Ultrahigh Proton Conductivities of Postmodified Hf(IV) Metal-Organic Frameworks and Related Chitosan-Based Composite Membranes.
Recently, researchers have focused on preparing and studying proton exchange membranes. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are candidates for composite membrane fillers due to their high crystallinity and structural characteristics, and Hf-based MOFs have attracted our attention with their high porosity and high stability. Therefore, in this study, Hf-based MOFs were doped into a cost-effective chitosan matrix as fillers to fabricate composite films having excellent proton conductivity (σ). First, the nanoscale MOFs Hf-UiO-66-(OH)2 (1) and Hf-UiO-66-NH2 (2) were chemically modified by a ligand design strategy to obtain SA-1 and CBD-2 bearing free -COOH units. The proton conductivities of SA-1 and CBD-2 under optimal test conditions reached 1.23 × 10-2 and 0.71 × 10-2 S cm-1. After that, we prepared composite membranes CS/SA-1 and CS/CBD-2 by the casting method; tests revealed that the introduction of MOFs improved the stabilities and σ values of the membranes, and their best σ could reach above 10-2 S cm-1 under 100 °C/98% RH. Further structural characterization and activation energy calculation revealed the conductive mechanism of the composite films. This investigation not only proposes a novel chemical modification method for optimizing the σ of MOFs but also promotes the development of MOF-doped composite membranes and provides a basis for future applications of MOFs in fuel cells.


Adsorption equilibrium in immunoaffnity chromatography with antibodies to synthetic peptides.
The effects of charged residues in peptide antigens on the binding characteristics of polyclonal antipeptide antibodies were studied using immunoadsorbents prepared by coupling the antibodies to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. Among the antipeptide antibodies, an antibody to the peptide without charged residues showed the most stable interaction with the peptide to the changes in pH. Conversely, the binding affinity of antibodies to the pep-tides with histidine residues having a unique pKa value of 6.0 decreased steeply with pH at around 6.0. The binding affinity of an antibody to the peptide with many charged residues decreased steeply with an increase in the ionic strength (adjusted by NaCl). Since circular dichroism (CD) spectrum measurements indicate that these peptides show disordered structures in the pH range of adsorption measurement, the dependence of peptide-antibody interaction on environmental conditions is attributed to the characteristics of side chains of the peptides. These results indicate that the dependence of the binding affinity of antipeptide antibodies on pH and the ionic strength is dominantly affected by the number and the pKa values of charged residues in the peptides.


Modulation of monocarboxylate transporter 8 oligomerization by specific pathogenic mutations.
The monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) is a member of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS). These membrane-spanning proteins facilitate translocation of a variety of substrates, MCT8 specifically transports iodothyronines. Mutations in MCT8 are the underlying cause of severe X-linked psychomotor retardation. At the molecular level, such mutations led to deficiencies in substrate translocation due to reduced cell-surface expression, impaired substrate binding, or decreased substrate translocation capabilities. However, the causal relationships between genotypes, molecular features of mutated MCT8, and patient characteristics have not yet been comprehensively deciphered. We investigated the relationship between pathogenic mutants of MCT8 and their capacity to form dimers (presumably oligomeric structures) as a potential regulatory parameter of the transport function of MCT8. Fourteen pathogenic variants of MCT8 were investigated in vitro with respect to their capacity to form oligomers. Particular mutations close to the substrate translocation channel (S194F, A224T, L434W, and R445C) were found to inhibit dimerization of MCT8. This finding is in contrast to those for other transporters or transmembrane proteins, in which substitutions predominantly at the outer-surface inhibit oligomerization. Moreover, specific mutations of MCT8 located in transmembrane helix 2 (del230F, V235M, and ins236V) increased the capacity of MCT8 variants to dimerize. We analyzed the localization of MCT8 dimers in a cellular context, demonstrating differences in MCT8 dimer formation and distribution. In summary, our results add a new link between the functions (substrate transport) and protein organization (dimerization) of MCT8, and might be of relevance for other members of the MFS. Finally, the findings are discussed in relationship to functional data combined with structural-mechanistical insights into MCT8.


Rhodococcus equi: an emerging pathogen.
More than 100 cases of Rhodococcus equi infection have been reported since the first description of human disease caused by this organism. The vast majority of patients infected with R. equi are immunocompromised, and two-thirds have human immunodeficiency virus infection. The clinical manifestations of R. equi infection are diverse, although 80% of patients have some pulmonary involvement. The organism is easily cultured from specimens of infected tissue or body fluid, but it may be misdiagnosed as a contaminant. Treatment is often prolonged, and relapses at distant sites are common. This article summarizes the history, diagnosis, clinical features, and treatment of infection with this emerging pathogen.


Phoenix dactylifera L. date tree pollen fertility effects on female rats in relation to its UPLC-MS profile via a biochemometric approach.
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is among the most ancient cultivated crops, of special value owing to its fruits high nutritive and economic benefits. Asides, date palm pollen is a high energy material that has been used traditionally used for fertility enhancement. In this study, effects of date palm pollen crude extract and its fractions viz., petroleum ether, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate and n-butanol on the female reproductive system were evaluated for the first time in relation to its metabolite fingerprint. Fertility activity was evaluated in immature female rats by assessing their FSH-, LH- and estrogen- activities. To pinpoint active hormonal agents in crude pollen extract and fractions, UPLC- MS analysis was employed for metabolites profiling, and in correlation to extract/fraction bioassays using multivariate OPLS analysis. Results revealed that both polar n-butanol and non-polar petroleum ether fractions exhibited the strongest activities; with a significant increase in FSH (25.7 mIU/ml in n-butanol group), estradiol (414.7 pg/ml in petroleum ether group) and progesterone levels (122.4 pg/ml in n-butanol group). Correlation between UPLC-MS and fraction bioassays was attempted using multivariate OPLS analysis to reveal for bioactive hits in these fractions. This study provides the first report on the fertility effect of date palm pollen in female rats and in relation to its metabolite fingerprint.


Psychological Distress Was Still Serious Among Anesthesiologists Under the Post COVID-19 Era.
This study aims to evaluate the psychological status and the attitudes toward the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine among anesthesiologists. We expected to analyze related factors and offer them some strategies to prevent and manage psychological issues under the post COVID-19 era. Based on the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES), an online survey was designed and conducted among anesthesiologists in Shaanxi, China. Participants were asked to complete a validated questionnaire voluntarily. The following tests were performed: Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Primary Care Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Screen (PC-PTSD), and the attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 795 anesthesiologists completed the survey, the majority of them were female, young and middle-aged, well educated, and married. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in this sample were 26.5%, 35.5%, and 19.9%, respectively. Longer daily working time, concomitant basic chronic disease, and COVID-19 exposure were extracted as risk factors for the psychological symptoms, while vaccination, elder age, and married status were negatively associated with them. An unsatisfied vaccination rate (71.9%) which might be linked with inadequate awareness and perception of the COVID-19 vaccine was also detected in this study. Anesthesiologists are still under rising pressure of psychological symptoms in the post COVID-19 era. It is imperative to afford continuous psychological support to them and ensure their mental health and professional performance.


[Preoperative subjective anxiety. Double blind study using oxazepam].
Amnesia for unpleasant experiences in the immediate preoperative period, reduction of anxiety, and sedation are the major goals of premedication. The purpose of this randomized double-blind study was to evaluate the anxiolytic effects of the benzodiazepine oxazepam. Following approval by the ethics commission and informed consent, 60 ASA class I and II female patients undergoing surgical treatment of radiologically evaluated breast lesions were studied prospectively using the Mannheim protocol for subjective feeling (MESB) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to evaluate intensity levels of preoperative anxiety. During a preoperative visit patients were informed about the management of the study: they were asked to report their subjective feelings preoperatively and immediately before induction. Either oxazepam 30 mg or placebo was administered orally in a double-blind manner 90 min before induction. Preoperative anxiety levels were high in both groups. Following administration of the drug, anxiety-intensity decreased significantly on the MESB and STAI. Oxazepam is a useful oral premedicant for providing effective anxiolysis in the immediate perioperative period compared to placebo. The Mannheim protocol for subjective feeling seems to be a better scoring system for evaluating perioperative anxiety as compared to the STAI. It consists of criteria with which the patients can identify themselves during the perioperative phase.


Conformation of the alpha-subunit of glycoprotein hormones: a study using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.
The conformation of the common alpha-subunit of human glycoprotein hormones, luteinizing hormone (hLH), follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (hTSH) and chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was probed using a highly specific polyclonal antiserum against the alpha-subunit of hCG and several monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) produced against hCG which recognized the alpha-subunit in free and combined form. The alpha-subunit was found to be conformationally altered (compared to its conformation in the isolated state) when it was in combination with various beta-subunits as indicated by shifts in the displacement curves of binding of [125I]hCG alpha to the polyclonal antiserum. The extent of the change was dependent on the beta-subunit present with minimum change being observed with hLH beta, intermediate with hCG beta and maximum change with hFSH and TSH beta-subunits. However, the affinity constants of this antiserum for all four hormones were nearly similar. Further, it was also found that binding of any one of the glycoprotein hormones to this antibody could be completely inhibited by any other hormone suggesting that the conformation of the alpha-subunit in all the four hormones is probably very similar. This was further investigated using five hCG MAbs capable of recognizing the alpha-subunit, but with different epitope specificities. All these MAbs could recognize all the four hormones suggesting the presence of the epitopes in these proteins. These epitopes were conformation specific since the MAbs did not bind reduced and carboxymethylated alpha-subunit. Displacement analysis using [125I]hCG as the tracer showed that two epitopes have nearly the same conformation in all the four hormones, while two were partially modified depending on the beta-subunit present. Based on these results, it is concluded that the alpha-subunit of glycoprotein hormones has nearly the same conformation, though subtle differences do exist.


Retrobulbar blood flow velocity in systemic lupus erythematosus assessed by color Doppler imaging.
To analyze the blood flow in retrobulbar vessels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by color Doppler imaging (CDI) and to investigate the associations between immunological markers, retinal abnormalities, disease activity, and vascular parameters. We examined 30 patients with SLE who were aged 32.1 ± 11.6 years with a disease duration of 68.0 ± 55.6 months and 30 participants in a control group. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI), and resistive index (RI) of the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and posterior ciliary arteries (PCAs) were determined. Physical and ophthalmic examinations with assessments of immunological markers were performed. All parameters were compared between SLE patients and normal controls while the correlations among parameters were analyzed. In the SLE group, CDI confirmed blood flow abnormalities in the CRA and PCAs, with significantly lower blood flow velocities and increased RI and PI (p < 0.05). There was a significantly negative correlation between disease duration and EDV in the CRA, PCA, and OA (p = 0.0423, 0.0453, 0.0448). There was also a significant relationship between the SLE Disease Activity Index and the PI of the OA (p = 0.0367). The patients who had received biological agents (Rituximab) had lower EDV in the CRA and PCA (p = 0.0026, 0.028). SLE patients with kidney or CNS involvement had a significant increase in the PI in the OA (p = 0.0287). The PSV and EDV in the CRA were significantly related to creatinine (p = 0.0007 and 0.0418). We also noted a significant decreased EDV in the CRA and an increased RI in the OA among participants positive for anti-dsDNA antibodies (p = 0.0331 and 0.0228). Retrobulbar circulatory disturbances were detected in SLE patients by CDI. These findings seem likely to affect smaller vessels like the CRA and PCA. However, the presence of measurable changes in the OA is generally indicative of a coexistent nephropathy or central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis. Creatinine, the disease activity index, being positive for anti-dsDNA, and receiving biological agents were associated with measurable changes on the retrobulbar blood flow.


Integrated Computational Solution for Predicting Skin Sensitization Potential of Molecules.
Skin sensitization forms a major toxicological endpoint for dermatology and cosmetic products. Recent ban on animal testing for cosmetics demands for alternative methods. We developed an integrated computational solution (SkinSense) that offers a robust solution and addresses the limitations of existing computational tools i.e. high false positive rate and/or limited coverage. The key components of our solution include: QSAR models selected from a combinatorial set, similarity information and literature-derived sub-structure patterns of known skin protein reactive groups. Its prediction performance on a challenge set of molecules showed accuracy = 75.32%, CCR = 74.36%, sensitivity = 70.00% and specificity = 78.72%, which is better than several existing tools including VEGA (accuracy = 45.00% and CCR = 54.17% with 'High' reliability scoring), DEREK (accuracy = 72.73% and CCR = 71.44%) and TOPKAT (accuracy = 60.00% and CCR = 61.67%). Although, TIMES-SS showed higher predictive power (accuracy = 90.00% and CCR = 92.86%), the coverage was very low (only 10 out of 77 molecules were predicted reliably). Owing to improved prediction performance and coverage, our solution can serve as a useful expert system towards Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment for skin sensitization. It would be invaluable to cosmetic/ dermatology industry for pre-screening their molecules, and reducing time, cost and animal testing.


Ultrasonographic anatomy of the canine elbow.
To produce detailed ultrasonographic images of the soft tissue structures around the canine elbow joint, a series of greyhound cadaver limbs were scanned both intact and dissected in a water bath. Suitable transducer positions and bone landmarks are described and the ultrasonographic appearance of the lateral collateral ligament, anconeal process, triceps tendon, origin of olecranon ligament, biceps tendon insertion, medial collateral ligament, and medial coronoid process are illustrated. Improved understanding of the anatomy of the canine elbow will support clinical ultrasonography of this region.


Structural and functional characterization of chimeric cyclotides from the Möbius and trypsin inhibitor subfamilies.
Cyclotides are plant-derived host defense peptides displaying exceptional stability due to their cyclic cystine knot comprising three intertwined disulfide bonds and a cyclic backbone. Their six conserved cysteine residues are separated by backbone loops with diverse sequences. Prototypical cyclotides from the Möbius (kalata B1) and trypsin inhibitor (MCoTI-II) subfamilies lack sequence homology with one another, but both are able to penetrate cells, apparently via different mechanisms. To delineate the influence of the sequences of the loops on the structure and cell internalization of these two cyclotide subfamilies, a series of Möbius/trypsin inhibitor loop-chimeras of kalata B1 and MCoTI-II were synthesized, and structurally and functionally characterized. NMR analysis showed that the structural fold of the majority of chimeric peptides was minimally affected by the loop substitutions. Substituting loops 3, 5, or 6 of MCoTI-II into the corresponding loops of kalata B1 attenuated its hemolytic and cytotoxic activities, and greatly reduced its cell-penetrating properties. On the other hand, replacing loops of MCoTI-II with the corresponding loops of kalata B1 did not introduce cytotoxicity into the chimeras. Loops 2, 3, and 4 of MCoTI-II were found to contribute little to cell-penetrating properties. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the structural basis for the hemolytic, cytotoxic, and cell-penetrating properties of kalata B1 and MCoTI-II, which could be useful for future engineering of cyclotides to carry bioactive epitopes to intracellular targets.


Abnormal activity-dependent brain lactate and glutamate+glutamine responses in panic disorder.
Prior evidence suggests panic disorder (PD) is characterized by neurometabolic abnormalities, including increased brain lactate responses to neural activation. Increased lactate responses could reflect a general upregulation of metabolic responses to neural activation. However, prior studies in PD have not measured activity-dependent changes in brain metabolites other than lactate. Here we examine activity-dependent changes in both lactate and glutamate plus glutamine (glx) in PD. Twenty-one PD patients (13 remitted, 8 symptomatic) and 12 healthy volunteers were studied. A single-voxel, J-difference, magnetic resonance spectroscopy editing sequence was used to measure lactate and glx changes in visual cortex induced by visual stimulation. The PD patients had significantly greater activity-dependent increases in brain lactate than healthy volunteers. The differences were significant for both remitted and symptomatic PD patients, who did not differ from each other. Activity-dependent changes in glx were significantly smaller in PD patients than in healthy volunteers. The temporal correlation between lactate and glx changes was significantly stronger in control subjects than in PD patients. The novel demonstration that glx responses are diminished and temporally decoupled from lactate responses in PD contradicts the model of a general upregulation of activity-dependent brain metabolic responses in PD. The increase in activity-dependent brain lactate accumulation appears to be a trait feature of PD. Given the close relationship between lactate and pH in the brain, the findings are consistent with a model of brain metabolic and pH dysregulation associated with altered function of acid-sensitive fear circuits contributing to trait vulnerability in PD.


[Unusual Migraine Manifestations].
Migraine is a complex neurologic disorder by which several systems of the central nervous system (autonomous system, affective, cognitive, sensoric and motoric system) may be affected on different levels. Around a fourth of the patients have migraine aura. The most common aura is the visual aura, followed by sensoric aura. But motoric deficits as well as deficits of higher cortical centers (disorders of thinking, orientation, coherence or concentration) may occur as well. In analogy with a headache calendar, an aura calendar can deliver important help in the diagnostic process of rare migraine manifestations and prevent underdiagnosis of unusual migraine manifestations. Complex migraine manifestations are diagnoses of exlusion, and a broad diagnostic work-up is warranted in order to exclude dangerous neurologic pathologies. There are no specific therapeutic recommendations, as there is a lack of randomized controlled studies.


Diploid/triploid mixoploidy: A consequence of asymmetric zygotic segregation of parental genomes.
Triploidy is the presence of an extra haploid set of chromosomes and can exist in complete or mosaic form. The extra haploid set of chromosomes in triploid cells can be of maternal or paternal origin. Diploid/triploid mixoploidy is a unique form of triploid mosaicism that requires the aberrant segregation of entire parental genomes into distinct blastomere lineages (heterogoneic cell division) at the earliest zygotic divisions. Here we report on eight cases of diploid/triploid mixoploidy from our institution and conduct a comprehensive review of the literature. The parental origin of the extra set of chromosomes was determined in two cases; and, based on phenotypic evidence we propose the parental origin in the other cases. One case with complex mixoploidy appears to have a digynic origin in addition to the involvement of two different sperm. Of our eight cases, only one resulted in the birth of a live healthy child. The other pregnancies ended in miscarriage, elective termination of pregnancy, intrauterine fetal demise or neonatal death. A review of the literature and the results of our cases show that a preponderance of recognized cases of diploid/triploid mixoploidy has a digynic origin.


Non-epileptic myoclonic attacks in infancy: three cases.
Since the first cases of abnormal paroxystic movements in normal infants were described, the importance of accurate characterization of this medical condition has been increasingly confirmed in the literature. Non-epileptic attacks mimic epileptic paroxysms in clinical presentation, but they have a typically benign course and are unresponsive to pharmacological treatment. An evident feature of the syndrome is its extreme variability in clinical manifestation. Here, we describe three normal infants with two similar forms of non-epileptic paroxysms. Electroclinical manifestations and profile of evolution were investigated. Ictal video-EEG polygraphic recordings were obtained for each patient. The increasing number of such reported clinical cases in the literature may contribute to high quality systematic reviews and the development of useful guidelines in the future. The clinical heterogeneity of non-epileptic attacks, together with the relative rarity of the condition, may make differential diagnosis with epileptic attacks very challenging. [Published with video sequences].


Selective-Area Growth of InAs Nanowires on Ge and Vertical Transistor Application.
III-V compound semiconductor and Ge are promising channel materials for future low-power and high-performance integrated circuits. A heterogeneous integration of these materials on the same platform, however, raises serious problem owing to a huge mismatch of carrier mobility. We proposed direct integration of perfectly vertically aligned InAs nanowires on Ge as a method for new alternative integrated circuits and demonstrated a high-performance InAs nanowire-vertical surrounding-gate transistor. Virtually 100% yield of vertically aligned InAs nanowires was achieved by controlling the initial surface of Ge and high-quality InAs nanowires were obtained regardless of lattice mismatch (6.7%). The transistor performance showed significantly higher conductivity with good gate control compared to Si-based conventional field-effect transistors: the drain current was 0.65 mA/μm, and the transconductance was 2.2 mS/μm at drain-source voltage of 0.50 V. These demonstrations are a first step for building alternative integrated circuits using vertical III-V/multigate planar Ge FETs.


Efficacy of ondansetron (GR 38032F) and the role of serotonin in cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting.
We compared the efficacy and safety of ondansetron (GR 38032F), a selective antagonist of serotonin S3 receptors, with that of placebo in controlling the nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin treatment in 28 patients with cancer. The patients received either three intravenous doses of ondansetron (0.15 mg per kilogram of body weight) or normal saline (placebo) at four-hour intervals, beginning 30 minutes before the administration of cisplatin. Nausea and vomiting were markedly diminished in the group given ondansetron. The median time to the first episode of emesis was 2.8 hours in the placebo group and 11.6 hours in the ondansetron group (P less than 0.001); the median number of episodes in 24 hours was 5.5 in the placebo group and 1.5 in the ondansetron group (P less than 0.001); the mean (+/- SEM) number of regurgitations or dry heaves per episode was 3.2 +/- 0.5 in the placebo group and 1.17 +/- 0.1 in the ondansetron group (P less than 0.001). None of the 14 patients given ondansetron, but 12 of 14 given placebo, required treatment with antiemetic-rescue agents for the control of nausea and vomiting. There were no adverse effects attributable to ondansetron. The urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, the main metabolite of serotonin, was increased in all patients two to six hours after they received cisplatin chemotherapy, and the increases paralleled the episodes of emesis. We conclude that ondansetron is an effective and safe agent for controlling the nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin treatment. We suggest that cisplatin treatment increases the release of serotonin from enterochromaffin cells, and that ondansetron acts by blocking S3 receptors for serotonin.


High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in middle-aged joggers.
We have compared risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), including HDL cholesterol, in joggers and Rotarians aged 40 to 50 years. The only significant differences between the groups were lower resting heart rates and higher HDL cholesterol levels in the joggers. It appears that a considerable amount of exercise is required to raise HDL cholesterol levels. Significant elevation of HDL cholesterol was confined to those joggers who had either been running for at least four years or who were running 56 km per week or more.


Overweight/obesity among school aged children in Bahir Dar City: cross sectional study.
Developing countries, including Ethiopia are experiencing a double burden of malnutrition. There is limited information about prevalence of overweight/obesity among school aged children in Ethiopia particularly in Bahir Dar city. Hence this study aimed to assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity and associated factors among school children aged 6-12 years at Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia. A school based cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 634 children were included in the study. Multi stage systematic random sampling technique was used. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with overweight/obesity. The association between dependent and independent variables were assessed using odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. The overall prevalence of overweight and/or obesity was 11.9% (95% CI, 9.3, 14.4) (out of which 8.8% were overweight and 3.1% were obese). Higher wealth status[adjusted OR = 3.14, 95% CI:1.17, 8.46], being a private school student [AOR = 2.21, 95% CI:1.09, 4.49], use of transportation to and from school [AOR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.26,5.06], fast food intake [AOR = 3.88, 95% CI: 1.42,10.55], lack of moderate physical activity [AOR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.21,6.82], low intake of fruit and vegetable [AOR = 6.45, 95% CI:3.19,13.06] were significant factors associated with overweight and obesity. This study revealed that prevalence of overweight/obesity among school aged children in Bahir Dar city is high. Thus, promoting healthy dietary habit, particularly improving fruit and vegetable intake is essential to reduce the burden of overweight and obesity. Furthermore, it is important to strengthen nutrition education about avoiding junk food consumption and encouraging regular physical activity.


Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Predicts Short-Term Prognosis in Patients With Acute Heart Failure: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Recent studies of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), first recognized as a regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism, have found that the level of in serum FGF21 is associated with the prognosis of many cardiovascular diseases, but its relationship to acute heart failure (AHF) patients remains unknown. Our study aimed to investigate whether circulating FGF21 could predict the short-term prognosis of AHF patients. Four hundred and two AHF patients and 19 healthy controls were recruited into the prospective cohort study, and blood samples of participants were collected, in tubes without anticoagulant, within the first 24 h after hospital admission. Serum FGF21 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All patients were followed-up at least 6 months after discharge. The primary endpoint was all-cause death, and secondary endpoint was a composite endpoint of death and heart failure readmission. Mortality and composite end point events were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. ROC curves compared the difference between the FGF21 and NT-proBNP in predicting 3- and 6-months mortality. Time-to-event data were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier estimation and Cox proportional hazards models. In the present study, the serum FGF21 concentrations were significantly higher in the 402 AHF patients enrolled, compared with the 19 healthy controls (p < 0.001). The average age was 70 (±12) years, and 58% were males. Participants were divided into two groups according to the median FGF21 level (262 pg/ml): a high FGF21 group (n = 201, FGF21 ≥ 262 pg/ml) and low FGF21 group (n = 201, FGF21 <262 pg/ml). FGF21 was positively correlated with NT-proBNP, BUN, AST, creatinine and cholesterol, and negatively correlated with ALB and HDL. After a median follow-up of 193 days, the high FGF21 group had higher mortality and composite endpoint events compared with the low FGF21 group (HR: 3.91, 95% CI 2.21-6.92, p <0.001), even after adjusting for NT-proBNP (HR: 3.17, 95% CI 1.72-5.81, p < 0.001). ROC analysis shows that FGF21 was better than NT-proBNP in predicting death at both 3 (AUC, 0.77 vs. 0.63, p < 0.001) and 6 months (AUC, 0.78 vs. 0.66). High baseline FGF21 levels are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in AHF patients. Serum FGF21 might be a potential predictive biomarker of AHF patients.


Is Ice Nucleation by Organic Crystals Nonclassical? An Assessment of the Monolayer Hypothesis of Ice Nucleation.
Potent ice nucleating organic crystals display an increase in nucleation efficiency with pressure and memory effect after pressurization that set them apart from inorganic nucleants. These characteristics were proposed to arise from an ordered water monolayer at the organic-water interface. It was interpreted that ordering of the monolayer is the limiting step for ice nucleation on organic crystals, rendering their mechanism of nucleation nonclassical. Despite the importance of organics in atmospheric ice nucleation, that explanation has never been investigated. Here we elucidate the structure of interfacial water and its role in ice nucleation at ambient pressure on phloroglucinol dihydrate, the paradigmatic example of outstanding ice nucleating organic crystal, using molecular simulations. The simulations confirm the existence of an interfacial monolayer that orders on cooling and becomes fully ordered upon ice formation. The monolayer does not resemble any ice face but seamlessly connects the distinct hydrogen-bonding orders of ice and the organic surface. Although large ordered patches develop in the monolayer before ice nucleates, we find that the critical step is the formation of the ice crystallite, indicating that the mechanism is classical. We predict that the fully ordered, crystalline monolayer nucleates ice above -2 °C and could be responsible for the exceptional ice nucleation by the organic crystal at high pressures. The lifetime of the fully ordered monolayer around 0 °C, however, is too short to account for the memory effect reported in the experiments. The latter could arise from an increase in the melting temperature of ice confined by strongly ice-binding surfaces.


The accuracy of handheld pre-arrest breath test instruments as a predictor of the evidential breath alcohol test results.
Drunk driving is a serious threat to public safety. All available and appropriate tools for curbing this threat should be employed to their full extent. The handheld pre-arrest breath test instrument (PBT) is one tool for identifying the alcohol-impaired driver and enforcing drunk driving legislation. A set of data was evaluated (n = 1779) where the PBT instrument was employed in drunk driving arrests to develop a multivariate predictive model. When maintained and operated by trained personnel, the PBT provides a reasonable estimate of the evidential test result within the relevant forensic range (95% prediction interval: ± 0.003 g/210 L). ROC analysis shows that a multivariate model for PBT prediction of the evidentiary alcohol concentration above versus below the legal limit of 0.08 g/210 L has excellent performance with an AUC of 0.96. These results would be of value in evidential hearings seeking to admit the PBT results in drunk driving trials.


Washing bleached palm oil to reduce monochloropropanediols and glycidyl esters.
The formation of toxic compounds, potentially carcinogenic, during food processing has been considered an important food safety issue. Among them, particular attention has been given to 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDE), 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol esters (2-MCPDE) and glycidyl esters (GE), which can be formed during vegetable oil refining, especially palm oil. These substances may pose a health risk to humans due to their toxicity and carcinogenicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of washing bleached palm oil (BPO) with different solvents, and evaluate the reduction of 3-MCPDE, 2-MCPDE and GE as well as assess the quality parameters of the final product. For this purpose, we used two types of washing with different solvents. A single washing was carried out in one step and a double washing in two steps using a solvent gradient. Single washing had a limited reduction in the levels of 3-MCPDE and 2-MCPDE and resulted in an increased level of GE, whereas double washing slightly reduced 3-MCPDE and 2-MCPDE and resulted in a significant reduction of GE levels. The reduction achieved in this study was up to 17.1% for 3-MCPDE, 56.4% for 2-MCPDE and 76.9% for GE levels. The reduction of 3-MCPDE and 2-MCPDE might be due to the removal of part of the ethanol-soluble chlorinated precursors from the oil which suggests that highly lipophilic forms of these substances are present in BPO. The substantial reduction on GE levels might be associated with the removal of the precursors present in the oil such as diacylglycerols. Thus, the washing treatment could be used as a supplementary strategy to reduce processing contaminants from palm oil, especially GEs.


The Lipid A from the haloalkaliphilic bacterium Salinivibrio sharmensis strain BAG(T).
Lipid A is a major constituent of the lipopolysaccharides (or endotoxins), which are complex amphiphilic macromolecules anchored in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. The glycolipid lipid A is known to possess the minimal chemical structure for LPSs endotoxic activity, able to cause septic shock. Lipid A isolated from extremophiles is interesting, since very few cases of pathogenic bacteria have been found among these microorganisms. In some cases their lipid A has shown to have an antagonist activity, i.e., it is able to interact with the immune system of the host without triggering a proinflammatory response by blocking binding of substances that could elicit such a response. However, the relationship between the structure and the activity of these molecules is far from being completely clear. A deeper knowledge of the lipid A chemical structure can help the understanding of these mechanisms. In this manuscript, we present our work on the complete structural characterization of the lipid A obtained from the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the haloalkaliphilic bacterium Salinivibrio sharmensis. Lipid A was obtained from the purified LPS by mild acid hydrolysis. The lipid A, which contains different number of fatty acids residues, and its partially deacylated derivatives were completely characterized by means of electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron (ESI FT-ICR) mass spectrometry and chemical analysis.


The effect of onset asynchrony on relative weights in profile analysis.
Decision weights were estimated in a profile analysis task to determine whether onset asynchronies between the signal component and the nonsignal components encourage the segregation of the signal relative to the other components. The signal component onset was either synchronous or asynchronous with respect to the nonsignal components. In the asynchronous conditions, thresholds were higher and the decision weights were less efficient than in the synchronous conditions. These data are largely consistent with a segregation hypothesis: onset asynchrony encourages subjects to shift strategies from one of spectral shape discrimination toward one of intensity discrimination.


Inherently chiral electrodes: the tool for chiral voltammetry.
2,2'-Bis[2-(5,2'-bithienyl)]-3,3'-bithianaphthene oligomers are a model case of electroactive films endowed with "inherent chirality", originating from a stereogenic element coinciding with the whole electroactive backbone, thus resulting in impressive manifestations. This study highlights their applicative potentialities as low-cost and easy-to-prepare artificial enantiopure electrode surfaces, which display an unprecedented ability to pronouncedly separate voltammetry peaks of enantiomers of quite different chiral probes of applicative interest, concurrently with linear dynamic ranges for peak currents, affording enantiomer excess determination. Thus inherently chiral enantiopure electrodes can indeed be regarded as a key to chiral voltammetry.


Effect of space flight factors on the mammal: experimental-morphological study.
On the basis of a morphological examination of 27 rats that made a space flight and were sacrificed on the 1st-2nd and 26-27th days postflight, it has been shown that the 22-d space flight has produced no significant changes in the structural organization of vital organs of the animals. However, a space flight exposure is not indifferent for animals and leads to the development of morphologically visible changes in individual organs and systems (musculo-skeletal system, hemopoietic organs, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, renal juxtaglomerular system). The detected changes are reversible, nonspecific, and develop in animals exposed to ground-based hypokinetic and other stress experiments.


The relationship between academic assessment and psychological distress among medical students: a systematic review.
A systematic review was conducted to determine the relationship between academic assessment and medical student psychological distress with the aim of informing assessment practices. A systematic literature search of six electronic databases (Medline, Medline IN PROCESS, PubMed, EMBASE, Psychinfo, ERIC) from 1991 to May 2014 was completed. Articles focusing on academic assessment and its relation to stress or anxiety of medical students were included. From 3,986 potential titles, 82 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and 23 studies met review inclusion criteria. Studies focused on assessment stress or anxiety, and assessment performance. Consistent among the studies was the finding that assessment invokes stress or anxiety, perhaps more so for female medical students. A relationship may exist between assessment stress or anxiety and impaired performance. Significant risks of bias were common in study methodologies. There is evidence to suggest academic assessment is associated with psychological distress among medical students. However, differences in the types of measures used by researchers limited our ability to draw conclusions about which methods of assessment invoke greater distress. More rigorous study designs and the use of standardized measures are required. Future research should consider differences in students' perceived significance of assessments, the psychological effects of constant exposure to assessment, and the role of assessment in preparing students for clinical practice.


Antitumor Effect of Fluoxetine on Chronic Stress-Promoted Lung Cancer Growth via Suppressing Kynurenine Pathway and Enhancing Cellular Immunity.
Background: Chronic stress promotes cancer growth. Antidepressant fluoxetine (FLX) is usually prescribed for cancer patients with comorbid depression. FLX displays inhibition on cancer cell proliferation, however, the in vivo activity has not been investigated. Methods: We explored the antitumor effect of FLX in subcutaneous transplanted lung cancer cells in a tumor-bearing mouse model. Fifty-six C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into group A (blank control), group B (tumor-bearing control), group C (tumor-bearing + FLX), group D (CUMS control), group E (CUMS + FLX), group F (tumor-bearing + CUMS), and group G (tumor-bearing + CUMS + FLX). 5-HT, tryptophane (Trp), kynurenine, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A levels were measured by ELISA. T helper (Th), cytotoxic T (Tc) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) subtype were measured by flow cytometry. The antitumor effects of FLX were evaluated by tumor weight. The expression of kynurenine pathway related genes TDO, IDO1, IDO2, and apoptosis-related genes caspase1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12 in tumor tissues were measured by western blotting and qRT-PCR. A549 cells were exposed with FLX (15 μmol/L) and its effect on cell proliferation, migration, and clonal formation were detected. Kynurenine pathway and apoptosis related gene expression were also measured. Results: In vivo, chronic stress promoted tumor growth in C57BL/6 mice. FLX administration not only significantly reversed chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced reduction of 5-HT and Trp, increment of kynurenine, but increased CD4+ Th and CD8+ Tc cells, and reduced CD25+ FOXP3+ Tregs. FLX promoted Th to differentiate into Th1 cells and increased IL-2 and IFN-γ, meanwhile inhibited Th differentiate into Th2 and Th17 cells and decreased the concentrations of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17A. Chronic stress obviously up-regulated IDO1 and IDO2 expression, down-regulated caspase 4, 7, and 12 expression, meanwhile FLX administration reversed this regulation. However, there was no significant change in TDO, caspase 1, 3, 5. Similarly, in vitro, FLX administration significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and clonal formation of A549 cells and induced cell apoptosis. FLX administration down-regulated the expression of IDO1, IDO2, and up-regulated caspase 4, 5, and 7. Conclusion: Fluoxetine administration could inhibit tumor growth. The inhibition might be via suppressing kynurenine pathway and enhancing cellular immunity.


Anoxia hormesis improves performance and longevity at the expense of fitness in a classic life history trade-off.
Hormesis occurs as a result of biphasic dose relationship resulting in stimulatory responses at low doses and inhibitory ones at high doses. In this framework, environmental factors are often studied to understand how this exposure benefits the animal. In the current study we used anoxia, the total absence of oxygen, as the most extreme version of low oxygen hormesis. Our goal was to determine the dose, the extent of the effect, and the cost of that response in Tenebrio molitor. We identified that the hormetic range (1 to 3 h of anoxia) was similar to that of other insects. Individuals that were exposed to 3 h had high emergence, increased activity throughout life, and lived longer. Beetles that experienced 1 h of anoxia performed better than the controls while the 6-h group had compromised performance. These boosts in performance at 3 h were accompanied by significant costs. Treated individuals had a delay in development and once matured they had decreased fitness. There were also transgenerational effects of hormesis and F1 beetles also experienced a delay in development. Additionally, the F1 generation had decreased developmental completion (i.e., stress-induced developmental halt). Our data suggests that anoxia hormesis triggers a trade-off where individuals benefiting from improved performance and living longer experience a decrease in reproduction.


The implicit rules of combat.
Conspecific violence has been pervasive throughout evolutionary history. The current research tested the hypotheses that individuals implicitly categorize combative contexts (i.e., play fighting, status contests, warfare, and anti-exploitative violence) and use the associated contextual information to guide expectations of combative tactics. Using U.S. and non-U.S. samples, Study 1 demonstrated consistent classification of combative contexts from scenarios for which little information was given and predictable shifts in the acceptability of combative tactics across contexts. Whereas severe tactics (e.g., eye-gouging) were acceptable in warfare and anti-exploitative violence, they were unacceptable in status contests and play fights. These results suggest the existence of implicit rules governing the contexts of combat. In Study 2, we explored the reputational consequences of violating these implicit rules. Results suggest that rule violators (e.g., those who use severe tactics in a status contest) are given less respect. These are the first studies to implicate specialized mechanisms for aggression that use contextual cues of violence to guide expectations and behavior.


Gold nanoparticles in radiation research: potential applications for imaging and radiosensitization.
The potential of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in therapeutic and diagnostic cancer applications is becoming increasingly recognized. These biologically compatible particles can be easily synthesized, tuned to different sizes, and functionalized by conjugation to various biologically useful materials. Efficient and specific delivery to tumor tissue can then be accomplished either by passive accumulation in leaky tumor vessels and tissue, or by directly targeting tumor-specific biomarkers. Tumor-localized GNPs can serve as both adjuvants for enhancing the efficacy of radiation therapy and also as contrast agents for various imaging modalities. In this review, we will discuss recent advancements and future potential in the application of GNP as both a radiosensitizer and an imaging contrast agent. Due to their versatility and biocompatibility, gold nanoparticles may represent a novel theranostic adjuvant for radiation applications in cancer management.


Investigation of FGF10 as a candidate gene in patients with anorectal malformations and exstrophy of the cloaca.
The spectrum of anorectal malformations (ARM) comprises anal stenosis, ectopic anus, recto-urogenital fistula, persistent cloaca, multisystem VACTERL (VATER associations including cardiac and limb anomalies) associations, and exstrophy of the cloaca (CE). The latter also constitutes the most severe form of the bladder exstrophy epispadias complex. Since recent data revealed that fibroblast growth factor 10 (fgf-10) invalidation in mice resulted in a genetically reproducible urorectal defect, we considered FGF10 a suitable candidate gene for ARM and CE, as the protein seems to be involved in the development of this primary developmental field. A total of 20 patients (ten with ARM and VACTERL association, respectively, and ten with CE) were analysed for genomic mutations in the coding regions and exon-intron boundaries of FGF10. Aside from a common FGF10 variant no deviation from the wild-type sequence could be detected and data obtained is not supportive of FGF10 as a genetic cause of ARMs or CE in the patients investigated. Nonetheless, mutations in possibly further upstream located promoter regions and/or unknown regulatory sequences or non-coding regions cannot be excluded. Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that other genes involved in the signalling pathway of FGF10 may contribute to the formation of these congenital malformations.


Catalytic, self-cleaning surface with stable superhydrophobic properties: printed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) arrays embedded with TiO2 nanoparticles.
Maintaining the long-term stability of superhydrophobic surfaces is challenging because of contamination from organic molecules and proteins that render the surface hydrophilic. Reactive oxygen species generated on a photocatalyst, such as TiO2, could mitigate this effect by oxidizing these contaminants. However, incorporation of such catalyst particles into a superhydrophobic surface is challenging because the particles become hydrophilic under UV exposure, causing the surface to transition to the Wenzel state. Here we show that a high concentration of hydrophilic TiO2 catalytic nanoparticles can be incorporated into a superhydrophobic surface by partially embedding the particles into a printed array of high aspect ratio polydimethylsiloxane posts. A stable Cassie state was maintained on these surfaces, even under UV irradiation, because of the significant degree of hierarchical roughness. By printing the surface on a porous support, oxygen could be flowed through the plastron, resulting in higher photooxidation rates relative to a static ambient. Rhodamine B and bovine serum albumin were photooxidized both in solution and after drying onto these TiO2-containing surfaces, and the effects of particle location and plastron gas composition were studied in static and flowing gas environments. This approach may prove useful for water purification, medical devices, and other applications where Cassie stability is required in the presence of organic compounds.


Leaf morphological and physiological adaptations of a deciduous oak (Quercus faginea Lam.) to the Mediterranean climate: a comparison with a closely related temperate species (Quercus robur L.).
'White oaks'--one of the main groups of the genus Quercus L.--are represented in western Eurasia by the 'roburoid oaks', a deciduous and closely related genetic group that should have an Arcto-Tertiary origin under temperate-nemoral climates. Nowadays, roburoid oak species such as Quercus robur L. are still present in these temperate climates in Europe, but others are also present in southern Europe under Mediterranean-type climates, such as Quercus faginea Lam. We hypothesize the existence of a coordinated functional response at the whole-shoot scale in Q. faginea under Mediterranean conditions to adapt to more xeric habitats. The results reveal a clear morphological and physiological segregation between Q. robur and Q. faginea, which constitute two very contrasting functional types in response to climate dryness. The most outstanding divergence between the two species is the reduction in transpiring area in Q. faginea, which is the main trait imposed by the water deficit in Mediterranean-type climates. The reduction in leaf area ratio in Q. faginea should have a negative effect on carbon gain that is partially counteracted by a higher inherent photosynthetic ability of Q. faginea when compared with Q. robur, as a consequence of higher mesophyll conductance, higher maximum velocity of carboxylation and much higher stomatal conductance (gs). The extremely high gs of Q. faginea counteracts the expected reduction in gs imposed by the stomatal sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit, allowing this species to diminish water losses maintaining high net CO2 assimilation values along the vegetative period under nonlimiting soil water potential values. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that Q. faginea can be regarded as an example of adaptation of a deciduous oak to Mediterranean-type climates.


By more ways than one: Rapid convergence at hydrothermal vents shown by 3D anatomical reconstruction of Gigantopelta (Mollusca: Neomphalina).
Extreme environments prompt the evolution of characteristic adaptations. Yet questions remain about whether radiations in extreme environments originate from a single lineage that masters a key adaptive pathway, or if the same features can arise in parallel through convergence. Species endemic to deep-sea hydrothermal vents must accommodate high temperature and low pH. The most successful vent species share a constrained pathway to successful energy exploitation: hosting symbionts. The vent-endemic gastropod genus Gigantopelta, from the Southern and Indian Oceans, shares unusual features with a co-occurring peltospirid, the 'scaly-foot gastropod' Chrysomallon squamiferum. Both are unusually large for the clade and share other adaptive features such as a prominent enlarged trophosome-like oesophageal gland, not found in any other vent molluscs. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed endosymbiont bacteria in the oesophageal gland of Gigantopelta, as also seen in Chrysomallon. They are the only known members of their phylum in vent ecosystems hosting internal endosymbionts; other vent molluscs host endosymbionts in or on their gills, or in the mantle cavity. A five-gene phylogenetic reconstruction demonstrated that Gigantopelta and Chrysomallon are not phylogenetically sister-taxa, despite their superficial similarity. Both genera have specialist adaptations to accommodate internalised endosymbionts, but with anatomical differences that indicate separate evolutionary origins. Hosting endosymbionts in an internal organ within the host means that all resources required by the bacteria must be supplied by the animal, rather than directly by the vent fluid. Unlike Chrysomallon, which has an enlarged oesophageal gland throughout post-settlement life, the oesophageal gland in Gigantopelta is proportionally much smaller in juveniles and the animals likely undergo a trophic shift during ontogeny. The circulatory system is hypertrophied in both but the overall size is smaller in Gigantopelta. In contrast with Chrysomallon, Gigantopelta possesses true ganglia and is gonochoristic. Key anatomical differences between Gigantopelta and Chrysomallon demonstrate these two genera acquired a similar way of life through independent and convergent adaptive pathways. What appear to be the holobiont's adaptations to an extreme environment, are driven by optimising bacteria's access to vent nutrients. By comparing Gigantopelta and Chrysomallon, we show that metazoans are capable of rapidly and repeatedly evolving equivalent anatomical adaptations and close-knit relationships with chemoautotrophic bacteria, achieving the same end-product through parallel evolutionary trajectories.


Prevalence of antithrombin deficiency in the healthy population.
In a cohort of 9669 blood donors we have identified 16 cases of congenital AT deficiency (1 in 600) by way of family studies and AT gene analysis. Two donors had type I AT deficiency (prevalence 0.21 per 1000; 95% CI = 0.03/1000 to 0.75/1000), their families displaying a symptomatic phenotype. 14 donors had a type II deficiency (prevalence 1.45 per 1000; 95% CI = 0.79/1000 to 2.43/1000): one recurring and three unique mutations. None of these type II deficiencies appeared to confer a high thrombotic risk despite many of the affected individuals having experienced potentially prothrombotic challenges. The high frequency of these relatively asymptomatic variants may reflect a selection bias in the study population. However, their existence should not only add to our understanding of structure-function relationships of AT but may also influence our management of asymptomatic deficient individuals identified in epidemiological or presurgical screening programmes.


Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor-2 Gene Polymorphisms Associate With Coronary Atherosclerosis in Chinese Population.
Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) may play critical roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between TFPI-2 gene polymorphisms and coronary atherosclerosis.Four hundred and seven patients with coronary atherosclerosis and 306 individuals with normal coronary artery were enrolled in the present study. Nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3763473, rs59805398, rs60215632, rs59999573, rs59740167, rs34489123, rs4517, rs4264, and rs4271) were detected with polymerase chain reaction-direct sequencing method. Severity of coronary atherosclerosis was assessed by Gensini score. After the baseline investigation, patients with coronary atherosclerosis were followed up for incidence of cardiovascular events (CVEs).Eight SNPs were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and 8 haplotypes were constructed based on rs59999573, rs59740167, and rs34489123 after linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis. Two SNPs (rs59805398 and rs34489123) and 5 haplotypes correlated with coronary atherosclerosis even after adjustment by Gensini score. At follow-up (median 53 months, range 1-60 months), 85 patients experienced CVE. However, there was no strong association between the gene polymorphisms and the occurrence of CVE.Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 gene polymorphisms were associated with coronary atherosclerosis in the Chinese population, suggesting that the information about TFPI-2 gene polymorphisms was useful for assessing the risk of developing coronary atherosclerosis, but there was not enough evidence showing it could predict occurrence of CVE.


Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in pigs in Lusaka, Zambia.
This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in pigs which were being raised in intensive management systems. Faecal samples were collected from pigs of all age groups from three different piggery units. Samples were collected directly from the rectum for piglets and weaners and from the floor within 2 min - 5 min of excretion for sows and boars. At the time of collection, faecal consistency was noted as being normal, pasty or diarrhoeic. Samples were analysed further using the Merifluor® Cryptosporidium/Giardia immunofluorescence assay. All piggeries had at least one pig infected with either parasite. From a total 217 samples collected, 96 (44.2%; confidence interval [CI] = 37.6% - 50.9%) were positive for Cryptosporidium spp., whilst 26 (12%; CI = 7.6% - 16.3%) had G. duodenalis parasites. Of all the pigs, 6.9% (15/217) harboured both parasites. With regard to Cryptosporidium spp. infection, statistically significant differences were observed amongst the three units (p = 0.001), whereas no significant differences were observed for G. duodenalis infection (p = 0.13). Prevalence was higher in weaners as compared to other pig classes for both parasites, with significant differences being observed for G. duodenalis infection (p = 0.013). There was, however, no difference in infection between male and female pigs for both parasites. Furthermore, most infections were asymptomatic. From the study results it was clear that Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis infections were prevalent amongst pigs in the piggeries evaluated and, as such, may act as a source of infection for persons who come into contact with them.


Bacterial deposition on and detachment from surfaces in turbulent flow.
A number of experimental studies on deposition and detachment of bacterial cells of Pseudomonas sp. was performed in an inclined plate apparatus 2.3 m long. In each run, ca. 10(8)cells were introduced into a layer of flowing water at Reynolds numbers of ca. 1000 and 1300. After a preset time, the flow was stopped and the position of attached cells measured. Spatial pattern of attached cells was initially aggregative and remained so for lower flow rates. For higher flow rates the pattern tended towards randomness, perhaps as a result of cell detachment. Overall sticking efficiency of cells was very small (ca. 10(-5)).


A Web-Based Platform for Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Hip and Knee: A Pilot Study.
Chronic conditions are the leading cause of disability throughout the world and the most expensive problem facing the health care systems. One such chronic condition is osteoarthritis (OA), a frequent cause of major disability. To describe the effect on joint pain for the first users of a newly developed Web-based osteoarthritis self-managing program, Joint Academy, and to examine whether these patients would recommend other OA patients to use the program. Patients with clinically established knee or hip OA according to national and international guidelines were recruited from an online advertisement. A trained physiotherapist screened the eligible patients by scrutinizing their answers to a standardized questionnaire. The 6-week program consisted of eight 2- to 5-minute videos with lectures about OA, effects of physical activity, self-management, and coping strategies. In addition, exercises to improve lower extremity physical function were introduced in daily video activities. During the course of the program, communication between physiotherapist and patients was based on an asynchronous chat. After 6 weeks, patients were able to continue without support from the physiotherapist. Patients reported their current pain weekly by using a numeric rating scale (range 0-10; 0=no pain, 10=worst possible pain) as long as they were in the program. In addition, after 6 weeks patients answered the question "What is the probability that you would recommend Joint Academy to a friend?" The eligible cohort consisted of 53 individuals (39 women; body mass index: mean 27, SD 5; age: mean 57, SD 14 years). With the continued use of the program, patients reported a constant change in pain score from mean 5.1 (SD 2.1) at baseline to mean 3.6 (SD 2.0) at week 12. Six patients participated for 30 weeks (mean 3.2, SD 2.1). Overall, the patients would highly recommend Joint Academy to other OA patients, suggesting that the platform may be useful for at least some in the vast OA population. Joint Academy, a Web-based platform for OA therapy, has the potential to successfully deliver individualized online treatment to many patients with OA that presently lack access to treatment.


Preparation of granulocyte concentrates for neonatal patient transfusion.
As an adjunct to antibiotic therapy, granulocytes for infusion often are required within hours of the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. The logistics of obtaining granulocytes by leukapheresis were evaluated in order to provide, at short notice, a low volume, highly concentrated product. An average of 4.0 X 10(9) granulocytes in a mean volume of 101.5 ml of plasma was collected after processing an average of 3 liters of blood from each of three donors. Following centrifugation of these products, the volume of the final products was reduced by an average of 54.3 percent, while only 10.2 percent of the granulocytes were lost. One of the products, containing 4.8 X 10(9) granulocytes in a volume of 44 ml, was infused into a 3.4 kg septic neonatal patient within 4 hours of receipt of the order by the blood bank. We conclude that it is possible to collect high concentrations of granulocytes for neonatal transfusion in a timely manner by following the protocol described in this report.


Liquid chromatographic determination of multiple sulfonamide residues in bovine milk: collaborative study.
A collaborative study involving 8 laboratories was conducted on the determination of 8 sulfonamide residues in raw bovine milk using a liquid chromatographic (LC) method. The sulfonamides are extracted with chloroform-acetone, the organic phase is evaporated, the residues are dissolved in an aqueous potassium phosphate solution, and the fatty residues are removed by washing with hexane. The aqueous layer is collected, filtered, and injected onto an LC system, and the analyte is detected by ultraviolet (UV) absorption at 265 nm. To quantitate all 8 sulfonamides isocratically, 2 chromatographic conditions are required: 12% methanol in the mobile phase for 5 sulfonamides, and 30% methanol in the mobile phase for 4 sulfonamides. Sulfamethazine (SMZ), the most widely used sulfonamide, is detected by both systems. Collaborators were instructed to analyze 3 replicates each of control milk and control milk fortified at 3 levels. They were also provided with 20 blind incurred samples (10 samples in duplicate) to analyze. For 10 ppb fortified milk, the average interlaboratory recovery for the 8 sulfonamides ranged from 56.2% for sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) to 82.7% for SMZ in the 12% methanol mobile phase (SMZ12). Also at this level, Sr ranged from 3.2 for SQX to 8.9 for SMZ12, and SR ranged from 6.9 for sulfadimethoxine to 17.2 for SMZ in the 30% methanol system (SMZ30). At 10 ppb, RSDr and RSDR ranged from 5.7% for SQX to 10.8% for SMZ12, and 10.1% for sulfamerazine to 20.9% for SMZ30, respectively. These results demonstrate that the method is suitable for the determination of the 8 sulfonamide residues in milk at 10 ppb. However, the identification of positives by this procedure needs additional confirmation by procedures comparable to the specificity achievable by liquid or gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry.


Late post-operative astigmatism after extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation.
The purpose of the study is to establish the amount of surgically induced astigmatism after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Eighty three eyes of 79 patients who had ECCE + IOL implantation were examined in the period between the 6th and the 16th month after the operation. The pre- and post-operative auto keratometry readings (K1 and K2) were recorded for each patient. These readings were compared between themselves, as well as with the post-operative cylinder power estimated by an autorefractor (total astigmatism). The mean pre-operative corneal astigmatism (K1-K2) was 1.00 +/- 0.09 Dpt Cyl, and the mean post-operative -1.74 +/- 0.14 Dpt Cyl. The difference is statistically significant. The mean autorefractor cylinder power was 1.70 +/- 0.14 Dpt Cyl. It correlates strong with the post-operative corneal astigmatism. There is a moderate correlation between the degree of the post-operative corneal and total astigmatism. The surgically induced corneal astigmatism is the main component of the total post-operative astigmatism after ECCE + IOL implantation. The total astigmatism is mainly with the rule (vertical plus cylinder) and it does not seem to impair severely the post-operative visual acuity of the patients.


[Tocopherol absorption and accumulation in the body of rams].
A paper-chromatographic method was employed to evaluate the tokoferrol content in the feed and in blood and semen of rams. It was established that the animals utilised from feeds higher percent of alfa- tokoferrol and negligible amounts of beta- and gamma- tokoferrols . The absorption of beta- tokoferrol was not demonstrated, although in the feed this tokoferrol was more than 15 per cent of the total tokoferrol content. Both in the seminal plasma and in the spermatozoa alfa- tokoferrol cumulated only.


Multispot multiphoton Ca²⁺ imaging in acute myocardial slices.
Multiphoton microscopy has become essential for dynamic imaging in thick living tissues. High-rate, full-field image acquisition in multiphoton microscopy is achievable by parallelization of the excitation and detection pathways. We developed our approach via a diffractive optical element which splits a pulsed laser into 16 beamlets and exploits a descanned detection system consisting of an array of beamlet-associated photomultiplier tubes. The optical performance of the multiphoton multispot system (MCube) has been characterized in cardiac tissue sections and subsequently used for the first time for fluorescence imaging of cardiomyocyte Ca²⁺ dynamics in viable acute cardiac slices. Multispot multiphoton microscopy (MMM) has never been used before to monitor Ca²⁺ dynamics in thick, viable tissue samples. Acute heart slices are a powerful close-to-in vivo model of Ca²⁺ imaging allowing the simultaneous observation of several cells in their own tissue environment, exploiting the multiphoton excitation ability to penetrate scattering tissues. Moreover, we show that the concurrent high spatial and temporal resolutions afforded by the parallel scanning in MMM can be exploited to simultaneously assess subcellular Ca²⁺ dynamics in different cells in the tissue. We recorded local Ca²⁺ release events including macrosparks, travelling waves, and rotors.


Magnetic Resonance of Brown Adipose Tissue: A Review of Current Techniques.
This article reviews recent efforts in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) of brown adipose tissues (BAT). The article does not differentiate classical BAT from more recently introduced beige/ brite adipocytes, as the unequivocal detection of these hybrid adipocytes with MRI and MRS remains an unmet need and unsolved challenge. BAT studies in both animals and humans have progressed rapidly during the past decade, spanning a broad spectrum of researchers from basic science laboratories to clinical investigators in primary care hospitals. While positron emission and computed tomography (PET/CT) is likely to remain as a reference modality in BAT imaging in the near future, approaches using MRI and MRS have emerged as viable alternatives. The specific signal contrasts that allow an MR system to assess BAT morphology and function are emphasized. Methods that measure tissue fat content, blood flow and perfusion, water diffusion, temperature, and substrate metabolism are explained and pertinent literature reports that utilize these approaches are highlighted. Finally, this article provides an outlook on research opportunities and future directions.


Changes in sexual functioning following traumatic brain injury: An overview on a neglected issue.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is any damage to the skull and/or the brain and its frameworks due to an external force. Following TBI, patients may report cognitive, physiological and psychosocial changes with a devastating impact on important aspects of the patient's life, such as sexual functioning. Although sexual dysfunction (SD) occurs at a significantly greater frequency in individuals with TBI, it is not commonly assessed in the clinical setting and little information is available on this crucial aspect of patients' quality of life. As the number of people with TBI is on the rise, there is a need for better management of TBI problems, including SD, by providing information to patients and their caregivers to achieve sexual health, with a consequent increase in their quality of life. Discussing and treating sexual problems in TBI patients enters the framework of a holistic approach. The purpose of this narrative review is provide clinicians with information concerning changes in sexual functioning and relationships in individuals with TBI, for a better management of patient's functional outcomes and quality of life.


Flexible resonance in prefrontal networks with strong feedback inhibition.
Oscillations are ubiquitous features of brain dynamics that undergo task-related changes in synchrony, power, and frequency. The impact of those changes on target networks is poorly understood. In this work, we used a biophysically detailed model of prefrontal cortex (PFC) to explore the effects of varying the spike rate, synchrony, and waveform of strong oscillatory inputs on the behavior of cortical networks driven by them. Interacting populations of excitatory and inhibitory neurons with strong feedback inhibition are inhibition-based network oscillators that exhibit resonance (i.e., larger responses to preferred input frequencies). We quantified network responses in terms of mean firing rates and the population frequency of network oscillation; and characterized their behavior in terms of the natural response to asynchronous input and the resonant response to oscillatory inputs. We show that strong feedback inhibition causes the PFC to generate internal (natural) oscillations in the beta/gamma frequency range (>15 Hz) and to maximize principal cell spiking in response to external oscillations at slightly higher frequencies. Importantly, we found that the fastest oscillation frequency that can be relayed by the network maximizes local inhibition and is equal to a frequency even higher than that which maximizes the firing rate of excitatory cells; we call this phenomenon population frequency resonance. This form of resonance is shown to determine the optimal driving frequency for suppressing responses to asynchronous activity. Lastly, we demonstrate that the natural and resonant frequencies can be tuned by changes in neuronal excitability, the duration of feedback inhibition, and dynamic properties of the input. Our results predict that PFC networks are tuned for generating and selectively responding to beta- and gamma-rhythmic signals due to the natural and resonant properties of inhibition-based oscillators. They also suggest strategies for optimizing transcranial stimulation and using oscillatory networks in neuromorphic engineering.


Fabrication and Performance of a Ta2O5 Thin Film pH Sensor Manufactured Using MEMS Processes.
In this work, a capacitive pH sensor consisting of Ta2O5 functional film is designed and fabricated by employing MEMS-based procedures. The Ta2O5 thin film has an amorphous microstructure, and its surface roughness is less than 3.17 nm. A signal processing circuit and a software filtering algorithm are also designed to measure the pH value, thus improving the detection accuracy and anti-interference ability. Good linearity (R2 = 0.99904) and sensitivity (63.12 mV/pH) are recorded for the proposed sensing element in the range of pH 2~12. In addition, the sensor's drift and hysteresis are equal to 5.1 mV and 5.8 mV, respectively. The enhanced sensing performance in combination with the facile miniaturization process, low fabrication cost, and suitability for mass production render the fabricated sensor attractive for applications where pH change measurements in a water environment are required.


Pathogenesis of haemophilic synovitis: experimental studies on blood-induced joint damage.
Hemarthrosis is a common manifestation of haemophilia, and joint arthropathy remains a frequent complication. Even though the exact mechanisms related to blood-induced joint disease have not yet been fully elucidated, it is likely that iron deposition in the synovium induces an inflammatory response that causes not only immune system activation but also stimulates angiogenesis. This process ultimately results in cartilage and bone destruction. Investigating the processes that occur in the early stages of blood-induced joint disease in humans has been very limited. Therefore, the use of haemophilic animal models is critical to augment the understanding of this phenomenon. This article discusses three cellular regulators (p53, p21 and TRAIL) induced in synovial tissue that are important for iron metabolism. A cartilage remodelling programme induced by the release of cytokines and growth factors that result in articular damage is also discussed. Full elucidation of the pathogenesis of haemophilic joint disease is required to identify new avenues for prevention and therapy.


Working Together to Connect Care: a metropolitan tertiary emergency department and community care program.
Objective Frequent attendance by people to an emergency department (ED) is a global concern. A collaborative partnership between an ED and the primary and community healthcare sectors has the potential to improve care for the person who frequently attends the ED. The aims of the Working Together to Connect Care program are to decrease the number of presentations by providing focused community support and to integrate all healthcare services with the goal of achieving positive, patient-centred and directed outcomes. Methods A retrospective analysis of ED data for 2014 and 2015 was used to ascertain the characteristics of the potential program cohort. The definition used to identify a 'frequent attendee' was more than four presentations to an ED in 1 month. This analysis was used to develop the processes now known as the Working Together to Connect Care program. This program includes participant identification by applying the definition, flagging of potential participants in the ED IT system, case review and referral to community services by ED staff, case conferencing facilitated within the ED and individualised, patient centred case management provided by government and non-government community services. Results Two months after the date of commencement of the Working Together to Connect Care program there are 31 active participants in the program: 10 are on the Mental Health pathway, and one is on the No Consent pathway. On average there are three people recruited to the program every week. The establishment of a new program for supporting frequent attendees of an ED has had its challenges. Identifying systems that support people in their community has been an early positive outcome of this project. Conclusion It is expected that data regarding the number of ED presentations, potential fiscal savings and client outcomes will be available in 2017. What is known about the topic? Frequent attendance at EDs is a global issue and although the number of 'super users' is small compared with non-frequent users, the presentations are high. People in the frequent attendee group will often seek care from multiple EDs for, in the main, mental health issues and substance abuse. Furthermore, frequent ED users are vulnerable and experience higher mortality, hospital admissions and out-patient visits than non-frequent users. Aggressive and assertive outreach, intense coordination of services by integrated care teams, and the need for non-medical resources, such as supportive housing, have positive outcomes for this group of people. What does this paper add? This study uses international research findings in an Australian setting to provide a testing of the generalisability of an assertive and collaborative ED and community case management approach for supporting people who frequent a metropolitan ED. What are the implications for practitioners? The chronicling of a process undertaken to affect change in a health care setting supports practitioners when developing processes for this cohort across different ED contexts.


Excitation mechanism in the photoisomerization of a surface-bound azobenzene derivative: Role of the metallic substrate.
Two-photon photoemission spectroscopy is employed to elucidate the electronic structure and the excitation mechanism in the photoinduced isomerization of the molecular switch tetra-tert-butyl-azobenzene (TBA) adsorbed on Au(111). Our results demonstrate that the optical excitation and the mechanism of molecular switching at a metal surface is completely different compared to the corresponding process for the free molecule. In contrast to direct (intramolecular) excitation operative in the isomerization in the liquid phase, the conformational change in the surface-bound TBA is driven by a substrate-mediated charge transfer process. We find that photoexcitation above a threshold hnu approximately 2.2 eV leads to hole formation in the Au d-band followed by a hole transfer to the highest occupied molecular orbital of TBA. This transiently formed positive ion resonance subsequently results in a conformational change. The photon energy dependent photoisomerization cross section exhibit an unusual shape for a photochemical reaction of an adsorbate on a metal surface. It shows a thresholdlike behavior below hnu approximately 2.2 eV and above hnu approximately 4.4 eV. These thresholds correspond to the minimum energy required to create single or multiple hot holes in the Au d-bands, respectively. This study provides important new insights into the use of light to control the structure and function of molecular switches in direct contact with metal electrodes.


Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Induce Autophagosome Accumulation through Multiple Mechanisms: Lysosome Impairment, Mitochondrial Damage, and ER Stress.
Magnetite (iron oxide, Fe3O4) nanoparticles have been widely used for drug delivery and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Previous studies have shown that many metal-based nanoparticles including Fe3O4 nanoparticles can induce autophagosome accumulation in treated cells. However, the underlying mechanism is still not clear. To investigate the biosafety of Fe3O4 and PLGA-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles, some experiments related to the mechanism of autophagy induction by these nanoparticles have been investigated. In this study, the results showed that Fe3O4, PLGA-coated Fe3O4, and PLGA nanoparticles could be taken up by the cells through cellular endocytosis. Fe3O4 nanoparticles extensively impair lysosomes and lead to the accumulation of LC3-positive autophagosomes, while PLGA-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles reduce this destructive effect on lysosomes. Moreover, Fe3O4 nanoparticles could also cause mitochondrial damage and ER and Golgi body stresses, which induce autophagy, while PLGA-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles reduce the destructive effect on these organelles. Thus, the Fe3O4 nanoparticle-induced autophagosome accumulation may be caused by multiple mechanisms. The autophagosome accumulation induced by Fe3O4 was also investigated. The Fe3O4, PLGA-coated Fe3O4, and PLGA nanoparticle-treated mice were sacrificed to evaluate the toxicity of these nanoparticles on the mice. The data showed that Fe3O4 nanoparticle treated mice would lead to the extensive accumulation of autophagosomes in the kidney and spleen in comparison to the PLGA-coated Fe3O4 and PLGA nanoparticles. Our data clarifies the mechanism by which Fe3O4 induces autophagosome accumulation and the mechanism of its toxicity on cell organelles and mice organs. These findings may have an important impact on the clinical application of Fe3O4 based nanoparticles.


Application of automated pathology reporting concepts to radiology reports.
This study was designed to extend the concept of automated pathology reporting to radiology reports to find central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms that may currently go undetected. Existing E-Path software was modified to account for the structure and language of radiology reports. Logic was added to allow registries to configure whether they want only new reports or if they also want history, metastatic, and/or previously known reports. Five hospital registries and 3 central registries participated. Three quality-control (QC) studies were conducted with fine-tuning taking place between the studies. The first QC study included random samples of 1,500 reports from 3 data sources. The second and third QC studies each included 1 random sample from 2 different data sources. The software was able to extract reportable CNS neoplasms with a high degree of specificity and sensitivity at 99% and 100% respectively, using the original set of coding rules. This rule set was favored by our hospital registries. Participating population-based registries preferred to receive only positive-new cases. The specificity and sensitivity for this category was 96% and 94% respectively. One hospital registry compared the cases found by the software to their registry database and found 13 additional CNS neoplasm cases in a 10-month period which represented an increase of 18%. Automated radiology reporting is a promising method of mining a previously untapped data source to find cases of CNS neoplasms that may be missed by conventional techniques.


Hemorrhagic Hepatopathy in Broiler Breeder Pullets: Gross and Microscopic Pathology and Factors Associated with Incidence.
Hemorrhagic hepatopathy is a syndrome reported in layer pullets resulting in mortality and lesions including hepatic, splenic, and intestinal necrosis; hepatic and splenic enlargement; hemorrhages; amyloidosis of the muscle, spleen, and liver; accumulation of noncoagulated hemorrhagic fluid in the coelom; and frequently, granulomatous myositis at bacterin injection sites. The syndrome is characterized in the literature in table egg layer pullets and is thought to be associated with the administration of bacterin vaccines, namely, frequently Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica bacterins. Hemorrhagic hepatopathy is recognized by industry veterinarians as also occurring infrequently in broiler breeder pullets in the United States. As the condition is likely due to an inflammatory process in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide inoculation, it is important to characterize both the pathologic changes and predisposing factors for the condition in broiler breeds, which are immunologically different from table egg layer breeds. In this study, we characterize the gross and microscopic lesions observed in a series of diagnostic laboratory cases of hemorrhagic hepatopathy in broiler breeder pullets and suggest a possible pathophysiology for the condition. Additionally, we report results from a case survey of the United States broiler industry that suggest that the condition is due to a reaction to bacterin vaccination and that certain bacterin products may predispose pullet flocks to develop the condition. Although further research is indicated, these findings establish hemorrhagic hepatopathy as a pathologic condition of broiler breeder pullets and may aid in the diagnosis and prevention of the syndrome.


Causalgia pathogenesis and treatment.
Gross and microscopic anatomical evidence indicates that pain fibers involved in causalgia are those distributed to blood vessels-possibly to the arterioles-and that, for the greater part, these fibers constitute part of the general visceral afferent system. Several investigators have reported evidence that injury to a peripheral nerve of such a type as to cause damage to the vasomotor control of any area produces the initial pain in an extremity, and it is predicated that the arteriolar constriction causing the pain is then prolonged by the sensitization of arteriolar smooth muscle to the amount of epinephrine normally in the blood. If the condition is not treated, tissue anoxia occurs to such an extent that irreversible changes take place in the affected area.Treatment of causalgia in the lower extremities is directed toward interruption of either the vasomotor or afferent supply of blood vessels by blocking or excision of the second to fourth lumbar ganglia inclusive with the intervening chains. For the upper extremities, the blocking or disconnection of the second and third thoracic ganglia with interruption of the sympathetic chain between the third and fourth ganglia is considered a feasible method of treatment which does not produce the concomitant disability of Horner's syndrome.


Early Predictive Value of Different Indicators for Persistent Organ Failure in Acute Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.
In this study, we conducted this network meta-analysis (based on the ANOVA model) to evaluate the predictive efficacy of each early predictor. Persistent organ failure (POF) is one of the determining factors in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP); however, the diagnosis of POF has a long-time lag (>48 h). It is of great clinical significance for the early noninvasive prediction of POF. We conducted a comprehensive and systematic search in PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, and Web of Science to identify relevant clinical trials, case-control studies, or cohort studies, extracted the early indicators of POF in studies, and summarized the predictive efficacy of each indicator through network meta-analysis. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was used to rank the prediction efficiency of each indicator. We identified 23 studies in this network meta-analysis, including 10,393 patients with AP, of which 2014 patients had POF. A total of 10 early prediction indicators were extracted. The mean and 95% CI lower limit of each predictive indicator were greater than 1.0. Albumin had the largest diagnostic odds ratio, followed by high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), Ranson Score, beside index for severity in acute pancreatitis Score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II, C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 8 (IL-8), Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) and blood urea nitrogen. Albumin, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, Ranson Score, and beside index for severity in acute pancreatitis Score are effective in the early prediction of POF in patients with AP, which can provide evidence for developing effective prediction systems. However, due to the limitations of the extraction method of predictive indicators in this study, some effective indicators may not be included in this meta-analysis.


Enhancement of Agrobacterium tumefaciens infectivity by mitomycin C.
The ability of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to induce pinto leaf tumors may be enhanced two- to threefold after treatment with mitomycin C. The enhancement may be obtained with either lethal or nonlethal concentrations. With 10-min treatments, an optimal response was obtained with 0.005 mug of mitomycin C per ml in the absence of any change in the number of viable cells. Both the tumor induction process and the tumors induced by treated cultures appear qualitatively the same as controls. To account for these results, the antibiotic must increase the proportion of viable cells that will subsequently initiate tumors. One, or at most a few, random lesions in the bacterial chromosome seem to be the necessary requirement for this promotion. At mitomycin concentrations of 1 and 5 mug/ml, the ability of A. tumefaciens to initiate tumors is rapidly lost, indicating that a fairly intact bacterial chromosome is one of the essentials for the tumor induction process.


The Significance of the Angle between Superior Mesenteric Artery and Aorta in Spontaneous Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection.
The aim of this study is to assess the significance of the angle between superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and distal aorta in spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (SISMAD) by clinical and biomechanical analyses. Thirty-seven patients with SISMAD (1 asymptomatic) and 148 controls (1:4 matched for age [mean 50.2 years], gender [92% male], and body mass index, and being ruled out for arterial disease) underwent aortic computed tomography angiography. SMA-distal aorta angle, measured on sagittal plane, was compared along with baseline characteristics (body mass index, smoking history, and comorbidities) between groups, and assessed as tool to evaluate SISMAD risk after stratification into 4 angle-interval categories. Flow analysis and fluid-structure interaction study were conducted based on patient-specific models with ultrasound-measured boundary conditions to further reveal the flow pattern and loading distribution in the 4 angle-interval categories. SISMAD patients versus controls had larger mean SMA-distal aorta angle (73 ± 19.8° vs. 50 ± 18.81°, P < 0.001), and more frequently smoking history (62% vs. 40%, P = 0.02) and hypertension (59% vs. 34%, P < 0.001), all multivariate predictors of no SISMAD (odds ratio 0.946 [95% confidence interval 0.927-0.966]; 0.415 [0.198-0.87]; and 0.252 [0.117-0.544], respectively). Odds ratio for SISMAD increased with increasing SMA-distal aorta angle (1, 10, 57, and 73 for <50°, 50-69°, 70-90°, and >90°, respectively; P < 0.05 for >70°). In silico study confirmed that larger angle is associated with higher stress in the arterial wall and higher oscillatory shear index in the vessel lumen at the SMA superior convex, where dissection commonly occurs. Besides smoking history and hypertension, SISMAD was positively associated with a morphological parameter, the SMA-distal aorta angle. This might be due to the greater wall stress and oscillatory stress index in the arterial convex with a larger angle.


Of mice, men and elephants: the relation between articular cartilage thickness and body mass.
Mammalian articular cartilage serves diverse functions, including shock absorption, force transmission and enabling low-friction joint motion. These challenging requirements are met by the tissue's thickness combined with its highly specific extracellular matrix, consisting of a glycosaminoglycan-interspersed collagen fiber network that provides a unique combination of resilience and high compressive and shear resistance. It is unknown how this critical tissue deals with the challenges posed by increases in body mass. For this study, osteochondral cores were harvested post-mortem from the central sites of both medial and lateral femoral condyles of 58 different mammalian species ranging from 25 g (mouse) to 4000 kg (African elephant). Joint size and cartilage thickness were measured and biochemical composition (glycosaminoclycan, collagen and DNA content) and collagen cross-links densities were analyzed. Here, we show that cartilage thickness at the femoral condyle in the mammalian species investigated varies between 90 µm and 3000 µm and bears a negative allometric relationship to body mass, unlike the isometric scaling of the skeleton. Cellular density (as determined by DNA content) decreases with increasing body mass, but gross biochemical composition is remarkably constant. This however need not affect life-long performance of the tissue in heavier mammals, due to relatively constant static compressive stresses, the zonal organization of the tissue and additional compensation by joint congruence, posture and activity pattern of larger mammals. These findings provide insight in the scaling of articular cartilage thickness with body weight, as well as in cartilage biochemical composition and cellularity across mammalian species. They underscore the need for the use of appropriate in vivo models in translational research aiming at human applications.


Reference centiles of bone mineral density, and body composition of lower limbs in children and adolescents for Hologic DXA Discovery model A.
Background: Regional Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) assessments are useful for patients where whole body measurements are not feasible due to positioning difficulties because of anatomic anomalies (e.g. severe scoliosis) and artifacts due to neuroorthopedic hardware. Until now, there is a lack of reference centiles of bone mineral density and body composition of lower limbs for the DXA device Hologic Discovery model A densitometer. The study aimed to generate age-and sex specific reference centiles of bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), lean body mass (LBM), and fat mass (FM) of the lower limbs of children and adolescents of Hologic DXA system (Discovery model A). Methodology: Data from children and adolescents aged 8-20 years of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the years 2015-2018 were used to create age-specific and sex-specific reference centiles. Study population was subdivided into three ethnic groups (non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White and Mexican-American). The LMS method was used to calculate the reference centiles. Study population was adjusted concerning the BMI. Results: A total of DXA scans of 769 non-Hispanic Black children (386 females), 937 non-Hispanic White children (447 females) and 692 Mexican-American children (370 females) were used to calculate age-specific and sex-specific reference curves. 881 DXA scans had to be excluded because of extreme BMI values of the study population, leaving 513 non-Hispanic Black (205 females), 346 Mexican-American children (179 females), 658 Non-Hispanic White (282 females) for statistical analysis and creating age-and sex specific reference centiles after BMI adjustment. Conclusions: We presented pediatric reference centiles for regional bone mineral density, bone mineral content, lean body mass and fat mass of the lower limbs which were age-and sex-specific for three ethnic groups (Mexican-American, non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic-White). The reference centiles can be used for the Hologic DXA system Discovery model A with the software version 3.2.