident; also, time and resources should be devoted to research in postgraduate training programs. Perhaps more important, women physicians in Israel should be encouraged to participate more actively in research, and support for them in their special needs should be made available.


Adipocyte-derived PAMM suppresses macrophage inflammation by inhibiting MAPK signalling.
Macrophages within adipose tissue play a key role in mediating inflammatory responses in adipose tissue that are associated with obesity-related metabolic complications. In an effort to identify novel proteins secreted from adipocytes that may negatively regulate macrophage inflammation, we found that peroxiredoxin (PRX)-like 2 activated in M-CSF stimulated monocytes (PAMM), a CXXC-type PRX-like 2 domain-containing redox regulatory protein, is a novel secreted protein with potent anti-inflammatory properties. PAMM is secreted from mature human adipocytes but not preadipocytes. Overexpression of PAMM significantly attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage inflammation. Incubation of macrophages with adipocyte-conditional medium treated with anti-PAMM antibody significantly enhanced LPS-induced interleukin-12 (IL-12) expression in Raw264.7 cells. In addition, incubation of Raw264.7 cells with purified PAMM protein had a similar anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, forced expression of PAMM in Raw264.7 cells resulted in decreased LPS-induced ERK1/2, p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, suggesting that PAMM exerted the anti-inflammatory function probably by suppressing the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. Mutations in the CXXC motif of PAMM that suppressed its anti-redox activity were still able to suppress production of inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated macrophages, suggesting that PAMM's anti-inflammatory properties may be independent of its antioxidant properties. Finally, PAMM was highly expressed in both white (WAT) and brown adipose tissues (BAT) and further increased in obesity status. Our results suggest that adipocyte-derived PAMM may suppress macrophage activation by inhibiting MAPK signalling pathway.


Are the surface areas of the gills and body involved with changing metabolic scaling with temperature?
The metabolic-level boundaries (MLB) hypothesis proposes that metabolic level mediates the relative influence of surface area (SA)- versus volume-related metabolic processes on the body-mass scaling of metabolic rate in organisms. The variation in the scaling of SA may affect how metabolic level affects the metabolic scaling exponent. This study aimed to determine the influence of increasing metabolic level at a higher temperature on the metabolic scaling exponent of the goldfish and determine the link between metabolic scaling exponents and SA parameters of both gills and body. The SA of gills and body and the resting metabolic rate (RMR) of the goldfish were assessed at 15°C and 25°C, and their mass scaling exponents were analyzed. The results showed a significantly higher RMR, with a lower scaling exponent, in the goldfish at a higher temperature. The SA of the gills and the total SA of the fish (TSA) were reduced with the increasing temperature. The scaling exponent of RMR (bRMR) tended to be close to that of the TSA at a higher temperature. This suggests that temperature positively affects metabolic level but negatively affects bRMR The findings support the MLB hypothesis. The lower scaling exponent at a higher temperature can be alternatively explained as follows: the higher viscosity of cold water impedes respiratory ventilation and oxygen uptake and reduces metabolic rate more in smaller individuals than in larger individuals at lower temperature, thus resulting in a negative association between temperature and bRMR.


Intervention using a novel biodegradable hollow stent containing polylactic acid-polyprolactone-polyethylene glycol complexes against lacrimal duct obstruction disease.
Lacrimal duct obstruction disease (LDOD) is a common ophthalmologic disease. Stent implantation surgery is one of the most effective therapies. In this study, we intended to find out the satisfactory biodegradable stents containing poly-L-lactic acid-polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol (PLLA- PCL- PEG) complexes for therapeutic application in LDOD. Stents made of PLLA- PCL- PEG complexes in various ratios, were prepared and used in vitro to determine stents with appropriate mechanical properties and shorter range of bio-degradation for study in vivo. Thirty-two rabbits were randomized into eight groups of four eyes each in advance for test in vivo. The selected stents were implanted into the left lacrimal ducts of 16 rabbits and silica gel stents as the control for the other 16 rabbits. At four points in time (1, 4, 10 and 16 weeks after the implantation), weight loss rate (WLR) of the stents was measured and analysed. To access the change of lacrimal duct, fluorescein excretion test, lacrimal duct endoscopy and histopathological testing were conducted. The stent containing PLLA: PCL6: 4+ 15%PEG was selected for study in vivo. Analysis of weight loss rate (WLR), fluorescein excretion test, lacrimal duct endoscopy and histopathological testing indicated that the selected stent was biodegradable and caused minimal stimulation and earlier tissue restoration in the lacrimal epithelium compared with the silica gel stent used as the control. The study results suggest that the PLLA: PCL6: 4+ 15% PEG stent is a satisfactory biodegradable stent as a promising alternative for therapeutic application in LDOD, which showed tissue compatibility, biodegradation and adequate mechanical intensity.


Depression Symptoms in Chronic Left Hemisphere Stroke Are Related to Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Damage.
Damage to the brain's mood regulation systems may contribute to poststroke depression. This study examines relationships between depression symptoms and psychosocial factors and then uses multivariate lesion-symptom mapping to localize depression symptoms in people with chronic left hemisphere stroke. Depression symptoms relate inversely to education and directly to physical disability. Damage in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is associated with greater depression symptoms. These results demonstrate a neurological contribution to depression symptoms in chronic left hemisphere stroke and provide evidence of convergent biological mechanisms for poststroke depression symptoms and major depression with regard to left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex dysfunction.


Does Adding Information on Toxic Constituents to Cigarette Pack Warnings Increase Smokers' Perceptions About the Health Risks of Smoking? A Longitudinal Study in Australia, Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Health warning labels (HWLs) on cigarette packs in Australia, Canada, Mexico, and the United States include varying information about toxic cigarette smoke constituents and smoking-related health risks. HWL information changed more recently in Australia, Canada, and Mexico than in the United States. To investigate whether smokers' knowledge of toxic constituents and perceived smoking-related risks increased after adding this information to HWLs and how knowledge of toxic constituents is associated with perceptions of smoking-related risks. Data come from a longitudinal, online cohort of 4,621 adult smokers surveyed every 4 months from September 2012 (Wave 1) to January 2014 (Wave 5) in Australia, Canada, and Mexico, with the United States being surveyed from Waves 2 to 5. Generalized estimating equation models estimated the association between perceived smoking-related risk at follow-up and prior wave knowledge of toxic constituents, adjusting for attention to HWLs, sociodemographics, and smoking-related characteristics. Between 2012 and 2014, knowledge of toxic constituents increased in Australia, Canada, and Mexico ( p < .001), but not in the United States. Higher levels of both attention to HWLs and knowledge of toxic constituents were associated with a higher perceived risk of smoking-related conditions at follow-up across all countries except for the United States. Our results suggest that information about toxic constituents on prominent HWLs not only increases smoker's knowledge of toxic constituents, but that it may also reinforce the effects of HWL messages about specific, smoking-related health outcomes.


Epidemic (human immunodeficiency virus-related) Kaposi's sarcoma in West African women.
Most patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experience skin disease at some stage of their illness, either as a presenting feature or as a later manifestation. Different dermatoses may coexist during the course of the infection, and the unusual nature of the skin lesions can make an accurate diagnosis difficult. Kaposi's sarcoma is one of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining skin diseases and may coexist with other lesions in AIDS patients. Kaposi's sarcoma is caused by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), which is mainly transmitted through male homosexual behavior, and is less common in women than in men. The clinical, histopathologic, and therapeutic aspects of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma in three women (age, 18-34 years) who presented to the dermatology clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, were studied over 18 months, beginning in August and September 1998. At presentation, the condition of the three patients was generally poor, with severe anemia and extensive dark-brown papules, plaques, and nodules. Mucosal involvement was extensive. Generalized lymphadenopathy was found in two patients, one of whom had extensive coexisting dermatophytosis. All three women were in stage III/IV of the disease at the time of initial presentation. Death occurred within days in one and within 7-8 months in two. Because these female patients with epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma lived in an almost entirely heterosexual population, the mode of contamination with HHV8 was obscure. The course of the disease was pervasive, aggressive, and devastating.


Irradiated human endothelial progenitor cells induce bystander killing in human non-small cell lung and pancreatic cancer cells.
Purpose To investigate whether irradiated human endothelial progenitor cells (hEPC) could induce bystander killing in the A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and help explain the improved radiation-induced tumor cures observed in A549 tumor xenografts co-injected with hEPC. Materials and methods We investigated whether co-injection of CBM3 hEPC with A549 NSCLC cells would alter tumor xenograft growth rate or tumor cure after a single dose of 0 or 5 Gy of X-rays. We then utilized dual chamber Transwell dishes, to test whether medium from irradiated CBM3 and CBM4 hEPC would induce bystander cell killing in A549 cells, and as an additional control, in human pancreatic cancer MIA PaCa-2 cells. The CBM3 and CBM4 hEPC were plated into the upper Transwell chamber and the A549 or MIA PaCa-2 cells were plated in the lower Transwell chamber. The top inserts with the CBM3 or CBM4 hEPC cells were subsequently removed, irradiated, and then placed back into the Transwell dish for 3 h to allow for diffusion of any potential bystander factors from the irradiated hEPC in the upper chamber through the permeable membrane to the unirradiated cancer cells in the lower chamber. After the 3 h incubation, the cancer cells were re-plated for clonogenic survival. Results We found that co-injection of CBM3 hEPC with A549 NSCLC cells significantly increased the tumor growth rate compared to A549 cells alone, but paradoxically also increased A549 tumor cure after a single dose of 5 Gy of X-rays (p < 0.05). We hypothesized that irradiated hEPC may be inducing bystander killing in the A549 NSCLC cells in tumor xenografts, thus improving tumor cure. Bystander studies clearly showed that exposure to the medium from irradiated CBM3 and CBM4 hEPC induced significant bystander killing and decreased the surviving fraction of A549 and MIA PaCa-2 cells to 0.46 (46%) ± 0.22 and 0.74 ± 0.07 (74%) respectively (p < 0.005, p < 0.0001). In addition, antibody depletion studies demonstrated that the bystander killing induced in both A549 and MIA PaCa-2 cells was mediated by the cytokines TNF-α and TGF-β (p < 0.05). Conclusions These data provide evidence that irradiated hEPC can induce strong bystander killing in A549 and MIA PaCa-2 human cancer cells and that this bystander killing is mediated by the cytokines TNF-α and TGF-β.


Metapleural- and postpharyngeal-gland secretions from workers of the ants Solenopsis invicta and S. geminata.
Chemical analyses by GC-MS of the metapleural glands (MG) from workers of Solenopsis invicta and S. geminata revealed for the first time the chemical composition of these glands and showed small differences between the two species. The MG of both species contain oleic, stearic, linoleic, and palmitic acid. Both ants, in addition, have small but significant amounts of hydrocarbons in their MG reservoir, which are the same as those found in their postpharyngeal glands (PPG). The PPG of both species contain alkanes, alkenes, and Me-branched alkanes. Each species is characterized by a specific composition of PPG chemicals with some overlap between species. These results suggest that the MG synthesizes mainly palmitic, linoleic, oleic, and stearic acids in these two ants, whereas PPG contains hydrocarbon mixes that widely vary between these two phylogenetically related species.


Comparison of the clinical features and outcomes of infective endocarditis between hemodialysis and non-hemodialysis patients.
Hemodialysis (HD) patients are more susceptible to infective endocarditis (IE) due to the increased risk of bacterial invasion through intravascular access. However, it remains unclear whether the causative organisms and outcomes of IE in HD patients differ from those in non-HD patients. This study clarified the differences in clinical presentation and outcomes between HD and non-HD patients. At our hospital, we performed a retrospective study of 39 HD and 51 non-HD patients with echocardiography-confirmed IE between June 2000 and February 2007. No differences in sex, intravenous drug use, previous diagnosis of congestive heart failure, and previous valvular surgery were observed between these two groups. The number of patients with diabetic mellitus in these two groups was significantly different (28.2% HD vs 5.9% non-HD patients). The C-reactive protein levels in the two groups were not significantly different. By contrast, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was significantly higher in the HD patients (HD vs non-HD: 87.2±33.32 vs 52.96±28.19). The incidence of IE involving the mitral valve (MV; 45.1%) or the aortic valve (AV; 43.1%) was similar among the non-HD patients, whereas a preference of IE involving the MV (79.5%) over the AV (15.4%) was noted among the HD patients. The HD patients had a significantly higher Staphylococcus aureus infection rate (HD: 46.2%; non-HD: 27.5%). The proportion of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA; 83.8%) infection accounting for S. aureus IE in the HD group was higher than that (28.6%) in the non-HD group. The in-hospital mortality rate did not differ between the two groups. In conclusion, compared with non-HD patients, a propensity of IE involving the MV and a higher MRSA infection rate were observed in HD patients. The in-hospital mortality rate of echocardiography-confirmed IE did not differ between the two groups.


Finite-size effect on one-dimensional coupled-resonator optical waveguides.
We study the finite-size effect on the dispersion relation, group velocity, and transmission curves of one-dimensional finite-size coupled-resonator optical waveguide (CROW) structures. Both the dispersion relation and the group velocity curves of a finite-size CROW oscillate along those of the corresponding infinite-extended ones. The oscillations can be suppressed by matching the equivalent admittance of the surrounding medium to that of the unit cell. Thelen's method is used to find the parameters of the matching layer to reduce oscillations on the group velocity and transmission spectra, and to analyze the structure parameters that determine the bandwidth and the group velocity.


Guidance on the management of familial hypercholesterolaemia in Hong Kong: an expert panel consensus viewpoin.
In 2016, meetings of groups of physicians and paediatricians with a special interest in lipid disorders and familial hypercholesterolaemia were held to discuss several domains of management of familial hypercholesterolaemia in adults and children in Hong Kong. After reviewing the evidence and guidelines for the diagnosis, screening, and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia, consensus was reached on the following aspects: clinical features, diagnostic criteria, screening in adults, screening in children, management in relation to target plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, detection of atherosclerosis, lifestyle and behaviour modification, and pharmacotherapy.


Influence of foot excitation and shin posture on the vibration behavior of the entire spine inside a seated human body.
Due to ethical issues and simplification of traditional biomechanical models, experimental methods and traditional computer methods were difficult to quantify the effects of foot excitation and shin posture on vibration behavior of the entire spine inside a seated human body under vertical whole-body vibration. This study developed and verified different three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) models of seated human body with detailed anatomical structure under the biomechanical characteristics to predict vibration behavior of the entire spine inside a seated human body with different foot excitation (with and without vibration) and shin posture (vertical and tilt posture). Random response analysis was performed to study the transmissibility of the entire spine to seat under vertical white noise excitation between 0 and 20 Hz at 0.5 m/s2 r.m.s. The results showed that although the foot excitation could reduce the fore-aft transmissibility in the cervical spine (23% reduction), it could significantly increase that in the lumbar spine (52% increase), which resulted in complex alternating stresses at lumbar spine and made the lumbar spine more vulnerable to injury in long-term vibration environment. Moreover, the shin tilt posture made the maximum fore-aft transmissibility in the lumbar spine move to the upper lumbar spine. The study provided new insights into the influence of foot excitation and shin posture on the vibration behavior of the entire spine inside a seated human body. Foot excitation exposed the lumbar spine to complex alternating stresses and made it more vulnerable to injury in long-term whole body vibration.


MRgFUS treatment of uterine fibroid in a nulliparous woman with acute retention of urine.
Uterine fibroids are the most common tumors of the female reproductive tract. Although most fibroids are asymptomatic, about 25% are associated with symptoms that can have a significant impact on patient's quality of life, including prolonged or excessive menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain or bulkiness, dyspareunia, increased urinary frequency, and infertility. Various treatment options available for symptomatic uterine fibroids include hysterectomy, myomectomy (abdominal or laparoscopic), uterine artery embolization, MR-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS), and hormonal therapy, which also is sometimes used as adjuvant to other therapies. MRgFUS is a non-invasive treatment approach for symptomatic uterine fibroids. The following case report demonstrates successful treatment of a fibroid that is hyper-intense on T2WIs by MRgFUS with immediate alleviation of pressure symptoms on the urinary bladder.


Fractures of the middle third of the face and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea.
The incidence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea in patients with facial fractures is about 25%. Although the management of facial fractures is well documented, its timing and role in the presence of CSF leak is still open to debate. This study evaluates facial manipulation in 89 facial fractures associated with CSF rhinorrhoea, with a mean follow-up of 4 years. The facial fractures were reduced in 26 patients (29%) and the CSF fistula was repaired in 75 (84%). Twenty-three (25.8%) had both facial manipulation and dural repair with no deaths, post operative infection, failure or recurrence of CSF leak. On the other hand, when facial manipulation or dural repair was performed alone, the CSF rhinorrhoea either persisted or recurred in a significant number of patients requiring further intervention. Although this is a retrospective analysis of patients treated over several years and, there has been a change in the methods of investigation and treatment of these patients, one can conclude that manipulation of facial fractures and surgical dural repair can be carried out at the same sitting without increasing the surgical morbidity and mortality.


Neonatal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure in relation to retinoblastoma.
Neonatal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure can disrupt hormonal homeostasis and induce neuro- and immunotoxicity in children. In this exploratory study, we investigated associations between PFAS levels in neonatal dried blood spots and retinoblastoma risk. This study included 501 retinoblastoma cases born from 1983 to 2011 and 899 controls frequency-matched by birth year (20:1 matching ratio), born to 755 US-born and 366 Mexico-born mothers in California. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) feature intensities were identified from neonatal blood spots from California newborn Genetic Disease Screening Program. Using logistic regression, we assessed whether an interquartile range (IQR) increase of PFAS levels or having above-mean levels of PFAS in blood affects retinoblastoma risk overall or its subtypes (i.e., unilateral, bilateral). We assessed children of US-born and Mexico-born mothers, separately. Among all children, above-mean PFOS levels at birth increased the odds of retinoblastoma overall by 29% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.00, 1.67) and unilateral retinoblastoma by 42% (95% CI: 1.03, 1.97). For children of Mexico-born mothers, we estimated the highest odds of retinoblastoma overall (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.67; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.66) and bilateral retinoblastoma (aOR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.92) with above-mean PFOS levels. Among children of US-born mothers, higher PFOS levels increased the odds of unilateral retinoblastoma by 15% (95% CI: 0.99, 1.35) for each IQR increase and by 71% among children with above-mean PFOS levels (95% CI: 1.04, 2.90). In addition, for children of US-born mothers, PFOA increased the odds of retinoblastoma overall (aOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.02 for above-mean levels, aOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.16 per IQR increase). PFNA was not associated with retinoblastoma risk. Our results suggested that PFOS and PFOA might contribute to retinoblastoma risk in children born in California.


Antrodia camphorata attenuates cigarette smoke-induced ROS production, DNA damage, apoptosis, and inflammation in vascular smooth muscle cells, and atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice.
Cigarette smoke exposure activates several cellular mechanisms predisposing to atherosclerosis, including oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and vascular inflammation. Antrodia camphorata, a renowned medicinal mushroom in Taiwan, has been investigated for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiatherosclerotic properties in cigarette smoke extracts (CSE)-treated vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and ApoE-deficient mice. Fermented culture broth of Antrodia camphorata (AC, 200-800 µg/mL) possesses effective antioxidant activity against CSE-induced ROS production. Treatment of SMCs (A7r5) with AC (30-120 µg/mL) remarkably ameliorated CSE-induced morphological aberrations and cell death. Suppressed ROS levels by AC corroborate with substantial inhibition of CSE-induced DNA damage in AC-treated A7r5 cells. We found CSE-induced apoptosis through increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, was substantially inhibited by AC in A7r5 cells. Notably, upregulated SOD and catalase expressions in AC-treated A7r5 cells perhaps contributed to eradicate the CSE-induced ROS generation, and prevents DNA damage and apoptosis. Besides, AC suppressed AP-1 activity by inhibiting the c-Fos/c-Jun expressions, and NF-κB activation through inhibition of I-κBα degradation against CSE-stimulation. This anti-inflammatory property of AC was accompanied by suppressed CSE-induced VEGF, PDGF, and EGR-1 overexpressions in A7r5 cells. Furthermore, AC protects lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cells from CSE-induced cell death. In vivo data showed that AC oral administration (0.6 mg/d/8-wk) prevents CSE-accelerated atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice. This antiatherosclerotic property was associated with increased serum total antioxidant status, and decreased total cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels. Thus, Antrodia camphorata may be useful for prevention of CSE-induced oxidative stress and diseases. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 2070-2084, 2017.


Escherichia hermannii Infections in Humans: A Systematic Review.
Eshcerichia hermannii is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae, first described in 1982 and reclassified as a distinct species in the Escherichia genus after identifying biochemical and genomic differences from E. coli. It is a rare cause of human infections and is supposed to be a co-infector rather than an autonomous cause of infection. The aim of this systematic review was to record and evaluate all available evidence regarding human infections by E. hermannii. A systematic review of PubMed (through 21 December 2018) for studies providing epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological information, as well as treatment data and outcomes of E. hermannii infections was performed. A total of 16 studies, containing data of 17 patients, were eventually included in the analysis. The most common E. hermannii infections were bacteremias, urinary tract, and central nervous system infections. The complication rate, like the occurrence of sepsis, was high. Cephalosporins and aminoglycosides were the most common agents used for treatment. This systematic review describes bacterial infections by E. hermannii and provides information on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, antibiotic resistance, treatment, and outcomes associated with these infections.


Corneal wound healing from the perspective of keratoplasty specimens with special reference to the function of the Bowman layer and Descemet membrane.
To review corneal wound healing with special reference to the function of the Bowman layer and Descemet membrane. Corneal specimens were obtained from keratoplasties, including regrafted cases. Recipient corneal buttons were evaluated histopathologically with attention to 5 layers of corneal structure: 3 cellular layers consisting of epithelial cells, keratocytes, and endothelial cells and 2 acellular layers consisting of the Bowman layer and Descemet membrane. Subepithelial fibrosis was found in advanced bullous keratopathy. The possible source of subepithelial fibrosis was either conjunctival stroma or corneal stroma through disruption of the Bowman layer. Subepithelial fibrosis was observed in the area of the Bowman layer disruption at the host-graft junction in regrafted cases. The Bowman layer was disrupted in eyes with not only keratoconus but also corneal dystrophy such as macular dystrophy and gelatinous drop-like dystrophy. Newly formed, thin Descemet membrane was found in keratoconic eyes of patients with acute hydrops. Retrocorneal membranes were observed in eyes with advanced bullous keratopathy and graft failure. Abnormal wound healing of Descemet membrane such as override and separation was found in the host-graft interface of regrafted eyes, causing stromal overgrowth. The Bowman layer and Descemet membrane seem to serve as barriers to separate 3 cellular layers of epithelium, stroma, and endothelium. Disruption of the Bowman layer forms a new epithelial-stromal interaction and may cause cellular proliferative response. Separation of Descemet membrane can provide the trigger for emanating stromal tissue from the wound edge.


[A short tandem repeat polymorphism in the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene in Chinese population].
Polymorphism of the (CCTTT)n repeat, a short tandem repeats (STR) located in promoter region of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene, was analyzed in a total of 316 Chinese healthy subjects. Twelve alleles and forty-nine genotypes were identified. Three alleles that had not been reported previously, namely 17-repeats, 18-repeats and 19-repeats, were found in Chinese population. Mendelian inheritance of the allele in a family composed of three generations was determined. Some of the observed allele frequency of this STR locus in Chinese differed significantly from that of Caucasians in England.


[Expression and pathobiological implication of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in human colorectal carcinoma].
To investigate the transcription level and protein expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in SW480 cell line and colorectal adenocarcinoma, and to determine whether HIF-1alpha plays a role in angiogenesis through its regulation of VEGF. HIF-1alpha mRNA expression was analyzed by in situ hybridization. HIF-1alpha and VEGF protein expressions were determined by immunochemical streptavidin/peroxidase (SP) in SW480 cells and colorectal carcinoma tissue samples and Western blot, using proteins extracted from SW480 cells. Tumor tissue microvessel density (MVD) was determined by CD34 immunostaining of colorectal carcinomas. The levels of HIF-1alpha mRNA changed significantly in response to different oxygen concentrations and an addition of genistein in SW480 cells. Immunocytochemistry revealed that the levels of HIF-1alpha, VEGF protein expression in SW480 cells were significantly higher under hypoxia than those in nomoxia (P < 0.01, P < 0.05 respectively). However, addition of genistein, an inhibitor of HIF-1alpha, suppressed such responses to hypoxia. Western blot analysis showed that SW480 cells exposed to hypoxia expressed a high level of HIF-1alpha protein, compared to a weak expression in nomoxia. The addition of genistein in hypoxia suppressed the over-expression of HIF-1alpha. The positive rates of HIF-1alpha mRNA by in situ hybridization in colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas were 38.9% (7/18) and 67.7% (42/62), respectively. The percentage of HIF-1alpha mRNA positive cells varied significantly from colorectal adenomas to adenocarcinomas at different Duke stages (P < 0.05), and HIF-1alpha mRNA was higher in adenocarcinomas than in adenomas (P < 0.01). The positive rates of HIF-1alpha and VEGF protein expression in adenocarcinomas were 43.5% (27/62) and 37.1% (23/62), respectively. The expression of VEGF elevated as the Duke tumor staging increased. The conformation rate of HIF-1alpha and VEGF was 74.2% (46/62). MVD was significantly higher in HIF-1alpha and/or VEGF positive tumors than those without (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively). Among the four groups, i.e. HIF-1alpha+/VEGF+, HIF-1alpha+/VEGF-, HIF-1alpha+/VEGF- and HIF-1alpha-/VEGF-, the difference of MVD was highly significant (P < 0.01). HIF-1alpha expression was correlated significantly with VEGF expression and microvessel density. These findings suggest hypoxia induces the expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in colorectal adenocarcinoma. HIF-1alpha may play an important role in angiogenesis and tumor progression by regulating the expression of VEGF in human colorectal carcinoma.


CD109-regulated mechanical properties of endothelial cells.
CD109 antigen on the endothelial cell surface plays an important role in vascular pathology. The aim of the work was to investigate the effect of the immobilization of CD109 antigen with specific antibodies on nanomechanical properties of human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) using atomic force microscopy in quantitative nanomechanical property mapping mode (PeakForce QNM). Anti-CD109 antibodies induced significant stiffening of the cell surface Me(LQ; UQ): in 1.45(1.07;2.29) times with respect to control cells for fixed cells and in 4.9(3.6;5.9) times with respect to control cells for living cells, and changes in the spatial distribution of cell surface mechanical properties. The changes in the HUVEC's mechanical properties were accompanied by the activation of the TGF-/Smad2/3 signaling pathway and reorganization of the vimentin and actin cytoskeletal elements. Our findings show that blocking CD109 antigen using anti-CD109 antibodies leads in HUVECs to the processes similar to that occur after cell TGF-β-signaling activation. Therefore, we suggest that CD109 antigen may be involved in regulating the mechanical behavior of endothelial cells.


Unveiling the mechanism of photoinduced isomerization of the photoactive yellow protein (PYP) chromophore.
A detailed theoretical analysis, based on extensive ab initio second-order approximate coupled cluster calculations, has been performed for the S1 potential energy surface (PES) of four photoactive yellow protein (PYP) chromophore derivatives that are hydrogen bonded with two water molecules and differ merely in the carbonyl substituent. The main focus is put on contrasting the isomerization properties of these four species in the S1 excited state, related to torsion around the chromophore's single and double carbon-carbon bonds. The analysis provides evidence of the different isomerization behavior of these four chromophore complexes, which relates to the difference in their carbonyl substituents. While a stable double-bond torsion pathway exists on the S1 PES of the chromophores bearing the -O-CH3 and -NH2 substituents, this is not the case for the -S-CH3 and -CH3 substituted species. The presence of the -S-CH3 group leads to a strong instability of the chromophore with respect to the single-bond twist, whereas in the case of the -CH3 substituent a crossing of the S1 and S2 PESs occurs, which perturbs the pathway. Based on this analysis, the key factors that support the double-bond torsion have been identified. These are (i) the hydrogen bonds at the phenolic oxygen of the chromophore, (ii) the weak electron-acceptor character of the carbonyl group, and (iii) the ethylene-like pattern of the torsion in the beginning of the process. Our results suggest that the interplay between these factors determines the chromophore's isomerization in the solvent environment and in the native PYP environment.


Association of the calpain/calpastatin network with subcellular organelles.
The calcium-activated cysteine protease calpain is intimately involved in modulating cell adhesion and migration. The two ubiquitous isoforms of this protease, calpain I and II, are considered to be cytosolic proteins that can translocate to both focal complexes/adhesions or the plasma membrane. Using confocal microscopy and isopycnic density centrifugation, the results demonstrate that calpain I and II, the 30kDa regulatory subunit, and calpastatin associate with the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Confocal microscopy reveals that calpain II colocalizes with the subcellular proteins calnexin and Rab6 in cells bound to laminin. To further verify this association, cell lysates prepared from laminin stimulated and unstimulated cells were subjected to isopycnic density centrifugation. The results reveal an increased association of calpain I, II, calpastatin, and the 30kDa regulatory subunit with the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus as evidenced by their position in the gradient relative to calnexin, Rab6, caveolin, and beta1 integrin after laminin stimulation. This correlates with the accumulation of inducible calpain activity at the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi apparatus interface. Further experiments established that calpain II colocalizes with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Finally, calpain II associates with membrane lipid rafts. These results provide new insights into how the calpain/calpastatin network is spatially and temporally regulated in cells binding to the extracellular matrix.


External validation and clinical utility of a prediction model for 6-month mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease.
End-stage kidney disease is associated with poor prognosis. Health care professionals must be prepared to address end-of-life issues and identify those at high risk for dying. A 6-month mortality prediction model for patients on dialysis derived in the United States is used but has not been externally validated. We aimed to assess the external validity and clinical utility in an independent cohort in Canada. We examined the performance of the published 6-month mortality prediction model, using discrimination, calibration, and decision curve analyses. Data were derived from a cohort of 374 prevalent dialysis patients in two regions of British Columbia, Canada, which included serum albumin, age, peripheral vascular disease, dementia, and answers to the "the surprise question" ("Would I be surprised if this patient died within the next year?"). The observed mortality in the validation cohort was 11.5% at 6 months. The prediction model had reasonable discrimination (c-stat = 0.70) but poor calibration (calibration-in-the-large = -0.53 (95% confidence interval: -0.88, -0.18); calibration slope = 0.57 (95% confidence interval: 0.31, 0.83)) in our data. Decision curve analysis showed the model only has added value in guiding clinical decision in a small range of threshold probabilities: 8%-20%. Despite reasonable discrimination, the prediction model has poor calibration in this external study cohort; thus, it may have limited clinical utility in settings outside of where it was derived. Decision curve analysis clarifies limitations in clinical utility not apparent by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. This study highlights the importance of external validation of prediction models prior to routine use in clinical practice.


The epidemiology and economics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease responsible for a large human and economic burden around the world. Cigarette smoking is the main risk factor for COPD in the developed world, although other important risk factors include occupational exposures, air pollution, airway hyperresponsiveness, asthma, and genetic predisposition. In most of the world, COPD prevalence and mortality continue to rise in response to increases in smoking, particularly by women and adolescents. COPD is also an important cause of disability, and is linked to comorbid diseases, such as depression and cardiovascular disease, which adds to the large economic burden associated with this disorder. Better public health and medical interventions that target both the risk factors for COPD and look toward earlier intervention may decrease the growing public health impact of COPD.


[Microsurgical treatment of spinal cavernous malformation].
To investigate the characteristics of clinical manifestations, diagnostic imaging, pathology, and microsurgical treatment of spinal cavernous malformation. The clinical data of 28 patients with spinal cavernous malformation undergoing total resection through posterior approach during 1991-2006, all receiving MRI examination and 22 also receiving spinal DSA examination, were analyzed. Among the 28 cases, 8 lesions were located in the cervical segment of the spinal cord; 12 lesions in the cervical-thoracic segment; 4 lesions in the thoracic segment; 2 in the lumbar segment, and 2 in the thoraco-lumbar segment. The MRI images looked like mulberry; a black ring around the cavernoma was indicated. The spinal cord tissues around the lesion were obviously stained by the deposited hemosiderin. Follow-up of 3 months to 6 year showed no recurrence. MRI is the most reliable method for diagnosis of spinal cavernous malformation and surgical resection is the best treatment method. The key of success is meticulous surgical techniques. DSA helps differentiate spinal cavernous malformation from other arterio-venous malformations.


Scirpusin A, a hydroxystilbene dimer from Xinjiang wine grape, acts as an effective singlet oxygen quencher and DNA damage protector.
Grapes and red wines are rich sources of phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins, catechins, flavonols and stilbenes, most of which are potent antioxidants showing cardioprotective properties. We first isolated scirpusin A, a hydroxystilbene dimer, from a wine grape of Xinjiang, and studied its antioxidant activity. Reactive oxygen species scavenging effects and the protection against reactive singlet oxygen-induced DNA damage of scirpusin A have been investigated in our experiments. The concentration of scirpusin A required to inhibit 50% of (1)O(2) generation was 17 micromol L(-1), while addition of scirpusin A at 140 micromol L(-1) caused complete inhibition. Further kinetic study revealed that the reaction of Scirpusin A with singlet oxygen has an extremely high rate constant (k(a) = 4.68 x 10(9) L mol(-1) s(-1)). Scirpusin A (140 micromol L(-1)) exhibited significant inhibition effects on pBR322 DNA breakage. However, scavenging effects of scirpusin A on superoxide anion O(2) (*-) and hydroxyl radical .OH were not potent as the inhibitor rates at a concentration of 1400 micromol L(-1) were 28.83% and 19.5%, respectively. The present study shows that scirpusin A is a selective quencher of singlet oxygen and a protector against reactive singlet oxygen-induced pBR322 DNA damage at very low concentrations.


Targeting the Molecular Subtypes of Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Understanding the Diversity to Progress the Field.
Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) represent 10%-20% of primary breast cancers, and despite having greater initial sensitivity to cytotoxic chemotherapy, patients with TNBCs have higher rates of distant metastasis and a poorer prognosis compared with patients with hormone receptor positive and/or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive disease. TNBC has historically been treated as a single disease entity in targeted therapy trials, but advances in gene expression profiling and other molecular diagnostic techniques over the last decade have revealed considerable biologic heterogeneity within TNBCs, including subgroups with distinct, targetable aberrations. Such molecular heterogeneity explains, in part, the disappointing performance of targeted therapeutics in unselected TNBC. Here we discuss the history of gene expression profiling in breast cancer and its application in partitioning TNBCs into subtypes that may lead to more consistent therapeutic successes in this heterogeneous disease. Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) have historically been regarded as a single entity in clinical trial design. Over the last decade, molecular characterization has revealed much heterogeneity in TNBCs, explaining in part the lackluster performance of targeted therapeutics in TNBCs as a group. In this article, we review the history of the molecular classification of breast cancer based on gene expression profiling and discuss its role in TNBCs.


Nutritional support of the patient receiving high-dose therapy with hematopoietic stem cell support.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an intensive therapy that is being used increasingly in an attempt to cure certain malignancies. One of the major adverse effects of this treatment is an inadequate oral intake that may result in dehydration and malnutrition. Factors that may contribute to inadequate oral intake include mucositis, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia. In addition, prior to transplant, many patients may have experienced, or continue to experience malnutrition associated with malignancy and its therapy. Traditionally, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has been the mainstay of nutritional support in this patient population. The blood and marrow transplant (BMT) team at the Ottawa Hospital has significantly decreased the use of TPN through the initiation of a comprehensive nutritional support program that uses a variety of interventions including oral supplementation and enteral feeding. Understanding the causes and implications of malnutrition, and using tools that allow risk assessment and timely implementation of appropriate nutritional interventions, may facilitate full patient recovery parallel to hematopoietic recovery in the HSCT patient population.


Teaching Nursing Students How to Decrease the Stigma Against People Who Use Drugs.
People who use drugs (PWUD) experience bias and stigmatization from their health care providers at higher rates than do people with other health conditions. Nursing students are ill-prepared to care for PWUD. Nursing students received 2 educational sessions targeted at caring for PWUD. One hour focused on identifying and intervening in the case of an opioid overdose. The other was about stigmatization experienced by PWUD, harm reduction, nonstigmatizing language, and ways in which nurses can improve care for PWUD. Students demonstrated the use of destigmatizing language, applied learned harm reduction concepts, and incorporated referral to area resources for counseling or treatment during care of PWUD. By using the reflective learning taught in the classroom, nursing students were able to establish the human connection needed to improve care for this vulnerable population.


Free fatty acids enhance the oxidative damage induced by ethanol metabolism in an in vitro model.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest to explore the responsiveness to injury in steatotic hepatocyte. VL-17A cells, which express ADH and Cyp2E1 overloaded with free fatty acids (1 mM of oleic and palmitic acid 2:1) showed an increased oxidative damaged after 24 h free fatty acids treatment when exposed to ethanol (100 mM) for 48 h as a second injury. An increment in reactive oxygen species, determined by DCFH-DA, protein oxidation, and apoptosis were observed although an increase in main antioxidant proteins such as superoxide dismutase 1 and glutathione peroxidase were observed, but failed in gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, suggesting a decreased capacity of synthesis of glutathione compared with cells treated only with free fatty acids or ethanol. The increased oxidative stress and toxicity in lipid overloaded VL-17A cells subjected to ethanol exposure were accompanied by increases in Cyp2E1 protein expression. Our data show that lipid loaded in an in vitro model, VL-17A cells, is more susceptible to cell damage and oxidative stress when treated with ethanol.


[Adaptive method for EEG spectrum component decomposition].
A new computerized method for EEG rhythms extraction is proposed as a development of the idea of adjustable boundaries of frequency components that was put forward in previous investigations. Principle component analysis of the correlation matrix of EEG spectra with subsequent rotation of factor solutions was used for decomposition of a spectrum into physically meaningful spectral components. The method was tested on EEG of 14 healthy subjects recorded in 17 functional waking states. Fourteen independent spectral components in the spectral range from 0 to 100 Hz were extracted and their frequency boundaries were consistent with the current knowledge on frequency components of EEG oscillations. Main advantage of the described method is the adjustable estimation of EEG frequency oscillators taking into account characteristic properties of individual EEGs. Possible area of application might be the correct evaluation of spectral power of the EEG rhythms, EEG coherence and other spectral characteristics in clinical and experimental research, studies of the frequency characteristics of the EEG rhythms in different human functional states, changes in frequency characteristics of the EEG rhythms during maturation and in mental pathology.


MRI Head Coil Malfunction Producing Artifacts Mimicking Malformation of Cortical Development in Pediatric Epilepsy Work-Up.
We recently observed a type of MR imaging artifact that consistently mimics an abnormal appearance of the cerebral cortex, leading to initial misinterpretation and repeat scans. The artifact is caused by malfunction of part of the multichannel phased array head coil and is manifested by irregularity of cortical surface and gray-white matter junctions. The presence of such an artifact can be confirmed by assessing the background noise of the MR images and checking the coil element status on the MR imaging operator console.


Physical Activity and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of 38 Cohort Studies in 45 Study Reports.
To evaluate and quantify the association between physical activity (PA) and risk of breast cancer. A systematic review meta-analysis was conducted. The literature was independently and manually searched by 2 reviewers through 3 English databases (PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Science) for data till October 2017. The quality of included studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Fixed-effects models were used to estimate the pooled relative risk and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Dose-response analysis was chosen for quantifying the association between PA and risk of breast cancer. The Begg test and the Egger test were used to estimate potential publication bias. Heterogeneity between studies was evaluated with I2 statistics. The meta-analysis included 38 cohort studies published between 1994 and 2017, which included 68 416 breast cancer cases. The overall relative risk (ORR) for breast cancer was 0.87 (95% CI 0.84-0.90). The inverse association was consistent among all subgroup analyses. In subgroup analysis by menopausal status, the ORR of breast cancer was 0.83 (95% CI 0.79-0.87) for premenopausal status and 0.91 (95% CI 0.85-0.97) for postmenopausal status. In subgroup analysis by PA type, the ORR for total activity was 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.93), for recreational activity 0.88 (95% CI 0.85-0.91), for occupational activity 0.91 (95% CI 0.84-0.99), and for nonoccupational activity 0.87 (95% CI 0.83-0.92). The risk of breast cancer was significantly lower in people with exposure periods longer than 1 year and less than 5 years (ORR 0.62; 95% CI 0.46-0.78), followed by those with lifetime activity (ORR 0.81; 95% CI 0.69-0.93). The ORR for subjects with body mass index of less than 25 kg/m2 (0.88; 95% CI 0.83-0.93) was close to that for subjects with body mass index of more than 25 kg/m2 (0.87; 95% CI 0.77-0.97). A linear relationship was found between breast cancer risk and PA (recreational activity and total activity), and the ORR was reduced by 3% (95% CI 0.95-0.99) for every 10 metabolic equivalent of energy hours per week increment in recreational PA and by 2% (95% CI 0.97-0.99) for every 10 metabolic equivalent of energy hours per week increment in total PA. PA is significantly associated with a decrease in the risk of breast cancer.


Intracellular sodium concentration in lymphocytes and erythrocytes of patients with essential hypertension.
In order to investigate the abnormalities in intracellular sodium concentration ([Na]i) in essential hypertension, [Na]i in lymphocytes and erythrocytes was determined in 37 outpatients with essential hypertension and 35 normotensive controls matched for sex and age. [Na]i in lymphocytes was higher in hypertensive patients than in normotensive controls, while no difference was observed in [Na]i in erythrocytes between the 2 groups. There was no significant correlation between [Na]i in lymphocytes and erythrocytes in either group. In hypertensive patients, plasma renin activity had a negative correlation with [Na]i in lymphocytes, but not with [Na]i in erythrocytes. These results suggest that the increase in [Na]i may be associated with essential hypertension with suppressed plasma renin activity and that lymphocytes are more suitable than erythrocytes for the analysis of [Na]i.


An objective assessment of children's physical activity during the Keep It Moving! after-school program.
After-school programs may provide valuable opportunities for children to accumulate healthful physical activity (PA). This study assessed the PA of third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade children in the Keep It Moving! (KIM) after-school PA program, which was implemented in an ethnically diverse and low socioeconomic status school district in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The PA of KIM participating children (N = 116) at 4 elementary schools was objectively assessed using ActiGraph accelerometers and the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT). Linear mixed-effects models or generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to compare time spent in sedentary (SED) behaviors, light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) between genders and weight status classifications during KIM sessions. Children accumulated 7.6 minutes of SED time, 26.9 minutes of LPA, and 22.2 minutes of MVPA during KIM sessions. Boys accumulated less SED time (p < .05) and LPA (p = .04) than girls, but accumulated more MPA (p = .04), VPA (p = .03), and MVPA (p = .03). Overweight/obese children accumulated more LPA (p = .04) and less VPA (p < .05) than nonoverweight children. SOFIT data indicated that children spent a considerable proportion of KIM sessions being very active (12.4%), walking (36.0%), or standing (40.3%). The KIM program provides opportunities for disadvantaged children to accumulate substantial amounts of MVPA (>20 minutes per session) in an effort to meet current PA guidelines.


Phosphorus storage and utilization strategies of two bloom-forming freshwater cyanobacteria.
The inter-relationships between cellular phosphorus (P) storage, dissolved inorganic P (DIP) uptake affinity, alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations were studied in two ubiquitous diazotrophic freshwater cyanobacteria, Raphidiopsis raciborskii (six strains) and Chrysosporum ovalisporum (two strains). DIP uptake kinetics were measured using rates of incorporation of the radio-isotope, 33P and APA as a proxy for DOP-ester utilization. The study showed that DIP uptake of individual strains followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics (modified in our study to incorporate cellular P quotas), but differed with DIN and P availability, and between growth stages. High-affinity DIP uptake and APA were activated below a P quota threshold of approximately 0.01 µg P µg-1 C across the species and strains. C. ovalisporum had significantly higher APA and P quotas (per unit C and cell) but lower uptake affinity than R. raciborskii. Demand for DIP by C. ovalisporum increased when N fixation occurred, but typically not for R. raciborskii. Our results indicate that cyanobacterial species and strains differ in their strategies to P limiting conditions, and highlight the interplay between N and P. Physiological adaptations like APA and diazotrophy of cyanobacteria adapting to low DIP and/or DIN conditions may occur simultaneously and drive species dominance in oligotrophic environments.


MEASURING POLLINATOR-MEDIATED SELECTION ON MORPHOMETRIC FLORAL TRAITS: BUMBLEBEES AND THE ALPINE SKY PILOT, POLEMONIUM VISCOSUM.
Sweet-flowered plants of Polemonium viscosum in Colorado are visited by a fly-dominated pollinator fauna at timberline (krummholz), but almost exclusively by bumblebees in higher-elevation tundra habitats. Significant increases in flower size and height are associated with increasing elevation along this habitat gradient. This paper presents the results of an experiment designed to test whether bumblebees exert sufficient selection on morphometric floral phenotypes to account for the clinal shifts seen in natural populations. Two populations of sweet-flowered plants of krummholz origin were established: one randomly pollinated, the other solely bumblebee-pollinated. I tested the effects of two independent axes of floral variation, obtained by principal-components analysis, on mean seed set per flower of plants in each population. PC1, with strong correlations to corolla diameter, corolla length, and stem height, explained a significant amount of variance in seed set for bumblebee-pollinated plants but had no bearing on that of randomly pollinated plants. PC2, with strong correlation to flower number, did not influence seed set in either population. Bumblebee behavior was correlated with variation in PC1 scores of the selected population, yielding positive directional selection on morphometric floral traits associated with PC1. Selection coefficients for PC1, corolla length, corolla diameter, and inflorescence height were estimated, respectively, as 0.11, 0.09, 0.07, and 0.06 (P < 0.025 in all cases). These results support the hypothesis that pollinator-mediated selection can bring about changes in floral form, and can explain shifts in floral morphology of P. viscosum along natural habitat gradients.


Comprehensive analysis of dynamic elastic response feet: Seattle Ankle/Lite Foot versus SACH foot.
This study evaluated biomechanical and metabolic performance differences between two prosthetic foot designs in light of their mechanical properties. Ten unilateral below-knee amputee subjects, at least 1 year after amputation, capable of walking and running, were studied. Differences in heel and forefoot compliance explained differences in gait events and alignment. Increased efficiency of pushoff in the Seattle Ankle/Lite Foot exists as evidenced by the decrease loading on the opposite limb during double support and a less shortened step length on the sound side compared to the SACH foot. The natural frequency of oscillation for the prosthetic feet was determined to be too high to provide energy storage and release synchronized with kinematic requirements because neither metabolic cost savings nor differences in metabolic efficiency were found. Comfortable walking speed and the nadir of metabolic rate and efficiency are not different. Via accelerometer measurement, it was found that the more compliant and lossy SACH foot heel was less likely to transmit high frequency vibration.


Malyngamides M and N from the Hawaiian Red Alga Gracilaria coronopifolia
Two new malyngamides, M and N (1, 2), were isolated along with malyngamide I acetate (3) from the Hawaiian red alga Gracilaria coronopifolia. Our results suggest that malyngamide N (2) is a revised structure of deacetoxystylocheilamide (5). The absolute configuration of malyngamide I acetate was deduced to be 3 using the reversed octant rule.


Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in 2 ethnic groups in the general population of Estonia.
To compare the prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in 2 genetically different ethnic groups in Estonia: Estonians, who are Finno-Ugric people, and Slavs, who are Indo-European people, and to investigate the risk factors of RP. A random sample of 5248 Estonians and 4341 Slavs were surveyed by mail questionnaire (Phase I) for suspected RP. A subsample of 1739 subjects was interviewed and examined (Phase II) to make a formal diagnosis of RP, using the color charts, and to collect additional pertinent information. Of these 1739 subjects examined in Phase II, 226 women and 162 men were diagnosed to have RP. The age adjusted prevalence of RP was significantly higher among Slavs (women 11.4 +/- 1.3%, men 13.0 +/- 1.6%) compared to Estonians (women 7.8 +/- 1.0%, p = 0.023; men 8.2 +/- 1.5%, p = 0.031). Based on logistic regression analysis, the diagnosis of RP among women was associated with a Slavic ethnic origin, the presence of connective tissue disorders or cardiovascular diseases, a family history of RP, a history of dysphagia and frostbite, smoking, and a lower body mass index (BMI). Among men RP was associated with manual work, vibrating tool use, a history of frostbite and injuries to the fingers. older age, and a lower BMI. Our results revealed a significant difference in the prevalence of RP between 2 ethnic groups living in the same geographic region. The risk factors associated with RP show considerable sex differences, RP being mostly constitutional in women and occupational in men.


Better library design: data-driven protein engineering.
Data-driven protein engineering is increasingly used as an alternative to rational design and combinatorial engineering because it uses available knowledge to limit library size, while still allowing for the identification of unpredictable substitutions that lead to large effects. Recent advances in computational modeling and bioinformatics, as well as an increasing databank of experiments on functional variants, have led to new strategies to choose particular amino acid residues to vary in order to increase the chances of obtaining a variant protein with the desired property. Strategies for limiting diversity at each position, design of small sub-libraries, and the performance of scouting experiments, have also been developed or even automated, further reducing the library size.


Alteration of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal glands axis in colorectal cancer patients.
in advanced cancer patients a cell-mediated immunological impairment, both at baseline and during postoperative period (surgical trauma response) is often found and is associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore it is well known that cortisol is strictly involved in the response to major surgical stress, has an important immunosuppression activity and causes a redistribution of immunological population cells in different tissues. The aim of the study was to verify serum levels and circadian rhythm of cortisol and ACTH in patients with colorectal cancer at baseline before surgery and in the postoperative period, and relate it to the immune status. 40 patients (22 female, 18 male with a median age of 66 yrs) with histologically proven colorectal cancer undergoing to surgery were enrolled in the study. Assessment of total lymphocyte, CD4+, cortisol level, circadian rhythm of cortisol (11 pm and 8 am) was performed at baseline and in 3rd and 7th postoperative days. ACTH levels (11 pm and 8 am) were studied in 18 patients. increase of cortisol serum level in the post-operative period vs baseline was statistically significant both in 3rd and 7th days. A significant decrease of total and CD4+ lymphocytes count was found on both 3rd and 7th postoperative days compared to baseline and to normal values. The rate of patients with an altered circadian rhythm was 68% and 53% at 3rd and 7th postoperative days respectively. At baseline 28% of patients had an altered cortisol circadian rhythm and it was significantly more frequent in patients with nodal involvement (P<0.005) and with metastatic spread (P<0.004). 44% of 18 patients evaluated for ACTH circadian rhythm displayed an alteration and it was significantly higher in patients with nodal involvement and metastatic disease (P<0.05). No relations between lymphocytopenia and alteration of night-cortisolemy, day-cortisolemy and cortisol and ACTH circadian rhythm were found, neither at baseline, 3rd and 7th postoperative days. it is known that lymphocytopenia, both at baseline and in the postoperative period, is associated with a poor prognosis in cancer patients and that cortisol plays an important role in the immune response. Our data show that lymphocytopenia often present in cancer patients, poor prognostic factor, seems not to be associated with ACTH and cortisol level and circadian rhythm alteration, both at baseline and after surgical stress. Otherwise even if paraneoplastic syndromes seems not to be related to colorectal cancer and no patient showed adrenocortical metastasis, an impairment of circadian rhythm of cortisol and ACTH was found at baseline in 28% and 44% respectively. It was significantly associated with the presence of metastatic disease. These preliminary results suggest further investigations on relation between cancer and endocrine system.


Injury surveillance in Australia.
The development of injury surveillance systems in Australia is described from a public health perspective at the national level. Injury surveillance systems have undergone significant changes in recent years and further developments are planned. Three phases or generations are distinguished, each with distinctive features, advantages, and disadvantages. The first generation system was based on by-product data from routine mortality and morbidity statistics. The second generation system was specifically designed for injury surveillance, mainly using data collected for this purpose in hospital accident and emergency departments. A third generation of public health surveillance systems for injury control is now being developed for Australia. In developing a third generation system, a middle course is being charted. The number of data items and the complexity of classification for routine surveillance are mid-way between those of the first and second generation systems.


Defect States Emerging from a Non-Hermitian Flatband of Photonic Zero Modes.
We show the existence of a flatband consisting of photonic zero modes in a gain and loss modulated lattice system as a result of the underlying non-Hermitian particle-hole symmetry. This general finding explains the previous observation in parity-time symmetric systems where non-Hermitian particle-hole symmetry is hidden. We further discuss the defect states in these systems, whose emergence can be viewed as an unconventional alignment of a pseudospin under the influence of a complex-valued pseudomagnetic field. These defect states also behave as a chain with two types of links, one rigid in a unit cell and one soft between unit cells, as the defect states become increasingly localized with the gain and loss strength.


AM833 Is a Novel Agonist of Calcitonin Family G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Pharmacological Comparison with Six Selective and Nonselective Agonists.
Obesity and associated comorbidities are a major health burden, and novel therapeutics to help treat obesity are urgently needed. There is increasing evidence that targeting the amylin receptors (AMYRs), heterodimers of the calcitonin G protein-coupled receptor (CTR) and receptor activity-modifying proteins, improves weight control and has the potential to act additively with other treatments such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Recent data indicate that AMYR agonists, which can also independently activate the CTR, may have improved efficacy for treating obesity, even though selective activation of CTRs is not efficacious. AM833 (cagrilintide) is a novel lipidated amylin analog that is undergoing clinical trials as a nonselective AMYR and CTR agonist. In the current study, we have investigated the pharmacology of AM833 across 25 endpoints and compared this peptide with AMYR selective and nonselective lipidated analogs (AM1213 and AM1784), and the clinically used peptide agonists pramlintide (AMYR selective) and salmon CT (nonselective). We also profiled human CT and rat amylin as prototypical selective agonists of CTR and AMYRs, respectively. Our results demonstrate that AM833 has a unique pharmacological profile across diverse measures of receptor binding, activation, and regulation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: AM833 is a novel nonselective agonist of calcitonin family receptors that has demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of obesity in phase 2 clinical trials. This study demonstrates that AM833 has a unique pharmacological profile across diverse measures of receptor binding, activation, and regulation when compared with other selective and nonselective calcitonin receptor and amylin receptor agonists. The present data provide mechanistic insight into the actions of AM833.


Phylogeny and systematic position of Opiliones: a combined analysis of chelicerate relationships using morphological and molecular data.
The ordinal level phylogeny of the Arachnida and the suprafamilial level phylogeny of the Opiliones were studied on the basis of a combined analysis of 253 morphological characters, the complete sequence of the 18S rRNA gene, and the D3 region of the 28S rRNA gene. Molecular data were collected for 63 terminal taxa. Morphological data were collected for 35 exemplar taxa of Opiliones, but groundplans were applied to some of the remaining chelicerate groups. Six extinct terminals, including Paleozoic scorpions, are scored for morphological characters. The data were analyzed using strict parsimony for the morphological data matrix and via direct optimization for the molecular and combined data matrices. A sensitivity analysis of 15 parameter sets was undertaken, and character congruence was used as the optimality criterion to choose among competing hypotheses. The results obtained are unstable for the high-level chelicerate relationships (except for Tetrapulmonata, Pedipalpi, and Camarostomata), and the sister group of the Opiliones is not clearly established, although the monophyly of Dromopoda is supported under many parameter sets. However, the internal phylogeny of the Opiliones is robust to parameter choice and allows the discarding of previous hypotheses of opilionid phylogeny such as the "Cyphopalpatores" or "Palpatores." The topology obtained is congruent with the previous hypothesis of "Palpatores" paraphyly as follows: (Cyphophthalmi (Eupnoi (Dyspnoi + Laniatores))). Resolution within the Eupnoi, Dyspnoi, and Laniatores (the latter two united as Dyspnolaniatores nov.) is also stable to the superfamily level, permitting a new classification system for the Opiliones.


Atmospheric Chemistry of Enols: The Formation Mechanisms of Formic and Peroxyformic Acids in Ozonolysis of Vinyl Alcohol.
Vinyl alcohol (VA), for a long time, is thought to be a missing source of formic acid (FA) in the atmospheric models. However, a recent study has shown that FA is just a byproduct in the OH-initiated oxidation of VA, which stimulates investigation on the other sinks of VA in the atmosphere. In this study, the detailed ozonolysis mechanism of VA was investigated theoretically for the first time. The results show that two primary ozonides (syn- and anti-POZ) can be formed in the ozonolysis of VA and that FA coupled with the simplest Criegee intermediate (CH2OO) can be produced as the main nascent products. Thus, the ozonolysis of VA is predicted to be a more efficient process to produce FA in the atmosphere compared with its OH-initiated oxidation. Moreover, it is found that the syn-POZ can directly decompose to peroxyformic acid plus formaldehyde, breaking the known "Criegee mechanism" to form carbonyl oxide with carbonyl compound. This special mechanism by providing a new source of peroxy acids in the atmosphere enriches the atmospheric chemistry of enols. The atmospheric lifetime of VA by ozonolysis is predicted to be 30 h, comparable with its prevalent reaction with the OH radical. Therefore, the obtained theoretical results can be usefully incorporated into a future modeling study of enols.


Nutritional assessment of serum and hepatic vitamin A levels in patients with cirrhosis.
Serum vitamin A (retinol) levels may not correlate with hepatic vitamin A stores in patients with cirrhosis; thus, supplementation of vitamin A based on serum levels may have a detrimental effect. Our aim was to determine whether serum levels correlate with hepatic stores in cirrhotic patients. A prospective study of patients with cirrhosis undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation was completed. Serum and hepatic levels of vitamin A were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Statistical analysis was performed using rank sum tests and Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Fifty cirrhotic patients (33 men and 17 women, mean age 53 years) were compared with a control group (25 men and 25 women, mean age 47 years) of liver donors. Median serum levels of retinol were 259 microg/L in controls and 166 microg/L in cirrhotic patients (p < .001). Median hepatic levels of retinol were 25 microg/g in controls and 27.5 +/- g/g in cirrhotic patients (p not significant). Total hepatic vitamin A levels (retinol plus retinyl esters) were 471 microg/g in controls and 244 microg/g in cirrhotic patients (p = .028). Serum retinol did not correlate with total hepatic vitamin A stores in cirrhotic patients (rs = .10, p = .332). Serum retinol and total hepatic vitamin A stores are lower in cirrhotic patients than in controls. However, because levels of serum retinol do not correlate with hepatic vitamin A levels, the decision to prescribe vitamin A replacement for patients with cirrhosis should not be made solely on the basis of serum retinol levels.


In contrast to Western diet, a plant-based, high-fat, low-sugar diet does not exacerbate retinal endothelial injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
Controversy remains about how diet affects the vascular endothelial dysfunction associated with disordered insulin-glucose homeostasis. It is postulated that the type and level of certain macronutrients contribute to endothelial dysfunction in vascular diabetes complications. However, it is not well understood how specific macronutrients affect the molecular inflammatory response under conditions of hyperglycemia. Here, we examined retinal microvascular endothelial injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats fed a laboratory Western diet (WD). WD, characterized by its high content of saturated fat, cholesterol, and sugar, significantly increased retinal leukocyte accumulation and endothelial injury in the STZ-diabetic rats. Suppression of endothelial NF-κB signaling in the STZ model reduced the WD-induced increase in leukocyte accumulation. To isolate the effect of dietary fat, we generated high-fat diets with varying fatty acid balance and type. These diets contained moderate amounts of carbohydrates but no sugar. We found that neither high levels of saturated or unsaturated fats per se increased retinal leukocyte accumulation and endothelial injury in the STZ-diabetic rat model but that the combination of high levels of dietary cholesterol with specific saturated fatty acids that are abundant in WD exacerbated leukocyte accumulation and endothelial injury in the retinas of STZ-diabetic rats.-Barakat, A., Nakao, S., Zandi, S., Sun, D., Schmidt-Ullrich, R., Hayes, K. C., Hafezi-Moghadam, A. In contrast to Western diet, a plant-based, high-fat, low-sugar diet does not exacerbate retinal endothelial injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetes.


Blood-gas equilibrium of carbon dioxide in lungs: a continuing controversy.
This review presents the experimental evidence that has been published in recent years both against and in support of the occurrence of negative blood-gas CO2 partial pressure differences (delta PCO2) in lungs in rebreathing equilibrium and during steady-state gas exchange in hypercapnia. Although some sources of potential experimental error can be pointed out, the reasons for the remarkably pronounced disagreement between the experimental data of the different studies cannot be definitely identified. Since a consistent and reproducible occurrence of negative blood-gas delta PCO2 in lungs in gas-blood equilibrium is not convincingly proved, it appears to be justified to continue accepting the validity of the conventional concept of equal PCO2 in blood and gas in equilibrium. Because the issue is of considerable importance in the analysis and understanding of alveolar gas exchange, pertinent evidence is expected from future work.


In vitro anti-resorptive activity and prevention of ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in female Sprague-Dawley rats by ormeloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator.
Antiosteoporotic activity of ormeloxifene, a multifunctional SERM, using inhibition in parathyroid hormone (PTH) induced resorption of 45Ca from prelabeled chick and rat fetal limb bones in chase cultures and modulation of certain biochemical markers of bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD) in ovariectomized adult female rats, was investigated. Ormeloxifene concentration-dependently inhibited PTH-induced resorption of 45Ca from chick fetal femora with treated/control (T/C) ratio of 0.71, 0.32 and 0.20 at 50, 100 and 200 microM concentration, in comparison to 0.49, 0.53 and 0.95 in case of CDRI-85/287 (a pure antiestrogen), tamoxifen and ethynylestradiol (100 microM), respectively. Using rat fetal limb bones, ormeloxifene (100 microM) exhibited T/C ratio of 0.67, in comparison to 1.43 with PTH alone. Heat-killed bones exhibited negligible resorption (2.9%; T/C: 0.098) in response to PTH. In adult female rats, ormeloxifene (1.25 and 12.5 mg/kg per day) inhibited ovariectomy-induced increase in serum total and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin and urine calcium/creatinine ratio to almost intact control level. Ovariectomy was accompanied by marked decrease in bone mineral density of isolated femur and tibia, being maximum in femur neck (28.3%; P < 0.01) and midshaft (23.7%; P < 0.01), but only marginal (6.7%; P > 0.05) in region proximal to tibio-fibular separation point. Decrease in BMD based on T-/Z-score, too, was >2.5 S.D. than mean value of normal young adult/age-matched females. This was prevented by ormeloxifene and the effect, though apparently more in females supplemented with higher dose of ormeloxifene, was not always significantly different and clear dose-response was not evident until BMD data was evaluated on T-/Z-score basis. The analysis also demonstrated much higher threshold level of tibia than femur and more so for their mid-shafts. Increase in BMD of isolated bones was also observed in ormeloxifene-treated intact females, without significantly altering biochemical markers of bone turnover or uterine weight. Findings suggest potential of ormeloxifene in management of post-menopausal osteoporosis and beneficial effect on BMD in women taking this SERM for contraception or any hormone-related clinical disorder.


Sustained beneficial effects of a protocolized treat-to-target strategy in very early rheumatoid arthritis: three-year results of the Dutch Rheumatoid Arthritis Monitoring remission induction cohort.
Treat-to-target (T2T) leads to improved clinical outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The question is whether these results sustain in the long term. Our objective was to investigate the 3-year results of a protocolized T2T strategy in daily clinical practice. In the Dutch Rheumatoid Arthritis Monitoring remission induction cohort, patients newly diagnosed with RA were treated according to a T2T strategy aimed at remission (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28] <2.6). Patients were treated with methotrexate, followed by the addition of sulfasalazine, and exchange of sulfasalazine with anti-tumor necrosis factor α agents in case of failure. Primary outcomes were disease activity, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score, Short Form 36 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores, and the Sharp/van der Heijde score (SHS) after 3 years. Secondary outcomes were sustained DAS28 remission (≥6 months) and remission according to the provisional American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) definition. After 3 years (n = 342), 61.7% of patients were in DAS28 remission and 25.3% met the provisional ACR/EULAR definition of remission. Sustained remission was experienced by 70.5%, which in the majority was achieved with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs only. The median scores were 0.4 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.0-1.0) for the HAQ, 45.0 (IQR 38.4-53.2) for the PCS, 53.1 (IQR 43.2-60.8) for the MCS, and 6.0 (IQR 3.0-13.0) for the total SHS. In very early RA, T2T leads to high (sustained) remission rates, improved physical function and health-related quality of life, and limited radiographic damage after 3 years in daily clinical practice.


[The influence of controlled ethanol consumption on whole blood and plasma viscosity].
The aim of this study was to establish whether the single controlled ethanol consumption changes hemorrheological parameters. It has not been clear whether single alcohol intake in well controlled experimental conditions has had an influence on hemorrheological parameters. Twenty nine healthy men volunteers aged 20-30 have been examined. All volunteers have showed normal renal and hepatic function tests and have not suffered from hematological or cardiovascular diseases. The examined men have been randomly divided in two groups: the examined one: 19 persons aged 21-30 years, and the control group aged 20-28 years. The examined group has been treated with ethanol in quantity of one gram per kg of body weight during ten minutes. After one and half, three and five hours after the alcohol consumption fast venous blood samples with K2EDTA as an anticoagulant have been drown from anticubital vein. The following parameters have been determined before drinking ethanol and after at one and half, three and five hours: whole blood viscosity at 1s-1 divided by 300s-1, the plasma viscosity, the corrected--for--hematocrit 45% viscosity of blood, yield stress--calculated from Casson's equation on the basis of flow curve, blood morphology, arterial pressure and heart rate. The hematocrit-corrected viscosity has been remarkably elevated after 1.5 and 3 hours at all shear rates (e.g. from 20.6 +/- 2.0 mPas before to 25.1 +/- 2.5 mPas after 1.5 h from ethanol consumption; p < 0.001). Yield stress of blood has been increased after ethanol consumption too. Plasma viscosity has been significantly higher after five hours. In controls there have not been any time depended changes in rheological and hematological parameters. The controlled consumption of ethanol in quantity of 1 gram per 1 kg of body weight has caused the following changes in hemorheological parameters: increase of corrected--for--45% hematocrit--whole blood viscosity, increase of plasma viscosity and increase of yeald stress.


The effect of referral and transfer patients on hospital funding in a capitated health care delivery system.
(1) To investigate whether inpatients referred or transferred between facilities result in increased financial loss compared with those admitted directly, in a health care delivery system funded by capitation methods. (2) To determine whether the higher cost of those patients transferred or referred is fairly compensated by a diagnosis-based risk adjustment system, and whether tertiary care facilities bear an unfair financial burden for such patients in a capitated financing environment. The study cohort included all Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries who received inpatient care during fiscal year (FY) 2004. Referral was defined as an outpatient visit to 1 facility followed by an admission to another facility. Transfers were consecutive inpatient stays at different hospitals. We defined loss as cost minus the share of budget determined by a Diagnostic Cost Group-based allocation. Both t tests and linear regression were used to compare the effect on cost and loss for patients transferred or not and referred or not. Mean loss to a facility for patients transferred in was 1231 dollars more than for those not transferred. Mean loss for referred patients was 3341 dollars more than for those not referred, controlling for disease burden. For tertiary hospitals, the difference in losses for transfer patients was less than for other hospitals but greater for referral patients. Patients referred or transferred from other facilities are more costly than those who are not. The difference may not be compensated by a diagnosis-based allocation system. A capitated health care system may consider additional funding to cover the cost of such patients.


Direction-sensitive X and Y cells within the A laminae of the cat's LGNd.
Drifting sinusoidal gratings, moving bars, and moving spots were employed to study the direction sensitivity of 425 neurons in the A laminae of the cat's LGNd. Thirty-two percent of X- and Y-type LGNd relay cells exhibit significant direction sensitivity when tested with drifting sinusoidal gratings. X and Y cells exhibit the same degree of direction sensitivity. Moving spots and bars elicit direction specific responses from LGNd cells that are consistent with those elicited when drifting sinusoidal gratings are employed. For cells that are both orientation and direction sensitive, the preferred direction tends to be orthogonal to the preferred orientation. In general, direction sensitivity is strongest at relatively low spatial frequencies, well below the spatial-frequency cutoff for the cell. The presence of significant numbers of direction-sensitive LGNd cells raises the possibility that subcortical direction specificity is important for the generation of this property in the visual cortex.


Dopamine neurons encode errors in predicting movement trigger occurrence.
The capacity to anticipate the timing of events in a dynamic environment allows us to optimize the processes necessary for perceiving, attending to, and responding to them. Such anticipation requires neuronal mechanisms that track the passage of time and use this representation, combined with prior experience, to estimate the likelihood that an event will occur (i.e., the event's "hazard rate"). Although hazard-like ramps in activity have been observed in several cortical areas in preparation for movement, it remains unclear how such time-dependent probabilities are estimated to optimize response performance. We studied the spiking activity of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta of monkeys during an arm-reaching task for which the foreperiod preceding the "go" signal varied randomly along a uniform distribution. After extended training, the monkeys' reaction times correlated inversely with foreperiod duration, reflecting a progressive anticipation of the go signal according to its hazard rate. Many dopamine neurons modulated their firing rates as predicted by a succession of hazard-related prediction errors. First, as time passed during the foreperiod, slowly decreasing anticipatory activity tracked the elapsed time as if encoding negative prediction errors. Then, when the go signal appeared, a phasic response encoded the temporal unpredictability of the event, consistent with a positive prediction error. Neither the anticipatory nor the phasic signals were affected by the anticipated magnitudes of future reward or effort, or by parameters of the subsequent movement. These results are consistent with the notion that dopamine neurons encode hazard-related prediction errors independently of other information.


The continuum of care as a unifying framework for intergenerational and interspecies health equity.
Unlocking the full potential of different people and organizations to address existential health threats requires shared goals and frameworks that allow people to see themselves contributing to a common and shared continuum of care. A new narrative to help people implement collective action for collective problems is needed. This paper is draw from the co-authors experience working from the local to international level on planetary health problems. The proposed conceptual framework expands the socioecological model of health to help formulate multilevel approaches that foster healthier circumstances for all by revealing the mutual benefits that emerge from pooling expertise, funding, and political will to solve multiple problems with coordinated investment of resources and effort. It is intended to support program planning and communication. This framework is a response to the absence of systematic attempts to concurrently counteract the social and environmental conditions leading to disease, dysfunction and deficits which is increasingly seen as being problematic, especially as the root causes of health problems and solutions converge across species, sectors, and generations. The framework is embedded in the idea of interspecies and intergenerational health equity. Ensuring interspecies and intergenerational health equity requires each actor to fulfill their roles along the continuum while supporting the needs of others. A socio-ecological continuum of care provides bundled options that combine knowledge from different sectors, disciplines and perspectives to guide interventions over time across a comprehensive array of services and support spanning all levels of needs, species and generations.


Chemotaxonomy of mints of genus Mentha by applying Raman spectroscopy.
The characterization of mints is often problematic because Mentha is a taxonomically complex genus. In order to provide a fast and easy characterization method, we use a combination of micro-Raman spectroscopy and hierarchical cluster analysis. A classification trial of different mint taxa is possible for one collection time. For spectra measured at different points during the growing season, a more sophisticated pretreatment of the data is necessary to receive good discrimination between the species, as well as between the subspecies and varieties of the mints.


WFDC Protein: A Promising Diagnosis Biomarker of Ovarian Cancer.
An initial diagnosis of cancer is usually based on symptoms, abnormal physical examination and imaging tests. Ovarian cancer is difficult to be diagnosed timely due to the nonspecific symptoms, thus resulting in the high-risk mortality. Despite of the various diagnostic methods, there is still no reliable diagnostic test. Clinically, carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125) is widely recognized as a diagnosis biomarker of ovary cancer. However, CA125 is not sensitive to detect the ovary cancer at the early stage. It is essential to explore other potential biomarkers. Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in the whey/four-disulfide core (WFDC) proteins family shows satisfactory sensitivity in the early diagnosis of ovary cancer. In this present review, we summarized the important effects of WFDC family proteins on the proliferation, apoptosis and migration of ovary cancer and intended to provide more evidence to explore the possibility of WFDC protein as a diagnosis biomarker.


Proteomic characterization of paired non-malignant and malignant African-American prostate epithelial cell lines distinguishes them by structural proteins.
While many factors may contribute to the higher prostate cancer incidence and mortality experienced by African-American men compared to their counterparts, the contribution of tumor biology is underexplored due to inadequate availability of African-American patient-derived cell lines and specimens. Here, we characterize the proteomes of non-malignant RC-77 N/E and malignant RC-77 T/E prostate epithelial cell lines previously established from prostate specimens from the same African-American patient with early stage primary prostate cancer. In this comparative proteomic analysis of RC-77 N/E and RC-77 T/E cells, differentially expressed proteins were identified and analyzed for overrepresentation of PANTHER protein classes, Gene Ontology annotations, and pathways. The enrichment of gene sets and pathway significance were assessed using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and Signaling Pathway Impact Analysis, respectively. The gene and protein expression data of age- and stage-matched prostate cancer specimens from The Cancer Genome Atlas were analyzed. Structural and cytoskeletal proteins were differentially expressed and statistically overrepresented between RC-77 N/E and RC-77 T/E cells. Beta-catenin, alpha-actinin-1, and filamin-A were upregulated in the tumorigenic RC-77 T/E cells, while integrin beta-1, integrin alpha-6, caveolin-1, laminin subunit gamma-2, and CD44 antigen were downregulated. The increased protein level of beta-catenin and the reduction of caveolin-1 protein level in the tumorigenic RC-77 T/E cells mirrored the upregulation of beta-catenin mRNA and downregulation of caveolin-1 mRNA in African-American prostate cancer specimens compared to non-malignant controls. After subtracting race-specific non-malignant RNA expression, beta-catenin and caveolin-1 mRNA expression levels were higher in African-American prostate cancer specimens than in Caucasian-American specimens. The "ECM-Receptor Interaction" and "Cell Adhesion Molecules", and the "Tight Junction" and "Adherens Junction" pathways contained proteins are associated with RC-77 N/E and RC-77 T/E cells, respectively. Our results suggest RC-77 T/E and RC-77 N/E cell lines can be distinguished by differentially expressed structural and cytoskeletal proteins, which appeared in several pathways across multiple analyses. Our results indicate that the expression of beta-catenin and caveolin-1 may be prostate cancer- and race-specific. Although the RC-77 cell model may not be representative of all African-American prostate cancer due to tumor heterogeneity, it is a unique resource for studying prostate cancer initiation and progression.


Plasma hormone assay in pregnancy.
This paper reports the results obtained with various hormonal parameters (HPL, E3, alpha-FP) in evaluating fetal wellbeing during pathologic pregnancies. The expression of hormonal parameters in terms of standard deviation (S.D.) provides a constant endocrine index throughout pregnancy, independently of the adopted parameter. Such methodology reduces error and simplifies interpretation of data. The hormonal index is important not only for reliable diagnosis of a pathologic situation, but also because of its simple interpretation for clinical and practical purposes.