Rheinheimera oceanensis sp. nov., a novel member of the genus Rheinheimera, isolated from the West Pacific Ocean.
Two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and short-rod-shaped bacteria, designated as strains GL-53T and GL-15-2-5, were isolated from the seamount area of the West Pacific Ocean and identified using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The growth of strains GL-53ᵀ and GL-15-2-5 occurred at pH 5.5-10.0, 4-40 °C (optimum at 28 °C) and 0-10.0 % NaCl concentrations (optimum at 0-5.0 %). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strains GL-53ᵀ and GL-15-2-5 exhibited the highest similarity to Rheinheimera lutimaris YQF-2T (98.4 %), followed by Rheinheimera pacifica KMM 1406T (98.1 %), Rheinheimera nanhaiensis E407-8T (97.4 %), Rheinheimera aestuarii H29T (97.4 %), Rheinheimera hassiensis E48T (97.2 %) and Rheinheimera aquimaris SW-353T (97.2 %). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolates were affiliated with the genus Rheinheimera and represented an independent lineage. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c). The sole isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone 8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminophospholipid (and one unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 48.5 mol%. The average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values among the genomes of strain GL-53ᵀ and the related strains in the genus Rheinheimera were 75.5-90.1 %, 67.5-93.9 % and 21.4-41.4 %, respectively. Based on their phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties, the two strains were identified as representing a novel species of the genus Rheinheimera, for which the name Rheinheimera oceanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GL-53T (=KCTC 82651T=MCCC M20598T).


Predictors of preference for caesarean delivery among pregnant women in Beijing.
Objective To evaluate factors associated with preference for caesarean or vaginal delivery among pregnant Chinese nulliparous and parous women. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, preference/reasons for delivery mode, and knowledge of delivery complications. Results Of the 450 participants, 85 (18.9%) reported a preference for caesarean section (CS) pre-partum. Compared with women who would prefer a vaginal delivery, nulliparous women who preferred CS were more likely to be: ≥35 years; have no medical insurance; have had two or more pregnancies; have access to only one source of information about birthing options; knowledge of the complications of vaginal delivery and think doctors have no right to decide the type of delivery. For parous women who preferred CS, they were more likely to have had a previous caesarean delivery and live outside Beijing. Conclusions From this study conducted at a large, maternity centre in Beijing, the proportion of pregnant women with preference pre-partum for CS was moderate and their reasons were varied.


Evolution, development, and the emergence of disgust.
Evolutionary developmental psychology typically utilizes an evolutionary lens to explain various phenomena that occur throughout development. In this paper, I argue that the converse is also important: Developmental evidence can inform evolutionary theory. In particular, knowledge about the developmental origins of a psychological trait can be used to evaluate theoretical claims about its evolved function. I use the emotion of disgust as a case study to illustrate this approach. Disgust is commonly thought to be a behavioral adaptation for avoiding the ingestion of pathogens. Given this claim, disgust should be expected to develop at a time when humans are especially vulnerable to the dangers of ingesting pathogens, during the immediate post-weaning period from about 3 to 5 years of age. Despite a strong selective pressure at this point in development, research has suggested that the emotion of disgust and the recognition of the "disgust face" do not reliably emerge until later in ontogeny, at 5 years of age or after. Given the late developmental appearance of disgust, I re-evaluate claims about its adaptive role.


Deficient control of in vitro Epstein-Barr virus infection in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Infectious Epstein-Barr (EB) virus obtained from the B95-8 marmoset cell line was used to infect mononuclear cells from healthy controls and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and outgrowth of B cells into lymphoblastoid cell lines was assessed by visual microscopy and uptake of tritiated thymidine over a 28 day period. When undiluted virus was used lymphocytes from both patients with AS and RA and from normal controls outgrew into lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) by day 28 of culture. At dilutions of 1/10, 1/20, and 1/40, however, the control cells showed regression of proliferation at approximately day 14 of culture, whereas the cells from patients with AS and RA continued to proliferate and outgrew into LCLs (transformation scores of cells from patients with AS compared with controls at day 28 p less than 0.05 in all cases; thymidine uptake at a 1/40 dilution at day 28, patients with AS compared with controls p less than 0.01). Hence these results suggest that there is a defect in the cellular response to EB virus induced B cell proliferation in patients with AS similar to that seen with cells from RA donors.


Common and distinct signaling pathways mediate the induction of TNF-alpha and IL-5 in IgE plus antigen-stimulated mast cells.
A small number of signaling cascades represented by mitogen-activated protein kinases, phosphoinositol-3-kinase, protein kinase C, signal transducers and activators of transcription, Ca2+/calcineurin, and a few other molecules are linked to an incomparably large number of surface receptors. Parallel activation of several of these pathways and the existence of isozymes for a number of signal transmitting molecules generate the required complexity and specificity matching the receptor variety. Here we show that the proinflammatory mediator TNF-alpha and the growth factor IL-5 are activated along common and distinct signaling cascades in allergically stimulated murine mast cells. Both of them are dependent on Ca2+ influx, activation of calcineurin and nuclear factor of activated T cells as well as a member of the atypical PKC family, most likely PKCmu. Additionally, mitogen-activated protein kinases for TNF-alpha and members of the classical or nonclassical PKCs for IL-5, respectively, were identified as additional required pathways. Inhibition of the classical and nonclassical PKCs, however, does not abrogate IL-5 induction but instead leads to a switch to mitogen-activated protein kinases, which then become essential. The activated branches of this "salvage" signaling cascade are represented by extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and c-jun NH2 terminal kinase 1 in allergically stimulated mast cells.


Serum testosterone, sperm quality, cytological, physicochemical and biochemical characteristics of the prostatic fraction of dogs with prostatomegaly.
Prostatomegaly is a common finding in older non-neutered dogs. This study compared the serum testosterone, sperm quality and characteristics of the prostatic fraction between healthy dogs and dogs with prostatomegaly. Blood samples of ten dogs (five dogs from each group) were taken for serum testosterone measurement. Sperm motility, vigour, concentration, viability, membrane functionality and morphology were analysed in sperm-rich fraction. Osmolality, pH, cell types, and albumin, haemoglobin, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and chloride were analysed in prostatic fraction. Dogs with prostatomegaly have the lowest sperm motility, vigour, concentration and functional membrane. Dogs with prostatomegaly have the highest glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol. Glucose was the only constituent positively correlated with serum testosterone and prostate volume. It can be concluded that dogs with prostatomegaly have poorer sperm quality, and glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol in prostatic fraction can be used as prostatomegaly biomarkers.


Discriminatory value of blood urea:creatinine ratio in upper gastrointestinal bleeding with and without cirrhosis of liver.
To evaluate the discriminatory ability of blood urea:creatinine ratio in upper gastro-intestinal bleeding (UGIB) with and without cirrhosis of liver. Blood urea:creatinine (BU/CR) ratio in 160 adult patients of UGIB were studied after excluding clinically overt cirrhosis of liver, renal failure and hematochezia. All were subjected to ultrasonography of abdomen. Only those showing cirrhosis and portal hypertension (n=76) were taken up for liver biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. BU/CR ratio was compared to UGIB cases without cirrhosis of liver (n=84). The mean (+/- SD) blood urea creatinine ratio was significantly lower in the group with cirrhosis than without cirrhosis of liver (22.49 +/- 6.13 vs. 38.07 +/- 8.08, Z value 13.91). In absence of renal failure, the blood urea/creatinine ratio may differentiate UGIB with associated cirrhosis of liver from those without. Being simple, cheap and readily available, it can be of some value in those patients with cirrhosis of liver clinically not associated with gross findings of cirrhosis. In our study it was also noted that, an arbitrary cut-off value of 30 showed considerable overlap between the two groups; hence this ratio may not always differentiate between the cirrhotics and non-cirrhotics. Therefore, reproducibility of these results needs further studies, taking into account other factors which can modify the BU level in our population.


A programmable Y-shaped junction scaffold-mediated modular and cascade amplification strategy for the one-step, isothermal and ultrasensitive detection of target DNA.
The programmable DNA polymerization across the two branches of the assembled Y-shaped junction was ingeniously manipulated for modular target recycling and cascade lambda exonuclease cleavage, which afforded the one-pot, isothermal and ultrasensitive detection of target DNA. A low detection limit of 28.2 fM of target DNA with an excellent selectivity could be obtained.


Innovation in measuring obese patients' blood pressure: measurement with conical wrapping technique.
Accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP) is difficult in obese patients due to their upper arm shape and width. Errors made during BP measurement cause misdiagnosis or lead to wrong treatment. The data of this methodological study were collected from 40 patients who were 18 years old or above, with a BMI above 25 kg/m2, and who were followed up with radial catheter arterial pressure in adult intensive care and postoperative care units between March and December 2020. In total 55% of the participants were male with a mean age of 63.9 years, mean height of 165.7 cm, mean weight of 85.2 kg and mean BMI of 31.0 ± 2.1 kg/m2. Intra-arterial BP (IABP) measurement values were found to be correlated with conical wrapping technique and cylindrical wrapping technique (P < 0.001). As a result, a statistically significance was found between conical SBP and intra-arterial SBP (r = 0.921; P < 0.05) and conical DBP and intra-arterial DBP (r = 0.902; P < 0.05). It was determined that the SBP and DBP results of the conical wrapping technique were closer to the results obtained by IABP measurements. For this reason, it is more appropriate to measure BP with conical wrapping technique in clinically obese patients.


Instrument to assess the nursing care product: development and content validation.
develop and validate the content of a tool about nursing care production. the data were collected between 2011 and 2013, based on focus groups, the application of semistructured questionnaires (prototype test) and the Delphi technique. The focus groups were used to produce the instrument items and held at three hospitals in the interior of the State of São Paulo, involving 20 nurses. A panel of 10 experts evaluated the instrument. after two phases of the Delphi technique, the tool consisted of eight items. The content validity index of the scale corresponded to ≥0.9 and the content validity of the items ranged between 0.8 and 1.0, indicating the maintenance of the structure and content. The assertion on the applicability in daily nursing practice showed a content validity index of the scale equal to 0.8. this study permitted the development and content validation of scale on nursing care production, equipping the nurses in their management practice.


Laparoscopic resection of a primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma: report of a case.
Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystic tumors are extremely rare, and although their histogenesis is still uncertain, several theories have been proposed. Traditionally, transabdominal laparotomy and enucleation of the cyst is the treatment of choice and laparoscopic resection has not previously been reported. This paper presents the case of a 48-year-old woman in whom a primary retroperitoneal cystic mass, 15 x 13 x 9 cm in size, was successfully resected through the laparoscope. Pathological examination revealed a mucinous cystadenoma with borderline malignancy. The patient had a prompt recovery and there was no evidence of recurrence at her 8-month follow-up. However, the prevention of cystic fluid spillage during laparoscopic manipulation is important, especially when the pathology of the retroperitoneal cyst is unclear.


Validity of an Accelerometer Used to Measure Step Count in Children With Idiopathic Toe Walking.
To assess the validity of accelerometer use in children with idiopathic toe walking (ITW). Seventy-five children, 2 to 13 years old, with ITW were videotaped ambulating 50 ft wearing a NL-1000 accelerometer. Because of concerns for accelerometer accuracy in young children, 2 groups were created: 5 years or younger (n = 45) and 6 years or older (n = 30). Step counts recorded via accelerometer and video were compared and correlated. There was a significant difference in accelerometer and video step counts for 2- to 5-year-olds (W = 72.00, P < .001). No significant difference was found for 6- to 13-year-olds (W = 65.00, P = .24). Spearman ρ values were 0.78 and 0.92 for the 5 years or younger and 6 years or older groups, respectively. Accelerometers accurately count steps in 6- to 13-year-olds with ITW but are inaccurate in 2- to 5-year-olds.


Enhanced sensitivity by nonuniform sampling enables multidimensional MAS NMR spectroscopy of protein assemblies.
We report dramatic sensitivity enhancements in multidimensional MAS NMR spectra by the use of nonuniform sampling (NUS) and introduce maximum entropy interpolation (MINT) processing that assures the linearity between the time and frequency domains of the NUS acquired data sets. A systematic analysis of sensitivity and resolution in 2D and 3D NUS spectra reveals that with NUS, at least 1.5- to 2-fold sensitivity enhancement can be attained in each indirect dimension without compromising the spectral resolution. These enhancements are similar to or higher than those attained by the newest-generation commercial cryogenic probes. We explore the benefits of this NUS/MaxEnt approach in proteins and protein assemblies using 1-73-(U-(13)C,(15)N)/74-108-(U-(15)N) Escherichia coli thioredoxin reassembly. We demonstrate that in thioredoxin reassembly, NUS permits acquisition of high-quality 3D-NCACX spectra, which are inaccessible with conventional sampling due to prohibitively long experiment times. Of critical importance, issues that hinder NUS-based SNR enhancement in 3D-NMR of liquids are mitigated in the study of solid samples in which theoretical enhancements on the order of 3-4 fold are accessible by compounding the NUS-based SNR enhancement of each indirect dimension. NUS/MINT is anticipated to be widely applicable and advantageous for multidimensional heteronuclear MAS NMR spectroscopy of proteins, protein assemblies, and other biological systems.


Ion-energy dependence of asymmetric dissociation of D2 by a two-color laser field.
Two-color (800 and 400 nm) short (45 fs) linearly polarized pulses are used to ionize and dissociate D2 into a neutral deuterium atom and a deuteron. The yields and energies of the ions are measured left and right along the polarization vector. As the relative phase of the two colors is varied, strong yield asymmetries are found in the ion-energy regions traditionally identified as bond softening, above-threshold dissociation and rescattering. The asymmetries in these regions are quite different. A model based on the dynamic coupling by the laser field of the gerade and ungerade states in the molecular ion accounts for many of the observed features.


[Demonstration of circulating immune complexes using a C1q-solid phase enzyme immunoassay].
An enzyme-immunoassay for the quantitative determination of circulating immune complexes in human serum is described. The technique uses alkaline phosphatase-conjugated anti-human IgG to detect immune complexes bound to solid phase C1q. This assay is sensitive detecting 4 ng/ml to 60 micrograms/ml aggregated IgG. First data from normal individuals and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus show that this method is specific and sensitive for detection of circulating immune complexes.


Chemotherapy ± cetuximab modulates peripheral immune responses in metastatic colorectal cancer.
To identify changes in peripheral immune responses in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with irinotecan/5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (IFL) alone or in combination with cetuximab (C-IFL). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from healthy donors (n = 20) and patients with mCRC receiving treatment with either IFL (n = 30) or C-IFL (n = 30) were tested for cytokine production upon polyclonal stimulation with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, T cell proliferation in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (auto-MLR) and T regulatory cell (Treg) frequency. The respective results were evaluated over two treatment cycles and further assessed in relation to response to treatment. PBMCs prior to treatment exhibited significantly lower production of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-18 cytokines and lower auto-MLR responses, whereas Treg frequency, IL-4, IL-10 cytokines were increased compared to healthy donors. During treatment, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-18 and auto-MLR responses increased, while Treg frequency and IL-10 secretion decreased significantly compared to the baseline. Responders to treatment exhibited a significantly higher increase in IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-18 production and auto-MLR responses, and higher decrease in IL-4, IL-10 secretion and Treg frequency. Among all patient subgroups analysed, responders to C-IFL demonstrated significantly higher increase in auto-MLR responses, IL-12 and IL-18 secretion and higher decrease in Treg frequency. The disturbed immune parameters observed in patients with mCRC at presentation can be significantly improved during treatment with IFL and this effect can be potentiated by the addition of cetuximab. Monitoring of the peripheral immune system function could be used as surrogate marker in predicting treatment-related outcome.


[Steroid hormone receptors in benign breast diseases].
Benign breast diseases generally occur in women with progesterone insufficiency and an unopposed estrogen status. This hormonal imbalance is also a main risk factor for breast cancer in the long run. The presence of estradiol and progesterone receptors in benign breast disease are additional proof of their hormone dependence. The level of receptors is higher when the epithelial cellularity is high and also in more recent lesions, and younger women. The level and subcellular location of the receptors also depend on the endogenous secretion of steroids: their level varies throughout the menstrual cycle, and it is maximal at the end of the follicular phase, due to the high estradiol secretion. The cytosol and nuclear level and location of the receptors are also modified by hormonal therapy: estrogen-progestagens given as a contraceptive, or progestins given as a substitutive and antiestrogen therapy. These modifications constitute a biochemical basis for the hormonal progestagen treatment of benign breast diseases.


[Calmette-Guerin bacillus disseminated infection after intravesical instillation].
Local immunotherapy with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is an effective and frequently used treatment for superficial bladder cancer. Serious side effects are infrequent but can affect every organ system. We describe a 53 year- old man with a disseminated bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection after intravescical instillation for bladder carcinoma. Recent literature is reviewed for this rare complication.


Hazardous complications of multiple ingested magnets: report of four cases.
Foreign body ingestion is a common occurrence in the pediatric population. Frequent culprits include coins, toys, sharp objects and bones, which most often pass spontaneously. Magnet ingestion, however, can be a serious matter, especially when more than one is taken in. The extremely strong magnetic force between multiple magnets may result in numerous complications including bowel necrosis, perforation, obstruction, fistula formation, volvulus and death. We present the largest series reported to date, with four cases of multiple magnet ingestion at our institution with varied presentations and findings. We review the literature, and discuss the importance of having a high index of suspicion.


The relationship between temperature and calcium in acute cell damage after exposure to radiofrequency or thermal energy in isolated neonatal and adult rabbit cardiac myocytes.
Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is a nonsurgical technique using catheter-directed RF energy for treating cardiac arrhythmias in children and adults. Previous reports have suggested that sequestration of calcium (Ca2+) by the sarcoplasmic reticulum may partially protect mature cardiac myocytes from the effects of RF energy. The purposes of this study were to determine whether differences exist between neonatal and adult myocyte responses to RF energy and if myocyte damage is a Ca2+-dependent process. Because immature myocardium is functionally deficient in sarcoplasmic reticulum, we hypothesized that immature myocytes would be more susceptible to damage induced by RF energy. Isolated ventricular myocytes were obtained from neonatal and adult New Zealand White rabbits by enzymatic dissociation, then placed in a perfusion chamber designed to deliver RF energy or a heated perfusate solution. Measurements of bath temperature, cell morphology, and contractile response to electrical stimuli were recorded. RF energy application associated with increased perfusate temperature resulted in cell death, but not when the temperature rise was inhibited. Thus, the acute damage to cells exposed to RF energy appears to be mediated by thermal energy. After exposure to thermal energy, neonatal cells underwent contracture at lower temperatures than did adult cells. Perfusion with solutions containing low Ca2+ concentrations, comparable to intracellular diastolic Ca2+ levels, had a protective effect for both neonatal and adult myocytes. These findings indicate that acute cell damage after exposure to RF energy is mediated by a Ca2+-dependent process. Furthermore, immature myocardium is particularly susceptible to RF-mediated cell damage, possibly secondary to reduced Ca2+ sequestration by the sarcoplasmic reticulum.


[Assessment of marbling in the eggs of local beeds of chickens].
A test was worked out to evaluate the presence of marbling in hen eggs, modifying Koulikov's method. Its use with a total of 26,011 eggs of hens, belonging to local breeds, revealed the presence of weakest, weak, and moderate marbleness as most frequently occurring (32.72; 48.53; 15.57 per cent); strong, and very strong marbling occurred least frequently, and third ranked the lack of marbling 1.92; 0.76; 0.48 per cent, respectively. The incubation of eggs of the same breeds showed that strong and very strong marbling affected adversely the results of hatching. The test can be applied in the productional and diagnostic control on hatcheries.


Exploring plasmonic effect on exciton transport: A theoretical insight from macroscopic quantum electrodynamics.
Exciton transport in extended molecular systems and how to manipulate such transport in a complex environment are essential to many energy and optical-related applications. We investigate the mechanism of plasmon-coupled exciton transport by using the Pauli master equation approach, combined with kinetic rates derived from macroscopic quantum electrodynamics. Through our theoretical framework, we demonstrate that the presence of a silver nanorod induces significant frequency dependence in the ability of transporting exciton through a molecule chain, indicated by the exciton diffusion coefficient, due to the dispersive nature of the silver dielectric response. Compared with the same system in vacuum, great enhancement (up to a factor of 103) in the diffusion coefficient can be achieved by coupling the resonance energy transfer process to localized surface plasmon polariton modes of the nanorod. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that the diffusion coefficients with the nearest-neighbor coupling approximation are ∼10 times smaller than the results obtained beyond this approximation, emphasizing the significance of long-range coupling in exciton transport influenced by plasmonic nanostructures. This study not only paves the way for exploring practical approaches to study plasmon-coupled exciton transport but also provides crucial insights for the design of innovative plasmon-assisted photovoltaic applications.


A quantitative trait locus for oleic fatty acid content on Sus scrofa chromosome 7.
A partial genome scan using microsatellite markers was conducted to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 10 fatty acid contents of backfat on 15 chromosomes in a porcine resource population. Two QTLs were discovered on Sus scrofa chromosome 4 (SSC4) and SSC7. The QTL on SSC4 was located between marker loci sw1336 and sw512, and this QTL was detected (P < 0.05) only for linoleic acid. Its position was in proximity of those mapped for linoleic acid content in previous studies. The QTL on SSC7 was mapped between markers swr1343 and sw2155, and it was significant (P < 0.05) only for oleic acid. A novelty of the QTL for oleic acid was suggested because the QTL was located far from any other QTLs previously mapped for fatness traits. The QTL on SSC7 explained 19% of phenotypic variation for oleic acid content. Further studies on fine mapping and positional comparative candidate gene analysis would be the next step toward better understanding of the genetic architecture of fatty acid contents.


Correlation of oral allergy syndrome due to plant-derived foods with pollen sensitization in Japan.
The clinical features of patients with oral allergy syndrome (OAS) due to plant-derived foods related to pollen allergy have been rarely reported in Japan. To evaluate the characteristics of OAS and to investigate whether pollen sensitizations are correlated with the prevalence of OAS in Japan. We measured specific IgE antibodies against 5 pollens in 622 outpatients (277 males and 345 females; mean age, 37 years) with atopic dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, and food allergy during a 2-year period. Furthermore, OAS is diagnosed based on anamnesis and positive skin prick test reactions to suspected foods. Eighteen of the 436 patients (4.1%) sensitized to pollens were diagnosed as having OAS. Rates of specific IgE antibody-positive responses against Japanese cedar, ragweed, orchard grass, mugwort, and alder pollen were 69.8%, 35.3%, 29.1%, 24.1%, and 19.6%, respectively. The prevalence of OAS showed a significant positive correlation with sensitization to alder (P < .001). In addition, the most frequent causative foods were found to be apple, peach, and melon. The prevalence of OAS due to apple showed a significant positive correlation with sensitization to alder (P < .001) pollen, due to peach showed a significant positive correlation with sensitization to alder (P < .001) and orchard grass (P < .05) pollen, and due to melon showed a significant positive correlation with sensitization to alder (P < .005), orchard grass (P < .05), and ragweed (P < .05) pollen. Sensitization to pollens from species in the Betulaceae family is most strongly implicated in causing OAS in Japan.


Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the C-terminal domain of Chlamydia trachomatis CdsD.
The inner membrane ring of the bacterial type III secretion system (TTSS) is composed of two proteins. In Chlamydia trachomatis this ring is formed by CdsD (gene name CT_664) and CdsJ (gene name CTA_0609). CdsD consists of 829 amino acids. The last 400 amino acids at its C-terminal end relate it to the type III secretion system YscD/HrpQ protein family. The C-terminal domain, consisting of amino acids 558-771, of C. trachomatis CdsD was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified using immobilized metal-affinity chromatography (IMAC) and size-exclusion chromatography. The protein was crystallized using the vapour-diffusion method. A data set was collected to 2.26 Å resolution. The crystals have the symmetry of space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 106.60, b = 23.91, c = 118.65 Å, β = 104.95°. According to the data analysis there is expected to be one molecule in the asymmetric unit, with a Matthews coefficient of 3.0 Å(3) Da(-1).


A single case of rosai-dorfman disease marked by pathologic fractures, kidney failure, and liver cirrhosis treated with single-agent cladribine.
Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a proliferative histiocytic disorder of unknown etiology, which is characterized by sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (1). In most cases, RDD has a benign course and treatment is not necessary. However, severe cases of RDD require treatment, and the treatment strategy is determined on the basis of the severity of the disease or the extranodal involvement of vital organs. We report a single case of RDD with atypical presentation of persistent constitutional symptoms, progressing pathologic fractures, and end-organ dysfunction, including acute kidney failure and liver cirrhosis with esophageal varices.


Limping in childhood.
Limp is an abnormal gait which can be caused by pain, muscular dysfunction or deformity. Limp is never normal and the cause should be established. There is a long list of possible diagnoses. A complete history and thorough physical examination are the most helpful tools in sorting out the various causes of limping. Laboratory tests and imaging studies should be based on findings in the history and physical examination. Certain causes of limping must be diagnosed at the first visit. Sometimes the cause of limping cannot be determined, and after exclusion of any serious disease, the child should be observed. Many of them will have spontaneous resolution without treatment.


Carpal tunnel syndrome assessment with US: value of additional cross-sectional area measurements of the median nerve in patients versus healthy volunteers.
To improve accuracy in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by comparing cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements of the median nerve obtained at the level of the carpal tunnel (CSAc) with those obtained more proximally (CSAp), at the level of the pronator quadratus muscle. The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board, and all subjects gave written informed consent. One hundred wrists of 68 consecutive patients with CTS (16 men, 52 women; mean age, 57.9 years; range, 25-85 years) and 93 wrists of 58 healthy volunteers (16 male, 42 female; mean age, 55.1 years; range, 17-85 years) were examined with ultrasonography (US). Electrodiagnostic test results confirmed the diagnosis of CTS in all 68 patients. The US examiner was blinded to these test results. The CSA of the median nerve was measured at the carpal tunnel and proximal levels, and the difference between CSAc and CSAp (Delta CSA) was calculated for each wrist. The mean CSAc in healthy volunteers (9.0 mm(2)) was smaller than that in patients (16.8 mm(2), P < .01). The mean Delta CSA was smaller in asymptomatic wrists (0.25 mm(2)) than in CTS-affected wrists (7.4 mm(2), P < .01). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a diagnostic advantage to using the Delta CSA rather than the CSAc (P = .036). Use of a Delta CSA threshold of 2 mm(2) yielded the greatest sensitivity (99%) and specificity (100%) for the diagnosis of CTS. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed improved accuracy in the diagnosis of CTS determined with the Delta CSA compared with the accuracy of the diagnosis determined with the CSAc.


Simulation of a generalized asset exchange model with economic growth and wealth distribution.
The agent-based yard-sale model of wealth inequality is generalized to incorporate exponential economic growth and its distribution. The distribution of economic growth is nonuniform and is determined by the wealth of each agent and a parameter λ. Our numerical results indicate that the model has a critical point at λ=1 between a phase for λ<1 with economic mobility and exponentially growing wealth of all agents and a nonstationary phase for λ≥1 with wealth condensation and no mobility. We define the energy of the system and show that the system can be considered to be in thermodynamic equilibrium for λ<1. Our estimates of various critical exponents are consistent with a mean-field theory [see W. Klein et al., following paper, Phys. Rev. E 104, 014151 (2021)10.1103/PhysRevE.104.014151]. The exponents do not obey the usual scaling laws unless a combination of parameters that we refer to as the Ginzburg parameter is held fixed as the phase transition is approached. The model illustrates that both poorer and richer agents benefit from economic growth if its distribution does not favor the richer agents too strongly. This work and the following theoretical paper contribute to our understanding of whether the methods of equilibrium statistical mechanics can be applied to economic systems.


Maxwell times in higher-order generalized hydrodynamics: Classical fluids, and carriers and phonons in semiconductors.
A family of what can be so-called Maxwell times which arises in the context of higher-order generalized hydrodynamics (HOGH; also called mesoscopic hydrothermodynamics) is evidenced. This is done in the framework of a HOGH built within a statistical formalism in terms of a nonequilibrium statistical ensemble formalism. It consists in a description in terms of the densities of particles and energy and their fluxes of all orders, with the motion described by a set of coupled nonlinear integro-differential equations involving them. These Maxwell times have a fundamental role in determining the type of hydrodynamic motion that the system would display in the given conditions and constraints. They determine a Maxwell viscous force not present in the usual hydrodynamic equations, for example, in Navier-Stokes equation.


[Ultrastructural study of bacterial plaques from caries-free human subjects (author's transl)].
Bacterial plaques from the teeth of individuals without caries were prepared for examination under the electron microscope (Ryter and Kellenberger's fixation). Microbial polymorphism within bacterial plaques has previously been usually studied in relation to the age of the plaque. Actually, the presence of polymorphous micro-organisms and variations in microbial density observed in 48 hours old plaques, must be related to other factors. Micro-organisms of the same type, as well as bacteria of different types which adhere together, reveal symbiosis and a competition process within the bacterial plaque, thus leading to changes in metabolism and lysis of many of the bacteria. Disturbances in bacterial cell walls; septal vesicular formation and intracellular structures are observed. Bacteriophages found in the plaques may be the cause of lysis of bacteria. Disturbances in bacterial metabolism could explain the lack of carcinogenicity of micro-organisms, and bacterial antigenic complexes which induce probably useful immunological reactions in the host are revealed by the lack of dental caries.


Making community palliative and end-of-life care sustainable; investigating the adaptability of rural Australian service provision.
With the increased attention and demand on community-based palliative and end-of-life (EOL) care services comes the question of how to ensure their sustainability. Sustainability has three key attributes: acceptability, affordability and adaptability. Having established the acceptability and affordability of the community-based service, this paper focussed on adaptability, as the remaining issue affecting long-term sustainability. The aim of this study was to identify components of the palliative and EOL service which require adaptability to ensure long-term sustainability for the service. A mixed methods approach was used for this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with family members. Semi-structured focus groups and interviews were held with health professionals. Patient data were included to describe frequency and nature of contacts. The results were analysed using descriptive analysis. The setting was a rural town in Victoria, Australia. Nine family members were interviewed, and 16 health professionals were interviewed or took part in a focus group. Patient data included 121 participants. Four themes were identified: the uniqueness of the patient, workforce issues, collaboration between services and symptom and pain management. All themes indicated that the palliative and EOL service faces challenges which may threaten the sustainability of the service and require adaptability. Families regard palliative and EOL care as special and valued, and appreciate the endeavour, care and support taken to assist their loved one to die with dignity regardless of the location and setting. With sufficient attention paid to the adaptability of the service, community palliative and EOL care service can become more sustainable, thus offering choice and dignity for people approaching the end of life.


Evaluation of treatment for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in dogs with ligated pancreatic ducts.
Clinical evaluations and measurements of maldigestion and malabsorption were made in dogs before and after ligation of pancreatic ducts. Fecal wet and dry weights were 300% greater after duct ligation. Fecal fat excretion of dietary intake increased from 9% to 84%. An indirect test of pancreatic function revealed a disappearance of intestinal chymotrypsin activity. All values tested improved during replacement with 5 ml of enzyme powder/day. Little additional improvement was observed after doubling or quadrupling this dose. Little or no additional improvement was seen with the following additions to enzymes: 30-minute preincubation of enzymes with food, antacids, cimetidine (except high dose), neomycin, or bile acids. Enzymes in uncoated tablets were less effective, unless the tablets were crushed.


[Economic evaluation of the treatment of systemic fungal infections in immunocompromised patients: the role of itraconazole].
In recent years, the incidence of HIV infection, the intensity of chemotherapy regimens for cancer and the use of bone marrow transplantation have all increased. This results in an increase in the incidence of systemic fungal infections, which are associated high rates of morbidity and mortality in this immunosuppressed population; the incidence is growing: 50% for neutropenic/transplant bone marrow patients and 5-20% for organ transplant. Fluconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin-B and, in the recent years, caspofungin and voriconazole are the most frequently used antifungal agents. However, the newly developed formulations of itraconazole and lipid-associated formulations of amphotericin-B have provide new treatment options for systemic fungal infection and have prompted a number of comparisons of the treatment costs of empirical therapy. The i.v. formulation of itraconazole may be more cost effective than either conventional or liposomial formulations of amphotericin-B when used as empirical therapy for neutropenic patients with persistent fever despite broad spectrum antibiotic therapy, but further studies are required. The lack of studies, national and international, and the small amount of available data on the cost of systemic fungal infections mean that the costs saving from prophylactic and empirical use of antifungals are difficult to estimate.


The photoplethysmographic amplitude to pulse pressure ratio can track sudden changes in vascular compliance and resistance during liver graft reperfusion: A beat-to-beat analysis.
During liver transplantation, the thermodilution cardiac output (CO) technique cannot respond to sudden hemodynamic changes associated with postreperfusion syndrome. Photoplethysmography (PPG) can reflect changes in intravascular volume and thus can be used to assess vasomotor tone and arterial stiffness on the pressure-volume relation. We investigated whether a beat-to-beat analysis of the arterial pressure-PPG relationship can estimate dynamic changes in vascular characteristics immediately after liver graft reperfusion.In 10 recipients, arterial blood pressure and PPG waveforms recorded simultaneously were analyzed from the beginning of fall to nadir in systolic blood pressure immediately after reperfusion. On a beat-to-beat basis, we compared the ratio of the amplitude of PPG to arterial pulse pressure (PPGamp/PP, as relative vascular compliance) to total peripheral resistance (TPR) and Windkessel compliance (Cwk) obtained from the Modelflow CO algorithm.Following graft reperfusion, PPGamp/PP and Cwk increased (median 41.5%; P = .005 and 42.0%; P < .001, respectively), whereas TPR decreased (median -46.4%; P < .001). Beat-to-beat PPGamp/PP was negatively correlated with TPR (median r = -0.80 [95% CI -0.85 to -0.76] on linear regression and r = 0.84 [95% CI 0.73-0.92] on curvilinear regression), and was positively correlated with Cwk (median r = 0.86 [95% CI 0.81-0.91] on linear regression and r = 0.88 [95% CI 0.75-0.96] on curvilinear regression).Our results suggest that relative compliance, obtained from beat-to-beat analysis of PPG and arterial pressure waveforms, can track abrupt changes in vascular characteristics associated with postreperfusion syndrome. This simple index would contribute to differential diagnoses of sudden hypotension.


E-learning for students in their first year: a French experimentation at the medical school of Grenoble.
A local study carried out in the Medical School of Grenoble shows that teaching in the first year in medicine studies satisfies neither the students, nor the teachers. The Faculty of Medicine of Grenoble decided to set up a reform in order to offer a high quality education. This reform leads to a complete reorganization of the curriculum and to the intensive use of new information and communication technologies of information, in particular, the use of multimedia documents. The communication and information technologies team of the Faculty of Medicine of Grenoble carried out an innovating and daring reform to start at the academic year 2006-2007. The new course is built on three activities: self learning on multi-media resources, meetings with teachers for questions-answers sessions and tutorials animated by older students. This article reports the first results for this successful project. In the academic year 2006-2007, are concerned 1290 students, 40 teachers and 8 disciplines.


[Structural organization of the cell walls in yeasts of the genus Candida].
The structural organization of the outer layer of cell walls was studied in three species of the Candida genus using a proteolytic digestion followed by an analysis of the resultant cell wall fragments by the techniques of gel filtration and PMR. Differences were found in the thickness of the outer cell wall layer removed by proteases as well as in the structural arrangement of polysaccharide molecules in this layer.


Aortoenteric Fistula: A Differential Diagnosis of Anemia.
Aortoenteric fistulas (AEFs) are a rare and deadly cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that can be easily overlooked, leading to massive bleeding. Secondary AEFs are more common than primary AEFs. An example of a secondary cause of anemia is postoperative hemorrhage due to a surgically placed aortic graft or after endovascular aneurysm repair. This report aims to increase the awareness of AEF as a differential diagnosis when anemia is detected. The clinical report presents a case of anemia in a 79-year-old man due to a secondary AEF, which occurred in a patient who had undergone abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery 10 years before. Surgical repair is considered the gold standard for AEF treatment; however, in this case, the patient was managed with medical therapy and discharged after two months.


[Advancement in the research of fractional carbon dioxide laser in treating burn scars].
This paper reviews the new progress in the research of fractional carbon dioxide laser in treating hypertrophic scar after burn injury, which remains a challenging problem for burn care surgeons. There have been many traditional therapeutic approaches, such as compression remedy, operation, and so on. However, a satisfactory method is lacking to date. In recent years, the newly developed fractional carbon dioxide laser has been employed to treat different kinds of scars, and it has been proved to be effective in terms of an improvement of scar color, texture, and rigidity. It seems to be a promising method for scar treatment in future.


Selenized polysaccharides - Biosynthesis and structural analysis.
The main objective of our research was to analyze the structure of the Se-containing polysaccharides and to examine how the selenium is bound to the polysaccharide molecule. During investigation of the biosynthesis of new immunomodulators, we isolated a selenium (Se)-containing polysaccharide-protein fraction containing proteoglycans of molecular weights of 3.9 × 106 Da and 2.6 × 105 Da, composed of glucose or mannose, nearly 8% of protein and 190 μg Se/g dry weight. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) data analysis in the near edge region (XANES) confirmed that selenium in the Se-polysaccharides structure is present at the -II oxidation state and that Se is organically bound. The simulation analysis in the EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) region suggested that selenium is most likely bound by a glycosidic-link in a β-1,3 or α-1,4-glycosidic bond or substituted for oxygen in a pyranosidic ring. Calculations performed with Gaussian 03 software predicted deformations in the polysaccharide structure caused by the incorporation of the selenium atom including change in bond lengths and torsion angles and, as a result, disappearance of hydrogen bonds in the vicinity of the selenium atoms.


[Pirenzepine and cimetidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer].
The efficacy of pirenzepin--of anticholinergic effect--and the H2-receptor blocking cimetidine has been studied in duodenal ulcer with random, double blind fashion. Recurrence examinations were carried out 6 and 12 months following the treatment. 50 patients were given pirenzepin and 50 cimetidine. The average age of the patients was 44.5 and 43.8 years respectively. Of them 60 (24 + 36) were men and 40 (26 + 14) women. At the start, 6 weeks following the start 6 and 12 months after the finishing of the treatment gastroscopy was performed. In the course of the six-week-long treatment 38 (76%) of the pirenzepin taking patients and 36 (72%) of the cimetidine taking patients recovered. No significant difference was found between the efficacy of the both treatments. In the respect of the half and one year recurrence, no significant difference was observed between the two patient groups. Ten of the patients taking pirenzepin and 4 of those taking cimetidine complained of side effects. Dryness of mouth, visual disturbance in the former group and constipation in the latter one. On the basis of the examinations both secretion inhibitors were found equally suitable for the therapy of duodenal ulcer.


Ordered genome change of plant and animal body cells revealed by the genome profiling method.
In the past, it was widely thought that, although epigenetically different, the genome sequences of cells are basically the same in a single body. In retrospect, the genome-uniformity idea may have been naïve, considering that DNA polymerases cannot be perfect. Here, a systemic, not sporadic, genome change was demonstrated in a single plant (Arabidopsis) and animal (zebrafish) body using genome DNAs taken in an ordered manner using the genome profiling method. This can be explained because mutations accumulate additively in progeny cells, and these results are critically significant for developmental and oncological research.


Sirt3 Promoted DNA Damage Repair and Radioresistance Through ATM-Chk2 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.
Objective: Radiotherapy is an indispensable approach for lung cancer, especially for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high incidence and mortality. However, cellular resistance to ionizing radiation often results in failure in treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of Sirt3 in radiotherapy on NSCLC. Materials and Methods: Resected samples from 80 pairs of lung cancer was used to prepare tissue array and Sirt3 was stained with immunochemical method. Cell survival as well as apoptosis assay were used to determine the cellular radiosensitivity. Moreover, DNA damage was evaluated by using γ-H2AX foci. Finally, an in situ lung cancer model to test the radiosensitivity in vivo. Results: Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) was found upregulated in NSCLC cell lines, as well as lung cancer tissues compared with normal tissues. Knockdown of Sirt3 significantly increased radiation-induced cell apoptosis, and increased cell survival efficacy. In contrast, Sirt3 overexpression promoted radioresistance in lung cancer cells. Sirt3 knockdown also aggravated the G2/M cell cycle arrest caused by irradiation. Furthermore, Sirt3 was found to be critical for the activation of ATM-Chk2 pathway upon irradiation. Finally, our in vivo model showed that targeting Sirt3 significantly sensitized lung cancer to radiotherapy. Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings identified a significant role of Sirt3 in radioresistanct of NSCLC, which provides novel mechanism as well as target for radiotherapy.


[Research on relationship of syndrome type and parameters of hemorheology and platelet activation in patients with acute gout arthritis of dampness-heat blockage type and stasis-heat accumulate type].
To study the relationship between syndrome type and the parameters of hemorrheology and platelet activation in patients with acute gout arthritis of dampness-heat blockage (DHB) type and stasis-heat accumulation (SHA) type. Forty patients with acute gouty arthritis were divided into 2 groups according to TCM syndrome differentiation, the DHB group (n=24) and the SHA group (n=16), and 20 healthy people were taken as the control group. Hemorrheological parameters, platelet activating factor (PAC-1) and P-selection (CD62p) in them were detected. Plasma viscosity, outcome of erythrocyte sedimentation and K value of its equation, levels of PAC-1 and CD62p were higher, erythrocyte electrophoresis index was significantly lower in gout patients of both types than those in the control group (all P < 0.01), and the levels of PAC-1 and CD62p in the SHA group were higher than those in the DHB group (P < 0.05). DHB type and SHA syndrome type of acute gout arthritis are correlated with parameters of hemorrheology and platelet activation, and the different levels of these pameters showed in the two types, may be the internal factors for their genesis.


Analysis of urine using electronic tongue towards non-invasive cancer diagnosis.
Electronic tongues (e-tongues) have been broadly employed in monitoring the quality of food, beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products, and in diagnosis of diseases, as the e-tongues can discriminate samples of high complexity, reduce interference of the matrix, offer rapid response. Compared to other analytical approaches using expensive and complex instrumentation as well as required sample preparation, the e-tongue is non-destructive, miniaturizable and on-site method with little or no preparation of samples. Even though e-tongues are successfully commercialized, their application in cancer diagnosis from urine samples is underestimated. In this review, we would like to highlight the various analytical techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods (potentiometry and voltammetry) used as e-tongues for urine analysis towards non-invasive cancer diagnosis. Besides, different machine learning approaches, for instance, supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms are introduced to analyze extracted chemical data. Finally, capabilities of e-tongues in distinguishing between patients diagnosed with cancer and healthy controls are highlighted.


[Ureteral cancer producing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor: a case report].
A 60-year-old man who underwent radical nephroureterectomy due to left ureteral cancer 22 months before (transitional cell carcinoma, pT4pN0Mx, grade 2, INF beta), was admitted to the hospital with the chief compliant of anorexia and body weight loss. The patient had severe leukocytosis and elevation of C-reactive protein, with no obvious focus of infection. Abdominal plain computed tomographic scan revealed left external ileac lymph node swelling. Positron emission tomography demonstrated left external ileac lymph node recurrence. Enzyme immunoassay of the serum demonstrated a markedly high concentration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; 790 pg/ml). Immunohistochemical examination of ureteral cancer cells with anti-G-CSF monoclonal antibody demonstrated G-CSF production in cancer cells. After diagnosed as lymph node recurrence of ureteral cancer producing G-CSF, the patient underwent radiotherapy (total 4000 Gy). CT after radiotherapy showed the complete disappearance of the lymph node swelling. To our knowledge, this is the second report of ureteral cancer proven to produce G-CSF in Japan.


Stereoselective synthesis of the beta-anomer of 4'-thionucleosides based on electrophilic glycosidation to 4-thiofuranoid glycals.
Three types of 4-thiofuranoid glycal with different 3,5-O-silyl protecting groups were prepared and their electrophilic glycosidation was investigated. The 3,5-bis-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-4-thiofuranoid glycal (5) was obtained through mesylation of 2-deoxy-4-thio-D-erythro-pentofuranose (4) and subsequent base-promoted elimination, while thermal elimination of sulfoxide derivatives was suitable for the preparation of 3,5-O-(tetraisopropyldisiloxane-1,3-diyl) (9) and 3,5-O-(di-tert-butylsilylene) (11) 4-thioglycals. The glycosidation reactions of these 4-thioglycals were carried out, in the presence of either PhSeCl or NIS, by using silylated derivatives of uracil, thymine, cytosine, and N(6)-benzoyladenine. Among the three 4-thioglycals, 11 was found to be an excellent glycosyl donor, forming the desired beta-anomer exclusively irrespective of the nucleobase employed.


Inherent Serum Inhibition of Influenza Virus Neuraminidases.
Influenza virus vaccines have been designed for human and veterinary medicine. The development for broadly protective influenza virus vaccines has propelled the vaccine field to investigate and include neuraminidase (NA) components into new vaccine formulations. The antibody-mediated protection induced by NA vaccines is quantified by inhibition of sialic acid cleavage. Non-immune inhibitors against influenza viruses naturally occur in varying proportions in sera from different species. In this brief report, the inherent ability of raw animal sera to inhibit a panel of influenza virus NA was determined. Raw sera from the same species inhibited more than 50% of influenza viruses tested from four different subtypes, but the breadth of inhibiting NA activity depended on the source of sera. Furthermore, different influenza viruses were inhibited by different sources of sera. Overall, additional studies are needed to ensure that scientific methods are consistent across studies in order to compare NA inhibition results. Through future investigation into the differences between sera from different animal species and how they influence NA inhibition assays, there can be effective development of a broadly protective influenza virus vaccines for veterinary and human use.


Air-stable formamidinium/methylammonium mixed lead iodide perovskite integral microcrystals with low trap density and high photo-responsivity.
Here based on integral microcrystal (IMC) thin films of halide perovskites containing formamidinium (FA)/methylammonium (MA) mixed cations, afforded by a facile approach combining an anti-solvent and inverse temperature crystallization, we investigate the impact of the addition of MAPbBr3 on the phase, thermal and environmental stabilities as well as the opto-electronic properties in FA-based IMC films. By single-crystal XRD, FA based IMCs have been found to possess a perfect cubic structure showing a slight lattice contraction compared to pristine FAPbI3 crystals. In conjunction with optical and electrical analyses, the essential role of the introduced MA and Br ions in stabilizing the black phase in FA-based IMCs has been clarified, which explains the observed enhancement of photoluminescence and reduced trap densities. We also achieve stable pure FAPbI3 crystals that do not exhibit a yellow-phase transition after one month in air. By utilizing (FAPbI3)1-x(MAPbBr3)x IMCs as the photo-absorber, we realize highly photo-responsive photodiodes with a satisfactory stability in air and thermal stability upon heating. Of interest, the best photoresponsivity exceeding 300 A W-1 is achieved upon appropriate air-exposure, which is among the highest values reported for FA-based perovskite photodetectors. The air-modified optoelectronic behaviour can be related to the trap passivation through the surface physisorption of the environmental O2, leading to reduced trap densities and resultant harmful SRH recombination.


LHRH analogues in the treatment of endometriosis--comparative results with other treatments.
The induction of a state of hypo-oestrogenism has been found to be effective in the treatment of endometriosis. Continued administration of agonistic analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) results in the normal menstruating female developing normogonadotrophic-amenorrhoea with reduced circulating levels of oestradiol-17B, often within the menopausal range. Uncontrolled studies reported the efficacy of LHRH analogues in patients with mild, moderate and even severe endometriosis (American Fertility Society classification) following 6 months therapy. A number of large multi-centre randomized open or double blind trials comparing various LHRH analogues against danazol are currently underway. Published results available to date indicate that LHRH analogues and danazol are equally effective at reducing the symptoms of endometriosis and inducing complete or partial resolution of endometriotic deposits. Side-effects are, however, more severe with danazol therapy. The side-effects experienced with LHRH analogues are those expected from an induced state of hypo-oestrogenism--hot flushes, dry vagina, headaches, superficial dyspareunia--but are well tolerated by patients. The alterations observed in bone and calcium metabolism are comparable to those in the menopause--increased Ca++ loss and reversible loss of trabecular bone density have been reported. These effects may limit the duration and/or frequency of LHRH analogue treatment regimens. The valuable role of LHRH analogues in the treatment of endometriosis has been established and, as newer formulations become available, they are likely to play an increasingly important part in patient management.


Crucial Role of Stromal Interaction Molecule-Activated TRPC-ORAI Channels in Vascular Remodeling and Pulmonary Hypertension Induced by Intermittent Hypoxia.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep breathing disorder featured by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), is associate with pulmonary hypertension. Rats exposed to CIH develop lung vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension, which paralleled the upregulation of stromal interaction molecule (STIM)-activated TRPC-ORAI Ca2+ channels (STOC) in the lung, suggesting that STOC participate in the pulmonary vascular alterations. Accordingly, to evaluate the role played by STOC in pulmonary hypertension we studied whether the STOC blocker 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) may prevent the vascular remodeling and the pulmonary hypertension induced by CIH in a rat model of OSA. We assessed the effects of 2-APB on right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), pulmonary vascular remodeling, α-actin and proliferation marker Ki-67 levels in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC), mRNA levels of STOC subunits, and systemic and pulmonary oxidative stress (TBARS) in male Sprague-Dawley (200 g) rats exposed to CIH (5% O2, 12 times/h for 8h) for 28 days. At 14 days of CIH, osmotic pumps containing 2-APB (10 mg/kg/day) or its vehicle were implanted and rats were kept for 2 more weeks in CIH. Exposure to CIH for 28 days raised RVSP > 35 mm Hg, increased the medial layer thickness and the levels of α-actin and Ki-67 in PASMC, and increased the gene expression of TRPC1, TRPC4, TRPC6 and ORAI1 subunits. Treatment with 2-APB prevented the raise in RVSP and the increment of the medial layer thickness, as well as the increased levels of α-actin and Ki-67 in PASMC, and the increased gene expression of STOC subunits. In addition, 2-APB did not reduced the lung and systemic oxidative stress, suggesting that the effects of 2-APB on vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension are independent on the reduction of the oxidative stress. Thus, our results supported that STIM-activated TRPC-ORAI Ca2+ channels contributes to the lung vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension induced by CIH.


Reflection and extinction of light by self-assembled monolayers of a quinque-thiophene derivative: A coherent scattering approach.
Scattering matrix theory is used to describe resonant optical properties of molecular monolayers. Three types of coupling are included: exciton-exciton, exciton-photon, and exciton-phonon coupling. We use the K-matrix formalism, developed originally to describe neutron scattering spectra in nuclear physics to compute the scattering of polaritons by phonons. This perturbation approach takes into account the three couplings and allows one to go beyond molecular exciton theory without the need of introducing additional boundary conditions for the polariton. We demonstrate that reflection, absorption, and extinction of light by 2D self-assembled monolayers of molecules containing quinque-thiophene chromophoric groups can be calculated. The extracted coherence length of the Frenkel exciton is discussed.


A Case of Blind Loop Syndrome Caused by Infection with Giardia duodenalis Diagnosed with Double Balloon Enteroscopy.
A 75-year-old man who had undergone partial gastrectomy was referred to our hospital due to worsening leg edema, loose stools and malnutrition. Double balloon enteroscopy followed by insertion of an indwelling ileus tube was performed to investigate the microbial flora and for washing inside the blind loop. Trophozoites of Giardia were detected in the sampled fluid from the blind loop and DNA analysis disclosed an assemblage of genotype A-II of Giardia duodenalis. Treatment with oral metronidazole was effective. This case emphasizes the importance of a correct diagnosis when treating patients with blind loop syndrome in the digestive tract.


Design of self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems using a high-throughput formulation screening system.
A high-throughput formulation screening (HTFS) system that enabled to rapidly and efficiently select self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) formulations has been developed in our previous study. The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of the HTFS system to SMEDDS designs. A poorly soluble drug (Nilvadipine), an oil (Sefsol-218), 11 hydrophilic surfactants (HS), and 10 lipophilic surfactants (LS) were used. Formulations were prepared and SMEDDS formulations were chosen by the HTFS system. A HS with the largest number of SMEDDS formulations was selected. In the selected HS system, a LS with the largest number of SMEDDS formulations was selected. Formulations with minimum turbidity at each ratio of the selected HS/LS were chosen as optimized formulations. A total of 2455 formulations were prepared and SMEDDS formulations were selected using the HTFS system. From the screening data, HCO60 was selected as a superior emulsifiable HS, and Plurol (PLUROL OLEIQUE CC497) was selected as a suitable LS to HCO60. Five optimized formulations were chosen from the HCO60/Plurol system. The formulations formed fine microemulsions (<33.6 nm) without phase separation and drug precipitation. These formulation designs were conducted using 600 mg of the drug at a rate of 400 formulations/person/day. SMEDDS formulations could be rapidly and efficiently designed using the HTFS system.


First synthesis of etidronate partial amides starting from PCl3.
Methods for the preparation of mixed tetra-amide esters 1 and 2, the partial amide ester 3, and tri- and P,P-diamides 4 and 5 from monophosphorus spieces 12, 8 and 9, respectively, were developed. Compounds 8 and 9 were obtained from phosphorus trichloride via MeOPCl2, which was treated with 2 eq. and 4 eq. of piperidine, followed by water or acetyl chloride, respectively. Tetrasubstituted amide bisphosphonates 1 and 2 were selectively dealkylated with lithium or silyl halide to achieve target compounds 3-5. Piperidine was found to be a good desilylation reagent. Quantum mechanical calculations illustrate why derivative 2 was produced in low yield. The usefulness of compounds 1, 3 and 4 as prodrugs of etidronate was determined in aqueous buffer and human serum.


Preparation of telluro- and selenoalumoxanes under mild conditions.
Syntheses of the heavy chalcogen-containing alumoxanes [(Me)LAl(SeH)]2(μ-O) (4) and ((Me)LAl)2(μ-Te)(μ-O) (7) were accomplished by the reaction of ((Me)LAlH)2(μ-O) (2; (Me)L = HC[(CMe)N(2,4,6-Me3C6H2)]2(-)) with either red selenium or metallic tellurium. The aluminum hydrogenselenide [(Me)LAl(SeH)]2(μ-Se) (3) was also prepared from the reaction of red selenium and (Me)LAlH2 (1). All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction studies. Density functional theory calculations were performed on 4 and 7.


Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of endothelial cells promotes naive monocyte extravasation and transfer of productive virus to enhance hematogenous dissemination of HCMV.
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pathogenesis is dependent on the hematogenous spread of the virus to host tissue. While data suggest that infected monocytes are required for viral dissemination from the blood to the host organs, infected endothelial cells are also thought to contribute to this key step in viral pathogenesis. We show here that HCMV infection of endothelial cells increased the recruitment and transendothelial migration of monocytes. Infection of endothelial cells promoted the increased surface expression of cell adhesion molecules (intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, E-selectin, and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1), which were necessary for the recruitment of naïve monocytes to the apical surface of the endothelium and for the migration of these monocytes through the endothelial cell layer. As a mechanism to account for the increased monocyte migration, we showed that HCMV infection of endothelial cells increased the permeability of the endothelium. The cellular changes contributing to the increased permeability and increased naïve monocyte transendothelial migration include the disruption of actin stress fiber formation and the decreased expression of lateral junction proteins (occludin and vascular endothelial cadherin). Finally, we showed that the migrating monocytes were productively infected with the virus, documenting that the virus was transferred to the migrating monocyte during passage through the lateral junctions. Together, our results provide evidence for an active role of the infected endothelium in HCMV dissemination and pathogenesis.


Resurgence of response sequences during extinction in rats shows a primacy effect.
Rats were trained to emit a series of three-response sequences to a criterion (i.e., more than 80% of all emitted sequences correct over five successive sessions). Each rat was trained on a series of different, three-response sequences. After the final three-response sequence was acquired, two extinction tests were administered, and the three-response sequences that re-emerged during these extinction tests were noted. Resurgence effects during extinction were observed; that is, the previously trained sequences were emitted. These resurgence effects followed an orderly pattern, which involved a primacy effect. The rats initially emitted the immediately previously trained response, but then started to emit the response sequence they first were trained to emit. Thus, resurgence behavior during extinction can be an orderly function of previous training history. These results replicate those previously obtained with human subjects.


3,4-Bis(2-pyrid-yl)-5-(3-pyrid-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole.
In the title mol-ecule, C(17)H(12)N(6), the 2-pyridyl rings in the 3- and 4-positions and the 3-pyridyl ring in the 5-position make dihedral angles of 29.78 (16), 67.06 (16) and 32.97 (16)°, respectively, with the triazole group. The dihedral angle between the two 2-pyridyl rings is 65.72 (15)°. The dihedral angles between the 3-pyridyl ring and the two 2-pyridyl rings in the 3- and 4-positions are 61.28 (15) and 63.11 (15)°, respectively. In the crystal, C-H⋯π and π-π inter-actions [centroid-centroid distance = 3.6248 (19) Å] link the mol-ecules, forming a two-dimensional network.


[Perianal manifestations in Crohn's disease].
A total of 114 of 195 patients with Crohn's disease had perianal involvement. The average age at the beginning of symptomatology was 30.3 years. The interval between symptoms and diagnosis was 3.1 years. PAC was associated with colonic disease and in these patients, was multiple. PAC preceded intestinal disease in 11 percent, was coincident in 66 percent and appeared later in 23 percent. Sixty one patients (53.5%) were operated on 104 times (1.7 operations per patient). None of these patients developed faecal incontinence. Two patients were treated with hyperbaric oxygenation. The association of perianal disease and extra-intestinal manifestation occurred in 76 patients. There was no association in 38 patients. Forty patients had extra-intestinal manifestation without perianal disease. Twenty two patients had panproctocolectomy because of perianal disease. Twenty one had a stoma, with or without intestinal resection. The stoma improved perianal symptoms, but all remain defunctioned. After mean follow-up of 8.8 years, 45 patients present some kind of perianal complication. the surgical treatment of perianal disease well indicated and performed don't result in incontinence; PAC combined with colonic or rectal disease is associated with higher need of performing a proctocolectomy or a defunctioning stoma. Only 22.8 percent presented resolution of perianal disease maintaining anal sphincter function.


[Experimental coronary stenoses and occlusions].
A constrictor for experimentally inducing stenoses and obstructions of the coronary artery is described. Smallness, good adaptability to every vascular diameter, atraumatic insertion, and slow swelling are its advantages. Within 12 months a coronary artery could be constricted by two thirds. In one third of the cases the lumen was narrowed by more than 75 per cent. Just 50 per cent of the cases showed chronic infarction after coronary obstruction, the other half developed differently marked myocardiac fibrosis. At high-degree narrowing of the arteries, 75 per cent of the cases showed disseminated myocardiac fibrosis. The occlusion of the vessel is caused by constrictor, by fibroplastic alteration of the vascular wall, and by thrombosis. Different degrees of myocardiac ischemia are sequelae of different development of collaterals. The constrictor may be used for studies on the development of collaterals as well as on therapeutic measures in chronic ischemia of the myocardium.


Statement of the Problem: Health Reform, Value-Based Purchasing, Alternative Payment Strategies, and Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs.
There is increasing interest in maximizing health care purchasing value by emphasizing strategies that promote cost-effectiveness while achieving optimal health outcomes. These value-based purchasing (VBP) strategies have largely focused on adult health, and little is known about the impact of VBP program development and implementation on children, especially children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). With the increasing emphasis on VBP, policymakers must critically analyze the potential impact of VBP for CYSCHN, because this group of children, by definition, uses more health care services than other children and inevitably incurs higher per person costs. We provide a history and definition of VBP and insurance design, noting its origin in employer-sponsored health insurance, and discuss various financing and payment strategies that may be pursued under a VBP framework. The relevance of these approaches for CYSHCN is discussed, and recommendations for next steps are provided. There is considerable work to be done if VBP strategies are to be applied to CYSHCN. Issues include the low prevalence of specific special health care need conditions, how to factor in a life course perspective, in which investments in children's health pay off over a long period of time, the marginal savings that may or may not accrue, the increased risk of family financial hardship, and the potential to exacerbate existing inequities across race, class, ethnicity, functional status, and other social determinants of health.


Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors.
The past decade has witnessed a significant growth in the identification of allosteric modulators of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), i.e., ligands that interact with binding sites that are topographically distinct from the orthosteric site recognized by the receptor's endogenous agonist. Because of their ability to modulate receptor conformations in the presence of orthosteric ligand, allosteric modulators can "fine-tune" classical pharmacological responses. This is advantageous in terms of a potential for engendering greater GPCR subtype-selectivity, but represents a significant challenge for detecting and validating allosteric behaviors. Although allosteric sites need not have evolved to accommodate endogenous ligands, there are a number of examples of where such modulators have been shown to contribute to physiological or pathophysiological processes. Studies are also beginning to unravel the structural basis of allosteric modulation of GPCRs. It remains to be determined whether such modulation represents interactions within monomers versus across dimers.


The Endothelin Type A Receptor as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia (PE) is a disorder of pregnancy typically characterized by new onset hypertension after gestational week 20 and proteinuria. Although PE is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and death worldwide, the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of the disease remain unclear and treatment options are limited. However, there is increasing evidence to suggest that endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of PE. Multiple studies report that ET-1 is increased in PE and some studies report a positive correlation between ET-1 and the severity of symptoms. A number of experimental models of PE are also associated with elevated tissue levels of prepro ET-1 mRNA. Moreover, experimental models of PE (placental ischemia, sFlt-1 infusion, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α infusion, and Angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibody (AT1-AA) infusion) have proven to be susceptible to Endothelin Type A (ETA) receptor antagonism. While the results are promising, further work is needed to determine whether ET antagonists could provide an effective therapy for the management of preeclampsia.


The current incidence of viral disease in korean sweet potatoes and development of multiplex rt-PCR assays for simultaneous detection of eight sweet potato viruses.
Sweet potato is grown extensively from tropical to temperate regions and is an important food crop worldwide. In this study, we established detection methods for 17 major sweet potato viruses using single and multiplex RT-PCR assays. To investigate the current incidence of viral diseases, we collected 154 samples of various sweet potato cultivars showing virus-like symptoms from 40 fields in 10 Korean regions, and analyzed them by RT-PCR using specific primers for each of the 17 viruses. Of the 17 possible viruses, we detected eight in our samples. Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) and sweet potato virus C (SPVC) were most commonly detected, infecting approximately 87% and 85% of samples, respectively. Furthermore, Sweet potato symptomless virus 1 (SPSMV-1), Sweet potato virus G (SPVG), Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV), Sweet potato virus 2 ( SPV2), Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV), and Sweet potato latent virus (SPLV) were detected in 67%, 58%, 47%, 41%, 31%, and 20% of samples, respectively. This study presents the first documented occurrence of four viruses (SPVC, SPV2, SPCFV, and SPSMV-1) in Korea. Based on the results of our survey, we developed multiplex RT-PCR assays for simple and simultaneous detection of the eight sweet potato viruses we recorded.


Genetic diversity among cultivars of spring barley revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).
RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) polymorphism was studied in 23 malting and non-malting spring barley cultivars included in the official list of Polish cultivated varieties. Twenty-four 10-mer primers were tested in each cultivar, giving altogether 149 amplification products, 45% of which were polymorphic. The number of polymorphic bands revealed by one primer ranged from 1 to 6, with an average of 2.8. Genetic distance for all pairs of compared varieties was estimated and a dendrogram was constructed using unweighted pair group method of arithmetic means. The genetic distance between cultivars ranged from 0.11 for cvs. Apex and Bryl to 0.62 for cvs. Orthega and Madonna. Of the seven malting cultivars only two (Brenda and Stratus) formed one group at D = 0.25. The genetic distance between cvs. Brenda and Scarlett, especially recommended for brewery, was equal to 0.34. The detected polymorphism appeared to be sufficient for assessing genetic distances between cultivars, but on the basis of this polymorphism groups of malting and non-malting cultivars were not clearly distinguished.


The critical role of oxidative stress in the toxicity and metabolism of quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxides in vitro and in vivo.
Quinoxaline 1,4-dioxide derivatives (QdNOs) have been widely used as growth promoters and antibacterial agents. Carbadox (CBX), olaquindox (OLA), quinocetone (QCT), cyadox (CYA) and mequindox (MEQ) are the classical members of QdNOs. Some members of QdNOs are known to cause a variety of toxic effects. To date, however, almost no review has addressed the toxicity and metabolism of QdNOs in relation to oxidative stress. This review focused on the research progress associated with oxidative stress as a plausible mechanism for QdNO-induced toxicity and metabolism. The present review documented that the studies were performed over the past 10 years to interpret the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress as the results of QdNO treatment and have correlated them with various types of QdNO toxicity, suggesting that oxidative stress plays critical roles in their toxicities. The major metabolic pathways of QdNOs are N→O group reduction and hydroxylation. Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), aldehyde oxidase (SsAOX1), carbonyl reductase (CBR1) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes were involved in the QdNOs metabolism. Further understanding the role of oxidative stress in QdNOs-induced toxicity will throw new light onto the use of antioxidants and scavengers of ROS as well as onto the blind spots of metabolism and the metabolizing enzymes of QdNOs. The present review might contribute to revealing the QdNOs toxicity, protecting against oxidative damage and helping to improve the rational use of concurrent drugs, while developing novel QdNO compounds with more efficient potentials and less toxic effects.


Glutaraldehyde mediated conjugation of amino-coated magnetic nanoparticles with albumin protein for nanothermotherapy.
A novel bioconjugation of amino saline capped Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was developed by applying glutaraldehyde as activator. Briefly, Fe3O4 MNs were synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method. Surface modification of the prepared MNPs was performed by employing amino saline as the coating agent. Glutaraldehyde was further applied as an activation agent through which BSA was conjugated to the amino-coated MNPs. The structure of the BSA-MNs was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Physico-chemical characterizations of the BSA-MNPs, such as surface morphology, surface charge and magnetic properties were investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), zeta-Potential and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), etc. Magnetic inductive heating characteristics of the BSA-MNPs were analyzed by exposing the MNPs suspension (magnetic fluid) under alternative magnetic field (AMF). The results demonstrate that BSA was successfully conjugated with amino-coated MNs mediated through glutaraldehyde activation. The nanoparticles were spherical shaped with approximately 10 nm diameter. Possessing ideal magnetic inductive heating characteristics, which can generate very rapid and efficient heating while upon AMF exposure, BSA-MNPs can be applied as a novel candidature for magnetic nanothermotherapy for cancer treatment. In vitro cytotoxicity study on the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cells (HepG-2) indicates that BSA-MNP is an efficient agent for cancer nanothermotherapy with satisfied biocompatibility, as rare cytotoxicity was observed in the absence of AMF. Moreover, our investigation provides a methodology for fabrication protein conjugated MNPs, for instance monoclonal antibody conjugated MNPs for targeting cancer nanothermotherapy.


Contemporary occupational therapy philosophy and practice in hospital settings.
Occupational therapists have sought to reconnect with the foundations of the profession for many years, and a key focus has been the place of occupation in practice. Existing literature suggests that therapists working in acute settings experience difficulties practicing in ways that centralise occupation. This scoping review aimed to explore the existing literature on contemporary occupational therapy philosophy and practice in acute hospital settings. A five step scoping review process was implemented. Four electronic databases were searched using a combination of search terms. Searching reference lists of papers was also completed. Results were summarised using numeric and thematic analysis. Twenty four publications were included. Four themes were identified; attitudes towards occupation-based practice, benefits of occupation-based approaches, challenges implementing occupation-based practice, and strategies to overcome challenges. Findings highlighted therapists value occupation as an important aspect of practice, however they experience many environmental and personal challenges in acute settings. Strategies to overcome these challenges related to individual's changing their practice to be more occupation-focussed and changes within the practice context including adapting environments, documentation and intervention protocols to focus on occupation. These strategies may support therapists to align practice with their professional values.


Diverging length scale of the inhomogeneous mode-coupling theory: a numerical investigation.
Biroli 's extension of the standard mode-coupling theory to inhomogeneous equilibrium states [G. Biroli, J. P. Bouchaud, K. Miyazaki, and D. R. Reichman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 195701 (2006)] allowed them to identify a characteristic length scale that diverges upon approaching the mode-coupling transition. We present a numerical investigation of this length scale. To this end we derive and numerically solve equations of motion for coefficients in the small q expansion of the dynamic susceptibility chiq(k;t) that describes the change of the system's dynamics due to an external inhomogeneous potential. We study the dependence of the characteristic length scale on time, wave vector, and on the distance from the mode-coupling transition. We verify scaling predictions of Biroli In addition, we find that the numerical value of the diverging length scale qualitatively agrees with lengths obtained from four-point correlation functions. We show that the diverging length scale has very weak k dependence, which contrasts with very strong k dependence of the q-->0 limit of the susceptibility, chiq=0(k;t) . Finally, we compare the diverging length obtained from the small q expansion to that resulting from an isotropic approximation applied to the equation of motion for the dynamic susceptibility chiq(k;t) .


[Diagnosis and therapy of fetal brady-arrhythmia].
Fetal rhythm disorders are one cause of intrauterine bradycardia. Diagnosis can be made by fetal echocardiography. Echocardiographic pattern and clinical course of the 4 most important fetal bradyarrhythmias are described and compared to the corresponding CTG findings. Intermittent sinus bradycardia, atrial extrasystoles with 2:1 block and ventricular bigemini have a good prognosis, whereas the outcome of the fetus with congenital atrioventricular (av)-block is depending upon degree of bradycardia and association of congenital heart malformation. The CTG feature of bigeminal blocked atrial or ventricular extrasystoles is characterized by rapid change of fetal heart rate between two different frequency levels. In sinus bradycardia or in congenital av-block no typical CTG pattern is evident. Longlasting or repetitive bradycardia should stimulate fetal echocardiography to detect rhythm disorders in order to better plan the further course of pregnancy.


Acute mechanical circulatory support for cardiogenic shock: the "door to support" time.
Cardiogenic shock (CS) remains a major cause of in-hospital mortality in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. CS begins as a hemodynamic problem with impaired cardiac output leading to reduced systemic perfusion, increased residual volume within the left and right ventricles, and increased cardiac filling pressures. A critical step towards the development of future algorithms is a clear understanding of the treatment objectives for CS. In this review, we introduce the "door to support" time as an emerging target of therapy to improve outcomes associated with CS, define four key treatment objectives in the management of CS, discuss the importance of early hemodynamic assessment and appropriate selection of acute mechanical circulatory support (AMCS) devices for CS, and introduce a classification scheme that identifies subtypes of CS based on cardiac filling pressures.


Kinetic analysis of the oxidation of palmitate-1-14C in man during prolonged heavy muscular exercise.
Two healthy men with high working capacities were injected intravenously with palmitate-1-(14)C and NaH(14)CO(3) on two occasions while they were performing strenuous exercise on a bicycle ergometer. From analysis of (14)CO(2) in expired air after injection of NaH(14)CO(3), rate constants and compartment sizes describing a three-compartment system for CO(2) were determined algebraically. These data were combined with those of a separate study in which (14)C in free fatty acids of arterial blood plasma and in expired CO(2) were measured after injection of palmitate-1-(14)C to construct an eight-compartment model with an analogue computer that described precisely the observed data in each subject. The results indicate that under these conditions almost half of the free fatty acids leaving the blood are oxidized directly (i.e., are transferred to mitochondrial oxidative sites through small intermediate compartments). The remainder enters larger compartments apart from the direct pathway; most of this fraction reenters the direct oxidative pathway within 30 min. These observations suggest that certain esterified fatty acids contained in working muscle cells are rapidly renewed. Recycling of (14)C in plasma free fatty acids and triglyceride fatty acids was substantially reduced during exercise. Values for turnover rate and extent of oxidation of free fatty acids obtained by the method of continuous intravenous infusion of palmitate-1-(14)C were similar during exercise in these two subjects to those obtained after pulse injection.


Fault-Tolerant Consensus of Multi-Agent System With Distributed Adaptive Protocol.
In this paper, fault-tolerant consensus in multi-agent system using distributed adaptive protocol is investigated. Firstly, distributed adaptive online updating strategies for some parameters are proposed based on local information of the network structure. Then, under the online updating parameters, a distributed adaptive protocol is developed to compensate the fault effects and the uncertainty effects in the leaderless multi-agent system. Based on the local state information of neighboring agents, a distributed updating protocol gain is developed which leads to a fully distributed continuous adaptive fault-tolerant consensus protocol design for the leaderless multi-agent system. Furthermore, a distributed fault-tolerant leader-follower consensus protocol for multi-agent system is constructed by the proposed adaptive method. Finally, a simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis.


Paper or screen, mother tongue or English: which is better? A randomized trial.
To compare family physicians' ability to retain information when reading a review article on paper vs on screen, and in their mother tongue vs in English. Randomized trial of 114 Scandinavian family physicians who read a review article in October or November 2000 from the Journal of Trauma for 10 minutes either on paper and in English, on screen and in English, on paper in their mother tongue, or on screen in their mother tongue. To assess comprehension, they immediately completed a questionnaire with 6 open questions about 13 key facts from the review article. Sum score was on a scale from 0 (no correct answers) to 13 points (all questions answered correctly). There was no significant difference between readers of paper vs screen versions, with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 4 (2-6) vs 4 (2-5), respectively (P =.97). Physicians who read in their mother tongue scored significantly higher than those who read in English, with a median (IQR) of 4 (3-6) vs 3 (2-4) (P =.01). The medium (paper vs screen) did not influence the ability of family physicians to retain medical information. They best retained medical information when reading in their mother tongue.


[History of the term "tan" (phlegm) (II) -- studies of the term "tan" found in medical books before the Liang dynasty].
The first description of the term "tan" is found in the Shan Han Za Bing Lun published at the end of the later Han dynasty. This book refers to this term as a disorder of the cold fluid in the body. The meaning of this term was revised to a viscous fluid as the years went on. The term "tan" from the Zhou Hou Bai Yi Fang published in the Liang dynasty was the same sense of phlegm as that found in present works. Our studies showed that changes of the words used for the concept "phlegm" in Chinese medical books coincided with those in Chinese Buddhist literature. We suggested that the concept "phlegm" in Buddhist medicine influenced Chinese tradition medicine.


Simulation of autofocus lens design for a cell phone camera with object distance from infinity to 9.754 mm.
This paper presents the simulation of an autofocus lens design with large depth of field for a cell phone camera. The object distance of the lens is from infinity to 9.754 mm. When the object distance is from infinity to 550 mm, the value of the modulation transfer function (MTF) is greater than 0.6 for the spatial frequency of 114 lp/mm, the optical distortion is less than 1.5%, and the relative illumination is greater than 67%. When the object distance is from 325 to 9.754 mm, the MTF values is greater than 0.4 for close-up shooting. The optical distortion is less than 1.454%, and the relative illumination is greater than 68.8%.


Why Do We Need New Markers for Male Hypogonadism and How Seminal Proteomics Might Solve the Problem?
Male hypogonadism is "a clinical syndrome that results from failure of the testis to produce physiological concentrations of testosterone and/or a normal number of spermatozoa due to pathology at one or more levels of the hypothalamic- pituitary-testicular axis". The diagnostic protocol of male hypogonadism includes accurate medical history, physical exam, as well as hormone assays and instrumental evaluation. Basal hormonal evaluation of serum testosterone, LH, and FSH is important in the evaluation of diseases of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis. Total testosterone levels < 8 nmol/l profoundly suggest the diagnosis of hypogonadism. An inadequate androgen status is moreover possible if the total testosterone levels are 8-12 nmol/L. In this "grey zone" the diagnosis of hypogonadism is debated and the appropriateness for treating these patients with testosterone should be fostered by symptoms, although often non-specific. Up to now, no markers of androgen tissue action can be used in clinical practice. The identification of markers of androgens action might be useful in supporting diagnosis, Testosterone Replacement Treatment (TRT) and clinical follow-up. The aim of this review is to analyze the main findings of recent studies in the field of discovering putative diagnostic markers of male hypogonadism in seminal plasma by proteomic techniques. The identified proteins might represent a "molecular androtest" useful as a seminal fingerprint of male hypogonadism, for the diagnosis of patients with moderate grades of testosterone reduction and in the follow-up of testosterone replacement treatment.


The effects of changes in haematocrit on renal function.
1. Acute changes in total body haematocrit were produced in anaesthetized dogs by the rapid infusion of packed red cells, dextran solution or hypertonic mannitol. A reduction of haematocrit resulted in a decrease in filtration fraction, and a rise of haematocrit in an increase in filtration fraction. A direct relationship between water reabsorption (relative to filtered load) and packed cell volume (P.C.V.) was also observed.2. It is suggested that the changes in filtration fraction accompanying changes in haematocrit are mediated largely by a passive alteration of efferent arteriolar resistance resulting from modifications of blood viscosity.


ERK2 shows a restrictive and locally selective mechanism of recognition by its tyrosine phosphatase inactivators not shared by its activator MEK1.
The two regulatory residues that control the enzymatic activity of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase ERK2 are phosphorylated by the unique MAP kinase kinases MEK1/2 and dephosphorylated by several tyrosine-specific and dual specificity protein phosphatases. Selective docking interactions facilitate these phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events, controlling the specificity and duration of the MAP kinase activation-inactivation cycles. We have analyzed the contribution of specific residues of ERK2 in the physical and functional interaction with the ERK2 phosphatase inactivators PTP-SL and MKP-3 and with its activator MEK1. Single mutations in ERK2 that abrogated the dephosphorylation by endogenous tyrosine phosphatases from HEK293 cells still allowed efficient phosphorylation by endogenous MEK1/2. Discrete ERK2 mutations at the ERK2 docking groove differentially affected binding and inactivation by PTP-SL and MKP-3. Remarkably, the cytosolic retention of ERK2 by its activator MEK1 was not affected by any of the analyzed ERK2 single amino acid substitutions. A chimeric MEK1 protein, containing the kinase interaction motif of PTP-SL, bound tightly to ERK2 through its docking groove and behaved as a gain-of-function MAP kinase kinase that hyperactivated ERK2. Our results provide evidence that the ERK2 docking groove is more restrictive and selective for its tyrosine phosphatase inactivators than for MEK1/2 and indicate that distinct ERK2 residues modulate the docking interactions with activating and inactivating effectors.